What controls your thoughts when your hand reaches for the "forbidden" cupboard with chips and candy? Why is it that after another lack of sleep, we don't want to "run for our lives" and "be in the flow"? Hormones are some of the most mysterious and fascinating reasons that affect our desires and actions, as scientists believe. Is it possible to do the opposite? You should! If you're puzzling over how to boost testosterone, let's figure out what destroys it. We have collected the list of the top most dangerous destroyers of the "hormone of life" that few people think about.

Sugar, simple carbohydrates and obesity

Sugar and empty carbs top the list of testosterone destroyers. We consume too many carbohydrate and sugary foods like flour products, sweets and fast food. Although these foods create a temporary euphoric effect, they also suppress testosterone production, causing insulin resistance, obesity and overweight. Excess weight directly affects your libido.

It's not about psychological discomfort. When you have a lot of fat in your body, an enzyme called aromatase increases. It turns testosterone into estrogen at a very rapid rate. The more fat you have in your body, the more estrogen and consequently less testosterone you have.

To increase your testosterone levels, you need a low-carb, ketogenic diet. If you eat a lot of carbs, take all sorts of supplements and even work out, you're wasting your time, as a carbohydrate diet lowers testosterone.

The keto diet surprisingly combines enough caloric foods to ultimately help you lose weight. Due to the lack of carbohydrates, the body depletes glucose and glycogen reserves and the metabolic processes include fats and keto bodies. In this way, the body burns internal fat, which helps to lose weight and increase testosterone.

• Useful vegetable fats, butter, lard, eggs, red and white meat, fish, nuts and legumes: the keto diet is very tasty and varied. But it strictly prohibits sugar and all carbohydrate products.

Statins and alcohol

Statins are drugs or dietary supplements that block cholesterol by lowering their levels in the body. Although they are necessary for hormonal balance in the body, there is an opinion that these substances can suppress testosterone in men. Alcohol, especially beer also blocks testosterone and causes the body to produce more estrogen.

In healthy men, estrogen in normal concentrations is an indicator of good libido and sexual activity. On the contrary, an excess of this hormone reduces libido. Beer, as well as other alcoholic beverages, accelerates the process of estrogen production.

Bad sleep and stress are the killers of testosterone.

It is known that under constant stress the body produces the so-called "stress hormone" cortisol, which also suppresses testosterone. There are many ways to cope with stress, everyone chooses what he likes. According to scientists, the most effective way to cope with it is a healthy sleep, eliminating the cause of stress and exercise.

Long walks, being out in the fresh air and interval training help your body to overcome stress effectively and be in great physical shape.

If you often don't get enough sleep or have sleep apnea, your hormonal system will certainly be affected. Healthy, sound sleep improves memory and mood and has a better effect on testosterone production. So the best thing you can do for yourself is to go to bed on time and create all the conditions for a healthy sleep.

Monosodium glutamate

On the shelves of supermarkets you will find hundreds of products that contain monosodium glutamate, which is a modified food starch. For example, those "quick soups" in bags that you "just pour boiling water in" contain as much monosodium glutamate as 10 packets of chips. This is a chemical that makes food taste better, which is why there is a lot of it in fast food and convenience foods. Read the composition of supermarket foods and avoid it.

Soy foods

Soy protein, protein powders and isolates are also often part of the foods we are used to. Many people's favorite sausages and meat products, vegan cheese, powdered mashed potatoes and bagged soups, protein bars and shakes have such an amount of soy in the foods we eat daily that would surprise you. Soy increases estrogen, but not the estrogen you need.

For example, in women, soy can increase plant-based estrogen. It is weaker and can block the production of natural estrogen, preventing the hormone from reaching receptors and reducing libido.

Popcorn, sodas, plastic

Sure, it's much more enjoyable to watch your favorite show while crunching popcorn and drinking Coke, but they contain chemicals that are hormone disruptors. Hormone disruptors are estrogen-like substances that affect the endocrine system. Aspartame and other sugar substitutes are often added to sodas. These substances interact with compounds in the brain and lower testosterone.

It is the brain that controls testosterone. Many people focus on the adrenal glands to increase testosterone. In reality, however, it depends on the hypothalamus and pituitary glands.

It is these glands that are responsible for testosterone production. Any disease that affects the brain like Alzheimer's or dementia is bound to affect testosterone as well. This is another reason to follow a low-carb diet, because then the body produces ketones that support the pituitary gland and hypothalamus.

Plastic water or soda bottles are also not good for your testosterone. Plastic has chemicals in it, such as bisphenol, which is also a hormone disruptor.

Testosterone and estrogen are what scientists call "team players" that affect our mood, desire to live, enjoyment and even success in various areas of life. Can we control them? Let's find out!