I just got my latest bloodwork back, that I’ve been doing regularly with InsideTracker.
I am surprised and elated by one of the results.
My Total Testosterone came in at 992 ng/dL!
My last result was 845, which at the time was the highest I had ever had it tested at. Previous to that it was 782.
One of my goals, just for fun, was to break the 1000 mark. (So that means I am slightly frustrated by being just 8 ng off, but oh well.)
This was surprising because I had lots of added stress in my life from hunting to buy a house.
As can be seen, my cortisol level did go up, almost doubled, but didn’t get outside of the optimal range. (Perhaps it was from regularly taking Ashwagandha as Mike talked about with his results here.)
I have also been taking Rhodiola fairly regularly for the same reasons. I often feel like this rhodiola is quite strong for me, but over the past couple of months I needed that extra kick.
And since Free Testosterone is at least equally as important than Total Testosterone, you’ll see that I had a nice jump in that as well from 13.8 to 17.2 ng/dL.
This was despite my high SHBG. So, an update on that. If you’ve been following along you know that this number seems to always be high for me, and for my brother Zane, leaving us to think a genetic aspect to it could be at play.
I was regularly taking our Nettle Root Tincture to see if this helped with the high SHBG number. As you can see, there was a very slight decrease from 58 to 56 nmol/L. But there are too many factors to say whether this did or did not work. Perhaps without it, with everything else going on, this number would have been higher. Perhaps nettle root tincture doesn’t help with this. Maybe the powder is better for SHBG. With this single point of data we can’t know for sure.
Okay, onto the other bad news.
My cholesterol is borderline high!…
I say that jokingly because I don’t see this as a problem at all. Having so much cholesterol is likely a contributing factor to my high T, seeing as cholesterol is the starting molecule for all the sex hormones. If you notice in the upper left of the picture, the green lights on HDL and Triglycerides, which are more important factors for overall health. So I’m not really planning on changing anything to try to bring that lower. In fact, I did just see a study saying that high LDL (the so-called bad cholesterol) was linked to less death!
Next up Vitamin D…
Still a little bit low. If you remember, I stopped taking all Vitamin D supplements. Why? Because I’m trying to get it all from the sun, since the sun provides much more than just D. Unfortunately, house hunting, and an added workload, got in the way of sunbathing time. But the good news is I have better tanning spots (including where I can tan 100% naked) at my new house, so I plan to be back in the optimal zone next test, assuming the weather cooperates as we enter into autumn.
Lastly, a number I am intrigued by, my fasting blood glucose level…
This one has been a little high over the past couple tests, and came in even higher this time. Perhaps it too is a result of the higher stress load. Or maybe its because I have been eating more than normal to put on weight and keep it on, to support one of my training goals.
The good news is I have a glucometer at home so I can check this number a bit more often and see what is going on.
As for everything else. It’s all optimal! Red and white blood cells, inflammatory markers, nutrients like B12, magnesium and calcium, liver function. All is good there.
If you’re wondering what I use to do my blood testing, and to provide all the pretty graphs above, I use InsideTracker, a personalized health analytics company founded by leading scientists, physicians, nutritionists and exercise physiologists from MIT, Harvard and Tufts University.
This just shows that what I talk about regarding testosterone works! I’m living proof. If you want the full details of just about everything I do you can find it inside of Upgrade Your Testosterone.
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Lost Empire Herbs
I’m 60 male with 485 total testosterone trying to increase my testosterone and libido I’m physically active excellent health and weight what would be a good herb to help me achieve my goals
Our number one and two herbs for that are Pine Pollen Tincture and Tongkat Ali.
Logan, With a PSA of 6 at 72, barely in range, I’m concerned about a testosterone replacement other than injections or cream. Tongkat ali intrigues me, DHEA among more healthful supplementation. What are the safety issues with the above. Thanks, Bill.
Generally these are quite safe, but nothing works for everyone and some people have issues with just about anything.
Hello, Is all of this info real, or is it just marketing hype? I mean, 900 plus T-levels are too high… or at least it was for me, as per my bloodwork results; it was flagged as ‘High’. Also, many of these other tinctures are too strong, especially for energy purposes, and it makes one wonder why a young person as yourself should need such energy boosters. When I get T-injections, it gives me considerable energy to get through my days; and I am 55 years old.
So, can you please tell me the truth, because I am interested in purchasing some of these products, but only if they really work and as long as they don’t have weird side effects, like raise my blood pressure.
Thanks.
It is certainly real in that these are the results. The higher end of the reference range is usually around 1100 for total testosterone, so in that way 900 is not too high. But that is just reference range, so 900 certainly could be too high for you.
Secondly, there is a big difference between getting it to 900 just by injections, versus doing it with a holistic lifestyle practice.
As mentioned in other comments here, I am not taking our strongest hormonal herbs, the pine pollen tincture and tongkat ali, because as you said I am young. I have used them successfully in the past, but do not need them now. The herbs I mentioned above certainly interact with the hormones, but not in the same way.
As far as them being energy boosters that’s not why I take most of them. Yes, on the rhodiola, but as I mentioned that was because of the added work and stress load with buying a house on top of running two companies.
Regarding blood pressure, yes some raise it sometimes. That’s why you need to experiment and find the right herbs for you. Otherwise, herbs tend to have less side effects than something like testosterone injections.
Ok, thanks for that input. On that note, what do you recommend for me? I have taken some pine pollen powder in the past, but honestly, I didn’t do it as prescribed so I can’t say either way, if it worked; I should have stuck with it on a daily basis.
As for rhodiola and eleuthero, I have used some teas in the past with these ingredients and notice a rise in blood pressure. So I would not want to use these. I am interested in elevating my T-levels. I currently see a doctor for T-shots (50mg. cypionate every 2 weeks) but it causes some weird side effects like keep me up all night(insomnia), high anxiety, tense pain in my back and neck…and according to blood test results, my prolactin levels are high!
So, I’m interested (though skeptical) about the pine pollen and other tinctures. I like the combo for regulating hormones-estrogen- and t-levels.
I am 55 years old male. Please advise.
Thanks.
don’t know how old these comments are but if you are taking T injection you would have to come off of that and do a post cycle for about 4 weeks with hcg befor your system will start making its own testosterone again or least efficiently this is the biggest problem with trt so beware of that and most doctors won’t prescribed hcg to a man because it has to be done off label because it was developed as a female fertility drug and they found out it will kick start your system after that I take it along side my trt so my system doesn’t shut down completely
I am Brazilian and ordered some weeks ago a lot of herbs of Lost Empire, i heard great reviews about you since it was Superman Herbs, i am a Deca Dick sufferer and i have stablished a protocol to cycle the herbs, i discovered how powerfull the herbs could be because with Deca dick i lost my libido almost 100%, and JUST, i am saying JUST, the herbs cause me to feel my libido again, not even injectable testosterone or oral DHT is able to do that. Lost Empire has all to do with power!
Glad to hear of your great results!
Great for you to track and post actual results. What was you starting or lowest test levels you had?
What do you suggest for myself, male over 50? I have seriously contemplated TR therapy because I know my test levels are low and am going to get them tested soon. However, the long term use and possible side effects discourage me somewhat. I know their are many strong jing type herbs, for example deer antler, polyarchis ant, silk worm. And I see you did not particularly use them and am not quite sure if their direct effect is to increase testosterone anyway.
Currently I am just getting on routine of using maca in my morning gynostemma tea and blending a couple lemons with some maple syrup and bit of cayenne for the supposed lemonene effect of increasing testosterone.
An old test back in April of 2014 had me at 431 ng/dL total testosterone. The first blood test I ever did in June of 2011 had me at 660.
I haven’t taken our stronger hormonal herbs (pine pollen tincture and tongkat) because they are TOO strong for me. I’m still young so I don’t need those big guns. But for you, I would recommend you try them, at least before trying TRT.
Hey Chris: Thought you might like to check out this link on benefits of Vit D from nude sunbathing – – -direct sunlight apparently also effects testosterone levels as well as testicle size – -kind of interesting – – –
http://legendarystrength.com/sunshine-on-balls/#comment-36252
Yes, I do find that interesting…that’s why I wrote that article! That is my other website.
Hi Logan,
What herbs do you take on daily basis?
It says in the article. The only ones I was regularly taking leading up to this point was nettle root tincture, ashwagandha tincture and rhodiola. All other herbs that I took were intermittently used.
Thank you , i have read the herbs you were taking and thought you are taking more as you described above.
Logan this is incredible! What is your full protocol? Going for bloods soon as well. Want to break 900 in my 40’s :)
Thank you. What do you mean by full protocol? I talked about the herbs I was using regularly above. Other than that, there really isn’t a protocol, unless its the random/by feel herbal protocol. If you’re talking about other stuff besides herbs (because so much affects testosterone), well that takes a book to write-up.
I mean, I wish I could give you a 3-step process to do this, but unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way. It’s a holistic lifestyle that all adds up.
I meant, what herbs.
You mention Rhodiola, Nettle Root Tincture, and Ashwaganda.
Are you also using Pine Pollen tincture, (or powder) and or Tongkat Ali?
Or just those above?
I should have been more clear on that. No, I was not regularly taking those. Why? They’re too strong for what I need now. You can read more about that in this article. https://lostempireherbs.com/dont-take-tongkat-pine-pollen/
I do put pine pollen powder in smoothies every once in a while, but even that is not consistent.
Wow impressive man. Good stuff!
Thanks!