The rising cost of living due to inflationary pressures today is not only affecting financial issues alone, it also affects the way men live, the way they think and slowly impacts internal health including hormones.
Is it true that the rising cost of living pressure is an important factor for a man to be less 'manly'?
The answer is yes, not because they are weak, but because they are facing a phase of testosterone hormone deficiency due to prolonged stress.
Money Stress Becomes a Daily Burden
Every time your mind keeps revolving around bills, debts, house rent or rising prices, the body is actually reacting.
This stress will produce a stress hormone called cortisol. According to Robert J. Cornell, high cortisol in the long term can disrupt the testosterone balance in the male body.
In simple terms, the higher the stress of life, the less the body produces male hormone (Testosterone) to focus on survival.
Focus on Earning a Living, Forgetting to Do Good for a Healthy Lifestyle
The culture of ‘hustle’ or relentless pursuit of a career has become a silent killer for the modern man’s testosterone hormone. When you spend more time in front of the computer than in the gym, your body starts to pay the price.
Lack of physical activity causes fat to accumulate in the abdomen. Belly fat acts as a ‘factory’ that converts testosterone to estrogen (a female hormone).
Hypothetically, the larger a man’s waist circumference due to lack of activity, the lower the testosterone level in his blood.
Prioritize ‘Processed Food’ Over ‘Real Food’
Logically, RM2 instant noodles are much more wallet-friendly than a beef steak or salmon that is sky-high in price.
However, this saving actually has a very expensive hidden cost on your hormonal system.
Most ‘fast food’ uses vegetable oils such as soybean or corn oil that are processed many times and can create chronic inflammation in the testicles. This triggers a ‘strike’ signal in the body to produce hormones for a man.
Meanwhile, 'real food' has nutrition and is a good source of cholesterol to erode excess estrogen (female hormone) in the body.
Economic Challenges Increase, Mental Game Declines
When the economy is tight, the challenge men face is how to defend their ideology and dignity.
In the world of men, the ability to 'provide' or provide for needs is often linked to self-esteem.
When the mind begins to be torn due to economic stress, the body will be flooded with the hormone cortisol.
This cortisol is the 'fierce enemy' of testosterone. When cortisol rises, testosterone production will automatically be blocked, making men lose energy and focus.
Men today are not getting weaker, but they are living longer under constant stress.
The rising cost of living creates a slow but significant cycle. When stress increases, stress hormones increase, and male hormones decrease. Over time, it begins to affect energy, emotions and motivation.
Ultimately, this issue is not about "less manly", but about how modern life is testing the balance of man itself.
