From doing your squats to eating your greens, here at MH Towers we're in no shortage of testosterone-boosting advice. From building muscle and boosting strength to warding off obesity, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and heart problems, it's in the interest of every man to maintain healthy testosterone levels.
One of the easiest ways to keep them in check is through your diet. However, in much the same way certain foods dutifully rev up your testosterone levels, there others that can tank your stores quicker than you can flex your bicep, as you're about to discover.
That said, most of the culprits on this list aren't particularly good for you in huge amounts anyway – there's no kale or broccoli, put it that way – so giving them a swerve is unlikely to bring about any nutritional imbalances.
Take heed of these testosterone-depleting snacks next time you're working your way round the supermarket and fill your trolley with something less sinister – here are the dietary demons you need to exorcise if, well, exercise is your bag.
Klaus Vedfelt Getty Images
Alcohol
Your post-work pint might feel as though it's doing you the world of good, but if higher hormone levels are on your priority list, either outflank the nightly drinks or stick to just the one.
The same endorphins that are released during your consumption of alcohol, making you feel good in the process, are the chemicals responsible for destroying your T-levels. Unfortunately, this isn't all it does – as all those liquid calories contribute to your gut, your rapidly expanding waistline further lowers your testosterone. Time to give the pub a miss?
Soy Products
Unfortunately for those after ve-gains, the relationship between soy and testosterone is fraught with scientific conflict. Multiple studies published in journals such as Human Reproduction claim soy decreases sperm count and lowers testosterone, while clinical reviews from the journal Fertil Steril have found no link at all. However, research from Colorado State University recently linked soy consumption to a high amount of a chemical in the gut called equol, which shuts down the production of T. Better swerve the soy until an equol-ly strong case is made against this research.
undefined undefined Getty Images
Sugary Drinks
This could be extended to sweets, doughnuts and all kinds of sugar bombs, but cans of fizz are by far among the worst offenders. A study from Oxford University gave 75 men a 75g dose of pure sugar.
On average, the men suffered a 25 per cent drop in testosterone. Considering one can of full-fat coke can pack a deceptive 39g of refined sugar, it's not a difficult task to consume over 75g each day by accident. Think before you drink.
Breakfast Pastries
For some of us, treating ourselves to a rare Danish along with our Monday morning Costabucks is one of the highlights of our week. But as well as padding our waistlines, some breakfast pastries still contain trans fats. These are oils found in products like the margarine used in buttery baked goods, and they've been proven to wreak havoc upon your testosterone production by the British Journal of Nutrition.
FotografiaBasica Getty Images
Flaxseeds
Every Instagram wellness warrior is sprinkling flaxseeds on their porridge, but have men jumped on the bandwagon too soon? Although the seeds are high in omega-3 fatty acids, studies by the Duke University Medical Centre in the US found flax is rich in a chemical called lignan, which contributed to the reduction of testosterone in all the male participants. Best stick to cornflakes, then.
Like this article? Sign up to our newsletter to get more articles like this delivered straight to your inbox.
SIGN UP
This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io
