Are Testosterone Boosters Worth It?
Men naturally experience a decline in testosterone levels as they age. This hormone plays some of the mos essential including, boosting sperm production, sexual desire, muscle mass, and bone density—testosterone peaks at around age 30.
Many men tend to experience less interest in sex, as these levels decline. They might not be able to perform as well as they would like.
A dip in the sexual drive can cause depression and could even damage essential intimate relationships. So if you wonder if testosterone therapy can help boost your sex drive, below is a look at the research.
There are various supplements out there that claim to boost libido while increasing your testosterone. Some are over the counter supplements and prescription substances. Others market themselves as T-boosters, and to some extent, tout themselves as an aphrodisiac.
There are those companies that claim to have created a testosterone pill with the triumvirate of ma-enhancing properties. These include libido-enhancing, T-boosting, and even fertility perks. These supplement brands sometimes attach an additional claim muscle gain too.
For persons mainly interested in increasing their testosterone, these add-ons may seem like the glaze on the cake, making these substances even more marketable. But speaking of actual T boosting, these supplements really work?
How Do Testosterone Boosters Work?
Generally, boosters come packed with ingredients, including Tribulus territris, longjack, D-aspartic acid, fenugreek, and ZMA.
Some of them like long jacks have the least scientific support, while others like D-aspartic acid are known to raise testosterone by 42% when consumed in 3-gram per day- based on a study in Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology.
ZMA, yet another active ingredient in the list, is a combination of Vitamin B6, zinc, and magnesium. They are necessary the optimize testosterone production and provide a better night skip.
The Libido Puzzle
Supplements that claim to be the best libido enhancers contribute to the broad spectrum of testosterone boosters in the market. However, most don’t have any impact on testosterone levels. But why do people, particularly men, go for them like crazy?
Let’s face it. Legitimate, effective testosterone boosters actually exist, only that they are not that exciting. These are not life-changing products as, at most, they tend to raise testosterone levels by 20 to 50 percent.
Now contrast that to a simple-dose steroid that gives a 300% increase minimum. One may not be able to determine whether a supplement is working unless they go for a blood test. But then again, blood tests only present your T levels only for that very moment. This can vary based on a range of different variables.
Which Testosterone Booster Should You Go With
Below is a breakdown of the Most Popular Testosterone Boosters that you can try:
D-Aspartic Acid
D-AA or rather D-Aspartic harled into the limelight after a study found that it could increase testosterone by 42% within 12 days. The sparked fury of D-Aspartic Acid made people report greatly improved libido and increased testicle size.
D-AA is also known to provide enhanced fertility and testosterone when taken by males with infertility issues. However, it has no effect on people and athletes with normal testosterone levels.
Tribulus Terrestris
This is another best-selling T booster and is a perfect example of a supplement that boosts libido, with no testosterone effects. Traditionally and anecdotally, in East Asia, the supplement worked well for males seeking to boost their confidence and libido, though this kind of effect is yet to be confirmed. Anecdotal evidence has that Tribulus can prevent the body from stress, but it has no effects on testosterone levels.
Fenugreek
Fenugreek is actually a testosterone booster. The supplement contains 5-alpha reductase inhibitors that keep testosterone from being turned into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Although they might increase testosterone levels slightly, they may not be effective enough to provide any significant muscle gain.
Maca
Maca is a veggie promoted a “non-hormonal” libido enhancers. The supplement is popular among post-menopause women and younger females who are not willing to use contraceptives. The libido-enhancing properties present in Maca works after prolonged supplementation, not really after a single dose. Further research is needed to establish how Maca influences the body to boost libido non-hormonally.
Magnesium and Zinc
Magnesium and Zinc are both often recommended as testosterone enhancers for athletes. While both are minerals, they are mostly lost from the body through sweat and during workouts. Both supplements help take testosterone levels to a standard baseline. They don’t increase testosterone above normal levels.
Vitamin D
This particular Vitamin stepped into testosterone booster line up after a study found that obese men taking Vitamin D had an increase in T levels. The research is yet o be replicated, but since then, this Vitamin has been gaining popularity among various dietary supplements. Vitamin D supplements may help improve testosterone levels. However, it is more like zinc and magnesium as it takes your testosterone levels back to the normal baseline, but not any higher.
Mucuna Pruriens
This is a plant that’s known to be a source for L-DOPA (the precursor dopamine). See, testosterone is not the only hormone that dictates libido. Precursor dopamine is also a major player, with many others having minor effects. Increased L-DOPA levels lead to increased dopamine levels in the brain, and increased dopamine raises libido.
Tongkat Ali
A Malaysian herb that has anecdotally been applied as an aphrodisiac. Tongkat Ali offers a very mild testosterone effect when taken by infertile people. It does not affect healthy men. The herb is, however, effective at boosting libido. It is not as popular as Tribulus Terestris and Maca since it is more expensive. Nonetheless, it is worth trying as long as you’re looking for an increase in libido, and not really testosterone.
Bottom Line
From the above rundown, it’s quite apparent that testosterone boosters are no magic pills. Some may be somewhat effective if your T levels are already low, but none can significantly elevate your testosterone levels above the normal baseline. Therefore, the basics for maintaining high testosterone levels remains simple and untapped:
- Get enough sleep
- Lift weight
- Pay attention to your diet
- Don’t allow for too much fat accumulation
Now that we’ve shown up to various components surrounding both testosterone-boosting and muscle building supplements, you may be wondering whether all supplements really work. Fortunately, many work, a few don’t. The most important aspect of supplementation is researching and ascertaining what you’re taking in your body. Determine any potential deficiencies, understand your goals, and then find out the supplements that you may want to consider.