What Foods Lower Testosterone Levels?
Believe it or not, certain foods do lower testosterone. Here’s a handy guide to help you identify the foods you should watch out for.
Low testosterone is a rampant problem with men today and diet is a big reason.
In fact, a health study shows that 25 percent of males aged 30 and older deal with lowered testosterone levels. The decisions that you make at the breakfast, lunch and dinner table play a big role in whether you’re producing enough of this essential hormone.
Men who have lower testosterone have problems getting and maintaining erections, low sex drive, depression, low quality sleep, decreases in energy and a sense that they just don’t feel like their old selves.
You can counteract low testosterone problems by making some key food changes.
Let’s take a look at how you can fix and prevent low testosterone in your life through some sound decisions.
Which Foods Contribute To Lower Testosterone Levels?
When you notice a dip in your libido, it’s always important to audit your lifestyle. There’s typically a detectable reason for these changes, so treat lower testosterone this way, rather than like a condition that happened by chance.
Start by creating a food journal. In addition to tracking calories, make note of every meal you take in.
As you journal, beginย steering clear of these foods and substances.
#1: Vegetable Oil
There are good fats and bad fats, and vegetable oil is one of the worst fats you can take in when it comes to testosterone production.
The reason for this is that vegetable oil is packed with polyunsaturated fats, which lower testosterone levels. This oil also has omega six fatty acid chains, which can throw off the ratio of much-needed, testosterone boosting omega-3 fatty acids.
When cooking with oil, switch to healthier alternatives like coconut oil. Not only is coconut oil an excellent alternative to vegetable oil, it’s actually one of the best substances you can ingest to boost testosterone production.
#2: Soy
A lot has been written about how soy products boost estrogen and reduce testosterone.
If you are vegetarian or vegan, look for meat alternatives that do not contain soy. If you use protein supplements, consider switching to whey or vegetable protein, rather than soy.
Because soy can potentially limit your thyroid gland production, it diminishes testosterone levels in many men.
#3: Alcoholic Beverages
While alcoholic beverages are often targeted to men in their testosterone prime years, it is actually one of the worst substances for this hormone.
The reason alcohol hampers your testosterone is that it boosts estrogen levels. Alcohol is also a depressant, which means that it might negatively affect your libido and make it difficult to maintain blood flow and healthy erections.
Enjoy a drink or two when you’d like, but make sure that you are limiting intake overall.
#4: Salt
Salt lowers testosterone levels by increasing blood pressure levels. Sodium is horrible for blood pressure, which means you’ll have weaker erections and your heart will work harder.
Consider some alternative seasonings and look to flavor your food with herbs and other spices. Men who limit their sodium intake tend to quickly see an increase in their testosterone levels.
#5: Sugary Foods
Sugar intake is a huge problem today.
Studies indicate that Americans eat about 800 grams of sugarย per five days and more than 130 pounds of sugar annually. To help you visualize just how staggering this sugar intake every year actually is, it equates to about 1.8 million Skittles, which would fill an industrial sized dumpster to the brim.
This heavy sugar intake shuts down testosterone production and also creates belly fat, which is a testosterone killer in itself. Sugar is a sneaky food to watch because it’s included in foods that aren’t sweet.
While you may cut out candy and cakes, sugar is also found in frozen foods to help preserve them. Always read the label, so that you can minimize sugar intake the best that you can.
#6: Pasta
Too much of your favorite pasta can lower testosterone a great deal.
When you fill up that bowl of pasta, it adds some health curbing calories and also adds unnecessary carbs to your diet. Carbs are meant to be converted into energy that you use, so an inactive lifestyle, matched with pasta intake can be detrimental.
Start looking for some healthy fixes. For instance, there are delicious spaghetti recipes that substitute the noodles with sliced zucchini.
#7: Soda
Soda is a poor health decision because it’s packed with sugar, has no redeemable nutritional value and adds huge empty calories to your diet.
These three factors take a toll on your testosterone levels.
With soda, most people drink it unconsciously, which wears away health on a gradual basis. Habitual soda drinking can lead to dehydration and confusion understanding your hunger and thirst signals.
These factors create a domino effect in the decline of your health, all of which will further lower testosterone production.
#8: Fried Foods
Fried foods are high in sodium and unhealthy fats. As a result, your body will struggle to produce testosterone at high levels.
Look into some other ways to eat your foods — such as grilled, baked and oven roasted. You’ll be able to lower your blood pressure at the same time, which is great for your sex drive, libido, and overall circulation.
#9:ย Processed Foods
Today’s market has plenty of processed foods, so tread lightly.
When eating foods that are processed with hormones and antibiotics, your brain, body, and food will be affected. These conflicting hormones can throw your testosterone levels out of whack, even at a young age.
Look to buy foods that are organic and free of these additives in order to keep your testosterone in check.
#10: Too Much Dairy
While some dairy fats help with testosterone levels, too much dairy can have the opposite effect. Many dairy products are loaded with sweeteners and sugars, which will decrease your testosterone.
Make sure that you stick to lean dairy options and eat them in moderation.
Positive Decisions Are Key
Now that you’re aware of foods that are horrible for testosterone, it’s important to use that information to your advantage. Shop the grocery aisles with more discretion and you’ll be able to cut out many of these problems.
If you’d like a consultation for testosterone therapy, or just want professional advice, contact some medical professionals that can help you out.
