Health

Testosterone: 3 Things That Will Probably Surprise You

Hint: They include love, diet, and roosters.

Photo by shotinraww on Unsplash

Testosterone is a hormone that can help men develop sperm. It helps to increase muscle and bone mass, can deepen the voice, and increase body hair. When too low, generalized fatigue, depression, sleep problems, increased fat storage, and other problems may result. While testosterone is an important hormone, many misunderstand it. Today we look at five facts about this vital hormone.

1. Your diet may influence levels.

Want to try to optimize your testosterone levels? You may want to watch your lifestyle: Optimize your weight, limit alcohol consumption, eat healthily, and get some exercise. That’s the conclusion of researchers who examined peer-reviewed studies on the association between dietary patterns and male sexual health, including erectile dysfunction, infertility, and hypogonadism (a condition in which the body doesn’t produce enough testosterone).

Erectile dysfunction primarily affects aging men. The prevalence is on the order of 30 to 50 percent in men at least 40 years old. The researchers found that erectile dysfunction seems to lessen in men who adhere to a Mediterranean-type diet.