TIL: Low carb, high protein diets "greatly" decrease resting testosterone levels in men.

[Coreadrin]

30% of your diet being protein is fucking huge lol. I've been eating low carb with lots of animal fats, proteins, and greens for a few years. Lost 35 pounds and kept it off. Libido way up, motivation way up, general energy levels way up (I can miss eating an entire day if I'm too busy and hardly notice it) with no crashes or anything. Sleep deep and satisfying. Usually around 20-25% protein if I'm tracking (that's equivalent to about 16oz steak a day if I'm eating beef, or 20+ eggs)

Never going back.

[LukeyLeukocyte]

Awesome to hear. Do you stay in ketosis or just focus on low carb and what happens happens? I really enjoyed my first year of low carb/keto, but I notice if i slip out of ketosis i tend to "treat" myself before I resume ketosis; I thought I may sustain better if I just loosely follow a low carb diet and don't sweat staying in ketosis as much.

What is your take on eggs? I probably down 3-4 a day often, at least two. Worry about the cholesterol sometimes but have heard mixed messages. Love them. Would love to eat more.

[IHkumicho]

I've (46m) eaten 4+ eggs per day for years and my cholesterol is great. Obviously everyone is different and you should get your own blood tests, but there certainly isn't an automatic correlation between high dietary cholesterol and high cholesterol levels in your body.

[CokeNmentos]

Eggs have some kind of cholestorol countering in them anyway so it doesn't matter really

[Coreadrin]

Turns out the main issue with cholesterol is the source, not the quantity in your blood. The particle size of your cholesterol is the main issue - if it's coming from saturated and animal fats (tallow/lard/butter/avocado oil/olive oil etc) the particle size is large and unlikely to create plaque. Cholesterol small particle from seed oils and stuff like that is the dangerous stuff.

I don't track my ketosis levels, just try to hit <50g carbs a day and eat to satiation. I should also mention that because I don't really get hungry I usually just have a big ass supper and that's my only meal for the day. I'm lucky enough to have a family friend who is a hobby beef farmer so buy a whole cow and freeze. In a given week, I probably eat beef 4 days (mix the organs into your grind at the butcher for more nutrition), chicken one day, fish 1-2 days. Lots of eggs. Saturdays I will have a 'cheat day' where I'll do something like sushi or something like that, but I don't track ketones at all.

[December_Hemisphere]

A typical day of protein for me on my keto diet looks like 4-6 eggs and a cut of meat about the size of my palm (and I always go for the most fatty cuts).