Hyper Weight Vest - Workout Routine
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Natural Testosterone Supplements
Most men tend to get irritable as they get older. One of the prime reasons behind this is a fall in the production of this male hormone. However, things are not just limited to a change in behavior. Loss of lean muscle, weight gain specially around the midsection, fatigue and poor concentration, reduced libido and erectile dysfunction are all some very common effects of a drop in testosterone production.
The production of testosterone begins declining with age and men lose 1% of testosterone a year as soon as they cross 30. Obesity, poor dietary habits, lack of exercise, excessive smoking, increased stress levels aggravate this drop in testosterone levels and hence the effects can be felt sharply.
Testosterone replacement therapy by way of injections, patches, gels and creams can ensure an increased level of this male hormone and can also be beneficial in helping you overcome the above effects of low T-levels. However, hormone replacement therapy comes with its own nuances. Injections can be quite painful and can also lead to certain side effects that include fluid retention, development of male breast, increase in the production of red blood cells that raise the chances of heart strokes and diabetes, prostate enlargement etc.
Natural Testosterone Supplements
If there has to be a way to increase testosterone without any side effects, it is natural testosterone supplements.
Such supplements combine the power and therapeutic effects of various herbs that have been used since thousands of year to boost both testosterone and male sexual function across the world.
Tribulus Terrestris is one such herb that can actually increase your T-levels. Though it does not increase testosterone production itself, it helps stimulate your pituitary gland so that it can produce more of Lutenizing Hormone (LH). This is highly significant since LH helps increase the production of testosterone by the testes.
Another herb that is highly effective and can increase your T-levels is Tongat Ali. This is a herb that is native to Malaysia.
Many bodybuilders use Tribulus and Tongat Ali supplement to boost their testosterone levels and ensure increased muscle growth.
There are many other herbs that are used in such supplements besides the above tow. Such herbs not only increase your T-levels but also increase blood flow throughout the body and to the genitals, increase secretion of nitric oxide and reduce stress.
Stress is a major deterrent when it comes to testosterone production. In fact, it is one of the most significant psychological or emotional factor that can result in decreased testosterone levels. Not only this, it is also likely to enhance the production of Cortisol hormone that inhibits testosterone production.
Some of the benefits of such natural testosterone supplements include increased energy levels, muscle gain, fat loss, improved memory and concentration, better sleep quality, mood elevation and last but not the least increased sex drive and powerful and longer lasting erections.
However, the most significant advantage of using such supplements that is the main reasons behind their increasing popularity is that they do not have any side effects.
Yet, it is important to buy a supplement that is clinically approved and manufactured in a cGMP certified lab since such herbal or natural supplements are not regulated by the FDA.
Find out more on the most widely acclaimed Natural Testosterone Supplements that are absolutely safe and are of high quality and have become a hot favorite among men trying to increase their testosterone naturally.
Matt Penn is a leading health expert and has helped a large number of men get over various health problems resulting from low testosterone levels. Find out more on Best Testosterone Supplements that are highly popular and provide a whole body makeover for men without any side effects.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matt_Penn
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Who Else Wants More Testosterone?
If you workout then you are probably looking for some way to increase your testosterone levels. Increased testosterone has many benefits for all men, but the benefits are especially pronounced for those over 35. Boost your testosterone and you'll not only look better you'll also feel much better.
So, if you don't want to use steroids what legal anabolic ways are there to increase your testosterone levels safely? And more importantly what natural testosterone boosters actually work? Read on about these 7 natural testosterone boosters and cut through the hype about legal anabolics.
1. ZMA
2. Tribulus Terrestris
3. Fenugreek
4. Activate by Designer Supplements
5. 6-OXO
6. Tongkat Ali
7. Yohimbe
ZMA - ZMA is a patented combination of two minerals and the vitamin B-6. The minerals magnesium and zinc were combined with B-6 in ratios that are said to maximize the effectiveness of all three in raising testosterone levels. A study done with NCAA football players bears out the effectiveness of ZMA showing increases of 30% in free and total testosterone over an 8 week period. The only problem is that the study was funded and conducted by one of the owners of the company that holds the patent on ZMA. Decide for yourself how objective that study was.
Putting that aside, ZMA may help some people due to the role that zinc and magnesium play in the production of hormones, in particular testosterone. The participants in this study did have borderline low levels of both zinc and magnesium at the beginning of the study so raising their levels to normal could have had such an impact on testosterone levels.
Since many people are deficient in both zinc and magnesium supplementing with them could help raise natural testosterone levels, but there are cheaper ways than ZMA.
Tribulus Terrestris - Tribulus is a weed that has been used, especially in the tropics, for centuries to increase libido in males. But does it have a measurable effect on testosterone production?
Like ZMA, Tribulus has been shown to raise testosterone levels by up to 30%, but only in people who are deficient in testosterone to begin with. This means if you have low test levels Tribulus will help restore them to more normal levels, however if you already have normal levels of testosterone then Tribulus won't help you at all.
One reason that testosterone levels can drop is during extreme dieting phases and also if you are overtrained. So, if you are cutting or have just discontinued using a prohormone or steroid then Tribulus can give you a natural boost back to normal testosterone production.
Fenugreek - Historically, fenugreek has been used by nursing mothers to increase their production of breast milk. I have no idea how that can tie in with increased testosterone levels, yet recently fenugreek has been finding it's way into test boosters.
There are some studies that have shown fenugreek decreases blood sugar levels in type II diabetics leading me to believe it could be useful as a cutting supplement, but it has no proven effect on testosterone levels.
Activate - Activate is a testosterone boosting supplement made by Designer Supplements. The active ingredient in Activate is called Divanil which is an extract of the stinging nettle plant that has been trademarked by Designer Supplements.
DS claims that Activate works by "unbinding" the bound testosterone in your body and making it free. The idea is that bound testosterone is useless for muscle building, but if it can somehow be made free again it can help you to build muscle.
Your body controls the amount of free testosterone through a protein called Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG). The SHBG binds to your free testosterone making it unavailable for muscle building. Activate works by inhibiting (decreasing) the SHBG in your body. This means more of your testosterone is free to help with your muscle building.
Currently there are no studies proving the effectiveness of Activate, but I can report that I have used it several times over the past couple of years and each time it has helped me lose fat, increased the hardness of my muscles and decreased my recovery time between workout. There is definitely something working right with Activate and I would recommend it to anyone that wants to improve their performance in the gym with a natural and legal anabolic.
6-OXO - This is an Ergopharm product that claims to increase free testosterone and studies show that it works well too. The active ingredient in 6-OXO is 4-etioallocholen-3,6, 17-trione and it has been shown to increase free testosterone levels by up to 126%. Longer term studies are underway, but 6-OXO is definitely worth trying out.
Tongkat Ali - Tongkat ali is an extract from the root of the Eurycoma shrub found mainly in Malaysia and Indonesia. It is also called Longjack and Eurycoma Longfolia.
Tongkat Ali has been used in SE Asia for centuries as a libido booster for both men and women. It is claimed to increase not only libido, but also sexual endurance.
Research hasn't been able to determine how Tongkat Ali works, but it confirms that it does work. Researchers believe that it both increases testosterone and increases free testosterone levels.
Common effects from Tongkat ali are increased well being, better body composition, increased libido and increased focus and aggression.
When looking for Tongkat Ali make sure you are getting extract of the root, not just root powder. The extract will be more expensive, but it's necessary as the root powder simply isn't strong enough.
Yohimbe - Yohimbe has been purported to be both a fat loss aid and a testosterone booster. It has been proven to help with fat loss, but there is no evidence that it helps boost testosterone levels.
Most likely people believe that Yohimbe boosts testosterone because it acts as a libido booster. They equate the boost in libido with a boost in testosterone when this is not the case. The libido boosting effect takes place because Yohimbe is a vasodialator, which means that it opens up blood vessels, especially those located in the genitals.
If you choose to use Yohimbe you should do your research first and be very careful as Yohimbe has been shown to have several negative and dangerous side effects. Many physicians caution against the use of Yohimbe.
So there you have 7 of the common natural testosterone boosters and what my research has turned up. Do your own research and make your own decisions, but I hope that I have helped point you in the right direction when it comes to legal anabolics and natural testosterone boosters.
Author: Steven Walters
About the Author:The author has been a long time gym rat and with his increasing age has become increasingly interested in testosterone boosting products. He has made an extensive study of legal anabolic agents and is has posted many of his reviews and findings at AnabolicAndSteroid.com
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Who Else Wants More Testosterone?
