8 Hormone Balancing Foods for Men That Improve Strength, Sex Drive & Digestion

The human body is a complex machine made up of many different interacting systems, all of which are interlinked and have an influence on each other. One of the most important pieces of the puzzle is the endocrine system, which controls the release of various hormones that regulate our everyday bodily functions.

When we talk about hormone balance, we usually associate it with women’s health, but maintaining optimal levels of the various hormones is just as important for men. Our endocrine system is involved in everything from muscle regeneration and sexual health, to digestion and sleep.

Some of the most important male hormones include:

Testosterone – improves sex drive and helps to maintain lean muscle mass.
Growth hormones – promote muscle growth and bone strength.
Stress hormones – cortisol and adrenaline can help you remain alert, but can also lead to health issues if their levels are too high for too long.
Thyroxin – produced in the thyroid gland, it helps to maintain energy, mood and appetite.
Insulin – secreted by the pancreas, it keeps your blood glucose levels balanced and fat storage at normal levels.
Sleep hormones – melatonin and serotonin regulate your body clock, allowing you to get a good nights rest and remain cheerful.
When hormones become out of balance as a result of stress, lack of sleep or dietary choices, a number of complications can occur. The normal bodily processes mentioned above fall out of line, and chronic illnesses can start to develop.

In this article, we’ll outline eight of the best foods that you can add to your diet to keep your hormone levels in check, so that you can maintain a happy, healthy lifestyle.

1. Raw Carrots

Raw carrots are a great source of Vitamin-A. Although it is probably most well known for helping to maintain ocular health, it also has hormonal benefits.

Vitamin-A improves liver function, an organ that is heavily involved with the synthesis and detoxification of a number of different hormones. Vitamin-A also helps to improve the health of the thyroid gland, which produces the hormone thyroxin, needed to maintain energy and appetite.

In addition, Vitamin-A is widely used as a natural way to increase the production of testosterone and growth hormone, whilst bringing down levels of the hormone estrogen. This can not only improve sexual performance, but help you to build muscle and lose fat too.

Raw carrots also contain a unique fibre that helps to remove any excess estrogen from the body.

A medium sized carrot a day is enough to do the trick. Just make sure it’s raw, as cooking breaks down the fibre and removes its hormone-balancing properties.

Try grating your carrot over a salad, or enjoy some carrot sticks with hummus as a snack.

2. Walnuts

Walnuts are jam-packed full of health promoting omega-3 fatty acids. As well as improving heart and brain health, omega-3’s are crucial in the formation of testosterone.

Walnuts also contain plenty of B-Vitamins and magnesium, micronutrients that have both been linked to improved production of testosterone, and high levels of the sleep hormone melatonin.

If that wasn’t enough, walnuts are a great source of tryptophan, the amino acid that is involved in the production of serotonin and melatonin, hormones that that help to regulate your sleep cycle.

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In addition to the tryptophan, studies have shown that walnuts actuallycontain the hormone melatonin, which is usually produced in the body via the pineal gland.

Walnuts are great on their own as a snack, or blended into a smoothie.

3. Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin seeds contain high concentrations of the mineral magnesium, which improves levels of testosterone and growth hormones, whilst helping to bring cortisol down.

They are also an abundant source of zinc, an important micronutrient that has been linked with healthy testosterone levels. Research has shownthat low testosterone in males is often linked to a deficiency in zinc.

In addition to their micronutrient content, pumpkin seeds are packed full of protein, which helps to build muscle and maintain the feeling of fullness. This may lead to fat loss and a more favourable body composition, which encourages healthy levels of testosterone, cortisol and insulin.

Enjoy your pumpkin seeds in a trail mix or on top of your porridge in the morning.

4. Avocados

Avocados are another brilliant source of healthy fats, which as mentioned above are important in the production of testosterone.

They are also rich in glutathione, an antioxidant that blocks the absorption of harmful fats that can cause oxidative damage to cells.

Avocados contain plenty of Vitamin B6, which aids the body in the production of the sleep hormones melatonin and serotonin. Vitamin B6 also helps the body to absorb more zinc, a trace mineral that acts as one nature’s most powerful natural testosterone boosters.

Try your avocado in a bean burrito, or spread it over some wholemeal bread with salad.