Many over-the-counter pills and powders make similar promises: increasing testosterone production in the body, and as a result creating greater muscle mass, improved athletic performance, and a higher libido. But the real question is: do these supplements do what they say they do? In order to answer this question, the team at Reviews.com spent weeks reviewing scientific clinical trials and studies, consulting with doctors, fitness and nutrition experts, and professors. They put over 200 testosterone booster supplement formulas to the test. Ultimately, here’s what they found:
1. The T-boost industry is full of false information
Clinical trials found that most supplements do not increase testosterone, and in the ones that do, the increases were modest and not enough to actually improve exercise performance. Your body regulates its own levels of testosterone so anything that boosts your body’s natural production of it will not be large or dramatic.
2. “Low T” can be a normal sign of aging — but can also be a sign of a more serious medical condition
Testosterone levels gradually decrease from age 30 or so onwards, but this decline can be sped up by medical conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and prostate cancer. Because there are many potential root causes, it’s difficult to determine what in particular is creating the decrease in testosterone without conducting a blood test.
3. There are ways to increase testosterone naturally
Exercising, and specifically, resistance training, is a great way to temporarily boost testosterone. Keep in mind, however, that overtraining can have the opposite effect! In addition to exercise, lowering both mental and physical stress can reduce your body’s production of cortisol, which can naturally increase testosterone, energy and libido. A few ways to accomplish this include getting enough sleep and keeping external stressors to a minimum.
4. Steroids are not a better alternative
While anabolic steroids do actually boost testosterone levels in the blood, they are illegal without a doctor’s prescription, and it is illegal for doctors to prescribe them for the purpose of improving athletic performance. They have many dangerous side effects, including high blood pressure, tumors, liver disease, and heart attacks.
5. Before you take a T-booster…
Consult with your doctor — testosterone boosters aren’t regulated by the FDA so you may be ingesting things without understanding their full effect on your body.
How Reviews.com Found the Safest and Most Effective Formula:
- they cut any formulas containing harmful, counterproductive, or banned substances. Caffeine powder, pro-hormone producers, and growth factors were among the substances flagged as potentially dangerous and therefore any formulas containing them were omitted.
- they cut all proprietary blends. Word to the wise: proprietary blends can allow manufacturers to add cheap, unsafe, or ineffective fillers without having to list them outright in ingredient labels.
- they ensured that any formula they recommended contained the aminoacid D-aspartic acid (DAA) and the herb fenugreek, the only two agents that had clinical support for increased testosterone in trials.
For more information on the study Reviews.com conducted, as well as their findings and recommendations, check out their complete guide: http://www.reviews.com/testosterone-booster/
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