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Introduction
Most people consume testosterone boosters to increase their muscle mass however boosting testosterone has also worked effectively for other health benefits like mental concentration and cognitive function, besides libido & energy. Testosterone therapy can improve male sexual performance as well. Some people also use testosterone boosting supplements as pre-workouts, as they give an extra boost and kick to the workouts!
Quick Summary
Overall best supplements for increasing testosterone and reducing cortisol & estrogen : Prime Male & TestoPrime
Best T supplements for ED, libido, male sexual performance : Performer8 and Prosolution Plus
Best T supplements for muscle growth: Prime Male and TestoPrime
Best KSM66 ashwagandha supplements for men: TestoPrime and Performer8
Best ashwagandha, ginseng, Magnesium ZMA, D-AA (D Aspartic acid) complex : Prime Male
Best ashwagandha(withania) complex with Maca and Epimedium (Horny Goat Weed) : Performer8
Best ashwagandha, ginseng, Maca root, Grape seed extract(NO enhancer) complex : Performer8
Best Testosterone supplements with DIM/Indole-3-Carbionol estrogen blockers : AlphaViril and Hunter Test
Best T boosters for weight loss : TestoPrime and AlphaViril
Best ashwagandha T booster with Shilajit & Kapikachhu (Mucuna Pruriens) : ProSolution Plus , AlphaViril and Nugenix® Total-T Maxx
Best T booster with fenugreek and D-AA : TestoPrime
Best T booster for men over 40: Prime Male
Best testosterone supplement on Amazon/Walmart/GNC: Force Factor Alpha King Supreme
Most Testosterone boosters for bodybuilding will also stack well with prohormones and HGH boosters, for more enhanced potential of bulking up & getting solid muscle gains and strength.
Types of testosterone boosters
There are mainly two types of boosters that are available in the market, legal and illegal. The legal boosters are usually natural that generally have no known side effects and they are more effective. Their results show up slowly and gradually when compared to the illegal boosters that give instant results.
Prohormones like Andros also fall in the category of legal Testosterone boosters and their effect is usually faster than Natural testosterone boosters.
Illegal boosters are available without any prescription. Use of these illegal boosters may cause some serious medical conditions similar to anabolic steroids.
How do testosterone boosters work?
Legal boosters are not only safe but also quite effective in promoting muscle growth and improving sex drive. However, their working mechanisms differ, and its a good idea to pick a T booster that has ingredients that work via several mechanisms.
For example, some T boosters work by lowering the levels of estrogen in the body. Estrogen stimulates the secretion of testosterone in the body and low levels of estrogen in the body means more secretion of testosterone. Most of the brands of these boosters aim to reduce the estrogen level in the body and stimulate testosterone production in the body.
There are several vitamins, herbs and minerals which are known to enhance testosterone levels. Magnesium and Zinc boost testosterone levels. There are number of natural; occurring elements which can be supplemented with our daily diet to act as a natural testosterone booster.
There are certain benefits to taking these supplements like weight reduction, increased muscle growth and increased muscle repair. These boosters also increase overall strength and vigor and endurance.
There are many brands of these boosters in the market but you need to choose one that is capable of giving the results that you desire.
Guidelines on buying Testosterone boosting supplements for bodybuilders & athletes
- NOT all T boosters will work for everyone, and what would work for you best is probably a question of trial & error. Having said that, always try to buy a T booster which has several time-tested & scientifically backed ingredients that work via multiple mechanisms.
- Just because a Testosterone booster looks good on paper (based on ingredients), doesn’t mean it will also work good. Sometimes the product has ingredients but they are not in enough quantities to make significant impact. And sometimes the product just doesn’t work for MOST people, despite being good in theory. For example, Cellusyn Labs Testogenix and Nugenix Ultimate are quite popular Testosterone supplements that also look good, but still their reviews aren’t as great as expected, that’s why they end up being lower on our list.
- In the list of best Testosterone supplements below, the criteria for rankings are Ingredients, User reviews, Price, Quality, Brand Reputation. Sometimes, the product is too good but it’s NOT being used by many bodybuilders because of low publicity, so it ends up being lower on the list. Examples of such products are Axe Sledge ManPower (Testosurge) and Metabolic Nutrition Metatest. Both of these products we recommend highly, although they rank much lower in the list, because of NOT enough data from consumers.
- When you buy a product from the list below, we make commissions. We only recommend products we would buy ourselves.
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Top 10 Testosterone boosting supplements for bodybuilders & athletes: Compare
| RANK | NAME | DETAILS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PrimeMale | Prime Male Vitality Complex is a Testosterone Booster that boasts a scientifically proven blend of 12 natural nutrients which are formulated to work particularly well for men whose T levels are on the decline and provide them with real and reliable health benefits. Through exhaustive research, the manufacturer has created one of the most potent formulas that work synergistically to effectively stimulate natural testosterone production within your body. It's also most safe than most other testosterone boosters. It has all the necessary ingredients to improve your body’s natural testosterone production significantly and take your workouts and your gains to the next level. It's NOT the strongest though, as it's ALL Natural, if you want a stronger Testosterone booster than this, we recommend you try STEEL 1-Andro (a prohormone) which should be followed by its PCT counterpart ALPHA-AF. | |
| 2 | Test RX | With this ZMA based T booster TestRX, you’re getting scientifically dosed amounts of high-quality ZMA delivered straight into your system for better pumps, more energy and faster muscle growth. The short version of how TestRX™ works is that it encourages the body to make more testosterone. Test RX by LeadingEdgeHealth is a powerful, comprehesive formulation created by all-out research to give you a powerful blend of proven testosterone boosters that will help you with visible – and impressive – natural muscle growth. TestRX™ is made at a cGMP-compliant facility in the USA. They've also included extra vitamins, minerals and nutrients proven to promote testosterone and athletic performance. | |
| 3 | Allmax Nutrition TestoFX | AllMax Nutrition TestoFx is a 5 stage testosterone booster to increase testosterone by almost 284%! The biggest thing about this test booster is the 5 main matrixes!
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| 4 | Universal Nutrition Animal Test | Animal Test is a revolutionary testosterone booster from Universal Nutrition that safely stimulates natural testosterone production. Animal Test's powerful blend of testosterone-boosting ingredients will help you increase lean muscle mass, reduce recovery time, and take your workouts to the next level. In order to maximize this uproar of utilizable testosterone, Animal Test comes fully equipped with a combination of cutting edge anti-estrogens including the ultra antioxidant Trans Resveratrol with 3´,5,7-Trihydroxy-4´-methoxyflavone (Hesperetin) and Cissus Quadrangularis. Also included is a Hypertrophic Response Complex that utilizes the best ingredients like Bioperine. Animal Test gets you pumped faster, improving your gains while improving your look! | |
| 5 | Testosyn | XPI’s Testosyn utilizes 7 different test boosting ingredients, so you're covered from all angles. Fight age-related testosterone decline, and see boosted performance across the board. XPI’s Testosyn combines testosterone-boosting ingredients such as Fenusterols, D-aspartic acid, and tribulus terrestris, to raise your testosterone safely and naturally. Each three capsule serving contains the most concentrated amounts of active ingredients for the most effective testosterone production effects. | |
| 6 | Prosolution Plus | This product is marketed as a premature ejaculation treatment, but this is an excellent Testosterone booster as well. It has all the ingredients and traits of a powerful T booster and also uses Himalayan Shilajit that has its usage history in bodybuilding. The ProSolution Plus™ formula is an elixir of male virility, combining herbals, minerals, vitamins and nutrients used for over 4,000 years in the Ayurvedic tradition and ancient Chinese medicine. One of the rare T boosters in the marketplace that makes use of Himalayan Shilajit, Mucuna Pruriens and Ashwagandha all in one. It also contains other powerful ingredients like Tribulus Terrestris etc. | |
| 7 | Axe Sledge Testosurge | Axe & Sledge is one of the hottest and latest test boosters on the market and was rolled out by well known bodybuilder Seth Feroce. ManPower is a testosterone booster aimed at men over 30 and it aims to turn back the clock on your body. This supplement features a total of 9 ingredients that have been proven to increase natural testosterone levels and aid in body recomposition. With a solid ingredient profile that includes time-tested ingredients, this is something you must try!
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| 8 | Nutricost Testosterone Complex | Nutricost's Testosterone Complex is a smart blend of testosterone-boosting and supporting ingredients. D-aspartic acid has been included in the complex due to its ability to potentially raise testosterone levels in men who have pre-existing low levels. Each dose also includes tribulus terrestris, maca root, avena sativia, and more. Those who are suffering from low testosterone or are just looking for a boost in stamina may experience benefit with Nutricost's testosterone complex. D-aspartic acid, an amino acid, appears to act on the hypothalamus and stimulate the secretion of both gonadotropin-releasing hormone and growth hormone-releasing hormone, which act downstream to ultimately produce testosterone, GH, and IGF-1. Therefor, an increase in D-aspartic acid can ultimately boost testosterone levels, especially in men with low circulating testosterone. | |
| 9 | BPI Sports A-HD Elite | With a 4.5 stars rating on Amazon, BPI Sports A-HD Elite/Solid Stack is a product designed to support healthy testosterone levels, increase muscle mass, libido, and stamina. Promote a leaner, more muscular physique with the A-HD Elite/Solid stack. A-HD Elite is a powerful, testosterone support agent designed to promote optimal test levels and muscularity. Solid is an advanced body fat deconstructing agent with both anabolic and androgenic support. Together, the A-HD Elite/Solid stack is formulated to put your body in an optimal state for muscle growth, strength gains, and lower body-fat levels. Plus, both formulas are ultra-concentrated, so you only need one small dose per day to experience the benefits. As with any other product, a proprietary blend is a red flag. However, all of the ingredients are proven to be safe, but there’s no real way to judge their efficacy and the risk of side effects without knowing the exact quantities. | |
| 10 | Beast Sports Nutrition Super Test | Super Test is rated 4 stars on Amazon currently, and comprised of over 10 different testosterone amplifying agents that kick your levels into overdrive and deliver a powerful surge that you will notice quickly. In order to maximize your boost in testosterone, this unique matrix also includes estrogen normalizing ingredients to support normal, healthy ratios. These optimal ratios help build lean muscle mass and maximize your testosterone boosting supplement. While the ingredient matrix is quite impressive, we don't like the fact that lot of the ingredients' quantities are hidden behind various propritary blends in the product. However, the ingredient profile is definitely top of the line. With the vitamins, Fenugreek, KSM-66 Ashwagandha extract, Male support complex, Anti-estrogen shield, Anti-DHT shield, Liver & Kindey support ingredients, this is a COMPREHENSIVE T booster for bodybuilders & athletes alike.
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| 11 | Metabolic Nutrition Metatest | MetaTest by Metabolic Nutrition is a single pill that has explosive power. This DHEA-based testosterone booster formula is a metabolic testosterone boost to enhance Testosterone and lower your cortisol levels to give you that environment for hard, lean, and dry leans. It's one of the best bodybuilding supplements out there because of its ability to improve athletic performance and sexual performance on top of lowering estrogen. MetaTest has a unique formula that delivers fast results like aggression in the gym and boosting strength. The reason for this is the main ingredient, D-Aspartic Acid, which takes up 3,000mg of the 4,615mg of the Amplifier Matrix. What this does is boosts your natural testosterone levels in your body to then give you results and lower estrogen, getting that manly feeling. This pill also contains 3000IU of Vitamin D3, to give you extreme energy and improving muscle function.
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| 12 | Cellusyn Labs Testogenix | With 3.5 stars rating on Amazon, Testogenix earned a high spot as one of the best testosterone supplements this year because of its power-packed ingredients. This is THE testosterone booster if you’re looking for a supplement that will increase your muscle mass and strength, give you a better sex drive while improving your performance, decreasing body fat, and won’t fill your body with potentially harmful chemicals. With all powerful T boosting ingredients like D-AA, Tribulus, Mucuna Pruriens, Zinc, Cissus Quadrangularis, Avena Sativa, Horny goat weed, Maca root, Tongkat Ali etc. it is a little surprising though why this has lower rankings on Amazon than other products like BPI Sports A-HD Elite. Perhaps the product isn't working as good for consumers, or maybe some ingredients are dosed in lower quantities. Anyways, consumers should note that NOT all T boosters, even those ranked highly in our list, will work for everyone! | |
| 13 | Nugenix Ultimate | This Testosterone supplement got very popular in the past 2 years and the company reformulated its elite testosterone supplement using a blend of 8 key ingredients that have been tested by third-party scientists to ensure adherence to stringent quality and purity standards. The ingredients in the new Ultimate, benefit bodybuilding by reducing anti-T hormones such as cortisol, estrogen, and SHBG.
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Guidelines on consuming testosterone boosters
Wrestlers, body builders, athletes, weight lifters and all the people who want to build muscles get strength and increase libido can use these boosters. It is always advisable to start these boosters only after you are at least 21 years of age. This makes your body capable of handling the changes caused in the body due to increased testosterone levels.
Many young boys start taking them at the age of 17 or 18 but it may not be good for their body to start using these boosters at such an early stage. You must always take it as a prescription drug even though it is easily available over the counter. This will keep you safe from all the possible side effects of these boosters. If you have been suffering from any heart or kidney problem then it is better to stay away from these boosters because a significant increase in the level of testosterone can be dangerous for you under these medical conditions. People with problem of an enlarged prostate must strictly stay away. When you start consuming these boosters you should also drink a lot of water.
Prescription Testosterone Medications
Testosterone is a perfectly legal medication for men suffering with low testosterone. Its uses are widespread, but it’s often prescribed as part of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or testosterone replacement therapy (TRT).
This synthetic form of pure testosterone is traditionally administered via injection every two weeks. Gels or patches are becoming a popular way to increase testosterone. With a patch or a gel, the synthetic testosterone is absorbed through the skin, or transdermal absorption.
Prescription transdermal testosterone treatments are used by millions of men whose levels have crashed (below 200 ng/dL). Nevertheless, it is a long term treatment plan that requires doctor supervision to regulate the body’s delicate hormone balance and can only be obtained with a prescription.
Prohormones
Prohormones are chemicals that convert to hormones such as testosterone or testosterone-like equivalents in the body. However, in 2005, these compounds became illegal and added to the list of Schedule III Drugs.
The ban on the sale and use of prohormones gave way to a new wave of supplements called “designer steroids.” These steroids are typically estrogen derivatives and have varying levels of effectiveness.
Natural Testosterone Boosters
Testosterone boosters are substances (often herbal and natural) that coax the body to produce more luteinizing hormone (LH). LH is the messenger hormone secreted by the pituitary gland that signals the testes to produce more testosterone. Natural testosterone boosters also signal the testes directly to produce more testosterone.
Since 2005, these natural supplements make up the bulk of the testosterone supplements sold over the counter. Testosterone supplements rely on naturally increasing testosterone production without synthetic testosterone or prohormones. Testosterone boosters are considered a safer and more convenient way for men to increase testosterone production.
Testosterone boosters are also used by a wider variety of men. While prescription testosterone products are limited to men with very low testosterone, boosters are often used to supplement existing testosterone.
Benefits of using natural testosterone boosters
There are certain benefits to taking these supplements like weight reduction, increased muscle growth and increased muscle repair. These boosters also increase overall strength and vigor and endurance.
Generally, there are no side effects of the natural boosters because they are herbal based. These can be consumed without any fear of side effects. They can be consumed by professional athletes because they do not supply hormones to the body.
Unlike illegal testosterone boosters they are not banned by the sports bodies. These improve overall natural health instead of simply increasing muscle mass. Natural boosters work as natural supplements for improving health which automatically increases the testosterone production in the body.
Testosterone Supplements FAQs
Q. Are testosterone supplements safe?
A. If used correctly, testosterone supplements are very safe and effective. eSupplements.com puts the general health of its customers first and only carries legal, natural testosterone boosters that are safe and highly effective when taken according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Q. Who should use testosterone supplements?
A. Natural testosterone boosters can be used by any male over the age of 18. Whether your goals are sports related or just combating low testosterone, a testosterone supplement can help. If you’re an athlete, be sure to check with your sport’s governing body before taking any testosterone product and read the ingredients carefully. With most organizations, it is your responsibility to ensure you’re not taking any banned substances.
Q. How do I know if I have low testosterone?
A. Begin by checking your symptoms (listed below). The sure-fire method is simply having blood work done. If your testosterone levels come back with a number below 300 ng/dL, you’ll be considered clinically low, but most men 30-60 yrs old will experience symptoms of low testosterone if their level drops below 500 ng/dL making a testosterone supplement a viable option.
Most physicians will order blood work if you are experiencing a combination of the following symptoms:
Decrease in libido (sex drive)
Lack of energy
Decrease in strength and/or endurance
Loss of muscle mass/difficulty increasing mass
Erectile dysfunction
Depression
Decrease in athletic performance
Q: What are the ingredients present in Testosterone Boosters?
A: There are many substances that can boost testosterone production levels and free up existing testosterone while suppressing estrogen production. Note that they do not have the testosterone hormone in them at all.
Here are the main and the more common ones:
ZMA
D-Aspartic Acid
Fenugreek
Damiana
Tribulus Terrestris
Ginseng
Saw Palmetto
Vitamin D
Oyster Extract
Stinging Nettle Extract
Forskolin
Tongkat Ali
Besides the above natural ingredients, there are also prohormones like Andro supplements. They convert into testosterone or derivatives of testosterone when consumed orally. So, they are little different than above natural T boosters.
Q. What benefits will I get from a Testosterone supplement?
A. The benefits of taking testosterone boosters are many:
Increase Muscle Mass
Increase Libido (Sex Drive)
Increase Energy
Improve Confidence and Mood
Quicken Fat Loss
Get Stronger Bones
Improve Cardiovascular System
Help With Insomnia
Help Against Depression
As you can see, the benefits are many, so it’s entirely understandable why testosterone supplements have long been used to increase physical capabilities in men. They help men keep their body’s testosterone production and utilization at optimal levels.
Besides the muscle building benefits – the primary benefit is that test boosters help increase this hormone’s levels despite aging.
This means that older men get much better benefits of using these types of supplements than young guys!
Q. How long before I see results?
A. Symptoms of low testosterone should improve in as little as 7 to 14 days when using a testosterone booster. Athletic and physical improvements can come in less than 6 weeks when proper nutritional and training are in place.
For physique and athletic improvements, we recommend increasing your protein intake while taking a testosterone supplement. Higher levels of testosterone will allow your body to absorb and retain greater amounts of the protein you eat, which facilitates the muscle building process.
Q. How are testosterone supplements administered?
A. Natural testosterone boosters are administered orally (via pill or powder) and recently there have been several popular products that require transdermal absorption, which means you rub them on your skin. This relatively new mode of administration is great for those that hate pills or have had poor luck taking testosterone supplements in pill or powder form in the past.
It’s not uncommon to have a highly acidic stomach that doesn’t allow for the absorption of the ingredients in many testosterone supplements, thus transdermal administration can actually lead to higher absorption rates.
Q. Do I need to take additional products when using a testosterone supplement?
A. Some manufacturers like Steel Supplements will recommend a product (one that they make usually) at the end of a testosterone supplement cycle. This period of time is generally called post-cycle therapy (PCT) and is a time for the body to rebalance and produce testosterone on its own.
PCT is associated with prescription testosterone and prohormones and appears unnecessary after a cycle of a natural testosterone booster, especially considering the fact that most of these very same boosters are what companies recommend for PCT!
STEEL Alpha-AF is a top recommended PCT supplement to use after a cycle of Testosterone boosters.
Q. How long can I take a testosterone product without a break?
A. Testosterone boosters like Nugenix etc. are designed to increase the natural productions of your body’s testosterone and therefore can be taken for extended periods of time. There’s no hard data to suggest that you can’t take them continuously, but for the purposes of hormonal balance, we recommend taking scheduled breaks. 12-20 weeks is plenty of time to see noticeable results, so we suggest taking a 4-week break at the conclusion of a cycle lasting that long.
Q. Can I use testosterone supplements for competitive sports performance enhancement?
A. Testosterone is heavily restricted by many of the governing bodies in sports: NCAA, NBA, NFL, MLB, IOC, etc. The organizations that test for banned substances, are principally the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) domestically, and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) internationally.
Unfortunately, using testosterone supplements is considered doping in most sports. Even some natural testosterone boosters will cause you to test positively. Consequently, athletes considering a testosterone supplement should first check the list (hyperlink: http://www.wada-ama.org/en/World-Anti-Doping-Program/Sports-and-Anti-Doping-Organizations/International-Standards/Prohibited-List/) that WADA has established. This list is uniform with most other anti-doping agencies including USADA. Nevertheless, consult your own governing body as an extra precaution.
