Should testosterone killing foods be a concern of yours and something that you need to do something about?
Testosterone is a hormone associated with men and a key contributor to the development of masculine characteristics.
It is produced by the male testes and is primarily responsible for controlling sexual functions, growth and secondary effects like enhanced muscle growth, increased bone density, and red blood cell production.
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The Side Effects of Low Testosterone Levels
Low testosterone levels can have negative effects on many parts of a man’s life.
Physical changes are one of the most visible side effects, with decreased testosterone levels bringing about increased fat accumulation, loss of muscle mass, and decline in testosterone production by the testes.
When it comes to your health, low levels can also give you several conditions, such as heart problems, type 2 diabetes, and obesity.
Low testosterone levels also have many mental and emotional effects like depression, feelings of weakness or tiredness, low libido, mood swings, or irritability.
If you suspect that your testosterone levels are low, one of the first things to do is do a checkup on the lifestyle you are having and have a closer look at the foods you are eating.
Changing your diet and lifestyle is often enough to reverse the effects and once again live fully as a man.
In this article, we will take a closer look at 15 testosterone killing foods that you should try to avoid as much as possible.
Soybean Products Among the Worse Testosterone Killing Foods
Write about why soybean products are killing your testosterone
Soybeans contain isoflavones that may inhibit the production of testosterone in the body and stop the activity of the Leydig cells that helps produce testosterone.
In one study, 35 men drank soy protein isolate for 54 days. The result of the test was a decrease in their testosterone levels despite increasing their protein intake.
However, before you completely write off soybean products in your diet, there are some conflicting sciences on this matter.
Other studies regarding soybean products‘ effect on testosterone have shown no effects on men’s testosterone levels at all.
Soybeans are eaten by millions of people every day and exist in all sorts of food. It isn’t easy to avoid.
My recommendation regarding Soybean products is to avoid them, but don’t be too hard on yourself if you get them with your diet here and there.
Polished Rice
When rice is processed as polished rice, it loses some of its testosterone boosting compounds making it less nutrient and beneficial for your body.
Rice has been known to be among testosterone killing foods because of the phytic acid.
Phytic acid is a type of acid that deactivates testosterone. It does this by inhibiting testosterone synthesis in the body, as well as testosterone activation.
My recommendation is to stick to unpolished rice such as brown rice. But again, don’t be too hard on yourself having white rice.
Many drug-free athletes consume plenty of rice in their meals, and they don’t seem to have any issues with low testosterone levels.
Mint
Especially mint tea, peppermint, and spearmint may lower and reduce your testosterone production.
It contains testosterone inhibiting compounds such as rosmarinic acid, myristicin, limonene, and L-carvone
However, before you completely write off mint, it is important to notice that most tests and studies have been done on women and animals, like this study done on rats.
Licorice Root
A lot of people don’t know that licorice root is a testosterone killer. It contains testosterone inhibiting hormones that can lower testosterone by 30%.
It affects testosterone production in men because of its testosterone-like compounds called Phthalates.
In one study, 25 men got 7 grams of licorice daily. After one week, they experienced a drop in testosterone of 26%.
Licorice root is often added as a sweetener to candy and drinks and is also used in medicine.
You can safely continue to eat your licorice candy since it doesn’t contain any licorice root at all.
Vegetable Oil
Usually, many vegetable oils are considered healthy sources of fatty acids that your body needs.
However, as some studies suggest, oils such as canola, soybean, and cottonseed oil are among the testosterone killing foods. They may decrease your testosterone levels due to their levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids.
One study done in 69 Japanese men showed that consuming polyunsaturated fats resulted in lower testosterone levels.
Omega 3 and Omega 6
When it comes to the important omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids, the Asian Journal of Andrology did a study.
Here they looked at young men, their testosterone levels, and testicles.
The results showed that omega 3 fatty acids tend to increase the size of their testicles, and omega 6 tend to decrease the size.
This study needs further confirmation from similar studies whether these oils should be on the list of testosterone killing foods or not.
Flaxseed
Flaxseed comes with important vitamins, minerals, fibers, and healthy fats, which are good for your health in general.
However, Flaxseed also contains the plant compound lignans that increase sex hormone-binding globulin and decrease testosterone levels.
Lignans bind to testosterone, so it will become nonfunctioning and excreted from the body.
Studies have shown that men with prostate cancer, reducing their fat intake and supplementing with flaxseed saw a reduction in their testosterone levels.
Keep in mind that more studies are needed for a conclusion. If you happen to consume flaxseed, I recommend you keep doing it. The benefits will weigh higher.
Processed Food
Processed food is a type of food that has been manufactured and processed by industrial methods. These food products are also less likely to have any health benefits or nutrients for testosterone production.
People who consume too much processed food will have lower testosterone levels because. How this type of food is made alters amino acids decreasing, decreasing hormones and enzymes such as lysine and zinc-coenzymes.
These are essential for testosterone synthesis, boost your libido, and increases your sperm count.
Processed foods are testosterone killers. The best way to avoid this is to cook by yourself.
Alcohol
It’s complicated, but alcohol does affect your levels and are among the testosterone killing foods.
The T levels in the body are usually regulated by testosterone-producing organs such as testosterone-secreting Leydig cells and testosterone-dependent testicular Sertoli cells.
Alcohol metabolism inhibits testosterone production, and therefore testosterone levels drop after drinking alcohol. But alcohol doesn’t lower testosterone to a level that’s considered clinically low testosterone or hypogonadism.
Men can still produce enough testosterone despite sporadic drinking.
Can Still Produce Testosterone
Research has shown that in occasional long-term heavy drinkers, testosterone levels can fall to the point where it becomes difficult to maintain muscle mass or sex drive.
More research needs to be done on this subject before we can give it a conclusion.
Some studies have shown that testosterone levels continue to drop after the initiation of alcohol consumption.
But not everyone’s testosterone reacts the same way when drinking beer or wine.
In men, testosterone levels can fall by up to 30 percent within a few hours of consuming large amounts of alcohol but then rise again as testosterone-producing organs catch up with demand.
Another study has also shown that testosterone may increase in men after a low dose.
When it comes to alcohol, I personally believe that glass here, and there won’t negatively impact your testosterone levels. It is when it becomes a daily habit that problems start to arise.
Nuts
Nuts are healthy and a reliable source of important nutrients such as Omega 3, fivers, vitamins, and minerals.
However not all nuts are created equal when it comes to testosterone killing foods, some nuts will decrease your levels of testosterone.
Almonds and Walnuts as Testosterone Killing Foods
Almonds and walnuts are among the most popular nuts you can get.
But both almonds and walnuts are testosterone killing foods. They increase the levels of SHBG, which stands for Sex Hormone Binding Globulin. It controls the amount of testosterone that your body can use and can neutralize its androgenic effect.
Almonds and Walnuts also contain polyunsaturated fats, which also can lower your testosterone levels.
Phytosterols are a general concern when it comes to nuts. Tests done on rats showed that testosterone levels decreased 33% in a period of 33 days.
Phytosterols are also considered beneficial for your heart, but no evidence claims that phytosterols might be more damaging than beneficial.
Brazil Nuts
If you like nuts but want to be safe, then consider having Brazil nuts. They are high in selenium which may boost your testosterone levels.
But don’t go overboard because too much selenium can have a damaging effect.
When It Comes to Nuts
It is important to point out that how nuts affect your testosterone levels is not conclusive. You can find plenty of material online stating that nuts don’t lower your testosterone levels but may have the opposite effect.
My personal take when it comes to nuts is to have them in a limited amount, not because of testosterone but because of their health-enhancing ingredients.
Sodas and Juices
Soda is often called the testosterone killer. It’s loaded with sugar, artificial coloring, and a chemical known as bromine that competes for testosterone receptors in cells.
Brominated vegetable oil (BVO) is another ingredient in soda found to decrease testosterone levels by over 20%.
Juice often has as many as two servings of fruit juice per glass, which can boost sugar intake and lead to insulin spikes.
Insulin regulates testosterone production, so anything that throws hormone levels out of whack will work against testosterone production.
Dairy Products
Dairy products are tricky when it comes to testosterone killing foods.
Low-fat cow milk is rich in protein, vitamin d, and calcium, all good for your testosterone levels.
However, if the cow’s feed is soy, it can increase estrogen and lower testosterone levels, which can affect the milk you are drinking.
Many dairy products often have levels of estrogen and progesterone, which affects testosterone levels if they are consumed.
However, there is no noteworthy evidence determining whether these foods indeed increase or reduce testosterone to crucial degrees.
Dairy products can include milk, cheese, and butter and are crammed with essential nutrients for growing children and those who don’t grow up – like calcium and Vitamin D.
However, aside from their ability to provide health benefits, some dairy products such as yogurt have been shown scientifically to positively impact testosterone levels in males due to their high probiotics content.
Also, milk, cream, yogurt, etc. contain HGH, which can increase your testosterone levels in high quantities.
Bread
Bread triggers an insulin spike in the bloodstream and that’s not good for testosterone production, testosterone storage, or testosterone health. Bread also craps on HDL levels which is another important marker of big testosterone health.
A few pieces of bread per day is OK. The more “heavy work” you are doing, the more bread you can have.
Remember, bread as testosterone killing foods also include pizza, bagels, croissants, and muffins.
Pastries and Desserts
Pastries and desserts can be nice to have from time to time. However, not only can they make you gain body fat, but they also contain trans fat that will have a negative impact on your testosterone levels.
As a healthy man, you should avoid pastries and desserts as much as possible. They are not only testosterone killing foods but can also cause obesity.
Fried Food
Despite the delicious smell and taste, fried foods are detrimental to testosterone.
To make matters worse, fried food also raises cholesterol levels.
Fried foods come with high levels of polyunsaturated fat that is bad for your testosterone levels.
Keep in mind; fried food also contains other bad ingredients for your health, such as high levels of sodium.
Sugar
We have already touched on the effects of sugar in some of the foods mentioned in this article. However, sugar deserves its own independent spot when it comes to testosterone killing foods as well.
According to a study published in the Journal Clinical Endocrinology and mentioned in Diabetes.co.uk, shows that 75g of sugar can cause a 25% drop in testosterone for up to two hours after consumption.
Keep in mind that 75 grams of sugar are around 6 tablespoons of sugar.
The best is to avoid sugar or limit it to a minimum. That also goes for all the hidden sugar you find in various food items.
How to Reverse the Effects of Testosterone Killing Foods?
The best you can do to reverse the effects of testosterone killing foods is to avoid them together.
But it is easier said than done because many of them are added to our food with us being aware of it. So, the best you can do is avoid and limit the obvious one and become more aware of what you are eating.
Another thing you can do to reverse the effects is to make sure to get plenty of testosterone boosting meals in your diet, such as
- Tuna
- Egg Yolks
- Fortified cereals
- Oysters
- Shellfish
- Beef
- Garlic
- Spinach
- Lemons
- Salmon
- Bananas
In our next article here at Old Guys Fit, we will take a closer look at the foods that can boost your testosterone levels.
Get Started Using a Testosterone Booster Like TestoPrime
Another easier approach to reverse the effects of testosterone killing foods and get your levels back on track is to use a testosterone booster like TestoPrime.
Here you are getting a special blend of scientifically proven ingredients that can improve your body’s ability to protect and produce your testosterone.
You can learn about how to buy TestoPrime, but before doing so, I highly recommend you read our full TestoPrime review for more information.
References on testosterone killing foods:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15735098/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19524224/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5788221/
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https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11525593/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5312216/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2826899/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11445478/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15166654/
https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=167&ContentID=shbg_blood
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6122900/
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/phytosterols-good-or-bad
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19091331/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6015465/
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-does-dairy-affect-your-hormone-levels/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10943734/