Foods that increase 'love' hormones for men

Testosterone is the most important anabolic hormone in the body, helping to build muscle and boost sex drive, especially in men. Although women produce less of this hormone than men, finding ways to increase testosterone levels naturally can benefit both sexes.

Here is a list of foods that will help boost your testosterone levels.

1. Shrimp

According to researchers at Harvard Medical School (Boston), men who absorb more vitamin D also have higher testosterone levels in their bodies. And seafood such as shrimp provides a lot of vitamin D.

Another study also found that men and women with high levels of vitamin D in their blood tend to have stronger muscles. So if you want to have a healthy body like an athlete and a happier sex life, don't underestimate your daily vitamin D intake. However, in the winter, many people are deficient in vitamin D, leading to a sharp drop in testosterone levels.

Other foods also contain a lot of vitamin D: cod liver oil, herring, salmon, sardines, mackerel...

2. Pumpkin seeds

This popular nut is loaded with zinc, a mineral that plays a huge role in thousands of different enzymatic reactions in the body, including those involved in testosterone production. It’s no surprise that a nutrition study found that men with inadequate zinc intake had very low testosterone levels.

Add pumpkin seeds to your diet now. You can mix them into oatmeal, yogurt, salads…

Other foods high in zinc: oysters, crab, chicken, beef, wheat germ, sesame seeds, cashews, lentils.

3. Coconut

Coconut not only adds flavor to your diet but also keeps your testosterone levels healthy. This fruit is a source of saturated fat, which plays an important role in testosterone production.

Scientists have found that when healthy men switched from a high-fat diet (13% saturated fat) to a low-fat diet (5% saturated fat), they saw a significant drop in their testosterone levels. A diet with about 10% saturated fat helped keep testosterone levels at their most stable.

Other foods high in saturated fat: butter, whole milk, beef, lamb, chocolate.

4. Wheat bran

Few people know that this fiber-rich bran is an excellent source of magnesium. Magnesium is essential for hundreds of biochemical reactions in the body, including the production of testosterone. Notably, a study conducted by scientists in Türkiye showed that magnesium is more effective in boosting testosterone when combined with a high-intensity exercise regimen.

You can get more use out of wheat bran by mixing it into oatmeal and baking powder.

Other foods high in magnesium: cocoa powder, almonds, whole grains, oat bran, sunflower seeds, peanut butter, beans.

5. Fresh cheese

During the process of producing fresh cheese from milk, a large amount of whey protein is obtained – an essential substance to help you build muscle. This is a form of milk protein that can produce amino acids, helping to repel the cortisol response during intense exercise, thereby supporting the production of sex hormones.

Other foods rich in whey protein: milk, yogurt, kefir.

6. Strawberries

This little pink fruit is a top source of vitamin C. This is good news for your workouts. Intense exercise causes your adrenal glands to produce cortisol. Too much cortisol reduces the anabolic benefits of testosterone. So, supplementing with vitamin C will help limit cortisol levels, which in turn will help increase testosterone levels in your body.

Other fruits and vegetables high in vitamin C: kiwi, oranges, grapefruit, pineapple, red bell peppers, kale, tomatoes, broccoli.

According to SK&DS