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5 Must-Have Testosterone Promoters for Building Muscle
Finding the right supplement can help you achieve your dream physique. Here's what you need to know.
As men age, muscle becomes harder to develop. But it's not impossible. There are plenty of guys in their 50s and 60s getting jacked naturally — and they're doing it with the help of testosterone supplements.
You've probably seen ads for products that promise to make you look like Arnold, but the truth is, most guys aren't going to transform into Mr. Universe with the flick of a pill.
Throw in all the competing narratives and "health influencers" telling you how to spend your money, finding a quality testosterone supplement can quickly turn into a headache. The good news is we've done the legwork for you!
Find out what highly effective testosterone supplements all have in common, what to look for and what to avoid in your product, and finally, a look at Brilliant’s 5 must-have muscle-building testosterone supplements of 2024.
The Relationship Between Testosterone & Muscle
In order to add mass to your muscles, you must first put them under stress. You can accomplish this with basic strength training exercises — weight lifting, resistance bands, calisthenics, etc.
This triggers the release of testosterone, which facilitates a process called muscle-protein synthesis, which converts protein from your diet into muscle tissue.
In addition to promoting muscle-protein synthesis, testosterone helps maintain healthy levels of IGF-1 and other hormones essential to muscle building.
In short, the more testosterone you have, the easier it is to pack on muscle.
Healthy Testosterone Levels Support
Naturally, testosterone production begins to slow as you age. But it doesn’t happen overnight, and it’s certainly not a death sentence for your strength, sexual performance, or overall well-being.
In fact, you can take several simple and proactive steps to ensure your T-levels remain robust and healthy with age.
5 Tips for Maintaining Healthy Testosterone
Results: What to Expect from a Quality Muscle-Building Supplement
Greater Gains
You'll start to see and notice a difference in muscle growth after strength training over time. Certain ingredients can help promote muscle-protein synthesis and support lean muscle mass along with strength.
More Drive
You may become more driven to reach your goals. Research shows a strong correlation between hormone levels, like testosterone, and motivation.
Supported Stamina & Vitality
With supported workout performance, you may be able to increase the difficulty of each workout while recovering in time for the next session.
Less Stress for Greater Decision Making
While you may not think of a muscle-building supplement as a stress-reducer, many of the same ingredients that target muscle growth also help you relax and think clearly.
Countless men’s health supplements claim to help testosterone but few actually deliver on that promise. So, what’s the secret to an effective supplement? The answer is simple: effective ingredients!
Below you’ll find a shortlist of some of the most widely researched ingredients for holistic testosterone support — several of which have shown positive results in human clinical trials.
Key Ingredients for Effective T-Support
Clinically Studied Ashwagandha
This adaptogen helps the body deal with stress by maintaining healthy levels of cortisol, aka, the stress hormone. It also enhances the effects of GABA, an essential neurotransmitter that supports nerve communication and can help further enhance testosterone levels.
Opt for clinically studied ashwagandha, such as KSM-66®, Shoden®, or Sensori®, which undergo rigorous testing and are backed by clinical trials to support their efficacy.
Shilajit Extract
Shilajit is a sticky substance found in the Himalayas that improves overall health and wellness while protecting against oxidative stress. Shilajit has also been researched for its association with testosterone synthesis and secretion.
Boron
Helps to maintain healthy testosterone levels in men by supporting the free testosterone production process.
Fenugreek
Aids anabolic and androgenic activity in the adrenal glands, which are essential for burning fat, while also supporting muscle mass and endurance.
Knowing which ingredients to look for in an effective supplement is half the battle, but equally important is what to avoid.
What You Should Avoid
D-Aspartic Acid
This ingredient has little evidence to back its claims of increasing testosterone and muscle mass. Its long-term effects have not been studied, though some people experience short-term side effects like bloating, feeling anxious, and occasional headaches.
Products Without Third-Party Testing
Unfortunately, many testosterone supplements contain undeclared pharmaceuticals, which can cause unwanted side effects and negatively interact with certain medications or supplements you’re already taking.
Whenever possible, opt for products that are third-party tested. Supplements that undergo third-party testing are independently screened for contaminants, heavy metals, pesticides, and more before they hit the market.
High Zinc Levels
Zinc is used in many testosterone supplements to support T levels and balance hormones, but be wary of the dose, or if any other supplements you’re taking use zinc as well.
This is because 30 mg or more of zinc taken daily over the course of weeks can have negative side effects such as stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting, and is considered the upper limit from the CRN.
When taken at a dose equivalent to the upper limit, zinc is safe to take and an essential element that supports immune function.
3 Tips for Success with Your T-Supplement
Have Patience: Real Results Take Time
Even with the best muscle-building supplement in the world, dramatic changes won't happen overnight. But if you add it to your regimen not expecting miracles, you may be pleasantly surprised to see noticable differences in the mirror. Stick with it for at least 3 months for best results.
Clinically Studied Ingredients
For best results, opt for formulas that explicitly use clinically studied ingredients. As we mentioned earlier, clinically studied ingredients like Shoden® Ashwagandha have been thoroughly vetted and demonstrate positive outcomes in controlled settings.
Strong Money-Back Guarantee
A 100% money-back guarantee demonstrates a company's faith in its product, which is why we offer a 365-day money-back guarantee on T-hero Platinum. While not all companies will give you a full year to try out their product, look for at least a 90-day return policy. This should give you enough time to know if your T-supplement is working.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does ashwagandha help with testosterone levels?
Research suggests that ashwagandha helps maintain manageable levels of cortisol, aka, the stress hormone, which inversely affects testosterone: when cortisol levels are high, testosterone levels are low.
What is free testosterone?
Free testosterone is testosterone that isn’t attached to a protein (albumin or globulin), which means it’s bioavailable or can be easily used by your body.
What is the best muscle-builder for men?
When browsing for a muscle-building supplement, the top concern is the ingredients. Opt for ingredients backed by clinical studies to support the effectiveness of their supplement.
Additionally, look for brands that offer at least a 90-day return policy to see what works best for you without much harm to your budget. A combination of diet, exercise, and supplements is necessary to build muscle mass successfully.
T-supplements vs. men’s multivitamins
Men’s multivitamins pack a punch with vitamins A to E, K, zinc, and a bunch of others, and they’re great when you want to maintain overall health, immune function, and get some antioxidant benefits as well.
Testosterone supplements play their own role in supporting specific aspects of health, which aren’t just for maintaining your T levels. These supplements may support lean muscle mass, aid energy during workouts, assist the recovery after said workout, promote sexual health, and even throw in an assist for a solid night’s sleep.1
So if you’re in the market to bulk up or reach that next athletic milestone, testosterone supplements will be your trusty sidekick.
Now that you know what to look for and avoid in your testosterone supplement, it’s time to shop. Check out our Brilliant recommendations below, including T-hero® Platinum from our award-winning sports nutrition brand, Essential elements®.
2024’s Must-Have Testosterone Supplements
The Brilliant Choice:
Essential elements®
T-hero® Platinum†
The Brilliant Choice:
Essential elements®
T-hero® Platinum†
What We Like:
Room To Improve:
Final Thoughts
Product Specs
What We Like:
Room To Improve:
Final Thoughts
Product Specs
What We Like:
Room To Improve:
Final Thoughts
Product Specs
What We Like:
Room To Improve:
Final Thoughts
Product Specs
What We Like:
Room To Improve:
Final Thoughts
Product Specs
How We Choose Products
Like you, we’re picky about products — and serious about quality.
Whether we’re featuring an award-winning product from one of our five beauty and wellness brands — or somebody else’s — a Brilliant recommendation doesn’t see the light of day until it has been medically reviewed by our Fact Checkers for accuracy and has fulfilled our Brilliant Criteria.
At Brilliant, although we often feature products that we sell, we’re not afraid to highlight and celebrate other brands who are doing things right.
Brilliant Criteria
We take great care in handpicking high-quality products to feature on Brilliant. Here’s how we choose them:
- High-Quality Ingredients: We dig deep into the latest research and look for products that contain science-based ingredients for optimal impact.
- Pure, Holistic Formulas: We prioritize products that contain clean, wholesome ingredients shown to be effective. A product should only contain what it needs and nothing else — period.
- Brand Credibility: Each product on our list is produced by a company with trusted credibility. We've also verified that each brand adheres to labeling requirements set forth under current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP).
- Value: We evaluate products based on industry averages and price per serving or application. We also consider quantity and return policy.
Why Trust Us?
As veteran leaders in the wellness space with an award-winning brand portfolio of 100+ health and beauty products, we are committed to honesty and transparency, providing thoughtful insights into the benefits and limitations of the information and products we evaluate — including our own. Every Brilliant Buying Guide is thoroughly vetted for medical accuracy by our Fact Checkers prior to publication.
With our discerning selection process, you can feel confident that the products we recommend meet the highest benchmarks of quality, transparency, and efficacy. If we wouldn’t use a product ourselves, it’s not Brilliant.
Citations
- Barrett-Connor, Elizabeth, et al. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, U.S. National Library of Medicine, July 2008, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2453053/.
- Walther, Andreas, et al.JAMA Psychiatry, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 1 Jan. 2019, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6583468/.
- Rizk, Paul J, et al. Current Opinion in Urology, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Nov. 2017, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5649360/.
- Howard, Emily E, et al. Academic.Oup.Com, 9 May 2022, academic.oup.com/jcem/article/107/8/e3254/6582758.
- Straftis, Alex A, and Peter B Gray. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 5 Sept. 2019, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6765788/.
- Edited by Harrison Wein, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 25 Apr. 2016, www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/understanding-how-testosterone-affects-men.
- Lopresti, Adrian L, et al. American Journal of Men’s Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2019, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6438434/#bibr34-1557988319835.
- Examine, 25 July 2023, examine.com/supplements/shilajit/.
- Wiley Online Library, 22 Sept. 2015, onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/and.12482.
- Thomson, Cynthia A, et al. Nutrition Reviews, U.S. National Library of Medicine, July 2016, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5059820/.
- Rajoria, Shilpi et al. Thyroid : official journal of the American Thyroid Association vol. 21,3 (2011): 299-304.
- Pizzorno, Lara. Integrative Medicine (Encinitas, Calif.), U.S. National Library of Medicine, Aug. 2015, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4712861/.
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 9 June 2022, ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Boron-HealthProfessional/.
- Wankhede, Sachin, et al. Beneficial Effects of Fenugreek Glycoside Supplementation, June 2016, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6191980/.
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, Oct. 2023, www.fda.gov/drugs/medication-health-fraud/tainted-sexual-enhancement-and-energy-products.
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 28 Sept. 2022, ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Zinc-HealthProfessional/.
- Nutriventia, 1 Nov. 2023, www.nutriventia.com/products/prolanza-ashwagandha-nutraceutical/.
- Examine, examine.com/supplements/ashwagandha/faq/does-ashwagandha-increase-testosterone/. Accessed 4 Dec. 2023.
- University of Rochester Medical Center, www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=167&contentid=testosterone_free#. Accessed 4 Dec. 2023.
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