
Does food effect Testosterone blood levels?
Testosterone is a steroid hormone secreted from within specific cells in the testes and it has the effect of both building muscle and a smaller effect of breaking down muscle. Cortisol is another steroid hormones that all humans have and is released by the adrenal cortex and this hormone breaks down muscle (for the purpose of this blog).
Research published in the American Physiological Society has shown that steroid hormone concentrations can be affected by diet. Individuals who consume a diet containing 20% fat compared with a diet made up of 40% fat have a much lower testosterone level. Furthermore, vegetarians also consume less fat compared with omnivores and exhibit lower concentrations of Testosterone.
More importantly, intake of monounsaturated fats and saturated fatty acids were the strongest predictors of Testosterone levels. That means a good old delicious pesto pasta dish cooked in olive oil or sunflower oil does the business!
The research suggested that alteration in dietary energy and its composition can potentially modify Testosterone levels.
Another interesting thing is that it has been numerously shown that in a low protein diet, where only 10% of total energy comes from proteins is associated with higher resting levels of Testosterone when compared with a diet where 44% of the total energy comes from proteins. (resting level is the time when the individual is not involved in any strenuous physical activity).
Results also showed an increase in resting and after exercise Testosterone level occurred more in athletes who consumed protein derived from animal sources compared to vegetable sources.
The next blog will touch on increasing Testosterone levels naturally.
Testosterone is a steroid hormone secreted from within specific cells in the testes and it has the effect of both building muscle and a smaller effect of breaking down muscle. Cortisol is another steroid hormones that all humans have and is released by the adrenal cortex and this hormone breaks down muscle (for the purpose of this blog).
Research published in the American Physiological Society has shown that steroid hormone concentrations can be affected by diet. Individuals who consume a diet containing 20% fat compared with a diet made up of 40% fat have a much lower testosterone level. Furthermore, vegetarians also consume less fat compared with omnivores and exhibit lower concentrations of Testosterone.
More importantly, intake of monounsaturated fats and saturated fatty acids were the strongest predictors of Testosterone levels. That means a good old delicious pesto pasta dish cooked in olive oil or sunflower oil does the business!
The research suggested that alteration in dietary energy and its composition can potentially modify Testosterone levels.
Another interesting thing is that it has been numerously shown that in a low protein diet, where only 10% of total energy comes from proteins is associated with higher resting levels of Testosterone when compared with a diet where 44% of the total energy comes from proteins. (resting level is the time when the individual is not involved in any strenuous physical activity).
Results also showed an increase in resting and after exercise Testosterone level occurred more in athletes who consumed protein derived from animal sources compared to vegetable sources.
The next blog will touch on increasing Testosterone levels naturally.