By exercise and eating a low-fat/high-fiber diet (whole-grains, beans, potatoes, bread, vegetables, fruits, etc.) you can completely restore your hormonal balance [1-3]. Vegan men are shown to have about 15% higher levels of testosterone on average compared to men eating the rich western-diet [4]. The reason probably has to do with the enhanced insulin-sensitivity of vegetarians compared to omnivores [5-6]. Vegetarians of course eat much less total and saturated fat (which paralyzes insulin activity) and more oats, beans, barley, whole-grains and vegetables (all foods which promote insulin-sensitivity) [7].
[1] Am J Med. 1985 Jan;78(1):23-7. Effects of a high-complex-carbohydrate, low-fat, low-cholesterol diet on levels of serum lipids and estradiol. Rosenthal MB, Barnard RJ, Rose DP.
[2] Eur J Appl Physiol. 2010 Apr;108(6):1125-31. Influence of dietary carbohydrate intake on the free testosterone: cortisol ratio responses to short-term intensive exercise training. Lane AR, Duke JW, Hackney AC.
[3] Life Sci. 1987 May 4;40(18):1761-8. Diet-hormone interactions: protein/carbohydrate ratio alters reciprocally the plasma levels of testosterone and cortisol and their respective binding globulins in man. Anderson KE, Rosner W, Khan MS.
[4] Br J Cancer. 2000 Jul;83(1):95-7. Hormones and diet: low insulin-like growth factor-I but normal bioavailable androgens in vegan men. Allen NE, Appleby PN, Davey GK
[5] Br J Nutr. 2006 Jan;95(1):129-35. Taiwanese vegetarians have higher insulin sensitivity than omnivores. Hung CJ, Huang PC, Li YH.
[6] Eur J Clin Nutr. 2004 Feb;58(2):312-6. Insulin sensitivity in Chinese ovo-lactovegetarians compared with omnivores. Kuo CS, Lai NS, Ho LT.
[7] Eur J Nutr. 2006 Feb;45(1):52-4. No evidence of insulin resistance in normal weight vegetarians. A case control study. Valachovicová M, Krajcovicová-Kudlácková M, Blazícek P.
Edited by misterE, 27 September 2013 - 11:25 PM.