by Chris Shugart
T Boosting: Step by Step
There are four ways to optimize and boost T, but you need to take it one step at a time. Check it out.
The Game: Do you want to play a game? Let's see who can lower their natural testosterone levels the fastest. The winner gets a slap to the back of the head because this is a stupid game with stupid prizes. But let's pretend to play it to see what we can learn.
Okay, how would a person win this game? Like this:
- Diet: Eat a diet full of sugar and flour to increase insulin levels and indirectly reduce testosterone. Also, eat lots of soy protein and crush beers daily. Both contain hormone-disrupting phytoestrogens. Also, eat a very low-fat diet and consume all your foods from plastic containers. Ideally, get fat.
- Lifestyle: Don't lift weights and sleep as little as possible. And if you can find a way to stress yourself out, do it.
- Supplements & Drugs: Stop taking mineral supplements and vitamin D. Start taking licorice root and drinking spearmint tea. Tell your doctor you're worried about hair loss and get on finasteride. If you really want to "win," have your doctor affirm your new gender or say you've had sexual thoughts about kids. Both are treated with the same anti-androgen drugs if you're male.
Sound fun? Nope. Most of us want to optimize our T levels, not smash them. So here are the four levels of testosterone optimization:
Level 1: Don't Play the Game Above
Read that list again. Do the opposite.
Level 2: Correct Deficiencies
Give your body the tools it needs to churn out testosterone:
- Vitamin D: Vitamin D acts as a hormone in the body. Receptors for it are found in the reproductive organs of men and women, suggesting a direct role in testosterone synthesis. And studies show that when a deficiency is corrected, T levels rise. The older you get, the harder it becomes for your body to absorb and utilize vitamin D, so supplement with a high-dose, microencapsulated formula like D Fix High Absorption Vitamin D (Buy at Amazon).
- Zinc, Magnesium, and Selenium: Zinc is essential for testosterone production and the function of enzymes involved in its synthesis. It also plays a role in regulating luteinizing hormone (LH), which signals the testes to make T. Magnesium regulates testosterone bioavailability by reducing sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), which "kidnaps" testosterone and makes it inactive. A selenium deficiency impairs T production by increasing oxidative stress and disrupting thyroid hormones. Stay topped off in all three minerals. Use the Albion-chelated form for best results, found in Elitepro Vital Minerals (Buy at Amazon).
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids: If you're too low in DHA and EPA, testosterone production is hamstrung by unhealthy cell membranes, out-of-control inflammation, and more. To fix it, take a fish supplement containing caprylocaproyl polyoxyl-8 glyceride, a pharmaceutical compound used to increase bioavailability. Flameout DHA-Rich Fish Oil (Buy at Amazon) fits the bill.
Level 3: Take Longjack
Correcting deficiencies goes a long way, but other things out of our control can lower natural T levels, from simple aging to complex environmental factors. Longjack (Eurycoma longifolia or Tongkat Ali) might just be the last real herbal T-booster. Some researchers are calling it a "safe and promising therapeutic option for patients with hypogonadism."
Longjack boosts T by two primary actions: synthesizing testosterone by blocking its aromatization into estrogen and stimulating testosterone production in testicle Leydig cells. As a bonus, it won't shrink the testicles like testosterone replacement therapy, it helps fight stress, and it supercharges sexual health.
For best results, use the standardized LJ100 form found in Omega-Man High Absorption Longjack (Buy at Amazon).
Level 4: Get on TRT
You may never need to take this final step. If you do, before seeing a doctor, prepare yourself with these resources:
- The Ultimate Testosterone Replacement Guide: Everything you need to know on one page. Print it out.
- The TRT Forum: Sign in to this free discussion forum, ask your questions, and get expert advice.