Testosterone prescriptions
for men have soared in the past few years, rising from 1.3
million men receiving prescriptions in 2010 to 2.3 million in
2013. But if you're suffering from age-related low testosterone
— Low T — and have been taking testosterone drugs, your doctor
may soon be reluctant to prescribe your usual medications.
In the wake of studies that
linked testosterone replacement therapies to cardiovascular
risks, an FDA panel has recommended that the drugs be restricted
to men who suffer from Low T due to medically related issues
such as a tumor or a genetic disorder. The end result could be
that millions of aging Americans will have limited access to
testosterone drugs.
What then? The good news is
that you can boost your testosterone levels naturally using
specific vitamins, minerals, and herbs, such as the five listed
below.
Fenugreek.
A study published in the Journal of the International
Society of Sports Nutrition found that men who took
fenugreek, a popular ingredient in Indian cuisine, for eight
weeks increased their testosterone levels. Another study, this
one published in the Journal of Sports Nutrition and
Exercise Metabolism, found that 500 milligrams daily of
fenugreek for eight weeks increased levels of both total
testosterone and bioavailable testosterone. Still another
study, published in Phytotherapy Research, found that
men who took a supplement containing fenugreek extract for six
weeks increased their libido levels, and the researchers
concluded that it helped maintain testosterone levels.
Horny goat weed.
Used for centuries in China as an aphrodisiac, horny goat weed
has an ingredient called icariin, which several studies have
found increases testosterone levels. Like erectile dysfunction
drugs, icariin inhibits the PDE-5 enzyme, which increases
testosterone levels, allowing the smooth muscles of the penis to
relax and boosting blood flow in the pelvic area by increasing
the production of nitric oxide. Some experts suggest using a
horny goat weed extract with 10 percent icariin.
Vitamin D.
Vitamin D is actually a hormone, and according to a study
published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, about
75 percent of Americans are deficient. A three-year study of
older men published in Hormone and Metabolic Research
found that men who had higher levels of vitamin D also had
higher levels of free testosterone. Another study found that men
with low testosterone who were given a vitamin D supplement
(3,332 IUs) every day for a year experienced a 20 percent rise
in free testosterone. Scientists believe that vitamin D keeps
the body from changing testosterone into estrogen while, at the
same time, making the receptors on adrenal glands (which release
testosterone) more sensitive.
Zinc.
Several studies have linked a deficiency in zinc, which is
essential for your immune system to function properly, with low
testosterone. Experts estimate that up to 45 percent of older
adults lack an adequate intake of zinc, and one study found that
even short-term zinc deficiency can lower testosterone levels.
Another study found that men who took 30 milligrams of zinc
daily increased their levels of free testosterone.
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Bulbine natalensis.
This South American herb has
shown amazing results in animal studies. A study at South
Africa's University of Ford Hare found that bulbine natalensis
increased testosterone by 347 percent in rats when compared to a
placebo, while reducing their estrogen levels by more than 30
percent. A control group given sildenafil, the active ingredient
in Viagra, showed no increases in testosterone levels.