Did you know that there is a little trick that can take you under 2 minutes that could boost your testosterone levels?
It doesn’t involve taking a supplement, or adding a new food to your diet, it simply means “taking a stand,” with a “power stance.”
Think of those iconic images of Superman, posed hands at his hips, shoulders squared, or Batman proudly atop a building looking down on Gotham, or even the powerful CEO leaning commandingly over his desk. Turns out new research suggests there may be a very good reason why such poses embody “power” to our collective psyches – they may increase the level of testosterone in the blood.
The idea of the “power pose” was first suggested by social psychologist Amy Cuddy in 2012. Cuddy’s research found that the mere act of standing or sitting a particular way, even for as little as a minute or two, can lower the production of the stress hormone cortisol, which in turn can raise testosterone levels. According to Cuddy, striking one of her “power poses,” can raise testosterone levels by as much as 20%.
Cuddy says that standing tall and firm not only makes you feel more secure and powerful, it has the biochemical effect of actually making you more powerful in a way that you, and the people around you can feel.
Cuddy’s research and discoveries are interesting, and make sense from a biochemical point of view. Anything that can reduce stress and make you feel empowered, does indeed reduce cortisol, a stress hormone that blocks the production of testosterone.
Doing her power poses a few minutes a day can and will make you feel good. At work or in social situations, or negotiations, maybe they can help you be more influential, or intimidating. I have no reason to say not to do them. However, if you are truly suffering from low testosterone, or low-T, more serious and long-term intervention may be necessary.
Do I Have Low-T?
Many of the symptoms of low-T are those that we normally think of as just signs of aging. The typical signs of less-then-optimal testosterone levels include:
- Unexplained weight gain
- Weakness, low energy, or fatigue
- Low libido or declining sexual desire, and/or erectile dysfunction
- Depression, or a feeling of loss drive, or motivation
- Loss of muscle tone
- Declining ability to focus or concentrate
While these are the kinds of things most men do experience as they age, they can be largely due to the steady decrease of testosterone that begins in your 20s. What age takes away, we can replace sometimes with diet, sometimes with specific exercises such as Cuddy’s “power poses,” but most effectively with Hormone Replacement Therapy.
Testosterone Optimization for Men
The goal of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy for men, is to bring your level of testosterone up to what is considered normal for you, and your individual needs and lifestyle.
Therefore, testosterone optimization therapy begins with an accurate blood test. Then, we can develop a hormone optimization program that renews your vitality by bringing you back in balance. Once your blood is drawn, sophisticated laboratory testing is used to accurately determine whether your hormone levels are normal or have become deficient.
Remember, what is normal for you, may be different for someone else, and that is why I use the latest in diagnostic tools to determine the course of action that is most appropriate for your individual needs.
If you are found to have low-T, testosterone optimization treatments can range from applying topical creams, or gels to oral supplementation. These types of testosterone therapies have been shown to have a positive effect on men who have been experiencing a decreased sex drive, performance issues, lack of vitality, and an overall feeling of not “being their best.”
In social or work situations do you “power pose,” or take a more submissive posture?
Do you think your might have Low-T?
Have you tried testosterone replacement, or any other hormone optimization treatments? What were your results?
Start the conversation below.
