The REAL way to optimize testosterone
Reviewed by Denise Asafu-Adjei, M.D., MPH
A few years back, PN co-founder John Berardi, PhD, posted a shirtless photo of himself on his 47th birthday.
He called it his “anti-regress pic” and thanked 30 years of squats, deadlifts, presses, and chin-ups—among other exercises—for his chiseled six-pack, pumped chest, and bulging biceps.
The question many commenters posed:
“Are you on testosterone?”
Dr. Berardi explained in a follow-up post that while he wasn’t against testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) for people who needed it, he himself was not on this therapy, and his testosterone levels were boringly “normal.” He also offered some thought-provoking ideas about testosterone and aging.Dr. Berardi’s take is the opposite of what you generally hear, especially these days when…
- The mainstream opinion seems to be that declining testosterone is a harbinger of aging, frailty, and impotence—not to mention a threat to masculinity.
- Increasing numbers of middle-aged men are ditching traditional medical checkups for men’s-focused telehealth clinics that specialize in testosterone enhancement.1
- Reddit communities have popped up solely to obsess over neuroscientist Andrew Huberman’s supplement recommendations for optimizing testosterone.
- Media outlets pump out story after story about “testosterone boosting” foods to eat and “testosterone lowering” foods to avoid.
Whether you’re a coach who fields the “How do I optimize testosterone?” question from clients—or just a regular dude hoping to age well—it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and confused by the conflicting information.