Testosterone Boosters
The inception of testosterone boosters in the market place has been regarded by many men as somewhat of a miracle. Seeing as men above the age of 25 have to make peace with the fact that their testosterone levels are only going to decline and bring along some dramatic changes, the booster manufacturers have no problem getting men excited again. But how effective are testosterone boosters? What do they contain that make them so special? Are there side effects? Is it worth using and most importantly, are the promises made by the manufacturers realistic? The following will look at all these interesting questions and hopefully help you make some informed decisions.
What are Testosterone Boosters?
If perhaps you haven’t heard of testosterone boosters or only the stories promoters tell, here is a basic clarification. Boosters are supposed to increase your testosterone level using natural extracts from various different sources. When testosterone levels are increased you have more energy, an increase in sex drive, muscle mass (applicable to exercise) and physical strength. According to the manufacturers of these boosters, when the recommended dosage is used you will experience amazing effects in all the above mentioned areas. Unfortunately, it’s up to the consumer to add a measure of realism to these amazing effects. For the most part guys experience the placebo effect, but this isn’t to say that boosters aren’t completely useless. There are some products that actually show signs of increased testosterone levels, but it’s not as amazing as the developers claim.
Top of the Line Testosterone Boosters Available
Tribulus Terrestris
This is one of the most popular boosters on the market and it has been for quite some time now. In fact, it’s the bestselling booster among men. The main ingredient is Tribulus, which is derived from plants that grow in Africa, Asia, Australia and Europe. Tribulus consists of compounds such as protodioscin, which is believed to be the magic within the product. The recommended dosage per day is between 300 and 600mg.Scientific research shows that this particular booster does increase libido, but it doesn’t really do anything for testosterone levels. But seeing as it is the most popular booster on the market, it has to be doing something right.
D-Aspartic Acid (D-AA)
A short term study revealed that using D-AA increased libido in addition to the package size within a matter of 12 days. It’s an amino acid that apparently doesn’t just increase testosterone levels, but also helps to produce it. The study that was done showed a 42% increase over the course of 12 days and the men that participated in the study said that they definitely felt the difference, especially in the size of their package.
However, another study that increased the time period for testing to 30 days found that testosterone levels returned to previous levels. For infertile men D-AA actually does increase sex-drive and testosterone levels, but for guys with normal levels it’s not going to make such a big difference. Once again, experience with this booster is the only way to see if it works for you, which is obviously very possible.
ZMA
ZMA is an abbreviation for Zinc, Magnesium and Vitamin B6. For athletes this is can be a very useful booster because it actually helps to maintain these vital minerals during extensive training, which leaves the body through sweating. Instead of increasing testosterone levels, it simply helps to bring it back to normal levels while you are exercising. Even though it doesn’t increase the level beyond normal means it can be very useful in terms of its restoration potential.
Epimedium (Horny Goat Weed)
By now everyone has heard the name Horny Goat Weed and it’s associated with traditional Chinese medicine. Different brands come with different levels of strength and it has made quite a name for itself regarding sex drive elevation. The only tests that have been done on the base compound, icariin, has been on rats and studies have yet to show if the same promising effects extend to men. There is a definite chance that it can boost testosterone, but only testing it will provide sufficient proof. For the most part the name and the Chinese origins are the biggest selling points.
Testosterone Booster Side-Effects
After hearing all the great things testosterone boosters can do, the side-effects also deserve some attention.
– Aggression and mood swings
– The possibility of testicles reducing in size
– Oily Skin
– An increase in sleep apnea (loss of breath while you sleep)
– Acne
– Retaining excess water
– More frequent bathroom breaks
Why Boosters are so popular?
The testosterone market is booming because guys are paying a lot more attention to how they look. Of course you want some muscle mass and a nicely toned body, which is where boosters come in. The primary goal of using boosters is to speed up the muscle building process. Testosterone really helps to endure more physical activities in addition to shaping the muscles a lot quicker. The second purpose is for getting that libido back. However, there is a small group of guys that simply use boosters for health reasons.
Are Testosterone Boosters Effective?
Thanks to the new regulation laws it’s much easier to melodramatize products and what they can do without having to worry about legal problems. This also means that a lot of scammers are cashing in on the trade. Along with the lack of insufficient independent studies everything comes down to consumer opinion, because how do you spot quality products among the hundreds of options? The best way to find something that can actually be worth trying is to research the ingredients of the product and see where it leads you. This article isn’t meant to debunk testosterone boosters, but instead provide some clarity and realism to an over-promoted market.
Conclusion
According to available test results testosterone boosters are only effective in particular cases, but from looking at the amount of sales and the growing market there might be actually something behind all the promises. Just remember to drink the recommended dose and the moment something feels out of place then stop using the booster altogether. They can be very helpful and they can be just as dangerous, so take your time to make a decision.