Should we say that we are going to talk about ‘Nuts’ for your ‘nuts’? If you are vegan or a vegetarian, we are sure you are going to love this information and see real benefits after you include these foods in your daily life. Needless to say, how important is testosterone for a man, after all that’s what makes a male a man!
Following nuts are said to boost testosterone levels in men:
- Cashew Nuts
- Macadamia Nuts
- Almonds
- Brazil Nuts
Cashew Nuts
Cashew nuts, the most addictive and tasty nuts of all even when consumed raw. Let alone those who are not into eating nuts but those who love nuts prefer cashew in any shape or form. Cashews are packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that can help in improving fertility in men with its higher concentration of zinc. If you have been through some food related articles for men’s health, you may know that zinc is a very important food that can help in making semen and boosting testosterone levels in a man. Just a dozen cashews a day can help improve sperm count in a man. Natural food like cashews must be preferred to artificial supplements that are available in the market.
Just like several other dry fruits, cashews contain antioxidants that can help in removing free radicals in your body. The vitamins such as Vitamin A, Vitamin K and Vitamin E help in improving vision. Cashews help in improving blood circulation and also boosts testosterone levels. All you need to make sure is, stop with a dozen cashews a day. Over eating can result in adding fat to your body as they are also rich in fat. Fat in turn does more harm to your body than good. Good blood circulation is important for male erections. Cashews are also rich in fibre that helps maintain a good digestive system. You can fry them or make spicy snacks or eat the raw but make sure you limit the quantity to get the best benefits of eating cashews.
Macadamia Nuts
Macadamia nuts are not native to India but with increasing awareness and global demand, our farmers in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Orissa etc have started growing macadamia nuts. Regular consumption of macadamia nuts can help in reducing inflammation of the heart and arteries thereby allowing good blood circulation throughout the body. They can help in lowering the bad cholesterol (LDL Cholesterol). Lowered LDL can help boost the production of testosterone.
Macadamia nuts can help in controlling high blood pressure, lower triglycerides (fat that isn’t good and can cause heart diseases, heart attacks and stroke) and even belly fat. As the levels of LDL cholesterol in your body decreases, that helps in preventing coronary artery disease and keeps up good cardiovascular health. They also help in controlling high blood sugar levels in people with Type 2 diabetes. Did you know that there is a direct link to Type 2 diabetes and lower testosterone levels in men? Having Type 2 diabetes can double the risk of lower testosterone levels compared to that in healthy men. Diabetes can also damage blood vessels which in turn can affect blood circulation.
Macadamia nuts can also help with your weight loss goals – eat in moderation! The feeling of fullness after eating these nuts can lead to lower food consumption.
Almonds
You may have heard of the benefits of almonds and all the good it does to your brain. Almonds, due to its rich nutritional value can also help men in more ways. Though there are several forms of almonds available in the market such as almond milk, flour or paste, we recommend eating raw almonds the Indian way! (Soak a dozen in water at night, peel off the skin the next morning and eat the white part of the seed.) If you can get almonds right from the tree, that’s even better. A handful of them can take away your hunger and help in weight loss too!
Almonds are rich in Protein, Vitamin E, Magnesium and Manganese. All of these minerals and vitamins are highly essentials for boosting testosterone and maintaining muscle in a man’s body. Be aware that excess consumption of almonds can lead to addition of fat to your body directly under the skin. Almonds contain ‘phytic acid’ which prevents the body from absorbing nutrients from other foods; so, eating almonds in moderation is very important.
Almonds are also rich in antioxidants that can help with controlling inflammation in the body, reduce stress and slow the process of ageing. Vitamin E is good for your skin, hair, digestive system and also to your reproductive system. Similar to macadamia nuts, they can help control bad cholesterol, high blood pressure and aid in weight loss. If you have a native almond tree in or near your house, trust me, eating a handful of them half hour before lunch can greatly remove your craving for food and you can lose fat much faster.
Brazil Nuts
Did you know that hypothyroidism can lower the levels of free testosterone in the blood? Hypothyroidism can also lower the levels of a sex hormone called ‘Globulin’ that carries testosterone throughout the body. It is important that you, as a man, maintain a healthy thyroid for good sexual health. Brazil nuts contain a good amount of selenium that supports healthy functioning of your thyroid gland.
Thyroid is a butterfly shaped gland present just above the throat. Optimal levels of T3 and T4 are important for healthy metabolism and testosterone levels. Regular consumption of a few brazil nuts a day can help in better functioning of your thyroid, reduce inflammation and maintain a healthy heart, brain and immune system. Brazil nuts are a rich source of selenium, copper, magnesium, zinc, manganese, Vitamin E, fibre and proteins. Copper safeguards your immune system while other minerals and vitamins help maintain a healthy heart, brain and blood pressure levels. Good selenium levels in the body can help reduce the risk of prostate cancer, lung cancer, colorectal and bladder cancers. Note that excessive intake of brazil nuts can increase the risk of Type 2 diabetes.
References:
- Almonds can help with weight loss – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25097630
- High protein diet can induce weight loss – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7539343/
- Consumption of almonds can help reduce non-HDL-C, LCL-C, central adiposity (abdominal fat) – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25559009
- Nuts and human health outcomes – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29207471/
- Selenium and human health – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22381456/
