The capacity to build muscle depends largely on the amount of testosterone circulating in your bloodstream. More specifically, the “free” testosterone. Interestingly, the amount of total testosterone in the blood is similar in younger and older males, but the amount of free (or unbound) testosterone is lower in older men. Therefore, since it’s the free testosterone that exerts the anabolic effect, this lower level seems to be the reason for a lower muscle-building response to exercise as we age.
However, the results from a recent study suggest that once a certain amount of free testosterone is available in the system, this anabolic hormone works the same at helping to build muscle regardless of age. So as long as there is sufficient free, unbound testosterone there is no drop in your ability to build muscle. Therefore, young or old, you should do everything you can to enhance your natural production of free testosterone.
The first sure-fire way to boost circulating free testosterone levels is to perform short but regular weight lifting workouts. High overload weight training appears to be all-important to obtaining a natural, highly effective boost in bio-active forms of testosterone. Max-OT is designed specifically to ignite the biochemical pathways for higher testosterone production. If you are not using Max-OT now get with it!
Secondly, get plenty of sleep, particularly if you’re training hard. Low testosterone production in men has consistently been linked to over-training and not enough sleep. So if you do make an effort to exercise intensely, don’t blow it – get plenty of sleep.
Thirdly, some studies suggest dietary protein may also be a factor, particularly the quality of the protein consumed in the diet. Studies have shown supplementing with whey isolate directly after training induces greater expression of androgen receptors in skeletal muscle that lasts as long as 48 hours. This research shows that high-quality proteins VP2 Whey Isolate and Raptor-HP are a must if you want to give yourself every chance for optimum testosterone production.
Source: J Clinical Endocrinol Metabolism , 2011
