How Diet and Nutrients Influence Hormone Balance in Men
- Dr Michael Elliott MSc, D.C., CFMP.
- Nov 14, 2025
- 2 min read
Updated: Nov 17, 2025
By Dr D. Michael Elliott MSc, D.C., CFMP
Published in Human Nutrition and Metabolism (Elsevier, 2025)
Understanding Hormone Balance in Men
Hormone health isn’t just a women’s issue — in men, the balance between testosterone and oestrogen plays a vital role in energy, mood, body composition, and metabolic health. As men age, or when diet and lifestyle are suboptimal, oestrogen dominance can emerge — a state where oestrogen levels or activity outweigh testosterone’s influence.
This imbalance is linked to fatigue, reduced muscle mass, abdominal weight gain, and even increased cardiovascular and prostate risk.
The Research
In my recently published systematic review, “Influence of Dietary Interventions and Nutrients on Oestrogen Dominance in Males,” I examined how specific foods, nutrients, and dietary patterns affect the way men metabolise and detoxify oestrogen.
The research, featured in Human Nutrition and Metabolism (a peer-reviewed Elsevier journal), synthesised evidence from human and clinical studies to identify key nutritional strategies that support healthy hormone balance.
Among the strongest findings were:
Cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts) enhance phase-II liver detoxification of oestrogen metabolites.
Flaxseed and lignin-rich foods support favourable oestrogen metabolism and reduce oxidative stress.
Adequate zinc, magnesium, and vitamin D maintain testosterone production and reduce aromatase conversion to oestrogen.
Anti-inflammatory dietary patterns (Mediterranean, whole-food diets) improve insulin sensitivity and indirectly rebalance sex hormones.
Why This Matters
These insights highlight that hormone balance isn’t solely about replacement therapy — it’s deeply influenced by what we eat and how our bodies process nutrients. Functional and lifestyle medicine provide practical tools for modifying hormonal pathways through diet, exercise, stress management, and detoxification support.
Take-Home Message
Nutrition is one of the most powerful, evidence-supported ways to support healthy hormone metabolism in men. A diet rich in phytonutrients, adequate micronutrients, and low in processed foods can help restore equilibrium between testosterone and oestrogen — improving vitality, mood, and long-term metabolic health.
About Dr Elliott
Dr D. Michael Elliott is a chiropractor, lifestyle-medicine and functional-medicine practitioner, and researcher. He is the owner of Able Bodied Healthcare & Chiropractic Greenhills and Muswellbrook, NSW, integrating evidence-based nutrition and functional diagnostics into patient care.
