What are the direct connections between alcohol and testosterone in men?
There are many different studies and theories about overusing alcohol and how it impacts your overall health and your physique. The question is — does alcohol negatively impact testosterone?
The short answer is yes, alcohol can cause changes to hormones in your body over the course of time. Testosterone is the primary male hormone produced. It is thought to regulate libido, bone mass, fat distribution, muscle mass, and strength.
When it comes to alcohol and our consumption of it, it is wise for us to truly know what alcohol does to the body and what repercussions it can have on our overall goals of health and fitness. In this post, our team here at Generation Iron will break it down .
How Does Alcohol Impact Testosterone?
The use of alcohol can mess with testosterone production by getting in the way of three integral glands used to produce the hormone in men.
The hypothalamus releases gonadotropin-releasing hormone, which acts on the pituitary gland. The anterior pituitary gland releases luteinizing hormone and follice-stimulating hormone. In response to this, the testes synthesize testosterone.
The overuse of alcohol can impact this process overall.
Some long-term effects of drinking alcohol include erectile dysfunction and low libido along with low testosterone levels. Those who abuse alcohol typically have more problems than those who use it in moderation. Moderate alcohol consumption, which is described as no more than one or two drinks daily, does not show any long-term effects to testosterone.
Are There Short-Term Effects On Testosterone?
When discussing the use of alcohol and its impact on testosterone, many are focused on long-term effects over the course of their lives. Truth be told, there are also short-term effects to consider.
In a study done by the National Library of Medicine, it was found that testosterone drops in as little as half an hour after consuming alcohol. Men were given a pint of whiskey for 30 days and their levels were compared with men with alcoholism.
The healthy men who were given whiskey found that their test levels dropped by day three and were similar to those with alcoholism by the end of the 30-day period.
Drinking In Moderation Compared To Binge Drinking
There is no exact science when determining heavy drinking compared to drinking in moderation. This is done best by addressing amount of drinks consumed in a specific time period. Heavy drinking is considered 15 or more drinks per week in men and eight for women.
The impact on testosterone will take on new roles as drinking goes from moderate to binge. Anything in moderation will be fine for you, for the most part. It is important to know the differences between moderate and heavy and what the overall impacts are.
Benefits Of Testosterone Boosters
Testosterone is a vital sex hormone used to aid in growth of muscle mass and development, as well as other important bodily functions. If decreased, it can lead to a number of negative effects on your body which you just don’t simply want or need. For some, natural testosterone boosters and common foods can work to boost testosterone, but a high-quality testosterone booster can work wonders for you and get those levels to where they need to be.
Increase strength and muscle growth: Since testosterone improves protein synthesis, you will gain muscle faster, thus translating that into more strength (2).
Burn stored fat for a shredded aesthetic: Combined with exercise, increased testosterone can help shed away unwanted body fat by balancing out the levels of testosterone and estrogen. By increasing muscle mass and burning fat, your body composition will change to show that shredded physique.
Boost sex drive: The more testosterone you have, the greater the sex drive as this will increase libido and boost overall sexual function (3).
Improve mood and other cognitive abilities: Since testosterone helps boost energy levels, you will feel less tired and more alert. By increasing oxygen around your body and brain, your mood will improve and you will be sharper with decisions (4).
Wrap Up
The consumption of alcohol in moderation will likely impact testosterone in the short term but will not have long term effects. Heavy drinking will impact testosterone more overtime. It is important to know about the overall risks of alcohol with testosterone levels while also remembering there are options to boost your levels, if needed.
References
- Wein, Harrison (2013). “Understanding How Testosterone Affects Men”. (source)
- Storer, Thomas W.; Magliano, Lynne; Woodhouse, Linda; Lee, Martin L.; Dzekov, Connie; et al. (2003). “Testosterone dose-dependently increases maximal voluntary strength and leg power, but does not affect fatigability or specific tension”. (source)
- Travison, Thomas G.; Morley, John E.; Araujo, Andre B.; O’Donnell, Amy B.; et al. (2006). “The Relationship between Libido and Testosterone Levels in Aging Men”. (source)
- O’Connor, Daryl B.; Archer, John; Wu, Frederick C. W. (2004). “Effects of Testosterone on Mood, Aggression, and Sexual Behavior in Young Men: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Cross-Over Study”. (source)
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