How to increase testosterone levels naturally

Testosterone is the primary male hormone that’s produced by the testicles and adrenal glands (albeit in smaller amounts).

It’s responsible for the development of secondary sexual characteristics such as facial hair growth, deepened voice and heavier bone structure to name a few. As a result, many men want to know how they can increase testosterone naturally.

Needless to say, having healthy testosterone levels is a vital part of male well-being and overall health.
However, low testosterone is a real problem for men as it can lead to a number of health issues such as:

• The development of type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis and metabolic syndrome (Mederos et al, 2015)
• Elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels (Zmuda et al, 1997)
• Decreased muscle mass and increased body fat percentage (Vermeulen et al, 1999)
• Poor memory, sex life and energy levels (Moncada, 2006)

That’s why it’s recommended to keep your testosterone levels within normal healthy ranges.
And below you’ll find the top 5 natural ways of increasing testosterone so read on!

Being physically active might be a challenge in current times, but it offers a plethora of health benefits, including an increase in testosterone levels.

In fact, scientific data states that physically active men have high levels of anabolic hormones (including testosterone) and healthier semen parameters (Vaamonde et al, 2012).

And this is what other relevant studies show:

• A 2007 article published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology found that after 4 weeks of heavy strength training, the men who participated experienced a significant boost in T levels (Andrada et al, 2006)
• Another study observed the impact of an 8-week resistance training program in untrained individuals and the results showed that men enjoyed an increase in total testosterone (Kraemer et al, 2007)
• A 2012 study on the impact of high-intensity workouts on testosterone came to the conclusion that high-intensity interval exercise results in a bigger increase of free testosterone when compared to steady-state exercise (Hackney et al, 2012)

Not only that, but other research data suggests that overweight men can use aerobic training to boost their T levels to greater effect when compared to a weight loss diet (Kumagai et al. 2016).

Sleep is a vital part of how our bodies function and a good night’s sleep is important for our overall health and wellbeing.

More specifically, studies show that sleep deprivation harms the endocrine system and carbohydrate metabolism, while potentially making age-related disorders even worse (Spiegel et al, 1999).

But here’s what other scientific data reveals:

• An observational study from 2007 shows that older men who slept for 4 hours per night had borderline-low testosterone levels (1Penev, 2007)
• A 2011 study published in JAMA point out that test subjects who slept only 5 hours per night saw a 15% decrease in T (Leproult et al, 2011)
• In 2010, Researchers from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Singapore concluded that sleep duration is directly linked to total testosterone, while also stating that getting enough quality sleep may be used to fight low T (Goh et al, 2010)

With that being said, note that the ideal amount of sleep varies for each person.

But as a general rule of thumb, aim to get at least somewhere between 7 to 10 hours of quality sleep every night.

Although everyone faces stress one way or another, it’s crucial to keep your stress levels down if you want higher testosterone concentrations in your body.

Israeli researchers found that long-term exposure to stress is directly associated with elevated cortisol levels (Melamed et al, 1999).

And studies show that cortisol suppresses testosterone production in the testicles (Cumming et al, 1983).

Or to put it simply – the more cortisol you have in your bloodstream, the less testosterone will be produced by your body.

Other scientific data even shows that elevated cortisol levels can also lead to increased food intake, which leads to an increase in body fat percentage that has a negative effect on T (Torres et al, 2007).

Here’s what you can do to keep your stress and cortisol levels in check:

• Exercise on a regular basis
• Eat a balanced diet consisting of whole foods
• Get enough restful sleep
• Laugh more

But reducing stress and subsequently, cortisol levels aren’t only beneficial to your anabolic hormone profile.

Decreasing repetitive stressful situations in your life can have a positive impact on your overall health.

Despite its name, vitamin D is a hormone that our bodies produce when stimulated by direct skin exposure to sunlight.

Vitamin D has a number of health benefits including a significant improvement in a few risk markers associated with heart disease, according to The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (Zittermann et al, 2009).

This is what studies say about the relation between testosterone and vitamin D:

• A 2011 study courtesy of the Medical University of Graz (Austria, EU) found that healthy overweight men who supplemented with vitamin D3 for 12 months saw a 25% increase in their T levels (Pilz et al, 2011)
• In 2008, Swiss researchers discovered that elderly men who used calcium and vitamin D experienced a boost in testosterone levels along with a lowered risk of falling (Bischoff-Ferrari, 2008)

Keep in mind that vitamin D deficiency is more widespread than you probably think.

A specific examination survey in the US found that 41.6% of the participants were deficient in vitamin D (Forrest et al, 2011).

And if you don’t live in a sunny area, just make sure to supplement with vitamin D to reap all the benefits associated with this hormone.

You’re probably aware of the fact that estrogen is the female hormone and men don’t need a lot of this hormone – they need testosterone.

However, certain estrogen-like chemicals like Bisphenol A (BPA) and parabens (found in plastic) can have a negative effect on your T levels.

Here’s what relevant research on the subject shows:

• A 2010 research found that men who were exposed to BPA chemicals at their workplace suffered from erectile difficulties, decreased satisfaction with their sex life and lowered desire for sex (Li et al, 2010)
• A cross-sectional study from the University of Michigan School of Public Health discovered that phthalates (a sort of a chemical found in plastic products) reduce testosterone levels in both sexes (Meeker & Ferguson, 2014)
• A 2014 study concluded that BPA and phthalates reduce free and total testosterone levels in boys (Ferguson et al, 2014)

These studies explain why BPA and phthalates are considered hormone disruptors.

And it’s worth noting that plastic water bottles contain estrogen-mimicking compounds like BPA, so it’s always better to drink from glass containers.

The best testosterone foods are:

• Pomegranate

Does pomegranate juice increase testosterone?

• Oysters
• Extra-virgin olive oil
• Bananas
• Ginger

All of these foods contain powerful nutrients that either have a direct on indirect positive effect on testosterone levels.

The foods that may lower your testosterone levels are:

• Soy
• Licorice
• Mint
• Trans fats

You can also add alcohol into the mix as it’s proven to reduce T levels, even though it’s not an actual food per se (Vatsalya et al, 2016).

Which supplements increase testosterone levels?

• Vitamin D
• D-Aspartic Acid
• Ashwagandha
• Zinc
• DHEA
• Ginger
• Fenugreek

All of these supplements have been shown in some studies to increase testosterone. However, some of the studies are of poor quality, some have contradictory findings in other studies, and all require further research.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is a hormone produced in the skin naturally when exposed to sunlight.

Does vitamin D help increase testosterone?

Vitamin D is important for testosterone production. If levels are low then this may impact testosterone production.

Wehr et al (2010) demonstrated that low vitamin D levels reduced testosterone production. When the men spent more time in the sun, vitamin D and testosterone levels increased. Vitamin D supplementation is a safe way of increasing levels and is important for people with darker skin, or those who live in countries with less sunlight.

D-Aspartic Acid (DAA)

D-Aspartic Acid is a naturally occurring amino acid that has become well-known for its testosterone boosting properties. It is commonly found in testosterone boosters.

DAA is involved in the production of hormones in the body. One study (Topo et al., 2009) found that it increased levels of luteinising and follicle-stimulating hormone in the body. Luteinising hormone is responsible for signalling to the testicles to produce more testosterone.

However, another study found that it didn’t increase testosterone levels nor did it improve athletic performance (Melville et al., 2017).

Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is a herb that has been used for centuries in India as a treatment for anxiety and erectile dysfunction. Mahdi et al, (2009) found that Ashwagandha boosted testosterone levels and improved fertility. Some have suggested that Ashwagandha reduces cortisol, thus improving testosterone and fertility in men with anxiety or chronic stress.

This herb still needs more research to understand its effects with larger studies.

Zinc

Zinc is a mineral with important functions inside the human body, in men it has been associated with hormone production. As a result it is often used in male testosterone boosting products.

Studies show that a zinc deficiency is linked to low testosterone and fertility levels (Fallah et al., 2018). Supplementing with this mineral may help to improve low testosterone if levels are low.

DHEA

DHEA, also known as Dehydroepiandrosterone, is a hormone that is naturally produced in the adrenal glands. It is a precursor hormone, meaning that it is converted into other hormones in the body. It has been linked to numerous effects, and is the most prevalent precursor in the human body.

Levels of DHEA have been shown to reduce in men as they age, which has made many suggest that it is an important anti-aging supplement.

Some studies have linked it to increased testosterone levels, particularly in older men (Martina et al., 2006). However, these results have not been repeatable in other studies.

Ginger

Ginger is a readily available spice used in Asian cooking. Various studies in rats and humans have shown increases in testosterone and luteinising hormone levels when supplemented in higher quantities (Ghlissi et al., 2013).

There are less human studies into ginger’s impact on testosterone levels, but one did show a 17% average increase in testosterone levels with close to 100% increases in luteinising hormone levels (Mares & Najam 2012).

Fenugreek

Fenugreek is another spice found in Indian cooking and herbal medicine.

A recent 2020 meta analysis of 4 studies concluded that Fenugreek extract has a significant effect on testosterone levels.

Summary – do testosterone pills really work?

Some of the supplements above may help with testosterone production, especially if you have a deficiency in certain minerals and vitamins. Generally, most of the supplements have inconclusive findings. Losing weight and eating well are still the best ways to ensure you have optimale natural testosterone levels.

No, masturbation doesn’t reduce testosterone.

However, abstaining from masturbation may boost your testosterone levels.

A 2003 study published in the Biomedicine journal found that the testosterone levels of the participants peaked at 146% of baseline levels after 7 days of abstinence (Jiang et al, 2003).

So this is a good enough reason to ditch masturbation in favor of increased primary male hormone levels.

Overall, the 5 best natural ways to increase testosterone are:

• Physical exercise
• Enough sleep
• Less stress and cortisol
• Direct sunlight exposure or vitamin D
• No oestrogen-like chemicals

However, if your testosterone levels are too low these methods might not be enough.

If needed, your doctor might prescribe TRT (testosterone replacement therapy) if you suffer from low T conditions such as male hypogonadism.

How can I test my testosterone levels at home?

Optimale provide the best value at-home testosterone blood test on the market. This can be done at home safely with a fingerprick test, or in a clinic or by a nurse with a venous test option.