The Guys’ Guide to Carbohydrates and Testosterone Replacement Therapy

Our bodies thrive on carbohydrates for energy. Specially for men, a high-carb diet improves testosterone levels and decreases cortisol better than a low-carb diet over just 10 days (Study). For long term success, it’is important to understand the difference between good and bad carbs while on TRT.

Carbs are constantly getting berated by experts because it’s easier to focus on the bigger picture rather than taken the term one step further to look at simple vs. complex carbohydrates.

It is true that adopting a better diet and healthier lifestyle will promote testosterone production and help your body stay above borderline levels where low testosterone symptoms start to occur.

However, if your testosterone levels are clinically low or your symptoms are moderate to severe, a healthy diet and regular exercise will likely not solve your problems, and Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) may be recommended. Learn more about TRT on our TRT Basics page.

Functional & Traditional Medicine, taking a total-body approach, combining nutrition, life, and modern medical testing.

As we teach in our Total Health Course it’s how our bodies respond to these carbs is the most important key.

DON’T WORRY, I’m not going to give you a science lecture. I think if we go any deeper than right and wrong, I’ll give us tired-head’ness..

(Yes, putting “‘ness” on the end of anything makes it a real word).

Simply put, switching to a high carb plant-based diet can drastically improve your general health and enhance your bodily response to testosterone replacement therapy. Study

Remember your cleans: Clean, Greens, Grains & proteins.

Fact 1: High-carb, high-fiber base diets can fight off insulin resistance.

As we mentioned in our post about intermittent fasting, Insulin resistance is to Bill Clinton’s pants as Monic Lewinsky is to prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.

The study in the post above concludes that given low testosterone levels can predict the development of type 2 diabetes AND due to the fact that as men age there is a natural decrease in testosterone and insulin resistance, the findings show that testosterone is an important modulator of insulin sensitivity and digestive function in men. Study, Study ,Study ,Study

It’s the main culprit. Too much sugar production, too little breakdown into useful fuel for the body.

Some of the accelerators are immune system malfunction (inflammation), eating too many dietary fats and calories, unhealthy weight gain, excess fats in your muscles and liver.

Doesn’t eating fruit and starchy foods greatly increase my blood sugar?

False. Eating fruits and wholesome starchy veggies lowers inflammation, which in turn starts the fat burning process inside our muscles and live.

Fiber helps fill us up, carrying nutrients throughout our body and gives our body time to break down carbs into blood sugar.

Carbs create healthy sugars.

Candy, refined grains, sweetener have added sugars, which instantly spike our blood sugar and has no time to digest leading to excess.

Following? Yes, continue. No, just call us (817-900-0304)

Summary of fact 1:

Protect yourself against T2D and inflammation by eating rich whole grains (wild rice, oats, whole wheat, etc.) One cannot live on fruit alone.

Processed meat (which contains almost no carbohydrates) increases the risk of diabetes the most. Just one serving per day raises the risk by 37 percent!

Fact 2: The statistics speak for themselves. High-carbohydrate-fiber rich dieters have more energy and enjoy life.

Filling our bodies with unprocessed, natural foods will make us feel like demi-gods.

Once we allow our digestion engine to cycle out the processed grime clogging up our systems.

(drinking soft drinks and eating desserts regularly)

While this spikes our energy levels, the crash is even worse.

In 2016, the Department of Nutrition at this place called Harvard ran a massive study with findings supporting that moving to high-carb, high-fiber diets of whole grains and plant-based foods reduces one’s chances of developing diabetes by 34%.

More greens & grains, fewer proteins. Eating a little less meat-based protein helps reduce chances by 20%.

What are the benefits to my testosterone levels?

As mentioned above, if you have low testosterone, losing weight may be a struggle for you as your hormone levels are under par. Pairing TRT with plant-based diets high in carbohydrates and fiber but low in dietary fat can reduce and stabilize your average blood sugar.

Planet-based veggies and grains are jam-packed with vitamins and minerals, which helps reduce stress levels. So if you’re asking yourself what are the best carbs for testosterone, they’re all plant-based vegetables high in carbs and fiber.

In the 74 week trial, researchers found that the HCLF diet provided the following benefits:

F: Reduces the need for medication.

A: Lose excess weight.

C: Lower cholesterol better than conventional prescribed diets.

T: None of the patients reviewed were asked to count calories, measure portions or meter carbs… Amazing.

S: Some studies suggest that a vegetarian based diet significantly reduces fasting blood glucose compared to standard diet regiments.

I do not suggest going full-on vegetarian; however, organic protein from meats/fish is necessary. Perhaps a hybrid flexitarian.

Whole-food, plant-based, high-carbohydrate diets exclude drinks and foods closely associated with diabetes risk. Fact.

We need to focus on unprocessed plant foods, (naturally) rich in fiber, antioxidants, and phytonutrients:

Reduce inflammation and helps keep healthy body weight.

Found in veggies like sweet potatoes and Zucchini.

Phyto = Plant in Latin.

Nutrients = the good stuff.

Fact 4: Eating a carbohydrate-rich diet tackles other complications stemming from diabetes.

Have you ever heard of the ABC’s of diabetes?

A: A1C – the rich nutrients from the grains and veggies will stabilize your resting 3-month blood glucose levels.

B: Blood pressure: When you replace added sugars, white flour, and refined grains with wholesome foods like beans, lentils, peas, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

You not only improve your diabetes or risk of diabetes, but you are significantly reducing your risk for high blood pressure.

These foods promote healthy blood flow and the transfer of nutrients throughout the body.

C: Cholesterol:

While protein is essential to good health, too much red meat can hurt you. Moving to a plant-based diet will help you replace saturated fats (from meats) with healthy fats (olive oil, fish).

Also, a high-carb planet-based diet will help improve blood circulation, building a freeway 18 lanes wide for good and bad cholesterol to safely digest through your body.

S: Several others 😉

Painful complications like diabetic neuropathy (numbness in hands and feet) and other nerve-related conditions can be improved by switching to a high-carb diet.

Improved blood flow will help reset your body’s sugar creating function when eating complex carbs.

Learn why: Testosterone Replacement Therapy should be viewed a marathon not a sprint

What does the Comprehensive Medical Exams Include?

Our comprehensive exams are the best way identify potential medical problems like high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and common men cancers like Prostate, Colon, and Skin (melanoma) before they become more serious.

These visits include an update of your health history, a head-to-toe physical examination, and bloodwork: – which can include a testosterone level and qualify as an annual physical.

• Services will fall under the Wellness benefits of your health insurance.
• Self-pay price: $200.00
  • Includes Comprehensive Medical Exam and Full Lab Panel.

What is Routine Bloodwork?

Know the facts and take action early. Our provider will order a routine bloodwork that looks at Lipid, PSA, and CBC, and testosterone.

Low testosterone can result in osteoporosis, high cholesterol, raised blood pressure and mental health issues. Our research shows a 60% prevalence among obese men, a 47% prevalence metabolic syndrome (heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes) and a 45% population of men with type 2 diabetes may also have low testosterone. Study, Study.

Following a high complex carb, medium protein, low-fat diet. To get you started, check out:

Rise Men’s Health combines Functional & Traditional Medicine, taking a total-body approach, combining nutrition, life, and modern medical testing. Learn more about our Testosterone Replacement Therapy and our Total Health Program.

1. It feels like you’ve tried almost all the trendy diets but nothing seems to last.

With the millions of diets and opinions out, it’s tough to know who is right… you feel like nothing is sustainable and will work for the long-term…

2. You’re working long hours and just have no time to spend hours on shopping and working out.

You’ve been trying to lose weight for SO long but work/life balance does not allow time…

3. Your interest levels drop after 2 weeks into a basic diet…

You start off strong, put together a grocery store and head to the gym. After 2 weeks, you sleep in and skip the gym, then head to McDonalds then order pizza for dinner… You’re toast and can’t get back on track.

Medically peer reviewed, Written by Our Editorial Team.

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Give us a call (817) 900-0304,  email or sign-up through our online intake process if you would like to get started with treatment!

If you do have low testosterone it can be easily treated and monitored via telehealth with the same level of care as you would receive in our traditional clinic setting in Roanoke, Texas. Give us a call if you have any questions!