Testosterone is a hormone. It’s produced in the sex organs – in the testicles in men and in small amounts in women’s ovaries. Testosterone production ramps up during puberty and begins to decrease in mid to later life. The hormone testosterone is also linked to bone and muscle health, fat storage, and red blood cell health. Increasing your testosterone levels can increase libido and energy levels and help treat sexual dysfunction. If your levels of testosterone are low, increasing them may also support changes in body mass – leading to the use of testosterone boosters for ergogenic purposes.

Lifting weights is a key way of increasing your testosterone levels.

Testosterone & Muscle Mass

When it comes to building muscle, testosterone is a key factor. The powerful hormone is the signal for your body to grow and enlarge your muscles, which is the goal which most of us fitness fanatics strive for. Whilst generally you’re stuck with the levels of testosterone your body naturally produces, there are some things you can do naturally to increase your levels of testosterone and thus increase your gains.

Eat Fats

One of the key ways to naturally increase your testosterone levels is by increasing your intake of dietary fats. With that being said, you do need to choose the types of fats you eat wisely. 

Fats such as trans fats are unnatural and should be avoided where you can. 

There are certain foods you should turn to as a source of healthy saturated and unsaturated fats. For example, for saturated fats, you should aim to eat foods such as red meats, eggs and coconut oil and for unsaturated fats you should aim to eat foods such as nuts (almonds etc.), avocado, and oils such as olive oil. 

There have been several different studies that suggest eating more fat can lead to an increase in testosterone levels. 

It’s important to keep track of how much you are eating though, as an increase in fat intake will lead to an increase in cholesterol intake, and thus could lead to related diseases. If your cholesterol levels are already high, then you should consult your doctor before you decide to up your fat intake.

Tip: Some studies show that eating more fat can increase testosterone levels, but stick to healthy fats such as red meat, eggs, healthy oils, nuts and avocado. 

Cut Down On Body Fat

Cut Down On Body Fat

Another key way of boosting your testosterone levels is to cut some body fat. There have been many studies which show that higher levels of body fat can lead to lower testosterone levels. This means it will be easier for you to build muscle at lower body fat percentages. 

However, keep in mind that, in order to reduce your body fat, you will need to eat in a caloric deficit, which could lead to losing some muscle. If you’re trying to increase your testosterone levels with the goal of improving your gains, then going on a long cut in a caloric deficit could be counterproductive. 

Tip: Studies show that higher amounts of body fat are often linked to lower levels of testosterone

Lift Weights

Lifting weights is a key way of increasing your testosterone levels. Studies have shown that the levels are at their highest 48 hours after weight lifting. The harder you train and the more frequently you train, the higher your testosterone levels will be. 

Cut Down On The Booze

You may not want to hear this news, but drinking alcohol can reduce your testosterone levels. Studies have shown that alcohol consumption can reduce them for up to 24 hours.  It can also increase your levels of cortisol and reduce your levels of HGH (human growth hormone). 

Whilst the occasional drink won’t really do you much harm, drinking regularly can have negative effects on your testosterone levels and your overall health. Alcohol also contains a lot of calories (depending on your drink of choice) and if you’re trying to cut these additional calories won’t be helpful. 

Tip: Steer clear of alcohol to prevent a drop in testosterone levels.

Get More Sleep

Get More Sleep

One study has shown that, for people with low testosterone levels, the most important factor in replenishing them could be getting more sleep.

A lack of sleep can affect your hormones in a variety of ways, which in turn affects your body’s level of testosterone. A healthy level of sleep often ranges from 7 to 8 hours. 

Sleep should be prioritised, along with your diet and training, and has many other positive effects on your health. Your body also produces HGH (human growth hormone) when you sleep, which will further help you to build more muscle. 

Tip: A good night’s sleep can help to prevent your testosterone levels from depleting.

Creatine

Studies have shown that consuming creatine can lead to an increase in testosterone from 20-25%. Creatine can be found in red meats, as well as being available in supplement form. The recommended supplement dosage is between 5 and 10g per day.

Do you need to boost your testosterone?

Do you need to boost your testosterone?

Testosterone elevation has been shown to enhance muscle mass, improve strength and reduce body fat. The higher the testosterone levels, the more pronounced these effects become. In healthy men, with testosterone levels in a ‘normal’ range, the evidence for increasing testosterone that still falls within this ‘normal’ scope is currently unclear.

However, there are a number of factors that can affect production and cause your testosterone to fall below what’s considered ‘normal’. In this instance, there are encouraging findings that some supplements may help to revive testosterone to a normal level. This is usually pertinent for aging men as testosterone naturally decreases as you age.

Additionally, overtraining, periods of chronic stress, sleep deprivation, extreme weight loss (especially if following a low-fat diet) and long-term illness can all lower testosterone. Signs that your testosterone may be low are a lack of improvement or loss of strength and muscle mass, increased body fat, lack of vitality, lack of libido and a drop in mood.

In such instances, it’s advisable to seek medical advice. Many supplements may claim to be natural testosterone boosters, but a lot of products just help to maintain normal levels of testosterone instead of actually having a boosting effect. The most powerful testosterone boosters help to raise testosterone levels above normal. 

Five of the most popular testosterone boosters 

1. D-Aspartic Acid

D-Aspartic Acid is an amino acid that’s involved in the synthesis of many different proteins. Research has shown that it is linked to the creation and release of testosterone, leading to the thought that it might be useful to increase testosterone levels

2. Tribulus Terrestris

Tribulus Terrestris is a traditional Chinese medicine treatment for many health conditions. Known as puncture vine, this fruit producing plant has been shown to play a role in managing the many symptoms of low testosterone levels.

3. Ginseng 

Ginseng is a popular herbal supplement used for both mental and physical performance. Research studies have supported the use of Ginseng as an aphrodisiac and effective at treating symptoms of sexual dysfunction.

4. Vitamin D

Vitamin D

Vitamin D, in addition to being crucial for bone health, glucose metabolism, and cell growth, also acts as a signalling molecule for many other processes in the body. Vitamin D has been found to be linked to the synthesis of both estrogen and testosterone, with supporting research that it is crucial for healthy testosterone levels.

5. ZMA

Zinc is a mineral that is used by the body to metabolize many nutrients that are crucial for cell function. Low levels of zinc have been linked to testosterone deficiency, making ZMA a good option to keep your zinc levels optimized.

Take Home Message

Whilst your testosterone levels are generally fixed and genetic, there are some things you can do to increase them. If you follow these tips, you should increase your testosterone levels by a marginal degree. It may not be noticeable, but it will help. Even if it doesn’t, these practices are all healthy in their own right and will improve your life and performance in the gym.

Source: Myprotein.com

27th August 2021