Where do men’s strength, energy, and confidence come from?
The answer is testosterone, also known as the “male hormone” – the most important male sex hormone. It is an androgen and androgens stimulate the development of male characteristics crucial to gentlemen spirit, because of its key part in sexual drive, reproductive abilities, bone and muscle mass, fat loss, and overall physical health.
We produce testosterone in the testes (male system) or ovaries (female system), as well as by the adrenal glands. The hormone ensures that bones and muscles stay strong during and after puberty, signals the body to make new blood cells, promotes protein synthesis, and enhances libido in both sexes.
All this has a determinative impact on the mind and self-esteem of a man. So, it’s no surprise why a drop in testosterone levels has many negative effects…
A normal cause for low testosterone is age progression but also stress, bad diet, none or too much physical activity, and general lifestyle lead to feeling less of a man.
Worry not. Lucky for you, there are ways to cope with insufficient testosterone.
Is there a natural way to produce more of the hormone, you ask? YES! HERBS!
All herbs listes below are organic solutions that improve and balance testosterone levels.
Choose herbs instead of supplements or testosterone therapy for these can cause more side effects and harm than good, such as: acne, nausea, liver damage, gynecomastia (enlarged breasts), and even depression.
That’s why the Gentleman Zone did this a list of tips, advice, and lesser-known herbs that can help you increase levels of the power source – testosterone hormone naturally.
Importance of Testosterone to Physical & Mental Wellness of Men
Before we outline the benefits of the herbs on testosterone, let’s see why the hormone is necessary to the male organism and perfect gentleman sex. It is actually a hormone with a diversity of functions, even in females.
A testosterone deficit causes plenty of health and mental concerns, the most important of which is infertility. It should be now clear why you shouldn’t underestimate the low levels of this hormone.
In a case of a testosterone deficiency, one can experience depression, insomnia, low libido, weight gain, and fatigue. After the age of 30, many men experience a slow decline in testosterone levels, putting them at greater risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, impaired sexual function, low mineral density, obesity, diminished physical performance, and reduced muscle mass.
However, testosterone can be increased naturally through proper nutrition, resistance training, and some crucial lifestyle changes.
These are testosterone’s most important roles in a man’s body:
- Reproductive system.
- Libido.
- Bone and muscle mass.
- Fat loss.
- Red blood cells.
Testosterone & the Reproductive System
Thanks to testosterone, during puberty you transform from a teenage boy to an adult man. This means that your prostate, testicles, and penis, will fully develop. The seminal fluid also acquires the components of a mature male. And you become a real man, ready to make a generation.
Testosterone & Libido
As the main sex hormone, testosterone is the one that makes you want to have sex. So, it’s good to maintain healthy t-levels to impress your partner. A curious fact is that the more sex you have, the higher the testosterone levels will be.
Testosterone, Bones & Muscle Mass
Normal T-levels make your bones strong and prevent osteoporosis (bone weakness). The hormone also takes a central role in the physiological development of muscle mass after your workouts.
Testosterone & Fat Loss
Testosterone not only shapes and strengthens you but it reduces excess fat too. This way the risk of serious diseases lowers while you look fit and attractive.
Testosterone & Red Blood Cells
Testosterone activates erythropoietin which is a glycoprotein responsible for red blood cell production. This physiological process supplies your tissues with oxygen. This is one factor that keeps you healthy and contributes to slow aging.
Men Need to Exercise
If testosterone levels go low, then the first thing you should do is resistance training.
Deadlifts, heavy squats, and other weightlifting exercises raise levels of testosterone in any human. A good pre-workout snack and a post-workout steak will definitely launch your testosterone up. Use compound lifts (deadlift, squat, bench press and shoulder press) and go for high workout volume. It is all right to push yourself to failure on the last set, but don’t do it on every set you perform, so don’t overtrain.
Get a Lot of Sunlight
Most people need more Vitamin D that they are getting.
Vitamin D is known as a natural testosterone booster, and a great way of getting some is by socializing with Mother Nature – outside, absorbing the sun rays.
Also, you can get some through your multivitamin drinks (which, again, is not sufficient if you’re a training athlete). A daily intake of 800-1000 mg of Vitamin D is enough to increase overall strength markers and testosterone levels.
Eat Testosterone Boosting Foods
You are what you eat, aren’t you?
Luckily, problems with low testosterone levels can be solved by consuming various superfoods that are known to promote the secretion of testosterone.
Spring salad and spinach, broccoli, avocado, olives and olive oil, grapes, garlic, eggs, tuna, and meat (particularly beef) are all known as testosterone-boosting foods.
Any food rich in magnesium, zinc, cholesterol and good fats, and other compounds that help your testosterone-producing Leydig cells to do their job better.
Manage Stress Right
You can do it by mastering various breathing techniques for relaxation, short meditation, or simply getting out for a walk when feeling stressed.
Cortisol (stress hormone) levels go up when we feel stressed because of the primal fight-or-flight response – our bodies are getting prepared to handle the stressful situation. When cortisol levels are high, there is a decrease in testosterone levels.
Find your favorite stress management technique and practice it regularly.
What NOT to Do
- Never skip sleep;
- Avoid testosterone-boosting supplements in favor of herbs (listed below);
- Avoid sugar.
Never Skip Sleep
There are different benefits of a good night’s sleep, but sometimes it just feels hard to get those couple of extra hours in bed. Besides causing a decrease in testosterone levels, sleep deprivation can have various consequences on our bodies, such as nausea, increased heart disease risk, diabetes, depression, hallucinations and impaired brain activity, cognitive dysfunction, and weak immune response.
According to a study conducted by the National University of Singapore, men who slept longer than 8 hours in a 24-hour period had 60% more total testosterone than those who slept less than 4 hours.
Avoid Testosterone-boosting Supplements & Favor Herbs
Avoid everything with the word “steroid” printed on it. It will keep you awake at night and wear you out after a workout, even though you might feel strong and great during your training.
Save yourself some money and buy testosterone-boosting superfoods & herbs.
If you want to use supplementation, then opt for something safe, such as supplements that don’t affect your hormone levels, and only provide the extra energy for training strength.
Avoid Sugar
According to research results presented at the Endocrine Society’s 91st Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., testosterone levels may be transiently lower after eating sugar.
The results show that regardless of whether men had normal glucose tolerance, diabetes or prediabetes, blood levels of testosterone decreases by as much as 25%. It takes a pain to overcome sugar carvings but gains are woth it!
Herbs That Increase Testosterone
You should know that boosting your testosterone levels takes time and requires patience.
But the following herbs are capable to create higher t-levels in a quick and natural way.
Tribulus Terrestris (Puncturevine / Devil’s Weed / Goat’s Head / Bindi)
This tropical herb is widely used in folk medicine. Tribulus Terrestris stimulates the Lydig cells in the testicle to produce more testosterone and improve sperm concentrations. This results in increased sex drive and fertilizing abilities. The herb is also popular with athletes and sportsmen because of its benefits on muscle mass and strength.
You can drink tea or take capsules that contain extracts from the fruits, leaves, or the root of the herb. Take no more than 1,5 mg per day because bigger amounts cause unpredictable consequences.
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Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma Longifolia / Malaysian Ginseng)
This powerful aphrodisiac increases testosterone by releasing it from a Sex Hormone Binding Globulin – a protein that when bound to the hormone blocks its function. The Asian herb has similar qualities to the previous one – great for libido, fertility and good shape. But there’s more. It has positive effects on aging, boosts energy, mood, and concentration. The root is also useful to reduce depression, fatigue, and high blood pressure.
The recommended dose per day is 600mg.
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Ashwagandha (Withania Somnifera / Indian Ginseng /Winter Cherry)
Ashwagandha is an ancient medicinal herb. It is referred to as “the smell of the horse” because of its specific scent and ability to make you stronger.
Taking the herb for a particular period of time results in increased sperm motility, counts, and ejaculate volume. That’s why the Indian Ginseng is the most effective herb for infertility treatment.
Let’s not forget about the beneficial influence of the herb on your muscles. It makes them tough and resistant.
A great thing about Ashwagandha is that it improves the overall health, including the immune system, blood sugar, tension, memory, etc.
The advised intake is 400-500mg. once or twice a day.
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Maca Root (Peruvian Ginseng)
This is the third listed ginseng after the Malaysian and the Indian ones. And with no difference to them, this herb is proven to increase testosterone and improve sexual performance. It grows in the Andes in Peru where it’s used as a natural way to brace up a man and make him capable to impregnate a woman.
Malaysian Ginseng (Eurycoma longifolia)
Popular as Tongkat Ali, E. longifolia comes from Southeast Asia plants, known to help help with:
- Malaria;
- Diabet;
- Microbs;
- Fevers;
- Aphrodisiac.
Studies:
- A study done by M C Solomon, N Erasmus, and R R Henkel in 2014 states that the herb compound boosts testosterone and betters sperm health in rats.
- A study done by M I B M Tambi, M K Imran, and R R Henkel in 2012 states that the herb compound aids serum testosterone in males wiath a diognosis of hypogonadism.
- A study done by Ralf R Henkel, Ruxiang Wang, Susan H Bassett, Tao Chen, Na Liu, Ying Zhu, and Mohd Ismail Tambi in 2014, states that the herb compound helps raise total and free testosterone levels along with better muscle strength in both males and females.
- A study done by Shawn M Talbott, Julie A Talbott, Annie George, and Mike Pugh addresses observations on mood in males and females that affect anger, anxiety, stress, and confusion.
- One study done by Nadia Mohd Effendy, Norazlina Mohamed, Norliza Muhammad, Isa Naina Mohamad, and Ahmad Nazrun Shuid in 2012 note that the herb compound can help with osteoporosis.
Consult with your doctor on dosage.
Yohimbe (Yohimbine / Pausinystalia Yohimbe)
The herb is a widely used African aphrodisiac. According to studies, it has the same effects on a guy as the well-known Viagra. But Sildenafil (Viagra) as a medicine, has its side effects.
Тransform into a sex god without doing any harm to your organism by choosing Yohimbe. It’s the best herb that increases sexual desires in men.
Horny Goat Weed (Yin Yang Hou / Epimedium)
This gentle plant with yellow flowers and a funny name comes from Asia. The herb is a testosterone mimetic – it has the same function as the hormone. It could be said that when taking it, you double your testosterone activity.
Horny Goat Weed also stimulates the blood flow to the penis, thus helps erection. The herb also makes the recovery between erections quicker and prepares you for the next round.
Now you understand where its name comes from.
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Rhodiola Rosea (Rosavin / Golden Root / Rose Rot)
Rhodiola Rosea is a beautiful plant found across the earth. It’s a herb with an adaptogenic activity. It means that it helps you resist a physiological disturbance. This is how the herb fights low testosterone levels.
Rhodiola Rosea also keeps normal amounts of the hormone after extreme workouts. As mentioned earlier these cause a testosterone drop.
Another great side of the herb is it protects testosterone from oxidative stress, thanks to its antioxidant activity.
A gentleman’s enhanced emotional state is a bonus result from the activity of the herb in the organism. And testosterone is high in men who don’t struggle with depression.
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Moringa Oleifera (Drumstick Tree)
Thriving in the Himalayas, this herb acts as a superfood because of the numerous health profits of its seeds. One of them is the rise in testosterone levels and improved libido. It’s found to be most helpful in older men. So this is one more herbal aphrodisiac to use instead of Viagra.
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Passiflora Incarnate (Purple Passionflower / Chrysin)
This plant is as powerful as it’s beautiful. In male organisms, the herb has the activity of an aromatase inhibitor. Sound’s funky but we’ll explain.
Aromatase is an enzyme that converts testosterone in estrogen and it decreases its levels. So, by inhibiting it, Passiflora Incarnate manages insufficient amounts of the hormone.
If you are a fellow in your 50s-60s, or older, and feel like the age has started taking its toll, choose Passionflower herb. It will make you feel a young and active man again.
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Saw Palmetto (Serenoa Repens)
Saw Palmetto is a small palm tree-like plant that grows in the Southeastern United States. This plant benefits your testosterone levels by acting similar to the herb above. Its target is another enzyme.
Saw Palmetto slows down 5-alpha reductase and thus blocks it from decreasing the t-levels. The herb has impressive effects on sexual performance, sperm count, and reproductive health.
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Pine Bark Extract (Pinus pinaster / Pycnogenol)
The extract of pine bark known as Pycnogenol is a very effective natural substance to treat erectile dysfunction. It contains Proanthocyanidins that increase testosterone and improve circulation which is crucial to the erection.
Known effects:
- Boosted t-levels affect muscles;
- Lowers cholesterol levels;
- Improves cardiovascular health;
- Enhances blood flow;
- Could ease ED symptomatic.
Avoid usage of cases with:
- Undergoing chemotherapy;
- Taking anticoagulants;
- Adminestering immunosuppressive medications.
Studies
- According to a study carried by Andrea Ledda, Gianni Belcaro, Maria R Cesarone, Mark Dugall, and Frank Schönlau in 2010, males under 6-month treatment with a mix from L-arginine aspartate and pine bark extract showed promising results with ED symptomatic and general testosterone levels, when compared to a test group on placebo.
- According to another study carried by Hiromitsu Aoki, Junji Nagao, Taro Ueda, Jeffry M Strong, Frank Schonlau, Song Yu-Jing, Yan Lu, and Shigeo Horie in 2012, males undergoing an 2-month treatment with a mix from L-arginine aspartate and Pycnogenol also showed promising results with higher testosterone levels measured in saliva.
Use Pine Bark Extract to be strong and long-running in both bed and in the gym.
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Creeping Butea (Butea Superba)
This plant has exotic flame-like flowers and is another herbal remedy to stimulate your testosterone production. Even in low doses, the herb is more than enough to contribute to a man’s sexual enhancement and energy.
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Akarkara Root (Anacyclus Pyrethrum)
Akarkara root is another great example of aphrodisiacs on the list. It’s widely used in Indian culture because of its remarkable abilities to boost male libido.
An alkalamide in the Arkarkara root triggers the hypothalamus to release hormones that stimulate testosterone production. Thanks to this, the herb is great to help you feel like a real man.
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Shilajit (Mumijo / Mineral Wax)
This weird and sticky substance is a traditional Indian herb with plenty of uses. One of them is its influence on a man’s t-levels. Results from studies show that Shilajit extract has significant effects on floating testosterone.
Basella Alba (Indian / Malabar Spinach)
Combined with hibiscus, Basella Alba is a great choice to treat infertility. It has striking effects on the amount of testosterone in your organism and enhances your sexual and fertilizing powers.
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Garlic (Allium Sativum)
Well, garlic also has its place on this list. It’s the easiest to get herb that boosts testosterone. When you cook, use a clove or two more than usual. This is more than enough to increase and balance the hormone, plus it prevents quite a lot of diseases.
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Ginger (Zingiber Officinale)
Alongside garlic, ginger is another testosterone booster that you can buy from the grocery store at the corner. Isn’t it great?
This powerful (almost magical) natural gift has numerous benefits for your body. It will also contribute to high levels of the sex hormone. Ginger makes you a stronger and healthier man.
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Turkesterone
This newly-recommended supplement is said to increase testosterone, stamina, and overall performance, promising result similar to anabolic steroids, but lacking the downsides.
It is the primary bioactive compound in a plant called Ajuga Turkestanica as well as in some insect species.
Being part of the Ecdysterones compound family, Turkestorone it’s nothing new, but it gained popularity in recent years, now being legally-sold across the world.
Boost Testosterone Naturally – Remarks
The decision on how you will raise your testosterone level is personal. In case you are not a competing athlete, and your number one goal is to simply feel your best, we suggest you choose a natural way of boosting testosterone – make healthy lifestyle changes, eat right, exercise regularly, and don’t forget to manage your stress.
Remember to always consult with a doctor about which herb to choose because your hormone levels are important and you shouldn’t play with them.
But, of course, this shouldn’t stop you from letting Nature takes its course. With the right herb, you will have and maintain the needed testosterone levels. And sufficient testosterone results in a powerful and confident gentleman.
