7 Things That Can Help to Increase Testosterone Levels
Testosterone is the male sex hormone. Women have it too, Β but men have more and itβs the abundance during puberty that helps boys become men and develop more masculine traits such as a deep voice and facial hair.
Apart from being an androgenic hormone capable of producing these changes, testosterone serves many other roles in the body. For one thing, itβs also an anabolic hormone and steroid that helps with muscle growth.
Testosterone also helps the body burn fat and stay lean. It has more importance in the body than many people think. Unfortunately, testosterone production peaks during adolescence. For many men, their testosterone production rates will already be on the wane by the time they reach their early 20s. After the age of 30, testosterone levels continue to deplete at a rate of around one per cent per year.
When their testosterone levels are not what they used to be it can retard the sex drive and cause fertility issues and ED. Β It can also rob the body of energy and take the joy out of life in many other ways. Not surprisingly, many men are keen to find a way to fight back and give their testosterone levels a boost.
Is It Really Possible to Boost Testosterone Levels?
The good news is there are several things men can do to boost normal testosterone production. Better still, research shows itβs generally possible to see and feel the benefits in a matter of weeks.
Here are seven ways you can boost testosterone naturally and be the man you were born to be.
Get More Exercise Exercise
It doesnβt matter whether you hit the track or head for the gym, getting more exercise can help increase testosterone levels. Getting more exercise will also be good for your heart and provide numerous other health benefits.
However, although all exercise is good, research shows resistance training works best. High-intensity interval training (HIT) can also deliver good results.
Furthermore, using a pre-workout supplement that contains caffeine and creatine monohydrate may push-up testosterone levels that bit more. Why? The guys in white coats who frequent the research labs are still trying to figure that out. So far, all anyone knows is the combination works.
Eat Testosterone Boosting Foods
Incorporating a few testosterone-boosting foods into your diet is another good way to wake up those sluggish testicles. Many foods have this ability so thereβs a variety of choices.
Itβs not the cheapest option but oysters can do it. That may be why they have such a good reputation as an aphrodisiac. The reason Oysters work so well is probably because they are high in zinc. Thereβs plenty of research that shows increasing zinc intake boosts testosterone. Itβs not just a myth.
Eggs boost testosterone as well and they cost a lot less than oysters. In this case, it appears to be the Vitamin D in the yolk that gets the job done. Tuna is a good source of Vitamin D as well. It also provides a little creatine
Depending on your situation, avoiding stress may be easier said than done, but itβs something you need to try and do. During periods of stress, the body becomes flooded with a hormone called cortisol. It has a see-saw-like relationship with testosterone.
When cortisol is up, testosterone goes down. Then, when cortisol is down, testosterone goes up. Β So, if you are one of the many guys who have a problem getting it up (figuratively speaking), it may be cortisol thatβs keeping you down and out.
Stay Away from Estrogen-Like Compounds
If testosterone has a nemesis, itβs estrogen. Although thereβs always a tiny bit of estrogen present in a manβs body, itβs not good if levels become overly elevated. Β High estrogen dampens testosterone. Estrogen is the female sex hormone, after all.
Certain plastics, such as those used for disposable eating utensils, plastic beakers, and coffee stirrers contain estrogen-like compounds. The white, plastic used to line some of the tins used by the food industry can be particularly bad. Β These estrogen-like chemicals can lower testosterone in a similar way to that of the genuine female hormone.
Drinking alcohol for recreational and social purposes is a custom/habit thatβs deeply ingrained into many cultures of the world. However, binge drinkers and βpower drinkersβ beware. Researchers have discovered acute alcohol intake suppresses testosterone production. This is largely a result of the way alcohol affects the pituitary-gonadal axis, but who cares about all that science-speak. The result is what matters.
Some research shows alcohol can cause further problems by increasing cortisol. So, although there is nothing wrong with an occasional drink, going overboard with the party spirit can be a passion killer that will see the only thing getting screwed is your testosterone levels.
Sleep is important. If you have too many late nights and starve yourself of sleep it can be a major downer for your testosterone. Granted, some people need more sleep than others but, you may not be one of them. If you wake up each morning feeling like death warmed up something is wrong somewhere.
Some research shows people who only get five hours of sleep per night may suffer a 15% reduction in testosterone. Taking things further, the results of another study suggest each additional hour of sleep may produce a 15% increase in testosterone. If thereβs a take-home point here itβs that getting more downtime may improve the quality of your up time.
Donβt Be Afraid to Supplement If Needed
Taking a good vitamin and mineral supplement is a good way to make up for dietary inadequacies that may be affecting your testosterone. Supplements that are high in zinc or Vitamin D may be particularly good.
If all else fails that are also a few incredibly advanced testosterone boosting supplements that are good for providing a man with the extra get up and go he needs. However, supplements are best seen as part of the answer, rather than the only answer. There is no substitute for a healthy lifestyle.