Low Testosterone can literally make the difference between a happy and easy life and a really tough one with less than optimal performance in every aspect of your life. Thankfully there are ways to boost your T before you even decide to take stronger measures like Testosterone Replacement Therapy. Many of these supplements below will increase your body’s own natural production of testosterone instead of artificially boosting it the way other replacement therapies do. So, you might not feel it immediately but hang in there because over time they work. The goal is for you to turn on your body’s signal to produce endogenous T before getting it exogenously. Below we have listed the top five natural testosterone boosting supplements to help you get things moving.
D-aspartic acid
A study testing this natural amino acid had a group of 23 men that were given a daily dose of D-aspartate for 12 days, whereas another group of 20 men were given a placebo. Results showed that in both humans and rats, sodium D-aspartate induces an enhancement of LH and testosterone release (Topo, Enza).
Vitamin D
This fat-soluble vitamin is produced in the skin when exposed to sunlight. There was a study that took healthy overweight men undergoing a weight reduction program who participated in a randomized controlled trial and were analyzed for testosterone levels. 165 participants (54 men) completed the trial and participants received either 3,332 IU vitamin D daily for 1 year or placebo. Their results suggest that vitamin D supplementation might increase testosterone levels (Pilz, S.).
Fenugreek
This plant bosts natural testosterone producing powers. One study tested thirty resistance-trained men who were randomly assigned in a double-blind manner to ingest 500 mg of either a placebo or 5-α reductase inhibitor AI once per day for 8 weeks. Participants participated in a 4-d/wk resistance-training program for 8 weeks. The authors concluded that 500 mg of daily AI supplementation significantly affected percent body fat, total testosterone, and bioavailable testosterone compared with a placebo in a double-blind fashion (Wilborn, Colin).
DHEA
This naturally occurring hormone within us has powers to boost T levels and there is much research to prove it. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study was done for 8 middle-aged participants around the age of 49 years old and they found results that demonstrate acute oral DHEA supplementation can elevate free testosterone levels in middle-aged men and prevent it from declining (Liu, Te-Chih).
Ashwagandha
This ancient adaptogenic herb is used to combat stress and anxiety. In an 8-week, randomized, prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study, 57 young male subjects were randomized into treatment and placebo groups. Subjects in the treatment group consumed 300 mg of ashwagandha root extract twice daily, while the control group consumed starch placebos. Compared to the placebo subjects, the group treated with ashwagandha had significantly greater increases in muscle strength on the bench-press exercise. This study reports that ashwagandha supplementation is associated with significant increases in muscle mass and strength (Wankhede, Sachin). Low testosterone is correlated with low muscle mass and decreased strength so this means that if your goals are to gain muscle and strength then Ashwagandha can help.
No matter what kind of stage of life you are in any of these natural Testosterone boosting supplements can help you. Before you go do TRT it might be wise to try these natural options first and then if those don’t seem to work come and see us here at Dynamic Wellness, South Florida’s #1 Anti-Aging Clinic so we can help make 2019 your best year ever!
Resources
Topo, Enza et al. “The role and molecular mechanism of D-aspartic acid in the release and synthesis of LH and testosterone in humans and rats.” Reproductive biology and endocrinology : RB&E vol. 7 120. 27 Oct. 2009, doi:10.1186/1477-7827-7-120
Pilz, S, et al. “Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation on Testosterone Levels in Men.” Hormone and Metabolic Research = Hormon- Und Stoffwechselforschung = Hormones Et Metabolisme, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Mar. 2011, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21154195.
Wilborn, Colin, et al. “Effects of a Purported Aromatase and 5α-Reductase Inhibitor on Hormone Profiles in College-Age Men.” International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Dec. 2010, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21116018.
Liu, Te-Chih, et al. “Effect of Acute DHEA Administration on Free Testosterone in Middle-Aged and Young Men Following High-Intensity Interval Training.” European Journal of Applied Physiology, U.S. National Library of Medicine, July 2013, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23417481.
Wankhede, Sachin, et al. “Examining the Effect of Withania Somnifera Supplementation on Muscle Strength and Recovery: a Randomized Controlled Trial.” Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, BioMed Central, 25 Nov. 2015, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26609282.
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