Testosterone is the ” male hormone” and is primarily produced in your testicles. It is responsible for your sex drive and plays an essential role in your sperm production. Muscle mass and fat loss are also affected by your testosterone levels.
After age 30, most men experience a gradual decline in their testosterone levels. Unfortunately, men today are experiencing a significant drop in their testosterone levels, like never before in our history. The average 40 year old man today, has the testosterone levels of a 70 year old man, thirty years ago.
1. Natural solutions to low testosterone
Low testosterone is associated with low sex drive, difficulty achieving erections, low semen volume, fatigue, loss of muscle mass and mood changes. As a result , more and more men turn to their doctors to receive testosterone prescriptions. Unfortunately, they do not realize, that taking testosterone is the same thing, as taking steroids. If you take hormones, your body gradually looses its ability to make those hormones.
Mother nature has provided us many solutions to this problem. There are actually natural ways to help your body to make more testosterone again. Altough testosterone decreases as we age, certain herbs can help increase the blood levels of this hormone.
2. Mucuna Pruriens
Mucuna Pruriens is an aphrodisiac for men and has been used in ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. It is a natural source of L-Dopa. L-Dopa is a precursor of dopamine. Dopamine is the brain chemical that gives us pleasure,focus , motivation and makes us feel good.
Mucuna pruriens stimulates the production of testosterone by stimulating the hypothalamic- pituitary-testicular axis.
Increased dopamine reduces the hormone prolactin. High levels of prolactin act against testosterone and decrease sexual interest in generell. According to a study, mucuna pruriens has been shown to decrease prolactin by 32 %, while increasing sperm cells, luteinizing hormone and testosterone in infertile, as well as, healthy men.
3. Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha, also called indian ginseng, is one of the most powerful adaptogenic herbs on the planet. It is a commonly used herb in ayurvedic medicine to treat adrenal fatigue, high cholesterol and thyroid problems.
Furthermore we should not loose sight of ashwagandhas testosterone boosting properties. Ashwagandha has been shown to stimulate testosterone synthesis, while increasing luteinizing hormone and lowering cortisol. A daily dose of 5 g of ashwagandha for three months has been shown to increase testosterone levels by 40 %.
Ashwagandha offers some tremendous health benefits . Supplementing with ashwagandha will definitely improve your testosterone levels, as well as your overall well being.
4. Shilajit
Shilajit is a dark tar like substance and is naturally found in mountain regions, like the himalayan mountains. It is one of the most important substances in ayurvedic medicine. Shilajit contains at least 85 minerals, along with humic and fulvic acid. It is one of the most nutrient rich substances on earth and has been used for thousand of years to improve mood, energy, concentration and digestive problems.
Shilajit is furthermore packed with testosterone boosting minerals like zinc, magnesium and selenium. Fulvic acid helps your body to absorb these minerals and cleanses the body from chemicals and drugs at the same time.
Many ayurvedic libido medicines combine shilajit and ashwagandha to bring out a powerful testosterone boosting effect.
5. Tongkat Ali
Tongkat ali is the one supplement every man should know about. It is a flowering plat native to indonesia and malaysia. It has a significant effect on mens testosterone levels.
Unlike taking hormones of testosterone, it helps your body to make more testosterone, if your body needs to make it.
It increases desire, performance and energy levels in men. Furthermore it has been shown to have anti estrogenic effects. Estrogen is the anti testosterone hormone.
In todays world, we are chronically exposed to Xenoestrogens. Excess estrogens cause an imbalance in your body and lead to low testosterone levels. According to a study, tongkat ali blocked estrogen more effectively than the estrogenblocker tamoxifen.
Mucuna pruriens, tongkat ali, shilajit and ashwagandha are 4 herbal testosterone boosters every men should consider taking.
Sources:
http://www.webmd.com/men/features/low-testosterone-explained-how-do-you-know-when-levels-are-too-low
http://www.jissn.com/content/10/1/28/abstract
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18973898
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20078516
http://www.garmaonhealth.com/more-muscle-testosterone-calm-with-ashwagandha/
http://www.ergo-log.com/shilajit-fertility-testosterone.html
I spend much of my leisure time reading and writing about natural health and keeping up with the latest naturopathic research.
