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References........................................................................................................................ 56
The human body has to be looked at as a symphony. There are many key elements, many
instruments and notes at play, each one having to be equally appreciated, to make the most beautiful
music.
Trying to pinpoint a singular cause of lower testosterone levels or find that magic bullet to raise
natural testosterone production is like trying to compose a full symphony with only a single violin. It
can certainly be done, but you’ll never maximize your potential.
This book was written with that in mind. Consider it a good starting point into fulfilling your natural
testosterone production potential.
While a truly comprehensive book on testosterone production could easily span 400 or more pages,
most men simply don’t have that much time or interest in reading this much scientific fact. We want
the cliff notes. Hit me with the most important points and let me get on my way.
My goal, was to give you those cliff notes so you could start maximize
your natural testosterone today. I have taken hundreds of hours of
research and condensed it down to a simple to read and understand
guidebook, giving you only the most critical bits of relevant information
so you can make the best decisions possible.
To Your Health!
Robert Clark
Lead Product Developer
Alpha Wolf Nutrition Robert Clark
Note: Not counted in vegetable oils is cold pressed extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, avocado oil,
and palm oil which may have many health benefits including increasing testosterone levels.
The extraction of vegetable oil often uses chemicals, bleaching, and deodorizing techniques which
minimize any health benefits they would have had, while leaving behind sulfates. In addition to the
sulfates they tend to be extremely high in PUFA (polyunsaturated fatty-acid) which in scientific
studies has been linked with lowered testosterone levels. (1)
I recommend you use either cold pressed extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil.
Extra Virgin Olive oil in particular has been shown to have great testosterone boosting properties
which we will discuss later in this book.
Stay away from any other kind of vegetable oil when possible, including:
Canola Oil
Corn Oil
Cottonseed Oil
Grapeseed Oil
Peanut Oil
Safflower Oil
Soybean Oil
Sunflower Oil
In order to maximize your natural testosterone production, you need to get adequate sleep.
A recent clinical study of healthy men showed just one week of decreased sleep caused a drastic
reduction in the subjects’ testosterone levels. (2)
Every man in the study experienced a significant decrease in his testosterone, ranging from ten
percent to as much as fifteen percent. Everything else in their lives the was the same during the
study so that huge dip resulted just from lack of sleep.
This study discovered lack of sleep can have the same devastating effects on testosterone levels as
aging 10 – 15 years!
It will probably come as no surprise to you that testosterone levels usually dip the lowest in the
afternoon and evening hours since you are most likely to feel an energy crash around the same
time.
Unfortunately, that’s probably when you really want your energy and libido to be geared up!
If you are already running at a deficit due to lack of sleep, the testosterone crash is going to hit you
that much harder.
If you want to have enough in the tank at the end of a hard day to play with the kids or spend some
quality time with the wife, get your sleep.
There is a negative correlation between the “stress hormone” cortisone and testosterone, meaning
when cortisone goes up, testosterone goes down. (1)
Not only is cortisone linked to your testosterone levels but its impact can have a near instant affect
when your cortisone spikes.
Not feeling “in the mood” after a bad day? That could be cortisone taking its toll on your testosterone
level with its immediate effect.
Long-term stress can be even more damaging because your body keeps up the levels of cortisone
to try to deal with your stressors.
On a biological level, your body goes into “fight-or-flight” mode, and reproductive vigor is just not
an immediate priority. Your body’s resources are being diverted elsewhere and you’re simply not
able produce testosterone at a maximum level.
Reducing the stress in your life, or at least working on your ability to cope with that stress is a
fundamental key to maximizing your testosterone production.
Because managing stress plays such a crucial role in increasing your testosterone levels, I want to
quickly highlight a few proven supplements and lifestyle techniques you can implement into your
daily regimen.
Since a lack of sleep often accompanies high stress and sleep can make any symptoms you are
experiencing far worse, this is a huge double benefit.
2. Panax Ginseng
Ginseng is a powerhouse supplements that has been scientifically proven to help reduce stress,
improve overall brain function and promote a positive sense of wellbeing. (6, 7, 8)
It also has a myriad of other health benefits including increasing erection strength.
3. Magnesium
You might find it surprising that magnesium is great at helping relieve the symptoms of stress.
Unfortunately, in part due to soil degradation and in part to simply needing more of magnesium as
we age, it tends to be deficient in the Western diet.
In fact, around 68% of Americans are most likely mildly deficient. (9)
Since magnesium is responsible for over 300 various processes within the human body including
reducing cortisol, stress and anxiety, this is a mineral you should certainly add to your supplement
regimen. (10)
It is important to note that taking magnesium along with a vitamin D supplement can help increase
magnesium’s bioavailability within your body.
4. Longjack
Longjack, also known as Tongkat Ali, has been shown in scientific case studies to both lower cortisol
and reduce the effects of exercise induced stress.
This is great news as it may help provide protection on both the mental and physical front. (11)
Another positive benefit for most men is that longjack has been shown to boost testosterone, libido
and encourage fat loss too.
5. Zinc
Zinc plays an incredibly important role in stress reduction because it has such a crucial role in our
brain function. In fact, more zinc is found in our brain (specifically the hippocampus) than anywhere
else in our body. (12)
Zinc is so important to brain function that one study actually found the more depressed someone is,
the lower their zinc levels tend to be! (13)
6. Gaba
Unless you are a pretty serious health nut that does crazy things like sprouting rice for the GABA
benefits, you have probably never even heard of this nutrient or realize how important it is for
managing stress.
The science behind GABA would require an entire chapter devoted to it but I want to quickly
highlight how crucial it is to reducing stress, depression and anxiety while at the same time improving
sleep. (15, 16, 17, 18)
Brown rice contains GABA and when it is sprouted and/or germinated it makes it more bioavailable.
Unless you eat a lot of sprouted brown rice though, I suggest you supplement 100 – 150 mg, twice
per day with a pure GABA extract.
Lifestyle Techniques
1. Meditation
It’s well documented that meditation reduces stress, calms rattled nerves, improves sleep and helps
provide mental clarity and focus. (1, 2, 3)
While scanning the brains of buddhist monks during meditation, scientist have discovered the brain
can actually reorganize itself. The neural networks in the brain literally restructure to help provide a
feeling of oneness and harmony. (4)
You don’t need to be a Buddhist monk with years of practice to reap many of the benefits of
meditation though. Just 10 minutes a day of focused breathing is a great start and can really go a
long way into transforming your whole day.
2. Healthy Eating
Eating healthy to reduce stress is a no-brainer. Not only does a more nutritious diet have a huge
impact on your brain function and nervous system but processed foods can take a dramatic toll on
those same processes.
Here are a few foods you can focus on getting in your diet to help minimize stress levels
When I’m really feeling stressed, I like to try and combine my exercise with meditation by going for
a walk, hike or run while focusing intently on my breathing and the oxygen coursing through my
veins.
Even being just an hour or two short of what your body normally requires can have very dramatic
effects on your stress levels which is really a double negative for your testosterone.
Here are a couple of easy to implement techniques to help you get the deep and restful sleep you
need.
1. Take the supplements and follow the rest of the advice already mentioned in this article.
2. Shut down all electronics if possible, at least 1 hour before bed.
The artificial blue light from TV’s, laptops, smartphones and other electronic devices actually screw
with your circadian rhythm and disrupt your body’s production of melatonin. (7)
If you need to be on your laptop or phone just before bed, I suggest you look at installing a blue
light filter. There are several free ones to choose from in both the Apple and Google Play app store.
While it may help you fall asleep in the short term, with prolonged use can cause your body to stop
producing melatonin on its own thereby having the exact opposite effect which can take a long time
to recover from.
The fact of the matter is that tanking up on alcohol can cause your testosterone to tank!
I want to be clear, having a drink or two has not been shown to have a significant impact on
testosterone. We are talking about those nights which lead to those mornings.
This is an area where the effect is directly correlated to the amount of alcohol intake, so a few drinks
here and there probably won’t have much effect. But the more you drink, the lower your testosterone
levels will get.
It’s worth stating again, having the occasional beer or mixed drink likely won’t do much to your
testosterone levels. But if you find yourself frequenting the good stuff, expect your testosterone
production to take a severe hit.
Your body is primed to respond to the presence of sugars by releasing insulin, which is used to
process the sugars. These spikes in insulin levels is an enemy to your testosterone production.
Eating a high glycemic meal with a lot of refined carbohydrates can knock down your testosterone
levels for several hours, and by a significant amount.
You can do even worse damage over time, if you make a habit of refined carbohydrate intake
because your body can actually become insulin resistant. Not only is that a condition associated with
pre-diabetes, it is also associated with far lower levels of testosterone than normal.
In one recent study, published in the journal Clinical Endocrinology, found men saw a 25% decrease
in testosterone after consuming a sugary drink. And this wasn’t just a quick dip, it lasted for 2 hours!
(1)
Even more astonishing is out of the 66 men in the study with normal testosterone levels at the start
of the experiment, at least 10 saw their testosterone levels dip below the hypogonadal range.
In other words, their testosterone levels were below prescription levels meaning they may have
qualified for hormone replacement therapy. That’s significant to say the least!
Healthy carbohydrates are still an important part of a balanced diet, and in fact, carbohydrates
provide an essential building block for testosterone with more than one study showing a higher carb
diet leads to higher testosterone levels and lower cortisone levels. (2)
Other studies have shown higher carbohydrate diets lead to quicker recovery times, more strength,
and higher levels of protein synthesis. (3)
It is, however, important to stay away from the refined variations and stick with the more nutritionally
valuable carbs that will not spike your insulin and potentially lower your testosterone production.
One of my favorite sources is chickpeas (also known as garbanzo beans) which are extremely
versatile, making foods from humus to wheat and gluten free pasta.
Garbanzo beans are also a great source of protein, fiber, and large amounts of vitamins and minerals
key to testosterone production.
There is no doubt water is essential to biological processes (including testosterone production), but
it’s critical you pay attention to the quality of the water you drink.
Your high intake of water could be the inadvertent gateway for chemicals which are damaging your
testosterone levels.
A three-year study conducted by the Environmental Working Group in 2009 found a whopping 316
chemicals in tap water throughout the country. Out of the 316 chemicals found, 202 of them are not
even regulated and others didn’t pass guideline levels. (1)
Want to have a look at what has been discovered in your tap water? Go to www.ewg.org/tapwater/
After reading that, you may think switching to bottled water is the key but companies are not required
to disclose the level of contaminants in their products and some have even been found to be nothing
but tap water anyway.
In addition to that, there are often times damaging chemicals such as phthalates or bisphenol-A
(BPA) found in the plastic containers which can leach directly into the water.
Consider investing in a good water filter, preferably one that remineralizers the water in the last
stage of filtration, and use safe containers to store and drink it from.
Body fat contains aromatase, an adrenal enzyme that converts androstenedione and estrone to
estrogen.
Another problem is testosterone is a fat-soluble hormone, meaning that it can get stored in fat
tissues. Instead of being free in your body and your bloodstream, testosterone may be getting
locked up inside your fat, decreasing your free testosterone levels.
I have some good news for you though. Testosterone plays a critical role in your body’s metabolism,
so as you start to shred the excess pounds and your testosterone levels increase, it will get
increasingly easier to burn off more of the fat. (1)
Most people are aware that eating pesticides is bad for your health and can damage and/or weaken
multiple bodily functions like testosterone production. But what most people don’t think about is
how many pesticides are in the meat they are eating!
There is little to no regulation on how much pesticide can be sprayed onto the grains of animals
meant for slaughter. These pesticides can be absorbed into the fat of the animals or the milk of dairy
cows which you then consume.
According to Dr. Donley, Senior scientist at the Center for Biological Diversity and former cancer
researcher at Oregon Health and Sciences University
“For glyphosate, the most commonly used pesticide in the world, residues allowed in animal feed
can be more than 100 times that allowed on grains consumed directly by humans, and the amount
of glyphosate allowed in red meat is more than 20 times that for most plant crops.” (1)
In addition to the potential dangers of pesticides, animals raised in factory farm conditions may have
unnatural levels of hormones, especially estrogen, in their meat, milk, and eggs. (2)
To help maximize your natural testosterone levels, look for organic, and when possible grass-fed
and/or pastured animal based products.
I personally add a handful to both my daily smoothies and oatmeal or quinoa for breakfast.
Just 3 tbsp of cacao is packed full of a huge array of nutrients and phytonutrients including but not
limited to:
Dark chocolate and its nutrient dense compounds have been credited with:
As a natural testosterone booster, dark chocolate is amazing but as you can see its health benefits
are wide reaching and extremely beneficial for a high quality of life in general.
You do want to ensure you are buying the real stuff though. Look for pure, unrefined, unfiltered,
cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil.
Preferably, in a glass bottle so it doesn’t absorb any chemicals that may leach into it from plastic
containers.
Luteinizing hormone is released in the pituitary gland and controls the function of the testicles which
produce testosterone from cholesterol.
In fact, just 1.6 tbsp of Extra Virgin Olive Oil each day can boost LH by 42.6% and testosterone levels
by 17.4%! (1)
EVOO also helps reduce LDL (bad cholesterol) and raises HDL (good cholesterol). Since
testosterone is manufactured from cholesterol, the better your overall cholesterol profile the better
able you are to maximize your testosterone.
3. Mushrooms
Everyone knows that mushrooms are incredibly healthy, provide an immunity boost and a wide
range of vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients.
What most people don’t know is that plain ole white button mushrooms actually come with an extra
testosterone boosting kick!
This effect isn’t just limited to white button mushrooms though. It’s also been shown in shiitake,
portobello, crimini, and baby button mushrooms.
As an added bonus, mushrooms grown outside in natural sunlight can also be a good source of
vitamin D and are one of just a handful of foods to provide such a benefit.
4. Cruciferous Vegetables
Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, kale and bok choy actually help the body
excrete excess estrogen thereby increasing the amount of testosterone available.
Indole-3-carbinol (C9H9NO), also known more commonly as “I3C” is formed from a substance called
glucobrassicin in cruciferous vegetables.
Studies have shown I3C supports estrogen metabolism and may increase excretion of estradiol
(estrogen) in men by upwards of 50%! (1,2)
DIM may both have the ability to block estrogen as well as destroy prostate cancer cells! (4,5)
With that said, DIM has become a very popular supplement in bodybuilding circles because it may
be more stable when ingested in supplement form than I3C is.
However, I suggest you get both DIM and I3C from its natural form in cruciferous vegetables rather
than via supplementation which has been shown to block DHT. (5)
DHT is highly androgenic and a strong estrogen blocker in its own right. (6)
DIM may also block mTOR which is critical to growth hormone, protein synthesis and building muscle
mass. (7,8)
5. Avocados
Avocados are one of the best sources of fats for naturally boosting testosterone levels. They are
chock full of potassium (which most diets don’t get anywhere close to what the body needs), B
vitamins, vitamin E and 11 different carotenoids!
Fats have gotten an extremely bad wrap and somehow it has snuck into typical health lexicon that
we should only be getting around 25 – 30% of our daily calories from fat.
This is inherently bad advice. What you should be concerned with is the type of fats you are
consuming rather than trying to keep the percentage low.
In fact, I try to consume between 35 – 50% of my calories from fat every day! Why?
Fats helps you absorb vitamins A, D, E, and the important and often unmentioned vitamin K
Vitamin D (which we will discuss later in this book), E and K are all extremely important for maximizing
your testosterone. It’s one thing to get the vitamins and another for you to actually absorb them.
Avocados can help maximize that absorption.
Your brain is about 60% fat, and nutrition and fats play an important role in both development and
function
Providing your brain with calories from healthy fats like avocados, encourages ketosis, providing
energy to the brain while also helping to protect against brain diseases. (1)
Monounsaturated fats in particular (which avocados are loaded with) may enhance learning abilities,
slow down age-related cognitive decline and reduce the risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease. (2)
Avocados also have a fairly unique compound called oleuropein, Oleuropein is also found in olive
oil and has been shown to increase testosterone in studies on rats. While I prefer to focus on human
based studies, in this case it’s worth noting as a potential added benefit. (3)
Lastly and most important to the purpose of this article is the testosterone boosting effect of healthy
fats. Multiple studies have shown that higher fat diets result in higher testosterone levels.
The researchers discovered both total and free testosterone levels plummeted in the men while on
a low-fat diet but quickly returned to normal after resuming their typical high fat diets. (4)
In short, feed your body, feed your brain and feed your testosterone with avocados!
In fact, they can do a lot more for you than just increase your testosterone. They can help with fat
loss and building muscle too thanks to their high protein and complex carbohydrate content.
Just check out the fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals you get from 1 cup of pinto beans as an
example:
Fiber – 62%
Protein – 31%
Vitamin B1 – 28%
Vitamin B6 – 23%
Copper – 41%
Folate – 74%
Iron – 20%
Magnesium – 21%
Manganese – 39%
Molybdenum – 285%
Phosphorus – 36%
Potassium – 21%
Gluten free and rich in healthy fats, protein, fiber, phytonutrients and testosterone maximizing
complex carbohydrates.
Carbohydrates are extremely critical to high testosterone levels and multiple studies have shown
diets high in complex carbohydrates results in decreased cortisol levels and significantly increased
testosterone levels. (1)
Diets rich in healthy carbohydrates can also lead to increased strength, better protein absorption
and faster recovery after intense workouts. (2)
Pay special attention to the “better protein synthesis” part because as men, in part thanks to the
over-commercialization of protein powders and drinks, we constantly worry about our protein needs
rather than how well our body is actually utilizing the protein we are giving it.
7. Pomegranate
A recent study on 22 healthy men showed that daily ingestion of pomegranate juice raised
testosterone levels by 24% on average. (1)
This study also showed positive effects on blood pressure, mood and anxiety as well!
Pomegranates are absolutely loaded with antioxidants which can decrease inflammation. You have
probably noticed a fairly common theme so far in that most of the foods mentioned in this article as
testosterone boosters work to decrease inflammation.
It’s because inflammation can wreak absolutely havoc on our bodies ability to produce testosterone
efficiently.
There is an extremely powerful antioxidant in pomegranates called “punicalagins” found in the juice
and especially the peel of a pomegranate.
They are so powerful that pomegranate juice has been found to have three times the antioxidant
activity of red wine and green tea (2).
One important note here is that pomegranates are also loaded with sugar so while the juice may be
an easy way to load up on all that nutrient goodness, I suggest you look at either eating them whole
or adding them to a smoothie.
The fiber in whole pomegranates will help protect against an insulin rush and in addition to that you’ll
get all the extra benefits of the skin which are the richest source of punicalagins.
Unfortunately, as is often the case, supplement companies showcased what they wanted you to see
and left off most of the relevant information.
Let’s take a look at the full scope of the human based case studies.
In a human based case study involving 30 infertile men, supplementation of DAA for 90 days
improved the amount of and motility of their sperm.
These men also saw a “significantly increased number of pregnancies” from supplementation. These
same men also saw a brief increase in testosterone production but it returned to baseline after about
2 weeks. (1)
It is both the fact the study was done on men who were infertile and the fact their testosterone levels
returned to where they were previously, after a very short time, that fails to get mentioned!
However, if you are struggling to conceive, supplementing with D-Aspartic Acid is certainly worth
trying.
In another human case study, D-Aspartic Acid significantly lowered total and free testosterone!
24 healthy men with a minimum of 2 years of weight lifting experience were split into 3 different
groups. Some men received a placebo and the other men were given either 3 or 6 grams of DAA.
The men who were given 3 grams of D-Aspartic Acid saw neither a gain nor decrease in testosterone
levels, however, the men who received 6 grams saw a decrease in testosteorne levels. (2)
In the only other human based study I could find, healthy males were put through a 28-day weight
lifting program where they trained 4 times per week and were split into two groups.
In both groups the men saw a significant increase in body composition and muscle strength,
however, there was no difference between group 1 and 2.
The researchers found that both total and free testosterone levels were unchanged with resistance
training and D-Aspartic Acid supplementation. Luteinizing hormone was unchanged as well. (3)
Conclusion on DAA
I haven’t seen any research which proves D-Aspartic Acid increases free or total testosterone in
relatively healthy men and in fact there is evidence it may actually decrease testosterone production.
Based on the human case studies at hand, it is my opinion you are better off saving your money and
not buying into the hype.
2. Fenugreek Extract
What is Fenugreek?
Fenugreek, is a plant native to South Asia and it’s seeds and leaves are frequently used in curry
dishes. It has some great medicinal properties that we will discuss later.
It might also be the most popular and over-hyped testosterone boosting ingredient on the market
today. Various methods of extraction have been patented and marketed with very clever names
such as “Testofen”.
Patenting an extraction method is not always, but often times a clever way to make someone feel
like they are getting something special or unique and therefore a higher price tag can be slapped
on the cleverly marketed product.
Interestingly, Nugenix, who helped bring Testofen to popularity, uses plain ole Fenugreek extract
instead of Testofen in their flagship product, Nugenix “Ultimate Testosterone”.
Unfortunately, it seems that most supplement companies start their ingredient formulations in the
marketing room instead of with scientific data.
The study that started the firestorm of interest in fenugreek as a testosterone booster spread
throughout the bodybuilding community almost overnight.
What nobody bothered to mention, was that the company which sponsored the study was actually
a manufacturer of the product. Can you say “red flag”?
What is even crazier is the study didn’t even mention testosterone being boosted long term. In fact,
it didn’t even test for testosterone levels. It was simply a questionnaire asking men how they felt! (1)
Since that time, another study published in the International Journal of Exercise Science showed no
influence in free or total testosterone levels from fenugreek extract. (2)
In 2011 a study was done on 47 males to test if the combination of fenugreek and creatine would
increase strength over an 8-week resistance training program.
If you are not familiar with dextrose it’s just a simple sugar so it should have absolutely no bearing
on gaining strength.
At the end of the study, the researchers concluded the combination of “creatine with fenugreek”
and “creatine with dextrose” were similarly effective at increasing strength while the placebo group
did not see a significant increase.
The common denominator here of course is creatine. It increased strength equally whether it was
paired with either fenugreek or sugar.
It’s been extremely well documented that creatine boosts muscle strength and weightlifting
performance. (4)
So, does that study really lead you to believe fenugreek is going to help increase your strength?
It sure didn’t convince me and neither did a trial run I gave myself taking just fenugreek as a
supplement.
Creatine, however, is clearly a great supplement for most men to take to increase strength.
After six weeks, the score for sexual arousal rose from 16.1 to 20.6
There is quite a bit of anecdotal evidence fenugreek may increase libido in men but if that is your
goal there are better herbs suited for increasing your sex drive such as Horny Goat Weed.
It is said to stimulate the milk ducts in as little as 24 hours and is usually recommended to take
around 3,500 mg per day for maximum lactation.
However, if you are reading this book that was probably not the benefit you were looking for!
Two different studies, one In Vivo (petri dish) on human cells and one on rats showed that fenugreek
may increase estrogen levels. (7,8)
I stress in my posts that you have to look at the human case studies when looking at outcomes
because what happens to rats or primates and what happens in petri dishes often have different
outcomes in actual human trials.
However, I do feel this is worth mentioning because we already know that high doses of fenugreek
can increase lactation so even though these studies are far from conclusive, they do give pause for
concern.
While it may cause an upset stomach in some individuals it has actually been successfully used to
treat digestive issues in others.
Overall, you aren’t likely to experience any major side effects but you may want to start with a smaller
dose to see how your body reacts to it first.
As for the sensitive nipples issue, you might think this would primarily affect women since it can
increase lactation but it’s actually a pretty big complaint in bodybuilding forums among men.
3. Inositol
Inositol, discovered in 1849 and also known as Myoinositol, Cyclohexanehexol and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6-
cyclohexanehexol is a non-essential nutrient oftentimes mistakenly said to belong to the b-complex
family.
This is one of the more baffling nutrients included in a few high-profile male testosterone boosting
supplements.
I searched high and low trying to find a scientific study showing an increase in testosterone in men
taking inositol and couldn’t find a single one.
That doesn’t mean one isn’t floating around out there somewhere but I looked hard and couldn’t
find it. In fact, all we could find was a study showing it actually decreases testosterone levels. (1)
My Bottom Line:
If you are reading this article, you are probably not suffering from PCOS so I don’t see a reason to
take it.
4. Tribulus Terrestris
What is Tribulus Terrestris?
Tribulus Terrestris is a small, leafy plant that grows all over the world in very arid climates where few
other plants can survive.
Tribulus Terrestris was at one time, among the most popular testosterone boosting supplements on
the market due to the idea it would increase luteinizing hormone (LH) which would help the testicles
synthesize more testosterone.
It’s still used in a large percentage of supplements on the market today based primarily on research
done on primates, rabbits, and rats. (1, 2)
I focus primarily on human based research though so will be discussing it mostly as it has performed
in human clinicals as there has been ample studies on it over the last couple of decades.
The dose required would be extraordinarily high to see any testosterone gains which would be
miniscule at best.
There was one human study done in 1985 which is highly touted by supplement companies selling
standardized Tribulus Extract containing at least 10% Protodioscin.
This study did show a large increase in testosterone but the sample size was tiny and only involved
16 total people, just 8 of which were men. (3)
Multiple, larger scale studies have been done showing no statistically significant influence in free or
total testosterone in relatively healthy men and only weak evidence there may be a miniscule
increase in infertile men. (4, 5).
However, this was found with a mega dose of 6 grams daily for 60 days. (6)
To put that in perspective, in a typical testosterone boosting supplement you’ll either see Tribulus
Terrestris hidden in a “proprietary blend” so they don’t have to reveal how much is in their product
or it’s around 500mg.
It takes 1,000mg to equal 1 gram so in the scenario where 500mg was the recommended daily
dosage on the supplement, you would have to take 12x the recommended serving to get the same
amount of Tribulus Terrestris shown to have a slight improvement as mentioned in the above study.
However, the only human based study I could find on healthy individuals was the same one
mentioned earlier done on only 8 men and 8 women. (3)
This study did show a significant increase in libido in both men and women but being such an
extremely small sample size, it’s hardly relevant.
With that said, all other studies on tribulus terrestris on libido I could find, after several hours of
research, were all done on infertile men.
There wasn’t much of an effect but that doesn’t mean just because it doesn’t do much for infertile
men that it doesn’t boost libido in healthy men.
I’ve personally taken it in doses ranging from 500 – 1,500 mg and I would swear there is a subtle
difference when I’ve taken it on its own.
If you want to boost your testosterone, then don’t bother with it. Tribulus Terrestris appears to be
big on hype but little on scientific proof in clinical human studies as far as testosterone goes.
If you want to increase your libido, the mounds of anecdotal evidence suggest it’s worth giving it a
try.
I wouldn’t expect it to work wonders for your sex drive on its own but if combined with a more
scientifically proven natural aphrodisiac like horny goat weed, you may see some pretty dramatic
results.
The short answer is no, stinging nettle does not boost testosterone!
In a double-blind study on 257 men receiving 120 mgs of stinging nettle, twice each day for up to 48
weeks had zero effect on testosterone levels! (1)
A second study completed by 558 men, showed testosterone levels were completely “unchanged”
by supplementation. (2)
So where did the idea that stinging nettle could improve testosterone come from and why is it in
some of the most popular testosterone boosters on the market?
Stinging nettle was shown in a study on rats to “possibly” boost testosterone. (3)
Here is the real kicker about that study though. The rats were also being given testosterone
injections at the same time!
So, there is no proof that stinging nettle even increases testosterone in rats, just that rats getting
testosterone injections see an increase in testosterone.
In addition to that, DHT is an extremely powerful androgen and strong estrogen blocker so it’s not
something you necessarily want to block anyway. (6)
SHBG, is a protein made in the liver that binds to hormones such as estrogen and testosterone and
transports them throughout your body via your blood.
This is a good thing in general but when SHBG is too high it may keep your testosterone bound up
instead of being free for use.
Yet again though, the studies on humans do not show any increase in free testosterone levels so
any effect stinging nettle has on SHBG is too small to see a benefit as far as testosterone goes.
1. May provide a slight decrease in nasal congestion due to seasonal allergies. (7)
2. May increase urinary flow rate of men suffering from (BPH) benign prostatic hyperplasia.
(1)
3. May slightly decrease severe joint pain but studies were rather unremarkable. (8, 9)
If you are trying to increase your testosterone, there is literally zero scientific proof of benefit from
it, so don’t waste your money.
6. DHEA
DHEA or Dehydroepiandrosterone is a steroid precursor and pretty controversial supplement. It’s
quick rise to prominence came after it was discovered a notable MLB player took the substance
during the famed chase to beat the single season home run record set in 1961 by Roger Maris, which
many sport devotees thought would never be broken.
Since that time DHEA has been banned in most major sports venues including the NFL, NBA, MLB,
NCAA, and the Olympics.
The reason for this, however, has less to do with its effectiveness in improving performance (which
as we will discuss is sketchy at best) but because of its potential, harmful, side effects.
“DHEA is big business, reaping tens of millions of dollars for the supplement industry each year. It is
heavily promoted as a "super hormone" and an "antidote for aging" that can strengthen the immune
system, slow memory loss, melt body fat, build strong muscles and bones, prevent heart disease
and cancer, enhance energy and sexuality, and fight Alzheimer's disease. None of these claims is
supported by current medical science. But that has not stopped manufacturers from touting the
hormone.” (1)
We can’t say it better than Harvard, so we will just leave the supposed benefits of DHEA at that.
Some, but not all of the reported side effects of DHEA include:
*It should be noted that HDL is very important to healthy, natural testosterone production as well as
strong erections so you do not want this to decline!
My Bottom Line:
In my research, I discovered an awful lot of potential health risks with little proof of any positive
benefits. It’s my recommendation to steer clear of this steroid precursor.
ZMA is what athletes call supplementation when you combine zinc, magnesium and vitamin B6.
Zinc by itself has had some outstanding scientific case studies showing its powerful benefits but
when combined with magnesium and B6 the testosterone boosting capability greatly increases.
Researchers stated that “ZMA supplementation was associated with improved anabolic hormone
profile and muscle function in already strength-trained varsity collegiate football players“. (1)
Let me be clear, there is no scientific bases for thinking zinc will increase testosterone production if
you are getting all that your body needs from your diet.
With that said, the above-mentioned study was done on strength trained football players in their
prime and it still boosted their testosterone and strength.
This is partly because it’s hard to get enough zinc in your diet and on top of that, physical stress,
whether it be from exercise or a physically demanding job, increases your need for zinc.
As a side note, supplementing with boron is another great way to decrease SHBG levels which we
will discuss later.
A deficiency can have a drastic impact on your testosterone levels and zinc cannot be stored by the
body so it must be consumed daily.
Given testosterone levels in men can vary greatly by the hour along with the fact we all know it’s
impossible to eat everything we need for proper nutrition every single day of our lives, this is an
important mineral to supplement with.
According to the Linus Pauling Institute, marginal zinc deficiency affects more than 2 billion people
worldwide! (5)
We also know how hard it is to eat right all day, every day, with so much going on in life.
I recommend you take between 10 – 20 mgs of zinc every day, optimally along with magnesium and
vitamin B6 for the ZMA complex and maximum potency.
2. Vitamin D3
What Is Vitamin D?
Vitamin D is often said to be a “hormone” rather than a vitamin but this may not be factually true.
According to Dr. Ronald Vieth, one of the most respected researchers on vitamin D in the world, it
is a structural raw material which both hormones and pre-hormones are made from and it meets the
strict definition of a vitamin.
If you like geeking out on this sort of thing, you can read more about it in Dr. Vieth’s landmark paper
“Why Vitamin D is not a hormone”. (1)
Whether or not you side with the researchers that claim it is a hormone or claim it is a vitamin, it plays
an absolutely crucial role in several biological functions including testosterone production!
Deficiency in Vitamin D
A deficiency of vitamin D may increase aromatization of testosterone to estrogen. Obviously if you
are trying to maximize your testosterone levels this is a very bad thing.
We also know vitamin D deficiency is soaring in the United States in large part due to a lack of sun.
In fact, deficiency could be as high as 77% according to one recent study. (3)
Not to mention its really tough to get midday, full body sunlight exposure in the summer, near the
equator consistently!
Vitamin D Absorption
Vitamin D is crucial to absorbing some minerals such as magnesium which is also on my list of best
testosterone boosting supplements.
Interestingly magnesium will help your body make vitamin D more bioactive as well! (6)
Supplementing with boron is also crucial to maximizing your body’s ability to absorb vitamin D. (7)
Not surprisingly, both boron and magnesium have been shown to be very effective testosterone
boosters as well!
Vitamin D Supplementation
Chances are pretty high you aren’t getting all of the sunlight you need each day to maximize your
testosterone levels and the studies have proven its importance time and again.
While some people have gone crazy with their recommendations (upwards of 5,000 I.U. daily), I
suggest you keep your supplementation in the moderate range between 400 IU and 1,500 IU daily.
That works out to 100% – 375% of the RDA (recommended daily intake) and is quite sufficient to
ensure you are getting all that your body requires to boost your testosterone.
3. Vitamin B12
It's well known that Vegans and Vegetarians should take a b12 supplement but did you know most
meat eaters should too?
Modern diets, cooking habits and sanitary practices have a huge impact on the level of b12 the
average person consumes and can biologically absorb. Without adequate b12 in your body, a whole
host of complications can arise, including a severe dip in natural testosterone production.
Detecting b12 deficiency can be difficult and health problems may not even begin to manifest for 5
– 6 years.
While the amount of b12 needed is miniscule, the impact on our bodies when deficient is absolutely
enormous.
Vitamin b12 also seems to have a significant effect on testicular function, sperm motility, and
concentration. (2)
Guide To Naturally Boost Your Testosterone | www.alphawolfnutrition.com 36
Other benefits of sufficient b12 levels include
As far as I know, there has never been a study directly linking b12 to increased testosterone.
However, b12 plays such a crucial role in so many aspects of our lives like the nervous system, higher
energy levels, and positive moods (see my writeup on stress) that while it may not directly affect
testosterone levels, I believe it does have a huge indirect role in maximizing it.
My bottom line:
We cannot survive without vitamin b12 and in modern society we are at an increasing risk of
deficiency, the effects of which we may not start realizing until years down the road.
I believe at bare minimum you should be eating or drinking at least one food a week fortified with
b12 or taking a b12 supplement to help keep your body and testosterone levels running at its peak
performance.
4. Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6 plays a crucial role in memory, blood flow, energy and of course testosterone production.
Being B6 is water soluble, your body is not able to store left over, so it must be consumed daily.
Deficiency in B6 can result in a host of maladies from nerve damage, acne, and memory loss, to
kidney stones, lung cancer, and lower testosterone levels.
At one time it was thought deficiency in B6 in the West was rare, however, studies are starting to
show mild deficiency is more common than once thought. (1, 2)
Interestingly enough, the older we get the more B6 we actually require, making deficiency more
likely.
B6 has both a direct and indirect effect on testosterone levels. On one hand it promotes androgens
which increase testosterone levels. However, deficiency causes the brain to regulate hormones
such as estrogen which can be detrimental to testosterone levels.
Another testosterone related benefit of B6 is it helps to increase serum growth hormone while
lowering prolactin levels which have been implicated in lower testosterone levels as well as
developing the unimpressive “man boobs”. (3)
My Bottom Line:
It’s worth mentioning again, testosterone levels can and do fluctuate by the hour. It’s important to
make sure you are getting your B6 in every day.
Since testosterone is formed from cholesterol, it’s a pretty straight forward correlation between the
need for B3 and maximizing your testosterone levels.
Low levels can also have a grave impact on energy levels since the body’s ability to convert
carbohydrates, proteins, and fats into energy require B3.
My Bottom Line:
As with all other B vitamins, B3 is water soluble and cannot be stored by the body so you need to
ensure you get enough each day to keep your natural testosterone levels at their peak.
6. Boron
What Is Boron?
Boron is a crucial trace mineral which aids in boosting free testosterone, blocking excess estrogen,
increasing muscle and bone strength, improving mental clarity, improving muscle coordination,
decreasing inflammation and treating arthritis.
Interestingly, there is no current RDA set but thanks to a plethora of scientific case studies we do
know that supplementation should be in the range of 3 – 10 mg depending on your personal goals.
Boron is not found in significant proportions of most foods. For instance, avocados are one of the
few prevalent sources, yet a whole cup of avocado provides just 1.7 mg.
If your goal is to boost your testosterone levels, you would want to eat around 5 avocados every
day to see any significant benefit from it, if that was your only source.
At the end of the study, researchers found that free testosterone levels increased a whopping 28.3%
(1)
The study was intended to discover if boron supplementation would increase vitamin d levels but
the participants were also tested for several other markers as well including testosterone.
At the end of the study the participants saw their DHEA levels increase on average by incredible
56% and an astounding 29.5% average boost in free testosterone levels! (2)
Boron has been found to reduce SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin) in the blood which may be
at the core of its testosterone boost capabilities. (1)
The primary job of SHBG is to bind to sex hormones and prevent their effects.
That may sound odd but there is a reason for it and it does its job well. However, it can be annoying
as it also has a limited benefit and the more you raise testosterone the more of it finds itself bound
to SHBG.
By reducing the amount of SHBG in your body, you increase the amount of free testosterone
available to do what it does best, build muscle and increase strength!
In other words, boron appears to maximize what your body can do with the testosterone it’s already
producing.
Sure enough, the researchers discovered vitamin D levels increased in the participants by 19.6%.
This is really big because vitamin D is at historic deficiency levels in men now and D is well regarded
as a testosterone booster.
Most benefits from boron supplementation have been seen within the range of 3 – 10 mg daily and
it is considered generally safe at or below 20 mgs per day. (3)
I personally recommend taking 10 mgs per day to maximize your testosterone levels.
Just a few of the multitude of symptoms associated with Mg deficiency include hormone imbalance,
weak bones, cardiovascular problems, anxiety, and sleep problems.
In a 4-week study on both sedentary men and athletes, both groups saw a significant rise in both
free and total testosterone levels, upwards of 24% on average.
The athletes actually saw the largest average increase which lends to the idea that exercise along
with magnesium supplementation can increase results the most. (1)
Much like boron, magnesium appears to bind to SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin) which allows
for more free testosterone. (2)
However, as the study above points out, total testosterone increased as well.
In another study on 399 older men, researchers discovered that higher serum magnesium levels
were directly correlated to higher testosterone levels and IGF-1 (insulin like growth factor) which is
extremely anabolic! (3)
At the same time magnesium supplementation has been shown to increase vitamin D absorption.
(5)
When magnesium is taken along with zinc and vitamin B6 the combination is known in bodybuilding
communities as the ZMA complex and is well respected as a strong vitamin and mineral combo for
testosterone boosting.
If that wasn’t enough, exercise also increases the body’s need for even more magnesium thanks to
its role in stress management, fighting inflammation, and clearing out cortisol.
It is no wonder it has been estimated that as much as 68% of Americans, may be mildly deficient in
magnesium. (8)
With that said, there are recommended limits on supplementation which tops out at 350 mgs per
day for males at least 19 years of age, or you could risk adverse effects.
While mild deficiencies may be common, extreme deficiencies are not, and as far as
supplementation goes the Linus Pauling Institute recommends around 100 mg per day.
They believe you should be able to consistently get the rest of the magnesium you need each day
from the foods you eat. (9)
When levels are taken from deficiency to solid levels, it not only appears to improve the amount of
free testosterone in the body but actually increases total testosterone as well.
With a large amount of magnesium needed each day and the difficulty in obtaining it through food,
I highly recommend a daily supplement of at least 30 mg.
How much you really need will also depend on how bioavailable it is.
Magnesium is even more effective when taken in the ZMA complex along with vitamin D, BioPerine®
(a powerful absorption nutrient) and shilajit with fulvic acid to aid in absorption.
In traditional culture, it was said to give one the strength and virility of a horse!
An incredibly powerful adaptogen, this incredible herb has a plethora of health benefits including
boosting testosterone!
One 8-week study published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition tested 57
healthy men between the ages of 18 – 64.
The men were given 650 mg of KSM-66 every day for 8 weeks.
Researchers found a significant 18.7% increase in testosterone, while an increase in muscle recovery
and fat loss was observed as well. (1)
In a separate human case study, researchers gave healthy men 650 mg of Ashwagandha KSM-66
every day for 90 days and the men experienced a 17% increase in testosterone levels on average.
(2)
Infertile men have also been studied with ashwagandha supplementation and that group saw
significant increases in both luteinizing hormone (LH) and serum testosterone levels. (3)
Luteinizing hormone is produced and released in the anterior pituitary gland and actually regulates
testosterone production in the testicles so it’s no surprise testosterone levels increased along with
LH.
They also enjoyed a significant increase in muscle size of the arms and chest. (1)
It needs to be disclosed that these men were not highly trained athletes and if you are in peak
physical condition, you should not expect to see results quite that dramatic.
With that said, the results of the study are still absolutely astounding!
In a separate human case study, 18 healthy volunteers (12 males) aged 18 – 30 were given
ashwagandha daily for 30 days. These men showed a significant increase in strength and HDL/LDL
cholesterol ratios, while also decreasing in body fat. (4)
It also directly combats symptoms which come along with stress such as fatigue and cognitive
impairment. (5,6,7)
Cortisol and stress of are 2 of the biggest killers of your natural testosterone production so you can
probably draw a strong conclusion as to why this herb is so powerful for men.
When you lose fat, you can unlock your testosterone to do what it is meant to do, increase your
muscle size and strength!
As already mentioned above, multiple case studies on humans have shown Ashwagandha promotes
fat loss.
We tend to think of body fat as what we can see when we look in the mirror but the truth is fat can
also store around your body organs. This is called visceral fat.
Although studies are a bit mixed at this point in time, low testosterone may increase the activity of
an enzyme called lipoprotein lipase. This enzyme actually drives lipids (fat) into visceral fat cells,
swelling them up.
By increasing your testosterone, you may be able to shrink the visceral fat cells and create a leaner
midsection.
In a human trial, 40 healthy participants were given 500 mg of ashwagandha each day to test their
“physical performance and cardiorespiratory endurance”.
The study determined that velocity, power and VO2 max were all improved and that ashwagandha
supplementation may be useful to improve speed, leg strength and neuromuscular coordination. (8)
Elite cyclists were also given 500 mg per day in another study. Both VO2 Max and time to exhaustion
increased significantly. (9)
I personally have noticed a huge increase in the quality of my sleep since I started supplementing
with it.
A lack of quality sleep is also a huge testosterone killer. One study actually showed lack of sleep
may lower your testosterone by as much as 15%, so anything you can do to improve your natural
sleep cycle, the better off you are going to be. (9)
Multiple human case studies have shown ashwagandha to be extremely effective at lowering LDL
(bad cholesterol) and triglycerides (fat in the blood) while increasing HDL (good cholesterol) and
improving your overall cholesterol profile. (4, 11, 12)
One study in particular showed a 17% decrease in LDL (bad cholesterol) and decreased triglycerides
11%, on average. (7)
Ashwagandha is a great herb for both men and women since it may improve sleep and stress levels
but especially for men given the potentially dramatic increases in natural testosterone production.
KSM-66 uses only the root and is standardized to 5% withanolides which is one of the most key
nutrients within the extract.
Most ashwagandha supplements are not standardized at all so you have no idea what percentage
of withanolides you are getting or they max out at 2.5%
KSM-66 is by far and away the most superior form of ashwagandha extract on the market today.
Complex carbohydrates
Alkylamides
Healthy Fatty acids
20 amino acids
7 Essential amino acids
Calcium
Phosphorus
Zinc
Magnesium
Iron
Vitamins C, D and E
Iodine
The pituitary and thyroid are responsible for secreting hormones which help control several vital
processes including:
Sexual function
Fertility
Brain and nervous system functioning
Sleep
Mood
Metabolism
Energy levels
Testosterone production
Recent studies on humans have also shown that it may increase erection strength, well-being, and
libido. (3-5)
This is important to note because in order to maximize your testosterone you need a properly
functioning thyroid and in order for your thyroid to function properly it needs iodine! (7)
Toxic halogens such as bromine, fluorine and chlorine are unfortunately loaded into our water
supply.
These toxic chemicals can work their way in to both our thyroid and leydig cells in the testicles where
testosterone in manufactured.
Iodine also works wonders at flushing toxins out of the body which can have particularly devastating
effects on testosterone production. (8)
Since DHT is a powerful estrogen blocker itself consuming high doses of DIM in supplement form
may counteract its own natural ability to block estrogen. (9)
With that said, I believe DIM is fantastic consumed in its natural form in cruciferous vegetables like
broccoli, kale, brussels sprouts and maca root.
It’s not going to make the concert all by itself but it provides many crucial nutrients the body needs
to create beautiful music or in this case increase testosterone.
It is packed with several essential nutrients for boosting testosterone levels including vitamin D,
vitamin E, zinc, magnesium and iodine and it may help promote more restful sleep and lower stress
and anxiety.
These are all extremely key elements for your body to maximize testosterone production.
1. 4:1 extract
2. 10:1 extract
What these numbers mean is that either 4 kg or 10kg of raw maca is used to make 1 kg or extract.
10:1 is of course more than double the potency of 4:1 extract.
If the potency isn’t given on the label, I suggest you stay away from that product.
I recommend you supplement with between 150 – 300 mg of maca root (10:1) extract per day.
3. Shilajit Extract
What is Shilajit
Shilajit is an absolute powerhouse of a supplement born at extremely high altitudes, deep within
crevices in the Himalayan mountains.
Over hundreds, even thousands of years, organic material works its way deep into the rocks fissures
where it is slowly grinded into a black resin packed full of upwards of 85 different minerals.
When researchers tested for changes to these men’s hormone profiles, they discovered a 19%
increase in free testosterone!
As well as a 20% increase in total testosterone and a whopping 31% boost in DHEA levels. (1)
The increase in free testosterone levels is especially exciting because this is what is going to propel
your biggest increases in size and strength.
*Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) plays an extremely crucial role in the production of androgen-
binding protein by the Sertoli cells. (3)
**Semen Malondialdehyde (MDA) is a strong marker for oxidative stress which is known to lower
testosterone levels. (4)
The fulvic acid can carry around 60 times its weight in minerals, vitamins and enzymes directly into
your cells making both the shilajit itself, and every any other nutrient you are taking along with it
extremely bioavailable. (5)
Because fulvic acid is such a powerful nutrient absorption aid, it’s imperative your shilajit is pure and
free of contaminants!
Because shilajit is rare and difficult to source it is extremely expensive. Some companies cut down
on this cost by “cutting” their shilajit with high added doses of fulvic acid to increase their profitability.
As already mentioned, it can contain upwards of 85 different minerals but it also has some very
unique compounds as well. One of them being dibenzo-alpha-pyrones.
Dibenzo-alpha-pyrones is an extremely powerful antioxidant and may also significantly boost your
energy levels because it increases the efficiency of mitochondria in generating (ATP) or adenosine
triphosphate. (6)
ATP is the primary energy carrier in humans. In fact, it is the primary energy carrier in all living beings.
(7)
At that time, I was unable to find a company I felt was highly reputable and thoroughly tested their
extract for heavy metal contamination AND did not heavily cut it with too fulvic acid.
Finding shilajit in resin form that has been properly tested and with any contamination parts
discarded, is extremely expensive going for upwards of $50 or more for a 30-day supply.
Plus, the taste is downright awful. I can stomach almost anything but I frequently found myself
skipping over the shilajit because I didn’t feel like swallowing it.
No matter how good for you something is, if you aren’t going to consistently take it, it is of no benefit
to you.
While it is still very difficult to find a company selling a highly tested form of pure shilajit extract that
has not be heavily cut with fulvic acid to increase profits, there are a handful of manufacturers out
there you can trust.
I have now been taking shilajit in powdered form for over a year and I absolutely love it!
You do need to make sure when you buy shilajit, whether you purchase it in resin or powered from,
you are buying it from a reputable source.
Preferably one that tests for heavy metals and will show you the lab analysis.
The herb has garnered a lot of attention in the athletic community recently as more and more
scientific evidence is coming to light supporting it as a strong, natural testosterone booster.
After treatment, 90.8% of the men showed normal testosterone levels with an average increase of
just over 46%. (1)
Case Study 2
I don’t know about you but I don’t know a man who doesn’t have stress in his life.
A study on 32 moderately stressed men and published in the Journal of the International Society of
Sports Nutrition showed that supplementing with longjack for 4 weeks improved testosterone levels
by 37%. (2)
Cortisol increases during periods of stress, including exercise induced stress which is a huge point
to note because cortisol is a well known testosterone killer.
By helping keep your cortisol levels low, especially when doing intense exercise, it will help keep
your testosterone levels elevated.
Case Study 3
Published in British Journal of Sports Medicine, 30 men between the ages of 31 – 52 were recruited
to supplement with 100mg of LJ100® for 3 weeks.
This study showed a 66% reduction in Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) and an increase in
free testosterone in 73% of the men. (3)
SHBG binds to testosterone and locks it up meaning it’s not free to build muscle, increase strength
or libido.
When you reduce your SHBG levels you typically see an increase in free testosterone levels just as
this study showed.
More often than not, what works on rats or in petri-dishes does not end up having the same effect
on humans.
Guide To Naturally Boost Your Testosterone | www.alphawolfnutrition.com 52
With that said, its still worth pointing out that longjack actually performed as well as tamoxifen (a
prescription estrogen blocker) in a petri-dish study.
If this herb does in fact help block estrogen in men, it would just be another fantastic benefit.
Fat locks up hormones like testosterone so the added ability to help aid in fat loss is yet another
positive for longjack.
5. Panax Ginseng
What is Panax Ginseng?
Panax Ginseng is an ancient herb/root native to China and Korea.
It is derived from the same species of plant as Korean or Red Ginseng (not be confused with
American or Siberian forms of the herb which are different) and is one of the most studied and
scientifically proven herbs on the face of the earth.
While it has been shown to have a direct effect on testosterone in infertile men, it’s benefits to
testosterone in fertile men are more likely, similar to maca root, in correlation to its overall effect of
general health and wellbeing including boosting the endocrine system and increasing nitric oxide
levels.
The herb contains special chemicals known as “ginsenosides” which increase the conversion of
arginine (an amino acid) to nitric oxide.
Nitric oxide dilates blood vessels and can increase blood flow, boost endurance, build muscle mass,
and strength.
If your endocrine systems is not functioning at full capacity, it will be impossible for you to maximize
your testosterone production.
Especially because testosterone is produced in your testicles and they are part of the endocrine
system.
Panax ginseng has a powerful set of nutrients and antioxidants including ginsenosides which nourish
your endocrine and nervous system.
This keeps you running at optimal capacity for peak testosterone levels.
Testosterone (1)
Cognition (2 – 5)
Erection Satisfaction (6 – 9)
Overall Wellbeing and Happiness (2, 3, 10)
All three main antioxidant enzymes SOD, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase (11, 12)
Blood Flow (13, 14)
Calmness (3)
Endothelial Function (13)
It has been a highly touted herb in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries and modern science
continues to prove its wide-ranging benefits to human health.
It will do a significant amount of work to keep your body and endocrine system running at a peak
level and that will in turn help to maximize your testosterone levels.
I recommend you supplement with 200 – 300 mg of Panax Ginseng daily that has at least 20%
ginsenosides.
Supplements
1. Andrade, C., Aswath, A., Chaturvedi, S.K., Srinivasa, M., Raguram, R. (2000). A Double-Blind,
Placebo-Controlled Evaluation of the Anxiolytic Efficacy Ff an Ethanolic Extract of Withania
Somnifera. Indian J Psychiatry. 42(3): 295–301.
2. Cooley, K., Szczurko, O., Perri, D., Mills, E. J., Bernhardt, B., Zhou, Q., & Seely, D. (2009).
Naturopathic Care for Anxiety: A Randomized Controlled Trial ISRCTN78958974. PLoS ONE,
4(8).
3. Chandrasekhar, K., J. Kapoor, and S. Anishetty, A prospective, randomized double-blind,
placebo-controlled study of safety and efficacy of a high-concentration full-spectrum extract of
ashwagandha root in reducing stress and anxiety in adults. Indian J Psychol Med, 2012. 34(3):
p. 255-62.
4. Center, U.o.C.M. Sleep loss dramatically lowers testosterone in healthy young men. 2011;
Retrieved from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110531162142.htm.
5. Ahmad, Mohammad Kaleem, et al. “Withania Somnifera Improves Semen Quality by Regulating
Reproductive Hormone Levels and Oxidative Stress in Seminal Plasma of Infertile Males.”
Fertility and Sterility, vol. 94, no. 3, 2010, pp. 989–996.
6. Lee, S., & Rhee, D. (2017). Effects of ginseng on stress-related depression, anxiety, and the
hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis. Journal of Ginseng Research, 41(4), 589-594.
7. Ellis, J.M. and P. Reddy, Effects of Panax ginseng on quality of life. Ann Pharmacother, 2002.
36(3): p. 375-9.
Lifestyle
1. Meditation: A simple, fast way to reduce stress. (2017, October 17). Retrieved from
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/meditation/in-depth/meditation/art-20045858
2. Meditation, Stress, and Your Health. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.webmd.com/balance/guide/meditation-natural-remedy-for-insomnia#1
3. Corliss, J. (2017, October 03). Mindfulness meditation may ease anxiety, mental stress. Retrieved
from
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/mindfulness-meditation-may-ease-anxiety-mental-stress-
201401086967
4. Danzico, M. (2011, April 24). Brains of Buddhist monks scanned in meditation study. Retrieved
from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-12661646
Guide To Naturally Boost Your Testosterone | www.alphawolfnutrition.com 57
5. Anxiety and Depression Association of America. Physical Activity Reduces Stress. Retrieved
from
https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/related-illnesses/other-related-
conditions/stress/physical-activity-reduces-st
6. Harvard Health Publishing. Benefits of exercise – reduces stress, anxiety, and helps fight
depression. Retrieved from
https://www.health.harvard.edu/press_releases/benefits-of-exercisereduces-stress-anxiety-
and-helps-fight-depression
7. Bradford, A. (2016, February 26). How Blue LEDs Affect Sleep. Retrieved from
https://www.livescience.com/53874-blue-light-sleep.html
Mushrooms
1. Grube, B. J., Eng, E. T., Kao, Y., Kwon, A., & Chen, S. (2001). White Button Mushroom
Phytochemicals Inhibit Aromatase Activity and Breast Cancer Cell Proliferation. The Journal of
Nutrition, 131(12), 3288-3293.
2. Chen, S., Oh, S., Phung, S., Hur, G., Ye, J. J., Kwok, S. L., . . . Williams, D. (2006). Anti-Aromatase
Activity of Phytochemicals in White Button Mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus). Cancer Research,
66(24), 12026-12034.
5. Le, H. T., Schaldach, C. M., Firestone, G. L., & Bjeldanes, L. F. (2003). Plant-derived 3,3′-
Diindolylmethane Is a Strong Androgen Antagonist in Human Prostate Cancer Cells. Journal of
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6. Casey, R. W., & Wilson, J. D. (1984). Antiestrogenic action of dihydrotestosterone in mouse
breast. Competition with estradiol for binding to the estrogen receptor. Journal of Clinical
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7. Huang, S. (2013). EDITORIAL: Inhibition of PI3K/Akt/mTOR Signaling by Natural Products. Anti-
Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry, 999(999), 8-14.
8. Mccarthy, J. J., & Esser, K. A. (2010). Anabolic and catabolic pathways regulating skeletal muscle
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AVOCADOS
1. Fan, S. (2013, October 01). The fat-fueled brain: Unnatural or advantageous? Retrieved from
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function
3. Oi-Kano, Y., Kawada, T., Watanabe, T., Koyama, F., Watanabe, K., Senbongi, R., & Iwai, K. (2013).
Oleuropein supplementation increases urinary noradrenaline and testicular testosterone levels
and decreases plasma corticosterone level in rats fed high-protein diet. The Journal of
Nutritional Biochemistry, 24(5), 887-893.
4. Hämäläinen, E., Adlercreutz, H., Puska, P., & Pietinen, P. (1984). Diet and serum sex hormones in
healthy men. Journal of Steroid Biochemistry, 20(1), 459-464.
POMEGRANATE JUICE
1. Al-Dujaili E, Small N. (2012). Pomegranate juice intake enhances salivary testosterone levels and
improves mood and well being in healthy men and women. Endocrine Abstracts 28 P313
2. Gil, M. I., Tomás-Barberán, F. A., Hess-Pierce, B., Holcroft, D. M., & Kader, A. A. (2000, October).
Antioxidant activity of pomegranate juice and its relationship with phenolic composition and
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Fenugreek Extract
1. Steels, E., A. Rao, and L. Vitetta, Physiological aspects of male libido enhanced by standardized
Trigonella foenum-graecum extract and mineral formulation. Phytother Res, 2011. 25(9): p. 1294-
300.
2. Bushey, B., et al., Fenugreek Extract Supplementation Has No effect on the Hormonal Profile of
Resitance-Trained Males. International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings,
2009. 2(1): p. 13.
3. Taylor L, Poole C, Pena E, et al. Effects of Combined Creatine Plus Fenugreek Extract vs.
Creatine Plus Carbohydrate Supplementation on Resistance Training Adaptations. Journal of
Sports Science & Medicine. 2011;10(2):254-260.
4. Rawson, E. S., & Volek, J. S. (2003). Effects of Creatine Supplementation and Resistance Training
on Muscle Strength and Weightlifting Performance. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning
Research,17(4), 822.
Inositol
1. Costantino, D., et al., Metabolic and hormonal effects of myo-inositol in women with polycystic
ovary syndrome: a double-blind trial. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci, 2009. 13(2): p. 105-10.
2. Gerli, S., et al., Randomized, double blind placebo-controlled trial: effects of myo-inositol on
ovarian function and metabolic factors in women with PCOS. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci, 2007.
11(5): p. 347-54.
Tribulus Terrestris
1. Gauthaman, K. and A.P. Ganesan, The hormonal effects of Tribulus terrestris and its role in the
management of male erectile dysfunction--an evaluation using primates, rabbit and rat.
Phytomedicine, 2008. 15(1-2): p. 44-54.
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and female Wistar rats. J Ethnopharmacol, 2010. 127(1): p. 165-70.
3. Milanov, S., E. Maleeva, and M. Taskov, Tribestan effect on the concentration of some hormones
in the serum of healthy volunteers. Med-Biol Inf 1985(4): p. 27-9.
4. Rogerson, S., et al., The effect of five weeks of Tribulus terrestris supplementation on muscle
strength and body composition during preseason training in elite rugby league players. J
Strength Cond Res, 2007. 21(2): p. 348-53.
5. Neychev, V.K. and V.I. Mitev, The aphrodisiac herb Tribulus terrestris does not influence the
androgen production in young men. J Ethnopharmacol, 2005. 101(1-3): p. 319-23.
6. Sellandi, T.M., A.B. Thakar, and M.S. Baghel, Clinical study of Tribulus terrestris Linn. in
Oligozoospermia: A double blind study. Ayu, 2012. 33(3): p. 356-64.
DHEA
1. Publishing, H.H., DHEA and health: More questions than answers (2007). Harvard Health.
Retrieved from
https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/dhea-and-health-more-questions-than-
answers
2. Greenwood, M., M. Oria, and Institute of Medicine (US) Per Committee on Dietary Supplement
Use by Military Personnel. (2008) Use of Dietary Supplements by Military Personnel. Washington
(DC): National Academies Press (US).
3. Arnold, J.T., (2009) DHEA metabolism in prostate: For better or worse? Mol Cell Endocrinol.
301(1-2): p. 83-8.
Vitamin D
1. Vieth R. Why “Vitamin D” is not a hormone, and not a synonym for 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D, its
analogs or deltanoids. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2004; 89-90(1-5):571-3.
2. Colorado State University. Vitamin D (Calcitriol). Retrieved from
http://www.vivo.colostate.edu/hbooks/pathphys/endocrine/otherendo/vitamind.html
3. Ginde, A.A., M.C. Liu, and C.A. Camargo, Demographic Differences and Trends of Vitamin D
Insufficiency in the US Population, 1988-2004. Archives of Internal Medicine, 2009. 169(6): p.
626-632.
4. Lee, D.M., et al., Association of hypogonadism with D status: the European Male Ageing Study.
Eur J Endocrinol, 2012. 166(1): p. 77-85.
5. Pilz, S., et al., Effect of vitamin D supplementation on testosterone levels in men. Horm Metab
Res, 2011. 43(3): p. 223-5.
6. Without Magnesium, D is Ineffective. Dr. Mercola. Retrieved from
http://www.nutritionalmagnesium.org/without-magnesium-vitamin-d-supplementation-is-
ineffective-dr-mercola/
7. Miljkovic, N. (2002, March). Calcium Fructoborate Promotes Hormone Balance. Retrieved from
https://www.wellnessresources.com/studies/calcium-fructoborate-promotes-hormone-balance
Vitamin B6
1. Center, U.o.M.M. Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine). 2015; Retrieved from:
https://www.umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/vitamin-b6-pyridoxine.
2. Bird, J. Who Is Actually at Risk of Vitamin B6 Deficiency? 2013; Retrieved from:
http://www.dsm.com/campaigns/talkingnutrition/en_US/talkingnutrition-dsm-
com/2013/04/20130403-vitamin-b6-review-inadequacy-cdc-biochemical-indicators-dr-
weil.html.
3. Delitala, G., et al., Effect of Pyridoxine on Human Hypophyseal Trophic Hormone Release: A
Possible Stimulation of Hypothalamic Dopaminergic Pathway. The Journal of Clinical
Endocrinology & Metabolism, 1976. 42(3): p. 603-606.
Vitamin B3
1. Boden, W.E., et al., Niacin in patients with low HDL cholesterol levels receiving intensive statin
therapy. N Engl J Med, 2011. 365(24): p. 2255-67.
Boron
1. Naghii, M.R., et al., Comparative effects of daily and weekly boron supplementation on plasma
steroid hormones and proinflammatory cytokines. J Trace Elem Med Biol, 2011. 25(1): p. 54-8.
2. Miljkovic, N. (2002, March). Calcium Fructoborate Promotes Hormone Balance. Retrieved from
https://www.wellnessresources.com/studies/calcium-fructoborate-promotes-hormone-balance
3. Boron: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, Dosage, and Warning. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-894/boron
Magnesium
1. Cinar, V., et al., Effects of Mg supplementation on testosterone levels of athletes and sedentary
subjects at rest and after exhaustion. Biol Trace Elem Res, 2011. 140(1): p. 18-23.
2. L., E., et al., Mg effect on testosterone–SHBG association studied by a novel molecular
chromatography approach – ScienceDirect. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis,
2008. 49(2): p. 175-180.
3. Maggio, M., Ceda, G. P., Lauretani, F., Cattabiani, C., Avantaggiato, E., Morganti, S., . . . Ferrucci,
L. (2011). Mg and anabolic hormones in older men. International Journal of Andrology,34(6pt2).
Maca Root
1. Uchiyama, F., Jikyo, T., Takeda, R., & Ogata, M. (2014). Lepidium meyenii (Maca) enhances the
serum levels of luteinising hormone in female rats. Journal of Ethnopharmacology,151(2), 897-
902.
2. Ohta, Y., Yoshida, K., Kamiya, S., Kawate, N., Takahashi, M., Inaba, T., . . . Tamada, H. (2015).
Feeding hydroalcoholic extract powder of Lepidium meyenii(maca) increases serum
testosterone concentration and enhances steroidogenic ability of Leydig cells in male rats.
Andrologia, 48(3), 347-354.
3. Zenico, T., et al., Subjective effects of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) extract on well-being and sexual
performances in patients with mild erectile dysfunction: a randomised, double-blind clinical
trial.Andrologia, 2009. 41(2): p. 95-9.
4. Dording, C.M., et al., A double-blind, randomized, pilot dose-finding study of maca root (L.
meyenii) for the management of SSRI-induced sexual dysfunction. CNS Neurosci Ther, 2008.
14(3): p. 182-91.
5. Shin, B.C., et al., Maca (L. meyenii) for improving sexual function: a systematic review. BMC
Complement Altern Med, 2010. 10: p. 44.
6. Brownstein, D. (2017, February 13). What Does an Iodine Deficiency Have to Do with Cancer?
Retrieved from
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7. Relationship Between Testosterone Levels and the Thyroid. (2017, July 31). Retrieved from
https://thyroidadvisor.com/relationship-testosterone-levels-thyroid/
8. Iodine and Chelation, Heavy Metals and Halogens. Real Raw Food. Excerpt with Dr. Kenezy
Gyula Korhaz. Retrieved from http://www.realrawfood.com/article/iodine-and-chelation-heavy-
metals-and-halogens
Shilajit Extract
1. Pandit, S., Biswas, S., Jana, U., De, R. K., Mukhopadhyay, S. C., & Biswas, T. K. (2015). Clinical
evaluation of purified Shilajit on testosterone levels in healthy volunteers. Andrologia, 48(5),
570-575.
2. Biswas, T. K., Pandit, S., Mondal, S., Biswas, S. K., Jana, U., Ghosh, T., . . . Auddy, B. (2010). Clinical
evaluation of spermatogenic activity of processed Shilajit in oligospermia. Andrologia,42(1), 48-
56.
3. Louis, G. B., & Fritz, I. B. (1979). Follicle-Stimulating Hormone and Testosterone Independently
Increase the Production of Androgen- Binding Protein by Sertoli Cells in Culture*.
Endocrinology,104(2), 454-461.
4. Rovira-Llopis, S., Bañuls, C., Marañon, A. M., Diaz-Morales, N., Jover, A., Garzon, S., . . .
Hernandez-Mijares, A. (2017). Low testosterone levels are related to oxidative stress,
mitochondrial dysfunction and altered subclinical atherosclerotic markers in type 2 diabetic
male patients. Free Radical Biology and Medicine, 108, 155-162.
5. Bollinger T. (2016) The Unexplored Health Benefits of Fulvic Acid. The Truth About Cancer.
Retrieved from https://thetruthaboutcancer.com/health-benefits-fulvic-acid/
6. Bhattacharyya, S & Pal, D & Banerjee, D & Auddy, B & Gupta, Amartya & Ganguly, P & Majumber,
U.K. & Ghosal, S. (2009). Shilajit dibenzo-α-pyrones: Mitochondria targeted antioxidants.
Pharmacologyonline. 2. 690-698.
7. Donaher, A. What Is ATP and What Does It Do? (2016, October 19). Posted in Technology
Fundamentals. Retrieved from https://www.luminultra.com/what-is-atp-and-what-does-it-do/
Longjack
1. Tambi, M.I., M.K. Imran, and R.R. Henkel, Standardised water-soluble extract of Eurycoma
longifolia, Tongkat ali, as testosterone booster for managing men with late-onset
hypogonadism? Andrologia, 2012. 44 Suppl 1: p. 226-30.
2. Talbott, S.M., et al., Effect of Tongkat Ali on stress hormones and psychological mood state in
moderately stressed subjects. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 2013. 10(1):
p. 28.
3. The Ergogenic Effects of LJ100® Hamzah, S and Yusuf, A. Published: British Journal of Sports
Medicine (2003).BASEM Abstract 37:465-466.
4. Hamzah, S. and A. Yusof, Joint Conference of BASEM and BASES. BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
and British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine, 2003. 37(5).
5. Ismail, S.B., et al., Randomized Clinical Trial on the Use of PHYSTA Freeze-Dried Water Extract
of Eurycoma longifolia for the Improvement of Quality of Life and Sexual Well-Being in Men. Evid
Based Complement Alternat Med, 2012. 2012: p. 429268.