THE TESTOSTERONE REVOLUTION
Men's Health South Africa|January - February 2023
In the rest of the world, T is everywhere. But here in SA, blackmarket channels are one of the biggest connects when it comes to this magic hormone. Problem is, without professional oversight, "supping" testosterone could leave you in a world of trouble. Instead of quelling anxiety, nixing depression or helping you rediscover your libido, you could be T-minus a few years from a serious crisis.
BILL GIFFORD & KIERAN LEGG
THE TESTOSTERONE REVOLUTION

SAAD ALAM WAS WORRIED. HIS DOCTOR HAD CALLED HIM INTO THE OFFICE TO TALK ABOUT HIS LATEST TEST RESULTS. AT 35, ALAM HAD BEEN FEELING OFF HIS GAME FOR A WHILE. HIS ENERGY LEVEL HAD TANKED, HIS BRAIN WAS LIKE A SIEVE AND HE HAD THE SEX DRIVE OF A WEEK-OLD BANANA. WORSE, DESPITE WORKING OUT RELIGIOUSLY, HE WAS GROWING A SET OF BABY LOVE HANDLES. HE'D GONE TO HIS DOCTOR TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG, AND NOW HE WAS ABOUT TO FIND OUT. WAS IT CANCER? SOMETHING WORSE?

Nope. The diagnosis: Alam was suffering from “existential millennial angst.” Frustrated, he went on to see a dozen more specialists before one finally deduced, via a blood test, that his testosterone level was very low. Endocrinology experts say that a healthy man’s testosterone should range from about 264 to 916 nanograms per deciliter. Alam scored a 187. “The doctor said, ‘You’ve got the testosterone levels of an 80-year-old man,’ ” he recalls.

If the diagnosis was alarming, the fix was relatively simple. The doc prescribed hormone therapy, and within three months, Alam says, he felt like his old self again. But the story does not end there. Four years after he walked out of that first doctor’s office, Alam is the founder and CEO of a US telehealth startup called Hone that offers “hormone optimisation” to men in the throes of middle age.

This story is from the January - February 2023 edition of Men's Health South Africa.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the January - February 2023 edition of Men's Health South Africa.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM MEN'S HEALTH SOUTH AFRICAView All
CAN YOU REMIX YOUR MINDSET?
Men's Health South Africa

CAN YOU REMIX YOUR MINDSET?

YOU KNOW MUSIC ALTERS MOOD. NOW A NEW APP PROMISES THE RIGHT TRACKS CAN SOOTHE STRESS, BOOST PRODUCTIVITY AND LEVEL UP YOUR GYM GAINS.

time-read
2 mins  |
November-December 2024
ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DIET REALLY SO ?
Men's Health South Africa

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DIET REALLY SO ?

AND DOES IT REALLY FIGHT OFF DISEASE? WE LOOK AT THE DATA.

time-read
1 min  |
November-December 2024
THE SEMI-COMPLETE USER'S GUIDE TO...YOUR LUNGS
Men's Health South Africa

THE SEMI-COMPLETE USER'S GUIDE TO...YOUR LUNGS

THEY POWER A WORKOUT, FILTER OUT INVADERS AND WORK FOR US 24/7-UNLESS GERMS, POLLUTANTS, BAD LUCK OR OUR OWN NEGLECT GETS IN THE WAY. TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND DISCOVER HOW TO HELP THEM OUT.

time-read
3 mins  |
November-December 2024
ACTION MAN
Men's Health South Africa

ACTION MAN

THERE WAS NO MIRACLE FIX FOR TIMOTHY FAIRWEATHER'S HEAVIER PROBLEMS. THE SECRET: TAKING SMALL ACTIONS EVERY DAY TO BUILD UP TO MASSIVE RESULTS.

time-read
2 mins  |
November-December 2024
THE MUSCLE SPRINT
Men's Health South Africa

THE MUSCLE SPRINT

CRUSH ALL MAJOR MUSCLE GROUPS, BLAST CALORIES AND SUPERCHARGE YOUR CARDIO WITH THIS DUMBBELL WORKOUT, WHICH HAS AN INTENSE 55-REP LADDER SCHEME THAT MINIMISES REST AND MAXIMISES FUN.

time-read
1 min  |
November-December 2024
THE ULTIMATE SUMMER BODYWEIGHT BURNER
Men's Health South Africa

THE ULTIMATE SUMMER BODYWEIGHT BURNER

BUILD MUSCLE AND STRENGTH AND CHALLENGE YOUR COORDINATION AND ATHLETICISM WITH THIS NO-EQUIPMENT WORKOUT.

time-read
2 mins  |
November-December 2024
RISE OF THE BEASTS
Men's Health South Africa

RISE OF THE BEASTS

THIS YEAR'S MILESTONE TENTH EDITION OF OUR COVER GUY SEARCH DREW 413 GUYS WHO EMBODY SELFLESSNESS, GRIT AND PERSEVERANCE. THEIR ANIMALISTIC DEVOTION TO FITNESS AND TALES OF TRIUMPH WILL INSPIRE YOU TO GREATNESS.

time-read
5 mins  |
November-December 2024
...I LOSE MY COOL?
Men's Health South Africa

...I LOSE MY COOL?

DON'T WHITE-KNUCKLE IT. LEARN TO UNDERSTAND, OWN AND ULTIMATELY TAME YOUR OUTRAGE WITH OUR EXPERT POINTERS. DEEP BREATH, NOW...

time-read
2 mins  |
November-December 2024
MOVING MOUNTAINS
Men's Health South Africa

MOVING MOUNTAINS

LONG HAULS, STEEP CLIMBS, EXTREME COLD AND OTHERWORLDLY LANDSCAPES IN THE CEDERBERG-OUR WRITER TAKES ON THE ELEMENTS AND UNEARTHS A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON A FIVEDAY TREK ALONG PHANTOM PATHS CUT THROUGH BEWITCHING SCENERY.

time-read
9 mins  |
November-December 2024
THE NEW PLYO POWER-UP
Men's Health South Africa

THE NEW PLYO POWER-UP

HOW MODERN TAKES ON AN OLD FITNESS FAVOURITE CAN CALIBRATE YOUR TRAINING FOR AN INSTA-BOOST OF ATHLETICISM AND STRENGTH.

time-read
2 mins  |
November-December 2024