Fasting has been around for a very long time. Before the conveniences of agriculture and social structure, ancient peoples had to hunt and gather. This meant it was possible to have days go by in between meals.
Our bodies are naturally adapted to fasting but with a constant flow of calories at our fingertips, many people have forgotten about this natural instinct. Abstaining from food is a making a strong comeback as a way to increase testosterone and overall health.
What is Intermittent Fasting?
Intermittent fasting is a unique way of timing your meals so that you are only eating for eight hours per day. A 16-hour fast may sound brutal but most of it takes place during the hours when you’re sleeping.
Intermittent Fasting Benefits
While it may take some time to adjust to a fast, it has been scientifically shown to promote a variety of health benefits:
- Increased weight loss
- Improved body composition
- Promotes brain cell growth and overall brain health
- Supports anti-aging benefits through cell protection
- Triggers the production of recovery-focused growth hormones
Intermittent Fasting and Testosterone Levels
Intermittent fasting has been shown in several studies to trigger the production of and release testosterone in the body. One study showed that men who abstain from food during Ramadan experienced a significant increase in testosterone levels during this period.
How to Use Intermittent Fasting
When using intermittent fasting to increase testosterone levels, you will fast (eat nothing) for 16 hours. During this time, you can still drink plenty of water, plain tea, black coffee, and calorie-free beverages. You will then have an eight-hour window to eat your normal diet. Most people will begin fasting at 8 p.m. and then eat their first meal at 12 p.m. the following day.
Conclusion
Try intermittent fasting as a way to increase your testosterone. You may be really surprised with how well it works. You may also find yourself looking a lot more ripped over the course of about 2 weeks while still maintaining the same weight.
Want to learn a few more ways to boost your T?
Check out our article on the Best Natural Testosterone Boosters that really work!
References
- Heilbronn LK, Smith SR, Martin CK, Anton SD, Ravussin E. Alternate-day fasting in nonobese subjects: effects on body weight, body composition, and energy metabolism. Am J Clin Nutr. 2005 Jan;81(1):69-73. – Link
- Johnson JB, Summer W, Cutler RG, Martin B, Hyun DH, Dixit VD, Pearson M, Nassar M, Telljohann R, Maudsley S, Carlson O, John S, Laub DR, Mattson MP. Alternate day calorie restriction improves clinical findings and reduces markers of oxidative stress and inflammation in overweight adults with moderate asthma. Free Radic Biol Med. 2007 Mar 1;42(5):665-74. Epub 2006 Dec 14. – Link
- K Y Ho, J D Veldhuis, M L Johnson, R Furlanetto, W S Evans, K G Alberti, and M O Thorner. Fasting enhances growth hormone secretion and amplifies the complex rhythms of growth hormone secretion in man. J Clin Invest. 1988 Apr; 81(4): 968–975. doi: 10.1172/JCI113450. – Link
- Röjdmark S, Asplund A, Rössner S. Pituitary-testicular axis in obese men during short-term fasting. Acta Endocrinol (Copenh). 1989 Nov;121(5):727-32. – Link
- Mesbahzadeh B, Ghiravani Z, Mehrjoofard H. Effect of Ramadan fasting on secretion of sex hormones in healthy single males. East Mediterr Health J. 2005 Sep-Nov;11(5-6):1120-3. – Link
