Flax in high doses (30g or more daily) may lower male testosterone levels, but in smaller doses they offer great benefits for the gut, cardiovascular health, inflammation, blood sugar metabolism etc - without any hormonal concerns.
Yes, a study showed that daily consumption of flaxseeds was associated with lowering of testosterone levels especially in women with PCOD.
As per studies, flaxseed benefits men to help maintain healthy cholesterol levels. Dietary flaxseed was shown to lower total and LDL cholesterol by 12 and 15%, respectively, in research.
The consumption of phytoestrogen from flaxseed does not appear to affect sex hormone metabolism in males or females, principally due to the phytoestrogens from flaxseed being lignans rather than isoflavones[40, 41].
There have been hundreds of studies showing particular foods have detrimental effects on your testosterone. These include soy, nuts, fish, spearmint tea, red reishi mushrooms, flaxseed, refined carbohydrates, and hormones in meat. To properly combat these effects, it's important that you eat these foods in moderation.
According to The Journal of Sexual Medicine, chia seeds improve brain health if taken in the right amount. This increases the sexual desire of men. The seeds contain essential fatty acids, such as omega-3, that the body cannot produce. These help to boost testosterone naturally.
Nuts are nutritious foods that offer various health benefits. However, certain nuts negatively affect testosterone levels. For example, almonds, pistachios and walnuts lower testosterone levels by elevating sex hormone-binding globulin hormone (SHBG).
The side effects of flax seeds include allergic reactions, slowed blood clotting, constipation, and increased risk of cancer in susceptible individuals. In addition, the anti-nutrients in flax seeds are also considered a risk factor.
Lignans, which are the type of phytoestrogens in flaxseed, can change estrogen metabolism. In postmenopausal women, lignans can cause the body to produce less active forms of estrogen. This is believed to potentially reduce breast cancer risk.
Avoid use of flaxseed and flaxseed oil during pregnancy. Occasionally, using flaxseed or flaxseed oil causes an allergic reaction. Don't eat raw or unripe flaxseeds. Because flaxseed oil might decrease blood clotting, stop using flaxseed oil two weeks before having elective surgery.
Flaxseed is commonly used to improve digestive health or relieve constipation. Flaxseed may also help lower total blood cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or "bad") cholesterol levels, which may help reduce the risk of heart disease.
While there are no specific recommendations for flaxseed intake, 1-2 tablespoons a day is considered a healthy amount. One tablespoon of ground flaxseed contains 37 calories, 2 grams of polyunsaturated fat (includes the omega-3 fatty acids), 0.5 gram of monounsaturated fat and 2 grams of dietary fiber.
Pumpkin Seeds
Pumpkin seeds are on the list of foods that boost testosterone mainly because of their zinc content.
DHT prohibits nutrients from getting absorbed by your hair follicles, which can block hair growth. DHT blocking foods such as tomato, green tea, spinach, flax seeds, among others, effectively reduce DHT levels in your scalp naturally.
Some of the top foods that can increase testosterone levels by 52 percent or more include tuna, low-fat milk, egg yolks, beef, and fortified cereals. Other foods such as oysters, garlic, almonds, and spinach have also been shown to increase testosterone levels.
These seeds are also a great source of lignan, which is a plant compound rich in antioxidants and estrogen properties. This is why they help in weight loss by improving the functioning of the cells that burn fat.
Q. How does flaxseed benefit athletes and sports training? A: The omega-3 fatty acid, alpha-linolenic (ALA), is an essential fatty acid found in flaxseed that helps to improve the metabolism of fats, which is especially helpful for endurance sports, such as marathons.
Adding flaxseed to the diet might increase the number of bowel movements each day. It might also cause side effects such as bloating, gas, stomachache, and nausea. Higher doses are likely to cause more side effects.
Flaxseed oil (FO) and vitamin E (VE) both have antioxidant effects on sperm.
In men, lignans help balance the testosterone-DHT relationship and inhibit certain enzymes needed to convert testosterone to DHT. This results in lower DHT levels, which may improve prostate health and help maintain testosterone levels.
Avocados
A scoop of avocado is a wholesome food source with the richness of boron and magnesium. Suitable for vegetarians, avocado lies among the superfoods that increase testosterone naturally. Boron is well known for increasing levels of sex hormones including testosterone.
According to a 2020 study, (1) men who followed a “Western” diet of red meat, fried foods, high fat, and processed snacks over a nine-year period experienced the most adverse impact on their testosterone and sperm count.
Being overweight, inactivity, pain medications, steroid use, hair-loss medications, and insufficient sleep are all factors that could be causing decreased testosterone in your body.