Thanks to: http://www.onegreenplanet.org/natural-health/plant-based-foods-that-boost-testosterone-in-the-body/
Testosterone levels are important for both men and women to consider, not just to buff up and stay strong, but also to support our body’s natural growth hormone, a
key hormone to keep our bodies youthful and energized. Testosterone also supports our
libidos, our mood, and our levels of motivation and drive. Though women don’t want too much testosterone, a little is
actually important to ward off excess estrogen that can lead to depression, weight gain, hormonal changes, or just an overall imbalance of sex hormones in the body. And men, of course, are always looking to improve their testosterone levels to help
build muscle, stay
strong, and support their male livelihood that the big T word is often associated with.
Nutrients That Boost Testosterone Levels
Key nutrients needed to boost testosterone in the body are: amino acids (protein), zinc, B vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, and an overall anti-inflammatory diet. These nutrients are found in both plant-based and animal-based foods, but there’s no reason to think that one needs to eat steak, eggs, chicken, fish, or drink milk to boost testosterone. In fact, many animal-based foods can actually
increase estrogen in the body, which lowers testosterone and can lead to some negative side effects due the estrogen coming from
animals that have hormones our bodies weren’t meant to consume.
To boost your testosterone without the risks of eating animal-based foods, here are some of the best plant-based options that you’ll want to add to your daily menu if you can. These are delicious proof that you can boost testosterone in the body without having to eat animals to get your fill!
1. Pumpkin Seeds
2. Coconut
Coconut’s a great food to boost
your muscle-growth, promote lean body mass, and
balance your body’s hormones including testosterone. How so? It’s a great source of healthy saturated fats, which most people think they need to avoid, but when eaten from plant-based sources, is actually helpful in moderate amounts. How so? Saturated fats are necessary for testosterone production and they support the body’s ability to make cholesterol without having to consume added dietary cholesterol from animal-based foods. A few tablespoons of raw coconut butter, shreds, coconut milk, or fresh coconut meat are all you need to support your body with this healthy source of fat. It’s still a good idea to limit all sources of saturated fats to
10 percent of your daily diet and not rely on them alone.
3. Maca
Maca is a fabulous
food for boosting and normalizing or improving your hormones. It can
boost the libido and improve mood in both men and women, and is fantastic for reducing stress levels that can interfere with healthy testosterone levels. Maca is also great for boosting your energy to help you exercise, which boosts testosterone in return. When you workout, especially when you lift weights, you naturally boost your testosterone levels, which makes maca a great superfood to use on all counts. Working out and maca also both support your body’s
production of growth hormones that supports your metabolism and keeps the body youthful.
4. Avocado
5. Chia Seeds
Other
great foods to support your body’s hormones that contain omega-3 fatty acids, natural protein, and vitamins and minerals are: almonds, walnuts, cashews, flax seeds and olives. You can also add more
vegan libido-boosting foods to your diet to improve your hormones even further. As you can see, there’s no whey or steak needed here. Add a few servings of these five foods to your day and you’ll be well on your way to healthier T levels in no time!