[quote]Elaikases wrote:
Chushin, when I did that last, the only fat I got in my diet was from two tablespoons of olive oil a day. Out of about 1800 calories I was getting 240 to 300 from fat or around 15%.
So if I cut the fat back to 20% or so of my calories, it could cause trouble? That would explain why the impact isn’t consistent, I’ve been introducing fat back into my diet from time to time, then letting it slide out except for the olive oil.
Thanks.[/quote]
It helps understand the situation if you understand how testosterone is produced in the body. There are a lot of factors that go into it. On the building blocks level, testosterone is made from cholesterol which is, in turn, made from fats.
So it’s entirely possible that a diet very low in fat will hinder natural testosterone production.
It’s not really possible that the only fat in your diet is coming from two tablespoons of olive oil. Almost all foods contain some levels of fat and when it comes to protein, all animal sources contain fat.
This isn’t to say that your diet can’t be low in fat, it’s just to say that if you really want to know, you have to do the research and fond out the true composition of the foods you’re eating. Sites like http://www.nutritiondata.com/ are a good place to go for that.
At the testicle level, there’s your HPTA controlling the release of hormones that signal your testes to produce testosterone and there’s your testicles themselves whose ability to make testosterone may be compromised by age and blood flow.
Let’s not also forget that fat produces estrogen and aromatase, both of which inhibit testosterone, so no matter how it seems now, lowering stored fat levels on your body will improve your hormone profile.
Chushin is right, proper levels of fat in your diet will actually help you lose body fat. Fish oil is known to improve blood flow which will help in lots of ways, so don’t skimp on the fish oil. It’s my number one favorite supplement.
The phrase “testosterone booster” is completely meaningless unless you understand how they work. However they work (or claim to work), it’s important to understand that they MUST work within the confines of your body’s natural systems.
This is just one more reason why it pays to study the workings of the HPTA and how your body really works.
So, testosterone boosters can either work on the control side of the equation or the production side of the equation. They either stimulate or inhibit the workings of the HPTA or they support testicular function.
Supporting testicular function is a dietary thing like the proper amounts of fats in your diet and supporting blood flow and arterial health. Think about that for a minute. Almost all the supplements that “support cardiovascular health” will also support testicular health by keeping your blood flowing.
The vast majority of natural testosterone boosters work on the control side of the equation and that overwhelmingly means aromatase inhibition. Well, aromatase inhibition can, indeed raise testosterone levels.
It’s solid in both theory and practice under the proper circumstances. Whether or not a particular substance really is a good aromatase inhibitor is a separate issue from whether or not aromatase inhibition is a valid strategy for boosting testosterone.
I think I’ve said enough for now. The take away message is keep reading and keep studying because THERE ARE WAYS TO INCREASE YOUR TESTOSTERONE SHORT OF TRT.
There are no easy answers, so go for the complicated ones.