Is what you eat stopping your gains?
We all know that testosterone is one of the most, if not the most important hormone when it comes to building and maintaining muscle mass, regulating sex drive, keeping fat levels down, and a mix of other things. It also is fairly well known that as you age, your testosterone levels drop naturally. But, is what you eat already dropping your test levels? Yes you read that right, you could be consuming testosterone killing foods.
You may not even realize it, but what you eat might be having a negative effect on your testosterone levels. Let’s break it down.
Importance of Testosterone
Testosterone is a vital sex hormone used to aid not only in muscle growth and development but also aids in the processes of other important bodily functions. That being said, If testosterone levels are decreased, it can lead to a number of negative effects on your body which you just don’t simply want or need. Side effects can include increased fat levels, decreased sex drive, difficulty putting on or maintaining muscle, and even depression. These are things that most people do not want to experience.
While there are plenty of factors that can effect your levels of testosterone, many people forget that your diet plays a large role in your hormone levels. What foods could be killing your testosterone?
Foods that Kill Testosterone
You may have heard the term “you are what you eat”, meaning if you eat junk you are going to feel like it too. However, it goes much deeper than that, things that you might find healthy can actually affect your testosterone levels just as much as flat out junk food. While a cheat meal is good every now and then, consistently eating food like that can be detrimental.
What you eat that directly affects testosterone goes a lot deeper than just the basic macronutrients of protein, fat, and carbs, it actually is where the food comes from that is the driving factor.
Vegetable Oils
Vegetable oil is something a lot of bodybuilders will use to get in their fats for the day, as most vegetable oils contain high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids. These fats are typically stated to be a healthy source of fats. However, when consumed in large amounts, it has been found that polyunsaturated fats have been associated with lower levels of testosterone, making it a testosterone killing food.
Trans Fatty Acids
Trans fatty acids are primarily found in processed foods and are generally considered harmful to one’s health, but they are also a testosterone killing food. You might think that avoiding things like fast food and frozen dinners is a quick and easy solution to avoiding fatty acids, but a lot of what you consume throughout the day is heavily processed. Whole foods are something we always stand by when it comes to hitting your macros.
Sugar
Studies have found that higher amounts of sugar have been associated with lower testosterone levels, but the test subjects also had higher body mass. When we say sugar, this does not just mean candy or sweet treats, but even baked goods
This almost goes hand in hand with dairy products and desserts. These items were also associated with lower testosterone levels. However, as with sugar, it’s not clear if body fat plays a mediating role.
A good source of sugar would be natural fruits.
Soy
You may have heard the term “soy boy”, referring to a feminine male, and well, soy may be a testosterone killing food. When it comes to soy and testosterone levels, the research for the effects of soy is mixed. The debate on whether soy is healthy or unhealthy is very controversial, and many people are left on the fence as to what it does to the body.
One thing that is for certain is that soy is high in phytoestrogens. Phytoestrogens are plant-derived substances that work similarly to estrogen, and an increase in estrogen can lead to some of the unwanted effects of low testosterone, such as high body fat.
Certain Tea Ingredients
Some things that you may add to your tea may be testosterone killing foods. These ingredients are peppermint and spearmint, as well as licorice root.
Walnuts, Almonds and Flaxseed
While these may be a good source of fats, walnuts and almonds appear to be testosterone killing foods. They have been found to increase your production of a substance called sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), which is responsible for transporting testosterone as well as other hormones throughout your body. It has been found that higher amounts of SHBG cause lower levels of free testosterone in the body.
When it comes to flaxseed, this is high in lignans, which might lower testosterone levels.
Alcohol
Last but not least, is alcohol. It has been found that drinking alcohol in excess can possibly lead to lower testosterone levels. Some evidence of this is that many alcoholics are seen as overweight, and a lot of times after a night of drinking you may notice that sexual function is decreased, making it an easy entry for testosterone killing foods.
Ways to Boost Testosterone
Low testosterone is something that most men do not want, and there are ways to combat the issue. Aside from cleaning up your diet and increasing exercise, medicine has advanced and things like testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) are there for your own good, but this may not be an option for everyone. This is where testosterone boosters come into play.
Testosterone boosters are natural, usually herbal over-the-counter supplements that are said to combat the effects of low test as well as increase your free and total testosterone levels. With a hormone that is this serious, you would not want to purchase something that is weak and under dosed, ineffective, overpriced, or overall just a junk product. There are plenty of junk testosterone boosters out there, so which one stands out the most?
Transparent Labs Vitality
Transparent Labs Vitality is an innovative 3-in-1 natural test booster and hormone optimizing supplement. A powerful formula matched by amazing ingredients, this is perfect for overall vitality.
Transparent Labs Vitality is our favorite testosterone booster because it is an innovative 3-in-1 natural hormone optimizing supplement. Transparent Labs Vitality can work wonders for your overall health and performance goals, as the supplement works to naturally boost your testosterone levels while controlling estrogen and cortisol production. That being said, those who are suffering from low testosterone may never have to worry again.
With a powerful formula packed with amazing ingredients, this supplement sets the foundation for lean muscle gains, fat burning, strength, libido, confidence, and overall vitality to ensure your workouts, activities, and lifestyle are all the best they can be. With no artificial sweeteners, coloring, or preservatives, you know Vitality is clean with proven and effective ingredients.
Ingredients
Let’s take a look at the ingredients in Transparent Labs Vitality.
Zinc: Supports fertility and testosterone production in adult males (1). Can increase sperm and overall testosterone levels.
Organic Ashwagandha Extract: A versatile adaptogenic herb, ashwagandha helps to promote healthy levels and mitigates stress-induced cortisol secretion (2).
Shilajit Extract: Can improve vitality and can increase total testosterone and free testosterone levels.
Quercetin Dihydrate: A vital micronutrient, this can serve as an antioxidant to important body systems. Protects the Leydig cells by preserving testosterone levels and fertility (3).
DIM (Diindolylmethane): Regulates estrogen metabolism and plays an important role in gene expression in men and women. Can also affect muscle growth, libido, recovery, and mood.
LJ100 (Standardized Eurycoma longifolia extract): Can increase the ratio of testosterone to cortisol and show improvements to lean body mass, strength, and muscle size (4).
Bioperine (Black Pepper Extract): Enhances bioavailability so nutrients are absorbed more efficiently in the body.
Boron: Can boost free testosterone and reduce estrogen and plays an important role throughout the body in numerous ways.
As you can see, the ingredients in Transparent Labs Vitality are all natural, so you are boosting your testosterone without the assistance of any unnatural supplements.
Check out our individual review for Transparent Labs Vitality here!
Testosterone Killing Foods Wrap Up
Overall, testosterone does indeed dip naturally over time, but your diet plays a large role in your hormone levels throughout your life. Food sources are extremely important to look at when it comes to your overall health and wellness. There are plenty of ways to combat the issue of low testosterone, one of those being testosterone boosters.
What will you do to keep your hormones in check?
Let us know what you think in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
