Tom Nikkola | VIGOR Training

It's better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

At a time of broken supply chains, concerns about maintaining health, and constant government interference with access to natural products, it's crucial to stock up on the following essential supplements, as well as others you might use every day.

Why You Need to Stock Up Now

Worker shortages, COVID-related closures, and ships that cannot reach their port have led to disastrous supply chain problems.

Though it will take a few more months to become severely problematic, the supplement industry will face significant supply problems soon.

Supplement manufacturers may feel the impact of broken supply chains more than most other industries. Here's why:

Raw materials come from across the globe, which means production or shipping issues with a single ingredient in a formula will keep the product from getting produced.

As we move into cold and flu season, demand could rise to greater levels than ever, with much of the population still fearful of getting COVID-19.

More and more research continues to come out, showing consumers the impact of certain micronutrients, herbs, and botanicals on supporting your immune system, which increases demand even more.

Pressure by government agencies to ax natural therapies, so pharmaceuticals can be sold instead, means some supplements will no longer be available to consumers.

Political tensions may prevent some countries from shipping to others, which could impact raw material availability.

Though the above are all possibilities, one thing is sure: Prices continue to climb. The cost to produce raw materials, ship them to manufacturers, pay employees to make them, and the cost to package and ship them to a customer are all increasing.

If you can still get them, you'll pay more for your supplements a year from now than you do today.

Maintaining Ample Supply

Since most supplements have a 2-year shelf life before their efficacy starts to decrease, you can save yourself money and ensure you'll have ample supply by keeping at least a six-month supply on hand.

Once you get your six-month supply, continue ordering a one-month supply each month after that and using the oldest products first. That way, you won't have products that expire, and you won't have to worry as much about products running out of stock.

Preppers often think this way about food, and many people think this way when it comes to finances, keeping an emergency fund saved up. If you're going to maintain the best possible health, even if you face difficult times, you'll do the same with your supplements.

While I'd recommend you keep a six-month stash of all of your regular supplements, such as the Foundational Five, I've highlighted the supplements below based on their increased likelihood of product shortages and rising prices.

Order based on what your budget allows, but don't get caught without your essential supplements when supplies run out.

If you'd like to save money, get access to more product alternatives when items go out of stock, and support the content on this site, order through my Wellevate dispensary. Even if you decide to order elsewhere, I hope you find the recommendations helpful.

Save Money When You Use My Wellevate Dispensary

In addition to the types of supplements I recommend stocking up on, I’ve also included the actual products I recommend most often. Except for Young Living’s Master Formula, you can order all the supplements through my Wellevate practitioner dispensary.

I’ve set up my dispensary so you save 15% on all of the 300+ brands available, including the items I recommend below.

SHOP WELLEVATE NOW

1. High-Quality Multivitamin

A high-quality multivitamin and protein powder would be the two most important supplements to have on hand if we were in a SHTF situation. It would help ensure you meet your micronutrient needs when the quality of the food supply is question...

It's better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

At a time of broken supply chains, concerns about maintaining health, and constant government interference with access to natural products, it's crucial to stock up on the following essential supplements, as well as others you might use every day.

Why You Need to Stock Up Now

Worker shortages, COVID-related closures, and ships that cannot reach their port have led to disastrous supply chain problems.

Though it will take a few more months to become severely problematic, the supplement industry will face significant supply problems soon.

Supplement manufacturers may feel the impact of broken supply chains more than most other industries. Here's why:

Raw materials come from across the globe, which means production or shipping issues with a single ingredient in a formula will keep the product from getting produced.As we move into cold and flu season, demand could rise to greater levels than ever, with much of the population still fearful of getting COVID-19.More and more research continues to come out, showing consumers the impact of certain micronutrients, herbs, and botanicals on supporting your immune system, which increases demand even more.Pressure by government agencies to ax natural therapies, so pharmaceuticals can be sold instead, means some supplements will no longer be available to consumers.Political tensions may prevent some countries from shipping to others, which could impact raw material availability.

Though the above are all possibilities, one thing is sure: Prices continue to climb. The cost to produce raw materials, ship them to manufacturers, pay employees to make them, and the cost to package and ship them to a customer are all increasing.

If you can still get them, you'll pay more for your supplements a year from now than you do today.

Maintaining Ample Supply

Since most supplements have a 2-year shelf life before their efficacy starts to decrease, you can save yourself money and ensure you'll have ample supply by keeping at least a six-month supply on hand.

Once you get your six-month supply, continue ordering a one-month supply each month after that and using the oldest products first. That way, you won't have products that expire, and you won't have to worry as much about products running out of stock.

Preppers often think this way about food, and many people think this way when it comes to finances, keeping an emergency fund saved up. If you're going to maintain the best possible health, even if you face difficult times, you'll do the same with your supplements.

While I'd recommend you keep a six-month stash of all of your regular supplements, such as the Foundational Five, I've highlighted the supplements below based on their increased likelihood of product shortages and rising prices.

Order based on what your budget allows, but don't get caught without your essential supplements when supplies run out.

If you'd like to save money, get access to more product alternatives when items go out of stock, and support the content on this site, order through my Wellevate dispensary. Even if you decide to order elsewhere, I hope you find the recommendations helpful.

Save Money When You Use My Wellevate Dispensary

In addition to the types of supplements I recommend stocking up on, I’ve also included the actual products I recommend most often. Except for Young Living’s Master Formula, you can order all the supplements through my Wellevate practitioner dispensary.

I’ve set up my dispensary so you save 15% on all of the 300+ brands available, including the items I recommend below.

SHOP WELLEVATE NOW

1. High-Quality Multivitamin

A high-quality multivitamin and protein powder would be the two most important supplements to have on hand if we were in a SHTF situation. It would help ensure you meet your micronutrient needs when the quality of the food supply is questionable.

Facts only matter to Democrats if they support their agendas. In the absence of facts, they create emotionally-charged, divisive, us vs. them fictional tales. One such tale is the one about COVID where the good guys are the vaccinated, and the bad guys are the unvaccinated.

In this fictional tale, the Democrats sell the idea that a new type of vaccine is essential for survival, but it only works if everyone gets it. Those who don't get it become a threat to society with the potential to kill anyone who breathes in just a little of the same air.

With enough propaganda, many of the vaccinated learn to look down upon the sorry souls of the unvaxxed the way Hillary Clinton looks down upon Trump voters.

Even with the giants of Mainstream Media and social media pushing the propaganda, many people see through it. They ask good questions, which only serves to enrage the propaganda teams. They respond by slandering the person asking, or even canceling them out in any way possible.

The two key questions anyone with a shred of critical thinking skills should ask are:

If the vaccines work so well, why should the vaccinated fear the unvaccinated? If the vaccines don't work, why wouldn't the vaccinated fear the vaccine pushers more than unvaccinated people?

Be careful, though. Once you ask such questions, you'll be forced to question everything you've been sold since the beginning of 2020.

I've covered a number of other issues related to COVID these past couple of years, so once you get through this blog post, I recommend reading (or listening to):

What if we’ve all been primed? (ep. 79)

Unmasked. Unmuzzled. Unvaccinated. Unafraid. (83)

Masks and Face Coverings: Who’s considering the collateral damage? (ep 94)

mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines: Advantages, risks, and unanswered questions (ep. 114)

Mass Masking, Facts, and the Masker-Rage (151)

Today's focus is on vaccination. When you look at the scientific evidence and research data, you see the following:

Vaccinated people spread COVID as much as the unvaccinated, and may carry a greater viral load, which could make transmission easier

Vaccinated people still get COVID, along with a myriad of other health problems, including Vaccine-Induced Prothrombotic Immune Thrombocytopenia (VIPIT), Myocarditis, arrhythmia, and a bunch of other health problems

Immunity from the vaccines wears off long before natural immunity from COVID recovery does

There is zero long-term safety data from these vaccines, something that will take more than a decade to discover

There's no logical reason to vaccinate young adults, children, or those who've recovered from COVID and carry antibodies

The science is clear: The “vaccines” don’t work like we were told they would, not that they’re really “vaccines” anyway.

Not a Traditional Vaccine

Whenever I have a one-on-one conversation about the COVID vaccines, I try to make sure everyone in the conversation understands that they’re not traditional vaccines. Without that understanding, it’s easier to convince people that they’re safe. After all, we’ve been vaccinating for polio, measles and more for decades. If that's what they think of when they think of the COVID vaccines, they won't understand why this entire vaccination process is, in the words of Dr. Robert Malone, inventor of the mRNA vaccine, a clusterfrack.

https://twitter.com/RWMaloneMD/status/1445454298918227973?s=20

Traditional Vaccines

Traditional vaccines involve a weakened form of the virus that causes infection. When you inject that weakened virus into the body, the immune system has an easier time of stopping it from infecting the individual. As the immune system attacks it, your body produces IgM antibodies. These are short-term antibodies to fight off more of the virus.

Over time, your IgM antibodies decrease and you replace them with IgG antibodies, which creates long-term immunity. After getting through chickenpox,

Facts only matter to Democrats if they support their agendas. In the absence of facts, they create emotionally-charged, divisive, us vs. them fictional tales. One such tale is the one about COVID where the good guys are the vaccinated, and the bad guys are the unvaccinated.

In this fictional tale, the Democrats sell the idea that a new type of vaccine is essential for survival, but it only works if everyone gets it. Those who don't get it become a threat to society with the potential to kill anyone who breathes in just a little of the same air.

With enough propaganda, many of the vaccinated learn to look down upon the sorry souls of the unvaxxed the way Hillary Clinton looks down upon Trump voters.

Even with the giants of Mainstream Media and social media pushing the propaganda, many people see through it. They ask good questions, which only serves to enrage the propaganda teams. They respond by slandering the person asking, or even canceling them out in any way possible.

The two key questions anyone with a shred of critical thinking skills should ask are:

If the vaccines work so well, why should the vaccinated fear the unvaccinated? If the vaccines don't work, why wouldn't the vaccinated fear the vaccine pushers more than unvaccinated people?

Be careful, though. Once you ask such questions, you'll be forced to question everything you've been sold since the beginning of 2020.

I've covered a number of other issues related to COVID these past couple of years, so once you get through this blog post, I recommend reading (or listening to):

What if we’ve all been primed? (ep. 79)Unmasked. Unmuzzled. Unvaccinated. Unafraid. (83)Masks and Face Coverings: Who’s considering the collateral damage? (ep 94)mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines: Advantages, risks, and unanswered questions (ep. 114)Mass Masking, Facts, and the Masker-Rage (151)

Today's focus is on vaccination. When you look at the scientific evidence and research data, you see the following:

Vaccinated people spread COVID as much as the unvaccinated, and may carry a greater viral load, which could make transmission easierVaccinated people still get COVID, along with a myriad of other health problems, including Vaccine-Induced Prothrombotic Immune Thrombocytopenia (VIPIT), Myocarditis, arrhythmia, and a bunch of other health problemsImmunity from the vaccines wears off long before natural immunity from COVID recovery doesThere is zero long-term safety data from these vaccines, something that will take more than a decade to discoverThere's no logical reason to vaccinate young adults, children, or those who've recovered from COVID and carry antibodies

The science is clear: The “vaccines” don’t work like we were told they would, not that they’re really “vaccines” anyway.

Not a Traditional Vaccine

Whenever I have a one-on-one conversation about the COVID vaccines, I try to make sure everyone in the conversation understands that they’re not traditional vaccines. Without that understanding, it’s easier to convince people that they’re safe. After all, we’ve been vaccinating for polio, measles and more for decades. If that's what they think of when they think of the COVID vaccines, they won't understand why this entire vaccination process is, in the words of Dr. Robert Malone, inventor of the mRNA vaccine, a clusterfrack.

https://twitter.com/RWMaloneMD/status/1445454298918227973?s=20

Traditional Vaccines

Traditional vaccines involve a weakened form of the virus that causes infection. When you inject that weakened virus into the body, the immune system has an easier time of stopping it from infecting the individual. As the immune system attacks it, your body produces IgM antibodies. These are short-term antibodies to fight off more of the virus.

Over time, your IgM antibodies decrease and you replace them with IgG antibodies, which creates long-term immunity. After getting through chickenpox, your IgG antibodies prevent you from getting it...

Though this isn't a long post, it's 20 years in the making, as tomorrow marks my 20th year as a fitness professional.

As I look back on the 20 years, I realize how much my eyes have opened to the myths and misinformation (or is it disinformation) surrounding health and fitness. 

Sadly, much of the pseudoscience and ridiculous public health recommendations persist today, passed along by some well-meaning personal trainers and dietitians, and many charlatans hoping to make a bunch of money from people looking for quick fixes and “cutting-edge” gimmicks.

I don’t know that there’s been a week that’s gone by where I haven’t read health-related research papers and books over those two decades. I’ve never stopped learning because, in my opinion, doing so wouldn’t just hurt me. It would hurt anyone I had a chance to train or educate.

Through it all, I’ve tried to simplify what it takes to get and stay fit and healthy. I’ve also tried to help people think differently about the choices they make each day, which lead them closer to health, or closer to disease.

When I first considered writing this “20-Year Anniversary” blog post, I thought about listing out all of the myths and misguided recommendations health and fitness professionals pass along to patients and clients.

Instead, I decided to outline the three overarching factors that affect whether you get fit, or whether you get fat; whether you get healthy or succumb to disease, and whether you live many years with great quality-of-life or wither away in the comfort of a recliner.

When I make nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle recommendations, I do so with the goal of improving one or each of these three factors, and never negatively impacting any of them.

Of course, the following are the three overarching aims of VIGOR Training, my online fitness membership.

Hormone balance

You tell your body to burn or store fat, build or breakdown muscle, feel hungry or satisfied or frisky or flat, fall asleep or lie in bed wide awake, and so much more, with the hormones you secrete.

You affect a myriad of hormones by:

The types, not quantity of foods you eat

Your choice of exercise (cardio, high-intensity training, or resistance training)

When you go to sleep

How late you expose yourself to blue light from the TV and mobile devices

Medications and supplements you take

Your reaction to your family, friends, and what’s going on in the world

The number of meals you eat each day

I could go on and on. The point is, if you live like much of the world, you’ll:

Produce excess insulin, making you fatter and more fatigued, eventually leading to Type II diabetes

Suppress leptin and increase ghrelin, making you chronically hungry

Suppress thyroid and testosterone, making you feel depressed and fatigued, causing muscle loss and making it difficult to think clearly

Suppress growth hormone and melatonin, making it difficult to sleep well and repair damaged tissues

Raise cortisol, leading to muscle loss, a shrinking brain, and suppressed immune system

None of what I’ve stated is new information. It’s been documented for decades. And yet, if you talk with a typical doctor, he or she rarely discusses your hormones.

Instead, they’ll recommend reducing calories, which suppresses thyroid, increases hunger, and does nothing to impact your health or fitness long-term. Maybe they’ll prescribe a medication, which can further disrupt the hormonal imbalance you’re already experiencing.

They don't measure your hormones, and they certainly don't give you advice that helps you optimize them. At least most doctors don't.

Do you know the three most important choices you can make in optimizing your balance of hormones?

Sleep at least seven hours each night

Eat a high-protein diet

Strength train at least four days per week

Are there other factors that improve your balance of hormones? Absolutely.

Though this isn't a long post, it's 20 years in the making, as tomorrow marks my 20th year as a fitness professional.

As I look back on the 20 years, I realize how much my eyes have opened to the myths and misinformation (or is it disinformation) surrounding health and fitness. 

Sadly, much of the pseudoscience and ridiculous public health recommendations persist today, passed along by some well-meaning personal trainers and dietitians, and many charlatans hoping to make a bunch of money from people looking for quick fixes and “cutting-edge” gimmicks.

I don’t know that there’s been a week that’s gone by where I haven’t read health-related research papers and books over those two decades. I’ve never stopped learning because, in my opinion, doing so wouldn’t just hurt me. It would hurt anyone I had a chance to train or educate.

Through it all, I’ve tried to simplify what it takes to get and stay fit and healthy. I’ve also tried to help people think differently about the choices they make each day, which lead them closer to health, or closer to disease.

When I first considered writing this “20-Year Anniversary” blog post, I thought about listing out all of the myths and misguided recommendations health and fitness professionals pass along to patients and clients.

Instead, I decided to outline the three overarching factors that affect whether you get fit, or whether you get fat; whether you get healthy or succumb to disease, and whether you live many years with great quality-of-life or wither away in the comfort of a recliner.

When I make nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle recommendations, I do so with the goal of improving one or each of these three factors, and never negatively impacting any of them.

Of course, the following are the three overarching aims of VIGOR Training, my online fitness membership.

Hormone balance

You tell your body to burn or store fat, build or breakdown muscle, feel hungry or satisfied or frisky or flat, fall asleep or lie in bed wide awake, and so much more, with the hormones you secrete.

You affect a myriad of hormones by:

The types, not quantity of foods you eatYour choice of exercise (cardio, high-intensity training, or resistance training)When you go to sleepHow late you expose yourself to blue light from the TV and mobile devicesMedications and supplements you takeYour reaction to your family, friends, and what’s going on in the worldThe number of meals you eat each day

I could go on and on. The point is, if you live like much of the world, you’ll:

Produce excess insulin, making you fatter and more fatigued, eventually leading to Type II diabetesSuppress leptin and increase ghrelin, making you chronically hungrySuppress thyroid and testosterone, making you feel depressed and fatigued, causing muscle loss and making it difficult to think clearlySuppress growth hormone and melatonin, making it difficult to sleep well and repair damaged tissuesRaise cortisol, leading to muscle loss, a shrinking brain, and suppressed immune system

None of what I’ve stated is new information. It’s been documented for decades. And yet, if you talk with a typical doctor, he or she rarely discusses your hormones.

Instead, they’ll recommend reducing calories, which suppresses thyroid, increases hunger, and does nothing to impact your health or fitness long-term. Maybe they’ll prescribe a medication, which can further disrupt the hormonal imbalance you’re already experiencing.

They don't measure your hormones, and they certainly don't give you advice that helps you optimize them. At least most doctors don't.

Do you know the three most important choices you can make in optimizing your balance of hormones?

Sleep at least seven hours each nightEat a high-protein dietStrength train at least four days per week

Are there other factors that improve your balance of hormones? Absolutely. But no nutrition or lifestyle choice will impact them as much as the three above.

...

Sitting is the new smoking. At least that was a new idea a few years ago. Today, I suppose many people would tell you that remaining unvaccinated is the new smoking, but I'd better not get off on a tangent with that one.

A sedentary lifestyle causes, or contributes to, metabolic dysfunction, muscle imbalances, pain, depression, cardiovascular problems, and decreases in mental and physical performance.

If you believe you're an active adult, you might be fooling yourself. One of the largest ongoing studies in the United States, called the NHANES study, uncovered a major gap between how physically active we believe we are, and how physically active we actually are. 

The study found that 65% of Americans thought they were “active” when asked. When measured, just 5% of Americans met the movement levels of an “active” individual. 

You might be extremely “busy.” However, “busy” has no relation to how active or sedentary you are. That's why you ought to consider the contents of this article carefully.

Adults sit in car pool lanes, at kids’ practices, at desks or in meetings at work, in the car during commutes, and while watching movies or browsing the internet. 

It’s often hard to keep kids still, but most adults must be intentional about getting enough movement during the day.

Even those who exercise regularly are not immune to the effects of a sedentary lifestyle. Research shows that those who exercise intensely tend to be more sedentary the rest of the day than those who don’t. 

That’s not to say those who don’t exercise are healthier, though. They most definitely are not. 

What Does It Mean To be Sedentary? 

Someone who is sedentary is a little more active than someone on bedrest. From a metabolic standpoint, it’s like your metabolism in stuck in sleep mode. 

The easiest way to classify your level of activity is through counting steps. You could use a Fitbit, an Apple Watch, or any of the numerous other movement trackers. 

The following table outlines adult activity levels by step count.

Steps Per dayCategory<5000Sedentary5,000-7,499Low Active7,500-9,999Somewhat Active10,000-12,499Active>12,500Highly Active

Note: If you get a movement tracker, don’t cheat by wearing it during your workout, especially if you’re a runner. 

Treat your daily movement as something separate of your exercise sessions. 

The first time I tracked my steps, I was shocked by how few I averaged. I don’t think you need to track steps for the rest of your life, but by doing so for a couple months, you can develop more of a habit of moving throughout the day. 

Many devices even have periodic reminders if they sense you’ve been sitting too long. 

Sitting and Your Metabolism

Check this out! A sedentary lifestyle increases your risk of:

developing diabetes by 112%

developing cardiovascular disease by 147%

cardiovascular mortality by 90%

“all-cause” mortality by 49%

How can this be? 

For many years, it was believed that too much sitting caused weight gain because you burn fewer calories. It’s not true. 

To explain what happens, I have to share a couple fascinating research studies.

Research shows that the connection between a sedentary lifestyle and weight gain has little to do with calorie burning. 

The real problem is that sitting causes a dysfunction in your metabolism. 

Animal studies are easier to control than human studies, so here’s what happened in a fascinating rat study...

When rats are allowed to run, they typically run about 12 miles per day on the wheel in their cage. Think of it as a mini treadmill. Can you see those little legs scrambling for 12 miles each day?! 

When researchers locked their wheels, the rats got fat. That’s not surprising. 

What was surprising was that the rats still got just as fat when their food intake was reduced to compensate for the calories they didn’t burn from running. 

Put more simply,

Sitting is the new smoking. At least that was a new idea a few years ago. Today, I suppose many people would tell you that remaining unvaccinated is the new smoking, but I'd better not get off on a tangent with that one.

A sedentary lifestyle causes, or contributes to, metabolic dysfunction, muscle imbalances, pain, depression, cardiovascular problems, and decreases in mental and physical performance.

If you believe you're an active adult, you might be fooling yourself. One of the largest ongoing studies in the United States, called the NHANES study, uncovered a major gap between how physically active we believe we are, and how physically active we actually are. 

The study found that 65% of Americans thought they were “active” when asked. When measured, just 5% of Americans met the movement levels of an “active” individual. 

You might be extremely “busy.” However, “busy” has no relation to how active or sedentary you are. That's why you ought to consider the contents of this article carefully.

Adults sit in car pool lanes, at kids’ practices, at desks or in meetings at work, in the car during commutes, and while watching movies or browsing the internet. 

It’s often hard to keep kids still, but most adults must be intentional about getting enough movement during the day.

Even those who exercise regularly are not immune to the effects of a sedentary lifestyle. Research shows that those who exercise intensely tend to be more sedentary the rest of the day than those who don’t. 

That’s not to say those who don’t exercise are healthier, though. They most definitely are not. 

What Does It Mean To be Sedentary? 

Someone who is sedentary is a little more active than someone on bedrest. From a metabolic standpoint, it’s like your metabolism in stuck in sleep mode. 

The easiest way to classify your level of activity is through counting steps. You could use a Fitbit, an Apple Watch, or any of the numerous other movement trackers. 

The following table outlines adult activity levels by step count.

Steps Per dayCategory<5000Sedentary5,000-7,499Low Active7,500-9,999Somewhat Active10,000-12,499Active>12,500Highly Active

Note: If you get a movement tracker, don’t cheat by wearing it during your workout, especially if you’re a runner. 

Treat your daily movement as something separate of your exercise sessions. 

The first time I tracked my steps, I was shocked by how few I averaged. I don’t think you need to track steps for the rest of your life, but by doing so for a couple months, you can develop more of a habit of moving throughout the day. 

Many devices even have periodic reminders if they sense you’ve been sitting too long. 

Sitting and Your Metabolism

Check this out! A sedentary lifestyle increases your risk of:

developing diabetes by 112%developing cardiovascular disease by 147%cardiovascular mortality by 90%“all-cause” mortality by 49%

How can this be? 

For many years, it was believed that too much sitting caused weight gain because you burn fewer calories. It’s not true. 

To explain what happens, I have to share a couple fascinating research studies.

Research shows that the connection between a sedentary lifestyle and weight gain has little to do with calorie burning. 

The real problem is that sitting causes a dysfunction in your metabolism. 

Animal studies are easier to control than human studies, so here’s what happened in a fascinating rat study...

When rats are allowed to run, they typically run about 12 miles per day on the wheel in their cage. Think of it as a mini treadmill. Can you see those little legs scrambling for 12 miles each day?! 

When researchers locked their wheels, the rats got fat. That’s not surprising. 

What was surprising was that the rats still got just as fat when their food intake was reduced to compensate for the calories they didn’t burn from running. 

Put more simply, the rats got fat because their metabolism changed...

Though people often associate testosterone with men, it’s essential for women as well.

Unfortunately, a significant portion of the population lives with low testosterone, which leads to numerous health problems.

In men, it seems to even increase the risk of a severe case of COVID-19.

What does testosterone do, and how can you maintain optimal levels throughout your life? Let’s find out.

How Common is Low Testosterone?

Some experts believe a quarter of 30-year-old men have low testosterone.

A 2006 study found 39% of U.S. men, age 45 and older, were testosterone-deficient. With about 40% deficient, most men are below optimal levels.

The situation is slightly better for women. Daniel Amen, in his book, Unleash the Power of the Female Brain, points out that 20% of women have low testosterone. He also suggests another 20% of women have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which is caused by testosterone levels that are too high.

Unfortunately, these numbers are based on people who have gone to the doctor and are experiencing symptoms. Chances are, many more men and women have testosterone levels out of balance. If you haven't had your testosterone levels checked, you could be among them.

Why Are So Few Aware of the Low Testosterone Problem?

Most people don’t know how important testosterone is. They see it as a hormone for making muscles and boosting libido.

They don't relate testosterone to heart disease, insulin resistance, degenerative brain disease, or depression. As you'll see, low testosterone plays a role in these conditions and many more.

It's for this reason I recommend adults, beginning at age 30, get a complete lab panel each year. If everyone did this, they'd likely identify trends leading to health problems, long before they became actual “health problems.”

Signs and Symptoms of Low Testosterone

Healthcare practitioners diagnose men as “low” in testosterone when it falls below 300 ng/dL. However, signs and symptoms of low testosterone often occur at levels much higher.

The “normal” range for men is 300 ng/dL to 1100 ng/dL. That’s an enormous range!

It would be like saying someone from Dallas lives near the Mexican border. They might live in the state next to Mexico, but it's still 878 miles to the border. It's far from Mexico.

And a testosterone level of 400 ng/dL is far from optimal, even though it's in the “state” of normal.

As far back as the 1970s, some endocrinologist actually knew the proper optimized range of total testosterone (800-1200 ng/dL).

Dr. Dan Purser Improving Male Sexuality, Fertility and Testosterone

Here we are, decades later, and the optimal range is rarely discussed. Many doctors don't know of this “optimal” range. As a result, a doctor tells a guy he's normal as long as his levels are above 300 ng/dl.

In women, the “normal” range for testosterone is 15-70 ng/dL. Because testosterone levels are so much lower in women, doctors often dismiss the importance of measuring it.

Though their total levels are much lower, they still have a broad range in what's considered “normal.” A woman can feel entirely different at a concentration of 15 ng/dL, versus 65 ng/dL, even though she’d be considered normal in both circumstances.

The following two tables outline common signs and symptoms of low testosterone.

Signs and Symptoms of Low Testosterone in MenIncreased “central” body fat (“pot” belly)Irritability and anxietyHot flashesGynecomastiaSleep disturbancesPoor memoryOsteoporotic fractureFatigueLack of morning erectionsLoss of heightMuscle achesDecreased ejaculate volumeLoss of facial, axillary and pubic hairDecreased strengthInfertilityTesticular atrophyReduced libidoPoor memory

Signs and Symptoms of Low Testosterone in WomenGain in body fatReduced sex drive or sexual functionLoss of muscle or muscle weaknessFatigueHot flashesMenstrual irregularity or absenceIrritabilityDepressionMood swingsDiminished exercise performanceFatigueBone lossL...

Though people often associate testosterone with men, it’s essential for women as well.

Unfortunately, a significant portion of the population lives with low testosterone, which leads to numerous health problems.

In men, it seems to even increase the risk of a severe case of COVID-19.

What does testosterone do, and how can you maintain optimal levels throughout your life? Let’s find out.

How Common is Low Testosterone?

Some experts believe a quarter of 30-year-old men have low testosterone.

A 2006 study found 39% of U.S. men, age 45 and older, were testosterone-deficient. With about 40% deficient, most men are below optimal levels.

The situation is slightly better for women. Daniel Amen, in his book, Unleash the Power of the Female Brain, points out that 20% of women have low testosterone. He also suggests another 20% of women have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which is caused by testosterone levels that are too high.

Unfortunately, these numbers are based on people who have gone to the doctor and are experiencing symptoms. Chances are, many more men and women have testosterone levels out of balance. If you haven't had your testosterone levels checked, you could be among them.

Why Are So Few Aware of the Low Testosterone Problem?

Most people don’t know how important testosterone is. They see it as a hormone for making muscles and boosting libido.

They don't relate testosterone to heart disease, insulin resistance, degenerative brain disease, or depression. As you'll see, low testosterone plays a role in these conditions and many more.

It's for this reason I recommend adults, beginning at age 30, get a complete lab panel each year. If everyone did this, they'd likely identify trends leading to health problems, long before they became actual “health problems.”

Signs and Symptoms of Low Testosterone

Healthcare practitioners diagnose men as “low” in testosterone when it falls below 300 ng/dL. However, signs and symptoms of low testosterone often occur at levels much higher.

The “normal” range for men is 300 ng/dL to 1100 ng/dL. That’s an enormous range!

It would be like saying someone from Dallas lives near the Mexican border. They might live in the state next to Mexico, but it's still 878 miles to the border. It's far from Mexico.

And a testosterone level of 400 ng/dL is far from optimal, even though it's in the “state” of normal.

As far back as the 1970s, some endocrinologist actually knew the proper optimized range of total testosterone (800-1200 ng/dL).Dr. Dan Purser Improving Male Sexuality, Fertility and Testosterone

Here we are, decades later, and the optimal range is rarely discussed. Many doctors don't know of this “optimal” range. As a result, a doctor tells a guy he's normal as long as his levels are above 300 ng/dl.

In women, the “normal” range for testosterone is 15-70 ng/dL. Because testosterone levels are so much lower in women, doctors often dismiss the importance of measuring it.

Though their total levels are much lower, they still have a broad range in what's considered “normal.” A woman can feel entirely different at a concentration of 15 ng/dL, versus 65 ng/dL, even though she’d be considered normal in both circumstances.

The following two tables outline common signs and symptoms of low testosterone.

Signs and Symptoms of Low Testosterone in MenIncreased “central” body fat (“pot” belly)Irritability and anxietyHot flashesGynecomastiaSleep disturbancesPoor memoryOsteoporotic fractureFatigueLack of morning erectionsLoss of heightMuscle achesDecreased ejaculate volumeLoss of facial, axillary and pubic hairDecreased strengthInfertilityTesticular atrophyReduced libidoPoor memory

Signs and Symptoms of Low Testosterone in WomenGain in body fatReduced sex drive or sexual functionLoss of muscle or muscle weaknessFatigueHot flashesMenstrual irregularity or absenceIrritabilityDepressionMood swingsDiminished exercise performanceFatigueBone lossL...