The Top 10 Powerfoods!
by JohnMc
 I first interviewed fitness trainer Mike Levinson shortly before Father's Day. The image here shows Levinson in great shape, but he swears he only got that way after gaining 50 pounds with the birth of his first child. Levinson says he got his head back in the game and whittled away the weight while toning up.
His common sense matter-of-fact manner made me hungry for seconds, so last week I hunted down the author of Buff Dad: The 4-Week Fitness Game Plan For Real Guys (HCI), for this follow-up.
Ladies, don't be turned off by the title of Levinson's book -- or the fact these powerfoods are great for boosting testosterone and helping build muscle in men. Levinson promises women too will benefit from including the super 10 foods in their diet.
The Top 10 Testosterone Powerfoods
The Buff Dad Dietary Plan includes the 10 powerfoods. The 10 foods that boost testosterone levels naturally and help develop more muscle tone are:
1. Lean Beef
What’s Inside: Protein, iron, magnesium, zinc, saturated fat.
The Facts: “Few things have as positive an impact on testosterone levels as lean meats,” says Larrian Gillespie, retired assistant urology professor and author of many health and nutrition books. Beef specifically offers the added benefit of having high protein and zinc — two nutrients key to optimizing testosterone and muscle-building potential — in one source. While too much saturated fat is not a good thing, you require some to produce testosterone.
How to Get It: Grill or broil a lean cut of steak a few times a week.
2. Beans
What’s Inside: Protein, fiber, zinc.
The Facts: Beans pack a bigger shot of zinc than any other member of the veggie family; some (like baked beans) even rival the zinc content of red meat. Add it to a food that’s high in protein and fiber and low in fat, and you have a winning combo.
How to Get It: Baked beans, lima beans, navy beans, and kidney beans are all good choices. Canned versions are just as nutritious as dry.
3. Poultry
What’s Inside: Protein and little fat.
The Facts: “High-protein diets have a positive impact on muscle mass and thus testosterone levels,” says John E. Morley, director of the Division of Geriatric Medicine at St. Louis University. “High fat has the opposite effect.” So while chicken and turkey lack high zinc levels, their protein-to-fat ratios make them important to your diet.
How to Get It: Roast or grill skinless, boneless portions of turkey or chicken several times a week. Or choose chicken and turkey cold cuts for lunch.
4. Eggs (preferably egg whites)
What’s Inside: Protein and cholesterol.
The Facts: “Testosterone is synthesized from cholesterol, and as such, food containing cholesterol is a good source of building blocks for testosterone,” says Robert S. Tan, M.D., associate professor of geriatric medicine and andrologist at the University of Texas in Houston. (An andrologist specializes in male diseases, especially those affecting the male reproductive system.) Eggs are a source of pure, unadulterated cholesterol, and one recent study shows that the excess cholesterol in eggs isn’t as harmful as previously thought.
How to Get It: Start your day with three or four eggs or egg whites cooked in olive oil or fat-free cooking spray. Egg whites are lower in calories and are recommended in most of the Buff Dad recipes.
5. Cottage Cheese (1 percent milk fat)
What’s Inside: Protein with very little fat.
The Facts: One cup of 1 percent cottage cheese has more protein and less fat than a serving of lean beef or chicken. Have it as a snack or with a meal for testosterone-boosting potential.
How to Get It: Eat 1 cup of cottage cheese each day. Add 1 teaspoon of cinnamon for extra flavor.
6. Broccoli
What’s Inside: Indole-3-carbinol, fiber.
The Facts: “Elevated estrogen levels lead to fat accumulation and can interfere with muscle growth,” says Chris Aceto, author of Championship Bodybuilding. In a clinical study, indole-3-carbinol found in broccoli reduced the female hormone estradiol by 50 percent in men, resulting in increased lean muscle and decreased fat.
How to Get It: Eat as many servings of broccoli as you can stomach.
7. Cabbage
What’s Inside: Indole-3-carbinol, fiber.
The Facts: In addition to exhibiting the same estradiol-restricting properties as other cruciferous vegetables, cabbage is high in fiber. Because fiber is satisfying, you eat less overall. Moreover, keeping weight down has an anti-estrogen impact.
How to Get It: Load up that fat-free brat with sauerkraut and have a side of slaw. (Just go easy on the mayo.)
8. Brussels Sprouts
What’s Inside: Indole-3-carbinol, fiber.
The Facts: Listen to your mom: Brussels sprouts do help you grow up big and strong. Like the other vegetables on the list, Brussels sprouts specifically target bad estrogen and pack in the fiber.
How to Get It: Hold your nose and power them down.
9. Garlic
What’s Inside: Allicin (an enzyme produced within the clove).
The Facts: In clinical studies, garlic’s active ingredient, allicin, enhances testosterone levels and inhibits cortisol, a hormone that competes with testosterone by limiting its actions and breaking down muscle tissue.
How to Get It: Season other foods with garlic, but eating whole cloves provides the most direct benefit.
10. Oysters
What’s Inside: Protein, magnesium, lots of zinc.
The Facts: Along with increasing physical endurance, oysters pack more zinc than almost any other food source. Just six oysters give you almost seven times the recommended daily allowance of zinc, and zinc plays a key role in muscle growth and testosterone levels.
How to Get It: Eat a serving of oysters once a week — raw, cooked, or canned (preferably not fried).
Mike Levinson is a former amateur bodybuilding champion and registered dietitian who holds dual degrees in sports nutrition and physical education. He has worked extensively as a nutritionist with the California Angels baseball team and with famous athletes such as Charles Oakley, JT Snow, Jim Abbott, Gary DiSarcina, and Sean Rooks of the Los Angeles Clippers and Lakers. He also worked as a nutritionist with both the Chicago Bears football team and the Oakland Raiders.
For your copy of Buff Dad, click on the book image at left.
|
