Although a man’s testosterone levels begin to gradually decrease starting around the age of 30, unusually low testosterone can affect many areas of a man’s life. This hypogonadism (better known as low T) can lead to a decrease in sex drive, erectile dysfunction, muscle deterioration, weight gain, and even fatigue.
The symptom of low testosterone can impact your day-to-day routine as well as your relationship with others. When left unchecked, low testosterone and its symptoms can contribute to obesity, diabetes, and even heart disease. Testosterone deficiencies are more common with age—they affect as many as 2 in every 100 men of all ages but over 40% of men over 45. Fortunately, when it comes to improving testosterone levels, changes in lifestyle and natural remedies to boost or supplement natural testosterone can help to increase and maintain your levels. Learn more about low testosterone, then discover how Compounding Pharmacy of America may be able to help you.
What Is Testosterone?
Testosterone is a steroid hormone produced by both men and women that stimulates body hair growth, deepens the voice, and is instrumental in several male secondary sex characteristics throughout life. Thus, it is often associated with masculinity. Testosterone is primarily produced in the testes and ovaries and can influence muscle mass, bone density, sex drive, hair growth and distribution, and reproductive development and growth in both males and females.
For all individuals—but especially men—testosterone plays a vital role in everyday life. When levels decrease beyond their normal rate, the side effects normally attributed to male aging become more apparent. For this reason, a drop in testosterone levels can leave you feeling less than yourself.
Signs and Symptoms of Low T
Fluctuating testosterone levels are normal, especially as the body ages. However, unusual decreases in testosterone production can come to light in a variety of ways.
Some of the most common signs and symptoms of low testosterone include:
- A decrease in energy
- An increase in body fat
- Mood swings
- Lowered sex drive
- Reduced muscle mass
- Difficulty sleeping
- Hot flashes
- Erectile issues
- Hair loss
So, what can you do to combat these symptoms? Everyone’s body is different, and several of the factors that lead to low testosterone can be controlled, while others cannot. For factors that can be controlled, it helps to pay attention to what you do to fuel your body. For factors you can’t control, a natural supplement may provide you the means to feel like yourself once again.
Factors That Lead to Low Testosterone
There are several factors to consider when it comes to determining why you have low levels of testosterone. As mentioned, age is a primary risk factor of lowered testosterone but should not lead to abnormally low T on its own.
Other factors can include:
- High body weight or obesity
- Negative side effects or interactions with medications, especially opioids, steroids, and other hormone therapies
- Type 2 diabetes
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Elevated levels of other hormones, like prolactin and estrogen
- Hypothyroidism
- Hypothalamus disorders
- Pituitary gland disorder
- Injury to the testes
- Infection of the testes
- HIV
- Kidney failure
- Alcohol or substance abuse, especially when it causes cirrhosis of the liver
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI), or previous surgery and radiation for brain disorders
- Chemotherapy
Supplement Natural Testosterone
Supplements may be beneficial for helping promote natural testosterone production. However, when it comes to introducing supplements into your routine, it is important to know the ingredients and how they may influence testosterone levels in the body. Further, it is beneficial to fully understand what you are putting into your body and how your body may react to additional nutrients.
Vitamin D
Many Americans don’t get enough vitamin D. This fat-soluble vitamin is produced when we get a healthy level of exposure to natural sunlight. Vitamin D functions as a steroid hormone in the body, making it an essential ingredient for many male characteristics. As a result, vitamin D may help increase testosterone levels as well as improve sexual function.
The other effects of vitamin D may also help combat depression, lower your risk of type 1 diabetes, enhance strength-building efforts, and even lower the risk of osteoporosis. Vitamin D is crucial to fight off bacteria and infections in the body. It is also instrumental in aiding calcium absorption.
Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is a medicinal herb that is often found in natural testosterone supplements. This plant’s roots and berries have long been used to make medicinal teas, extracts, and capsules. It is considered an adaptogen, which is a plant that helps the body deal with stress. This herb may impact testosterone levels directly and may work indirectly by reducing cortisol (stress hormone) levels. Studies have shown a correlation between ashwagandha use, sperm count and motility. This herb may also help with blood sugar levels, heart health, stress and anxiety, brain function, and several other important body functions.
Zinc
Zinc is beneficial for several chemical processes in your body, including DNA and testosterone production. As a result, a zinc deficiency can have negative effects on blood levels of testosterone. Zinc may help to increase testosterone levels in zinc-deficient men, bridging an important nutritional gap.
Aside from testosterone production, zinc can also help with acne, wound healing, immune function, and inflammation. Zinc helps to fight bacteria and viruses and can help to repair wounds. Several foods are associated with a natural increase in zinc, including poultry, seafood, red meat, nuts, beans, and dairy. Adding these foods into your diet or utilizing zinc supplements can help improve the above aspects of your life.
Fenugreek
This ingredient has been shown to help men experience an increase in sexual interest associated with a rise in testosterone levels. It may help to boost testosterone levels, increase libido, and promote general sexual function. This ingredient may also help with blood sugar levels, diabetes management, heartburn, and appetite control.
Ginger
Ginger is a natural ingredient easily tolerated by most individuals. It helps to increase testosterone production by decreasing oxidative stress that affects the testes. Ginger may also help to increase the luteinizing hormone so instrumental in sperm production and normal testosterone levels. Outside of testosterone production, ginger may be beneficial for regulating blood sugar levels, reducing osteoarthritis symptoms, aiding in weight loss, limiting infections, and reducing high cholesterol.
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)
Dehydroepiandrosterone, or DHEA, is one of the most common ingredients included in natural testosterone supplements and is naturally produced in the body’s adrenal glands. It has been shown to help to boost hormone deficiency levels commonly associated with aging in both men and women. DHEA may also help with regulating body composition and hormone production, as well as reducing instances of depression.
Tribulus Terrestrosin
Tribulus terrestrosin is a natural herb with a long history of use for testosterone supplementation. It may help enhance sexual function and libido. This herb has several additional benefits, including inflammation reduction, pain relief, cholesterol control, and regulation of blood sugar levels.
D-aspartic Acid
D-aspartic acid is a natural ingredient that may help to increase the levels of multiple specific hormones associated with testosterone creation. It has been shown to help improve sperm production as well as sperm quality.
Garlic
Garlic is a natural therapy for several issues, including high blood pressure, heart disease, hardened arteries, and weak immune systems. When it comes to testosterone, several early studies show promise. For example, tests conducted on rats indicated that garlic was a helpful substance shown to boost testosterone. While improvements have been seen in animals, human results continue to vary.
Pine Bark Extract
Pine bark extract contains natural compounds called proanthocyanidins. These extracts have been shown to help lower cholesterol and improve heart health. The resulting improved blood flow may also have the potential to reduce instances of erectile dysfunction.
Saw Palmetto
This natural plant may help to boost libido as well as increase sperm production. Early research shows that it may also improve testosterone levels in the blood.
Lifestyle Changes to Improve Testosterone Production
In addition to natural supplements, there are also many lifestyle changes you can consider that may help support natural testosterone production.
Lifestyle changes to consider along with natural supplements include:
Get Enough Exercise
Regular exercise is the most common lifestyle change suggested to aid in testosterone production. The best type of exercise to use to combat low T involves resistance training or strength training. Your body requires testosterone for muscle growth, so the more you work out your muscular system, the longer exercise-elevated testosterone levels will stick around.
Improve Your Sleep
Another important lifestyle change involves getting enough sleep. Sleep is important so that all bodily functions are operating at optimum levels.
Sleep is a major factor in maintaining your energy levels throughout the day and thus impacts other areas of your wellness.For example, if you are already fatigued, you won’t get as much out of your workout, further hampering testosterone production. Proper sleep can also improve your quality of life, making an increase in libido more likely.
Monitor Your Stress
Monitoring your stress levels is another natural way to maintain or raise your testosterone levels. Stress can impact your ability to complete your day-to-day operations. Stress can also lead to poor choices, such as eating or drinking too much or choosing unhealthy options. While stress can be difficult to manage, there are a few tools and techniques that can be used to keep stress levels in check.
Eat a Healthy Diet
Committing to a healthy diet is a great way to improve your production of testosterone, especially when you consider adding supplements. When you don’t eat healthily, you increase the likelihood of becoming overweight or even obese, raising your risk of experiencing a decrease in sexual drive. There are also many foods that serve as natural sources of some of the vitamins and minerals listed above or naturally help to boost your sex drive. It is important to prioritize healthy food intake as well as adequate water intake.
Reasons to Consider Natural Supplements
When it comes to natural supplements for testosterone, there is still a great deal of ongoing research providing valuable data. While there is an official indication many of the ingredients listed above can help increase testosterone production, the most powerful evidence comes from men just like you. Feedback and reviews of the most effective supplements show that a vast number of men have seen positive changes in their testosterone levels. In addition, there are several other potential benefits to using natural supplements.
These benefits include:
- Building muscle
- Increased sex drive
- Feeling younger
- Increased energy
- Improving mood
- Improving sexual performance
Support Hormonal Health Supplements for Men
HCH Performance Formula is a natural testosterone supplement that promotes natural growth support for men. This health conditioning and growth supplement is a leading name in assisting men with low T levels as well as men who are currently involved in testosterone replacement therapy.
This supplement includes:
- Maca root, a source of vitamins and minerals that increase sperm production and quality
- Tongkat ali, which boosts T-levels and helps treat infertility and relieve stress
- Asian ginseng, which helps to increase blood flow
- Siberian ginseng helps to balance blood pressure and increases stress resistance
- Zinc, which helps increase testosterone and prolactin production
For more information about HCG Performance Formula and many other men’s health supplements, browse through the health products in our shop and be sure to subscribe to our newsletter for discounts and updates on the latest health and wellness trends.
Chief Operating Officer, The Compounding Pharmacy of America
Matthew Poteet, Pharm.D. graduated with Honors from Lee University with a Bachelors of Science in Biological Science. After his undergraduate training, he completed the Doctor of Pharmacy program at Mercer University Southern School of Pharmacy, graduating in 2004. Dr. Poteet has spent much of his pharmacy career on staff at two of the most prestigious academic teaching hospitals in the Southeast; Emory University in Atlanta and Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. At these institutions he received extensive experience and training in sterile products compounding.
He returned home to East Tennessee in 2010, where he has held the position of Pharmacy Director at two sterile products pharmacies in Knoxville. Matthew lives in Knoxville with his wife, Chris. Dr. Poteet is Tennessee’s first Board Certified Anti-Aging Pharmacist by the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine.