I love testosterone.

I should, as I’m a doctor who specializes in integrative medicines, which often entails looking at people’s hormone levels and then offering solutions they can use to improve hormone levels naturally.

I’ve been doing this for more than a decade now, and I know that one of the best ways to help men feel better is to help them with their testosterone levels.

This is why I love testosterone, as it has such a profound effect on a man’s vitality and his experience.

Testosterone is often thought of as the “male” hormone. While women do require testosterone, I’ll be discussing men in this article as I want men to know there are things you can take that come from the Earth that can help with testosterone levels.

So, without further ado, let me talk about a few things that men are taking to boost testosterone levels naturally.

4 Supplements to Support Health Testosterone Levels

1 – Fadogia Agrestis:

One of the most well-known and oldest forms of helping maintain testosterone levels comes from taking Fadogia Agrestis.

This plant is from Nigeria and has been used for many years to help men feel more energetic and enhance their satisfaction with their sexual health. 

One of the ways Fadogia works is by activating Leydig cells, which are responsible for making testosterone. 

Some studies have shown that Fadogia Agrestis can make these cells more active in producing testosterone. Even though the exact way this happens isn’t fully understood, it’s believed that some substances in Fadogia Agrestis may help switch on the needed processes for making testosterone.

Another aspect of its use is how it may influence Luteinizing Hormone (LH) production. LH essentially acts as the “boss” of the Leydig cells and tells them to make testosterone. 

Some research hints that Fadogia Agrestis might help the body make more LH, producing more testosterone. This increase in LH can also explain why people often report better sexual health when using Fadogia Agrestis.

It may even stop a process that turns testosterone into a hormone called estrogen. By doing so, it helps keep more testosterone in the body. This action is believed to be good for male sexual health.

There aren’t a ton of studies on fFadogia, but it has a long history of use, and more studies are sure to come. 

2 – Ashwagandha:

Ashwagandha is one of my absolute favorite herbs because of how it helps the body deal with stress.

And that’s part of the reason I like it so much for men’s health. 

Studies show that it supports testosterone production.

In a study Published by the Journal of Ethnopharmacology back in 2015, 8 weeks of ashwagandha use provided an increase in serum testosterone levels. 

A double-blind, randomized study published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition (2015) showed people who took Ashwagandha experienced significant improvements in muscle strength and testosterone levels compared to a placebo group. The theory is that part of this result was from elevated T levels (testosterone levels).

While the mechanisms underlying Ashwagandha’s potential testosterone-boosting effects are not yet fully understood, what I gather is it can help with the following:

Stress Reduction: Ashwagandha is known to help reduce stress and cortisol levels. Elevated cortisol levels can lower testosterone production, so Ashwagandha’s stress-reducing properties indirectly support healthy testosterone levels.

Antioxidant Properties: The herb contains antioxidants that can help protect Leydig cells in the testes, which are responsible for testosterone production.

Hormone Regulation: Some studies suggest that Ashwagandha may influence the hypothalamus-pituitary-testes axis, a key regulator of testosterone production.

3 – Zinc:

I don’t write much on zinc, except when I talk about how it helps with immune health. It could also be quite beneficial for testosterone support. 

Zinc is an amazing micronutrient and is involved in all kinds of physiological processes within the body. 

One of its pivotal roles is serving as a cofactor for enzymes crucial in testosterone production. 

And that’s why ensuring you get the appropriate levels of zinc (through diet or supplementation) is essential for testosterone support.

Here’s a quick rundown of what zinc could do for you.

A study published in the journal Nutrition in 2011 found that zinc supplementation increased testosterone levels in healthy young men. The researchers provided participants with a daily zinc supplement for six weeks, and it was clear it supported T levels better than the placebo group.

Another study published in Biological Trace Element Research in 2016 investigated the impact of zinc supplementation on testosterone levels in men with a deficiency. After six months of zinc supplementation, the participants were shown to have testosterone levels that were absolutely what a doctor would want to see.

A 2019 meta-analysis published in the “Journal of Dietary Supplements” reviewed several studies on the relationship between zinc and testosterone levels. The analysis found that zinc supplementation was associated with a significant increase in testosterone levels in both healthy and zinc-deficient individuals, further supporting the role of zinc in testosterone regulation. 

Lastly, zinc may inhibit aromatase, an enzyme that converts testosterone into estrogen. This inhibition helps to maintain a more favorable testosterone-to-estrogen ratio in the body, which is essential for male hormonal balance. 

Zinc is critical to testosterone production, so taking a supplement with zinc is a good idea.

So is taking the next nutrient:

4 – Vitamin D3:

I’ve written a great deal about the “sunshine vitamin,” as it’s critical to so many facets of life.

What may come as a surprise to many of you is vitamin D has been shown to positively influence testosterone levels, particularly its D3 variant. 

Supplementing with Vitamin D3 to keep D3 levels within the healthy range could help men experience better health and vitality.

A key study published in the journal Hormone and Metabolic Research revealed that men with sufficient vitamin D levels had significantly higher levels of testosterone compared to those with lower vitamin D levels.

The exact mechanisms through which vitamin D works its magic on testosterone production are still being unraveled, but the established interconnection is quite fascinating. In the body, Vitamin D acts on the Leydig cells in the testes, which, as you remember are responsible for testosterone production. 

Vitamin D receptors in these cells and the surrounding tissues suggest a direct pathway through which vitamin D can influence testosterone synthesis. Additionally, vitamin D is known to assist in regulating calcium levels. Calcium plays a vital role in various cellular processes, including the signaling processes that stimulate testosterone production.

Amazing, the sunshine vitamin can do all that (and more).