Testosterone is the main male sex hormone. It supports normal male traits such as muscle growth, facial hair, and deep voice.
In men, testosterone also plays a key role in the development of male reproductive tissues such as the testis and prostate, as well as promoting secondary sexual characteristics such as increased bone mass. In addition, testosterone is essential for health and well-being, as well as the prevention of osteoporosis.
Testosterone levels can fluctuate depending on factors such as age, activities, even environment.
READ: 12 Things You Don’t Know About Testosterone…But Should
Here are some things you can do to maintain healthier levels:
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1. Get Enough Sleep.
Poor sleep can have consequences for your testosterone level.
George Yu, MD, a urology professor at the George Washington University Medical Center in Washington, D.C., says poor sleep is the most important factor that contributes to low testosterone in many men. A lack of sleep affects a variety of hormones and chemicals in your bloodstream. This, in turn, can have a harmful impact on your testosterone.
Make sleep a priority, aiming for seven to eight hours per night, even if it means rearranging your schedule or dropping your habit of late-night TV. Prize your sleep, just like you’d prize a healthy diet and active lifestyle. It’s that important.
If you’re having problems getting good sleep on a regular basis, talk to your doctor.
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2. Forget the Supplements.
Although you’re likely to encounter online ads for testosterone-boosting supplements, you aren’t likely to find any that will do much good.
Your body naturally makes a hormone called DHEA that it can convert to testosterone. DHEA is also available in supplement form. But neither Miner nor Matsumoto advise using DHEA supplements, since they will do little to actually raise your testosterone, they say.
3. Feed Your Testosterone
Certain foods help boost your testosterone naturally such as egg yolks and tuna. Egg yolks are another rich source of vitamin D. While cholesterol has a bad reputation, egg yolk contains more nutrients than egg whites. The cholesterol of egg yolks may even help low T. As long as you don’t have any preexisting cholesterol issues, you can safely eat one egg per day.
Tuna is rich in vitamin D, which has been linked to longer life and testosterone production. It’s also a heart-healthy, protein-rich food that’s low in calories. Whether you choose canned or fresh, eating this fish can be a natural way of boosting testosterone. A serving of tuna fulfills your daily vitamin D needs.
4. Watch Your Weight.
Men who are overweight or obese often have low testosterone levels, says Alvin M. Matsumoto, MD, of the…
