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Top Rated Supplements to Increase Testosterone

Published by Isabella on April 8, 2021

What is Testosterone, exactly

Testosterone is the primary sex hormone in men, playing a key role in male physical development throughout
childhood and puberty. During adulthood, testosterone contributes to reproductive health, muscle mass and
bone density in both males and females, making this hormone more essential to overall health than you
might think.
Classed as an anabolic steroid, testosterone promotes muscle growth, increased bone density and the development of masculine traits such as facial hair and a deeper voice. In healthy adults, the body produces
enough testosterone to support physical development, though a small minority of people will suffer from testosterone deficiencies, requiring supplements to increase testosterone.

What are Average Testosterone levels?

According to the University of Rochester Medical Center, normal male T levels range between 280-1,100 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dl) and 15-70 ng/dl for females in adulthood. However, testosterone levels can vary over time, especially after the age of 30 when men and women both see decreases in their T levels each year.

Furthermore, numerous studies have shown that average testosterone levels have been consistently decreasing over the last 30 years, despite the massive market share of supplements to boost testosterone. As reported by Reuters, average testosterone levels dropped by 1% a year according to a study by the New England Research Institutes conducted between 1987 and 2004.

These findings showed that an average 65-year-old man in 2002 would have 15% less testosterone than a comparable 65-year-old in 1987 and this trend shows no sign of stopping, unfortunately.

Symptoms of Low Testosterone

While clinically diagnosed cases of testosterone deficiency (often referred to as hypogonadism) are rare, you may be suffering the symptoms of low T levels without realising it. Furthermore, many of the supplements to increase testosterone mentioned in this article have wide-ranging health benefits, so don’t wait until you have a doctor’s note to consider your health…
According to the American Urological Association, men with testosterone levels lower than 300 ng/dl (which is within the average range set out by the Rochester Medical Center) may be diagnosed with low testosterone. The symptoms of low testosterone are often subtle, but we’ve listed the most common signs
that your T levels aren’t at healthy levels for men and women below:

Symptoms of Low Testosterone in Men:

Gynecomastia or “man boobs”
Low sex drive
Erectile Dysfunction
Low sperm count and infertility
Changes in the testicles – including uneven growth or shrinkage
Weak bones
Irritability
Trouble concentrating
Loss of muscle mass
Hair loss
Depression
Fatigue
Anemia

Symptoms of low testosterone in women include:

Fertility problems
Missed or irregular menstrual periods
Osteoporosis
Low sex drive
Changes in breast tissue
Vaginal dryness

If you’ve noticed any of these symptoms, you may be suffering from low testosterone levels, though we recommend consulting a doctor before starting on a serious regime of supplements to increase testosterone levels.

What causes low Testosterone?

Aside from clinically diagnosed testosterone deficiencies (commonly caused by genetic disorders or physical trauma), the main causes of low or decreased T are due to diet and lifestyle. It’s a widely accepted truth that increasing consumption of processed foods and sedentary lifestyles are playing havoc with our health in the Western world, including hormone levels.

Whether or not you’re taking supplements to increase testosterone levels, your hormonal balance could be being swayed by your lifestyle and/or diet. The following factors are linked to low or decreased testosterone levels, so you should be aware of their effects on your journey to good health:

Lack of Exercise

Numerous studies have proven that people who are physically active have better testosterone levels than people leading more sedentary lives, across men and women and even in later life. Therefore, it’s fair to assume that low testosterone levels may be caused by a lack of exercise or sudden decrease in your exercise regime, due to an injury for example.

The link between exercise is often called a virtuous cycle, as exercise increases testosterone levels which help you exercise for longer and build more muscle. For these reasons, we believe that regular exercise is far more important than supplements to increase testosterone and essential for long-term health.

Oestrogen and Endocrine Disruptors in your Tap Water

The Environmental Protection Agency has raised concerns over the presence of man-made chemicals in tap water, including pharmaceuticals and synthetic hormones. Many of these chemicals have devastating effects on fertility in aquatic animals, so their presence in tap water (even in small quantities) should raise alarm bells for anyone who values their health and fertility.
Unlike oral contraceptives, which are
commonly cited as a cause for raising estrogen levels in US wastewater, there is little to no concern over T levels from supplements to increase testosterone. A noteworthy hazard to public health may come from pesticides such as Atrazine in wastewater, which devastates male frog populations, castrating 75% and turning 10% into females in a Californian study, vindicating Infowars presenter Alex Jones, who infamously claimed that:

“[they are] puttin’ chemicals in the water that turn the frigging frogs gay!”

Food that Causes Low Testosterone Levels

Phytoestrogens, these naturally occurring compounds are chemically similar to the
female sex hormone, oestrogen and can be found in a wide variety of plants,
especially soy, hops and flaxseed. Like the evil counterpart of supplements to
increase testosterone, phytoestrogen compounds lower testosterone levels, reduce
male fertility and were even shown to shrink penis sizes in animal studies.

Soy extracts (and phytoestrogens) are Everywhere:

Unfortunately, reducing your phytoestrogen intake is much harder than ditching
tofu, as soy extracts are used in a staggeringly wide array of foods: According to
industry sources,

the most commonly consumed cooking oil in the US is soybean oil
– typically labelled as vegetable oil – and soy extracts are used in everything from
bread to salad dressings.

Be Happy, avoid Hoppy Beers:

Beer is infamous for causing weight gain (hence ‘beer belly’) but it might give you
‘beer boobs’ as well, due to the high phytoestrogen levels in hops. Widely used in
beer for their bitter taste and preservative qualities, hops are known to cause
menstrual disruptions in female farmers who merely harvest these plants, never
mind those who drink hop juice by the gallon.

Best Supplements to Increase Testosterone

Now that you know the warning signs of low testosterone levels and the factors that are killing your natural hormonal balance, it’s time to fight back. While exercising more and cutting out sources of phytoestrogen is admirable, there’s no shame in getting a little chemical help when trying to restore your natural hormonal balance.

There are a wide variety of supplements to increase testosterone that put machismo before scientific rigour, which is why we’ve included links to scientific studies that support our claims. Without further ado, here are
some of the best testosterone boosting supplements out there which will increase your T levels directly and/or prevent your body from converting testosterone into oestrogen:

D-Aspartic Acid

A naturally-occurring amino acid that can be found in diary, meat and eggs, D-Aspartic acid increases levels of testosterone and Leydig cells (which produce T). Similarly, it may also benefit sperm quality and production, as it doubled the sperm count of men over 90 days in a 2012 study.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin produced by your body when exposed to sunlight, though many people don’t get enough sun to maintain optimum Vitamin D levels. Several studies have shown that increasing Vitamin D levels also increases testosterone and sperm quality, so make sure to top-up your vitamin D levels with supplements to increase testosterone if you don’t get enough sun.

Tribulus Terrestris

Also known as caltrop and goat’s head, Tribulus Terrestris is a small leafy plant that has been used in Indian and Chinese traditional medicine for its effects on sexual health. Although its effect on T levels in humans are unclear, Tribulus Terrestris can significantly improve erectile function and female sexual dysfunction, making it a desirable supplement for men and women.

Fenugreek

Another popular herbal supplement, fenugreek is commonly used in Indian cuisine and traditional medicine, as it has been shown to benefit libido and testosterone. A 2011 study showed that using fenugreek improves muscle gain from weightlifting, and a 2020 study corroborated this, showing that fenugreek extract was an effective supplements to increase testosterone.

Ginger

An extremely common household spice, ginger is revered for its culinary and medicinal uses, notably as an anti-inflammatory herb and ingredient in Asian cuisine. Studies have shown a clear link between ginger intake, sexual health and testosterone levels in both human and animal groups, so ginger could give you the vim and vigour you’re missing out on.

DHEA

Dehydroepiandrosterone (or DHEA for short) is a hormone primarily produce by your adrenal glands which helps to manage testosterone and oestrogen levels. Like testosterone, DHEA is an anabolic steroid and studies have found that DHEA can boost T levels, especially in older men, making this one of the more desirable supplements to increase testosterone for older men.

Zinc

Zinc is an essential mineral (meaning your body does not produce it) that contributes to more than 100 chemical processes in your body, including the production of testosterone. Studies have shown that low zinc levels may damage men’s sexual health and fertility, while taking zinc supplements can benefit men with low T levels and/or infertility.

Ashwagandha

Sometimes called Indian ginseng or winter cherry, ashwagandha was traditionally used in ancient Indian medicine, but recent studies have affirmed its medicinal benefits. Classed as an adaptogen, ashwagandha helps your body handle stress and anxiety whilst increasing testosterone levels, male fertility and exercise performance, making it one of the more versatile supplements to increase testosterone.

In Conclusion

Safe to eat
Sure to spice up a diet
Can help with weightless

Testosterone is essential for the health of men and women and while diagnosed T deficiencies are rare, average levels are falling in the US and you may already be suffering low T levels. To combat this and improve your general health, we recommend regular physical activity – including weightlifting and/or high intensity activities – and a balanced diet, though this may not be enough to overcome reduced T levels.

For people suffering from symptoms of Low T, we recommend incorporating one of the safe, natural supplements to increase testosterone into your normal routine. Ginger, for example, is common, relatively cheap, and delicious, with very few documented side effects, so it could be easier than you think to supplement your natural testosterone levels.

To learn more about the wide range of natural supplements on the market and how to improve your health without fad diets or crazy herbs, why not read one of our other blogs?

Isabella

My name is Isabella Archie, and I'm an experienced health consultant and author. With a Doctor of Medicine degree from Eastern Virginia Medical School and 10 years in the field, I have developed customized health plans for individuals, groups, and organizations. I've written numerous articles and books on various health topics, with a mission to empower people to take control of their health through education, motivation, and support. My ultimate goal is to help people lead healthier and happier lives.