Testosterone is a sex hormone that plays a powerful role in health.
Maintaining healthy levels of testosterone is important for gaining muscle mass, improving sexual function, and boosting strength (
Not to mention, alterations in testosterone levels have been associated with a number of health conditions, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and heart problems (
While many factors are involved in the regulation of testosterone, a healthy diet is key to keeping its levels in check and preventing them from dropping too low.
Here are 7 foods that lower testosterone levels you may want to watch out for.
Perhaps most well known for its powerful stomach-soothing properties, some research suggests that mint could cause a dip in testosterone levels.
In particular, spearmint and peppermint — two herbs that hail from the mint family of plants — have been shown to directly affect testosterone.
One 30-day study in 42 women showed that drinking spearmint herbal tea daily caused a significant decline in testosterone levels (
Similarly, an animal study found that administering spearmint essential oil to rats for 20 days resulted in reduced testosterone levels (
What’s more, an older animal study noted that drinking peppermint tea altered hormone levels in rats, leading to a decrease in testosterone, compared with a control group (
However, most research on mint and testosterone focuses on women or animals.
High quality human studies focusing on all sexes assigned at birth are needed to assess how mint affects testosterone levels in both men and women.
Summary
Some studies show that spearmint and peppermint may lower testosterone levels, but research has so far focused on their effects in women or animals.
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Licorice root is an ingredient commonly used to sweeten candies and beverages.
It’s also a popular natural remedy in holistic medicine and often used to treat everything from chronic pain to persistent coughing (
In recent years, several studies have found that licorice may also influence hormone levels, potentially leading to a decline in testosterone over time.
In a 2003 study, 25 men consumed 7 grams of licorice root daily, which caused a 26% drop in testosterone levels after just 1 week (
Another older study showed that licorice may reduce testosterone levels in women as well, reporting that 3.5 grams of licorice daily decreased testosterone levels by 32% after just one menstrual cycle (
Keep in mind that this applies to licorice root rather than licorice candy, which often doesn’t contain any licorice root.
Summary
In older studies, licorice root has been shown to significantly decrease testosterone levels in both men and women.
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Flaxseed is packed with heart-healthy fats, fiber, and various important vitamins and minerals.
In addition, some research shows that it may cause a decrease in testosterone levels in certain populations.
This is because flaxseed is high in lignans, which are plant compounds that bind to testosterone and force it to be excreted from your body (
What’s more, flaxseed is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which may be linked to a decrease in testosterone as well (
In one small study in 25 men with prostate cancer, supplementing with flaxseed and decreasing overall fat intake was shown to significantly reduce testosterone levels (
Similarly, a case study reported daily flaxseed supplements decreased testosterone levels in a 31-year-old woman with polycystic ovary syndrome, a condition characterized by increased male hormones (
However, more large-scale studies are needed to further evaluate the effects of flaxseed on testosterone levels.
Summary
Flaxseed is high in lignans and omega-3 fatty acids, both of which may be associated with reduced testosterone levels.
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Trans fats — an unhealthy type of fat that has been banned since 2015 — have been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and inflammation (
Plus, some studies have found that regularly consuming trans fats from sources like processed foods could decrease testosterone levels.
For example, one study in 209 men showed that those who consumed the highest amounts of trans fats had 15% lower levels of testosterone than those with the lowest intake.
Additionally, they also had a 37% lower sperm count and a decrease in testicular volume, which may be linked to reduced testicular function (
Animal studies have also found that a high intake of trans fats could lower testosterone levels and even impair reproductive performance (
Summary
Trans fats, which have been banned since 2015, have been shown to decrease testosterone levels and impair reproductive performance in human and animal studies.
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While enjoying the occasional glass of wine with dinner has been linked to health benefits, a small 2004 study in 19 healthy adults showed that consuming 30–40 grams of alcohol per day, which equates to about 2–3 standard drinks, decreased testosterone levels in men by 6.8% over 3 weeks (
Another study in 2014 reported that alcohol consumption reduced sem*n and changed reproductive hormones in young Danish men (20).
However, the evidence isn’t completely clear-cut when it comes to the effects of alcohol on testosterone.
In fact, both older human and animal studies have had mixed results, with some research indicating that alcohol could actually increase testosterone levels in certain cases (
Further research is needed to understand how different doses of alcohol affect testosterone levels in the general population.
Summary
Some studies have found that alcohol consumption may decrease testosterone in men, but research has shown conflicting results.
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Nuts are a great source of many important nutrients, including fiber, heart-healthy fats, and minerals like folic acid, selenium, and magnesium (
Additionally, some studies suggest that certain types of nuts may decrease testosterone levels.
One small study in 31 women with polycystic ovary syndrome showed that walnuts and almonds increased levels of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) by 12.5% and 16%, respectively (
SHBG is a type of protein that binds to testosterone, which can lead to a decrease in the levels of free testosterone in your body (25).
Nuts are also generally high in polyunsaturated fatty acids, which have been associated with decreased testosterone levels in some older studies (
Despite these findings, more research is needed to determine whether and how certain types of nuts may affect testosterone levels. In the meantime, current research supports nut intake for cardiovascular health as well as endocrine health, unless you have an allergy.
Summary
One study found that walnuts and almonds increased levels of SHBG, a protein that binds to testosterone in your body. Nuts are also high in polyunsaturated fats, which may be linked to lower testosterone levels.
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There is a common belief that regularly eating soy products like edamame, tofu, soy milk, and miso may cause a drop in testosterone levels.
One older rat study from 2001 seemed to show that consuming phytoestrogens significantly decreased testosterone levels and prostate weight (
However, more recent human studies have found that soy foods had no effect on testosterone levels in men (
While more research is needed to confirm, the belief that soy products affect testosterone appears to have been debunked.
Summary
Animal and human studies have found that certain compounds in soy-based foods may decrease testosterone levels, but research is still inconclusive.
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Changing up your diet is one of the most effective ways to maintaining healthy testosterone levels.
If you’re concerned about low testosterone levels, swapping out these testosterone-lowering foods and replacing them with healthy, whole food alternatives can keep levels in check and enhance your overall health.
Additionally, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, getting plenty of sleep, and fitting exercise into your routine are some other significant steps you can take to naturally boost testosterone.
