Low Testosterone May Raise Depression Risk

man-depression-150706

Men with lower levels of testosterone may be at increased risk of depression , a new study finds. Researchers found that more than half of the men in the study who had lower levels of testosterone had a diagnosis of depression, or showed symptoms of the condition, while a quarter of participants were taking medication for the disease. The vast majority of male participants in the new George Washington University study also were found to be overweight or obese, and so for comparison, the researchers pointed to a recent survey of U.S. adults finding that 6 percent of those overweight or obese were depressed.

"Depression and/or depressive symptoms were present in 56 percent of the subjects," in the study, the authors concluded.

Produced primarily by the testicles, testosterone helps maintain a man's sperm production, sex drive , muscle strength and mass, bone density, and facial and body hair. Men who do not produce a "normal" amount of testosterone may be diagnosed with a condition called hypogonadism, but exactly what level should be considered normal is difficult to define, the authors wrote.

One reason for this is that blood levels of testosterone may be less important to a man's health than the effects of the hormone in muscle, bone, the brain and the reproductive organs, explained the authors. But even with blood tests, there is no level of testosterone that is universally accepted within the medical community as being too low.

Testosterone levels generally peak during adolescence and early adulthood. As men age, their testosterone levels gradually decline, typically by about 1 percent a year after age 30 or 40, according to the Mayo Clinic’s website.

In the new study, the researchers probed the medical charts of 200 men with an average age of 48. All had been referred to an endocrinologist after a blood test indicated their testosterone levels were borderline low (between 200 and 350 ng/dL).

The researchers looked at the men's demographic data, medical histories, medication use, and symptoms of hypogonadism. They also looked at whether the men had been diagnosed with depression or if they took an anti-depressants, and all study participants who weren't diagnosed with depression or taking medications for the condition answered standardized test questions aimed at measuring their mood.

Analysis showed that the study participants had higher rates of obesity and lower rates of physical activity than their peers in the general population. Participants also suffered from erectile dysfunction , decreased libido, fewer morning erections, low energy and sleep disturbances. Rates of depression were 62 percent for study participants in their 20s and 30s, 65 percent for those in their 40s, 51 percent for those in their 50s and 45 percent for those age 60 and over.

"In an era where more and more men are being tested for '"Low T' — or lower levels of testosterone — there is very little data about the men who have borderline low testosterone levels," study researcher Dr. Michael Irwig, an associate professor of medicine and director of the Center for Andrology at the George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Washington, D.C., said in a statement. "We felt it important to explore the mental health of this population."

More research is still needed in this area, but doctors and other healthcare professionals "should recognize the high rates of depression and depressive symptoms in men referred for borderline testosterone levels," the authors wrote in their study.

Testosterone replacement therapy can improve the signs and symptoms of low testosterone in these men, the researchers said. In the decade ending in 2011, one commercial health insurance group in the United States saw the number of testosterone prescriptions triple, according to a 2013 study published in JAMA Internal Medicine. The researchers noted a corresponding trend of increased direct-to-consumer marketing leading men to believe "Low T" may be the underlying cause for their decreased sexual function and low energy.

The study was published July 1 in the Journal of Sexual Medicine.

Scientists in Oregon develop bacon-flavored seaweed

Source: The Associated Press

What grows quickly, is packed with protein, has twice the nutritional value of kale and tastes like bacon?

seaweed

The answer, according to scientists at Oregon State University, is a new strain of seaweed they recently patented.

Dulse is a form of edible seaweed that grows wild along the Pacific and Atlantic coastlines. It’s harvested and commonly used by people in dried form as a cooking ingredient or nutritional supplement.

But OSU researchers say the variety they’ve developed can be farmed and eaten fresh, with the potential for a new industry for Oregon.

Scientists have been trying to develop a new strain of the seaweed for more than 15 years. Their original goal was to create a super food for commercially grown abalone, a mollusk prized in Asia.

The strain of dulse they came up with, which looks like translucent red lettuce, is a great source of minerals, vitamins and antioxidants, not to mention protein. The abalone grew exceedingly quickly when fed the dulse and an abalone operation in Hawaii is now using the seaweed on a commercial scale.

But after a product development team at OSU’s Food Innovation Center created new foods with the dulse, researchers began to think humans might benefit a lot more.

Among the most promising foods created were a dulse-based rice cracker and salad dressing. And bacon-tasting strips, which are fried like regular bacon to bring out the flavor.

The research team received a grant from the Oregon Department of Agriculture to explore dulse as a “specialty crop” — the first time seaweed had made the list, officials said. The team brought on a culinary research chef to further refine recipes and products.

Several Portland-area chefs are now testing the sea “vegetable” in its raw or cooked form. And MBA students at OSU are preparing a marketing plan for a new line of dulse-based specialty foods and exploring the potential for a new aquaculture industry.

There are no commercial operations that grow dulse for human consumption in the U.S. and chefs say fresh, high-quality seaweed is hard to come by.

“The dulse grows using a water recirculation system,” said OSU researcher Chris Langdon, who developed the strain. “Theoretically, you could create an industry in eastern Oregon almost as easily as you could along the coast with a bit of supplementation. You just need a modest amount of seawater and some sunshine.”

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Plant Protein, Alkaline Diets, and the Carnivore’s Lie

Written by our very own Dr. Deepa Verma: America, we are raised on meat, potatoes, and milk. We never knew any better: those foods were supposed to make us big and strong, and keep our bones and teeth healthy.

Now contrary to popular belief, we have begun to examine why a plant-based diet can not only prevent disease states, but reverse them. In my opinion, the documentary Forks Over Knives was ahead of its time, and I am thrilled to see the upcoming Plant Pure Nation. (Speaking of, you can check out a screening of the film in Ft Myers).

In my recent article, The Surprising Reasons Consuming Less Animal Protein May Save Your Life, I examine just those claims: why a plant-based diet is much healthier for you than one based on animal products. Limiting or eliminating animal protein—which includes both meat and dairy—offers nothing but health benefits.

First, let us go back to basic chemistry. We all learned about pH, and acid versus alkaline states, in our high school classes: a pH of less than 7 is acidic, and more than 7 is alkaline. Neutral pH is 7: what clean water should be. Blood has a pH of about 7.4, which is lightly alkaline. Maintenance of an alkaline pH is essential for prevention of disease and cancer states and immunity and beneficial bacteria function optimally in alkalinity. Basically, your body thrives in an alkaline environment. Processed foods, excess sugar, antibiotics, micronutrient deficiency, Candida overgrowth, alcohol, sleep deprivation, stress, overconsumption of animal protein…these are just a few sources of over-acidity. (Plant Fueled Fitness is popping up everywhere…so maybe this is worth checking out?)

So how does overconsumption of animal protein cause an acidic state in the body? We know that proteins are made of amino acids, however, the proportions for animal protein is different from plant protein. There are more sulfur amino acids and complex amino acids in animal protein, both of which make the body do extra work to break it down. To neutralize the acidity from animal protein, the body, which likes to be alkaline, will leach calcium from bones and cause it to be excreted through the kidneys, which can lead to osteoporosis and kidney diseases, such as kidney stones and gout.

Plant protein alkalizes the body, thus reducing many disease states, including issues as varied as osteoporosis, diabetes, heart disease, inflammatory disorders—even cancer. If you grew up thinking that milk does a body good, this may sound absurd, but if you investigate the science behind these claims, there is solid evidence to the contrary. In short, alkaline diets are better for you, and they are rooted in plant-based proteins.

As an integrative physician, I educate my patients on the benefits of alkalizing the body while educating them on proper diet and lifestyle modifications, which includes reducing or eliminating animal protein while increasing plant protein, consuming alkaline water, getting adequate sleep, and addressing micronutrient and hormonal imbalances.

Being vegan or vegetarian does not have to be equated with being skinny and weak, but instead lean and strong. Some plants contain almost twice as much protein as their animal-based counterparts. The key is to educate America on how to be preventive in regards to health, instead of waiting to fall sick and then trying to repair the issue at hand. Everyone is in control of their health and wellness, so be proactive. Get armed with knowledge and make proper choices to not only gain quantity of life, but quality. Take good care of your body: it is the only place you have to live.

Editor’s Note: We here at Fit Nation Mag are very excited about the upcoming documentary Plant Pure Nation, which will be screening in Ft. Myers on July 23rd. Find information on the film and how to buy tickets to the premiere here.

Source: http://fitnationmag.com/plant-protein-alkaline-diets-and-the-carnivores-lie/