OK, gentlemen listen up! Vegans have just as much testosterone as meat eaters! Images of burly cavemen bringing home meat may have men thinking that steaks and burgers are key to masculinity, but it’s just not true.  According to the lead doctor in the latest medical research conducted at the Miami University medical school, “The old idea that men needed to consume a traditional diet with plenty of meat to have a healthy testosterone level was based on pure conjecture, not based on evidence.” The latest study showed that vegans have as much testosterone as meat eaters. This was even true of vegans who eat a lot of junk vegan food, although we think vegans should go easy on the junk food for other health reasons. 

While this research may be the latest to show that vegan men have as much testosterone as others, it’s not the first. Back in 2000, doctors at Oxford University found that not only did vegans have enough testosterone, but that they even had a little more than meat eaters. Going even further back, doctors at Oxford in 1990 also found that vegans had just as much testosterone as meat eaters. Take special note: consuming soy does not affect testosterone levels.

Testosterone is the primary male hormone and is responsible for the development of primary sexual development, which includes testicular descent, sperm formation, enlargement of the penis and testes, and increasing libido. Testosterone is also involved in regulating secondary male characteristics, which are those responsible for masculinity. These secondary sex characteristics include male hair patterns, vocal changes, and voice deepening, anabolic effects which include growth spurts in puberty and skeletal muscle growth.

There’s more good news. Testosterone is important in having erections. Besides having plenty of testosterone, following a vegan diet confers other advantages when it comes to erectile dysfunction.