It’s been a while since honey has been linked to boosting testosterone, but is it true? Apparently, it is. Although no scientific evidence indicates straightforward that honey helps you boost your testosterone levels.
Honey is mostly composed of carbohydrates (about 80%), and the rest are minerals, amino acids, proteins, and acids. Scientists, after running several experiments, have come to the conclusion that carbs is a great ingredient to maintain normal levels of testosterone in the body.
It also has been scientifically proved that carbohydrates play critical roles in spermatogenesis, the process where the sperm is developed. The lack of carbs inhibits the Leydig cells, located in the testes, from a correct development, hence the low production of testosterone. But testosterone is not fabricated solely by said cells, the luteinizing hormone (LH) has to be present for the correct development. LH is made in the pituitary gland, a small bulb behind our noses, where all the hormones are controlled.
There’s also been proof that boron, a mineral (micronutrient) that has important roles in metabolism, does help to increase testosterone levels.
In its composition, honey has between 0.1% and 1% of minerals, and boron is present in 0.05 to 0.3 mg/100 g. However, iodine, chlorine, and bromine are amongst the minerals with the most concentration in the sweet elixir.
Tip: Darker honey is believed to have more concentration of minerals than lighter honey.
Nitric Oxide
Nitric oxide (NO) is a multifunctional molecule that participates in different physiological processes, like vascular tone. Low levels of this molecule push the body to develop cardiovascular diseases because the blood vessels shrink and blood can’t have proper circulation.
Study support that NO might be responsible for the benefits of honey in the biology of humans.
Nitric oxide is responsible for producing erection in males because of its effects on the blood vessels, so the better levels of this molecule in the body, the better sex function men will have.
The BD Team
Honey is rich in B vitamins, like B6, which plays an important role when it comes to the production of testosterone.
Having healthy levels of this vitamin B will help your body to regulate testosterone because it will help the cells to control how they react to this hormone.
Another important vitamin found in honey is B3, which is essential to get the energy from the food that we ingest. It’s also good because it helps with the blood flow and is an ally for your mood: it plays an important role in some neurotransmitters like serotonin, which is a chemical produced by cells that control mood, sleep, and pain, among others.
Vitamin D is also important for your testosterone levels. It has a major role when it comes to the life cycle of human cells. When it comes to male sex hormones, it will help the Leydig cells, responsible for the proper development of testosterone, to stay healthy. Another benefit from vitamin D is that it will help you strengthen your immune system, making your body stronger to face different threats like bacteria, virus, cancer, and more.
With proper levels of vitamin D, your body will also develop strong and healthy bones.
Honey is also a good source of antioxidants which will help with the prevention or delay of cell damage.
The Mad Honey
Ever heard about rhododendron? The rhododendron is a species of woody plants that grow in different countries and environments, like Nepal, Turkey and some places in North America.
This type of honey has been used for centuries because of its medical benefits and also because of its toxicity, which can cause hallucinations, thanks to high levels of grayanotoxins.
When it’s well processed, it can be used to improve appetite, mental alertness, reduce joint pain and eliminate gastrointestinal pain.
Men in Nepal and Turkey use the mad honey because it’s said to enhance their masculinity and testosterone levels, and a study revealed that the use of mad honey improves the levels of testosterone significantly compared to regular honey.
However, it’s not encouraged to take this type of honey because it can cause poisoning when taken at high levels and may cause death in the worst-case scenario.
Some symptoms include cardiovascular episodes, altered consciousness, nausea, sweating, headaches, and vomiting, among others.
In conclusion, honey has a lot of components that have been scientifically proven to be good to improve or maintain normal levels of testosterone.
An Anticancer Ally
The many positive properties of honey make it the best ally when it comes to preventing cancer. This elixir of life improves the immune system and has many anti-oxidant, anti-proliferative, and anti-inflammatory properties, although its composition is about 80% sugar.
Honey, through its anti-oxidant activity, cell cycle arrest, antimutagenic activity, and estrogen modulation, create an anticancer response, just like its anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activity.
Honey also plays a major role when it comes to the releasing of tumor necrosis factor. It’s been proved that it has antitumor properties, making it an ally in the fight against cancer. When honey interacts with the TNF, it helps this mechanism to fight the production of cancerous cells, and the TNF may end up devouring them to keep your system healthy.
Scientists are still running studies to prove the many benefits of honey, whether it comes to testosterone levels, to skin improvement, immune system, and more.
