Before we get into the foods to boost testosterone I want to start by getting into why testosterone is so important.
Testosterone, better known to the majority as male sex hormone or hormone of youth, is responsible for more than just sex drive.
This hormone not only makes you the alpha in the bedroom but is also responsible for muscle gain, body growth, and bone development.
Friendly attitude, lesser body fat and more energy are the research proven effects of testosterone.
The biggest misconception about testosterone is that higher testosterone makes you aggressive and a savage. That’s absolutely wrong!
Christina Wang, an MD at the University of California, Los Angeles, conducted an experiment on men with testosterone deficiency.
Researchers found that men who initially expressed the feelings of aggression, irritability, edginess, and anger, after two months of testosterone replacement therapy became friendly and optimistic.
Their anger and agitation also decreased which shows how testosterone far from making you a more hostile person actually has a calming effect on you.
But that’s not all. Individuals having sufficient testosterone have been known to have a reduced risk of cancer, erectile dysfunction, type 2 diabetes and cardiac disease as compared to men who are testosterone deficient.
Clinically five percent of all men have low testosterone levels, and this is not due to aging alone.
You can have low testosterone because of some chronic illness or obesity too.
According to a study, low testosterone was a major culprit in 20 percent of men younger than 30 who had erectile dysfunction.
But what is the solution? Besides medical treatment and supplementation, you should consider incorporating powerful foods to boost testosterone naturally.
The best way to permanently increase testosterone levels is to change your diet.
Here is the list of the foods that are clinically proven to increase your testosterone levels and how they work.
Vitamin D, which helps absorb calcium, is also linked to testosterone production. According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology, low levels of testosterone were linked with vitamin D deficiency in European men.
Taking 4000 IU of vitamin D daily causes a significant increase in the free testosterone levels- the same amount naturally present in one serving of tuna.
Testosterone is formed by the conversion of the cholesterol into testosterone. The formation of testosterone is the result of complex chemical reactions taking place in your body. The raw material needed for these reactions is cholesterol.
Yes, it’s true that consuming high amounts of bad cholesterol increases the risk of heart disease. But still, your body needs a basal level of good quality cholesterol to maintain the synthesis of testosterone.
That’s not going to happen if you’re totally going to eliminate cholesterol from your diet. As long as your serum cholesterol is less than 200 mg/dl, you’re good to go.
One of the best ways to increase your body cholesterol in a healthy and controlled way is to get it from natural sources instead of munching on fried foods and junk.
Eating natural foods such as red meat, free range eggs, fish, nuts, and avocado helps raise the levels of good cholesterol, which as mentioned raises testosterone levels.
If there is something that can destroy your testosterone levels really quick that is estrogen.
Estrogen is the female version of testosterone and you can call it “anti-testosterone” because it works exactly opposite to testosterone. So, if you’ve high estrogen levels, you need to find some way to cut that down.
High levels of estrogen are found in almost everything nowadays. Increased estrogen levels can also be due to excess body weight, chemical estrogens found in shampoo or plastic, soy and alcohol (sorry guys).
Increased estrogen levels not only decrease sex drive and increase the risk of blood clots and prostate cancer but they are also responsible for low testosterone levels.
If you’re overweight and having troubles with your sex life, then high estrogen level might be to blame for that.
If you need something to control this then there is nothing better than broccoli! Broccoli is high in indole 3 carbinol, which helps cuts down the estrogen levels to half their value.
One of the most amazing foods to boost testosterone are eggs. Eggs are a rich source of not only vitamin D but also cholesterol; both of which help boost the testosterone levels.
If you do not suffer from any kind of cholesterol issues then have an egg every day and feel the difference.
In fact, egg should be one of the must-have ingredients for your breakfast if you want to boost your testosterone.
Researchers have found that men who suffer from low testosterone levels are usually deficient in zinc.
So, is zinc somehow related to testosterone production? Well, yes.
This fact is proved by a study which showed that men using zinc supplements had higher testosterone levels.
But how does zinc improves testosterone levels? Zinc increases testosterone levels by inhibiting the enzyme aromatase.
Aromatase is an enzyme that is responsible for converting testosterone to estrogen. Zinc is also involved in promoting healthy sperm counts in males.
If you have low testosterone levels get your zinc levels checked too. Twenty-five milligram of zinc per day is effective in bolstering testosterone levels. Oysters, crabs, and lobsters are exceptionally rich sources of zinc.
To read my article about the benefits of Zinc for men by clicking here.
Fat, no way! Fat means trouble! These are the thoughts that come to your mind when you hear the word fat, right? Well, that’s a big misconception. Fats don’t always mean trouble.
Unsaturated fatty acids, like Omega fatty acids, are essential for life. They play several important functions in the body like making testosterone.
Omega 3 fatty acids are known for their cortisol lowering effect, which in turn leads to the rise in the testosterone levels.
In times of stress, your body increases cortisol levels and there is then a complementary decrease in the testosterone levels which we want to avoid.
Nuts are especially high in testosterone boosting omega 3 fatty acids. You can also take fish oil pills or omega 3 pills to make sure you are getting enough.
Conclusion
There you have it! A list of foods to boost testosterone naturally. Incorporate the above-mentioned foods into your diet alongside the correct exercise and a proven testosterone booster.
Thanks for reading
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