Eat Me: Six foods to help increase your testosterone levels

Testosterone is basically the life force of every man as high testosterone levels help build muscle, improve sex drive, bone strength, heart health and memory.

Women naturally have lower levels of testosterone throughout their lives; their bodies are more sensitive to the hormone, and their health depends on the balance between estrogen, progesterone and testosterone.

As you grow older, the level of testosterone naturally produced by your body tends to decline.

Modern medicine has created pills to help you boost your testosterone levels but most come with side effects.

We’ve put together a list of foods to help you naturally increase your testosterone level.

Coconut

The body requires healthy saturated fats to produce most hormones including testosterone.

Coconut will improve the body’s ability to produce cholesterol necessary for optimal health, help reduce body fat and maintain weight.

Tuna

The smell of tuna may not be so pleasant but the vitamin D content it carries bolsters testosterone by up to 90 percent.

Tuna also reduces the level of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), a libido-killing chemical.

Olive oil

Extra virgin olive oil has been proven to increase testosterone.

In a recent research, participants who consumed olive oil daily experienced an increase in testosterone levels between 17 percent and 19 percent after three weeks.

Pomegranate

According to the International Journal of Impotence Research, 47 percent of impotent men found their condition improved after a daily glass of antioxidant-rich pomegranate juice.

Beans

Zinc is an essential nutrient during puberty, and its effects can keep male hormones in check throughout adulthood.

White, kidney and black beans are all considered good sources of vitamin D and zinc. Baked beans also offer these nutrients.

Honey

Honey is an aphrodisiac as it contains boron, a mineral linked to high testosterone.

It is also rich in nitric oxide which is key in opening up blood vessels that create erections. Four teaspoons of honey can boost nitric oxide levels by 50 percent.