Testosterone is the number one factor when it comes to building lean muscle mass and living a healthy sex life. It cannot be emphasized enough, how important it is for you to maintain optimal levels of this male sex hormone.
From the age of about 30 you will start to notice a gradual decline in your strength and muscle mass. A loss in your libido is also common as your natural testosterone secretion starts to decrease.
This however is not just restricted to older men. Athletes & younger men with low T will also find it difficult to progress in developing the size & strength results they want.
How do natural testosterone boosting ingredients work?
The makers of natural test boosters claim their products are able to stimulate your body to produce more testosterone & support muscle growth.
Remember however that not all test boosters contain the same ingredients.
Below you can find out which are the most effective test-boosting ingredients. All of which have been proven by clinical studies to keep your testosterone at peak levels.
Testosterone Producers
D-Aspartic Acid (D-AA)
D-AA is a naturally occurring amino acid which helps regulate the release and production of testosterone in the body.
Found in the testes it signals the brain to release the luteinizing hormone which acts upon the leydig cells of the testis converting cholesterol to testosterone.
The theory therefore is that by supplementing with D-AA you will enhance testosterone production by improving the messaging signals between the brain and testes.
A study by scientists in Italy found that men who took a 3 gram daily dose of DAA over a period of 12 days saw a 42.1% increase in testosterone levels.1
DAA has also been shown to increase the release of growth hormone in the body and a buildup of this amino acid in the testicles causes the rate-limiting step of testosterone synthesis to be removed.
Vitamin D3
Vitamin D3 also known as Cholecalciferol is actually a steroid hormone. It is normally produced when your skin is exposed to sunlight.
Regulating more than 1,000 bodily functions including fertility, growth, sexual function & hormone secretion.
It has already been shown in a number of studies that vitamin D3 positively impacts T levels.
Vitamin D deficiency is common in countries where sun exposure is low due to the season such as the winter months in Europe & North America.
A study found that healthy males who took 3000IUs of vitamin D3 every day for a year showed a 25% higher testosterone level than the placebo group who took none.2
Zinc
This essential mineral is very important when it comes to boosting & maintaining optimal T levels.
The body cannot produce Zinc so it’s vitally important to get sufficient amounts through food sources or supplementation.
As well as being a testosterone booster it also has the added benefit of suppressing estrogen.
It does this by inhibiting the aromatase enzyme which reduces conversion of testosterone into estrogen.
Deficiencies in Zinc are likely to cause low levels of T, impotence and increases in estrogen receptors.
A study on 37 infertile males showed the group with lower T levels saw a significant increase in testosterone & DHT levels after taking Zinc for 6-months.
Nine of the men were even able to conceive children during the study.3
Zinc is a great ingredient for increasing testosterone production.
Ginseng
The popular herb Ginseng has been used as a medicine in traditional Chinese & Native American cultures for many centuries.
It is prized an aphrodisiac & its use as a natural stimulant.
Studies have shown it to increase production of testosterone when used on a regular basis. It can also help men with erectile dysfunction.
A study into the effects of Panax Ginseng on male fertility showed that the herb was able to increase testosterone and DHT.4 Ginseng is a certainly good option for higher testosterone.
The improvements in energy and alertness are also very beneficial when it comes to having a more effective workout in the gym.
Oyster Extract
Oysters contain the highest natural source of Zinc available, a mineral which we have already mentioned is vital for your T levels.
In fact they contain 10 times as much Zinc as the next food source which is beef.
In addition they contain an assortment of vitamins and amino acids with all 59 trace elements that your body needs to function.
This is all great for increasing testosterone levels, boosting your sexual performance, enhancing libido and strengthening your immune system against diseases.
Another study involving 10 elite male wrestlers showed that supplementing with Zinc over a 4 week period boosted physical performance & increased T levels significantly.6
Mucuna Pruriens
This tropical plant is also known as velvet bean.
It contains high levels of the amino acid L-DOPA (levodopa) which is a precursor to the neurotransmitter dopamine.
A study into Mucuna Pruriens has allowed scientists to link this fact to the reasons a group of men increased their testosterone and growth hormone levels with supplementation of M. pruriens.10
In addition it has also been shown to decrease prolactin which will help you preserve the amount of free testosterone available in your body.
It can also reduce the stress hormone cortisol which scientist say can block your testosterone.
Vitamin K2
This vitamin is vital for a healthy body and strong T levels.
It is mostly obtained from meats, fish, eggs and cheeses.
Vitamin K2 plays an important role in maintaining steady levels of testosterone within blood plasma and the testes.
It also helps support the natural testosterone booster vitamin D3 making it more effective.
K2 does this by preventing the calcification of your arteries and other soft tissues.
A study at Tohoku University in Japan showed that supplementing with K2 can help reverse declining T levels.7
Free Testosterone Promoters
Fenugreek
Fenugreek is a plant whose seeds are often used as a spice in Indian curries.
While this herb is rich in antioxidants and gives many health benefits I’m sure it’s the testosterone enhancing properties you are most concerned with.
Research has shown its ability to increase male libido while maintaining optimal T levels.
A notable study of 30 resistance-trained men at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor had two test groups; those supplementing with fenugreek & those without the placebo group.
Both groups saw significant increases in strength after 4 weeks. However only the group taking fenugreek saw significant increases in strength after eight weeks.5
Evidence certainly suggests that Fenugreek works to increase testosterone or androgen levels.
Boron
This is a vital trace mineral great for enhancing your testosterone levels.
Found in the Earth’s soil it occurs in all foods produced from plants.
It has the capability to inhibit the sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and in doing so raises the level of free testosterone in your body.
It has also been show to increase production of testosterone and even decrease levels of estrogen.
In an amazing study conducted by Naghii, daily supplementation of Boron allowed men to increase their T levels by 29% and reduce their estrogen levels by 39% in just 1 week.8
Magnesium
If included this is a powerful weapon in the test booster’s arsenal.
You may not know this but up to 60% of the testosterone in your body is actually bound to the sex hormone binding globulin (SHGB).
Unfortunately when it is in this state it is not available for direct use by the body and so you don’t benefit.
Magnesium however is a good solution to this problem.
It does this by lowering the SHBG count by actually binding to the globulin freeing up more testosterone. With more free T available for your body to actively use.
A study into Magnesium supplementation showed it raised levels of free testosterone in sedentary males and had an even greater effect in men who were exercising.14
Certainly there is a direct link between more magnesium in your blood and higher amounts of free testosterone.
Stinging Nettle
A good choice for enhancing T levels. Studies have shown that nettle root will help reduce the sex hormone binding globulin.
Two notable studies conducted in Germany found that nettle root decreased SHBG activity which means your body has more free testosterone available to use.11 12
It also contains aromatase inhibitor qualities which means it will reduce estrogen levels.13
Estrogen Suppressors (Aromatase Inhibitors)
Luteolin
A dietary flavonoid found in various foods & herbs like celery, lemons, parsley, peppers, sage, peppermint and many more.
It has a variety of health benefits including the ability to inhibit the female hormone estrogen.
Chinese scientists compared and analyzed 1,431 different natural compounds to see which would suppress estrogen the best.
They found that Luteolin was the most powerful inhibitor for aromatase. Aromatase is the enzyme responsible for the production of estrogen.
Another benefit is its androgen-stimulating abilities leading to the production of more testosterone
One study’s results showed that Luteolin is effective as an aromatase inhibitor and significantly reduces levels of estrogen in the body.9
Vitamin B6
Firstly vitamin B6 can help with testosterone production by stimulating androgen receptors.
Androgens are a precursor for testosterone. Its main benefit is its ability to suppress estrogen.
This is done by working with the C2 hormone pathways in the metabolic system.
It is here that it will decrease the female hormone’s metabolism once it has bound to a receptor.
The relationship between testosterone and estrogen is like a seesaw; so when one is up the other is down and vice-versa. Clearly you want estrogen levels down to allow T levels to go up even further.
A study conducted on rats showed that a diet with no vitamin B6 caused a significant drop in T levels in their blood plasma over a period of a month.15
Conclusion
Today these are the most powerful and effective natural ingredients known to modern scientists.
The best testosterone boosters will use most of the ingredients listed here.
It is really important that you read the ingredients list on the label to be sure of what you are actually taking.
You are probably now asking which test boosters contain these proven ingredients.
Well we have researched and analyzed many T booster out there and come up with the top 5.
You can find out more for yourself…
References:
1. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19860889
2. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21154195
3. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7271365
4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9063034
5. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21116018
6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15041778
7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21894328
8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21129941
9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22838964
10. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18973898
11. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7702715
12. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9463941
14. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20352370
15. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6727359
Leave a Reply