Testosterone is a natural and primary sex hormone in men. It takes responsibility for bodily functions like hair growth, bone development, muscle development, and, most importantly, the sex drive of a man. Testosterone levels differ at different stages of life. During puberty and the early stages of adulthood, testosterone levels are at their peak, and they start to decline from age 30 and above.
Low testosterone levels have been linked with many issues, including low sex drive, decreased muscle and bone mass, and depression. Maintaining adequate testosterone levels in the course of your life is vital for mental, physical, and sexual health. But testosterone levels can be affected by a variety of factors and these including the consumption of alcohol.
An alcoholic drink is a drink that contains ethyl/ethanol alcohol. There are three types of alcoholic beverages generally, which include beers, distilled spirits, and wine. Typically, excessive drinking of alcohol has a negative effect on testosterone levels. Heavy alcohol consumption is generally harmful for the health, but as a man, it might also make you less manly.
Taking alcohol affects testosterone levels in numerous ways. For instance, some men may experience a temporary surge in testosterone levels when consuming alcohol in substantial quantities. Also, some men may notice a temporary acute reduction in testosterone levels if they drink alcohol in large quantities.
However, regular and heavy intake of alcohol will eventually have a deteriorating effect on testosterone levels. Men that take alcohol regularly have lower than normal testosterone levels, which will have a variety of adverse health effects.
How much alcohol is bad for testosterone levels?
Recent research has shown that there has been a general decrease in testosterone levels in most men. A study showed that most American men have testosterone levels that are 25% lower than their counterparts from the 1980s. And this general decrease in testosterone levels is heavily linked to alcohol.
Knowing the amount of alcohol it takes to affect your testosterone levels is essential to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Research has shown that a moderate intake of alcohol, which is about two drinks per day, may result in slight testosterone reduction in men, which is not much of a concern.
However, heavy intake of alcohol (about five or more drinks in 2 hours), regularly or occasionally, has been found to cause more damage to testosterone levels and cause fertility issues.
Alcohol’s calorific value
When it comes to the number of calories, Whisky containing 250kcal per 100g comes in first place. Clear vodka is next on the list as it includes 220kcal per 100g. Beer contains 67kcal per 100g, White wine contains 66kcal per 100g, and Red wine contains 60kcal per 100g.
The conditions in which you drink alcohol should be of utmost importance. These conditions include the amount of alcohol intake, the high-calorie drinks consumed, and also the food that is eaten together with it.
Factors influencing the effect of Alcohol on Testosterone levels
There are a number of factors that influence how the intake of alcohol affects testosterone levels. These factors range from the individual’s age, their sex, and also the type of alcohol they are consuming.
Individual’s sex
The main chemical component that is found in alcohol, Ethanol, is found to be toxic to the male’s reproductive organ. If taken in large quantities regularly, alcohol can significantly decrease testosterone function, fertility, sperm count, and in a worst-case scenario, it could cause severe damage to the testes. This is why it is a common thing for men with AUD (Alcohol Use Disorder) to experience infertility.
Unlike men, women have an opposite yet a similar problem. Excessive intake of alcohol in women usually leads to an increase in testosterone levels. This, in turn, might result in the loss of some feminine sex characteristics and bring about an increased risk of infertility.
Individual’s Age
Several studies have shown that the effect of moderate intake of alcohol varies depending on the age of the individual, which is why alcohol consumption rate is to be reduced as you age. As men get older, they notice that their hormones fluctuate naturally, which can lead to more significant hormonal changes, unlike when they were younger. For people in their 40s and above, even moderate intake of alcohol can immensely affect their hormone production.
Some studies have shown that excessive intake of alcohol in women can delay the onset of menopause. If hormone disruption and other underlying health issues are involved, then binge drinking alcohol could prove fatal.
The Type of Alcohol being consumed
The type of alcohol being consumed plays a pivotal role in how it will impact testosterone levels. For instance, beer contains prolactin and phytoestrogen, which are two chemicals that increase estrogen levels and, at the same time, decrease testosterone levels. These chemicals are usually found in barley and hops.
Other alcoholic drinks that contain the estrogen-increasing chemical, phytoestrogen, include wine and some other liquors. Phytoestrogen is found in plants and can increase estrogen levels and have a negative impact on testosterone levels.
Side Effects of Low testosterone caused by alcohol
When testosterone levels are affected by the regular intake of alcohol, it can lead to a wide range of side effects. Alcohol can cause testosterone to be converted into estrogen, and having above normal estrogen levels can increase the risk of prostate cancer in men and breast cancer in women.
When alcohol causes low testosterone in men, they might start to notice decreased sex drive and energy levels, loss of muscle mass, loss of body hair, shrunken testicles, and enlarged breasts. Increased testosterone levels in women who regularly take alcohol may cause them to experience excessive hair growth, frequent mood swings, and irregular menstrual cycles.
Excessive intake of alcohol can also be detrimental to the liver, which is responsible for over 500 different functions, which includes testosterone production. When the liver is too busy trying to metabolize the vast amounts of alcohol, it will be challenging to continue average testosterone production.
Taking alcohol can also increase cortisol, which is a stress hormone that is found to decrease testosterone synthesis. Drinking alcohol also releases certain endorphins, which produce relaxing and soothing feelings but, at the same time, affect testosterone synthesis.
How to handle Alcohol drinking problems
Whether or not you can entirely cut back or stop your drinking, all depends on the level of your drinking problem. If you are not able to control your drinking, then it is highly advisable that you try to stop drinking entirely. If you don’t feel like you can fully stop drinking, you need to follow these tips as they would help you lead a healthy life.
Set up a drinking goal
Firstly, you need to set a limit for how much you will be drinking, and this is not supposed to be more than two drinks per day for a man and a drink per day for a woman. Write down your drinking goal and make sure it is in a place where you will often see it. You can choose to keep it on your phone or tape it to your refrigerator.
Record your drinking
Keeping a record of drinking can significantly help you reach your goal. Every time you have a drink, write it down and also not how much you drank. When you review the results, you might be shocked at your weekly drinking habits.
Cut down drinking at home
It is a well-known fact that if you keep alcohol closer to you, then you might be more likely to have a drink now and then. Ensure that you either reduce or remove the amount of alcohol in your home. It is easier to abstain from alcohol if you don’t keep it around you.
Drink it slowly
If you must drink alcohol at all, then try to sip it slowly or take hourly intervals between drinks. You can also drink soda or juice between alcoholic beverages. It is not advisable to drink on an empty stomach, so ensure you eat before drinking.
Schedule an alcohol-free week
Finally, try to take a week off from drinking. Record how you feel mentally and physically during this week. Once you can identify the benefits, it will help you to cut down alcohol for good.
Conclusion
Alcohol can lower testosterone levels, which will lead to some unpleasant and harmful symptoms. If alcohol causes your testosterone levels to drop drastically, then the first thing to do in order to gain hormonal balance is to reduce your alcohol intake significantly.
People that are faced with alcohol abuse and addiction problems will find it difficult to stop taking alcohol on their own. This is because when you suddenly quit drinking after a long period of heavy alcohol intake, you might experience some withdrawal symptoms, which is normal.
These symptoms become noticeable after hours of withdrawal, reach their peak in about a day or two, and start to improve within five days. In general, quitting alcohol is a huge step in enhancing testosterone levels.
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