Learn how supplements can help your body produce and use testosterone better.
Are you worried about your testosterone levels? You should be. Every man will experience a decline in the production of testosterone and other vital hormones as he ages. For some men, this process can begin to cause noticeable symptoms as early as their 30s.
Hormone production and metabolism are quite complicated, so a wide variety of factors can affect the amount of testosterone your body is producing as well as how efficiently that testosterone is used.
If you suffer from Low T, you will need hormone replacement therapy to boost your testosterone back to a healthy level. However, the following supplements can help support the effectiveness of your therapy.
Zinc: This mineral plays many important roles in testosterone production and use. First of all, zinc is very important for the production of anabolic hormones, including testosterone. Studies have shown that supplementing zinc to a healthy level helped men increase their testosterone up to 90 percent. Zinc is also necessary for maintaining the proper concentration of androgen receptors so that your body can put all that testosterone to use where it’s needed and limit the conversion of testosterone to estrogen. However, it is very important to point out that zinc should only be supplemented if testing shows you are deficient in zinc. Taking in too much zinc can be toxic.
Magnesium: Supplementing magnesium can help improve levels of free testosterone and total testosterone. In part this is due to magnesium’s antioxidant capacity, which allows for a robust release of testosterone. Magnesium’s ability to promote healthy sleep also plays an important role. Testosterone increases overnight and is released episodically during sleep so getting a good night’s rest is very important.
Fish Oil: According to one study, fish oil has been shown to increase the production of luteinizing hormone in the body. This is important for healthy testosterone levels because luteinizing hormone actually stimulates the production of testosterone in the testicles.
Vitamin C: Getting enough Vitamin C is essential for your overall health as well as your hormonal balance. Vitamin C is responsible for the formation of steroid hormones in the adrenal gland and helps control the production of the stress hormone cortisol, which if left to operate unchecked could reduce testosterone levels. Also, men who do not get enough Vitamin C tend to have increased levels of aromatase in the body. This enzyme converts testosterone to estrogen, which obviously harms your efforts to keep your testosterone levels in a healthy range.
Vitamin A: Healthy Vitamin A levels are extremely helpful for maintaining a healthy hormonal balance. Vitamin A can not only decrease estrogen production, but also increase basal testosterone secretion in the testes. It can also help with the production of proteins that transport androgens throughout the body and with the transport of cholesterol into cells. Cholesterol is a building block of all steroid hormones including testosterone.
Before You Supplement
Remember, supplements will work best when used in conjunction with a quality testosterone replacement program administered by a doctor. Before you decide to take supplements to support your testosterone levels, be sure to discuss supplements with your doctor and get any necessary tests that will let you know exactly how much of each supplement to take.