Checking testosterone levels is as easy as having a blood test. Testosterone therapy does not appear to increase the risk of prostate cancer, but it can stimulate the growth of prostate cancer cells. However, many men with normal testosterone levels have similar symptoms, so a direct connection between testosterone levels and symptoms is not always clear. Estrogen therapy increases sex hormone binding globulin and, like aging men, this reduces the amount of free, active testosterone in the body. Although testosterone may make prostate cancer grow, it is not clear that testosterone treatment actually causes cancer. Men taking testosterone replacement must be carefully monitored for prostate cancer.
If you thought testosterone was only important in men, you'd be mistaken. There may be other important functions of this hormone that have not yet been discovered. For example, the genitals may not enlarge, facial and body hair may be scant, and the voice may not deepen normally. Adolescent boys with too little testosterone may not experience normal masculinization.
However, none of the studies found a significant effect on prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels, a protein produced by the prostate gland that is used to detect prostate cancer. A review of eight randomized controlled trials examined the effects of soy in men with or at risk of developing prostate cancer. In addition, observational studies have found an increased risk of prostate cancer in Chinese and Japanese men who move to Western countries and adopt a Western diet, but not in those who continue eating a traditional diet. Eating soy foods starting at an early age (such as those found in many traditional Far East Asian diets) may be why women from some countries find greater benefit from soy foods than others.
Thus, the possibility has been raised that eating soy foods might help prevent age-related memory loss or decline in thinking skills. Soy isoflavones, specifically genistein and daidzein, are incorporated in prostate tissue and may act as weak estrogens and inhibit the development of prostate cancer. Some have shown a benefit with soy consumption and breast cancer while others show no association. A more recent review of randomized trials found that some studies showed benefit of soy supplements on hot flashes; the therapeutic dosage ranged from mg of isoflavones daily. The benefit of tofu was stronger in premenopausal women and postmenopausal women not using hormone therapy.
These compounds are naturally found in plant foods and lower your body’s ability to absorb nutrients from food. Like most plant foods, tofu contains several antinutrients. For instance, nigari-set tofu contains slightly more fat but less protein, fiber, potassium, and calcium than calcium-set tofu.
People who regularly eat soy-rich foods such as tofu may also have a significantly lower risk of prostate cancer. The incidence of prostate cancer is highest in Western countries and lowest in Asian countries, where soy foods are a regular part of the daily diet. The Breast Cancer Family Registry was a prospective study following 6,235 women for 9 years diagnosed with breast cancer and living in the U.S. and Canada; intake of soy isoflavones was examined in relation to deaths from all causes.
The authors discussed limitations of the review including the small number of participants, the short duration of studies (less than one year), and variation in dosages and types of soy given. There were no adverse effects reported with soy supplementation. However, the overall evidence on equol and cancer risk is unsettled.
In conclusion, the evidence increasingly supports the assertion that plant-based diets do not harm male hormones; rather, they can help maintain, and potentially enhance, testosterone levels while promoting overall health. Studies suggest that men consuming soy products, such as tofu and tempeh, exhibit testosterone levels comparable to those who avoid these foods altogether. Moreover, older studies suggest that the protective effects of soy foods against type 2 diabetes may not apply to all soy foods. Another review of 13 studies linked high intakes of soy isoflavones to a 19% lower risk of endometrial cancer. For instance, a review of 23 studies linked soy-rich diets to a 10% lower risk of dying from cancer, especially cancers of the stomach, large intestine, and lungs.
Engaging in regular physical activity, managing stress, and ensuring adequate sleep are equally critical components of maintaining healthy testosterone levels. This highlights the potential of plant-based diets to enhance not only testosterone levels but also broader sexual health outcomes. In a recent study involving men treated for prostate cancer, those adhering to a plant-based diet reported fewer instances of erectile dysfunction and better overall sexual health. Interestingly, a common misconception is that soy products, which are integral to many plant-based diets, negatively influence testosterone levels due to their phytoestrogen content. Additionally, micronutrients like zinc and magnesium—found abundantly in plant sources—are essential for maintaining healthy testosterone levels. For instance, foods such as legumes, nuts, seeds, and whole grains provide ample protein and healthy fats, critical for testosterone synthesis.

Gender: Female

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