Boost Your Biology with Lucas Aoun · Lucas Aoun

299. Nutrition, Testosterone, DHT & More With Hans Amato

·59 min·5 clips

Hans explains why serotonin isn't simply 'bad' and how bananas might not spike your brain serotonin.

This episode features host Lucas Aoun and guest Hans Amato, CEO of Testo Nation, discussing nutrition, hormones, and health optimization. Amato shares his journey from bodybuilding interest to deep research on hormones and metabolism through the Ray Peat forum. Amato initially explored health via Vince Gironda's methods involving eggs and desiccated liver. He discovered Georgi Dinkov's work and the Ray Peat forum, which emphasized hormones like testosterone and DHT. He describes a personal shift from dogmatic views on serotonin to recognizing its complexity across 14 different brain receptors. Amato cites a study where eating three bananas spiked serotonin metabolites in urine but not in blood, suggesting digestive breakdown. He recounts personal food experiments, finding starches once caused dandruff and brain fog, which he attributes to past gut inflammation. Amato highlights the importance of liver health and antioxidant status, referencing organic acid tests that showed low vitamin C and glutathione despite feeling well. He explains endotoxin as lipopolysaccharides from bacteria like E. coli, noting studies injecting it are unphysiological. Amato recommends lactoferrin for low neutrophil counts and activated charcoal for endotoxin reduction, suggesting doses larger than typical capsules. He details DHT's structural differences from testosterone and its potency, noting finasteride reduces blood DHT by 90% but tissue DHT less. He lists 5-alpha reductase inhibitors like beta-sitosterol in nuts and seeds, and promoters like glycine and caffeine. Amato observes users of DHT nanate report increased metabolic rate and anabolic effects. He discusses DHEA supplementation, noting studies show young men convert it more to DHT, with oral bioavailability around 3%. He emphasizes testing over averages, as individual responses to pregnenolone or DHEA vary. Amato concludes optimization starts with reducing oxidative stress and eating nutrient-dense foods, but testing remains crucial to adjust protocols. The conversation is educational and exploratory, with both hosts sharing personal experiments and research. The tone is open-minded and detailed, avoiding oversimplification of complex biology. Listeners interested in hormone optimization, gut health, and dietary self-experimentation will find this episode valuable. Those seeking quick, definitive health answers may find the nuanced discussion overwhelming.

As heard by us

A mechanism-first hormone conversation that makes DHT feel more specific than a buzzword.

This episode stays close to the mechanics of testosterone, DHT, and finasteride, which gives it a tighter focus than a broad hormone discussion.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You want a sharper take on how DHT differs from testosterone and why finasteride may hit tissues differently.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Boost Your Biology with Lucas Aoun