Many fitness enthusiasts focus on consuming foods that boost testosterone and lower estrogen. Testosterone is known as the male hormone, and both men and women naturally produce it. Males produce testosterone in their testicles, while women produce a smaller quantity of testosterone in their ovaries. Testosterone is responsible for the secondary sex characteristics of men, and also influence bone growth, muscle growth, etc. In the world of professional bodybuilding, raising one’s testosterone level is a matter of “life and death” because the more male hormone you have, the more success you will experience as a bodybuilder. Low testosterone levels can result in a variety of problems and symptoms that affect not just your efforts in becoming fitter physically, but also your life in general:
- Reduction in sex drive, or the desire and motivation for intimacy
- The general decrease in energy to do things throughout the day
- Some people who suffer from low testosterone levels and higher estrogen levels can also suffer from inexplicable weight gain. This may be due to lower metabolism, which also has linkages to general hormonal imbalance.
- Low testosterone can also lead to feelings of depression, which can affect how you effectively function throughout the day
- Moodiness, or experiencing constant mood swings, can also be caused by imbalanced hormones and lower testosterone in men and women
- For males, losing body hair and hair on your head may be due to lower male hormone production
- In both men and women, the insufficient male hormone can lead to fragile bones that can easily fracture.
How can you check your testosterone levels?
Checking your testosterone levels is as simple as having a blood workup done. The normal range for men is 280 – 1,100 nanograms/deciliter, while women should have 15-70 nanograms/deciliter. Males suffer the most from low testosterone levels, as males require this major hormone to function properly and normally. If a male patient’s testosterone level falls below 300, a workup may be done again to determine why the male hormone is lacking.
Therapeutic interventions may be done to counter the current trend, as prolonged low testosterone can have a damaging impact on different organs of the body. In short, if you are already experiencing some of the symptoms that we have described earlier, it’s best to consult with your GP to get a workup done just to make sure that you are getting what you need, medically speaking, to maintain a normal and healthy body.
What happens when I get treated for low testosterone?
There is an extant form of therapy used to combat low testosterone, and it’s called TRT or testosterone replacement therapy. Testosterone can be administered through the skin (in the form of patches), through injections, and yes, even orally. There are some medical risks associated with TRT that you should be aware of: the possible shrinking of your testicles, some fluid retention or edema, oily skin, and a decrease in sperm production. This is the reason why TRT should never be done through the DIY route because you need a physician to monitor the possible side effects in your body.
Each body is unique, and people respond to TRT differently depending on how their DNA has molded them.
How Can I Boost My Testosterone Fast?
Fortunately, you can “eat your way” to higher testosterone levels by eating certain foods and by taking supplements. Take note that you need to consult with a doctor before taking supplements, and the results will vary, as always. With all these things considered, if you still want to take the more natural route to higher testosterone, we have prepared a list of foods and supplements that just might get you to the level where you need to be, minus the TRT.
And if you are already on TRT, there is no harm in trying to fix your diet and improving your wellbeing by trying natural supplements. Eat more of the following to ensure that your body is getting all the help it needs to produce the male hormone: garlic, cruciferous vegetables, eggs, oysters, tuna, salmon, beef, beans, low-fat milk with vitamin D, and fortified cereals.
Natural Testosterone Supplements
Multivitamin supplements
While the data on multivitamin supplements remain inconclusive, individual studies show much promise. We recommend taking one multivitamin supplement every day that contains zinc, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, and vitamin E. These will serve as the foundation of whatever else supplementation you have in mind. Simple supplementation with zinc has been shown to increase sperm production and improve sperm quality. Vitamins A, C, D, and E have also been linked with better sex drive and improvement in the production of the male hormone.
Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is an herbal supplement suggested for infertile men or for men that have low sperm count. One study has shown that supplementation with Ashwagandha can increase sperm production by 167%. In healthy men who are not suffering from low sperm count, the supplement has been observed to improve sperm production by 15%.
Ginger
You can take ginger fresh or by buying powdered supplements. This natural supplement has antibacterial and antiviral properties and is also known for reducing inflammation in tissues. One study showed that ginger could boost testosterone levels by as much as 17%, as well as other sex hormones.
Testosterone Boosting Fruits: Do Bananas Increase Testosterone?
The presence of bromelain in bananas has been known to help improve testosterone production, as well as a male’s sex drive. Pineapple is another fruit that can help with male hormone production.
Testosterone Killing Foods: What foods kill testosterone?
There is evidence that the following food items can dent your production of male hormone: soy-based products, cow’s milk (due to hormones in cows), alcoholic beverages, mint, pastries and bread, licorice root, and foods rich in omega-six fatty acids.
