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Editor\u2019s note: This is a guest post from <\/i>Kamal Patel<\/a>, MPH<\/i><\/p>\n Yesterday, we talked about muscle-building supplements<\/a>. And while that’s a big market full of dubious claims, nothing can compare to the marketing chicanery of male virility\/sexuality boosters.<\/p>\n There are supplements out there that promise to increase your libido while also upping your testosterone. There are over the counter testosterone supplements and prescription supplements. There are supplements that market themselves as T-boosters, while also touting themselves as an aphrodisiac. And then there are companies that claim to have developed a testosterone pill that contains the triumvirate of male-enhancing properties: T-boosting, libido-enhancing, and even fertility-increasing. These supplement makers sometimes throw in an additional claim of muscle gain as well.<\/span><\/p>\n For guys who are mainly looking to increase their testosterone, these extra benefits can seem like the icing on the cake, which makes these supplements highly marketable. But when it comes to actually boosting T, do they really work?<\/p>\n Supplements that tout themselves foremost as libido enhancers make up the majority of the market for testosterone boosters. But most don\u2019t have any effect on testosterone levels. So why do people buy them like crazy?<\/p>\n Simple: you think<\/em> they\u2019re working.<\/p>\n When your testosterone levels go up, so does your libido. Unfortunately, the inverse is not true — your libido levels can go up without your testosterone levels also going up. And that\u2019s how most supposed T-boosters \u201cwork”: they make you feel ornery, leading you to think that your T levels are appreciably higher, when they actually aren’t. In rare cases, supplementation will result in a 20% testosterone increase. This kind of improvement may sound<\/em> impressive, but is irrelevant for practical purposes.<\/p>\n If you treat these supplements for what they are (libido boosters), you may be happy with the results.<\/p>\n Legitimate, working testosterone boosters do exist, but they\u2019re not very exciting. They\u2019re not life-changing because, at most, they\u2019ll increase testosterone levels by 20-50%. Compare that to a low-dose steroid cycle, which offers a 300% increase minimum.<\/p>\n You may not be able to tell whether or not a supplement is working without getting a blood test. Even then, blood tests only take your T levels at that exact moment, which can fluctuate based on a lot of different variables. Bottom line: it\u2019s easy to promise a testosterone boost when very few people are actually checking their testosterone levels.<\/p>\n Below we offer a breakdown of the most popular testosterone boosters out there and an assessment as to their effectiveness.<\/p>\n Tribulus terrestris<\/a> is the #1 selling testosterone booster, and the best example of a supplement that increases libido, but has no effect on testosterone.<\/p>\n Anecdotally (and traditionally, in East Asia), it\u2019s worked well for men seeking to increase their confidence and libido, but studies have not confirmed this kind of effect. While preliminary evidence suggests that Tribulus can protect the body from stress, it definitely has no effect on testosterone.<\/p>\n D-Aspartic Acid<\/a> (D-AA) catapulted into the spotlight after a study showed supplementing D-AA could increase testosterone up to 42% after just 12 days. This sparked a frenzy of D-AA supplementation. Within a week, people were reporting greatly increased libido, as well as increased testicle size.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, another study done that spanned a longer time period found that after about a month of D-AA supplementation, testosterone levels returned to normal. A month isn\u2019t long enough for elevated testosterone levels to have an effect on muscle growth and development.<\/p>\n D-AA has been found to provide increased fertility and testosterone when supplemented by infertile men, but it has no effect on athletes and people with normal testosterone levels.<\/p>\n Zinc<\/a> and magnesium<\/a> (both part of the ZMA<\/a> formula) are frequently recommended as testosterone boosters for athletes. These minerals are lost through sweat and during exercise.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re deficient, supplementing with zinc or magnesium can take your testosterone levels to your normal baseline. Additional zinc or magnesium will not<\/em> increase testosterone above normal levels.<\/p>\n Maca<\/a> is a vegetable marketed as a “non-hormonal” libido enhancer. It is popular among post-menopausal women and younger women who are trying to avoid interactions with contraceptives.<\/p>\n Maca\u2019s libido-enhancing properties occur after prolonged supplementation, rather than immediately after a single dose. More research is needed to determine how maca works in the body to increase libido non-hormonally. Maca does not boost testosterone.<\/p>\n Fenugreek<\/a> is technically a testosterone booster. It contains 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, which prevent testosterone from being turned into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This results in:<\/p>\n Even though it may increase testosterone a bit, it\u2019s not to a level that would cause any appreciable gain in muscle.<\/p>\n Fenugreek has other ways to mediate libido. Despite the decrease in DHT, fenugreek supplementation may actually improve sexual function and well-being.<\/p>\n Strangely enough, fenugreek supplementation causes urine and sweat to smell like maple syrup. This libido enhancer obviously works best when taken in Canada, complete with a buffalo plaid shirt and hairy chest (we\u2019re Canadian-based, so we can vouch for this).<\/p>\n Tongkat ali<\/a> is a Malaysian herb that has traditionally been used as an aphrodisiac.<\/p>\n Tongkat ali provides a very mild testosterone boost when supplemented by infertile people, but it has no effect on healthy men.<\/p>\n Tongkat ali is, however, effective at increasing libido. Tongkat ali is not as popular as maca and Tribulus terrestris because it is more expensive, but it could be worth trying, as long as you\u2019re looking for a boost in libido, not testosterone.<\/p>\nThe Libido Paradox<\/h3>\n
Can I boost my testosterone or not?<\/h3>\n
A Breakdown of the Most Popular Testosterone Boosters <\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Tribulus Terrestris<\/h3>\n
D-Aspartic Acid<\/h3>\n
Zinc and Magnesium<\/h3>\n
Maca<\/h3>\n
Fenugreek<\/h3>\n
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Tongkat Ali<\/h3>\n
Mucuna Pruriens<\/h3>\n