Peat Archive

Ray Peat's views on testosterone were nuanced and sometimes surprised people. While he acknowledged testosterone's important roles in muscle maintenance, libido, and cognitive function, he cautioned against the simplistic 'more is better' view promoted by anti-aging medicine. He noted that testosterone can be converted to estrogen via aromatase, and that this conversion increases with age, obesity, and PUFA consumption.

Peat emphasized that optimal testosterone function depends on the broader hormonal context — particularly adequate thyroid hormone, progesterone, and vitamin A. He argued that many symptoms attributed to 'low testosterone' are actually symptoms of hypothyroidism or excess estrogen, and that addressing metabolic health often normalizes testosterone levels without supplementation.