Have you recently been diagnosed with low testosterone, also known as Low T? Before you start testosterone therapy, you might want to check your kitchen. Many foods can affect your testosterone levels without you even realizing it. Here are six items to cut from your diet if you’re experiencing low testosterone symptoms like fatigue, depression, and weight gain.
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Cheese
Who doesn’t love a nice piece of cheese? It’s the perfect way to end a meal or take your sandwich to the next level. Unfortunately, cheese that’s made from cow’s milk can be full of synthetic hormones that can affect your body’s natural production of estrogen and testosterone hormones. If you can’t cut out cheese completely, switch to blue cheese. Some studies have shown that the probiotics in blue cheese may affect the hypothalamus and could potentially boost testosterone production.
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Chocolate
Oh! chocolate. It’s linked with romance, and in small quantities dark chocolate has been described as a heart healthy food. But let’s be honest, no one has just one M&M. If you routinely enjoy chocolate, it can lower the amount of the testosterone hormone you create, and there’s nothing sexy about that.
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Alcohol
Like to have a couple of drinks on a Saturday night? If you’re already experiencing signs of low testosterone, you might want to remove them from your diet. Many types of alcohol, including wine and beer, contain phytoestrogen (a chemical commonly found in many plants). This can increase a man’s production of estrogen and decrease the production of testosterone. Other types of alcohol can do even more damage; from reducing your sperm count to dropping testosterone hormone levels. They can even lead to impotence.
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Soy
Many people eat soy-based products to stay healthy but don’t realize that it can cause a loss of testosterone. Soy is an estrogen-rich food that has been shown to increase low testosterone levels and significantly lower sperm count. That’s because soy contains isoflavones, which act as phytoestrogens, just like in a beer. To put it bluntly, if you’re a man who’s concerned about your low testosterone symptoms, you should avoid soy at all costs.
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Mint
Who doesn’t like to have minty-fresh breath? It sure makes it easier to go in for that kiss. But before you pop your next mint consider this: studies have found a link between mints and sexual dysfunction – specifically decreased testosterone levels. It turns out that the menthol in mints is good for your breath but bad for your libido. So the next time you need to feel fresh, swap your mints for a toothbrush and get ready for some loving.
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Flaxseeds
Flaxseed is incredibly popular because of their high content of omega-3 fatty-acid, but it’s also high in lignans, which are highly estrogenic. Studies have shown that consuming flaxseeds can lower both female and male testosterone levels and can slow down the rate of tissue growth. If you need more omega-3s in your diet, consider taking a supplement or finding other omega-3 rich foods like salmon, eggs or nuts.
If you’re exhibiting low testosterone symptoms, many things can help you boost your levels and get back to feeling healthy again. Avoiding these foods may improve your health, but you should also consider visiting a testosterone clinic to check your levels and develop a personalized plan that works for you.
