Dr. Bill Koch Discusses with Author Dr. Kyi Smith T he hot topic for men these days seems to be low testosterone. In men's health magazines, on the radio, on TV. in the news, and in commercials, even body is talking about "low T." They arc either advertising a product to treat "low T." or soliciting those injured by side effects of the dnig treatments to participate in class-action lawsuits. There is no doubt that low testosterone is a very real condition affecting more and more men these days. It is an important quality-of-life issue. It became personal w hen. as I got into my late sixties. I began noticing changes in my strength, endurance, moods, and muscle mass. I had my honnone levels checked and decided it was indeed an issue for me. The question was what to do about it. Treating "low T" with a synthetic honnone replacement is proving to be as ill advised as synthetic honnone replacement for women. The dangerous side effects far outweigh the benefits. I decided to explore natural ways of boosting my own testosterone levels and discovered the book The Testosterone Switch by Dr. Kyi Smith. His book is clear, easy to read, and exhaustively documented with scientific references. I began his three-step program and after a month, noticed a significant difference in how I was feeling, especially with my mood, endurance, and lean muscle mass. I was pleased and impressed, and decided I wanted to write about this. I like to share things that arc natural, safe, and work. Dr. Smiths program satisfies all three of those requirements. All doctors should know the information in this book and be able to share it with their patients. Dr. Kyi Smith. DC. is a 1993 Parker graduate and recipient of the James W. Parker Award. He is a noted researcher, patented inventor, and the creator of "Americas #1 best-selling brain health supplement." He has appeared on radio and television programs across the country: is the author of the acclaimed BrightcrMind R book scries: and filed a "healthclaim petition" with the US Food and Dnig Administration (FDA) for the brain nutrient phosphatidylserinc. which the FDA approved. He is now director of education for Progressive Laboratories. In his most recent book The Testosterone Switch. Dr. Smith, or Dr. Kyi as his colleagues call him. applies his expertise as a researcher and scientist to the problem of low testosterone—a problem tliat affects one in four men beginning at about age 30 and increases in incidence and severity as men age. This causes serious "quality of life" and major health issues. In The Testosterone Switch. Dr. Smith presents his three-step program to raise testosterone levels by stimulating the natural production. He gives compelling scientific evidence to show how optimal, healthy testosterone levels can be achieved using a combination of nutrition, exercise, and natural supplements. KOCH: Dr. Kyi. what got you started on the path tliat led to your discovery of the "testosterone switch"? SMITH: My own personal need. My quest for answers was borne out of personal necessity. At age 45. my testosterone was extraordinarily low at 195 ng/dL. Keep in mind tliat the "normal" healthy testosterone level for 30 year olds is about 700 ng/ dL. This means I was at about 27% of the healthy testosterone level of a 30-year-old man—and let me tell you. I felt like it! I really didn't like the idea of using any outside source of testosterone with all of the possible side effects. As you can imagine, with a 20+ year background in nutritional research and a passion for exercise physiology. I had to ask the question: Is there any science-based natural way to increase my own testosterone levels? KOCH: You certainly answered your own question. The Testosterone Switch is one of the most exhaustively referenced books I have ever read, and the results of the program you de- \ eloped seem phenomenal. In the book, you said that by using the three-step program that you developed, you raised your own testosterone levels from 195 to 750 ng/dL. SMITH: Yes. and I have sustained 700+ ng/dL for six years. By combining a low-glyccmic diet, daily intense exercise, and the targeted nutritional supplements that I discuss in the book, in}- total testosterone quadrupled. I gained rock-hard skeletal muscle, and lost 25 pounds of fat. KOCH: And you have evidence that this has worked consistently with others as well? SMITH: Thafs right. Bill. It has been proven time and again that we can quickly and predictably raise testosterone levels, even in older men with severe deficiency, back to health} levels. As an example, there was a 61-year-old man who had a beginning testosterone level of 136 ng/dL. After only 30 days on the program, it went up to 812 ng/dL and he lost 36 pounds! Another man who began with a testosterone level of 303 ng/ dL went up to 584 ng/dL and lost 30 pounds. KOCH: Very impressive, and with surprisingly fast results. I usually think of changes in the endocrine system as taking much longer. SMITH: Yoifrc right. I myself have been amazed at how quickly things can turn around if you give the body the right stimulus and nutrition. KOCH: And you achieved these results through a program of low-glyccmic diet, burst training, and a targeted combination of nutritional supplements. You have found a good solution to the low testosterone problem. No drugs, no side effects. Congratulations. But I want to get back to how big and important this problem is. Low testosterone has a serious negative impact on a mans quality of life. And this is not just a problem of "old men" or even of middle-aged men and older. It affects much younger men as well. At least 1 in 4 men over 30 have "low testosterone" levels. SMITH: Thafs right. Bill. This is an epidemic in DCs" practices. Main- men fall below 550 ng/dL and anything under 550 ng/dL increases risk of heart attack and stroke. KOCH: As a practicing chiropractor and a man who suffers from a great deal of chronic pain. I found it very interesting that low testosterone—even "low normal" levels—cause an increased nociccption response. That equals a greater experience of and reaction to pain. When I read this, my mind started automatically reviewing my personal experience as well as a long list of my patients who seem to be very "pain sensitive." or experience a greater sensation of pain than one would expect given their particular conditions. SMITH: Yes. and low normal scrum testosterone increases the risk for increased levels of systemic inflammation. The experience of chronic pain is very debilitating and depressing. KOCH: "Low T" is nonnally associated with reduced male sexual desire, function, performance, and potency, and that is certainly tnic. But there arc many other symptoms associated with low testosterone. Would you briefly list some of those? SMITH: For a more exhaustive accounting of the science-based health risks associated with even "low normal" testosterone, your readers should consider the details in my book. Briefly, low normal testosterone is associated with reduced energy, motivation, initiative, self-confidence, concentration and memory, sleep quality, muscle bulk and strength, depressed mood or clinical depression, and increased body fat. Even more however, low testosterone over time can have deadly consequences. Low scrum testosterone lev els increase the risk for premature death from all causes, and specifically the risk for death from any cancer or from cardiovascular disease and stroke. KOCH: So. Dr. Kyi. what arc the main causes of low testosterone? And what is the "testosterone switch"? SMITH: There arc many factors that contribute to low testosterone lev els. But in my opinion, stress and the negative effects of cortisol arc the major players. The higher the stress hormone cortisol. the lower the testosterone production. And when cortisol goes up. insulin goes up and so docs insulin resistance. The higher the insulin levels, the lower the testosterone. In fact, cortisol is the "testosterone switch" in a man's body. Too much cortisol causes a dramatic decline in "T" levels. Controlling excess cortisol. however, literally flips the switch back in the right direction, allow ing testosterone to be turned on and be generated in healthy abundance again. A low -glyccmic diet, consistent high-intensity "burst" training exercise, and the targeted supplements I list in the book combine to Hip that testosterone switch back to where we want it to be. KOCH: Thank you. Dr. Kyi. for this great information. As I said. I am on The Testosterone Switch program and I am very happy with the results. Your book should be on even doctor's shelf and in his or her reception room. Thank you for your service to our profession and the male population. Dr. Bill Koch is a 1967 Cum Ixtude graduate of Palmer. After 30 years of practice in The Hamptons. \T. he retired and moved to Abaco. Bahamas.M here he andhiswife Kiana trm'elhyboat to provide Chiropractic care to the residents of the remote out islands. Dr. Koch is author of the hooks "C liiropractic the Superior Alternative" and "Conversations with Chiropractic Tecli-nique .\ /asters" availahle through Amazon.com. He also writes a blog: "ChiroPractice Made Perfect" http: DrWilliamIIKoch.com. Dr. Koch is available lo leach classes in Advanced Integrated C "himpractic Techniques. He may be contacted at oulislanddc'aiDrU llliamHKoch.com
