High level of testosterone guarantees not only strength growth and athletic body development. It is also an essential component of our well-being and proper functions of the organism.
- What is testosterone?
- What does androgenic mean actually? Why testosterone is androgenic?
- Optimal testosterone level - why is it important?
- Do herbs alone help us increase testosterone?
- How does testosterone boosters work?
- Are testosterone boosters legal?
- Testosterone boosters benefits
- What to combine testosterone boosters with?
- Testosterone booster vs steroids
- Testosterone booster for teenager
- Does low testosterone level force us to take steroids?
What is testosterone?
Testosterone is the main male androgenic hormone responsible for development of male-specific tissues and secondary sexual characteristics, which means:
- Lower body fat than female
- Higher WHR (Waist-to-hip) ratio, rathen than female
- Increased sweat secretion
- Deep voice and larynx (Adam apple's) presence
- Larger body
- Higher muscle synthesis rate and increased strength
- Significant growth of body hair
- Heavier skeletal system
- More square-formed face
Its functions are crucial in well-being and health of male organism. It also prevents osteoporosis.
What does androgenic mean actually? Why testosterone is androgenic?
It's pretty simple. Andr- part of the word, comes from latin, which means "men). -genic part means "origin". So if we would like to translate it in more modern language, androgenic means "originated from/in men". That points clearly, that testosterone is androgenic, because it is produced mainly in men organism. By men testicles to be exact.
Optimal testosterone level - why is it important?
Norms for testosterone level are in the range from 2,3 to 9,8 ng/ml.
Below the norm, we face several ailments, such as:
- sexual dysfunctions (low libido, problems with erection)
- psychological problems (irritation, sleepiness)
- chronic physical fatigue
- increased risk of osteoporosis
- muscle mass loss and increased fatty tissue storage
- impotence
Upper norm limits and above constitute the following benefits:
- high libido
- faster development of muscle mass and strength
- increased self-assessment and increased faith in your own abilities
- condensation of bone structure
- a lot of energy
Do herbs alone help us increase testosterone?
Yes, but the growth will be of trace value, around a few per cent, which will not provide any benefits.
How does testosterone boosters work?
There is some mechanisms of substances included in testosterone boosters, which can boost its level, or improve actions of testosterone without interacting with its level. Those are:
Lowering binding SHBG protein activity
SHBG protein (Sex hormone-binding globulin), as the name points is responsible for binding to hormones inside our body, to decrease its impact in our hormonal system. Testosterone is certainly amongst those molecular targets. SHBG deactivates testosterone compound, thus decreasing its free pool for our body. There are some substances, which can decrease SHBG protein amount and intensivity of actions, in result increasing free testosterone level. Those are for example:
- Boron
- Vitamin D
- Fish Oil / Omega-3
- Magnesium
- Stinging Nettle
Increasing density of androgen receptors
Testosterone has to bind somewhere. Yes, you guessed right, it has to bind to androgen receptors, to show its actions. The optimal amount and density of those increase the rate of testosterone binding, therefore improving it actions. Those substances are:
- Tribulus terrestris
Increasing a rate of hormones to testosterone conversion
Testosterone has to be (originally) biosynthesized in our body. There are plenty of precusors for testosterone, which are called "androstanes". From most important for us, we can distinguish:
- Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)
- Pregnenolone and its derivatives
- Androstenedione
And it's natural that, they have to be converted to testosterone. That is why we can supplement substances, which increases rate of such conversion. From those substances, we can highlight:
- Eurycoma Longifolia Longjack
- Zinc
- Resveratrol
- D-Aspartic Acid (especially in its methylated form - N-Methyl-D-Aspartate)
Decreasing a rate of testosterone aromatisation
Aromatization is process in which testosterone is metabolized to estradiol - estrogenic compound (which isn't very desirable). Some substances decrease a5-reductase level, or effectivness of its actions, which mainly regards changing testosterone to estradiol. Those substances are, amongst others:
- Stinging Nettle
- Arimistane (androsta-3,5-diene-7,17-dione)
- ATD (1,4,6-Androstatriene-3,17-dione)
Increasing a level of testosterone precursors
Another way to increase testosteron level, is to increase amount of its precursors inside our organism. Due to biochemical kinetics it should increase in result a level of testosterone. Here, we should focus on substances mentioned before - DHEA, pregnenolone and androstenedione. They are called prohormones, because after their activation by our metabolism, they act as normal androgenic compounds, like testosterone.
By working in that way, it's worth mentioning L-DOPA (Mucuna Pruriens), which increases dopamine level. Dopamine-related compounds are also precursors to testosterone and androgens, so it should be useful in boosting testosterone level also!
Increasing a level of other androgenic-like substances
We have to be aware, that testosterone, yet main androgen substance, isn't the only one! A kind of side-way to mimic effect of increased testosterone level, is to increase level of other androgenic substances in our body. However, here we are balancing on the line between yet legal prohormones, and anabolic steroids (which line is really blurry in modern supplementation). To help increasing other androgens level in our body, we can use:
- Prohormones (Epistane, 1-Androsterone, 4-Androsterone, 19-Nor-Andro, Epiandrosterone)
- SARMs (Ligandrol, Ostarine, RAD-140)
Are testosterone boosters legal?
Yes, they are, if they doesn't contain steroids. And testosterone boosters at MZ Store have our guarantee that they are legal!
Of course there are some substances, which are illegal in some specific countries, but that is very peculiar, and such topic has to be furtherly discussed.
Testosterone boosters benefits
The main benefit of testosterone boosters is certainly boosting or normalizing testosterone and other androgens level. With that, we can achieve:
- More intensive growth of facial hair
- Reduced gynecomastia
- Higher fat burning rate
- Help with erectile dysfunction
What to combine testosterone boosters with?
Testosterone booster or creatine
Testosterone booster can have synergistic actions with creatine. Creatine, at its own has properties which can increase androgens level (mainly DHT - dihydrotestosterone), so both of them can be used to boost even testosterone level even higher.
Testosterone booster or estrogen blocker
Estrogen blockers are considered testosterone boosters too. Their mechanism of action was covered before in "decreasing rate of aromatisation" section of testosterone boosters action mechanisms.
Testosterone booster or fat burners
Optimal level of testosterone is crucial for burning fat. Its deficencies can contribute to fat deposits over breasts and lower part of abdomen. So, it is worth consider combining testosterone booster and fat burner for optimal weight loss rate.
Testosterone booster or pre-workout
Testosterone is also important for training results. It's responsible for muscles synthesis and strength. So adding one to your pre-workout booster will improve your mood and training results!
Testosterone booster or ZMA
ZMA is also considered as testosterone booster! Zinc, Magnesium and Vitamin B6 preparations, improves testosterone level by Zinc and Magnesium actions (covered before), and Vitamin B6 increases a level of zinc and magnesium bioavailability, so indirectly it also increases testosterone level!
Testosterone booster vs steroids
Steroids have many drawback of their usages. HPTA axis block, skin disorders and hormonal dysfunction are the main ones. On the other hand, testosterone boosters are mainly herbal preparations, which can't really disregulate our organism. So, if you are not feeling prepared for steroids, yet you want to have higher testosterone level, teststosterone boosters are the choice for you!
Testosterone booster for teenager
At the beginning of your young-adult period of life your testosterone level has its peak. The gradual hormonal decline starts to show its actions around thirties and it's the good time to consider testosterone boosters supplementation. If you are teenager, focus more on proper diet and training, and if you are healthy, your testosterone level will be optimal!
Does low testosterone level force us to take steroids?
No, there are the products called testosterone boosters, which are able to considerably increase the hormone on the scale. There only remains the issue of smart supplement choices.
With this aim in mind we decided to designate the way of conscious choices of preparations by the people tracing our blog.
We invite you to read the ranking of best testosterone boosters on the market!
By stimulating testosterone production and reducing cortisol levels, it also supports the process of lean muscle mass growth.
