7 Best Natural Testosterone Boosters for Men

Best Natural Testosterone Boosting Supplements for Men

In recent years, the popularity of natural testosterone boosters for men has grown exponentially. As a man, just over 40, working as a Personal Fitness Trainer I’m most definitely interested in finding testosterone booster options to keep my strength, power output and physique on point. My interest in boosting my sex hormones has grown in recent years, to the point that I’m becoming a biohacking pro.

I’m always looking for the right natural supplement, or combinations, commonly referred to as a ‘stack’. The idea with ‘stacking‘ is to use supplements together to create a synergistic effect to achieve exponentially better results than the supplements on their own. When done correctly I can perform as well or better than I did in my 20s.

 

Testosterone and How it Affects Men

Testosterone, aka “Test” is a significant hormone for both females and males, but its vital role is more critical in males. This hormone can contribute to male sexual health and development, fertility, muscle growth, fat loss, and other aspects of health.

Testosterone levels fall in males as they age. There is also an issue about the severe drop in the level of testosterone in the USA. Health factors and lifestyles habits appear to play a role. There’s a huge selection of nutritional  supplements promising to skyrocket testosterone levels, and men everywhere are buying these products.

 

Testosterone is essential for:

  • muscle building
  • energy
  • libido
  • mental clarity
  • sense of well-being
  • confidence
  • sperm development

So, the million dollar question:

Are there ways to boost testosterone naturally without having to resort to exogenous sources?

Read on to find out if there are some effective testosterone raising supplements to give you the test boost you’ve been looking for.

 

 

Symptoms of Low Testosterone in Males

While many men with declining testosterone levels select Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) an even greater amount of males go the ‘natural route’ to boost their testosterone levels naturally with supplements like this list of seven natural testosterone boosting compounds.

Men with declining testosterone levels often experience some or all of these low testosterone symptoms:

  • Reduced sexual drive and desire
  • Difficulty achieving and/or maintaining erection
  • Low semen volume
  • General fatigue
  • Difficulty gaining muscle
  • Difficulty losing body fat
  • Head hair loss
  • Feeling lethargic or depressed

Test boosting supplements aim to boost testosterone levels naturally, as well as increasing results from exercise. Testosterone supplements claim to increase specific sex hormones directly and/or prevent the body from converting testosterone into estrogen.

Here we’ll explore seven of the most widely used and trusted testosterone boosting and natural bodybuilding supplements for men.

Here we’re looking at individual natural compounds, vitamins, herbs, roots etc, Not pre-combined manufactured “stacks” products, often called “T-Boosters”, which we’ll cover in a separate upcoming article.

7 Best Natural Testosterone Boosting Supplements for Men

Let’s take a closer look at some of the most common test boosters on the market. One very important note: there is not one single supplement which works well for everyone. I’ve taken the time to experiment with the supps listed below, but my own results are just that- my own. While one person might respond well to one supplement another person could see little or no results. I did, however, make an effort to look at the most common T-boosters out there. There are additional supplements claiming to raise testosterone but my focus here is the most popular ones which are easily accessible.

It should be noted that in addition to (or in the absence of) testosterone boosting supplements there are many foods which could raise natural testosterone production in males. In a later article I’ll explore those foods and weigh in with my anecdotal experiences.

Pine Pollen as a Natural Testosterone Booster

Pine pollen is getting immense fame among males searching for supplements to maximize their low testosterone levels. Generally consumed in supplement form, the material is prepared from the grains excreted from the pine cone’s male part of tree species such as Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) and Chinese red pine (Pinus massoniana).

Experts recommend that it comprises the hormone testosterone and that consuming its supplements can give an advantage to the males struggling with a low testosterone level.

Many males who consume pine pollen believe that it offers advantages such as:

  • maintained athletic performance
  • higher muscle mass
  • increased sexual function
  • maximized energy
  • libido boost

The association between testosterone and pine pollen has only received a few studies. Scientists who published these papers were only researching the testosterone concentration in the pine pollen. To get information on whether it offers any advantage to men struggling to boost testosterone levels, far more research is required.

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A meager amount of studies have recommended that it may have antioxidant advantages. Additionally, limited research on rats gave a preliminary recommendation that pine pollen may be beneficial in treating chronic inflammatory conditions like arthritis.

A small study published in Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity highlighted the power of pine pollen to fight back the markers of aging. This study’s authors explained that pine pollen might have the ability to slow down the procedure of aging and attenuate age-linked health conditions in humans. The area of investigation is in its early stages, and more studies are required to see if there is any potential in humans.

 

Tongkat Ali for an Increase in Testosterone and Male Fertility

It has the enormous ability to maximize testosterone in males with low levels of this vital sex hormone.
Low testosterone levels can be because of aging, therapy, radiation treatment, some drugs, injury or disease of the testicles, and particular health conditions like chronic alcoholism or obstructive sleep apnea.

The impact of inappropriate testosterone levels involves low libido, erectile dysfunction, and in a specific situation, infertility. As chemicals in Tongkat Ali can maximize low testosterone, it could treat these problems.
A one-month study in 70 older males with low testosterone explained that consuming 100 mg of Tongkat Ali extract daily enhanced the level of this hormone to average values in over 80 % of males.
Research in animals and also limited human studies do suggest Tongkat Ali can increase sexual activity. This supplement can also help with erectile dysfunction.
Ultimately, its supplements improve sperm motility and boost male fertility.

One research on 70 male partners of couples with infertility proved that consuming 100 mg of Tongkat Ali extract daily improved sperm motility and concentration after four months. The treatment aided over 15 % of couples to become pregnant.

Moreover, a 10-week study in 100 men ages 40–55 observed that taking 300 mg of Tongkat Ali extract daily increased sperm volume and motility by an average of 18% and 44%, respectively.
Based on these studies, Tongkat Ali did effectively treat infertility and low test levels in some participants but these studies are too limited to make a definite conclusion.

 

Shilajit Antioxidant and Testosterone Booster

Shilaji, sometimes called shilajeet, is a naturally forming gummy substance found mainly in the Himalayas rocks. It grows over the years from the plant’s slow decomposition. It is typically utilized in ayurvedic natural medicine practices. Shilajit is a safe and natural supplement that can increase testosterone levels and positively influence your overall health and well-being.

One clinical study looked at males between the ages of 40 and 50, half of the males were given a placebo, and half were provided a 200-milligram dose of purified shilajit once a day. At the end of three full months of daily Shilajit these trials determined that the shilajit group had a more than 10% increase in testosterone levels over the placebo participants.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a long-term condition causing intense tiredness or fatigue. It can affect normal daily activities such as work or school. Some experts think that shilajit supplementation greatly reduces symptoms of CFS.

It has been linked to mitochondrial dysfunction. It happens when your cells do not form enough energy. According to research, scientists provided lab rats shilajit for 20 days and then induced CFS by concerning the rats to swim 10 minutes for 20 consecutive days. The outcomes found that it helped minimize the impacts of CFS. Experts think it was the outcome of the shilajit helping to get rid of mitochondrial dysfunction.
According to these results, naturally boosting your body’s mitochondrial function with shilajit supplements may help improve energy levels.

As it is rich in fulvic acid, a powerful antioxidant, it can also protect from free radicals. This can lead to benefits such as:

  • improved metabolic rate
  • longevity
  • improved immunity
  • slower aging

 

Fadogia Agrestis for Testosterone and Sexual Performance

Fagogia Agrestis is a plant from Nigeria and is utilized to make medicines. Individuals consume Fadogia agrestis to treat erectile dysfunction, boost sex drive, increase athletic performance, and improve bodybuilding. It is also used as a cure for malaria.

This supplement has gained momentum in the US recently, popular physiology experts like Andrew Huberman have been pointing out the sexual and muscle building benefits of fadogia agrestis.

Fadogia agrestis is famous in athletes’ and bodybuilders’ life. Because it is a substitute for anabolic steroids, it can maximize sexual behaviors and boost the level of the male sex hormone testosterone. Overall, there is not enough detail to know how Fadogia agrestis might work for any medical condition.It is a typically utilized aphrodisiac herb that, because of one research noting maximizes in testosterone in rats, is currently being investigated for its power as a Testosterone enhancer. There is not much proof on this supplement at this time, and despite its old usage in shops (Mideast and Asian regions), there is recently been no human research.

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In the rat study that has been done, this herb appears to increase testosterone and function as a libido booster potentially. It has been found that while intromission frequency is maximized and latency reduced (typically for aphrodisiacs), latency ejaculation, or the time needed to ejaculate following intromission, appears to be increased; this is not usual for aphrodisiacs.

Fadogia agrestis supplements benefits are mostly anecdotal at this point, no large-scale double blind studies have been done on humans.

Safety is still a concern because of a possible increase in lipid peroxidation linked to the potential damaged cell membrane and toxicity to the kidneys and liver. Further studies are required on fadogia agrestis for testosterone boosting and side effects.

 

D-Aspartic Acid for Hormone Synthesis and Testosterone

It is a natural amino acid that can potentially boost low testosterone levels into a normal range. A few major trials indicate that it works mainly by maximizing follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone levels, the latter that maximizes Leydig cells in the testes to produce more free-testosterone.

One research project highlighted that consuming D-aspartic acid for ten days can promote the formation of luteinizing hormone and the sex hormone testosterone. It can also enhance their transportation around the body.

DAA is also believed to increase sperm quality and formation.

One 80-day study provided D-aspartic acid to males with impaired sperm formation. Sperm count doubled, rising from 7.2 million sperm per mL to 16 million sperm per mL (2).

In a 2012 study, athletic males with high testosterone levels followed a 26-day weight lifting0 routine. Half of them consumed 4 grams of D-aspartic acid daily. All males reported an increase in strength and muscle mass, but no one in the D-aspartic acid group experienced increased testosterone.

A 2016 study also found that D-aspartic acid raised neither testosterone levels nor resistance training outcomes. Moreover, research submitted in 2021 found that consuming 4 grams of this supplement did not impact testosterone levels in males while consuming 6 grams appeared to minimize its levels. Overall, whether D-aspartic acid can help people with low testosterone or impaired sexual function seems inconclusive.

 

Vitamin D3 for Testosterone and Heart Health

Vitamin D is an essential fat-soluble vitamin. Your body creates this vitamin upon exposure to sunlight. Individuals with less exposure to sunlight may have low levels of vitamin D.

In its active form, this vitamin works like a steroid hormone in your body. The professionals say it is for male sexual function.

One study highlighted a link between the deficiency of vitamin D and low testosterone levels. When males spent more time in the sun, their vitamin D and testosterone level are boosted.

In a twelve month study, two groups were selected to take either 3,300 IU of vitamin D daily or a daily placebo. The vitamin D group had an increase in sex hormones of nearly 30%, from 10 nmol/L to 13 nmol/L.

The most natural way to increase vitamin D in the body is through sun exposure and foods rich in vitamin D.

Epicatechin Myostatin Inhibitor Testosterone Builder

Epicatechin is a bioactive element known as flavonol, a plant-based phytochemical that is available in many foods in minor quantities, including black tea and, most importantly, dark chocolates.

While various food sources comprise different quantities of epicatechin, aside from direct supplementation, dark chocolate contains the most epicatechin. The darker the chocolate, the better, with pure cocoa consisting of the highest quantities of all at nearly 4mg per gram.

Epicatechin has been included in many studies that have solved a host of physiological advantages, including:

  • Maximizing muscle growth and strength naturally through a decent pathway
  • Boosting nitric oxide formation for improved vascularity, endurance, and blood flow
  • Maintaining insulin sensitivity, improving blood sugar level, and stimulating muscle protein production
  • Reducing cholesterol levels because of its natural antioxidant features
  • Maintaining heart and brain health

The above listed advantages make epicatechin a notable addition to your testosterone boosting supplement lineup. Whether you are searching for building muscle, burning fat, or increasing your athletic performance, “epi” is a reliable supplement. Because epicatechin it is non-hormonal, it can be utilized by both men and women with no risk of side effects.

People who are old enough to live through the 80’s era of bodybuilding will remember when myostatin first announced to prominence after photographs of some jacked cows were published, highlighting a level of muscularity that was mind blowing.

Myostatin is known as a myokine that limits the level of muscle development. The human body with a low level of myostatin, either because of a defective gene or because they have been treated with elements that suppress formation, shows enormous increases in muscularity. Moreover, the brakes on muscle growth are removed by the inhibition or absence of myostatin.

 

Conclusion about Testosterone Supplements for Men

Testosterone, a vital sex hormone, is critical for several aspects of body composition and sexual health. As mentioned above, there’s a plethora of testosterone boosting supplements in an always expanding market, but additional research is needed to strongly recommend any of them as the best testosterone boosting supplement.

Author

Jed Miller

Certified Master Fitness Trainer, Group Exercise Instructor, Fitness Blogger and all around fitness and health nut. In addition to highly personalized fitness training, JM has worked in health club management as well as corporate wellness.

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