Testosterone is the primary hormone responsible for muscle gain. As you age, your body produces less testosterone than it did in your late teens and early 20s, according to the National Institute on Aging. Taking supplements can help to increase testosterone levels in the body for increased muscle growth efficiency as well as several other health benefits, such as sexual health, especially in men.
Types
Two types of testosterone supplements are on the market. The first type is derived from Tribulus terrestris, or simply Tribulus, a plant grown in moderate to tropical climates. Tribulus boosts testosterone levels by stimulating the anterior pituitary gland, which is one of the primary sources of testosterone production in the body. The other type is zinc monomethionine aspartate (ZMA), and this all-natural product works by increasing anabolic hormone levels, which in turn increase muscle growth. ZMA has been shown to increase testosterone levels by as much as 30 percent when taken according to the manufacturer's recommended dosage---usually taken one or two times per day.
Benefits
Testosterone supplements can have a positive effect on overall muscle growth because testosterone is the hormone responsible for growth in the human body, including that of bones and muscle. By modestly increasing these hormone levels in the body using all-natural testosterone boosters, such as ZMA and Tribulus, muscle can increase in size more efficiently. Increased testosterone levels also have other benefits as well, including increased libido, enhanced mood and a boost in energy levels.
Warning
Taking illegal testosterone-boosting supplements can be harmful to your health, affecting fertility, hair growth, acne, liver function, cholesterol, growth and aggressiveness among others factors. Illegal testosterone-producing drugs are called anabolic-androgenic steroids, and they use a synthetic version of testosterone to promote muscle growth. Common types of these illegal drugs include Android, Oxandrin and Anadrol. Newer "designer" steroids came about in the early 2000s and have been commonly associated with use by athletes due to their nature of being difficult to detect through drug testing. A few of the most common types of "designer" steroids include THG, Madol and Genabol.
Expert Insight
Harrison Pope, a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, has conducted studies on the effectiveness of testosterone supplementation on mood and depression. Not only did many of the subjects benefit from the supplements in terms of mood, but most of them experienced increased muscle growth, even those who fell in the category of experiencing no significant change in mood. Pope says, "One man who got no psychiatric benefit at all gained about 15 pounds of muscle mass and lost about eight pounds of fat."
Side Effects
Taking all-natural testosterone boosters, such as those containing Tribulus, has been proven to produce no serious side effects, according to NYU's Langone Medical Center. This statement only holds true when these products are taken using the manufacturer's recommended dosage guidelines. Be advised that taking an excessive amount of any supplement can be harmful to your health.
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