Testosterone is a muscle-building hormone that is present in both males and females. Men usually tend to put more mass and look big due to higher levels of testosterone present in their bodies. Females, on the other hand, don’t gain much as the testosterone levels in them are low unless supplemented. In this article, we talk about various testosterone boosters available in the market and we will judge them by their effectiveness.
What Is Testosterone?
Testosterone is a muscle building hormone manufactured inside the human body. The Leydig cells are responsible for the production of testosterone. In males, it is created in the testes and in females, the ovaries, with some smaller amounts are manufactured by the adrenal glands for both sexes.
The Basics of Testosterone
Testosterone is a 19 carbon hormone. Males produce it at the rate of 7mg per day whereas the females produce around 1/15 of their male counterparts. Based on this their presence in the blood levels in males are 10-28 nmol/L and in females it’s 1-2.5 nmol/L.
When testosterone is secreted in the blood stream, 96-98 % gets bound to globulin and albumin, which are proteins. This binding helps in:
- Making testosterone soluble for its transport through the blood.
- Ensures that liver and kidneys do not break up the testosterone.
- Serves as a storage medium to counter fluctuating plasma testosterone levels in the body.
The remaining 2-4 % of testosterone is known as free testosterone which helps in physiological changes in the human body. The free testosterone is the one for which everyone is craving. From bodybuilders to lifters and to athletes, everyone focuses on increasing their free testosterone levels.
Sadly, the free testosterone levels reduce due to various reasons like pollution, age, and health issues.
Testosterone Boosters
Boosting testosterone levels is a hot topic. More free testosterone means more muscle, more libido, more sex drive and a great, active mood.
The free testosterone levels in the body might not be sufficient in creating the desired size and strength so supplementation with testosterone becomes necessary. Herbal supplements can be used to boost testosterone - this category has all naturally derived stuff. Our mother nature has everything we need to stay healthy. They don’t have any big side effects also. We will be elaborating some of the available natural testosterone boosters and how can we utilize them. These supplements inhibit the rate of conversion of Testosterone into estrogen thereby promoting muscles and a greater level of testosterone in the body.
Supplements to Spike T-Levels
The market is full of natural testosterone boosters and below are the ones which are effective and safe. The following are the best-selling ones so that the next time you think about upping T-Levels, you know what you have to shop.
ZMA
ZMA is not any plant or any mineral name. ZMA is a product that contains Vitamin B-6, magnesium aspartate and zinc monomethionine aspartate. It is also used as a sleeping aid as it promotes deep sleep. Furthermore, it’s a testosterone booster also.
Deficiency of magnesium and zinc lowers testosterone levels and it happens frequently. ZMA makes sure that the magnesium and zinc levels don’t fall down hereby ensuring better T-Levels.
A study on two groups was conducted for 7 weeks. One group was supplemented with ZMA whereas the other was not. Both the groups were involved in physical exercises, and after 7 weeks, it was found that the group that was supplementing with ZMA had 30% increase in T-Levels and the other had a fall of 10%.
D-Aspartic Acid
D-Aspartic Acid (DAA) is an amino acid found in the testes. The brain utilizes DAA to communicate with Leydig cells to convert cholesterol into Testosterone. Scientists believe that supplementing with DAA increases the communication between the brain and Leydig cells for better Testosterone formation.
In a study, it was found that supplementing with 3-4 Grams of DAA increases the T-Levels by 40-45%.
DAA is very beneficial for older men whose testosterone levels have declined due to age.
Fenugreek
Fenugreek is a shrub that is cultivated as a vegetable. It’s a part of the Indian diet and is cultivated primarily in India. Fenugreek extract is available as a supplement and is very beneficial in increasing the free T-levels.
A long cycle of supplementation with Fenugreek helps in achieving lean muscle mass and as well as strength.
Tribulus
Tribulus is expected to increase luteinizing hormone which in turn increases T-Levels. Consumption of Tribulus might aid strength and size but it definitely increases the libido!
Tribulus, when mixed with other supplements have shown improvements in T-Levels but there are fewer studies that show effectiveness of Tribulus when consumed alone.
Take-Home Message
Do you know squats and deadlifts naturally increase the T-Levels in the body? The key to higher testosterone is lower body training and other training styles which including resistance. Proper sleep is also important in maintain the T-levels of the body. And yeah - the supplements above can also aid if diet and training are perfect!
Our articles should be used for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be taken as medical advice. If you're concerned, consult a health professional before taking dietary supplements or introducing any major changes to your diet.
