Testosterone-boosting supplements are widely used in the sports world. It is therefore not surprising when buying sports supplements to see on labels that the relevant food supplements help to increase the testosterone level in your body.
But what exactly is testosterone and why is it used so much by athletes? Answers to those questions and the best natural testosterone-boosting supplements can be found in this article.
What is Testosterone?
Testosterone is a sex hormone that is naturally produced by your own body. Both men and women have this hormone; although men have a higher amount of this in their bodies. They make the hormone in the testes, while in women the hormone is produced in their ovaries.Testosterone has multiple functions, most of which are manifested in male development. For example, the hormone is the first to ensure whether a fertilized embryo develops into a boy or a girl. When no testosterone is present in the embryo, the fetus will remain a girl.
Testosterone also contributes to the development of the secondary sex characteristics of men during puberty. This way they develop a lower voice, they get more hair growth in different places, and it contributes to the growth of the penis and testicles. Once puberty is over, testosterone contributes to the production and maintenance of sperm cells.
However, testosterone does not only play a role in men. For example, it contributes to the libido of both women and men and it affects the sebum production of the body, which can lead to acne in adolescents.
Finally, testosterone also has other functions. It affects the development of the brain, contributes to the growth of skeletal muscles and it can influence the loss of hair in men.
Why would you want to increase your testosterone?
Especially the function of testosterone in the growth of skeletal muscle is the reason why many athletes choose to use testosterone-boosting supplements before, during, or after their workout. Testosterone is not only a hormone but also a steroid. This means that it can significantly promote muscle growth.Plus, testosterone helps speed up your natural metabolism, helping you burn calories and fat faster when you exercise. This is ideal if you want to gain muscle and lose fat at the same time.
If you want to train for a competition or to just reach your ideal weight for your holiday, you can benefit greatly from the use of testosterone-enhancing supplements.
Other reasons to want to increase testosterone
Testosterone is not only used to promote muscle growth. After all, there are still some reasons why someone would want to use extra testosterone. Let's take a closer look at that below.
Low Testosterone Level
Low testosterone can lead to several health problems. If a person produces little testosterone throughout his life, this can make it harder for him or her to get through puberty. Men can also produce less healthy sperm cells if their testosterone level is too low. Also, low testosterone can lead to low self-esteem, weight gain, weaker bones, and low libido.
When someone experiences this a lot, both on a physical and mental level, they can choose to use testosterone-enhancing supplements. The person can also opt for testosterone therapy with the help of a doctor. In addition, a little testosterone is always administered in the body.
To support a transition
If a female person has the idea that she would fit better in a male body, then she can use testosterone-enhancing supplements and medication for that reason. These drugs must be prescribed by a special doctor and contain a lot of testosterone themselves instead of stimulating its production. This is mainly used by trans men and non-binary people.
Natural Testosterone Boosting Supplements
There are several ways to increase your testosterone naturally.One of these methods is through the use of testosterone boosting supplements. This gives your brain the signal to send more production to the testes/ovaries so that more testosterone can be produced. You can read which supplements these are below.
1. D-Aspartic Acid
Aspartic acid is an amino acid that stimulates multiple substances in the body to produce testosterone. This supplement is mainly used by men with low testosterone levels to support them in the production of sperm cells.
A study (in which athletes took aspartic acid) showed that their muscle mass had grown, but their testosterone levels did not appear to change. So more research needs to be done on this.
2. Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is an oriental herb, which is mainly used to reduce stress. Yet it can also have a positive effect on testosterone production because of these properties. Ashwagandha helps to lower cortisol, which is a stress hormone.
When you are under a lot of stress, the production of testosterone is temporarily reduced, so that cortisol can be produced. However, when you no longer suffer from stress, your body can give your testosterone production a boost again.
3. Ginger
In addition to the fact that ginger helps to reduce inflammation and increase resistance, it can also contribute to increasing your testosterone production. When looking for testosterone-boosting supplements, ginger is a natural product to try. You can choose to use fresh ginger products or purchase ginger supplements.
4. Vitamin D
Vitamin D has the additional function that it sometimes functions as a “steroid hormone”. This means that it can promote the production of other steroid hormones, such as testosterone. A 2010 study even found that taking vitamin D supplements can lead to a 20% increase in the testosterone hormone in your body. In addition, vitamin D has the added benefit of helping to maintain your mental health.
5. DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone)
DHEA is produced in the adrenal glands and is a hormone that maintains estrogen and testosterone levels. Today, DHEA is widely used by athletes for its anabolic effects on muscles.
However, DHEA can also be used to increase testosterone; especially in older men, because their bodies are less able to produce this hormone itself.
It is, therefore, a great supplement to use to improve your sports performance, but please note: DHEA is prohibited in competitive sports because of these effects. Therefore, do not use it when you want to participate in a professional competition.
6. Fenugreek
You probably know fenugreek from your kitchen cupboard, but did you know that it can also offer significant benefits in improving your sports performance?
Fenugreek is known for having a positive influence on the libido of humans, but recently it has also been shown that this is because this herb influences the testosterone production of the body.
Therefore, if you want to use testosterone-boosting herbs, you can also choose to use more fenugreek in your meals and drinks.
Effects of Testosterone Boosting Supplements for Men and Women
Taking testosterone-boosting supplements has both its pros and cons. You may now be wondering: is increasing testosterone dangerous?But that is not the case, provided it is handled responsibly. However, testosterone doesn't just happen to the rest of the body without side effects.
Below is a list of the most common effects of testosterone-boosting supplements.
Increased libido
Many people will not view this effect as negative. Testosterone can make you more interested in sex and will also have fewer problems with erectile dysfunction in bed.
Stronger Bones
Testosterone ensures that your bones strengthen and get a higher density. This is a handy side effect, as it prevents you from breaking your bones quickly.
Acne vulgaris and pimples
Just like in puberty, an increased testosterone level can cause your body to produce more sebum, causing you to suffer from pimples or even acne.
Fluid retention
Testosterone in large amounts can ensure that your body will retain more water. In principle, this does little harm, but it can make you look a bit swollen and you will suffer from painful feet more quickly when you stand on them for a long time.
Increased breast mass in men
Men who take a lot of testosterone-boosting supplements may experience increased breast mass. While breast growth is often associated with estrogen, it can also be a side effect of testosterone.
Mood swings
As with any other hormone, testosterone also affects a person's mental stability. When the testosterone level is suddenly increased by using testosterone-enhancing supplements, this can lead to mood swings and more aggressive expressions.
Increasing testosterone in a natural way in summary
Testosterone is a sex hormone that your body produces itself in the testes or the ovaries. It aids in the development of the body and ensures the development of their secondary sex organs in men during puberty.Today, many athletes use testosterone-boosting supplements to increase their muscle mass. It also helps to increase your metabolism, so that you burn fat faster. The most common method of getting more testosterone is through testosterone-boosting supplements.
Some of these supplements can already be found in your kitchen cupboard, others you can buy in health food stores or sports stores. These supplements are natural and have proven effects on the production of testosterone in the body. However, there are always side effects to be aware of when using these testosterone-boosting supplements.
For example, you can suffer from acne, breast growth in men, and mood swings. Nevertheless, there are also some positive side effects, such as strengthening your bones and increasing your libido.
Natural supplements that increase your testosterone are therefore an ideal way to improve your sports performance, but always take the side effects into account. Do you want to make sure that the use of these supplements is safe for you? Then contact your doctor.
