We find zinc in various health supplements after scientists have found various health benefits of this essential mineral. But did you know that zinc is also good for boosting testosterone levels?
Benefits of zinc
As reported by various experts and scientists zinc has the following health benefits:
- Zinc triggers the production of testosterone of the body.
- Zinc deficiency may lead to hypogonadism
- It has no side effects
Testosterone
Testosterone is present both in men and women. But it is found in abundance in men and is the main hormone for all male characteristics. Testosterone levels are at their highest during adolescence and youth. The testosterone level gradually declines as we age. In older people, low levels of testosterone give rise to many issues.
If you find symptoms of low testosterone such as weight increase, swelling of breast tissues, chronic tiredness, fatigue, lack of sexual desire, low drive, and motivation then you should test the level of your testosterone. A simple blood test may tell you about your T-Level.
The normal T-Levels are
For men 300 to 1000 ng/dl
For women 15 to 70 ng/dl
Zinc And Testosterone
One study that was done taking youths and subjecting them to a low zinc diet showed that it resulted in hypogonadism which is the name for low testosterone. After a low zinc diet for 20 weeks, their testosterone levels dropped by 75%. This motivated the scientists to examine elaborately the link between the essential mineral zinc and testosterone.
It was found that zinc forms a very important part of the men’s reproductive system. It is also important for the endocrine system. Testosterone is produced in the testicles and zinc stimulates the testes to produce more testosterone. It also regulates the production of testosterone through its influence on the endocrine system.
This is the reason why almost all testosterone-boosting supplements include zinc in their list of ingredients. The claim has also been proved in a number of studies. In another study involving older men with low levels of testosterone and zinc deficiency. It was found that after intake of zinc for 24 weeks, their serum testosterone levels were boosted up, and that too without causing any side effects.
Zinc deficiency is also related to the production of sperm as well as abnormal sperm. This in turn may affect the T-Levels.
Increasing the intake of Zinc
Men need 11 mg of zinc per day. It is possible to get sufficient amounts of zinc from our diet. The various ways to improve zinc intake are:
- Select zinc-rich foods in your diet. Such foods are oatmeal, nuts, beef, chicken, crab, pork, yogurt, cereals, and fortified bread.
- Get zinc from zinc supplements. There are many supplements on the market containing zinc that can be taken use of.
It is possible to combine both the above two options. But you must take care not to increase the intake of zinc above a certain limit. This may give rise to various side effects. Intake of more than 40 mg of zinc may cause toxicity in men. Symptoms of toxicity are:
- Headache
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Stomach ache
Health Benefits of Zinc
- Boosts immunity
- Helps in the growth of lean muscles
- Regulated lipid profile and sugar level in blood
- Eliminates the risk of a few age-related diseases
- Improves eye-sight
- Improves the quality of your sperm
- Improves the healing time of wounds
What is hypogonadism
Testosterone is a predominantly male hormone that is responsible for all the male characteristics such as heavy muscles, strength, endurance, bass voice, beards, hairs on the body, and the male sexual reproductive system including sexual desire and drive.
But due to aging and due to some diseases the testosterone levels of men lower. When the level of testosterone goes below its normal value which is 100 ng/dl for men, it is called hypogonadism in medical terminology.
Hypogonadism is treatable and at some time it may occur due to very simple reasons such as deficiency in nutrients. But it is always advisable to consult a specialist doctor for the treatment options. There are many treatment options which may even include testosterone replacement therapy.
Reasons of hypogonadism
- Genetic disorder
- During the treatment of cancer
- Problems in the hypothalamus glands as well as pituitary glands
- Testicle-injury
- Inflammation
- Obesity
- HIV
- Medication
Once the root cause of hypogonadism is diagnosed it can be treated successfully by removing the cause.
Symptoms of hypogonadism
- Muscle waste
- Low level of sexual drive
- Erectile disorder
- Lack of concentration
- Hot flashes
- Chronic tiredness
- Fatigue
You just consult your doctor if you find any such symptoms.
People who are in the habit of taking meats, crabs, and other non-veg items need not worry about zinc deficiency. Zinc deficiency is commonly observed in vegans, vegetarians, and alcoholic people. Also, elderly people who are not properly nourished may have symptoms of zinc deficiency.
Zinc is one essential and key mineral having many health benefits. Following are the benefits accrued to zinc
- Production of DNA
- Production of protein
- Immune functions
- Cell division
- Metabolization of nutrients
Zinc deficiency is also linked to erectile disorder caused due to low levels of testosterone.
Conclusion
Testosterone deficiency is mainly a problem related to men. During adolescence and youth the levels of testosterone normally remain quite high. The highest levels of testosterone in men can be 1000 ng/dl. But with aging the T-level declines and a number of symptoms appear. The most significant among the symptoms is lowered sex desire.
This becomes quite embarrassing for men and they start finding no pleasure in living. There are many ways to boost the T-levels. There are synthetic testosterone injections for short term boosting of testosterone levels.
But of late zinc is considered by the scientific community as a suitable mineral that can boost T-levels significantly. There are supplements available containing zinc and zinc can also be obtained from natural foods. The combination of the both can work. But in no case the amount of zinc intake should be more than 11 mg per day.
