Why Choose Foods for Boosting Testosterone?
Low testosterone levels are generally bad for health. This hormone is necessary for maintaining balance in the body, allowing you to maintain optimum health. It plays a role in lean muscle building, and it can help keep your reproductive system healthy. In some cases, it can even help supercharge your performance in bed. T-levels can be improved by taking supplements and injecting synthetic steroids. These are effective but come with risks. Going natural is a good option. You can’t go wrong with natural. Our bodies have adapted to nature and nature has created foods that can help us take care of ourselves and our hormones better. Herbs and foods are not limited to giving us sustenance. They are also abundant in nutrients that can help our bodies cope with diseases and infections. That includes our concern on raising T-levels.
Coffee
This black elixir is great for boosting your testosterone levels. Its list of benefits includes naturally increasing T (testosterone) hormone levels. The caffeine in coffee is responsible for this effect. Studies found that 200 to 400 mg of caffeine taken per day could produce significant increases. This can be obtained from 1-3 cups of strong coffee. (However, the study also indicated caffeine does increase cortisol levels.) One reminder on your coffee intake is to avoid drinking too much. Overconsumption of caffeine is known to increase cortisol levels in the blood. This is a hormone linked to stress. Your stress level increases if you have too much cortisol and this will lower testosterone and start breaking down muscle mass.
Olive oil
This Mediterranean diet staple is also good for T-levels. Men in the Mediterranean region, who have diets that included daily intake of olive oil, are known to father children even when they are past their prime. This “extended” virility may be attributed to their daily intake of olive oil. A tablespoon a day of this healthy oil can produce a significant rise in T-production.
Brazil nuts
This tree nut contains good, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals that improve health. Selenium, in particular, acts as a potent T-booster. Most people with low testosterone are also low in this important trace mineral. Brazil nuts are one of the best natural sources of selenium. Studies found that regular intake of selenium raises the serum levels of testosterone. Selenium is being considered as a viable option for treating infertility.
Almonds
These tasty nuts can do a lot for your T-levels. You can eat these whole, raw, and also be made into almond butter. Almonds are rich natural sources of magnesium. This essential mineral has a vital role to play in T-production. This works in two major ways. One, magnesium helps drive the process of T-production in the testes. Two, magnesium promotes better sleep. This is important in T-production and hormone balance. If you sleep better, your hormonal signaling system works more smoothly. Good sleep quality also helps lower hormones that inhibit T-production, such as cortisol.
Red wine
The compound resveratrol in red wine is more popularly known for its positive effects on the cardiovascular system acting as a vasodilator. This same effect can help boost testosterone production. Better cardiovascular health would result in better blood flow. The Leydig cells in the testes will receive more oxygen and nutrients. Waste and toxins are less likely to pile up in the testes and slow down T-production. It’s like having the pipes cleaned, gears work more efficiently and the engine runs smoothly. All the testosterone supportive nutrients from other foods such as zinc, cholesterol, and magnesium will be better delivered. If you suffer from poor cardiovascular functioning, all these nutrients won’t reach the cells that need them. So, do what the French and the people from the Mediterranean region do –drink one or two glasses of wine on a daily basis. These people are well known for their virility. Caution: If you do not drink alcohol, do not start drinking wine solely for the purpose of raising your T-levels. There aren’t yet enough conclusive studies that prove the safety of daily red wine consumption in those who have never included this alcoholic drink in their daily diets. Also, check with your doctor before planning to drink red wine. This drink may be healthy but it still contains alcohol. It still has the potential to cause more problems such as liver disease when consumed in excess. An alternative is to get resveratrol from grapes. The levels are not as high as found in red wine but at least it is much safer. People who are better off without any alcoholic drinks may still enjoy the T-boosting effects of resveratrol from grapes. Another good natural source of resveratrol is Japanese knotweed.
Oysters
Look at any aphrodisiac list and oysters are sure to come up. This isn’t just some tall tale. Oysters do help improve libido by raising T-levels because they are a rich source of zinc. This is another mineral that supports T-production. Studies found that regular intake of zinc is linked to an increase in T-levels. It is also linked to increasing libido.
Eggs
Eggs have an abundant array of natural compounds that support higher T-levels. This includes proteins and vitamin D. Cholesterol is the most notable component of eggs in terms of T-boosting effect. Cholesterol is most often thought of as a “bad” ingredient and everyone must stay away from it for heart health. The truth is quite the opposite. There is such a thing as good cholesterol, particularly high-density lipoprotein, and this important compound is used as a precursor for the production of testosterone. Eggs contain the good type of cholesterol that the body can convert into testosterone. By eating more eggs daily, you are essentially feeding your body with more cholesterol it can use for more T-production.
Butter
The right kind of fat is good for T-levels. Testosterone is a type of steroid hormone that have fats as the backbone of their molecular structures. If you deprive your diet of good fats, you are then limiting how much testosterone (and other hormones) you can produce. Butter is another good, rich source of saturated fats for higher T-levels. It is also a good source of other T-boosting elements such as zinc.
Celery
This green vegetable is more than just a nice addition to a Bloody Mary and works more than just a garnish. Celery is high in potent plant sterols that support T-levels. These compounds are so powerful that research found that just the smell of celery may already speed up T-production. Two most notable plant sterols found in celery are androstanol and androstenone. Celery also contains luteolin. This flavonoid is known for its anti-estrogenic effect. Higher estrogen levels dampen T-production. Another flavonoid, apigenin, is also present. Apigenin has demonstrated capabilities in boosting T-levels.
Coconut oil
This is one of nature’s richest sources of healthy fat. It is dense with MCTs (medium chain triglycerides). This type of fat is used by the body as a source of energy. The fatty acid chains in coconut oil can also be used by the body in producing testosterone. Extra virgin coconut oil is the best choice. Coconut oil has a very high smoke point, which makes it very good for cooking. A high smoke point means that the oil stays stable and molecules do not break down when exposed to high heat. Health dangers from cooking with unstable oils come from the oxidized fats. When the oils and fats are oxidized, free radicals and other potentially toxic compounds are released. So it is not really the actual oil or fat itself that’s dangerous to health. Coconut oil can be used for cooking, as well as for frying.
Ginger
Ginger is rooted in natural therapies as an effective treatment for numerous ailments. It promotes general well-being. Ginger can also help in raising testosterone levels, as well as improving sperm count and mobility in infertile men. This showed a huge potential in improving male hormonal balance in the general population. Start eating more ginger by taking it as a tea. You may also add more of this herbal root to salads, dips, dressings, stews and soups. A 1-inch piece may be added to smoothies and green juice for some added zing and boost in health benefits.
Avocados
Another healthy natural source of fats is avocado. This green tropical fruit is dense in monounsaturated fats. This fat does many good things in the body, including reducing inflammation that interferes with T production. Aside from the heathy fats, avocados are also high in phytonutrients, minerals, and vitamins. It is rich in dietary fiber, folic acid, iron, magnesium, potassium, vitamin B3 (niacin), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), vitamin B1 (thiamin), vitamins K, C, and E.
Conclusion
Nature offers us these remedies that boost testosterone to raise T-levels naturally. Most of these foods have been in use by traditional health practitioners for centuries. Modern research is uncovering the many hidden compounds that show potential in helping address our many health concerns such as low testosterone. Featured photo credit: Norman Toth via unsplash.com
