Testosterone is an important hormone that plays a role in muscle growth, bone density, sex drive, energy levels, and more in both men and women. While testosterone naturally declines with age, there are some foods that can further contribute to decreasing testosterone.
If you’re looking to optimize your T levels, here are some of the top foods to avoid:
Soy Products – Enemy of Free Testosterone
The isoflavones found in soy can mimic estrogen in the body, binding to testosterone so it remains inactive and unable to fuel those masculine engines of muscle building and sex drive. Studies on soy supplements show definitively decreased testosterone levels associated with consumption. Even small amounts of soy protein isolates and powders can accumulate over time to suppress your T. Soy foods like tofu, soy milk, and edamame contain isoflavones that act like estrogen in the body. One major analysis found that men consuming the highest amounts of soy had significantly lower testosterone levels. Stick to non-GMO fermented soy products like tempeh and miso only in moderation if you’re a man.
Mint – Invader That Occupies Testosterone Receptors
Spearmint and peppermint teas and extracts contain an ingredient called menthol that has anti-testosterone properties. One study in rats showed a decrease in testosterone of up to 50% in males given high doses of mint. If you’re experiencing low T, consider cutting back on mint gum, tea, and seasonings. Both spearmint and peppermint contain menthol, which research indicates can reduce free testosterone and total testosterone dramatically in animal models. By occupying testosterone receptors everywhere from your muscles to your gonads, mint tricks your body into thinking it has more than enough testosterone already, leading to shutdown of natural T production. Even menthol cough drops can have anti-testosterone effects.
Alcohol – Testosterone’s Infamous Doppelganger
Regularly having more than a couple alcoholic drinks per day can lead to suppressed testosterone over time. Chronic alcohol abuse also causes liver damage and increases estrogen levels through changes in hormone metabolization, further impacting T. If low testosterone is a concern, limit alcohol intake as much as possible. The liver damage caused by regular alcohol consumption leads to a decline in many key hormones, testosterone included. Simultaneously, alcohol increases estrogen. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the doppelganger molecule estradiol and actual estrogen bind to testosterone receptors, keeping out real testosterone molecules and accelerating the feminization process.
Trans Fats – Belly Fat’s Evil Twin
Found in packaged baked goods, margarine, and fried fast foods, trans fats are linked to a drop in testosterone. They also contribute to heart disease, inflammation, insulin resistance, and abdominal fat gain. That belly fat, in particular, further reduces T by converting testosterone into estrogen. Minimize consumption of processed and deep fried foods to avoid trans fats. Man boobs and belly fat are the bane of every man’s existence, not just for vanity’s sake – visceral abdominal fat converts testosterone to estrogen via the enzyme aromatase. Trans fats spur the accumulation of the worst kind of belly fat while decreasing testosterone at the same time through yet unknown mechanisms. Found in fried fast foods and packaged goods, trans fats are testosterone’s evil twin.
Flaxseeds – Lignan Kryptonite
Flaxseeds and flaxseed oil contain high amounts of lignans that decrease testosterone in multiple ways, including occupying testosterone receptors so T can’t access them to stimulate growth. If you eat a lot of flaxseeds, you may want to cut back and get your Omega-3s from fish oil instead. Flaxseeds also contain nutrients called lignans, which are phytoestrogens that occupy cell receptors for hormones like testosterone, usurping their place. By mimicking testosterone, lignans trick your endocrine system into halting testosterone production. If you consume a lot of flaxseed, trade it out for fatty fish that contain testosterone-boosting vitamin D instead.
Boost Testosterone with T booster Supplement
Declining testosterone levels can drain men of their vitality as they age. Testogen is a natural testosterone booster that aims to reverse this hormonal decline. It contains ingredients like fenugreek, zinc, and vitamin D which are clinically backed to stimulate natural testosterone production. For men experiencing lackluster strength and stamina, reduced muscle mass, weight gain, poor sex drive, or just the absence of their youthful edge, restoring healthy testosterone levels with Testogen uk testosterone booster can help reclaim one’s inner vigor and masculinity. Boosting T production naturally may provide wide-ranging benefits for physical health and wellbeing in deficient men.
The more of these foods you can remove from your diet, the less impact they’ll have on your testosterone levels. Focus on getting enough healthy fats, high quality protein, fiber and nutrients from real, whole foods. Getting enough exercise, sleep and managing stress are also key for optimizing T naturally. With some diet and lifestyle adjustments, you can counteract some of testosterone’s biggest food foes. Protect your masculinity by purging these testosterone killers from your diet. Focus on getting plenty of zinc and vitamin D from foods like oysters, fatty fish, egg yolks, and quality meat. Keep stress low with lifestyle changes to let your inner macho thrive.