Is low testosterone bad? (can you be healthy and have low testosterone)

Is low testosterone bad? (can you be healthy and have low testosterone)

10 min read

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26 Apr 2023

Grab your cheat sheet

  1. What is low testosterone?
  2. Why does low testosterone make it hard to be healthy?
  3. Symptoms of low testosterone?
  4. Simple ways to increase testosterone levels
  5. Exercise routines to help increase testosterone levels

Are you finding it harder to keep fit and healthy despite your best efforts? 

As men age, they often show symptoms of low testosterone levels, including lower muscle mass, weight gain and low mood. 

The worry is that as these symptoms start to creep in, you’ll naturally become less physically and mentally healthy, which can be daunting for men as they age. 

But is that the case?

Reduced testosterone due to age is a natural phenomenon, but is it possible to stay fit and healthy with low levels, or is it something you need to address to be at optimal fitness?

In this article, we’re looking at how possible it is to be healthy with low t levels and how to increase them for peak health. 


What is low testosterone (and is it bad for your health?)

Low testosterone is a condition experienced by many men, which can have noticeable effects on their overall health and well-being. 

While it is common to hear people asking, "Is having low testosterone bad or unhealthy?" 

The truth is more complicated than a simple yes or no….

This is because both an extremely high and low amount of the male sex hormone can be counteractive to your health. After all, this hormone is essential in keeping a man's system balanced and functioning optimally. 

Low testosterone can cause a multitude of symptoms that can be considered harmful, such as reduced sex drive and energy levels, difficulty concentrating, increased body fat, muscle loss, and depression, among many other issues. 


Fortunately, there are effective treatments and other approaches you can take to restore an optimal balance in your hormone levels.

Low testosterone can have some key impacts on your body, making it harder to achieve a healthier lifestyle:

1. Decrease in muscle mass…

As you age and lose testosterone, you must work harder to maintain muscle size. This can make it harder to put on size and make you appear less athletic. 

Lower muscle mass also reduces your natural base level for burning calories, making it more difficult to keep excess weight off. 

2. Decrease bone density…

This can make your bones more brittle and easier to break and damage. You are also at greater risk of serious injuries when playing sports or exercising.

3. Decrease in red blood cell count. 

This can make you feel slightly more tired because your body lacks oxygen. It also causes your heart to work harder, which isn't great for your health.

4. Reduced sperm count and infertility…

You can also experience a shrinkage in the size of your testicles, and low libido can harm your sexual health.

5. Mood swings and irritability…

This can make you quick to anger and make you an unhappier person. In bad cases, it can lead to depression.

Why does low testosterone make it hard to be healthy? 

So, the answer is ‘not necessarily,’ but many of the impacts of testosterone on the body can make it much more challenging to maintain optimal health. 

Low testosterone has many symptoms, and as a result, these symptoms can make it challenging to live a healthy lifestyle. 

For example, low testosterone can make you feel much more fatigued and have low energy. Feeling like this can make training and workouts harder, resulting in a less effective performance, or it can influence your choice to skip training entirely. 

Being tired can also lead to poor diet choices, as you'll tend to reach for high-sugar foods and drinks instead of slowly releasing carbs and protein. 


In addition to this, low testosterone can cause you to gain more weight when you slip up on your diet. This is because your metabolism will be less effective, so you'll take longer to burn those extra calories you have eaten. 

Furthermore, it's also worth considering low testosterone's mental implications and how that can impact your health. Men with low testosterone are more likely to have cognitive issues and poor memory, which could develop into more serious mental issues as they age. You can also experience depression and anxiety, affecting your health and not indicating a healthy life. 

As a result of all these reasons of how low testosterone can impact your health, instead of trying to work around this condition and push through, you can make things easier for yourself by doing things to boost your testosterone levels instead. 

Of course, you can spend more time in the gym to shed weight and build muscle, but this doesn't help fix the root of the problem. By increasing your testosterone levels, you won't have to train as hard to get the same results, as your body will be on your side and help your progress. 

You can improve your testosterone levels by sticking to a good diet, performing testosterone-boosting exercises, or using supplements, which you can get here at Testoprime.

Causes of Low Testosterone and Symptoms to Look Out For

Low testosterone can be the culprit behind many health complications, so it's essential to know the causes and watch for common symptoms. 

From being a side-effect of the aging process to medical conditions such as diabetes or kidney failure, low testosterone levels can arise due to several varied factors. 

Awareness of these issues is essential to healthy living, especially if you're over 30. 

Don't let this issue hinder your overall well-being; make sure you're aware of all potential underlying causes so that you can get the help and support needed for a healthy lifestyle. 

If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms it’s very likely that you are suffering from low testosterone levels. 

Low sex drive 

One of the most frequent symptoms of low testosterone is a decreased sex drive. 

If you used to experience a rewarding sex life but now find yourself struggling to get in the mood, it could be a sign that your testosterone levels are low.

Erectile dysfunction 

Another symptom of low testosterone is erectile dysfunction, or the inability to maintain an erection. If you could previously maintain an erection with ease but are now finding it a struggle, you may have low testosterone levels.

Fatigue

Fatigue is often a tell-tale sign of low testosterone. If you feel tired all the time, even after a full night's sleep, it could be a sign that your testosterone levels are diminishing.

Muscle loss 

Low testosterone almost always means it is harder to create or maintain high levels of muscle mass. If you start losing muscle, even if you're still working out regularly, it could be due to low testosterone levels.

Depression 

Depression is another common symptom of low testosterone. If you feel down or hopeless, it is typically an indication that your testosterone levels are low.

Ways to increase your testosterone levels

If you want to increase your testosterone levels, starting with the basics is important. Although Testosterone Replacement Therapy is a route you can go down, there are a lot of side effects and there are many natural ways to improve testosterone levels. 

Eating right and exercising regularly is a great place to start, as balanced nutrition and exercise play an integral role in healthy hormone levels in men. 

As well as that, here are a few more actions you can take to improve your testosterone levels:

Get Enough Sleep

One of the best ways to increase your testosterone levels is to ensure you're getting enough sleep. 


Testosterone levels are highest in the morning and decline throughout the day. This means that you need to get enough sleep to allow your body to produce as much testosterone as possible. Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep per night.

Eat a Healthy Diet

Eating a healthy diet is also important for increasing testosterone levels. Eating foods high in protein and low in fat will help boost your testosterone production. 

In addition, eating foods that are rich in vitamins and minerals will also help to keep your testosterone levels up.

  • Related content: 8 testosterone-killing foods that you should avoid

  • Exercise Regularly

    Exercising regularly is another great way to increase your testosterone levels. Exercise helps to increase muscle mass, which in turn boosts testosterone production. Moreover, exercise also helps reduce stress levels, which can harm testosterone levels. 

    Attempt to complete 30 minutes of exercise daily as a minimum, with the best type being high-intensity training or strength exercises.

    Limit Your Alcohol Intake

    Drinking too much alcohol can hurt your testosterone levels. Alcohol consumption can lead to an increase in the hormone estrogen, which can have a negative impact on testosterone production. 

    Ideally, you'll have no alcohol intake, but limit yourself to 5 units a week if you must drink.

  • Related content: Does alcohol lower testosterone?
  • Exercise Routines That Help Elevate Your Testosterone

    Exercise to maximize your testosterone levels is essential for a man's peak performance. With the right training routine, you can ensure your hormones work in sync, allowing you to get the most out of workouts. 

    High-intensity strength and resistance training will stimulate growth hormone and testosterone release, helping increase lean muscle mass, drive better results in the gym and boost your energy levels. 

    Variation is also important when planning an exercise routine - think outside the box to find exercises that challenge yourself at new angles and durations. Research suggests that anaerobic activities should be your go-to as they increase testosterone more dramatically than aerobic exercise. 

    Try combining multiple anaerobic exercises into one session to optimize testosterone production. Here are some of the best exercises you can try:

    1. High-Intensity Interval Training

    High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is an exercise that alternates between short periods of high-intensity activity and periods of rest or low-intensity activity. HIIT has been shown to be an effective way to increase testosterone levels. A study found that men who performed HIIT for eight weeks had significantly higher testosterone levels than those who performed moderate-intensity continuous training.

    2. Strength Training

    Strength training is another exercise that can help increase testosterone levels. A study found that men who lifted weights for 20 weeks had significantly higher testosterone levels than those who did not lift weights. Strength training can include lifting weights, using resistance bands, or performing bodyweight exercises like push-ups and squats.


    3. Sprints

    Sprints are an effective way to increase testosterone levels. Sprints are high-intensity interval training involving running at maximum speed for a short distance, followed by rest. A study found that men who sprinted for 30 seconds had higher testosterone levels than those who ran at a moderate pace for the same time.

    Supplements for boosting testosterone levels

    Low testosterone can majorly affect a man's health, but it doesn't have to be a lifetime issue. 

    Certain supplements are highly effective in increasing testosterone levels when taken regularly. Supplements like magnesium and Vitamin D3 are two of the most useful additions that can make an immediate difference in your feelings.

    If you want to try something a bit more specialized and bespoke for boosting testosterone levels, you can also try the supplements from Testoprime. This contains many of the ingredients you need to help boost testosterone in one easy-to-take supplement.

    These natural supplements are effective, legal, and safe to consume that help your body produce natural testosterone, despite your age or help. 

    Testosterone: the missing ingredient for a healthy lifestyle

    Keeping your testosterone levels balanced is essential for overall health. While low testosterone doesn’t necessarily equate to poor health, it does make it much harder to your to reach optimal fitness. 

    So, use the tips provided here to help you maintain a healthy balance of testosterone in your body throughout the different stages of life. Take good care of yourself and give your body all the necessary vitamins, minerals, and supplements. 

    If you have any symptoms of low testosterone, contact your GP to get checked out as soon as possible and take action before it damages your quality of life and makes significant changes to your health. 

    If you are looking for supplements to help boost your testosterone levels, then Testoprime is an effective, natural supplement that can help improve your t-level, increase energy and make it easier to maintain your health.