“Testosterone Replacement Therapy” – does it work?
Plenty of ads for testosterone supplementation or testosterone replacement therapy are only too happy to try selling you the dream: higher testosterone, better sex, enhanced libido, improved mood, smaller waistline, stronger muscles, more energy. One problem (and there are several) with this scenario is that while testosterone replacement therapy may raise your T levels, there is absolutely no guarantee it will help address any of the other issues typically associated with low testosterone. In fact, a recent report in Human Reproduction noted that “recent evidence has demonstrated that testosterone drugs do not substantially ameliorate these symptoms and…that their long-term use may be associated with severe adverse effects.” Read More
Do this once a week to help prevent cancer, stroke, heart disease, and Alzheimers
I started incorporating fasting about a year ago into my weekly health and fitness program. I had done a number of extended fasts over the years but the logic and practicality always escaped me. You would fast in order to cleanse and detoxify but then what happens? Invariably most people would go back to the same habits until the next New Years resolution or some other new fasting fad comes along.
I wanted to incorporate fasting in a manner that would provide consistent and proven health benefits in a practical way that was also sustainable; so that’s how I started practicing what is called “Intermittent Fasting” (IF).
For me the initial reasons I started IF reasons were fivefold:
- I have a genetic disposition to prostate cancer;
- I have a similar genetic predisposition to type II diabetes, so I needed to manage my blood sugar levels and keep them in a normal range;
- I’ve had high grade PIN (prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia) for the last 12 years, which studies show can progress to prostate cancer in 30% of men;
- I wanted something to help control IGF-1 (insulin growth factor 1), which is a marker for prostate cancer, aggressive prostate cancer progression, and other metabolic disease; and
- I have a genetic disposition to inflammatory disorders so managing inflammation is a key part of my exercise, lifestyle, and nutritional program. If you’ve read my book you’ll know that inflammation has had me in a coma with Encephalitis, nearly cost me my left leg with Osteomyelitis, and nearly killed me with chronic Pericarditis. See a theme here? “..itis = inflammation” – and inflammation is bad.
I was also fascinated with the anti-cancer benefits of fasting; especially through denying cancer cells one of the key ingredients they need for surviving and thriving – sugar. If you are interested in this, you can learn more watching William Li’s TED talk which has over 4 million views.
Through Dr. Li’s talks and other research I became convinced that if you were at risk for prostate or other cancers, then IF should be a fundamental part of a nutritional and cancer prevention program.
Fasting for me has nothing to do with weight loss. In fact that’s the least of the benefits I’m personally looking for – although fasting does have weight management benefits by activating fat burning over carbohydrates as the primary source of fuel/energy. Leptin, the hormone that regulates fat storage as well as hunger signals, and ghrelin, another hormone that tells your brain the body is hungry, are also normalized by routine fasting, so that’s an additional benefit for those looking to lose weight. Read More
We’re blatantly ripping off the Shark Tank franchise on 5/24
My updated 2017 Ambassadorships and Brand Friends
Here’s how I decrease Inflammation and increase my testosterone with cold therapy
I like to chill out, but probably not in the sense you’re used to.
My kind of chilling means daily and regular cold therapy – situations in which I purposefully place my body in a cool to cold environment. Am I crazy? You might think so, but once I explain all the health benefits of cold therapy, there’s a good chance you’ll be reaching for the ice cubes.
First of all, forget the old wives’ tale about how being cold gives you a cold; it’s just not scientifically true. In fact, methodical exposure to cold may help boost levels of human growth hormone and testosterone, improve insulin resistance, manage inflammation, boost mental health, improve sleep, assist with weight loss (by activating the burning of brown fat), and make you feel stronger overall. Who wouldn’t want all of those benefits! Read More
Los Angeles Tough Mudder – March 2017
We won “Best New Reality Adventure Show for 2016” at the NYC Cynopsis TV Awards – so that’s cool!
Ageist Magazine Profile
Ageist Profile – click link below:
craig cooper, 53, author, athlete, serial entrepreneur, and advocate for the health of men.
Here are 6 things I do in the morning for a stronger and healthier day
I get asked a lot about my morning routine that I wrote about in my book.
I’ve found that having a set morning routine is fundamental to preparing myself for the events and challenges of the day. What you do (and moreover – what you don’t do) in that period immediately after you wake can put you on a path to a stronger and healthier day.
Here’s 6 things that work for me (in the specific order that I follow immediately on waking): Read More
