Testosterone is a hormone that drives the development of male secondary sex characteristics, such as increased muscle mass and facial hair. It’s also involved in sexual desire and infertility. Without enough testosterone, men become depressed, irritable, tired, or lose interest in sex. Most commonly used drugs for treating these symptoms are synthetic and have many side-effects including liver toxicity, heart problems or stroke risk. For these reasons the Best over the counter testosterone booster may offer a safer alternative to help you maintain healthy levels of T.
Zinc
Zinc is an essential trace element that plays a vital role in many processes in the body, including reproduction and development. Zinc deficiency has been linked to low testosterone levels, and supplementing with zinc has been shown to increase testosterone levels.
Vitamin D3
Low levels of vitamin D3 have also been shown to be associated with low testosterone levels. Studies have even shown that supplementing vitamin D3 can raise free testosterone by up to 25%. In fact, several studies have found that vitamin D can even reduce the symptoms of hypogonadism (low testosterone) in men.
Magnesium
Magnesium is a very important mineral that is involved in hundreds of different metabolic functions in the body. It is essential for testosterone production and therefore a deficiency can lead to low levels of this hormone. A study conducted on rats showed that magnesium supplementation increased testosterone levels when compared to controls.
Strawberry Root Extract
500mg/day strawberry root extract will increase free testosterone by 26% after 90 days. This increase was coupled with an increase in sperm count, improvement in luteinizing hormone (which triggers the release of testosterone from the Leydig cells) and a decrease in prolactin (a nasty hormone that suppresses testosterone synthesis).
Ginger Root
Ginger root has been used for many years to relieve nausea, stomach problems and even as an anticoagulant (helps to prevent blood clotting). More recently it has also been shown to increase testosterone levels. One study found that ginger root increased the body’s production of testosterone by approximately 17%. The researchers noted that the rise in testosterone was greater in men suffering from prostate enlargement.
Tongkat Ali
Tongkat Ali is a flowering vine found in South East Asia and is often used to boost libido in Malaysia. This herb has also been shown to increase free testosterone levels, although it did not affect total testosterone unlike the other herbs on this list.
Fenugreek
Fenugreek is a herb popular in many African countries, where it is usually used to improve the sexual function of men and women. It has also been found to increase testosterone levels in the body. One study found that fenugreek resulted in a rise in free testosterone levels by 26% and an associated increase of muscle mass.
