Fats are one of the basic components in the body, which is beneficial in providing energy for every cell, tissue, organ, and system to function at its best. Unfortunately, too much of everything good is not okay. Having too much fat inside the body isn't just unappealing. It can also be very risky and can pose a lot of negative effects on the body.
Considered as one of the three main macronutrients with proteins and carbohydrates, fats are usually burned by the body and is used as a source for energy. Excess fats, on the other hand, tend to build up in the blood vessels, which in turn could increase LDL cholesterol. With this, the body gets more susceptible to cardiovascular diseases and stroke, as reported by Medline Plus.
Given this reason, it is indeed crucial to burn off those unwanted fats to keep your health at its peak. And one way to do that is by embracing a low-fat diet. But did you know that a recent study shows how eating a low-fat diet can also be associated with a significant decrease in one's testosterone levels?
"We found that men who adhered to a fat restrictive diet had lower serum testosterone than men on a non-restrictive diet", explains Jake Fantus. He is one of the study's researchers and an expert from the University of Chicago in the US.
The researchers were able to discover the facts on this study after analyzing the data of more than 3,100 men nationwide. The information studied include the participants' data regarding their preferred diet and testosterone levels, as revealed by News 18.
Among the participants, 14.6% of them embraced a low-fat diet, 24.4% preferred a Mediterranean diet and a few on AHA low-carbohydrate diet. The first two groups are chosen by the researchers to be the only focused on the study.
After analyzing the given data, the results revealed how the testosterone levels of those who are under restricted diets are lower. Their average rate is 411 ng/dL and 413 ng/dL for low-fat diet and Mediterranean diet respectively. The rate gathered is then adjusted based on several factors, which include physical activity, body mass index, medical conditions, and age-all these can affect a guy's testosterone levels. After the adjustment, results showed how among all the gentlemen, 26.8% of them has a testosterone level of less than 300 ng/dL.
Researchers emphasized the limitations of their study. According to them, since the team experienced difficulties working on large-scale dietary studies, they are still looking forward to another research, which could clarify, elaborate, and dig deeper into the topic even more.
