149. High-protein, low-carb diets might decrease testosterone in men
Dr. David Geier is an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist in Charleston, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina. He helps athletes and active people feel and perform their best, regardless of age, injuries and medical history. He has been featured in major media publications and shows over 2,500 times throughout his career.
Regularly consuming a high protein, low carb diet might greatly impact the testosterone levels of men. In a recent study published in the journal Nutrition and Health, researchers collected data from over 300 healthy males in their late twenties. They studied levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, and testosterone, a sex hormone involved in sperm production and muscle strength. They found that a high protein diet had little effect on cortisol levels, which gradually returned to normal. But they found a 37 percent average decrease in testosterone levels for those on high-protein, low-carbohydrate diets. Most nutrition experts recommend keeping protein levels in your diet to less than 25 percent of calories.
Through the stories of a dozen athletes whose injuries and recovery advanced the field (including Joan Benoit, Michael Jordan, Brandi Chastain, and Tommy John), Dr. Geier explains how sports medicine makes sports safer for the pros, amateurs, student-athletes, and weekend warriors alike.
