Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Why did the Attorney General change the Commonwealth's legal position in Bostic v. Rainey?

Girls kissing
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After a thorough and comprehensive legal analysis of precedents and recent court rulings, Attorney General Herring has determined that Virginia's ban on marriage for same-sex couples is unconstitutional because it improperly denies the fundamental right to marry, which is guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, to thousands of Virginians on the basis of their sexual orientation. The Supreme Court has consistently said that marriage is a fundamental right that the government cannot limit without a very strong reason. Because there is no sufficiently strong reason to  deny same-sex couples the right to marry, Attorney General Herring has concluded the Supreme Court would strike down Virginia's ban if it were presented with the case. For these reasons, he has notified the federal court deciding Bostic that he is changing Virginia's legal position to reflect his determination that the state's marriage ban is unconstitutional.

What are the legal precedents that led to this decision?

There is considerable Supreme Court precedent stating that marriage is a fundamental right guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and rulings stating that the federal government cannot discriminate against same-sex couples. There are also rulings from other federal courts striking down similar same-sex-marriage bans in other states.
  • First, the Supreme Court’s 2013 decision in United States v. Windsor struck down section 3 of the federal Defense of Marriage Act.  Justice Kennedy’s opinion for the Court made clear that the Due Process Clause in the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is violated by laws treating same-sex married couples as second-class citizens.  Justice Scalia’s dissent also made clear that the Court’s rationale would justify invalidating State bans on same-sex marriage.  I agree with that assessment.
  • Second, the Supreme Court’s 2003 decision in Lawrence v. Texas made clear that laws criminalizing homosexual conduct were unconstitutional, regardless of how such activity may traditionally have been viewed.  Justice Scalia predicted then that the decision would justify invalidating laws that ban same-sex marriage.
  • Finally, the Supreme Court has repeatedly held that the right to marriage -- not a particular kind of marriage -- is fundamental:  

    • In Loving v. Virginia, the Supreme Court upheld the right to marriage, not the right to interracial marriage.
    • In Turner v. Safley, the Supreme Court upheld the right to marriage, not the right to prisoner inmate marriage.
    • In Zablocki v. Redhail, the Supreme Court upheld the right to marriage, not the right of people owing child support to marry.
As a fundamental right, the right to marriage cannot be denied unless (among other things) limiting that right serves a compelling State interest.  The reasons offered in support of Virginia’s same-sex-marriage ban do not meet even the most deferential legal standard of review, let alone this heightened scrutiny. 

Based on these precedents, among others, the Attorney General has concluded that if the Supreme Court were to be presented with the facts of this case, it follows that it would again uphold the right to marry and find the exercise of that fundamental right may not be denied to these loving couples based solely on their sexual orientation.   The two federal courts that have most recently considered this issue agreed, striking down the bans on same-sex-marriage in Utah and Oklahoma.

Is the Attorney General within his power to change the state's position?

Yes. The Attorney General is the sole person empowered to present the Commonwealth's position in legal matters and it is up to him or her to determine that position through rigorous legal analysis.

Doesn't the Attorney General have to defend the state's laws?

The Attorney General has a duty to support laws that are constitutional, and has just as strong a duty not to defend laws that he has concluded after careful and thorough analysis are unconstitutional. The Attorney General swears an oath to support the United States Constitution and the Constitution of Virginia. When a state law or part of the Virginia Constitution is in conflict with the United States Constitution, as Attorney General Herring has concluded in this case, the United States Constitution prevails because it is the supreme law of the land.

Furthermore, the Attorney General's primary client is the people of Virginia, not just state agencies. When the constitutional rights of the people of Virginia are being violated, he has a duty to protect their interests.

Have other attorneys general done things like this before?

Yes. There is precedent for an attorney general  or executive branch official refusing to defend a law that he or she has determined is unconstitutional.
  • Former Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli declined to defend the Opportunity Educational Institution, often referred to as Virginia's "school takeover bill," last year.
  • Former Attorney General Jerry Kilgore joined with 43 other State attorneys general in 2003 to argue that an attorney general is properly carrying out his constitutional duties when he seeks to invalidate a State law that he believes, in his independent judgment, to be unconstitutional.  In that brief, Kilgore and the other attorneys general  say that when the  Attorney General believes a state law "violates the constitution, he has a paramount obligation to defend the constitution he is sworn to uphold.”
  • Former Attorney General Kilgore also declined to defend a federal constitutional challenge to a provision in Virginia's constitution that prohibited the incorporation of churches and religious denominations.  That provision was struck down in the 2002 case Falwell v. Miller.
  • Justice Antonin Scalia has stated that the President can resist unconstitutional laws, saying an executive has the power “to disregard them when they are unconstitutional.”
  • In 1989, then-acting Solicitor General John Roberts, now Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, filed a friend-of-the-court brief declaring that the United States considered a particular law to be unconstitutional.
  • In a 1976 election-law case, then-Solicitor General Robert Bork filed two contradictory briefs, one which defended the law at issue, and another, on behalf of the Attorney General and the United States, which provided a counterargument to help the Court resolve the First Amendment questions presented.
Does this mean Virginia's same-sex marriage ban is over?
No. Virginia's ban on same-sex marriage will continue to be enforced until and unless a court or the legislature acts to end its enforcement . The State Registrar of Vital Records will continue to enforce the ban, and clerks are not legally permitted to issue marriage certificates to same-sex couples.

Does this mean the case is over?

No. Before announcing the Commonwealth's change in legal position, Attorney General Herring took steps to ensure the case could continue and the court could hear both sides of the issue.  The Circuit Court Clerks for the City of Norfolk and Prince William County remain defendants.  Lawyers for both clerks will provide a full and capable defense for the ban in court.

Does this mean Virginia's marriage ban will be undefended in court?

No. The Circuit Court Clerks of Norfolk and Prince William County are both represented by able lawyers who will make their best possible case for the marriage ban's legality. They also have a brief filed by previous Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli to assist them in their defense of the ban.

Why didn't the Attorney General appoint special counsel to defend the ban?

Special counsel is not necessary in this case because there are still two other parties  in the case, the Circuit Court Clerks for the City of Norfolk and Prince William County, who are vigorously defending the ban's legality.

Is Attorney General Herring just doing this because he thinks same-sex couples should be able to marry?

Attorney General Herring's decision to oppose Virginia's marriage ban is based on his legal analysis of the facts in this case and relevant court rulings, especially those in recent years that address this specific issue.

Our Notes:  Did these people ever hear of God's Law? Demoralization of the population.  It has nothing to do with rights from what we see.
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Governor McAuliffe Announces Safety Improvements for I-77 in Fancy Gap

English: Former DNC Chair Terry McAuliffe spea...
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New technology to help reduce accidents and save lives
RICHMOND – Governor Terry McAuliffe announced today that the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will soon begin to build a system of electronic signs, cameras and other technology that will improve safety on I-77 in the Fancy Gap area of Carroll County. 
The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) awarded a $7.5 million contract to G4S Technology, Inc. from Springfield, to design and build an Active Traffic and Safety Management System (ATSMS) for a 12-mile segment of I-77, a mountainous section in Fancy Gap.
 “VDOT is using technology to save lives on a section of I-77 that has a higher than average traffic crash rate related to fog or wind,” said Governor McAuliffe.  “This project will help drivers reach their destination safely by keeping them informed of road and weather conditions.  The use of technology in transportation today is improving the safety and efficiency of our transportation network.”
The I-77 Fancy Gap ATSMS includes numerous improvements:
  • Infrastructure to support the establishment of variable speed limits based on weather and traffic conditions
  • A network of electronic message boards to keep drivers informed of changing traffic and weather conditions
  • Additional traffic cameras that will allow complete surveillance of the corridor by VDOT’s traffic operations center, which provides real-time information to drivers through the 511 Virginia system
  • Additional detection stations to enhance weather monitoring capabilities
Work on the project is expected to begin this spring with construction completed in summer 2015.  VDOT has contracted with American Electric Power to complete the electrical infrastructure needed for these improvements.
Keeping drivers informed of road and weather conditions is a key component of the ATSMS project. Dynamic Message Signs will communicate information received by the operations center from the visibility detection sensors, traffic cameras and traffic detection sensors. All of these systems aggregate atmospheric and roadway surface condition information as well as traffic speed and volumes.  VDOT will be responsible for operating and maintaining the system.
Throughout Virginia VDOT is improving corridor operations with similar ATSMS projects. Other projects are in northern Virginia on I-66 and on I-64 along Afton Mountain.
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USDA 2012 Census: Market Value of Production on Virginia Farms Up Almost $1 Billion

Logo of the U.S. National Agricultural Statist...
Logo of the U.S. National Agricultural Statistics Service, part of the Department of Agriculture. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
USDA 2012 Agriculture Census Provides a Snapshot of Agriculture in the U.S. and Virginia

RICHMOND - Virginia’s farms saw a dramatic increase in both the market value of production and the average value of products sold per farm according to the preliminary results of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 2012 Census of Agriculture.  From 2007 to 2012, market value of production sold increased 29 percent to $3.8 billion while the average value of products sold per farm increased 33 percent to $81,540.  
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) announced today the first look at state and national data from the 2012 Ag Census. The preliminary results were provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). 
“It is terrific to see such a dramatic increase in the value of production coming off of Virginia’s farms in the last 5 years,” said Governor McAuliffe. “Agriculture is Virginia’s largest industry, and it is my administration’s priority to continue that growth through sound policies and aggressive economic development efforts. Increasing farm production puts people back to work in our rural communities and provides the commodities that feed our robust agribusinesses throughout the Commonwealth.” 
Virginia also showed a reversal in the loss of farm land in the Commonwealth with a gain of 3%, rising to 8.3 million acres of land held in farms.  While farm land has increased, the number of farms has decreased, meaning that farms are growing larger here in Virginia.  Farmers in Virginia are also continuing to age, now averaging 59.5 years, up from 58.2 years in 2007, and a full year older than the national average of 58.3 years. 
“As Secretary, I am fully committed to helping our farms generate more income through the development of markets both domestically and internationally,” said Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Todd Haymore.  “The increased value of production being sold by Virginia’s farms is an indication that our efforts are making an impact.  The ability to generate greater value on the farm enables land to be kept in production rather than being converted to other uses.  However, we are not without difficulties here in Virginia.  We continue to lose farms at the same time that the average age of our farmers is increasing.  My secretariat will continue to focus on these challenges through farm retention programs in our Office of Farmland Preservation such as the Purchase of Development Rights, the Farm Link and Certified Farm Seeker programs. 
The preliminary 2012 Census data show the following key trends for Virginia. 
  • In 2012, the number of farms in Virginia totaled 46,036, down 3 percent (1,347 farms) from 47,383 farms in 2007
  • Land in farms, 8.3 million acres, was up 3 percent from 8.1 acres in 2007
  • The average size of farm in Virginia was 181 acres, compared to 171 acres in 2007
  • Market value of production sold was $3.8 billion, up 29 percent from $2.9 billion in 2007
  • The average value of products sold per farm was $81,540 compared to $61,334 in 2007
  • The average age of the principal farm operator was 59.5 years, compared to 58.2 years 2007
  •  There were 38,383 principal male operators and 7,653 principal female operators in 2012, compared to 39,537 male and 7,846 female in 2007 
At the national level, the 2012 Census reported little change in land in farms, a more diverse principal operator population and several historic changes in value of sales for U.S. agriculture producers from 2007 to 2012. 
Between 2007 and 2012, the amount of land in farms in the United States declined by less than one percent, from 922 million acres to 915 million. While continuing a downward trend, this is the third smallest decline between censuses since 1950 and is within the margin of error. 
According to the 2012 Census, principal farm operators are becoming older and more diverse. The average age of a principal farm operator was 58.3 years, up 1.2 years since 2007, and continuing a 30-year trend of steady increase. And, more minority-operated farms were also accounted for in 2012 than in 2007. 
The United States had 2.1 million farms, down 4.3 percent in 2012. In terms of farm size by acres, the decline continued a downward trend in mid-sized farms, while the smallest- and largest-size farms held steady. 
In 2012, the value of agriculture products sold totaled $394.6 billion, up 33 percent ($97.4 billion) from 2007. For only the second time in Census history, crop sales ($212.4 billion) exceeded livestock sales ($182.2 billion). 
“One of the most important takeaways to remember about the Census of Agriculture is that the information is used for decision-making by producers as well as all those who serve farmers, ranchers and rural communities – federal, state and local governments, agribusinesses, trade associations and many others,” said Herman Ellison, State Statistician for USDA. “When we look at the data for our state, we can all use it as a snapshot in time to see how Virginia agriculture is changing over time and how it compared to the rest of the country.” 
The release of the preliminary 2012 Census of Agriculture results is only a first look at the data and NASS will publish the final report this May. The 2012 Census was not conducted in a typical crop year, and drought had a major impact on U.S. agriculture, affecting crop yields, production and prices. NASS is still reviewing all 2012 Census items to the county level and therefore data is preliminary until published in the final report. 
Conducted since 1840, the Census of Agriculture accounts for all U.S. farms and ranches and the people who operate them. When available in May, the final report will provide even more detailed information for Virginia, providing data on all farm operators and data down to the county level. The publication will also provide new insights into the agriculture industry reporting new or expanded data on internet access, regional food systems, biomass production, agro-forestry and equine. 
For more information about the Census, including access to the 2012 Census of Agriculture preliminary report and the full report when it is released in May, visitwww.agcensus.usda.gov
According to a 2013 economic impact study conducted by the University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service, agriculture and forestry are two of Virginia's largest industries, with a combined economic impact of $70 billion annually.  Agriculture generates more than $52 billion per annum, while forestry induces over $17 billion. The industries also provide more than 400,000 jobs in the Commonwealth.
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Friday, February 21, 2014

Many Men Risk Their Health by Taking Testosterone When They Don’t Need It

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2cepills (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Dr. Mercola
The male sex hormone testosterone plays many roles in men's health. Besides affecting your sex drive, it also helps maintain muscle mass, bone density, red blood cells, and a general sense of well-being. 
Beginning around age 30, a man's testosterone levels begin to decline, and continue to do so as time goes on—unless you proactively address your lifestyle. Symptoms of declining testosterone levels can include:
  • Decreased sex drive
  • Erectile dysfunction and/or problems urinating
  • Depression
  • Difficulties with concentration and memory
  • Weight gain and/or breast enlargement
Unfortunately, direct-to-consumer drug advertising, which is permissible in the US, is driving men to use testosterone when they're really not good candidates for it. There are studies showing that testosterone therapy can be quite helpful and beneficial, but that's in men who actually have very low testosterone.
Lacking energy and sex drive does not automatically mean you have severe testosterone deficiency warranting taking this hormone. Yet "low T" has become a well-recognized mantra—created by some pharmaceutical PR department—even though there's no hard and set "normal" testosterone level.  

Your Lack of Libido Could Be Due to Other Hormonal Imbalance

For example, a recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM)1 found that there were significant individual variations in the amount of testosterone required for any particular man to maintain lean body mass, strength, and sexual function.
Other hormones, such as estrogen, also play a critical role in men's health, so the heavy focus on testosterone may be inappropriate. The NEJM study2 determined that while testosterone deficiency accounted for decreases in lean mass, muscle size, and strength, estrogen deficiency was the primary culprit when it came to increases in body fat.
Both hormones were found to be important for sexual function, and a deficiency in either had a negative impact on the men's libido.
Please note that men are NOT advised to take estrogen replacement therapy, as this could cause feminization, such as enlarged breasts. As your testosterone levels rise, your body will automatically produce more estrogen,
So the key is to maintain your testosterone level—ideally by incorporating the strategies I will discuss below. Interestingly, simply having more sex has also been shown to boost testosterone levels in men.3 As reported by PeakTestosterone.com:
"One 1992 study4 examined four couples on days that they did and didn't have sexual activity... [T]hey found that testosterone levels increased on nights after sexual activity and did not on nights where there was no intercourse. The authors noted that their study showed that it was likely sex that increased testosterone and not the other way around."

Low Testosterone—An Invented Condition?

It's important to realize that all of this fake "low T" advertising is merely a PR strategy to sell an expensive treatment. In 2012, prescription testosterone gels generated over $2 billion in US sales. Abbott Laboratories alone spent $80 million on seductive direct-to-consumer advertising for its testosterone product AndroGel that same year.
According to a survey by CMI/Compass, 63 percent of physicians polled feel that drug ads misinform patients.5 And truly, it's worth keeping in mind that advertising is far from realistic or even truthful in most cases. It's about creating a perceived need where there might not be one, in order to sell a product. As reported by theNew York Times:6
"In the view of many physicians, [low testosterone] is in large part an invented condition...
Once a niche treatment for people suffering from hormonal deficiencies caused by medical problems like endocrine tumors or the disruptive effects of chemotherapy, the prescription gels are increasingly being sold as lifestyle products, to raise dipping levels of the male sex hormone as men age."
Many people feel so bad they're willing to take just about anything to feel better. Unfortunately, many fail to realize that that "something" probably isn't a drug treatment. Instead, flagging energy levels may be an indication that you're eating too much processed food. Perhaps you're not exercising enough, or failing to address chronic stress or lack of sleep.

How Stress Affects Your Testosterone Levels

Chronic stress may in fact be a major contributing factor to decreasing testosterone levels. Stress, when chronic and unaddressed, can result in hypercortisolemia, which in and of itself inhibits testosterone production.7 The cortisol produced in response to stress also interferes with your insulin. As described by chiropractor Kyl Smith, D.C.:8
"This is seen when healthy men exhibit fasting plasma glucose concentrations and degrees of insulin resistance that are directly correlated with fasting plasma cortisol concentrations(i.e., when cortisol goes up, insulin goes up, insulin resistance goes up, and insulin sensitivity correspondingly goes down)...
The subject of insulin and insulin sensitivity ties directly into testosterone, as 'testosterone and insulin status are also directly correlated.' Among adult men, the insulin secretion rate and fasting plasma insulin concentration are inversely proportional to serum testosterone concentrations (i.e., high insulin levels are associated with low testosterone and low insulin levels are associated with high testosterone), while whole-body insulin sensitivity is shown to be positively correlated with serum testosterone concentrations.
In other words, in men who have challenges with high postprandial blood sugar levels, simple carbohydrates that evoke an insulin spike/increase will sabotage the production of healthy testosterone." [Emphasis mine]

Testosterone Is Widely Overprescribed

According to the Endocrine Society, which is responsible for setting the clinical guidelines for testosterone replacement therapy, testosterone should only be given to men with persistent symptoms and "unequivocally low testosterone levels," a condition known as hypogonadism. According to a 2012 study9 looking at the sensitivity and specificity of total testosterone (total T) as an indicator of biochemical hypogonadism found that a total T level below 150 ng/dl is indicative of hypogonadism, while levels above 350 ng/dl excludes the condition in most cases.
Despite that, testosterone prescriptions have tripled since 2001, and men in their 40s represent the fastest-growing group of users. Only about half of men taking testosterone have an actual diagnosis of hypogonadism. Even more curious, recent findings10, 11, 12 also indicate that 25 percent of men given a prescription for testosterone did not even have their levels tested prior to receiving a prescription, and of the remaining 75 percent, it was unclear as to how many actually had a testosterone deficiency.
In short, there appears to be an awful lot of men out there taking testosterone who probably shouldn't. Using hormones as a "cure-all" is a risky proposition, especially if your problems are related to lifestyle opposed to an actual medical condition that severely impairs your hormone production. What most men need is really a lifestyle change, in order to optimize their body's natural secretion of testosterone and other hormones.

Recent Research Highlights the Dangers of Testosterone Misuse

According  The result was similar in younger men diagnosed with heart disease. The study was prompted by a 2010 clinical trial that was shut down before completion due to the increase in heart-related problems occurring in the testosterone treatment group.13 
Other research14 published earlier this year found that testosterone replacement therapy did not appear to have any positive effects on the cardiovascular health of men who took it, noting that the "cardiovascular risk-benefit profile of testosterone therapy remains largely evasive."
Interestingly, the analysis does suggest that low testosterone and heart disease might both be caused by "poor overall health," as stated by lead researcher, Dr. Johannes Ruige.15 This, again, is why I recommend focusing your efforts on healthy lifestyle strategies such as exercise rather than taking synthetic hormone replacement, the risk/benefit ratio of which is still largely unknown.
The latest results have caused enough concern that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has launched a safety review16to ascertain the safety of testosterone therapy. In the meantime, the FDA has instructed doctors to "consider whether the benefits of FDA-approved testosterone treatment are likely to exceed the potential risks of treatment."

Some Experts Disagree

Dr. Jen Lauda writing in the Feb 7 2014 newsletter summarizes the objections some physicians have with this study. "There are many problems with the data in this study and others like it that have lead to attention-grabbing headlines about how treatment of low testosterone levels may put men at undue risk. Similar to a November 2013 JAMA study of testosterone risks, However some have said that the featured study has multiple flaws that make its conclusions essentially meaningless as the study assess did not test testosterone levels of patients before and during therapy.

There are other important blood tests that should be done that were not being done during the treatment of the VA men or in the current study, including blood counts and estrogen levels. Higher red blood cell counts and higher estrogen levels are known issues that may occur in men given testosterone therapy. Without assessment of testosterone levels, red blood cell counts and estrogen levels prior to and during therapy, it is impossible to tell if a patient is a proper candidate for therapy and if they are tolerating the therapy well. Physicians should be educated on the possible issues they may encounter with patients on testosterone therapy, including higher levels of red blood cells and elevated levels of estrogen.

Physicians should monitor their patients' blood cell counts and estrogen levels on testosterone therapy to assess for these risk factors for cardiovascular disease. If a patient has a high red blood cell count, the dose of the testosterone can be decreased or the patient can be sent for blood donation to reduce the high red blood cell count and thus any increased risks of clots or heart attacks. Additionally, high estrogen levels may increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. There are medications that can be prescribed to control high estrogen levels and keep estrogen in the proper, low risk range. These precautions need to be used when prescribing testosterone therapy and studies need to be done reflecting results of testosterone use when these precautions are followed.

Additional concerns are that the researchers compared the groups of men started on testosterone therapy to men who were started on PDE5 inhibitors and found a lower risk of heart disease in the PDE5 inhibitor group. PDE5 inhibitors are drugs used to treat men with erectile dysfunction -- Viagra and others are in this class. The authors state they used this group so there would theoretically be an increase in sexual activity in both groups. They ignored one very important point, though. PDE5 inhibitors work in many tissues throughout the body, including having significant positive effects on the cardiovascular system. Two of the PDE5 inhibitors have recently been approved for treatment of idiopathic pulmonary hypertension because of the ability of PDE5 inhibitors to relax blood vessels. A new study out this month in the Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Therapeutics states that PDE5 inhibitors have potential as cardiovascular drugs in patients with coronary artery disease and even possible improvement in heart failure patients.

With the data that PDE5 inhibitors can decrease the risk of heart disease and help to relax blood vessels in men with heart disease, how can the authors of the testosterone therapy study possibly think that men on PDE5 inhibitors would be a good control group against the men placed on testosterone therapy? The results of the Plos One study run counter to a large body of literature of the last 20 years that supports testosterone treatment as an important therapy that can improve cholesterol levels, decrease blood sugar levels, reduce body fat and increase lean muscle mass, all factors that would reduce the risk of heart disease. A new review article was published in December 2013 in the esteemed Journal of the American Heart Association with the goal of providing a comprehensive review of the clinical literature that has examined the associations between testosterone and cardiovascular disease.

 Well over 100 studies were reviewed, and the authors concluded that low levels of testosterone are associated with higher rates of mortality and cardiovascular- related mortality, higher rates of obesity and diabetes. Additionally, the severity of disease correlated with the degree of testosterone deficiency. Testosterone therapy has been shown to relax coronary arteries and improve ability of patients with congestive heart failure to exercise. Testosterone therapy has been shown to lower blood sugar in diabetics and to lower body mass index in obese patients. Finally, studies have associated lower testosterone levels with thicker walls of some of the major blood vessels. This thickening increases the risk of atherosclerosis thus leading researchers to conclude that low levels of testosterone increase the risk for atherosclerosis.

All of these factors point to the conclusion that optimal testosterone levels decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease. Testosterone therapy can be an excellent way to help men to enhance their quality of life and decrease their risk of multiple diseases, as shown in many studies. Importantly though, the therapy should not be undertaken lightly and should be properly monitored by a hormone specialist that is well versed in the risks of therapy and the treatment of possible side effects for patients to have optimal benefits from the therapy."

Lifestyle Factors Influence Your Hormone Levels

Despite the above objections it would seem a more conservative approach would be warranted. While a man's testosterone level does decline with age, starting around the age of 30, there are many other factors that play a role. Think of generations past, when men were active and healthy well into old age. Clearly, it's possible to grow old without losing your "oomph." It really boils down to lifestyle. Diet and exercise are critical factors. But chemical exposures, including prescription drugs like statins, can also play a role by having an adverse effect on your testosterone production. And, as reported in another more recent New York Times17 article:
"Testosterone appears to decline naturally with aging, but internal belly fat depresses the hormone further, especially in obese men. Drugs like steroids and opiates also lower testosterone, and it's suspected that chemicals likebisphenol A (or BPA, commonly found in plastic food containers) and diseases like Type 2 diabetes play a role as well." [Emphasis mine]
Testosterone production follows a similar decline with age as human growth hormone (HGH), illustrated below. Fortunately, your body has a natural ability to optimize hormones, even as you age. It does require you to address important factors such as your diet and exercise, however.
 

To Raise Your Hormone Levels, Exercise Intensely, But Briefly

Both testosterone and HGH are boosted in response to short, high intensity exercises. I personally do not take any hormone or prohormone supplements. Instead, I've been doing Peak exercises for just nearly four years now, and at the age of 59, my testosterone and HGH levels are still in the normal ranges for a young adult male without the aid of ANY prescriptions, hormones, and hormone precursor supplements.
Keep in mind that high intensity interval training is the only type of exercise that will help boost your testosterone and HGH levels. A slow one-hour jog will not have this effect, so it's critical to make sure you're exercising correctly if you want to affect your hormone levels. Below is a summary and video demonstration of what a typical high-intensity Peak Fitness routine might look like:
  • Warm up for three minutes
  • Exercise as hard and fast as you can for 30 seconds. You should feel like you couldn't possibly go on another few seconds
  • Recover at a slow to moderate pace for 90 seconds
  • Repeat the high intensity exercise and recovery seven more times
Weight training will also have a beneficial impact on your testosterone levels. When you use strength training for this purpose, you'll want to increase the weight and lower your number of reps. Focus on doing exercises that work a wider number of muscles, such as squats or dead lifts. You can take your workout to the next level by learning the principles of Super-Slow Weight Training. Whole body vibration training using a Power Plate is yet another effective ancillary method.
Besides raising testosterone and HGH, aerobic exercise in general is known to benefit your heart, in part by promoting the production of beneficial nitric oxide, which helps relax your heart and improves blood flow.18 Recent research also suggests that skin-derived nitric oxide metabolites may also play a key role in heart health by normalizing blood pressure when your skin is exposed to UV rays from the sun19 --yet another reason for making sure you're getting enough sun exposure.

Your Diet Affects Your Testosterone and HGH

While high intensity exercise is perhaps the most effective strategy to raise your testosterone levels, your diet also plays a critical role. First of all, if you're overweight, research shows that simply shedding the excess pounds may increase your testosterone levels.20
Testosterone levels also decrease after you eat sugar. This is likely because sugar and fructose raises your insulin level, which is another factor leading to low testosterone. Ideally, keep your total fructose consumption below 25 grams per day. If you have insulin resistance and are overweight, have high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol, you'd be well advised to keep it under 15 grams per day.
The most efficient way to shed excess weight and normalize your insulin levels at the same time is to strictly limit the amount of sugar/fructose and grains in your diet, and replace them with vegetables and healthy fats, such as organic pastured egg yolks,avocadococonut oil, butter made from raw grass-fed organic milk, and raw nuts. Saturated fats are in fact essential for building testosterone. Research shows that a diet with less than 40 percent of energy as fat (and that mainly from animal sources, i.e. saturated) lead to a decrease in testosterone levels.21 My personal diet is about 70-80 percent healthy fat, and other experts agree that the ideal diet includes somewhere between 50-70 percent fat. I've detailed a step-by-step guide to this type of healthy eating program in my optimized nutrition plan.
Another effective strategy for enhancing both testosterone and HGH release is intermittent fasting. It helps boost testosterone by improving the expression of satiety hormones, like insulin, leptin, adiponectin, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), cholecystokinin (CKK), and melanocortins, which are linked to healthy testosterone function, increased libido, and the prevention of age-induced testosterone decline.

Helpful Supplements

There are also nutritional supplements that can address some of the symptoms commonly associated with low testosterone. Some may even help boost your testosterone levels as well. These include:
  • Saw palmetto. Besides addressing symptoms of low testosterone, this herb may also help to actually increase testosterone levels by inhibiting up-conversion to dihydrotestosterone.22 When choosing a saw palmetto supplement, you should be wary of the brand, as there are those that use an inactive form of the plant. According to industry expert Dr. Rudi Moerck, what you want is an organic supercritical CO2 extract of saw palmetto oil, which is dark green in color. Since saw palmetto is a fat-soluble supplement, taking it with eggs will enhance the absorption of its nutrients.
  • Astaxanthin in combination with saw palmetto. There is also solid research indicating that if you take astaxanthin in combination with saw palmetto, you may experience significant synergistic benefits. A 2009 study published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition23 found that an optimal dose of saw palmetto and astaxanthin decreased both DHT and estrogen while simultaneously increasing testosterone.
  • Ashwagandha. This ancient Indian herb is known as an adaptogen, which can help boost stamina, endurance, and sexual energy. Research published in 201024 found that men taking the herb Ashwagandha experienced a significant increase in testosterone levels.
  • Ashwagandha also helps promote overall immune function, and can help increase your resistance to occasional stress.25 It also supports healthful levels of total lipids, cholesterol, and triglycerides already in the normal range. While some adaptogens are stimulants in disguise, this is not the case with Ashwagandha. It can give your morning exercise routine a boost, and when taken prior to bed, it can help you get a good night's sleep as well. I recommend using only 100% organic Ashwagandha root, free of fillers, additives, and excipients to ensure quality.

Do You Really Need Testosterone Therapy?  

The take-home message is that taking testosterone if you're otherwise healthy could jeopardize your health for virtually no gain. And, if you're using a topical gel or cream, you're also jeopardizing the health of anyone in your family that you end up having skin to skin contact with. I personally do not use any hormone or prohormone treatments as I've been successful in getting my hormone levels in the healthy young adult range using the protocols described above. However, if you do chose to use hormones, it is really crucial to use bioidentical versions.
I advise using bioidentical hormones like DHEA if you opt for this route. DHEA is a hormone secreted by your adrenal glands, and is one of the most abundant precursor hormones in your body. It's crucial for the creation of testosterone and other sex hormones. However, it's important to monitor your levels and work with an experienced professional before you start using DHEA (or any other hormone, bioidentical or not.) If you use trans-mucosal applications you will likely only need a few milligrams a day, not 50mg, 100mg, or more that is typically used. There are still questions about long-term safety, and there's still the potential for side effects.26
I also recommend trans-mucosal (rectal) application, as this allows for the most effective absorption, and inhibits the production of unwanted metabolites of DHEA. All of that said, I do NOT recommend prolonged supplementation of hormones, even bioidentical ones. Doing so can trick your body into halting its own DHEA production and may cause your adrenals to become impaired.
Your best bet really is to address your diet, and incorporate high intensity exercise into your lifestyle. For even more information on how exercise can be used as a natural testosterone booster, read my article "Testosterone Surge After Exercise May Help Remodel the Mind."

 http://fitness.mercola.com/sites/fitness/archive/2014/02/21/testosterone-prescription.aspx
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