Your testosterone is the very
foundation of your existence. It helps build muscle, affects your sex
drive, your bone strength, your heart, your memory and your penis size.
So, it pays to give your T-levels a little attention now and again.
However, for some middle-aged men, a certain over-attention and use of
testosterone as a 'lifestyle drug' has led to larger problems, according
to Imperial College London. If you think T-levels need work, it's
probably best to avoid using it in drug form, right?
Instead, invest in these handy testosterone hacks for a better body, a better you and - you guessed it - a better penis.
Grapes for more active sperm
Eat a bunch of red grapes daily to give your own low-hanging fruit a
boost: the skins contain resveratrol, which makes for hardier sperm.
Chinese researchers found the equivalent of 500mg – roughly the amount
in 5-10g of grape skins – was enough to raise testosterone levels and
improve epididymal motility (your sperm’s ability to swim).
Tuna for a higher sex drive
Tuna’s ‘fragrance’ may not be ideal for a first date, but its vitamin
D content is. The vitamin bolsters testosterone by up to 90%, found a
study at Graz Medical University, Austria, slashing levels of
libido-killing chemical Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin (SHBG).
A can of tuna contains 100% of your RDA.
Pomegranate to fight impotence
Some say it was the Biblical forbidden fruit, and old Adam could have done a lot worse. The
International Journal of Impotence Research
reports that 47% of impotent men found their condition improved after a
daily glass of antioxidant-rich pomegranate juice. You don’t need a
serpent to tell you that’s a good thing.
Venison for muscle growth
Veggies look away: “A meat-free diet can lower testosterone by 14%,”
says Carruthers. “Lack of protein boosts testosterone-de-activating
hormones.” On the other hand, a University of Utah study found a diet
overly rich in the sat fats in beef and lamb can also make testosterone
dip. The middle ground is venison. Stag-gering.
Garlic for muscle maintenance
Banish vampires and weak muscles alike:garlic contains allicin, a
compound that lowers levels of ‘stress hormone’ cortisol. “Cortisol
competes with testosterone for the same sites within muscle cells,” says
nutrition consultant
Alan Gordon. Ditch the cortisol, then the testosterone can get to work. Garlic’s more potent uncooked.
Honey for better blood flow
For extra buzz in the bedroom, dip into honey. It contains the
mineral boron, linked to high testosterone. Honey is also rich in nitric
oxide, says Gordon: “This is key in opening up blood vessels that
create erections. Four teaspoons of honey can boost nitric oxide levels
by 50%.”
Milk for a lean physique
Proof we are supposed to have hard bodies, University of Pittsburgh
researchers found that fat blokes have more oestrogen. Cut the blubber
by boosting your testosterone levels with milk: its amino acids boost
production of anabolic hormones, which in turn build muscle and trim
fat. The Department of Health recommends three 200ml glasses a day.
Eggs for a hormone boost
Eggs really do have a sunny side. “The yolk’s cholesterol is the precursor for testosterone,” says clinical nutritionist
Kim Pearson.
Don’t worry about your heart: a University of Connecticut study found
that study subjects could eat three eggs a day without affecting
cholesterol levels.
Cabbage to flush out female hormones
King of the veg patch, cabbage is full of a chemical called
indole-3-carbinol, which rids your blood of girly hormones. Healthy men
took 500mg daily for a week at Rockefeller University; their oestrogen
levels halved, making testosterone more effective. It’s time to become
more of a man at meal times.
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