THE 6 BEST TESTOSTERONE-BOOSTING FOODS

You've heard of superfoods? Nothing's more super for a hard-training lifter than foods that support testosterone production!

At the risk of stating the snoringly obvious, testosterone is important for getting the most from your workouts. 

You see, testosterone is the most significant anabolic hormone in the body. The more of it you have floating around, the easier you'll be able to gain lean body mass and torch body fat. Although women produce less testosterone than men, finding ways to increase testosterone levels naturally can benefit both male and female physiques.

Luckily for you gym rats, when it comes to making muscle, there's no better place to start than a trip to the supermarket. That's because research continues to suggest that certain edibles contain natural test boosters that can show your muscles some love.

With that said, here's your grocery list to raise your TESTOSTERONE score!

1

 SHRIMP

Casting your net for seafood like shrimp is a surefire way to boost your level of vitamin D, which has a strong link to the big T. Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston found that men with higher levels of vitamin D also had higher levels of testosterone.1

These findings may help explain why a study in "Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise" reported that men and women with higher blood levels of vitamin D tend to have stronger upper- and lower-body muscle strength.2 So, the upshot is that if you want to build strength and muscle like a pro, it's best not to take your vitamin D intake lightly.

Unfortunately, many people have inadequate vitamin D levels during the winter gloom, which could cause your testosterone levels to take a nosedive.

Get even more vitamin D: Cod liver oil, herring, salmon, sardines, mackerel, free-range eggs

2

 PUMPKIN SEEDS

These jack-o'-lantern castoffs are a good source of zinc, a mineral that plays a role in thousands of different enzymatic reactions in the body, including those involved in testosterone production. It's no major surprise, then, that a study published in "Nutrition" found that men with inadequate zinc intake had lower testosterone concentrations.3

THESE JACK-O'-LANTERN CASTOFFS ARE A GOOD SOURCE OF ZINC, A MINERAL THAT PLAYS A ROLE IN THOUSANDS OF DIFFERENT ENZYMATIC REACTIONS IN THE BODY, INCLUDING THOSE INVOLVED IN TESTOSTERONE PRODUCTION.

Sneak more testosterone-boosting pumpkin seeds into your diet by adding them to oatmeal, yogurt, and salads, and even blitz them into your protein shakes.

Get more zinc: Oysters, crab, turkey, chicken, steak, wheat germ, sesame seeds, cashews,lentils

3

 COCONUT

Paleo-worthy coconut can not only help your diet taste like a tropical vacation, it can also keep your T-score at healthy levels. That's because the giant nut is a source of saturated fat, which plays a role in testosterone production.

In a study published in "The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism," investigators found that healthy males who switched from their regular high-fat diet (13 percent saturated fat) to a low-fat diet (5 percent saturated fat) saw significant decreases in their testosterone levels.4

While you shouldn't blend porterhouse steaks into your protein shakes, physique-minded individuals can obtain up to 10 percent of their calories from saturated fat to help keep testosterone at its peak without any major concern over increasing your risk of coronary woes.

Get more saturated fat: Butter, full-fat dairy, steak, lamb, red palm oil, chocolate

4

 WHEAT BRAN

Who would have thought that low-brow wheat bran could help jack up your T-levels? But the fiber-rich bran of the wheat kernel is an excellent source of the mineral magnesium. A study conducted by scientists in Turkey found that subjects with higher intakes of magnesium had increased testosterone swirling around.5 Of note, the study found that magnesium was more effective at bolstering testosterone if paired with high-intensity exercise.

WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT LOW-BROW WHEAT BRAN COULD HELP JACK UP YOUR T-LEVELS?

Magnesium is required for hundreds of biochemical reactions in the body, and testosterone production is likely one of them. You can sneak more wheat bran in your diet by mixing it into oatmeal, pancake batter, and protein shakes.

Get more magnesium: Cocoa powder, almonds, whole grains, oat bran, sunflower seeds,peanut butter, beans

5

 RICOTTA CHEESE

This lasagna staple is one of the best sources of whey protein in the dairy aisle, making it useful for muscle-minded guys and gals. A recent study by the white coats at the University of Connecticut discovered that subjects who supplemented with whey protein experienced lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol during recovery from lifting weights.6

THIS LASAGNA STAPLE IS ONE OF THE BEST SOURCES OF WHEY PROTEIN IN THE DAIRY AISLE, MAKING IT USEFUL FOR MUSCLE-MINDED GUYS AND GALS.

Whey is a milk protein that's especially rich in branched-chain amino acids, which appear to help blunt the cortisol response during periods of intense training. This is an important perk considering that cortisol can hinder sex hormone production, making it a testosterone-sapper that may also promote body fat storage.

Get more whey: Whey protein powder, milk, yogurt, kefir

6

 STRAWBERRIES

These rosy berries are a leading source of vitamin C. This is good news for your fitness gains, since higher intakes of this potent antioxidant have been associated with lower testosterone-busting cortisol levels in response to hardcore workouts.7

THESE ROSY BERRIES ARE A LEADING SOURCE OF VITAMIN C.

Cortisol is a catabolic hormone released by the adrenal glands in response to stressful situations, including intense exercise. Unfortunately, cortisol competes with testosterone, so high levels can crowd out testosterone, thereby reducing its anabolic benefits.

Get more vitamin C: Kiwi, oranges, grapefruit, pineapple, red bell peppers, kale, tomatoes,broccoli

REFERENCES:

1. Nimptsch, K., Platz, E., Willett, W., & Giovannucci, E. (2012). Association between plasma 25-OH vitamin D and testosterone levels in men. Clinical Endocrinology, 77(1), 106-12.
2. Grimaldi, A., Parker, B., Capizzi, J., Clarkson, P., Pescatello, L., White, M., & Thompson, P. (2013). 25(OH) Vitamin D Is Associated with Greater Muscle Strength in Healthy Men and Women. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 45(1), 157-162.
3. Prasad, A., Mantzoros, C., Beck, F., Hess, J., & Brewer, G. (1996). Zinc status and serum testosterone levels of healthy adults. Nutrition, 12(5), 344-348.
4. Wang, C. (2005). Low-Fat High-Fiber Diet Decreased Serum and Urine Androgens in Men.Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 90(6), 3550-3559.
5. Cinar, V., Polat, Y., Baltaci, A., & Mogulkoc, R. (2010). Effects of Magnesium Supplementation on Testosterone Levels of Athletes and Sedentary Subjects at Rest and after Exhaustion. Biological Trace Element Research, 140(1), 18-23.
6. Kraemer, W., Solomon-Hill, G., Volk, B., Kupchak, B., Looney, D., Dunn-Lewis, C., ... Volek, J. (2013). The effects of soy and whey protein supplementation on acute hormonal reponses to resistance exercise in men. Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 32(1), 66-74.
7. Peters, E., Anderson, R., Nieman, D., Fickl, H., & Jogessar, V. (2001). Vitamin C Supplementation Attenuates the Increases in Circulating Cortisol, Adrenaline and Anti-Inflammatory Polypeptides Following Ultramarathon Running. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 22(7), 537-543.