Studies suggest that exposure to sunlight may help increase testosterone levels, as this is the source of most of the body’s vitamin D. In fact, one 2021 study showed that DHEA supplementation significantly increased testosterone levels and improved body composition in older females. This article looks at testosterone in detail, including the role of testosterone in the body and how people can increase their testosterone levels. Compared to other nutrients, zinc’s impact is most noticeable when dietary intake is low, making it a practical choice for those with nutritional gaps. Zinc is an essential mineral that plays a significant role in testosterone synthesis. For many men, dwindling testosterone can lead to decreased energy, reduced muscle mass, and a drop in sex drive. This hormone also influences mood regulation and overall well-being. Check out our in-depth look at how a trusted natural testosterone booster can be an essential part of your wellness routine. She specializes in mental health, sleep, and women's health content, blending evidence-based health reporting with person-first storytelling. She also suggests pairing these types of moves with progressive overload, a type of training where you gradually increase intensity from one workout to the next by adding more weight, reps, or sets. That’s because your body needs a steady supply of nutrients to produce and regulate hormones, says Lakshman. "Fat tissue converts testosterone into estrogen, so losing weight, especially trimming your waistline, can help reverse this process." But "there’s no magic bullet to boost testosterone overnight," says Kishore Lakshman, MD, MPH, an endocrinologist and the director of the center for sexual health at Prima-CARE in Fall River, Massachusetts. Whittaker notes that the eye-popping drop happened when participants were on very high-protein diets — 1.59 grams of protein per pound of body weight per day. It may take a few weeks before you start noticing differences in your body and mood once starting TRT. Your healthcare provider will work with you to figure out which option is best for you. TRT doesn’t fix or cure the underlying cause of low testosterone. They’ll ask about your medical history and do a physical exam. Certain existing health conditions make it unsafe, like prostate cancer and heart failure. For example, chemotherapy or radiation therapy can damage one of these organs. Together, you and your healthcare provider will decide if TRT is right for you. She has served as a health editor at Livestrong.com and currently works as a freelance content strategist for health brands including Peloton, Everyday Health, and Verywell Health. She has been featured on the Physician to Physician Plant-Based Nutrition podcast and given many presentations on lifestyle interventions in endocrine disorders. Bassin has published reviews of nutrition education in medical training and physical activity in type 2 diabetes in Nutrition Reviews, Endocrine Practice, and the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. She trained at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, where she taught culinary medicine classes to patients and medical trainees. If you stop TRT, you’ll return to your normal level of testosterone. If you stop taking testosterone, your levels will return to baseline. This is because if your symptoms don’t improve, your testosterone level may not be the cause of your symptom. This includes monitoring your testosterone level and getting other blood tests to make sure TRT isn’t harming your health. Men aren't the only ones who may benefit from testosterone boosters. When it rises, testosterone falls. Stress causes your levels of cortisol to rise. TRT involves taking manufactured forms of testosterone to regulate your levels of this hormone. Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) can help improve the symptoms of low testosterone due to male hypogonadism. Low testosterone levels can affect your sex drive and your mood. The Endocrine Society reports that glucose (sugar) decreases testosterone levels in the blood by as much as 25 percent. The best way to achieve and maintain a healthy weight is through a sensible diet and regular exercise.
