Great post, Menno. Too many people forget to analyze their lifestyle and fix the "basics" before going down rabbit holes to find why T is low or sub-optimal. Sleep well. Strength train. Do some cardio (but not too much). Recover well. Eat enough calories and eat mostly healthy. Manage stress.
@@web_082Isn't the recommendation 150-300 minutes of zone 2? That's not too far off from strength training recommendations, at least for duration. But half of that duration is spent resting usually.
@@web_082 Presumably too much cardio will take energy/resources away from your muscle building, and therefore the testosterone-producing benefits from your strength training would be less than optimal.
For thousands of years people have been complaining about each new generation saying they’re soft and weaker. We have made life more comfortable. But on the other hand strength speed and power records keep getting broken by those who put in the effort. I’d say the average person is not as strong but those who excel are going further.
@@ChadAV69 yes research says average testosterone is down(poor diet sleep and activity, maybe psychology as well). Also strength records getting broken yearly. I said average person weaker. And then I said people at the top of reference range getting stronger.
@@ChadAV69you either didn’t watch the video or didn’t understand the comment. The video literally says it is because of lifestyle choices. The comment is agreeing and supplying further logic to that effect.
Another major factor that could be possible is microplastic that have now been measured to be in our bodies, drinking water, and food supply. There's no way to stop the circulation of microplastics now.
It all comes back to the desperate need to deflect responsibility from oneself. People don't wanna hear they are the cause of their own problems so it's always society or the governments tampering with them somehow. It's 100% as you said lifestyle. Worse diet habits than ever, highest rate of obesity, lowest rates of exercise....
@@madaxwayne that shows you that all this food and BioHacking fetishism is irrelevant. The most "wrong living" generation is also the tallest. Even women who eat vegan garbage and stay up till 5am getting banged by random dudes get taller than ever
I've often wondered about the effects of chemicals in our environment on our bodies such as this. Thank you so much for this video! You've actually had multiple videos answering specific questions I've had recently, and you knock it out of the park each time. Keep up the awesome work! Shout out to Dr Mike, as that is how I found your channel.
At 77 my free T is at the top level of a 20-40 year old, my total is mid range for a 20-40 year old. I eat clean , no alcohol, good sleep , weight train 6days a week and lots of supplements, noPEDS , TRT ETC .
About 50% of the worlds population has a D vitamin deficiency today. Thats also a important factor in low testosteron, because of more time spent inside and not under the sun. And you need atleast 4000 iu a day for optimal test. With 100 mcg of vitamin k2.
Regarding the hookup culture mentioned, it would be important to look at the data on proportion of men participating in this culture. While it is more socially acceptable to hook up, dating app stats show that only few "Alpha" men are getting most of the action and large proportion of men age 25 (i think was the statistics) are in involuntary celibate as has 0 intimacy. So my assumption here would be, decades ago, less sexual partners but more prevalent phenomenon across average men, and now, more partners but just to very few, still leading to lower testosterone overall.
I noticed an (alas seldom-found) great awareness of methodology and statistics. I googled, and yes, you have a thorough knowledge of statistics. For me that greatly contributes to separating nonsense from information and therefore credibility. Menno, keep up the good work!
Men just don't do manly things these days, we are built for adventure, discovery, testing our physical and mental fortitude. I truly belive all men should have a sport or hobby that tests them phsyically and mentally, some thing with an element of danger that is rewarding, we are not meant to be sat on our asses all day long doing mundane tasks.
It would be curious to investigate and control for several variables combined, ie. sleep quality across cultures/geographical areas and ...light pollution. Imagine this: there is more and more artificial light in our cities > our feeling of "sleepiness" is disrupted > we don't get to sleep on time > sleep deprivation causes testosterone drop.
Another factor in environmental is the huge increases in E2 being found in the environment & water supplies across he world, particularly in America, where ground water has been heavily contaminated.
Please explain how hookup culture is "more masculine." There has been no causal link established between short-term mating strategies and higher testosterone levels. Those studies only show correlation, not causation. They cannot adequately account for stress levels, sleep, diet, etc.
Having regular sex as a man increases your testosterone. Since, men in this generation are having the least amount of sex, it's not uncommon test levels are lower. Not to mention the terrible sleeping patterns in today's era.
If test and growth levels are lower now than the 50s why is it that the youth of today are so much taller ? And the women a lot more developed. When I was in high school in the 70s there were very few boys over six feet tall, now you are in the minority if you are under six feet tall. How dose that happen if the levels are lower on average? Also most of the girls were reasonably flat chested, there may have been a couple or a few who had a large bust. I don’t think it has much to do with physiology, I think it’s more to do with social programming, they are exposing the youth to mind control through social media, that’s the true reason for men becoming more feminine and women getting tattooed and wanting to be masculine. Wake up, there are forces at work to bring this about, do some research and reveal the true agenda.
I think Arnie may have also been referring to the fact that some people would prefer to look to and blame extrinsic factors instead of doing the 'hard work'.
7:40 That is incorrect. There are SERMs such as tamoxifen and enclomiphene that increase the indigenous production of testosterone (by blocking the negative feedback of E2 on the hypothalamus).
The feminisation of society along with exposure to certain chemicals are intrinsically linked to lifestyle. If children are raised to believe masculinity is toxic, that they don’t need to push their bodies if they don’t feel like it, that it’s ok to avoid physical discomfort, anything that makes you feel uncomfortable is bad. Then they essentially have no motivation or desire to exercise or train in anything. They’re constantly told society should accept and appreciate you the way you are, which ultimately includes being fat, lazy and apathetic. if you were to compare it to economics, very few people would ever work their asses off, if currency had no value.
Feminization - lol, this is prime example of toxic masculinity. So, you want me to say that women don’t work hard, shoulder lots of responsibility, and are weak? Feminine = weak, masculine - strong. That, is the toxicity. Not everything boils down to gender stereotypes that are untrue, and keeping harmful stereotypes up, is not the way to go forward. I tell you, being a woman is being confronted with discomfort throughout once life. Want my periods, want my birth experience, want my menopause rage? You can have it and shove it somewhere. Men have it good, but whine all the time when they are a bit challenged. Maybe men indeed became weak, but definitely not feminine, just more insecure.
I agree with your take. Did you find anything on epigenetic forces, of say overweight mothers and fathers decreasing testosterone in their children. I think I recall seeing a paper something to the effect of that with regards to female rats and their offspring in the womb, but not their fathers. Good channel by the way.
Thank you. Epigenetic research is still in its infancy in humans. It wouldn't surprise me if there are any effects, but I highly doubt they're comparable to the effects under our control or even those of our genetics.
I always see these black pill types online saying they can't build any muscle because of T levels, but I go to the gym and witness people training to like 20+ RIR. One of these things seems way more likely to be the problem than they other.
Personally i do think the chemicals are best avoided, and society is becoming weak in general. Nowadays people my age ( 49 in a few weeks) who lift think TRT is an option, which is absolute BS and unnecessary. I do believe that lifestyle, diet etc as you say is definitely the biggest factor. And alcohol. Good video
That was my opinion. My estrogen was almost nonexistent and test wasn't great. Doctor finally talked me into trt after about 5 years. I am older than you but I can now see the slope. You can recover with trt then switch back to normal way easier than you can recover your muscle and build yourself up naturally at an older age. Or you can stay on trt too. I am guessing as it plays out they will show proper trt lengthens lifespan considerably.
The biggest chemical producing companies(e.g. Monsanto) suppression of “extensive research” on the effects of man made chemicals(e.g. preservatives, pesticides) on the endocrine system is the problem. These chemicals are DNA disruptive contributing the higher rates of cancer in the last 10 years. I do believe that great whole food diet and plenty of exercise help prevent inflammation in the body.
What's weird: at the same time children hit puberty earlier than ever, wouldn't this be caused by higher testosterone in boys? Or maybe the negative lifestyle choices need time to have an effect.
I think the drop in testosterone can be largely attributed to the rise of obesity even in men , obviously fat guys have lower testosterone which drags the average down .
Focusing on the testosterone effect of life style stress, In a RP interview of a trainer for actors who monitored his own testosterone level with blood work on a regular basis, when he cut out a daily 1.5 each way commute, his testosterone levels rose by about 50%. Some of this could of course be attributed to more exercise time, but since he was already exercising regularly, I would think the result was incurred more by stress relief and better overall systemic R&R.
There was a time when Mothers (in the know) used to tell their kids to "eat your vegetables." Now, some mothers allow their kids all kinds of junk food.
The problem with exposure tests is that they test for single potentialy bad chemical at a time. But we expose ourselves to huge number of potentialy bad chemicals at the same time. I would like to see a study that goes for combinations of all the hazardous chemicals that an average human is exposed to on daily basis...
I am 76 and have hair on my head !!! Now these days see how many products have soybean oil !! Plus eating more dairy products that has ESTROGEN !!! When I was in my 20's only about 5% of men were bald !!! I saw an article that if you were born after 1953 then you will have lower levels of testosterone That's why today I try to eat my own foods that I prepared from scratch !!!
In the 19th century, people were up and moving all the time, doing mostly physical jobs. There was the stress of having to move to the city, uproot one's life, raise a family in tighter accomodations. Everyone was expected to raise a family. The 20th century had two world wars, so the culture encouraged men to be masculine again. They had to raise families again, because nations encouraged it. Having fun wasn't a thing in and of itself. The downward trend began in the 60s, but the boomers still encouraged hard work. Now that we've had decades of peace, we're a peace time culture, where war is considered unthinkable. People only work long enough to be comfortable in their money, whereas many boomers would have worked to "feel valued". The greatest generation didn't bother to make such calculations at all, to my knowledge.
You’ll be the first one that tells us that u are wrong. In my mid forties my testosterone came back….. After…. Cutting out every soap with a fragrance i. E. detergent, shampoo, cologne, etc. in my life- Coupled with lifestyle changes I made in my 30s, my last test was 708 and before 830 ndl. Dude I wouldn’t parade around that endocrine disrupting chemicals are overhyped. Who wants to pay for those studies? Johnson & Johnson doesn’t? You have to think about who has a vested interest in what chemical and how that could potentially disrupt the flow of capital.
Taking care of babies reduce testosterone... but younger generations are having less or no children. I wonder if the same effect happens with taking care of pets?
I've looked at studies on this, and the best explanation is not plastics and chemicals, it's the transition to a more sedentary life style. If you look at obesity rates over the same period, the two almost mirror one another. Diet also plays a large roll in the increase of obesity, and obesity impacts testosterone levels. Staying with diet, people are less likely to have good fats in their diets, which again, impacts hormone production. We have gotten lazy and eat like campground raccoons.
And also the fact that they have measured the T-levels for obese people losing fat and they see that the T-levels go up when they do lose fat. (down to a certain point of BF-level. Too low, as in very low single percentage for many, and it is the opposite!)
I eat well (good fat) and have a physically demanding job, but my sleep and exercise have fallen a bit, have been low T for over a year. You need everything to be in order. I'm still not sure lifestyle explains everything though regarding T levels because men i the 1950s and before didn't all exercise and work out.
@@chatteyj What are your levels then? And why has your doctor not put you on TRT? Other medical factors could be the cause of your low T, but something is making me tingle and think you're not diagnosed by a doctor. Hell, your poor sleep can be enough to impact your test levels, especially if you are over 35. As for "men in the 1950s", most of them had physically demanding jobs, plus physically demanding lifestyles. Not to mention superior nutrition for the most part. The best part about using the 1950s as a reference point, we don't actually have enough information to get a good idea of what the average test levels were. We only have an idea of range, and it's not that far off of what we have today.
seems like the obvious thing at least here in the US. consistently rising levels of income inequality and lack of affordable housing creating extra stress which drives test levels way down
I Notice on the streets people walking around majority are over weight and soft looking but in the gyms the opposite is true! So there is a extreme polar opposite going on.
Mr Henselmans, I greatly appreciate your evidence based scientific rational information you put in your videos! This is in contrast to the rest of most content which is posted on social media - mostly sensetional clickbait deceptive talk and they misinterpret their sources even! In my eyes you're one of the top fitness influencers, and I have watched a lot of them in my years following this industry. Keep up the good work! :)
@@Cenot4ph Did you even watch the video? He talked about overall bodyfat levels being much higher, the bad lifestyle choices with sleeping too little, stress and possibly lower levels of some minerals. It is evidence based when it comes to BF-levels at least. That has been proven with people losing fat and measurements of how their T-levels change for the better!
as always well respected, scientifically pointed statement. One correction (just for teasing mostly): "alpha male" is not a scientific term. Does not represent the hierarchy competition concept that it was originally implied to do... =)
By the way that bit you read about endocrine disruptors in the environment sounds like a press release from the American Chemical Manufacturers Council. They will never see data good enough to cause them to actually investigate the problems associated with their profitable practices.
I doubt that testosterone levels are dropping in any group of wild animals. Their physical abilities remain very important and utilised where as ours are less and less so.
Hey Menno, I wanted to ask a question about your video which was about protein that was uploaded a month ago, I was wondering if training twice a day would have an effect on muscle hyperthrophy as training would allow for the body to use more protein. So for example would a full body split three days a week but with two full workouts each day once in the morning and once in the evening be better for growth. Also I Love the content you’re putting out.
Training frequency per se most likely does not change protein requirements, given the same total weekly volume. It can change the ideal timing though, as exercise acutely delays the muscle-full effect: you can use more protein to build muscle after a workout.
@menno.henselmans I'm gen x & I've seen it since I was a kid. Back in the day, you'd be in a confrontation with another male just for making brief eye contact. Where & when I grew up, it was like the Francis Ford Coppola's movies, Rumble Fish & The Outsiders. Younger males today look soft to me today. Personally, II think it's being done by those in power deliberately. I'm proud to wear my tin foil hat.
I am sure single father households are better. Only, the men usually don’t men up and raise their kids when the leave their families. And when men become weak, because women want equal right, then it;s maybe because men are not as strong they actually think they are. a strong man can partner with a strong woman, the rest whine about feminism.
Great video! Debunked all the test fear mongering. People need to realize that population wide changes do not necessarily reflect on the individual! As for EDCs I’m very suspicious of what are likely to be very small concentrations entering the body having a significant impact over the basics like sleep, diet, exercise etc etc
Menno, great video. It's good to see someone adiquately disect these pop-culture concerns. While reading some of the comments directly below it's clear that some of the audience doesn't understand logic all that well. So perhaps had you expanded a bit more in your explanations. Beating the proverbial dead horse, that would be helpful to others. -Food for thought. Please, keep the video coming.
I think they add something to what we eat and drink. With the decrease in testosterone, prostate diseases that normally appear at the age of 60 began to appear in their 40s, men die earlier.
Sugar and refined carbs! Nearly all cheap food is made with THIS! 2nd, we eat way too much of that with little or no plants and fruits. Also meat ... IMHO meat is poison for our body And worst kind of thing is that certain food combinations are extremely heavy on our body to get digested! And also we drink too little water, and way, way too much other "taste based" drinks! (coke, beer, juices with added sugar, alcohol, coffee, ... ) One very important and extremely disregard topic is our own mentality and mindset about ourselves, our relation with others and universe! Negativity is poison that kills you from inside your own mind and it also steals your will to act!
Sleep, working out, diet. Once I fixed these my total test went from 750 to 990 ng/dl and there is still room for improvement! I had a Magnesium, zinc and vitamin d3 deficiency.
Just dont overdo it with the working out. To build up muscle the body actually uses testosterone which is then "gone". Many extreme bodybuilders end up taking testosterone supplements
During Covid Arnold should have said, "Fuck your feelings" instead of, "Fuck your freedom". He has always been an incredible guy, but not an honorable person.
Lots of people want to pick on the small things, plastic, wifi, 5g etc. Not saying it shouldnt be part of the discussion but these are little factors and most people cant do anything about it Focus on the big things, diet, sleep, exercise, sunlight If these are in check I doubt the test would be lower. Stress is a funny argument Yeah cause a 100 years ago people only had to worry about racism, world wars and poverty, todays modern world is so much more stressful. Its different, with new problems but I wouldnt say its more stressful either
I think the big one is sleep...if you look at most gym bros, they train hard, they eat enough calories/protein however they usually lack in sleep. I have been guilty of this, went through a period of sleeping 6 hours, now back to 8 hours and my workout performance/how I feel is night and day!
Excellent and simple explanation, thnx! The only factor you do not mention (you can't have it all...) is age. Testosterone does decrease a bit with age.
It’s pretty incredible how far you get with explaining almost any common ailment to humans with simply saying “you got fat”. Imagine actually believing and promoting Fat acceptance…
I have low testosterone according to whatever they say, yet I have plenty of muscle mass if I lost more weight, I look like a hulk lol. So idk if testosterone is the only hormone that matters with muscle mass? I have had low test since at least I had type 2 diabetes so 10 plus years and when I work out my muscles are huge lol. IDK just wonder as nothing is the same for everyone as they always say.
Yeah, anyone who opines about hormones and has no medical expertise or scientific background is probably full of shit. “Common sense” has no place in endrocrinology. X3
@ziz971 I guess the optimal fat level for testesterone is somewhat higher that the level our fitness gurus, and even health experts, strive for. I would guess it's 15% for men, and 25% for women. Don Johnson, the man who tries to live forever and spend $2M on that, made the mistake of crashing his testerone level by too low body fat.
It's the same as the optimally healthy range for men in most research. I have an article on that here: mennohenselmans.com/what-is-a-healthy-body-fat-percentage/
Hello Menno, good video as always. I was wondering what the science says about skipping leg day for overall muscle developement in the body. I had to pause with leg training because of an injury. Does training legs help increase muscle mass for the overall body since the gh and testosterone release or how will it effect my upperbody. Thanks for your awesome videos!
Convenient how its always more research is needed and we have to just wait and see when the answers might hurt the idea of technological society as the best possible way of existing. Obviously the answer is that both individual choices and inescapable technological reasons are causing hormonal disruptions
05:52 Absolutely, your emphasis on lifestyle as a pivotal factor influencing testosterone levels aligns with robust data and sheds light on the controllable aspects of this decline. It's crucial to recognize that personal choices and habits play a significant role, in challenging the notion of inevitability tied to external factors. Considering the impact of lifestyle, incorporating a premium supplement like Akarali becomes even more relevant. Crafted for daily use, Akarali is designed to support healthy testosterone levels, particularly beneficial for those dealing with aging hormones and androgen deficiency. Its commitment to clinically tested ingredients ensures a trustworthy option for safely and sustainably boosting testosterone.
I think the most direct correlation is the use of female hormone based birth control to lowering male hormone levels which began in the late 1950s and has exponentially grown since.
Most my male friends have done so much drugs at parties so much so that they are at this point either bi sexual or very feminine men. The trend is continuing quickly and is very encouraged by everyone around us, media and social media.
You have ask why there have been no proper studies the effects of pesticides, endocrine disruptors etc...very surprised you dismiss it just be because there is no proper studies. Do you really believe that these corporations would allow someone to create studies that could lower their profits? And pollution really do you mean spraying pesticides or SRM.
Started playing the video, and without much ado - jumping right into endocrine disruption from modern artificial materials. Have you ever read anything about testosterone in both males and females from the perspective of sunlight? Road to enlightenment ... Summer-winter effects: men become more 'hormonally effeminate' as a seasonal progression preparing from summer through fall for the winter. Waxing energy stores. But the winter never arrives, because the summer foods are available year round indiscriminately.
I think it has to do with poor craniofacial development and not eating nutritous hard food, and not mewing. Crooked teeth = poor craniofacial development and this stuff shrinks the airway and creates sleep disorders/poor sleep. When you get bad sleep, you can't produce as much testosterone.
I recently noticed research that sufficient levels of boron intake increases testerone. Our farming methods depletes minerals, like boron, from our soils. Plants need boron, and so do we! I used to supplement with 3 mg of boron a day, because that seemed to be an optimal level. (The research article: "Nothing Boring About Boron" by Lara Pizzorno, told me that.) Much more recently, I read research showing that 6 -- 10 mg of boron increased testesterone, while below 2.5 mg didn't. This might be just one example of how our nutrition has changed. And boron doesn't even have an RDA!
About 50% of the worlds population has a D vitamin deficiency today. Thats also a important factor in low testosteron, because of more time spent inside and not under the sun. And you need atleast 4000 iu a day for optimal test. Together with 100 mcg of vitamin k2.
SHBG still matters bc it is important for body comp and also may potentially augment androgen regulated nuclear transcription through mechanisms we don't fully understand, but the "end of manliness" is a little overhypef
@@jeremiahromagnoli7389 Just an adaptation for life style circumstances. They love to fear monger using all sorts of things to demonize or compare and say its gotten "much much worse". I never fall for this BS. Its fine, I feel fine, shut up.
Test levels are decreasing because people are sedentary and eat like garbage. They give their body no reason to produce testosterone, so it doesn't. As soon as you start eating whole foods and exercising your test levels bounce back. Also, we aren't having more trouble building muscle than before, muscle is just hard to build and requires a lot of strain, pain and effort. Your body doesn't want to burn calories and muscle burns calories so you have to really convince it too
Richard Wrangham (PhD, Cambridge University, 1975) is Ruth B. Moore Research Professor of Biological Anthropology (retired) at Harvard University. Richard Wrangham has written about the self-domestication of humans. A short summary is that early humans had to become more feminine before they could dominate the planet. However. The recent changes in testosterone is most likely in most cases as you point out a lifestyle issue.
Great post, Menno. Too many people forget to analyze their lifestyle and fix the "basics" before going down rabbit holes to find why T is low or sub-optimal. Sleep well. Strength train. Do some cardio (but not too much). Recover well. Eat enough calories and eat mostly healthy. Manage stress.
@@web_082Isn't the recommendation 150-300 minutes of zone 2? That's not too far off from strength training recommendations, at least for duration. But half of that duration is spent resting usually.
@@web_082 Presumably too much cardio will take energy/resources away from your muscle building, and therefore the testosterone-producing benefits from your strength training would be less than optimal.
@@web_082 just a guess based on personal experience, but perhaps fatigue. I notice my sleep suffers if I accrue too many miles ran in a week.
@@web_082 It generally also means less muscle mass, less strength and less testosterone.
@@web_082 up to a point. Then excessive cardio will be putting too much cortisol in your body and you become stressed out and worn out
For thousands of years people have been complaining about each new generation saying they’re soft and weaker. We have made life more comfortable. But on the other hand strength speed and power records keep getting broken by those who put in the effort. I’d say the average person is not as strong but those who excel are going further.
Damn I guess you're right and decades of research is wrong
@@ChadAV69 yes research says average testosterone is down(poor diet sleep and activity, maybe psychology as well). Also strength records getting broken yearly. I said average person weaker. And then I said people at the top of reference range getting stronger.
@@ChadAV69you either didn’t watch the video or didn’t understand the comment. The video literally says it is because of lifestyle choices. The comment is agreeing and supplying further logic to that effect.
@@ChadAV69sick of people who comment before even watching the video or thinking. 🤦♂️
Probably better use of gear for those records
I just want to say that thumbnail is ABSOLUTELY HILARIOUS.
I didn't see your comment and I just commented the same thing. Yeah.... I love it too.
Another major factor that could be possible is microplastic that have now been measured to be in our bodies, drinking water, and food supply. There's no way to stop the circulation of microplastics now.
i concur that these micro and nanoplastics have a role in decreasing our test but i even then i don't think it's a major one
Microplastics are stored in the balls
"The basics" is my new life motto for everything. Excellent video.
It all comes back to the desperate need to deflect responsibility from oneself. People don't wanna hear they are the cause of their own problems so it's always society or the governments tampering with them somehow. It's 100% as you said lifestyle. Worse diet habits than ever, highest rate of obesity, lowest rates of exercise....
Yet all zoomers are ridiculously tall
@@shaftofwisdom same zoomers who consume the most unhealthy gmo pesticide ridden food and barely leave their rooms gaming all day
Also, were not fighting sabertooth tigers for a fucking dead mammoth anymore so that probably has something to do with testosterone.
@@madaxwayneYou had me until GMO
@@madaxwayne that shows you that all this food and BioHacking fetishism is irrelevant. The most "wrong living" generation is also the tallest. Even women who eat vegan garbage and stay up till 5am getting banged by random dudes get taller than ever
I've often wondered about the effects of chemicals in our environment on our bodies such as this. Thank you so much for this video! You've actually had multiple videos answering specific questions I've had recently, and you knock it out of the park each time. Keep up the awesome work! Shout out to Dr Mike, as that is how I found your channel.
At 77 my free T is at the top level of a 20-40 year old, my total is mid range for a 20-40 year old. I eat clean , no alcohol, good sleep , weight train 6days a week and lots of supplements, noPEDS , TRT ETC .
what s your levels
@@giova3182 total 2 years ago was / total - 478 / free 21 ng/ dl
nobody cares bro
That's cool, you should post a video of your training so we can see
Wouldn’t be that interesting, just happy I can still train 🤔😃
About 50% of the worlds population has a D vitamin deficiency today. Thats also a important factor in low testosteron, because of more time spent inside and not under the sun.
And you need atleast 4000 iu a day for optimal test. With 100 mcg of vitamin k2.
Regarding the hookup culture mentioned, it would be important to look at the data on proportion of men participating in this culture. While it is more socially acceptable to hook up, dating app stats show that only few "Alpha" men are getting most of the action and large proportion of men age 25 (i think was the statistics) are in involuntary celibate as has 0 intimacy. So my assumption here would be, decades ago, less sexual partners but more prevalent phenomenon across average men, and now, more partners but just to very few, still leading to lower testosterone overall.
Recent study came out finding microplastics in every single human and dog testicle examined, which is rather alarming.
I noticed an (alas seldom-found) great awareness of methodology and statistics. I googled, and yes, you have a thorough knowledge of statistics. For me that greatly contributes to separating nonsense from information and therefore credibility. Menno, keep up the good work!
Men just don't do manly things these days, we are built for adventure, discovery, testing our physical and mental fortitude.
I truly belive all men should have a sport or hobby that tests them phsyically and mentally, some thing with an element of danger that is rewarding, we are not meant to be sat on our asses all day long doing mundane tasks.
Tomb Raiding / Indiana Jones style treasure hunts.
But I think you are actually referring to Hunting.
@@peterpan408 Basically, yes, but as we generally don't hunt these days we need to take on other hobbies that fill that void.
True but im too high inhib.
We are not meant for anything, you are wrong
It would be curious to investigate and control for several variables combined, ie. sleep quality across cultures/geographical areas and ...light pollution.
Imagine this: there is more and more artificial light in our cities > our feeling of "sleepiness" is disrupted > we don't get to sleep on time > sleep deprivation causes testosterone drop.
Very eye opening thanks Menno
Another factor in environmental is the huge increases in E2 being found in the environment & water supplies across he world, particularly in America, where ground water has been heavily contaminated.
“They’re turning the frogs gaaaayyyy!”
-Alex Jones
🏳️🌈🐸
So you want me to take personal accountability for my crappy sleep and diet?? Hell nah, I’d rather blame it on the woke libs and tap water
You are such a refreshing sight of non-BS evidence amongst a hyper-reactive social media community, Menno, thank you for the work that you do!
Please explain how hookup culture is "more masculine." There has been no causal link established between short-term mating strategies and higher testosterone levels. Those studies only show correlation, not causation. They cannot adequately account for stress levels, sleep, diet, etc.
I think he’s more referring to what stereotypically is considered masculine by proponents who suggest this type of stuff
Having regular sex as a man increases your testosterone. Since, men in this generation are having the least amount of sex, it's not uncommon test levels are lower. Not to mention the terrible sleeping patterns in today's era.
@@AJ-nd4nk There been no established casual link between sex and testosterone, only correlation
Really nice video. Very much appreciate the calm, evidence-based approach to such a politically charged topic.
If test and growth levels are lower now than the 50s why is it that the youth of today are so much taller ? And the women a lot more developed. When I was in high school in the 70s there were very few boys over six feet tall, now you are in the minority if you are under six feet tall. How dose that happen if the levels are lower on average? Also most of the girls were reasonably flat chested, there may have been a couple or a few who had a large bust.
I don’t think it has much to do with physiology, I think it’s more to do with social programming, they are exposing the youth to mind control through social media, that’s the true reason for men becoming more feminine and women getting tattooed and wanting to be masculine.
Wake up, there are forces at work to bring this about, do some research and reveal the true agenda.
Absolutely great thumbnail. Loved the video! 😄🙏
I think Arnie may have also been referring to the fact that some people would prefer to look to and blame extrinsic factors instead of doing the 'hard work'.
Yes.. but Arnie also started with a good frame, had lots of help (right place, right time), and was taught how to enhance his T.
@@peterpan408 All true and consistency with enough intensity will make each individual a better version of themself.
7:40 That is incorrect. There are SERMs such as tamoxifen and enclomiphene that increase the indigenous production of testosterone (by blocking the negative feedback of E2 on the hypothalamus).
The social/societal environment is still recovering from the loss of millions and millions of men in WW2.
Great message! Stick to the basics! Those are the factors you can control!
The feminisation of society along with exposure to certain chemicals are intrinsically linked to lifestyle. If children are raised to believe masculinity is toxic, that they don’t need to push their bodies if they don’t feel like it, that it’s ok to avoid physical discomfort, anything that makes you feel uncomfortable is bad. Then they essentially have no motivation or desire to exercise or train in anything. They’re constantly told society should accept and appreciate you the way you are, which ultimately includes being fat, lazy and apathetic. if you were to compare it to economics, very few people would ever work their asses off, if currency had no value.
People were never training up to until recently. What's the point? Just do what needs to be done physically rest is nonsense...
Soyboy
Feminization - lol, this is prime example of toxic masculinity. So, you want me to say that women don’t work hard, shoulder lots of responsibility, and are weak? Feminine = weak, masculine - strong. That, is the toxicity. Not everything boils down to gender stereotypes that are untrue, and keeping harmful stereotypes up, is not the way to go forward. I tell you, being a woman is being confronted with discomfort throughout once life. Want my periods, want my birth experience, want my menopause rage? You can have it and shove it somewhere. Men have it good, but whine all the time when they are a bit challenged. Maybe men indeed became weak, but definitely not feminine, just more insecure.
I agree with your take. Did you find anything on epigenetic forces, of say overweight mothers and fathers decreasing testosterone in their children. I think I recall seeing a paper something to the effect of that with regards to female rats and their offspring in the womb, but not their fathers. Good channel by the way.
Thank you. Epigenetic research is still in its infancy in humans. It wouldn't surprise me if there are any effects, but I highly doubt they're comparable to the effects under our control or even those of our genetics.
@@menno.henselmansI would guess that significant changes through epigenetics would be over multiple generations
I always see these black pill types online saying they can't build any muscle because of T levels, but I go to the gym and witness people training to like 20+ RIR. One of these things seems way more likely to be the problem than they other.
Personally i do think the chemicals are best avoided, and society is becoming weak in general. Nowadays people my age ( 49 in a few weeks) who lift think TRT is an option, which is absolute BS and unnecessary. I do believe that lifestyle, diet etc as you say is definitely the biggest factor. And alcohol.
Good video
That was my opinion. My estrogen was almost nonexistent and test wasn't great. Doctor finally talked me into trt after about 5 years. I am older than you but I can now see the slope. You can recover with trt then switch back to normal way easier than you can recover your muscle and build yourself up naturally at an older age. Or you can stay on trt too. I am guessing as it plays out they will show proper trt lengthens lifespan considerably.
The biggest chemical producing companies(e.g. Monsanto) suppression of “extensive research” on the effects of man made chemicals(e.g. preservatives, pesticides) on the endocrine system is the problem. These chemicals are DNA disruptive contributing the higher rates of cancer in the last 10 years. I do believe that great whole food diet and plenty of exercise help prevent inflammation in the body.
Maybe not the most masculine question, but how do you make your skin so radiant and glowy? Or is it a filter?
What's weird: at the same time children hit puberty earlier than ever, wouldn't this be caused by higher testosterone in boys? Or maybe the negative lifestyle choices need time to have an effect.
I think the drop in testosterone can be largely attributed to the rise of obesity even in men , obviously fat guys have lower testosterone which drags the average down .
Focusing on the testosterone effect of life style stress, In a RP interview of a trainer for actors who monitored his own testosterone level with blood work on a regular basis, when he cut out a daily 1.5 each way commute, his testosterone levels rose by about 50%. Some of this could of course be attributed to more exercise time, but since he was already exercising regularly, I would think the result was incurred more by stress relief and better overall systemic R&R.
There was a time when Mothers (in the know) used to tell their kids to "eat your vegetables." Now, some mothers allow their kids all kinds of junk food.
The problem with exposure tests is that they test for single potentialy bad chemical at a time. But we expose ourselves to huge number of potentialy bad chemicals at the same time. I would like to see a study that goes for combinations of all the hazardous chemicals that an average human is exposed to on daily basis...
I am 76 and have hair on my head !!! Now these days see how many products have soybean oil !! Plus eating more dairy products that has ESTROGEN !!! When I was in my 20's only about 5% of men were bald !!! I saw an article that if you were born after 1953 then you will have lower levels of testosterone That's why today I try to eat my own foods that I prepared from scratch !!!
Stress, sedentary, food supply, information, supplements, medical, overcomplicating
In the 19th century, people were up and moving all the time, doing mostly physical jobs. There was the stress of having to move to the city, uproot one's life, raise a family in tighter accomodations. Everyone was expected to raise a family.
The 20th century had two world wars, so the culture encouraged men to be masculine again. They had to raise families again, because nations encouraged it. Having fun wasn't a thing in and of itself. The downward trend began in the 60s, but the boomers still encouraged hard work.
Now that we've had decades of peace, we're a peace time culture, where war is considered unthinkable. People only work long enough to be comfortable in their money, whereas many boomers would have worked to "feel valued".
The greatest generation didn't bother to make such calculations at all, to my knowledge.
"Back in the good ol days"
Testosteron is not the time, its diet and sports
You’ll be the first one that tells us that u are wrong. In my mid forties my testosterone came back….. After…. Cutting out every soap with a fragrance i. E. detergent, shampoo, cologne, etc. in my life- Coupled with lifestyle changes I made in my 30s, my last test was 708 and before 830 ndl. Dude I wouldn’t parade around that endocrine disrupting chemicals are overhyped. Who wants to pay for those studies? Johnson & Johnson doesn’t? You have to think about who has a vested interest in what chemical and how that could potentially disrupt the flow of capital.
100ndl is basicallt nothing. Could be measurement error
You think maybe the life style changes were more important?
Taking care of babies reduce testosterone... but younger generations are having less or no children. I wonder if the same effect happens with taking care of pets?
I've looked at studies on this, and the best explanation is not plastics and chemicals, it's the transition to a more sedentary life style. If you look at obesity rates over the same period, the two almost mirror one another. Diet also plays a large roll in the increase of obesity, and obesity impacts testosterone levels. Staying with diet, people are less likely to have good fats in their diets, which again, impacts hormone production. We have gotten lazy and eat like campground raccoons.
And also the fact that they have measured the T-levels for obese people losing fat and they see that the T-levels go up when they do lose fat. (down to a certain point of BF-level. Too low, as in very low single percentage for many, and it is the opposite!)
I eat well (good fat) and have a physically demanding job, but my sleep and exercise have fallen a bit, have been low T for over a year. You need everything to be in order. I'm still not sure lifestyle explains everything though regarding T levels because men i the 1950s and before didn't all exercise and work out.
@@chatteyj What are your levels then? And why has your doctor not put you on TRT? Other medical factors could be the cause of your low T, but something is making me tingle and think you're not diagnosed by a doctor. Hell, your poor sleep can be enough to impact your test levels, especially if you are over 35.
As for "men in the 1950s", most of them had physically demanding jobs, plus physically demanding lifestyles. Not to mention superior nutrition for the most part. The best part about using the 1950s as a reference point, we don't actually have enough information to get a good idea of what the average test levels were. We only have an idea of range, and it's not that far off of what we have today.
seems like the obvious thing at least here in the US. consistently rising levels of income inequality and lack of affordable housing creating extra stress which drives test levels way down
I was 29 and couldn’t get my test lvl higher then 2 (130) good training and diet etc no actual reason after tests
I Notice on the streets people walking around majority are over weight and soft looking but in the gyms the opposite is true! So there is a extreme polar opposite going on.
Mr Henselmans, I greatly appreciate your evidence based scientific rational information you put in your videos! This is in contrast to the rest of most content which is posted on social media - mostly sensetional clickbait deceptive talk and they misinterpret their sources even! In my eyes you're one of the top fitness influencers, and I have watched a lot of them in my years following this industry. Keep up the good work! :)
"good diet", yes very evidence based.. take his information with a grain of salt
Thank you!
@@Cenot4ph Did you even watch the video? He talked about overall bodyfat levels being much higher, the bad lifestyle choices with sleeping too little, stress and possibly lower levels of some minerals.
It is evidence based when it comes to BF-levels at least. That has been proven with people losing fat and measurements of how their T-levels change for the better!
@@Magnus_Loov Depends how much fat. Some fat is totally healthy and fine. You don't need to be shredded all year round that's actually detrimental.
@@JustChill-zd4ib Yes, but that isn't the case for the average Joe. Around 15% is fine. No need to go lower than that.
Great information. Thank you.
Its obviously food. Our food has changed significantly
Could you do a video on testrone levels in different countries?😊
What would you consider to be the optimal bodyfat range for men?
15-20% is definitely safe but depending on the person, you can potentially go down to 10% or up to 25%
No bodyfat is optimal
@@Danirowan Utterly false. Sarcasm?
mennohenselmans.com/what-is-a-healthy-body-fat-percentage/
as always well respected, scientifically pointed statement. One correction (just for teasing mostly): "alpha male" is not a scientific term. Does not represent the hierarchy competition concept that it was originally implied to do... =)
the biggest issue is that some environmental and dietary effects are generational and very hard to proper study
I think the biggest cause is the decreese in sleep. It is know that it decreases it much and we get less of it than in the past.
great video! (subbed)
By the way that bit you read about endocrine disruptors in the environment sounds like a press release from the American Chemical Manufacturers Council. They will never see data good enough to cause them to actually investigate the problems associated with their profitable practices.
I doubt that testosterone levels are dropping in any group of wild animals. Their physical abilities remain very important and utilised where as ours are less and less so.
Wrong, food is the most important thing
Hey Menno, I wanted to ask a question about your video which was about protein that was uploaded a month ago, I was wondering if training twice a day would have an effect on muscle hyperthrophy as training would allow for the body to use more protein.
So for example would a full body split three days a week but with two full workouts each day once in the morning and once in the evening be better for growth. Also I Love the content you’re putting out.
Training frequency per se most likely does not change protein requirements, given the same total weekly volume. It can change the ideal timing though, as exercise acutely delays the muscle-full effect: you can use more protein to build muscle after a workout.
@menno.henselmans I'm gen x & I've seen it since I was a kid. Back in the day, you'd be in a confrontation with another male just for making brief eye contact. Where & when I grew up, it was like the Francis Ford Coppola's movies, Rumble Fish & The Outsiders. Younger males today look soft to me today. Personally, II think it's being done by those in power deliberately. I'm proud to wear my tin foil hat.
Feminism, single-mother households, lack of exercise, and bad "food".
I am sure single father households are better. Only, the men usually don’t men up and raise their kids when the leave their families. And when men become weak, because women want equal right, then it;s maybe because men are not as strong they actually think they are. a strong man can partner with a strong woman, the rest whine about feminism.
Hello Menno. I was diagnosed with Low T. Can I ever recover with strength training?
Squats and deadlifts are great for increasing testosterone.
Great video! Debunked all the test fear mongering. People need to realize that population wide changes do not necessarily reflect on the individual! As for EDCs I’m very suspicious of what are likely to be very small concentrations entering the body having a significant impact over the basics like sleep, diet, exercise etc etc
Menno, great video. It's good to see someone adiquately disect these pop-culture concerns. While reading some of the comments directly below it's clear that some of the audience doesn't understand logic all that well. So perhaps had you expanded a bit more in your explanations. Beating the proverbial dead horse, that would be helpful to others. -Food for thought. Please, keep the video coming.
Bros stressing about their testosterone levels is lowering their testosterone levels
I think they add something to what we eat and drink. With the decrease in testosterone, prostate diseases that normally appear at the age of 60 began to appear in their 40s, men die earlier.
Sugar and refined carbs! Nearly all cheap food is made with THIS! 2nd, we eat way too much of that with little or no plants and fruits.
Also meat ... IMHO meat is poison for our body
And worst kind of thing is that certain food combinations are extremely heavy on our body to get digested!
And also we drink too little water, and way, way too much other "taste based" drinks! (coke, beer, juices with added sugar, alcohol, coffee, ... )
One very important and extremely disregard topic is our own mentality and mindset about ourselves, our relation with others and universe!
Negativity is poison that kills you from inside your own mind and it also steals your will to act!
Sleep, working out, diet. Once I fixed these my total test went from 750 to 990 ng/dl and there is still room for improvement! I had a Magnesium, zinc and vitamin d3 deficiency.
Just dont overdo it with the working out. To build up muscle the body actually uses testosterone which is then "gone". Many extreme bodybuilders end up taking testosterone supplements
Men in the 1950s and before didn't all work out though, so why did they have higher T?
During Covid Arnold should have said, "Fuck your feelings" instead of, "Fuck your freedom". He has always been an incredible guy, but not an honorable person.
An old man from 1800s had more t levels than young boy in 2024
Lots of people want to pick on the small things, plastic, wifi, 5g etc.
Not saying it shouldnt be part of the discussion but these are little factors and most people cant do anything about it
Focus on the big things, diet, sleep, exercise, sunlight
If these are in check I doubt the test would be lower.
Stress is a funny argument
Yeah cause a 100 years ago people only had to worry about racism, world wars and poverty, todays modern world is so much more stressful.
Its different, with new problems but I wouldnt say its more stressful either
Fantastic viceo, well explained.
I think the big one is sleep...if you look at most gym bros, they train hard, they eat enough calories/protein however they usually lack in sleep. I have been guilty of this, went through a period of sleeping 6 hours, now back to 8 hours and my workout performance/how I feel is night and day!
Excellent and simple explanation, thnx! The only factor you do not mention (you can't have it all...) is age. Testosterone does decrease a bit with age.
It’s pretty incredible how far you get with explaining almost any common ailment to humans with simply saying “you got fat”. Imagine actually believing and promoting Fat acceptance…
What about catching a cold
Food and water quality , low levels of exercise, use of hormonal birth control by women.
I have low testosterone according to whatever they say, yet I have plenty of muscle mass if I lost more weight, I look like a hulk lol. So idk if testosterone is the only hormone that matters with muscle mass? I have had low test since at least I had type 2 diabetes so 10 plus years and when I work out my muscles are huge lol. IDK just wonder as nothing is the same for everyone as they always say.
Yeah, anyone who opines about hormones and has no medical expertise or scientific background is probably full of shit. “Common sense” has no place in endrocrinology. X3
Great video. Rational, scientific and non political 👍
so, you're telling me, i need TRT because i sleep 4-6h a day and often go to bed tippsy? damn, i thought i could blame the environment :-(
Very good Video! What do you think is the optimal range of bodyfat for a men to have maximal testosteron?
@ziz971
I guess the optimal fat level for testesterone is somewhat higher that the level our fitness gurus, and even health experts, strive for.
I would guess it's 15% for men, and 25% for women.
Don Johnson, the man who tries to live forever and spend $2M on that, made the mistake of crashing his testerone level by too low body fat.
It's the same as the optimally healthy range for men in most research. I have an article on that here: mennohenselmans.com/what-is-a-healthy-body-fat-percentage/
@@menno.henselmans Very good article. Thank you
Hello Menno, good video as always. I was wondering what the science says about skipping leg day for overall muscle developement in the body. I had to pause with leg training because of an injury. Does training legs help increase muscle mass for the overall body since the gh and testosterone release or how will it effect my upperbody. Thanks for your awesome videos!
Convenient how its always more research is needed and we have to just wait and see when the answers might hurt the idea of technological society as the best possible way of existing. Obviously the answer is that both individual choices and inescapable technological reasons are causing hormonal disruptions
The medical research ‘industry’ is owned lock stock n barrel by the chemical companies.
Not really. Did you watch to the end? We got fat, we're eating sh*t and not sleeping enough
@@shyft09 Who "we"? Because I did not. Maybe you did well sucks to suck is all I am gonna say. Don't care.
7:51 You mean V-Shreds Test Boost Max is snake oil??
"Hook up culture" results in most men losing in that game.
05:52 Absolutely, your emphasis on lifestyle as a pivotal factor influencing testosterone levels aligns with robust data and sheds light on the controllable aspects of this decline. It's crucial to recognize that personal choices and habits play a significant role, in challenging the notion of inevitability tied to external factors. Considering the impact of lifestyle, incorporating a premium supplement like Akarali becomes even more relevant. Crafted for daily use, Akarali is designed to support healthy testosterone levels, particularly beneficial for those dealing with aging hormones and androgen deficiency. Its commitment to clinically tested ingredients ensures a trustworthy option for safely and sustainably boosting testosterone.
Very interesting, thank you for the insight! There is a herb called cistanche that contributes to testosterone and dihydro-testosterone DHT
Damn, that's interesting for sure, and a pretty strong argument for maintaining healthy body fat levels.
I think the most direct correlation is the use of female hormone based birth control to lowering male hormone levels which began in the late 1950s and has exponentially grown since.
The levels of estrogen are at a record high. In the water, food and everything. Great for women, not for men.
If this is true, how come my test levels are still high
Maybe your genetics
Plastics too..have had an effect
Food choices
Most my male friends have done so much drugs at parties so much so that they are at this point either bi sexual or very feminine men. The trend is continuing quickly and is very encouraged by everyone around us, media and social media.
At 22 years old, i have 278 ng/dl
I'd say it's because of processed food, It lacks minerals and vitamins. Mg, Zinc, etc. have been shown to boost test. in people with a defficiency.
You have ask why there have been no proper studies the effects of pesticides, endocrine disruptors etc...very surprised you dismiss it just be because there is no proper studies. Do you really believe that these corporations would allow someone to create studies that could lower their profits?
And pollution really do you mean spraying pesticides or SRM.
I have noticed that young men have smooth, hairless faces and no arm hair. When I was 14 years old, I was like a hairy ape.
Started playing the video, and without much ado - jumping right into endocrine disruption from modern artificial materials.
Have you ever read anything about testosterone in both males and females from the perspective of sunlight?
Road to enlightenment ... Summer-winter effects: men become more 'hormonally effeminate' as a seasonal progression preparing from summer through fall for the winter. Waxing energy stores. But the winter never arrives, because the summer foods are available year round indiscriminately.
I think it has to do with poor craniofacial development and not eating nutritous hard food, and not mewing. Crooked teeth = poor craniofacial development and this stuff shrinks the airway and creates sleep disorders/poor sleep. When you get bad sleep, you can't produce as much testosterone.
I recently noticed research that sufficient levels of boron intake increases testerone.
Our farming methods depletes minerals, like boron, from our soils. Plants need boron, and so do we!
I used to supplement with 3 mg of boron a day, because that seemed to be an optimal level. (The research article: "Nothing Boring About Boron" by Lara Pizzorno, told me that.)
Much more recently, I read research showing that 6 -- 10 mg of boron increased testesterone, while below 2.5 mg didn't.
This might be just one example of how our nutrition has changed.
And boron doesn't even have an RDA!
About 50% of the worlds population has a D vitamin deficiency today. Thats also a important factor in low testosteron, because of more time spent inside and not under the sun.
And you need atleast 4000 iu a day for optimal test.
Together with 100 mcg of vitamin k2.
Thank you for cluing us in about boron. I'll have to check that.
Interesting note that free T levels have not been decreasing at all in young men
SHBG still matters bc it is important for body comp and also may potentially augment androgen regulated nuclear transcription through mechanisms we don't fully understand, but the "end of manliness" is a little overhypef
@@jeremiahromagnoli7389 Just an adaptation for life style circumstances. They love to fear monger using all sorts of things to demonize or compare and say its gotten "much much worse". I never fall for this BS. Its fine, I feel fine, shut up.
Test levels are decreasing because people are sedentary and eat like garbage. They give their body no reason to produce testosterone, so it doesn't. As soon as you start eating whole foods and exercising your test levels bounce back.
Also, we aren't having more trouble building muscle than before, muscle is just hard to build and requires a lot of strain, pain and effort. Your body doesn't want to burn calories and muscle burns calories so you have to really convince it too
Muscle building is easy for high T bulls like me
Richard Wrangham (PhD, Cambridge University, 1975) is Ruth B. Moore Research Professor of Biological Anthropology (retired) at Harvard University. Richard Wrangham has written about the self-domestication of humans. A short summary is that early humans had to become more feminine before they could dominate the planet. However. The recent changes in testosterone is most likely in most cases as you point out a lifestyle issue.
So its not an problem but an adaptation.