Testosterone in one of the most important anabolic hormones circulating in our bodies. The higher the testosterone levels, the better the chances for reducing body fat and building lean muscle, and it is absolutely crucial in coaxing better results from our workouts. This is why it is important to supplement our diet with ingredients that boost our natural testosterone production.
Luckily, there are many dietary supplements as well as natural foods, such as sesame seeds and sunflower seeds that can provide our body with beneficial nutrients. Another, not as common yet just as powerful, member of this family are the pumpkin seeds, which are packed with number of nutrients that trigger the production of testosterone.
Let’s take a look at the nutrients in pumpkin seeds and how they affect testosterone production
Fat
One of the pumpkin seeds’ common properties with sesame and sunflower seeds is that they are all rich in fat. A serving of 1-oz. pumpkin seeds supplements 14g of fat. Because of this they are considered as unfavorable in a low-fat diet, yet very useful for increasing testosterone production. Some studies have proved that testosterone levels can jump by increasing the intake of fat.
Fiber
Pumpkin seeds contain less than 2g of fiber per 1-oz. Although it is a common knowledge that increasing the fiber intake in your diet may help your overall health, it is a lesser known fact that the testosterone levels can increase markedly by reducing the fiber.
Magnesium
Magnesium is one of the nutrients provided by pumpkin seeds. Magnesium helps in regulating the levels of many nutrients in our body, and one of its functions is to support the enzymes’ activity. Additionally, as studies reveal, magnesium in pumpkin seeds can be beneficial in increasing the testosterone levels.
Zinc
Zinc is present in pumpkin seeds in abundance, and is crucial in maintaining the testosterone levels and healthy metabolism, improving the hormone production. It also keeps the prostate healthy, reducing the risk of impotence.
Leucine
Pumpkin seeds also are rich in leucine. This amino acid is involved in promoting the fat oxidation and helps the endurance of the body. Consequently, it is popular as a sports nutrition supplements.
It can be beneficial for the athletes during the training process, which is supported by the June 1997 research published in “The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness” where it is suggested that leucine has a property to support the increased testosterone levels.
