Increase Testosterone To Boost Metabolism

Sorry gals, this one’s for the guys. Yes, your body produces it too but you probably don’t want to increase testosterone. But the guys sure do, because an increase in that critical hormone is like putting a turbo-charger on metabolism.  Here is a great article with some great ideas to increase testosterone naturally.

Tim Tebow.  LeBron James.  Michael Phelps.  What do all of these men have in common?  They are all world-renowned professional athletes who are excelling in their field of expertise.  What helps them perform exponentially better than the average male?  Well, for one, their work ethic.  But their elite athleticism can also be attributed to ­high levels of testosterone, a naturally occurring hormone that is the one of the contributing factors to the physical differences between men and women.

Scientific studies have documented a correlation between high testosterone levels and increased aggression, an increase in muscle size and strength, and improved sexual performance.  Unfortunately, just as men grow accustomed to their fast-paced, free-spirited lives as twenty-somethings, their testosterone levels gradually begin to drop as they decelerate into their 30’s and beyond.   As these levels drop off, some men begin to note changes in their day-to-day life, such as fatigue, depression, weight gain, erectile dysfunction and a lack of motivation.

Upon first researching their symptoms, many men take to the Internet and are bombarded by relentless advertisements praising testosterone supplements.  However, many of these ‘miracle pills’ do more harm than good.  If this is something you’ve considered, fear not!  We’ve got ten natural ways to boost your testosterone levels and have you feeling like a teen again!

1.  Lose the Spare Tire

Not the one bolted underneath your car, but the one clinging to your waistline.  If you’ve noticed yourself gaining a few unwanted pounds, that may be a sign of low testosterone.  Naturally, the first line of defense is to take to the gym (or the park or the mountains) and burn off that winter coat.  Being 30% or more overweight (which is more common than we’d like to admit) has been documented as causing a decrease in testosterone levels.

2.  Stick with Tough Exercises

In the same vein, don’t just hope on the elliptical for twenty minutes and expect a change overnight.  Try to incorporate compound exercises or ones that target multiple large muscle groups.  These include squats, bench presses or rows.  Using them as a precursor to the rest of your workout will boost your fat-burning potential and raises testosterone levels faster than isolation exercises like bicep curls and tricep push-downs.

3.  Pursue Competitions and Challenges

Similar to our strategy for attacking fatigue, if you’re feeling less competitive or like you have no “passion for life,” put yourself in a position where you need to in order to be successful.  Always wanted to do an adventure race?  Now is the time!  Join a softball team or take up a new hobby.  Anything that challenges you and inspires competition will force you to channel your inner man and will have you back on the proverbial horse in no time.

4.  Reach Out and Grab a Handful

Of nuts, that is.  Yep!  It turns out that a handful of nuts can actually be beneficial to, well…..your nuts.  Men who have a diet rich in monounsaturated fats, the kind found in nuts, olive oil and peanut butter, have higher levels of testosterone.  This part is easy, just down a few almonds when you get that 2:30 craving for a snack.

5.  Get More Sleep

It seems too easy, right?  I feel tired, so I should sleep more.  Well, this is one of those times where listening to your body pays off.  In today’s society, most men are working more and sleeping less.  Since our testosterone levels peek during REM sleep, this stingy shuteye is robbing us of our self-producing man serum.  Try to get as close to 8 hours of sleep per night for a couple weeks and see if you don’t feel better.

6.  Take a Chill Pill

Not an actual pill, but the theoretical one that essentially means….relax.  Stress is one of the number one contributors to negative testosterone-related symptoms.  There are times when life can be trying, but if you find yourself feeling anxious or worried about something that someone else has downplayed, you may want to consider re-evaluating and letting it slide.  Your masculinity will thank you.

7.  Curb Your Enthusiasm For Drinking

Sure, it’s fine to go out with the boys and have a few beers every now and again, but the days of getting sloshed every weekend have come and gone.  Regularly having more than three or four drinks in a single night can have detrimental effects on your endocrine system, the mechanism that regulates your level of hormones, including testosterone.  Keep yourself sober for the drive home and you’ll be healthier and safer.

8.  While You’re At It, Quit Smoking!

No, seriously.  Like….right now!  If there wasn’t enough reason to toss out the cancer sticks and start subsisting on fresh air alone before, how about the idea of losing the very thing that makes you manly in the first place?  Smoking decreases the level of production in the testes, leading to a multitude of less-than-manly symptoms.  Find a support system and kick this bad habit, before it’s too late.

9.  Get Out In The Sun

Studies have shown that there is a notable correlation between levels of Vitamin D and levels of testosterone.  If you’re not feeling up to snuff, try getting out in the sun more often.  Even getting outside for a half-hour to and hour more per day can have drastic effects on your mood and health.  This also supplements the whole “exercising” recommendation we made earlier.

10.  Have More Sex

Need I say more?  Science has published volumes on the health benefits related to sex, so why not add another chapter?  As it stands, simply having an erection sends testosterone levels through the roof.  The effects are multiplied exponentially if it’s done in the morning, giving you a double score bonus on testosterone production throughout the day.  It’s okay, you can even show your honey this article so they know it’s for health benefits only.

Now, that doesn’t sound too bad, does it?  Take a nap, eat more (and healthier) food, spend less time in the office and more time outside and even get laid more often!   I think you’d be hard pressed to find a man alive that would turn that offer down.  I know it seems impossible with the demands of a career and a family, but remember that you only get one lifetime to do everything you ever want to do.  Don’t live to work -work to live.  If you’re not feeling as energized and passionate as you once did, make some of these adjustments and you’ll see a marked, natural change in your performance and outlook on life.  Before you know it, you’ll be taking life by the horns and everyone around you will just have to hang on for the ride.