As a urologist specializing in men’s health, I see the devastating consequences of poor nutrition every day in my practice. Over the past several decades, we’ve witnessed an alarming decline in male testosterone levels across all age groups. Young men in their twenties now have testosterone levels comparable to men in their fifties from just a generation ago. The implications are staggering: reduced muscle mass, increased body fat, diminished energy, and decreased fertility.
This hormonal crisis directly threatens our military readiness. The Pentagon reports that 77% of young Americans are now unfit for military service, with obesity being the leading disqualifier. The same dietary guidelines that shaped what these young people ate in school cafeterias have left them unable to serve their country.
Unfortunately, the previous guidelines’ advice was clouded by corporate interests. Americans were told to avoid natural fats, to load up on refined carbs, and to prioritize plant-based protein over animal sources. Industry influence led to the blatant ignorance of the harms of certain highly processed foods and added sugars, especially for our children.
In my clinical experience, the connection between diet and hormonal health is undeniable. Previous guidelines’ emphasis on low-fat, low-protein diets has been particularly destructive to male health. Dietary fats, especially from animal sources, are essential for testosterone production. When we told men to avoid red meat, eggs, and full-fat dairy, more often than not they turned to processed carbohydrates, added sugars, and highly processed foods. We created a perfect storm for hormonal decline.
The “food pyramid” has been an easy tool for the public to understand what to eat for decades, but it has also been easy to corrupt. Sugary cereal in the morning, boxed macaroni for lunch, and frozen pizza for dinner. When you look at the food pyramid of the past, this is how we were taught to eat. For decades, Americans followed dietary advice from the government that led us down the wrong path.
The corruption ran deep. Nine of 20 committee members who authored the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee report had undisclosed financial relationships with food and pharmaceutical industries. The committee even appointed a plant-based nutrition researcher to lead the saturated fat evidence review.
The former Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee was supposed to follow the science. Instead, its members filtered science through their ideology, prioritizing health equity above all else. Corporate interests may have been saved, but Americans’ health paid the price.
It all changes in this new year. We are reclaiming the health of Americans. The Trump administration and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are flipping the pyramid upside down.
The dietary guidelines aren’t a one-size-fits-all prescription. They are a science-based framework that recognizes nutrition is deeply personal. A competitive athlete has different needs than a sedentary office worker. Pregnancy or chronic disease may require dietary modifications.
These guidelines acknowledge that nutrition is not a one-size-fits-all prescription while also recognizing that we must get back to the basics. The Dietary Guidelines, 2025-2030 emphasize the importance of whole, nutrient-dense, minimally processed foods, protein from both animal and plant sources (including eggs, seafood, red meat, poultry, beans, peas, lentils, and nuts), vegetables and fruits in their natural form, and healthy fats from whole food sources such as omega-3 rich seafood, nuts, seeds, dairy, olives, and avocados.
As a physician who counsels men on optimizing their hormonal health, I cannot overstate the importance of adequate protein and healthy fats. These nutrients are the building blocks of testosterone. Red meat provides not just protein, but also zinc, vitamin B12, and other micronutrients critical for male reproductive health.
One of the most significant updates addresses added sugars. The new guidelines recommend that no amount of added sugars should be part of a healthy diet. High sugar consumption is fuel for insulin resistance, which directly suppresses testosterone production and promotes the conversion of testosterone to estrogen in fat tissue.
The guidelines emphasize vegetables and fruits throughout the day, which reduces the risk of chronic disease, improves heart health, prevents cancer, and manages weight.
RFK JR.’S DIETARY GUIDELINES GET MAHA REBOOT
Healthy fats also play a crucial role in overall health. Foods such as omega-3-rich seafood, nuts, seeds, dairy, olives, and avocados provide essential fatty acids for better brain health and reduced inflammation. From a urological perspective, these fats are absolutely essential for hormone production. Cholesterol, which we were wrongly told to fear, is the precursor molecule for all steroid hormones, including testosterone.
Imagine how our country would look if everyone embraced a nutrient-dense diet such as this. Our bodies, minds, and mental health would glow with vitality and energy. Picture a generation of young men with the strength, stamina, and hormonal vitality their grandfathers possessed. Envision military recruitment centers filled with physically capable candidates eager to serve. This isn’t nostalgia; it’s an achievable future if we commit to these evidence-based nutritional principles.
Admiral Brian Christine, MD, is assistant secretary for health at the Department of Health and Human Services.