The anterior pituitary gland releases luteinizing hormone, which signals the testes to produce a hormone called testosterone. Testosterone plays a crucial role in the development of male secondary sex characteristics such as muscle mass and deepening of voice. It also helps bone growth and libido. Evidence suggests that certain foods can boost testosterone production in the body.
Sweet Potatoes
Vitamin A might help boost testosterone production, according to researchers from Kaplan Medical Center in Israel. They investigated the effects of vitamin A supplementation on constitutionally delayed children, which causes a delay in puberty. For six months, subjects received vitamin A supplementation plus iron and had their testosterone levels measured before and after the treatment. The report, which was published in the June 2004 issue of the journal "Clinical Endocrinology," revealed that subjects experienced increases in testosterone comparable to results seen in hormonal therapy. Include vitamin A rich foods such as carrots, liver, eggs and sweet potatoes in your daily diet.
Garlic
Garlic might stimulate the release of luteinizing hormone and boost testosterone production, according to a study conducted by lead author Yuriko Oi and fellow researchers from Kobe Women's University in Japan. They discovered that rats fed a high-protein diet with garlic powder experienced increases in testosterone compared to those following a high-protein diet without garlic powder. Researchers found that garlic contains the compound diallyl disulfide, which boosts luteinizing hormone and testosterone production in the testes. They reported their findings in the August 2001 issue of the "Journal of Nutrition."
Egg Whites
The amino acid D-aspartic acid might have beneficial effects on testosterone levels. Lead author Enza Topo and colleagues investigated the effects of D-aspartic acid on the synthesis of luteinizing hormone and testosterone levels. They discovered that subjects taking D-aspartic acid supplementation for 12 days experienced increases in the synthesis of luteinizing hormone and testosterone levels compared to those receiving a placebo, the October 2009 issue of "Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology" reports. D-aspartic acid can be found in egg whites, soybeans, almonds and flaxseed.
References
- PubMed: Vitamin A and Iron Supplementation is as Efficient as Hormonal Therapy in Constitutionally Delayed Children
- Journal of Nutrition: Garlic Supplementation Increases Testicular Testosterone and Decreases Plasma Corticosterone in Rats Fed a High Protein Diet
- Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology: The Role and Molecular Mechanism of D-aspartic Acid in the Release and Synthesis of LH and Testosterone in Humans and Rats
