As important as ideal testosterone levels are for overall health, drive, strength, and vitality it is one of many hormones that should be dialed in to supercharge your health. Here are four more crucial hormones you should prioritize optimizing for the best result possible.
Pregnenolone is a master control hormone manufactured by the adrenal gland and the brain. It’s the mother of all sex hormones and adrenal hormones. Generally, if you have low pregnenolone levels you will likely have depleted levels of DHEA and testosterone levels as well. Also, according to hormone optimization expert Dr. Mark Gordon if you’re on testosterone replacement therapy you need to replace DHEA and pregnenolone as testosterone replacement can down-regulate the production of the precursors. This is why many on TRT feel great for a few months then the benefits seem to dissipate. Avoid this mistake by replacing pregnenolone and DHEA as well. Pregnenolone is the most prolific hormone in the brain and is crucial for focus, memory, and brain health. Anti-aging expert Dr. Hertoghe states Pregnenolone’s concentration in the brain is seventy-five times higher than in the blood. If you have a difficult time focusing and find your memory is declining then you need to test your pregnenolone levels as soon as possible as it could be one if not the primary reason for your cognitive issues.
Next, Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is an adrenal hormone and the ultimate stress management hormone. It supports a healthy immune system, adrenal health, and insulin sensitivity, mitigates metabolic syndrome, improves bone health, and keeps excess stress hormones (cortisol) in check. DHEA and cortisol have an inverse relationship. When your cortisol levels are high DHEA levels are low. You may go through a period where you have high levels of both but eventually, you will crash and have depleted DHEA production and excess cortisol levels. To make matters worse the excess cortisol level can be heightened at night which in turn impedes sleep quality. You end up waking up tired, being tired all day, and then getting a burst of cortisol at night so you’re wired and can’t fall asleep. Many people in this situation will over-consume caffeine which makes matters worse as caffeine increases cortisol. The late elite strength coach Charles Poliquin stated an optimal DHEA level is an important measurement of being anabolic. DHEA is testosterone’s big brother and protects it from the ravages of excess cortisol. When DHEA levels are optimal you’re more likely to have ideal levels of testosterone. When DHEA levels are low, excess cortisol can cause testosterone levels to plummet.
Thyroid hormones are crucial for energy and not just energy for fat loss but overall energy for the production of hormones. If you have low thyroid levels you will most certainly have depleted levels of important sex hormones. Thyroid hormones boost metabolic rate and increase blood circulation which delivers nutrients, oxygen, water, and hormones to cells all over the body. These hormones help keep the body warm and muscles and joints healthy and pain-free. These crucial hormones are made by the thyroid at the base of the neck. Production is 90% T4 Thyroxine and only 10% active T3 triiodothyronine. The pituitary gland in the brain starts the process by releasing TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone). Some T4 is then converted into the more bioactive T3 (3-5 times as active). T3 helps every cell in the body produce the energy molecule ATP. Ideal thyroid hormone levels are crucial for the brain, heart, kidneys, digestive and strong immunity. They also assist in eliminating cholesterol which helps open up the arteries and improves blood pressure.
The master control hormone Insulin is the most anabolic hormone and is absolutely essential for life and thriving. If you don’t have adequate insulin levels and receptor uptake your cells die. This is why type 1 diabetics have to take insulin injections. Insulin is what drives glucose and amino acids into the liver, muscles, and cells. This process is hampered when insulin resistance occurs. Insulin resistance is a condition in which insulin becomes less effective at driving nutrients into the liver, muscles, and cells. The Insulin receptors are worn out and no longer sensitive to the effects of insulin. As a result, a large insulin response occurs in order to force insulin uptake by the worn-out receptors. This is problematic as high levels of insulin increase inflammation, which increases the likelihood of heart disease and a variety of serious health issues. High levels of inflammation also contribute to testosterone converting to estrogen. Insulin resistance has a negative impact on testosterone levels as high glucose levels reduce testosterone production. Insulin and testosterone
Another negative of insulin resistance is its contribution to hair loss. According to Dr. Thierry Hertoghe, insulin resistance leads to hair loss in both men and women (front and sides) and increases blood pressure, night sweats, irritability, and hot flashes in women. High insulin response to a meal will also drive down blood sugar and make you hungry soon after. When insulin is high you are no longer in a fat-burning state. In addition, insulin has an inverse relationship with growth hormone. When insulin is high, growth hormone is low. Insulin resistance can also be the root cause of PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome).
