As we’ve discussed before, testosterone is a big-deal hormone for men looking to increase their muscle mass, maintain high levels of energy, and boost their sex drive.
While men can always choose to turn to steroids or testosterone injections, with the approval and guidance of a doctor or not, there are plenty of ways to raise your testosterone levels naturally.
Read on to learn five natural ways to combat low testosterone.
#1 Shed Some Pounds
Easier said than done, of course, but overweight men are more likely to have high levels of estrogen than men who are slimmer, according to information from a 2012 meeting of the Endocrine Society.
Losing those extra pounds of fat through exercise and a healthy diet can help you bring up your testosterone levels. To ensure that your diet will help increase your testosterone availability, cut out processed sugars and refined carbohydrates, and replace them with fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins.
#2 Focus on Vitamins and Minerals
There are a number of vitamins and minerals that are absolutely crucial to testosterone production.
The B vitamins, especially vitamins B5, B6, and B12, as well as folic acid, can help to increase the amount of testosterone that your body naturally produces.
Zinc is another big one (although if you choose to take a supplement, limit yourself to 40 mg per day to avoid interfering with the absorption of other minerals).