How to Optimize Testosterone & Estrogen

In this episode, I discuss testosterone and estrogen hormones and how they impact the brain, body, and behavior after puberty. I also discuss how various behaviors such as exercise (resistance and endurance training) and sex or observing sex impact these hormones and their levels. I ask: "what specifically is it about such activities that impact testosterone and estrogen?"; the resounding theme is that when our nervous system is activated in particular ways, it drives our endocrine system and vascular system to activate or repress certain hormone networks in predictable ways. I also discuss peer-reviewed studies and protocols addressing (at a mechanistic level) how light, cold and heat, and respiration (breathing) can positively or negatively impact testosterone and estrogen. We discuss specific supplements and compounds that peer-reviewed studies illustrate can adjust testosterone and estrogen levels by changing their binding to other proteins, raising them directly, or changing other hormones released from the brain and pituitary. I discuss optimization in the normal reference ranges for these hormones, and I discuss pheromones, apnea, menstrual cycles, menopause and andropause. Read the full show notes for this episode at hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://athleticgreens.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/hubermanlab Waking Up: https://www.wakingup.com/huberman Timestamps 00:00:00 Introduction   00:00:26 Sponsors: AG1, LMNT & Waking Up   00:05:50 Hormone Optimization   00:07:00 Salutogenesis: A Powerful Way to Conceptualize Health   00:10:03 Estrogen and Testosterone: Sources, Levels and Ratios   00:15:46 The Power of Competition, Plus: Anxiety, Persistence and Dopamine   00:20:58 Testosterone and Libido Pre-Ovulation   00:21:48 Estrogen and Sexual Receptivity; Libido In Males   00:23:10 How Sex Behavior Impacts Testosterone: Observing vs. Actual vs. Abstinence   00:26:46 Testosterone and Prolactin: Sex Seeking vs. Pair Bonding   00:27:30 DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone): Effects on Levels/Ratios   00:28:45 Behaviors That Decrease Testosterone (and Cortisol): Parenting and Prolactin   00:31:24 How Illness Impacts Testosterone and Estrogen: Cytokines, e.g., IL-6   00:33:20 How Exactly Do Behaviors Change Hormones?   00:34:18 Pheromones: Miscarriage, Menstrual Cycles, Puberty Onset, and Mate Recognition   00:43:33 Apnea: A Powerful Bi-Directional Influence On Estrogen and Testosterone   00:47:44 Mouth vs. Nose Breathing and Hormone Levels: Effects Via Sleep and Direct Effects   00:51:11 How Sleep Adjusts Cortisol/Testosterone and Cortisol/Estrogen Ratios   00:53:49 O2:CO2 Ratios, Nasal Breathing During Exercise   00:56:30 Light Viewing Patterns and Hormones: Dopamine, GnRH   00:57:44 Spring Fever: Tyrosinase, Hair Color, Mating Frequency   01:04:39 Specificity of Hormone Effects   01:06:03 Temperature: Cold and Hot Gonads   01:14:10 How To Exercise: Types, Effort Level, Sequencing   01:21:42 Cardio/Endurance vs. Resistance Training (First or Last?) Yes, It Matters   01:24:41 Estrogen and Menopause: Compounds That May Ameliorate/Reverse Symptoms   01:33:18 Nutrients That Optimize The Foundation For Hormones   01:36:00 Opioids as Severe Hormone Disruptors   01:37:23 Testes, Antlers and Ovaries   01:38:50 Creatine and Increasing DHT (Dihydrotestosterone)   01:40:14 Free and Bound Testosterone: SHBG (Sex Hormone Binding Globulin), Tongat Ali   01:43:23 Nettles, Prostate, Boron, and Blood Brain Barrier   01:45:27 Hormone Related Cancers: Sometimes Reducing Estrogen and Testosterone Is Optimal   01:47:43 Ecdysteroids: Mimic Mammalian Hormones   01:51:50 Optimizing Brain Hormones: Chorionic Gonadotropin, Fadogia Agrestis   01:57:18 Additional Compounds, Liver Toxicity, Overall Milieu   01:59:17 Summary: And Note About Additional Related Topic Coverage Coming   Disclaimer & Disclosures Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices