The Ultimate Testosterone Booster Guide: Do They Work & Are They Safe?

Mar 16, 2023

If you follow fitness trends and have been lifting for long enough, you’ll hear a lot about testosterone and supplements that are designed to boost your levels of it. That’s because testosterone’s main purpose is to help you maintain bone density, muscle mass and strength, and more. Healthy testosterone levels can help you reach new goals and push past previous limitations. However, as men age, their testosterone levels decline.

Around or after the ages of 30 or 40, men’s testosterone levels can decline by about 1% each year. Many older men will experience symptoms of lower testosterone in the form of physique changes like increased body fat or reduced muscle mass and strength. Other symptoms could include loss of confidence, motivation, or drive. This has left plenty of men searching for ways to boost their testosterone levels through supplementation. Whether you’re looking to rejuvenate your drive or reach a new goal, test boosters could be your solution. Read this testosterone booster guide to find one that will work best for you.

Do Testosterone Boosters Work?

Testosterone boosters or supplements refer to natural or artificial substances that are intended to raise your testosterone levels. These are over-the-counter supplements—not ones prescribed by your doctor. Common ingredients for test boosters include zinc, vitamin B6, fenugreek, magnesium, boron, and more.

If you’re considering taking it, one of the first questions that come to mind is probably, “Does it work?”

The evidence of their effectiveness can be a bit of a mixed bag.

In this 2018 Study, researchers supplied participants with either AndroGel 1% or a placebo for 1 year. The results suggested that those with testosterone treatment had somewhat improved performance, bone density, and red blood cell count. The testosterone-treated group showed signs of improvement in walking distance, elevated mood, and depressive symptoms.

In a 2017 study, researchers studied the effectiveness of d-aspartic acid (DAA) as reported in nearly 30 animal and human studies. The research suggested that, in animal studies, DAA was effective at increasing testosterone levels. However, the human trials produced mixed results. Their study may have been limited by factors such as age, fitness level, and each participant's base testosterone level.

In this 2013 study, researchers reviewed the results of 25 randomized controlled trials that studied the effects of DHEA supplementation on over 1,300 men. While they found signs of minor body fat reduction, they could not conclude that testosterone levels improved.

How Can I Increase My Testosterone?

Test boosters aren’t your only way of increasing your testosterone. Getting better sleep, exercising regularly, and improving your diet can all naturally increase testosterone. Here are a few ways you can boost your testosterone naturally:

Regular Exercise

You may already be increasing or maintaining healthy testosterone levels if you lift weights a few times a week. A 2015 study done on men with obesity found that increased physical activity did more to boost testosterone levels than calorie reduction. Along with that, there is evidence of resistance training being beneficial to short-term testosterone boosts.

Proper Sleep Schedule

Getting eight hours of sleep can do wonders for your testosterone levels. This study involving nearly 2,300 teenage boys and men linked inadequate sleep to lower testosterone levels. Another study done in 2011 found that getting only 5 hours of sleep could lead to a testosterone reduction of 10%-15%.

High Protein Diet

If you lift regularly, you already know the importance of getting enough protein to help build muscle and recover. But what you put in your body can also affect testosterone levels. There is evidence that overeating or strict dieting could disrupt your natural testosterone levels. In contrast, eating a high-protein diet can help you maintain healthy testosterone levels and help you lose fat.

What Are the Dangers of Testosterone Boosters?

It’s important to know all the ways a testosterone booster could affect your overall health and fitness levels. Like many other supplements, test boosters are associated with some side effects. Depending on the supplement you take, you could experience any of the following side effects and symptoms:

Nausea
Vomiting
Stomach Digestion issues
Acid reflux (heartburn)
Low blood pressure
Muscle weakness
Headaches
Kidney issues

Before starting testosterone boosters, it’s recommended that you talk to your doctor and avoid exceeding the recommended dosages. Overusing a test booster can easily lead to any of the above side effects. Discussing with your doctor can also help reduce the chances of experiencing side effects. Be sure to ask about any medications you’re currently taking and how they may be affected by a testosterone supplement.

Do Testosterone Boosters Make You Bigger?

If you’re a bodybuilder or an avid lifter, you’re probably considering the benefits of testosterone boosters as they relate to your size and strength. But you have to remember that testosterone boosters are for more than just building muscle. They can help improve things like your sex drive, mood, and overall energy levels.

But if you’re just interested in increasing size, you should know that simply taking a test booster will not immediately result in increased size or strength. Testosterone boosters are designed to aid in both muscle growth and fat loss but do not necessarily increase your size. You’ll need to put in the hard work at the gym and stay disciplined in your diet to see those kinds of results.

Is It Worth Taking a Testosterone Supplement?

Still unsure if testosterone supplements are right for you? Before taking them, you should ask yourself what you want to use them to improve. Are you simply seeking ways to get stronger? Do you have a low testosterone level? Have you spoken with your doctor about the possibility of low testosterone or another condition that’s affecting your ability to perform or gain muscle? Knowing the answers to these questions can help you determine whether testosterone supplements could work for you.

Outside of discussing testosterone supplement use with your doctor, there are some pros and cons to consider.

Pros

Many men choose testosterone supplements because they’ve been shown to help increase energy levels, muscle mass, strength, and help improve performance. Testosterone boosters have also been linked to higher bone density and elevated mood and cognition.

Cons

Some men have experienced side effects from testosterone supplementation, like acne and fluid retention. While neither of these are life-threatening side effects, increased fluid retention, and acne can affect your overall appearance. In some cases, testosterone boosters have been linked to mood swings or aggressive behavior. However, most studies show an improvement in mood.

Which Testosterone Supplement Works Best?

When choosing any type of supplement, you always want to ensure you get it from a reputable source. As you can imagine, there are plenty of products out there that claim to do this or that—but those could be just that, claims. But when you get your supplements from a reputable company, you have a better chance of seeing your desired results. At Nutrition Faktory, we work with some of the best supplement brands around.

Nutrition Faktory's Top 5 Testosterone Boosting Products

Do I Need A Testosterone Booster?

Gaining muscle, strength, and drive are your goals, but that doesn’t automatically mean you need a testosterone booster to get you there. You should carefully consider what your overall goals are and if low testosterone levels are holding you back from achieving them. Plenty of research has shown testosterone supplements to help men gain muscle, but not without regular exercise and a high-protein diet. Don’t be fooled by bold claims that some brands may try to market their products with. And as always, consult your doctor to ensure testosterone supplements are right for you.

If you conclude that you could benefit from testosterone supplementation, you may as well buy from a source you can trust. We have a wide variety of hormonal support products, including testosterone boosters from top brands. Check them out here.

Matt Berger