Is There A Male Menopause?

Research on menopause focuses mostly on females and the changes they incur as they age.  However, did you know that men also experience physical changes?  The most frequent disorder of sex hormones in men is called hypogonadism, which is usually associated with a testosterone level of less than 300 ng/dl.

Hypogonadism is linked with an increased accumulation of visceral fat, insulin resistance and a risk of adult onset diabetes.  Overweight or obese men tend to have lower testosterone levels since increases in belly fat converts testosterone to higher levels of estrogen.  Lower testosterone levels can dramatically lower energy levels and increase depression in men.

Men with adult onset diabetes have a 70 percent higher risk of hypogonadism.  A balanced diet with healthy protein sources (lean meat, poultry, wild fish, organic eggs and low fat dairy, nuts/seeds) combined with natural sources of carbohydrate such as fruits and vegetables and healthy fats (avocado, olive oil) can dramatically reduce insulin resistance which can lead to weight and belly fat loss.

Adding a moderate exercise program to the above diet can synergistically lower visceral fat and restore balance in the body.  When weight loss occurs, estrogen coverts to testosterone which begins the process of restoring energy levels leading to vitality and sense of well being.

What can you do if you suspect you have male menopause?  Have your physician measure your testosterone levels and if low, supplemental testosterone may need to be prescribed. 

In addition a diet and exercise adjustment can significantly change your life and restore energy and well-being.  It’s important to realize that men and women share the journey of change and that males can experience changes in the body that need attention to keep harmony within the sexes.

Alcohol and Breast Cancer

Several years ago I got asked to speak at a women’s conference and address the connection between diet and cancer. After researching foods to include and foods to avoid I was surprised to find the strong correlation between alcohol intake and breast cancer. Were the alcohol companies just good at hiding these studies?

Since that time, multiple studies have established the link between alcohol intake and breast cancer risk. Wendy Chen, M.D., Ph.D., a cancer specialist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, presented her research data at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in 2005. Her study tracked the health of 122,000 women since 1976 that were free of cancer when the study began.

When compared with those who did not drink, they discovered the following:

• Women who drank the equivalent of half a glass of wine a day were 6 percent more likely to develop breast cancer
• Women who drank the equivalent of a glass or two of wine per day had a 21 percent increased risk of breast cancer
• Women who drank the equivalent of two drinks per day had a 37 percent increased risk of cancer

Alcohol can increase breast cancer risk since it:

• Increases blood triglyceride levels
• Increases estrogen levels in blood circulation
• Decreases the liver’s processing of excess estrogen in the blood and decreases immune function.

A 2009 study published in the UK in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute showed similar results in women consuming alcohol: consuming as little as one drink per day increases a woman’s risk of several types of cancer by 13 percent.

Everyone reads about how a glass of red wine per day is good for your health. However, the studies that have looked at the correlation between wine and health have consistently shown that resveratrol is the component of alcohol which prevents disease, which is not in the fruit of the grape, but is contained in the skins. Therefore, just eating some grapes every day with skins can be more beneficial to health than a glass of wine.

So the next time you have a snack, reach for some grapes and have a few nuts or a piece of hard cheese for balance.