Improving Low Testosterone Naturally Whole Health Library
Do testosterone supplements really work?
Testosterone booster injections, a form of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), aim to replenish testosterone levels and restore robust male vitality. However, the variety of options available, each with its potential risks and benefits, can make the choice confusing. In a 2021 study, the effect of zinc on testosterone levels and sexual function was considered for postmenopausal women.
Ashwagandha is an adaptogen that can reduce stress — it’s also a natural testosterone booster. Taking ashwagandha improves serum testosterone levels, subjective sexual function ratings, and DHEA levels. Your body makes dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in your adrenal glands and uses it to make both testosterone and estrogen. A review of dozens of clinical trials showed that DHEA supplements do increase blood testosterone levels in men and women. Researchers have looked into whether it helps with menopause symptoms, erectile dysfunction, and mental and physical signs of aging, but results have been mixed.
Nicotine, cannabis, and amphetamines can also impact fertility. Reducing or eliminating these substances can help you regain healthy hormone levels. Ensuring vitamin D levels are within normal limits—whether with food, sunlight, or supplementation—is vital for overall hormone health. More research is needed to draw robust conclusions on how dairy products affect testosterone production. Research has shown that consuming milk and other dairy products protects against low testosterone levels. A study published in 2021 of middle-aged and elderly men in Taiwan drew a similar conclusion. Fortified milk is also a key source of vitamin D, which is essential for testosterone production.
For more information about the relationship between Hone and the medical practices, click here. HRT helps men with hormone imbalance by replacing deficient hormones, restoring balance and vitality. Research-backed tools, tactics, and techniques to maximize your health, delivered to your inbox every Monday. Natalie Kunsman, M.D., is a board certified physician specializing in functional, anti-aging, and regenerative medicine.
To monitor the risk, “we check their blood every six months.” Using non-injectable forms (like gels or oral testosterone) or reducing the dosage can lower the risk of excess red blood cells. “One of the biggest risks that most men don’t understand is that testosterone therapy causes infertility,” explains Dubin. That’s because when your brain notes that you have enough testosterone in the blood, it turns off the signal sent to your testicles to make more.
One of the most important nutrients that can help boost testosterone levels is vitamin D3. In 2011, the results of a study published in the journal Hormone and Metabolic Research found that vitamin D supplementation boosts testosterone naturally in overweight men by up to 30 percent. Testosterone-boosting supplements and testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) share the same goal but are not comparable treatments. Only TRT contains testosterone; testosterone boosters, on the other hand, intend to indirectly boost testosterone production. Testosterone supplements, or ‘testosterone boosters’, tend to be used when testosterone replacement therapy is not possible.
Testosterone supplementation is also not without risks, and in terms of long-term use, there is much about safety that we do not yet know. Testosterone enhances the flow of blood and oxygen to the heart. In females in perimenopause or postmenopause, as well as males who don’t make enough testosterone, prescription testosterone replacement therapy may help boost energy levels and combat fatigue.
About 20 percent of the testosterone takers—versus only 13 percent of the placebo takers—increased their 6-minute walk distance by at least 164 feet (50 meters). And if you’re stress is stemming from your low testosterone level itself, seeing your doctor might help. And, if you’re new to strength training, don’t be intimidated. Try starting with body weight exercises, which are movements that rely on your own body weight to help build total body strength — no gym membership needed. Testosterone boosters may work; however, the evidence of their effectiveness is mixed. Besides, testosterone has been linked to improved cognitive function, including verbal memory, spatial abilities, etc. Your body’s circadian rhythm essentially resets itself every night and releases chemicals like cortisol, which contribute to the overall hormone balance that can prevent low T levels.
Because testosterone in the testicles is essential for making sperm, sperm production plummets. In the studies that enrolled men who had low testosterone, “there was a positive effect of does testosterone make your pp bigger therapy on mood and vitality,” says Anawalt. “They felt better, like they had more energy.” But in the studies that enrolled men who had testosterone on the lower end of the normal range, taking testosterone didn’t make a difference. In one analysis of 13 studies of roughly 4,300 men with obesity, 43 percent had blood levels of testosterone under 300 ng/dL. When you experience stress, your body releases a hormone called cortisol. This hormone helps your body prepare and respond to this stress, and then your body goes back to normal. Like sleep, stress affects your entire well-being — including your testosterone levels.
Every donation—no matter how small—helps CSPI continue improving food access, removing harmful additives, strengthening food safety, conducting and reviewing research, and reforming food labeling. Dubin has had to deal with some of the fallout from that practice in his clinic. “We were seeing a spike in people who were coming in on testosterone who didn’t know that it caused fertility issues, and they were getting it from direct-to-consumer companies,” he says. Most studies don’t provide enough detail to know exactly when testosterone measurements were taken or how testosterone was measured. Infertility, osteoporosis, and breast growth or breast tenderness can also trigger an evaluation for testosterone deficiency. “Low libido is the most sensitive symptom for detecting low testosterone,” says Dubin.
