EASNA review the best testosterone booster supplements
Low testosterone can seriously hamper quality of life—particularly among men over 30. It’s a fact that from the age of 30 testosterone levels in men drop 1% per year. This mean’s that the average man has a testosterone production level in his 50s which is half what it was in his 20s.
On top of the natural reduction of testosterone with age, there is myriad lifestyle and health factors that can lead to unnaturally low levels of testosterone even in younger men. These include a poor diet, stress, lack of exercise, and a mixture of overt and underlying health issues.
The consequences of low testosterone range from depression, erectile dysfunction, fatigue, weight gain, irritability, memory loss, cognitive impairment, and muscle atrophy.
Fortunately, there are many natural supplements that can help restore testosterone levels in both men and women. Unlike anabolic steroids, which are extremely unhealthy (not to mention illegal), natural testosterone boosters are safe to use and lead to few, if any, side effects. The best testosterone boosters are chiefly derived from plants and food stuffs.
Today, there is a range of high-end testosterone boosting products that have combined the best supplements into highly-effective formulas that boost testosterone naturally and safely. These testosterone boosters support normal processes in the body, essentially fuelling natural testosterone production.
Some Of The Most Commonly Asked Questions About Testosterone Boosters
The best testosterone booster supplements have been clinically proven to increase testosterone production, leading to increases in lean muscle mass, muscle growth, energy levels, sexual performance, and other health benefits. A good testosterone booster combines effective supplements in complementary doses, and yes, the good ones really do work.
The best testosterone boosters are 100% safe to use, with little to no side effects reported. There are some occasionally used ingredients that can cause mild side effects in rare cases, so always check the label before you start taking them, and stop taking them if any side effects occur.
The best testosterone booster supplements will help you to raise testosterone levels quickly and safely. If you're looking for a product that will increase testosterone levels fast, then we recommend Hunter Test, which is a highly dosed testosterone booster.
Common symptoms of low testosterone are low energy, low sex drive, weight gain, inability to gain muscle despite training, depression, and irritability. If you are still not sure, you can try taking a home test and sending the results for analysis at a laboratory.
Anabolic steroids are a type of synthetic testosterone booster, but not one we would ever recommend using since they cause serious long-term health problems and they are illegal in most places. The natural testosterone boosters we are reviewing here are made from natural ingredients, are perfectly safe to consume, and cause no side effects in the vast majority of people. what’s more, they are 100% legal.
When it comes to boosting testosterone levels naturally there are two main considerations: ingredients and doses. The best testosterone supplements are those that are clinically proven to work. But just choosing the right ingredient is not enough, it also needs to be included at an effective dosage that has also been proven.
Many cheap testosterone boosters include the right ingredients in the wrong amounts. The best testosterone boosters feature the right ingredients in effective amounts. Here are our top picks for testosterone supplements:
D-Aspartic Acid
D-aspartic acid is an amino acid that leads to the production and release of luteinizing hormone [1]. The luteinizing hormone works by stimulating natural testosterone production in the testes, raising testosterone levels rapidly. One study, conducted on a group of 23 men, demonstrated a 42% increase in testosterone levels among 20 out of 23 of the men [2]. Each man was given just over three grams of d-aspartic acid during the experiment (which is slightly less than is included in a daily serving of Prime Male).
Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat stress, but recent studies have found it can also have a powerful impact on testosterone levels, leading to more testosterone, and quickly. A 600mg dose was shown to boost testosterone production by 15% within two months [3]. Another study connected ashwagandha to body fat loss and an increase in athletic performance [4]. In addition, ashwgandha supports the immune system, lowers blood pressure, and reduces inflammation.
Luteolin
As noted above, luteolin is an estrogen blocker rather than a direct testosterone booster. The best testosterone booster supplements will feature both estrogen blockers and testosterone boosters, thus creating an overall more beneficial hormone profile. Luteolin is a flavonoid found in citrus fruits. It effectively limits the production of aromatase, which is needed to produce estrogen [5]. And here's the kicker, in addition to being an estrogen blocker, luteolin is also an indirect testosterone booster because it encourages androgens to synthesise more testosterone.
Ginseng
Ginseng began being used medicinally in ancient China and today is known to provide a whole host of health benefits, from reducing inflammation and boosting cognitive functioning, to curing erectile dysfunction and increasing testosterone production. There are two types of ginseng: the American variety and the Asian variety. Only the Asian varieties of ginseng, such as Korean ginseng, have been proven to be effective testosterone boosters, increasing both free testosterone and total testosterone levels [6]. Its true power, however, is curing male impotence. It has been shown to increase blood flow to the penis by relaxing muscles and preventing blood vessel stress.
Zinc & Magnesium
Although zinc and magnesium are clearly two separate ingredients, we've lumped them together here because in both cases it is having a deficiency that is the main issue. Low levels of zinc or magnesium can dramatically decrease testosterone levels and taking them in supplement form will rapidly produce testosterone. The best testosterone boosters will have both in ample amounts to ensure deficiencies don't hold you back. Some natural testosterone supplements also have oyster extract, which is a great source of zinc.
Vitamin D
One of the best testosterone-boosting ingredients is vitamin d. Vitamin d supplementation helps with all sorts of ailments. Everything from immune system function, to mineral regulation, to weight loss, to mood regulation is supported by vitamin d. Like with magnesium and zinc, a vitamin d deficiency will lower your natural production of testosterone, but to get the most out of this supplement as a testosterone booster, you need to take it in high quantities. One study, conducted over the course of a year, gave participants a daily dose of 3,332 IU (equivalent to roughly 900mcg) of vitamin D. At the end of the year, researchers found that the vitamin d group had significantly increased levels of free testosterone, bioactive testosterone, and total testosterone, while the placebo group experienced no changes [7]. There are many quality studies confirming vitamin d's testosterone boosting qualities, leading us to conclude that, at high doses, vitamin d is one of the best natural testosterone boosters.
Vitamin K2
Vitamin k2, also known as menaquinone, has shown to have powerful effects on testosterone production in rats. In a study looking at the testicular tissue of rats-which is surprisingly similar to the testicular tissue of a human-researchers found an increase in testosterone of over 70% in some rats and 56% on average [8].
You want to make sure that the testosterone boosters you use contain vitamin k2 as opposed to vitamin k1. Vitamin k1 is an important vitamin, but it doesn't produce testosterone like vitamin k2 does [9]. In addition to the benefits vitamin k2 provides in its own right, it works together with vitamin d, increasing its testosterone-boosting effects.
Black Pepper
Black pepper, or BioPerine as it is also known, doesn't boost testosterone but it is a bio-enhancer. It increases the bioavailability of other ingredients. In short, black pepper is a formula effectiveness multiplier. It ensures the body is able to effectively absorb all the ingredients and make the best use of them. Testosterone boosters with black pepper (or BioPerine) are going to be more effective, offering more bang for your buck.
Now that you know which ingredients make the best testosterone-boosting supplements it should be clear why we've chosen Prime Male, Testogen, Hunter Test, and Test Lab Pro as the best testosterone boosters. Each one contains a range of testosterone boosting supplements that will increase the amount of male sex hormone in the body, leading to increased muscle mass, more lean muscle, lower body fat, higher energy levels, and better sexual performance.To boost testosterone levels naturally, all you need are the right dietary supplements, combined in the right formula. Modern testosterone boosters, such as those we've reviewed here, are exactly that. With a natural testosterone booster, boosting testosterone production has never been safer. And if you choose one of the five best testosterone boosters we've listed here, you can be sure the ingredients are of the highest quality and prepared in safe, clean environments.
0 - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6920068/- ‘Testosterone Boosting’ Supplements Composition and Claims Are not Supported by the Academic Literature
1 - D'Aniello, A (2007) D-Aspartic acid: an endogenous amino acid with an important neuroendocrine role. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17118457/
2 - Topo, E., et. al. (2009) The role and molecular mechanism of D-aspartic acid in the release and synthesis of LH and testosterone in humans and rats. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19860889/
3 - Lopresti, A., et. al. (2019) A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study Examining the Hormonal and Vitality Effects of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) in Aging, Overweight Males. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6438434/
4 - Wankhede, S., et. al. (2015) Examining the effect of Withania somnifera supplementation on muscle strength and recovery: a randomized controlled trial. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26609282/
5 - Lu, D., et. al. (2012) Inhibitory effect of luteolin on estrogen biosynthesis in human ovarian granulosa cells by suppression of aromatase (CYP19). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22838964/
6 - Leung, K., & Wong, A. (2013) Ginseng and male reproductive function. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3861174/
7 - Pilz, S., et. al. (2011) Effect of vitamin D supplementation on testosterone levels in men. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21154195/
8 - Ito, A., et. al. (2011) Menaquinone-4 enhances testosterone production in rats and testis-derived tumor cells. https://lipidworld.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1476-511X-10-158
9 - Ito, A., et. al. (2011) Menaquinone-4 enhances testosterone production in rats and testis-derived tumor cells: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3180407/