Brazil Nuts and Testosterone: All The Health Benefits For Men
Brazil Nuts and Testosterone
There are different types of dietary choices you can make every single day.
People often wonder whether eating different types of nuts will increase levels of testosterone or not. Yes, they do!
Brazil nuts fall into this category as well. Brazil nuts are loaded with selenium, which makes them a super healthy choice for boosting testosterone levels naturally.
This article will walk you through the effects that Brazil nuts can have on testosterone levels. So let’s get to it.
What Are Brazil Nuts?
Brazil nuts are obtained from a South American tree. They are one of the tallest species of trees ever found, with heights up to 50 meters.
Brazil nuts have higher fat content as compared to other nut types. They have about 4g of saturated fat per ounce.
Two Brazil nuts have about the same calories as an egg. A handful of Brazil nuts contains about a quarter of recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for magnesium.
The thing that makes Brazil nuts quite unique is the presence of selenium in them which will be elaborated on in the next section.
Brazil Nuts – Selenium – Testosterone
Brazil nuts are packed full of ingredients that will improve testosterone levels in your body. Here are the ingredients in Brazil nuts that improve testosterone levels and how they work:
1. Brazil Nuts and Selenium
Brazil nuts help in boosting the testosterone levels due to the presence of selenium in them. Although your body needs only a small amount of this mineral on a daily basis most of the foods we eat fail to deliver this quantity.
The selenium present in Brazil nuts combines with vitamin E and produces a powerful antioxidant effect, which is one of the reasons why it’s so successful in boosting testosterone levels.
Selenium also helps in the synthesis of proteins and the production of precursor hormones which leads to healthy reproductive and thyroid functioning.
Related Studies on Selenium and Testosterone:
Research supports the fact that selenium can boost the testosterone levels in men:
A study was done in 2012 to find out how the presence of selenium in the diet affects testosterone levels in infertile men. Researchers studied about fifty infertile men and fifty healthy men between the ages of twenty-five and fifty. The serum levels of Zinc and selenium were measured using a technique known as Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer; the serum levels of testosterone were also measured. The results showed that there was a significant difference in mean selenium and testosterone. The results showed a strong positive correlation between the serum testosterone and selenium in infertile men. The researchers concluded the study by saying that the presence of selenium in the diet does increase testosterone levels in men.
Another study was done to find out the effectiveness of selenium in improving the semen quality and testosterone levels in infertile men. About 468 apparently infertile men were included in the study, who were divided into three groups. The first group was given 200 ug selenium daily, the second group took 200 ug of selenium as well as 600 mg N-acetyl-cysteine and the third group was kept in placebo for about 26 weeks. The patients had to give blood samples to check what the results were for testosterone levels and also for luteinizing hormone. The results showed that selenium and N-acetyl-cysteine increased testosterone levels. The researchers concluded in the study that the combination of selenium and N-acetyl-cysteine improves sperm motility in men.
2. Brazil Nuts and L-Arginine
L-arginine which is abundant in Brazil nuts will increase the levels of nitric oxide (NO) in the body. NO, in turn, increases testosterone levels in the body. L-arginine relaxes the veins, which helps the blood to flow more freely.
Related Studies on L-Arginine and Nitric Oxide Production:
A study was done back in 1998 to find out whether L-arginine increases nitric oxide production in atherosclerosis patients. A double-blind study was done to find out the effects of L-arginine on nitric oxide production. Several tests were run on the 39 subjects present in the study. The results of the study showed that L-arginine increases NO production in atherosclerosis patients.
Another study was done in 2010 by Stephen Bailey and his colleagues in which they sought to find out whether L-arginine increases NO production. The researchers used a double blind, cross-over study in which the subjects were divided into two groups. One of these groups consumed an L-arginine beverage and the other group consumed a placebo beverage. The results of the study showed that L-arginine decreases the O2 levels and increases NO levels. To read why nitric oxide is important for men and some foods that can boost NO levels click here.
3) Brazil Nut and Antioxidants
Brazil Nuts contain certain antioxidants in them which protect against the oxidation of testosterone molecules.
Different studies have shown that antioxidants (like Vitamin E) present in Brazil nuts help the body produce more testosterone.
Other Health Benefits of Brazil Nuts
There is a big link between Brazil Nuts and testosterone but they can also provide many other benefits aside from increasing testosterone levels. Some other health benefits of Brazil nuts have been mentioned below:
Omega 6-fatty acids –Brazil nuts have high levels of monounsaturated fats. They are about 25% saturated fats and 41% monounsaturated fats in them. They are also high in oleic acid and palmitoleic acid which lower bad cholesterol and increase the good cholesterol in the body.
Healthy Heart –Brazil nuts have high levels of omega 3 fatty acids in them, which promote a healthy heart. The presence of omega 3 fatty acids also helps to prevent heart attacks, strokes, and atherosclerosis.
Weight Loss –The high fiber concentration, carbohydrates, and proteins in Brazil nuts help to keep you full for longer periods of time. An ounce of Brazil nuts contains about 200 calories, so you should be careful about how many you are eating.
Rich In Magnesium – Brazil nuts have a high content of magnesium in them which is really helpful for bone health. Magnesium also helps in boosting energy in the body and is all very beneficial for boosting testosterone levels. To see what all the benefits of magnesium are for men click here. You should eat a handful of Brazil nuts to meet your magnesium requirements.
How Much Brazil Nuts Should You Consume?
About 100g of Brazil nuts fulfill about 3500% of the daily needs of selenium. 100 g is a big handful and you definitely don’t need this much Brazil nuts.
Most people think that if something is good then ten times of the same thing is also healthy. But it isn’t true. Overdosing on Brazil nuts can actually damage the DNA.
So you should consume these nuts in moderate quantity. Just 2 to 4 of these nuts daily are enough for you. Anything more than this can create health problems.
Conclusion
I hope this article has shown you the link between Brazil Nuts and testosterone levels. Try to include some Brazil nuts in your diet if you want to give your body the materials it needs to produce testosterone.
