Testosterone is a male hormone that is found in both men and women, although it is present in much higher quantities in men. This hormone can help give a person male characteristics such as facial hair, increased muscle mass and a deepened voice, but it also figures into normal physical processes needed by both men and women. Testosterone production can be influenced by your daily diet.
Testosterone Function
Testosterone factors into several aspects of your body's maintenance and function. It contributes to maintaining good bone density and properly distributing fat on the body. Muscle mass and muscle strength are improved with increased testosterone, as are red blood cell and sperm production. Your sex drive can also be greatly influenced by testosterone levels.
Reasons for Decline
Testosterone tends to decline naturally in both men and women with age. This can be exacerbated if you are a smoker. But testosterone can also be influenced by the amount of sleep you get each night, as well as changes in your muscle-to-fat ratio, which can happen if you stop or cut back on exercising. According to "Reader's Digest," a poor diet and excessive alcohol consumption can also inhibit testosterone production.
Dietary Influences
Like many other chemicals and compounds produced by the body, testosterone is influenced by your diet. If you do not eat a healthy diet or lack various nutrients, it can starve your body of the ingredients needed to produce new testosterone, which can lead to lower levels in the body. According to "Reader's Digest," eating a well-balanced diet is key to maintaining healthy testosterone production, as is reducing alcohol consumption to one or two drinks daily.
Eating for Testosterone
Several types of vitamins, including vitamins A, B and E, can contribute to improved testosterone production in the body. So can zinc, which is strongly associated with sex drive. Zinc is easily found as a supplement but is also in meats, particularly raw oysters, which are known for their effects as an aphrodisiac. Many fruits and vegetables can help improve your sex drive because of their vitamin content, and dairy and meats, particularly salmon, are high in vitamins that can promote testosterone production.
Oral Testosterone Therapy
While most testosterone therapy involves the use of creams, gels or patches, according to the Mayo Clinic you can sometimes take pills designed to boost testosterone levels. However, some experts disagree over whether this is an appropriate treatment for individuals experiencing a natural decline of testosterone due to age. Talk to your doctor about the best method for you and whether an oral medication might be beneficial.
