What Are Testosterone Boosters Actually Boosting?
The cognitive boost of taking testosterone supplements has not been substantiated — but let’s face it, most men aren’t seeking a better memory when popping testosterone pills.
03 April, 2017
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">This past weekend I randomly stumbled into the 420 Games in a Santa Monica beach parking lot. Rows of booths displayed the latest wares emerging in the culture of cannabis capitalism. Having worked in the fitness industry for most of my adult life, I was taken aback by how many start-ups are focusing on the magical motivational powers of marijuana. Forget glaucoma, “hacking your neurochemistry to achieve flow states” is the tagline du jour. </span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Perhaps I shouldn’t be surprised. We’re a nation in search of shortcuts. Anything promising quick results with little work is practically destined to trend—tiny Tibetan berries that aren’t really from Tibet, libido-boosting avocados, memory-boosting neurotransmitter precursors, how to think differently to influence the universe because, obviously, the universe needs your input. </span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Products targeting the ravages of aging are especially profitable. Anything, natural or not, that defies wrinkles, sags, and hair loss are always in demand. Sometimes exogenous compounds make millions, though we seem especially interested in naturally occurring hormones. If a little does a little good, well then a boatload must be even better. Enter testosterone. </span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1"> </span></p> <div class="video-callout-placeholder" data-slug="the-danger-of-testosterone-on-wall-street" style="border: 1px solid #ccc;">
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</div> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">First isolated in 1935, testosterone usage has <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4837303/" target="_blank"><span class="s2">tripled</span></a> in the United States since 2001. The naturally occurring steroid hormone is used medically to treat diminished functional activity in the testes, as well as breast cancer, though most associate it with doping. Given its role in supposedly reinvigorating the male sex drive, the supplement is widely available. </span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Testosterone therapy is often self-prescribed, which creates a lot of room for error. Ignorant of dosage requirements the side effects—which include heart attack and failure, hostility, depression, and male infertility—prompted the FDA to require <a href="https://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm526206.htm" target="_blank"><span class="s2">new labeling standards</span></a> last year. Of course if you’ve got a recurring shipment on Amazon chances that you’re reading the box are slim.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">New governmental studies on testosterone’s effects give us more reason to pause. As the<em> NY Times</em> <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/28/well/testosterone-therapy-is-popular-but-studies-are-mixed.html?mtrref=undefined&_r=2" target="_blank"><span class="s2">reports</span></a>: </span></p> <blockquote>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Anyone hoping that a dose of testosterone will provide an easy antidote for sagging muscles, flagging energy and a retiring sex drive may find the results of recent government studies of the sex hormone sobering.</span></p>
</blockquote> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">In a recent study, 790 men over the age of 65 were given either testosterone gel or a placebo gel over the course of a year. Each man was below average for blood testosterone levels and experienced symptoms associated with such levels, including diminished sex drive. The results were mixed. </span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">While the therapeutic application of testosterone helps correct anemia, it appears to have no effect on cognitive functioning or improved memory. More importantly, men that received testosterone also experienced increased levels of noncalcified plaque in their coronary arteries compared to the placebo group. This does conflict with <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28241244" target="_blank"><span class="s2">another study</span></a> published last year that stated testosterone therapy reduces heart problems. The “T trials,” as they’ve been dubbed, were not long enough to measure other potential therapeutic benefits of testosterone, such as with prostate cancer or heart disease.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Let’s face it, many men aren’t seeking a better memory when popping testosterone pills. Yet only 15 per cent of men over age 65 have reduced levels in the first place. Some studies support the notion of an increased sexual drive, though, as the <em>Times</em> reports, “the bump was modest and waned over time.” </span></p> <blockquote>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Testosterone didn’t help older men walk farther, they found, and it didn’t temper fatigue or increase men’s sense of vitality, though it did improve mood slightly.</span></p>
</blockquote> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">None of this will stop marketers from promoting testosterone replacement therapy as a silver bullet for male virility. Bodybuilders continue to “off-label” the hormone despite the well-known history of acne and shrunken gonads associated with overuse. Those looking to recapture their younger years will also be seduced by the promise of return.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">No increase in hormones is without consequences. Hackers seeking a quick-fix will be disappointed with the prescription that doctors are offering for many problems addressed by testosterone therapy: a better diet and regular exercise. There’s nothing sexy about the basics, but there’s a reason the simplest response keeps popping up—it works. Since too much of a good thing is never enough for the insatiable mind, hackers tend to pay for what they abuse. </span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1"> </span></p> <div class="video-full-card-placeholder" data-slug="jim-gaffigan-on-fatherhood-pornography-and-manhood" style="border: 1px solid #ccc;">
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</div> <p class="p1">--</p> <p>Derek's next book, <em><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Whole-Motion-Training-Optimal-Health/dp/1631440721/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1476996488&sr=8-1&keywords=whole+motion" target="_blank">Whole Motion: Training Your Brain and Body For Optimal Health</a></em>, will be published on 7/4/17 by Carrel/Skyhorse Publishing. He is based in Los Angeles. Stay in touch on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DerekBeresdotcom" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and <a href="http://www.twitter.com/derekberes" target="_blank">Twitter</a>.</p>
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Is Cough Medicine Helpful? Probably Not, Says the American Chemical Society
Researchers at the American Chemical Society examine whether or not cough medicine has scientific merit.
05 January, 2017
Americans spend around $4 billion each year on cough medicine. Researchers at the American Chemical Society showcase how we may be wasting our money.
<p><span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="14c3ec4a11b44d3d6d8c208da0ca547e"><iframe type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4TnJQYpKz0E?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span></p> <p>In a new video posted on the American Chemical Society's <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/ACSReactions" target="_blank">Reactions YouTube</a> site ("<em>Does Cough Medicine Really Work</em>?"), chemists argue that there is no conclusive evidence that cough medicine is effective. The group of researchers came to this conclusion after examining a number of systematic reviews that compared data from numerous studies.</p> <p>Here the overall take from the American Chemical Society's Reaction team:</p> <blockquote>
<p><em>"There’s very little evidence that cough syrup is effective at treating coughs. And carefully performed clinical trials show that these medications are generally no better than a placebo." </em></p>
</blockquote> <p><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODMzODI4Ny9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY3MTc0MzQyMH0.TJNYQWX1AO_B-dMNPlBIh6waju9n_-KuAZKuD2kM_HA/img.jpg?width=980" id="35eb9" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="d146f2393fd0d77e54441982c0e675f9" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"></p> <p>As the Reactions team pointed out, <strong>clinical trials showed that widely-used cough medicines generally did no better than a placebo in treating symptoms</strong>. They examined Antitussives (blocking cough reflex), Expectorants (loosening the mucus), Decongestants (narrowing the blood vessels of the lung and nose to reduce congestion), and Antihistamines (decreasing mucus associated with allergies).</p> <p>While the researchers found little benefit to over-the-counter cough medicines, they also stated that there was no real medical downside (outside of an overdose, especially with children) to taking the medication. <strong>The improvement of health one may feel from taking cough medicine may be tied in with the well-documented placebo effect</strong>. ("<a href="http://bigthink.com/ideafeed/placebo-found-to-relieve-pain-even-when-participants-knew-the-treatment-wasnt-real" target="_blank">Placebos Relieve Pain, Even When Patients Know the Treatment Isn't Real</a>")</p> <p><strong>Treating Your Cold Without Pharmaceuticals </strong></p> <p><strong><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODMzODI4OC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxNjQ0Nzk0OX0.COc4rMKPMJBwklUSYO7rb-hAxJMHrgou5Yk_lsUzO28/img.jpg?width=980" id="4a739" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="84d46658a4b6336e651c351890abc0f6" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"><br></strong></p> <p>There are an endless array of natural remedies that people use to soothe coughing and reduce the symptoms of a cold. <strong>The researchers at the American Chemical Society touched upon the popular usage of zinc, vitamin C, and echinacea and determined that likewise there was little scientific backing to the health claims</strong>. Honey, however, may have some merit and is in new of continued study.</p> <p>The three suggestions made by the American Chemical Society's Reaction team was to:</p> <p><strong>1. Drink plenty of fluid in order to lower your cough reflect and thin out mucus.</strong></p> <p><strong><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODMzODI4OS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzNDI2MjQzNH0.Ag2P5CU_p2tRiFR0yhG1ssymk19IKDc3IjBptYQ9to8/img.jpg?width=980" id="7d607" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="4c324a8b8db8d9cbb16c72d6ec142ae1" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"><br></strong></p> <p><strong>2. Take a steamy shower, or use a humidifier, to reduce congestion</strong></p> <p><strong>3. Use a hard candy or cough drop to increase saliva production, which will soothe an irritated throat.</strong></p> <p>Lastly, there is always the old standby of chicken noodle soup. Outside of its nostalgic appeal, there may be some scientific merit in having a cup of soup when suffering through a cold. According to the <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/common-cold/in-depth/health-tip/art-20048631" target="_blank">Mayo Clinic</a>: </p> <blockquote>
<p>[I]f you're sick, chicken soup may help you feel better. Warm liquids, such as chicken soup, tea or warm apple juice, help speed up the movement of mucus through the nose. This relieves congestion and limits the amount of time viruses are in contact with the lining of your nose. Plus, soup and other liquids help prevent dehydration.</p>
</blockquote> <p><em><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODMzODI5MC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzMzYzNzMwMn0.6HW_W6hUhESrZBhUIDebeU5xiJeF2SPEQFTElLA9k1g/img.jpg?width=980" id="cb264" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="91668c19108f18962d7bacb85c115dd9" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"><br></em></p>
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