People have been speculating about the effects very low-carbohydrate diets, which have recently been established for weight reduction, may have on the hormones in one’s body.
It is indisputable that the keto diet helps to reduce weight.
This diet can be a great help if it is looked after and kept track of by a specialist.
But does it affect your testosterone levels?
What effect does cessation of carbohydrate consumption have on the activity within your testes? Would you be able to mix together and release the same amount of hormones related to sexual maturity?
This article provides recent scientific studies as the basis for the answer.
What Is a Keto Diet?
The famous keto diet is a very low-carbohydrate diet. A “keto” diet is a shorthand term for a nutritional regimen that starts a chemical reaction known as ketosis.
A diet that is nearly devoid of carbohydrates. The carbohydrate count you will consume will be minimal. Therefore, your body will begin to use fat reserves as fuel instead of carbohydrates. One of the advantages of the keto diet is its capability to efficiently burn excess fat.
At first, the ketogenic diet was created for people who are suffering from neurological issues. This treatment yielded positive results for a kind of seizure that had proven unresponsive to other forms of therapy.
This diet was initially proposed and recommended by experts. The keto diet subsequently gained recognition as an effective weight loss approach.
How a Keto Diet Works
The ketogenic diet is based on the biological process of ketosis. As stated previously, it contains a minimal quantity of carbohydrates per day.
The body commonly uses carbs as an energy source. In lieu of carbs during the early part of the ketogenic diet, our metabolism must rely on ketosis as a substitute source of energy.
When ketosis kicks in, the body begins to utilize fat as its source of fuel instead of carbohydrates. It’s possible to begin to feel the impact of what is referred to as the “keto flu” when undergoing this approach. They would likely stop once we enter ketosis.
When there are no more carbohydrates to provide energy, ketone bodies will step in to fill the gap. Fat is broken down, resulting in ketone bodies that rapidly make their way into the brain and muscle cells.
What is Testosterone?
Both males and females produce the hormone testosterone, though males produce a significantly larger amount. Testosterone has many impacts on an individual, like their emotional state, the amount of muscle they gain during training, the amount of hair they have and in what areas, as well as their sexual maturity level.
As one gets older, their body’s production of testosterone starts to decrease. By the time a person reaches 40 years old, their testosterone levels can be only half of what they were when they were younger.
It is at that point that nutritional habits become significant. Testosterone deficiency is nothing to be laughed at and the outcomes of it do not make for enjoyable experiences for males, irrespective of age.
How Does a Keto Diet Affect Testosterone Levels?
It has been speculated that following a keto diet could potentially have an effect on testosterone levels. Testosterone production uses cholesterol as the main building block. You should consume the correct amount of fat in order to keep your testosterone levels normal.
An investigation done by the American Urological Association analyzed different types of low-fat diets among three thousand male participants. Researchers determined that individuals who followed a low-fat diet had lower levels of blood testosterone than those who did not eat this way. It would not be beneficial to limit fat intake if one is concerned with sex hormones.
The ketogenic diet does the opposite. Instead of limiting fats, the body transforms fatty acids into its main energy source. Outcomes appear to be advantageous, and the majority of experiments imply a hike in testosterone levels.
The Keto Diet and Testosterone
A man with low levels of testosterone is more at risk of gaining weight, experiencing sadness, sudden shifts in his emotions, and not having his optimal wellbeing. In the past, an unhealthy diet has been known to result in reduced testosterone levels, so it’s understandable that you are curious if this diet plan for losing weight might also help balance your hormones.
It’s not definite that following a ketogenic diet will lead to an increase in testosterone, but there could be three things that prompt it.
Protein and Testosterone
Around 100 grams of protein per day should compose 25% of a person’s daily calorie intake on the ketogenic diet if their overall calorie consumption is at least 2,000. In many cases, those who are trying to lose weight should still adopt this calorie count.
Ingesting enough protein can lead to an increase in many of the hormones your body produces, including testosterone. Therefore, it is possible that a ketogenic diet could be beneficial.
Weight Loss and Testosterone
It is widely recognized in the world of health and fitness that a certain diet is the most effective for losing weight. In a nutshell, the keto diet yields impressive outcomes – some people report that they’ve shed more than one hundred pounds in half a year while following the program.
It’s great news if you have low testosterone levels. Dropping pounds has been demonstrated to boost your body’s testosterone levels. Additionally, you will have an improved level of vitality and a greater inclination to work out when you start taking off the weight (which is another advantage).
You will not only begin to appear better in the reflection, but the improvement in energy levels will also help keep your levels of testosterone, a significant hormone for men, regulated.
Intermittent Fasting and Testosterone
One other well-known method for weight reduction at this time is intermittent fasting.
Intermittent fasting means timing your meals into a window. Instead of having three meals a day, restrict your food consumption to only 8 hours, from noon until 8 pm. Once that timeframe has ended, just stick to drinking water, coffee, or tea until noon the following day.
Intermittent fasting is not a condition of the keto diet, however, it is a commonly used technique when combining the low carbohydrate, high fat nutrition method. Eating a sufficient quantity of protein, as well as reducing your weight, can lead to an increase in your body’s testosterone levels, as timing your meals has been demonstrated to do.
For most inexperienced people, attempting to combine intermittent fasting and the ketogenic diet is quite a challenge. It may be wise to first try a ketogenic diet for a period of thirty days and then subsequently include intermittent fasting.
Can a Keto Diet Improve Testosterone Levels?
The results of all the latest research into the effect of the ketogenic diet on testosterone show that it leads to an increase. The effect can range from substantial to moderate, depending on the study.
Research indicates that this alteration may be the result of multiple factors. The most important is an increase in dietary cholesterol.
The traditional explanation points to an elevation in cholesterol consumption. Cholesterol will be easy for the testis to use for the creation of testosterone.
Research has shown that higher consumption of dietary cholesterol may raise testosterone levels. Keep in mind that you merely require a small number of cholesterol to manufacture this hormone.
The ketogenic diet is an excellent way to help with losing weight quickly. It is ideal for long-lasting medical ailments, particularly type 2 diabetes especially. Studies show that people with this condition typically have lower testosterone levels.
In this group, the use of a keto diet would be beneficial in boosting testosterone count, maintaining glucose level balance, and enhancing insulin sensitivity, thereby protecting the pancreas from any harm.
Remember that consulting with an expert may be necessary while following this kind of eating plan. It is not appropriate for everybody to be considered for this, thus you may need to conduct a few evaluations before kicking off.
Does a Keto Diet Lower Testosterone Levels?
No clinical trials have indicated that following a keto diet results in a decrease in testosterone levels. The outcome normally is a rise in testosterone after a ketogenic diet.
Still, it is important to highlight two factors that may lower testosterone levels during keto:
Statin therapy
This medication operates by decreasing cholesterol concentrations in the bloodstream. It is the traditional medical treatment for dyslipidemia. However, lowering cholesterol levels could also inhibit the production of androgens.
No cholesterol exists in the testes, and they have ceased to produce sexual hormones. Hence, individuals taking statin remedies while on the ketogenic diet may not observe the same boost in testosterone production.
Taking statins while following a keto diet will not be beneficial if the intention is to raise one’s testosterone levels. Research has suggested that atorvastatin usage can result in a drop of more than 100 ng/dL in overall testosterone levels.
Low-calorie diets
A recent extensive examination and analysis of data has revealed that lowering caloric intake leads to a decrease in testosterone levels in males. Put differently, if you have an extreme and very restricted diet, it could have a negative effect on your testosterone levels.
Figuring out the amount of energy you need and making dietary changes in line with it is essential to halt any hormonal disturbances.
How the Keto Diet Impacts Cholesterol
It is essential to emphasize that a keto diet enhances cholesterol accessibility. Put differently; there is a larger amount of cholesterol ready to be used for the making of androgens.
Does it increase good or bad cholesterol? It all depends on the person in question and the variety of fat being taken in.
In some studies, lipid fractions remain untouched. It has been proposed that there would be an increase in bad cholesterol and a decrease in good cholesterol. Yet, other studies indicate the precise contrary outcome: increased levels of beneficial cholesterol and reduced levels of unhealthy cholesterol.
In this context, the results of the keto diet for people with blood lipid issues may be positive or detrimental, depending on how it is set up.
It is advisable to observe one’s progress before starting the keto diet, track it while following the diet, and assess results after completion. Having an expert craft, a diet regimen is recommended to guarantee the best possible outcomes.
Keto Diet and Exercise
There can be no doubt that the faster you exercise regularly, the nearer you are likely to be to the fitness or weight reduction objectives you have put in place. Physical activity can positively impact your emotions, help you lose weight, and make your muscles and heart stronger.
Physical activity, especially weight-lifting, is beneficial in maintaining natural testosterone levels into your later years. If you want to return to your previous level of conditioning, making exercise a priority is essential.
In the beginning, engaging in physical activity, particularly resistance training, may be challenging while following a keto diet. It takes some time for your body to become accustomed to consuming so few carbohydrates, and a lot of people usually find themselves feeling sluggish during the initial one or two weeks of being on the diet.
If you detect a lack of stamina or power in the beginning, this is to be expected. This symptom is so widespread that it is prevalently referred to as the “keto flu”.
Other signs of keto flu can include feeling light-headed, feeling nauseous, having migraines, and dehydration.
Low Carb Diets Can Mean Less Testosterone
It is crucial to bear in mind that some individuals could go through a decline in their testosterone when embarking on a keto diet, even though it has outstanding advantages.
When your body is not producing ketones, it stores glucose in your muscles, liver, and fat cells for energy needs. The organism goes through a specific metabolic transformation to take advantage of the energy source, and hormones like testosterone are involved in this.
When you switch to using ketones as a fuel source, your body needs to access energy from a different place. This can mess up your body, particularly its hormones.
It is important to remember that if you are suffering from low testosterone levels, they may return to their usual state after you alter your lifestyle or habits; however, this is something to be aware of.
The opposite of this is that every healthy decision you make and the outcomes you experience after going keto could actually increase testosterone levels. If you are consistently applying yourself, this should not be a problem.
Cyclical Ketogenic Diet
If you’re an athlete that desires extra carbohydrates on occasion or you enjoy an occasional ‘off-plan’ day, the cyclical ketogenic diet may be the ideal selection for you.
Cycling the keto diet involves adhering to it for a period of 3 to 6 days before taking a break. When you don’t exercise, you can take as many carbohydrates as you want, however, it is most beneficial to take the cleanest sources available. This can be a beneficial break from the diet plan, helping it seem less forced.
One point to remember is that you may not immediately return to ketosis after taking a break from it. If you consume 300 grams of carbs on a day when you’re not on a ketogenic diet, it could require 2 or 3 days to start experiencing the benefits of the ketogenic diet again. It is a good idea not to go completely overboard on days off.
You can speed up your progress by doing an especially demanding exercise routine the day after taking a break. This additionally furnishes the advantage of improving testosterone levels as well.
Final Thoughts
The correlation between the ketogenic diet and testosterone levels is relatively recent, and it is yet to be determined if a diet low in carbohydrates has a negative or positive effect on increasing this hormone.
On the plus side, you can anticipate weight loss and increased vitality when you start following the keto diet. In addition, you can use methods that have been demonstrated to increase testosterone, such as intermittent fasting, to boost hormones.
It has been demonstrated through certain research that testosterone quantities can potentially decline when substituting for a low-carb eating plan, even if it is only for a short period of time. Be aware that the keto flu can be an issue, so you should anticipate a problematic change when you begin the diet. Make sure to drink lots of water to help with this.
