Many men experience a decline in their sex drive in their lives, whether it be due to their age or due to other health problems, but one things for sure, testosterone plays a key role when it comes to aging. Loss of bodily hair muscles, strength and an increase in body fat are all side effects of aging, and testosterone is responsible.

What is Testosterone?

Testosterone is a steroid hormone, and a sex hormone that plays important roles in the body. For men it is produced in the testicles, for women it is produced in the ovaries and adrenal glands. Smaller amounts are produced for women, but increases for men and women during adolescence and early adulthood.

What does boosting your testosterone do?

Through boosting levels of testosterone, it can help build those muscles up, increase your strength, and can help maintain a healthy weight (leaving you fit and healthy). By having good levels of testosterone, it means you have good quality sperm, so there should be no problem when it comes down to having a baby. Testosterone even strengthens bones, your heart, and fights many diseases that low testosterone leaves you susceptible to.

Testosterone boosters are considered to be anything than helps raise the levels of testosterone in the body. This can be done through the different methods listed below. Here you can learn more about testosterone boosters.

  1. Losing Weight

If you’re overweight, carrying those excess kilos may be decreasing your testosterone levels. One study conducted by Clinical Endocrinology found that some obese males that were between the ages of 14 to 20 have up to 50% less testosterone than those who were not overweight. Limiting sugar and fructose and eating healthy saturated fats is what will make losing weight easier.

  1. Exercise

One way to avoid many life-style related diseases, is to exercise frequently. Through doing this, you’re also boosting testosterone levels. A large study found that those who exercised regularly had higher testosterone levels, in the elderly also, exercise increases testosterone levels. According to a study that was conducted, increased physical activity was more beneficial to obese men than a weight loss diet that was in place in order to increase testosterone levels. Weight lifting is the best type of exercise to boost testosterone levels. High intensity workouts are also very effective, overdoing it on the exercise may cause testosterone levels to drop.

  1. Eating more Fat

The more fat you eat, the better when it comes to increasing testosterone levels. Any source of saturated fat, such as bacon, egg yolks, beef fat, butter and many more are all sources of this. Polyunsaturated fatty acids can do way more harm than good, so try and avoid these. Cholesterol, which is found in saturated fats, plays a vital role in boosting those testosterone levels, cells convert the cholesterol to free the testosterone. Testosterone cells are actually made from cholesterol.

  1. Catch some sun

Vitamin D plays an important role in promoting bone growth, having too little can cause many health problems, one of which results in low testosterone levels. Getting a minimum of at least 15 minutes of direct sunlight each day can help boost vitamin D levels. A vitamin D3 supplement can be taken orally, but this should only be the last resort, sun exposure is the best form of vitamin D.

  1. Stress Reduction

Reducing stress levels is vital as stress can lead to many issues in the body. When you experience a lot of stress, it makes your body release high levels of the stress hormone (cortisol). Cortisol actually blocks the effects of testosterone.

  1. Sleep

Getting enough sleep can be a battle, especially if you have a busy schedule, or are busy at work. One study conducted from the University of Chicago had found that testosterone levels dropped in men who did not get enough sleep. The study consisted of 10 healthy men that were aged around 24 years old, they spent 1 week sleeping for only 8 hours per night at home, and then 11 nights were spent in a lab. 10 hours of sleep per night for 3 nights, and then for 5 hours for 8 nights. Doctors checked their blood every 15-30 minutes, and during their last night at the lab, they slept for 10 hours again. Researchers discovered that after only 1 week of restricted sleep. Daytime testosterone levels dropped up to 15%.

  1. Taking Cold Showers

This may sound weird but, the stimulation from a cold shower may boost your testosterone production as well as improve your metabolism, detoxification and brain function. Starting a shower with hot/warm water and then turning it on too cold for at least 30-60 seconds while pumping your muscles, will create a big shiver as your muscles contract.

  1. Testosterone Replacement Therapy

This form of boosting testosterone levels consists of:

  • Skin patches – Skin patches can be worn on the arm or upper body once a day.
  • Gels – Gels that can be absorbed directly through the skin when the gel is applied once daily.
  • Mouth patches – Tablets that can stick to the upper gums inside the mouth, above the incisor, and are placed by the tooth on the right or left of the two front teeth. Can be applied twice daily, by using mouth patches, it releases testosterone into the blood through oral tissues.
  • Injections and Implants – It is possible to also get testosterone directly injected into the muscles or implanted as pellets in the soft tissues inside of your body. This helps the body absorb the testosterone into the bloodstream.

As testosterone therapy may not be suitable for everyone, it is best to boost those testosterone levels naturally, and then use this as the last resort.

Testosterone boosters are basically anything that helps raise your testosterone levels further, natural methods are always best. Not everyone can use natural methods though, as aging can be a factor as well as genes from your parents. Seeking professional medical advice is best when it comes to matters of hormones.