diet advice for raising testosteone

I am 28 years old and have had low testosterone since my early 20's. I think the highest ive tested is high 200's or low 300's. Its taken me until now to make an appointment at an endocrinologist. Hopefully to find out the cause and worst case scenario have to be put on trt. My question is my appointment is for another month and I wanted to change up my diet to help promote healthy test levels. Ive always eaten healthy and lift every week at least 3-4 times. I was thinking of running a carb cycle where on lift days i do surplus of high carb, high protein and moderate fats. and on off days eat at maintenance around 200 carbs and high fat high protein.I currently take a multi vitamin, zinc, D, l arginine, C. I gain fat at a way faster rate than muscle when i follow a traditional bulk. Im assuming thhis has something to do with my low testosterone levels possibly high e2. Any input or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Hi Ryan, I'm going to have this moved to the HRT Forum so we can get a discussion going.

Ok thanks!

Ahahahah, does this diet really works? :D
like a hole in the head...

Huh?

As far as I know, the relationship between diet and hormones is only loosely understood. I think eating healthy (meaning whole foods and not packaged junk) is probably just good for you in every respect.

Testosterone is made from cholesterol, and while your body manufactures cholesterol in your liver, there is some evidence that dietary cholesterol can help hormones downstream from cholesterol (of which testosterone is one). I read a study last year that showed than men who consumed a diet of approx 20% fat had significantly less T than men who consumed a diet of approximately 40% fat. Additionally, protein intake is touchy. You need to have enough for your muscles, but too much is inflammatory, and I read that excessive protein also seemed to indicate lower T scores. All would seem to point to (possibly) less protein (I don't know what your levels are now, and how they compare to your needs), more fat (including fatty fish, which have DHA that everyone desperately needs), and the rest with carbs.

I'm not an expert here, but I hope this is helpful enough to direct you to some reading that can guide you.

at 20 and already eating a healthy diet, i would say you have an underlying issue and wouldnt stress about boosting foods- any rise in test you will likely get would be negligble.

see what your endo says first- trt isnt the end of your life, if you get on the cream like i am- its just part of your normal day and becomes routine- beats feeling like crap everyday.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ryan624

I am 28 years old and have had low testosterone since my early 20's.

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This is what needs to be addressed. Ryan do you have current blood work that you can post? Like Simon said there has to be an underlying issue and thorough BW can lead us to it. A few questions:

Any drug use of any type?
Any head or testicular trauma?

Know that many things can cause low T, from hypothyroid, prolactin, cortisol issues, pathologies, etc. You need to find the root cause of this. In the Finding A Doc sticky at the top of this forum is a list of BW to obtain. Try and get it if you can. The type of doc you use doesn't matter as long as they know hormones.

thank you for all the responses, im going to try to get my old bloodwork sent to me so i can post. when i was in my early 20s late teens i abused drugs particularly cocaine and xanax. Im sure thats the culprit. Im going to try to find a dr to run my blood before the endo appointment and hopefully get some insight then.

I'd ask the endo (or his staff) how he/she will treat your for Low T if that ends up being the case. You need to know that you'll be treated with testosterone, HCG and an aromatase inhibitor if necessary. If they won't, don't waste your time with that visit. Call another office and ask the staff, etc.

Remember, title does not matter. You just need a doc that knows hormones.