Testosterone is the main hormone associated with muscle mass, strength development, and libido. But these are not the only factors that this hormone affects. Testosterone supplements also promote increased muscle mass, endurance, and athletic performance.
After age 30, most men begin to experience a gradual decline in testosterone . At this age levels can drop precipitously or drop slowly, depending on a wide range of factors, from body composition to stress level.
What are testosterone supplements?
Testosterone supplements are intended to naturally increase testosterone levels . They typically contain micronutrients that men are commonly deficient in, such as zinc , which have been linked in research to healthy testosterone levels. They may also contain adaptogens , a supplement believed to help the body adapt to stress, or ingredients that have been linked to improving sleep. Sleep restriction has been shown to lower testosterone in healthy, young men.
Testosterone supplements can work by increasing testosterone within a normal range or by providing indirect hormonal support. Either way, these supplements are intended to deliver all the benefits that a healthy testosterone level can provide: faster recovery from exercise, bigger and stronger muscles, and increased libido, to name a few.
Are Testosterone Supplements Safe?
Like pre-workout supplements and fat burners, testosterone boosters don’t always have a good reputation.
Before buying testosterone supplements, read the reviews of other users, and choose the product of a company with good ratings . Take only the recommended dose and keep your doctor aware of what you are taking if you have other health problems or have prescription medications.
Don’t expect a testosterone supplement or any other supplement to solve your health or physical problems. What you eat and the exercise you do have a bigger impact on your testosterone levels than you might think.
If you are completely inactive, or if you are completely exhausted from too intense a workout, you will not increase your testosterone levels. Following a proper diet and training is essential for improving your testosterone levels and for your overall health. The extremely low calorie diet prevents testosterone levels from staying at their peak, so under these conditions, testosterone supplements won’t do much for you.
How to take testosterone supplements to make them more effective?
These supplements are recommended for athletes, sportsmen or people who perform intense physical activity and who want to achieve greater results with their training sessions. When it is difficult to get rid of accumulated fat, it is necessary to introduce into the routine compounds that have been created to increase testosterone levels and thus change the structure of the body.
Testosterone supplement formulas may include stimulators of the hormone insulin and phytosterols, which cause more effective transport of fatty acids, glucose, amino acids, and potassium into the cell.
Main Ingredients of Testosterone Supplements
Let’s take a look at the main ingredients that make up protein supplements.
D-aspartic acid
D-AA is a naturally occurring amino acid found in Leydig testicular cells , where it acts as a messenger between the brain and these cells to convert cholesterol to testosterone . In theory, D-AA supplementation should increase testosterone levels by improving the messaging system between the brain and the testes.
D-AA is one of the ingredients that are most effective in increasing testosterone levels, especially in older men whose natural levels have decreased due to the natural course of aging.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D improves sperm quality . Specifically, research has uncovered a close direct correlation between low testosterone and vitamin D deficiency. The study went on to show that when subjects increased their time in the sun to increase their vitamin D levels, their testosterone levels increased by consequence.
Because vitamin D and testosterone levels are low in the average man, vitamin D supplements can only improve testosterone levels when men are also deficient in vitamin D. For example, research in men without vitamin D deficiency shows that after taking vitamin D, testosterone does not increase.
Zinc and / or Magnesium
ZMA is a combination of Zinc Monomethionine Aspartate, Magnesium Aspartate, and Vitamin B-6. It is a recognizable name found on various supplement labels, such as sleeping pills. Most often used as a recovery aid to help the body achieve deeper levels of REM sleep, ZMA increases muscle strength and hormonal profiles.
