Having low testosterone is no walk in the park. Your sex drive is basically non-existent, you feel tired and weak and grumpy. In this day and age there are a lot of things that can mess up that delicate balance of hormones such as estrogen, testosterone and progesterone. When these are not in balance you will feel unmotivated, depressed and emotional. Luckily there are tons of products out there to help get your hormones back on track and get you feeling like a man again.
Maca Root
Maca is actually a root vegetable native to Peru. It is dried, ground into a powder, roasted and usually mixed into hot water. The amazing thing about Maca is that it acts as an adaptogen in the 
body, meaning it helps your body function under stress. Maca stimulates the pituitary gland and
hypothalamus which in turn stimulates the adrenals and thyroid which are key to producing the proper hormones. There are many different types of maca, but if you want the most bang for your buck, go with black maca. It has been proven to increase sperm production in male rats versus the red and yellow varieties. Take 1 tbsp per day and see if you notice a difference!
Oysters
The awesome thing about oysters is that they contain zinc which is crucial for muscle growth, sperm production and endurance. It can be hard to come across oysters everyday which is why it can be a good idea to supplement with a zinc sulfate or picolinate. You could also eat more pumpkin seeds but the amount of pumpkin seeds you would have to eat to correct a zinc deficiency is the equivalent to an entire bucket full. It is almost one hundred percent guaranteed you are low in this important mineral due to our depleted soil and therefore depleted produce. Get that zinc in you!
Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is another one of those adaptogenic herbs that help your body adapt when it is under stress. In a recent study, ashwagandha was proven to increase testosterone by 17%! That’s huge. Sperm concentration was increased by 167% and semen volume also shot up by 53%. These are all very good reasons to add ashwagandha to your diet regimen. In addition to boosting your testosterone it reduces anxiety and stress, increases you sex drive and stamina and gets you in a generally calm and happy mood.
Brazil Nuts
Brazil nuts are high in selenium which are a key component in testosterone production. Men who were low in testosterone and/or infertile were also shown to have low levels of selenium. Men with high testosterone had conversely high levels of selenium. Our soil is also missing key minerals to keep us healthy which is why you need to be proactive with supplementation. The minimum requirements for selenium is 55 micrograms per day. One Brazil nut contains about 70-90 micrograms. It’s safe to eat about three to make sure you are getting all the selenium you need.
Spinach
Popeye sure knew what he was talking about. Why is spinach so good for testosterone? It’s because it’s high in magnesium. In a recent study, magnesium was shown to increase testosterone in both active and sedentary men. Unfortunately the spinach of yesteryear is not the same as the 
spinach you see on the shelf today. In order to hit your daily magnesium requirements you would need pounds and pounds of spinach going through your system everyday. If you’re into the green smoothie trend, then all the power to you. If you can’t fathom drinking spinach every morning, opt for a Magnesium Glycinate supplement. Stay away from magnesium citrate as it is not absorbable and contains citric acid which s harsh on digestion.
Horny Goat Weed
The name itself already seems like it’s gonna work wonders. Horny Goat Weed is a herb native to East Asia. Unlike Ashwaganda and Maca, Horny Goat Weed acts as a mimetic instead of an adaptogen. It mimics the effects of testosterone in the body giving you an immediate boost of energy. It’s powerful stuff so start off slow and then titrate up depending on how you feel. Horny Goat Weed can be found at any health food store in tincture or capsule form.
Seaweed
Seaweed is rich in iodine which is crucial for thyroid function. Our thyroids are in charge of hormone production in the body. Seems pretty important if you’re aiming to raise your testosterone levels…Due to fluoride, bromide and all the other “ides” that have snuck into our water and food supply, our thyroids cannot absorb any iodine anymore because these toxic chemicals are absorbing it instead. One way to make sure you get optimal iodine levels into your thyroid is to take kelp supplements or a nascent iodine supplement. Other seaweeds high in iodine such as dulse is a great salty snack and pulls a double whammy as a heavy metal chelator. Give your thyroid the support it desires and feel alive again.
Nettle Leaf
Nettle Leaf is a great multi purpose herb. One of it’s crowning achievements is to balance the flow of free testosterone in your body. This is the testosterone that is actually usable by your body for things like hair growth. As a bonus, Nettle Leaf has silica in it which makes your skin smooth and your joints limber. You can steep about 4 cups of Nettle tea per day or take a Nettle Leaf supplement.
Rhiodiola
Rhiodiola is similar to Ashwagandha in that it stimulates the hypothalamus which them stimulates the adrenal glands and thyroid to secrete hormones, including testosterone. It is an adaptogen and can be used rather safely without over doing it. Rhiodiola is known to give you mental and physical energy, calm your mind and give you a steady stream of “yes I can” throughout the day. Rhiodiola can be taken with ashwagandha or by itself, either way you will get awesome results. You can find it in any health food store in either a capsule or tincture form.
