Testosterone is far more than just a muscle-building hormone. It’s a cornerstone of health influencing mood, cognition, bone density, libido, and even longevity. In this episode, Derek (More Plates More Dates), host of the popular YouTube channel ‘More Plates More Dates' and co-founder of Marek Health, joins me to... unpack testosterone’s true role in health, from bone density and insulin sensitivity to brain function and longevity. We cover how lifestyle factors, diet, and micronutrients like vitamin D, zinc, and magnesium shape testosterone levels, and which testosterone-boosting supplements actually work versus those that are just hype. We dive deep into testosterone replacement therapy—when it’s warranted, what benefits to expect, the risks (like polycythemia and fertility suppression), and how delivery methods such as injections, creams, and orals formulations differ. We also explore testosterone therapy for women, cardiovascular disease and prostate cancer risk, and how DHT drives hair loss, plus the safety and efficacy of treatments like finasteride, minoxidil, microneedling, and ketoconazole shampoo. If you want to understand testosterone beyond the headlines, including its functions, its tradeoffs, and the practical ways to optimize it, this conversation is a must-listen. Links in the next post. Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 1:58 - Why men need testosterone 4:19 - Testosterone's role in women 6:00 - Does high testosterone shorten life? 9:19 - What castrati reveal about lifespan 12:15 - Free vs. total testosterone 15:49 - Measuring testosterone 18:36 - Reference ranges vs. symptoms 21:58 - When high T signals trouble 23:40 - What LH and FSH tell you 28:19 - Is high SHBG hurting your T? 32:10 - Why SHBG rises with age 36:52 - Signs of low testosterone 39:54 - Alcohol’s impact on testosterone 42:46 - How low-fat & low-carb diets lower T 43:25 - Micronutrient mistakes hurting hormones 45:19 - Excess body fat & low testosterone 48:46 - Risks of excessive endurance training 53:09 - Endocrine disruptors 55:50 - Are testosterone levels declining? 58:39 - Why dietary fat boosts hormones 1:01:02 - Does keto harm testosterone? 1:02:17 - Best exercise for testosterone 1:04:23 - Do vitamin D, zinc, magnesium help? 1:08:43 - Can boron boost free testosterone? 1:09:53 - Ashwagandha 1:14:07 - Is Tongkat Ali best for boosting T? 1:17:58 - Tongkat Ali vs. boron 1:19:27 - Shilajit, tribulus, & fenugreek 1:20:41 - Best 4 supplements for testosterone 1:22:25 - Dutch vs. blood tests for cortisol 1:23:40 - When to consider TRT 1:31:30 - Realistic TRT benefits 1:34:41 - TRT and heart risks 1:44:31 - Creams vs. injections 1:45:55 - TRT and prostate cancer risk 1:48:08 - Side effects of TRT 1:50:48 - Rollercoaster effect from injections 1:53:23 - Low testosterone risks vs. TRT 1:56:46 - Choosing TRT delivery methods 2:03:23 - Smaller, frequent injections safer? 2:05:20 - Maintaining fertility on TRT 2:13:20 - Why TRT shrinks testicles 2:14:47 - Biomarkers to track on TRT 2:24:04 - Testosterone therapy for women 2:33:57 - Can DHEA safely raise women's T? 2:36:54 - Causes of hair loss 2:43:08 - Does your hairline come from grandpa? 2:43:55 - Risks of stopping hair loss 2:53:02 - Ketoconazole, minoxidil & microneedling 2:56:03 - Topical vs. oral minoxidil 2:59:08 - Microneedling without minoxidil 3:01:59 - Finasteride, dutasteride & the brain 3:03:10 - Finasteride & nocebo effect 3:04:44 - Does minoxidil delay baldness? 3:06:13 - Can dutasteride extend lifespan?show more

Dr. Rhonda Patrick

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