Fenugreek and Testosterone: Can it Increase T Levels in Men?
Fenugreek and Testosterone Levels
As we discuss here regularly on Naturally Boost Testosterone, it’s much better to seek out natural solutions to our hormone imbalances that will work with our body’s natural processes.
And in this post, we are going to go look at the benefits of fenugreek for men and see if it can increase testosterone production.
By taking a natural approach, we help to bring balance to our bodies in a healthy way that does not cause undesirable damage to our bodies.
Fenugreek is a natural herb that may just be the solution that you are looking for to help increase testosterone, give you the peak performance edge that you are seeking, and help to improve your body strength, athletic performance, and your sex life.
What is Fenugreek?
Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) is an annual plant from the Legume family (think beans and peas) that is originally from India and North Africa. It has many different health benefits for men and is used in the diet as a spice, herb, or vegetable, by many people living in the Middle East.
Due to its many claimed benefits for men, fenugreek is now cultivated throughout the world.
The leaves and seeds of fenugreek are made into extracts and powders that are used as remedies for various health conditions, including treatments for arthritis, normalizing the body’s sugar metabolism, body building, and improving sexual function.
What Are The Benefits of Fenugreek For Men?
Fenugreek may increase libido, testosterone levels and support optimal male athletic performance.
So, Does Fenugreek Increase Testosterone Levels?
There are scientific studies that indicate that fenugreek does indeed increase total bioavailable testosterone levels in men.
Fenugreek has been shown to increase testosterone levels by inhibiting aromatase and 5α-reductase, which are enzymes that influence how cholesterol is used to produce testosterone.
By blocking aromatase, the plant compounds in fenugreek reduce excess estrogen levels in the body, thereby increasing testosterone levels.
Fenugreek also contains plant compounds such as protodioscin (a compound found in DHEA), which help to increase the levels of both dihydrotesterone and testosterone itself.
Due to the limited amount of currently available research, scientists do not yet fully understand all of the ways that fenugreek works to influence testosterone in the human body.
Further research is necessary to determine the link between fenugreek and testosterone and which dosages and extractions are the most beneficial for men.
Fenugreek Benefits Libido in Men
It has been shown in a study published in Phytotherapy Research that when fenugreek is taken daily as an extract, libido (sex drive) is increased and orgasm is improved.
Sexual arousal, energy, stamina, and the maintenance of normal testosterone levels were all positively influenced by taking 600mg of fenugreek extract per day.
The protodioscin compound found in fenugreek helps to increase androgen receptors in cells, thereby increasing libido in both men and women.
The Best Fenugreek To Use is An Extract Which Contains 50% Fenusides
Increase in Body Strength, Reduction in Body Fat, and Increase in Lean Muscle Mass
It has been found that taking 500mg of fenugreek extract daily helps to increase upper and lower body strength.
When bodybuilding workouts are combined with daily fenugreek supplementation, body fat is reduced and muscle strength is increased, which can help to improve your athletic performance.
By taking fenugreek as a supplement, you can decrease your body fat and increase your lean muscle mass when you engage in a controlled resistance-training program much more effectively than if you engage in a resistance-training program without taking any fenugreek.
Fenugreek Improves Creatine Uptake
As many of us know, creatine can help your body to produce energy very quickly. This allows you to train harder, more frequently, and get more effective results in a shorter span of time.
Creatine can be useful to your body when you engage in high-intensity exercises, such as bodybuilding, or during sports that involve short bursts, such as sprinting, football, or baseball.
Creatine also helps your body to gain lean muscle mass by drawing water into your cells and increasing the synthesis of protein.
To read about how creatine can increase testosterone levels click here.
A study conducted at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor found that taking 900mg of fenugreek with 3.5g of creatine was just as effective as taking creatine with glucose.
Because fenugreek increases the time that it takes food to travel through the digestive tract, the small intestine is more effective at absorbing higher levels of creatine.
Summary of The Benefits of Fenugreek for Men
Based upon currently available studies, the best results for significantly increasing upper and lower body strength, reducing fat, and improving lean muscle mass are achieved when men combine a daily supplement of 500mg of fenugreek extract with a structured resistance-training program.
The suggested daily dosage of fenugreek for increasing testosterone production and increasing libido is 500-600mg using a fenugreek extract which contains 50% fenusides).
Fenugreek also helps to increase the release of insulin, which can help you to increase your muscle mass after you engage in weight training.
And don’t forget that fenugreek also increases the levels of creatine in your body, increasing your muscle mass, even more, when you exercise.
When eaten as a food, fenugreek seeds contain protein, iron, magnesium, Vitamin B6, soluble fiber, and more than 100 phytochemicals, so can be a great addition to a healthy diet.
And, if you suffer from heartburn, fenugreek may offer you some relief when taken regularly prior to eating. Fenugreek has been found to provide similar relief of heartburn as many over-the-counter antacid medicines.
Fenugreek Safety Side Effects
Fenugreek is generally considered to be safe when consumed in amounts that are typically found in foods.
When used as a daily supplement, fenugreek is likely to be safe, but common sense and health should be used to determine if fenugreek is right for you.
Possible fenugreek side effects, when taken in high amounts, can include diarrhea, stomachache, bloating, so stick to the dose to increase testosterone and you should be fine.
Please be aware that Fenugreek can lower blood pressure, so anyone with a tendency toward hypotension should exhibit caution when using this herb.
Fenugreek also has been reported to cause gynecomastia (breast growth in males) in certain individuals.
As mentioned above the best fenugreek supplement to use is one which contains 50% fenusides.
Conclusion
While there is evidence to support the link between Fenugreek and Testosterone the limited amount of studies suggest more research needs to be done.
However, what the evidence shows us is that there are many benefits of fenugreek for men which include helping with creatine uptake and body strength and increasing libido and energy.
Just make sure to not take high doses as discussed above.
Remember that everyone is different and unique, and each person requires different things to meet the needs of their body and their lifestyle.
As with all natural remedies, be sure to do your research to determine whether fenugreek is right for you and your personal health situation and lifestyle.
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