While bodybuilders and regular gym goers are familiar with the concept of taking testosterone supplements to help boost muscle growth, many people are unclear on what it actually does to the body.
What is testosterone and what does it do to the body?
Testosterone is one of the many hormones the human body needs to function properly. In men it’s produced in the testicles, and in women the adrenal glands and ovaries. Its primary function is to develop masculine characteristics and male growth development. The body produces 30x more testosterone during early adulthood and adolescence. It’s common for the natural levels of testosterone in the body to drop slightly in your 20s, and by around 1% after you turn 30.
The hormone plays a vital role in your thinking ability, sex drive, general mood, quality of life, sex drive, body hair, bones and muscle mass. It’s natural for testosterone levels to fall as the body ages, which can make it harder to gain muscle mass, lose weight and can cause other problems.
Doctors can treat low levels of testosterone with replacement therapy, but supplements such as Centrapeak can also replenish testosterone. This specific supplement is different to many others because it’s a long-term solution for naturally low testosterone levels. But there are many on the market that will boost testosterone levels and make it easier to build muscle.
Testosterone supplements can increase levels – what are the benefits?
There are a number of benefits of maintaining sufficient testosterone levels that go beyond building muscle.
- Testosterone helps to keep the heart healthy
Low levels of testosterone are linked to a number of risks for the heart. A healthy heart is vital for the body to function properly as it provides organs and muscles with sufficient oxygen to perform. Testosterone helps bone marrow produce more red blood cells.
In the early 2000s, the link between testosterone and cardiovascular health was studied. Results show that some men with heart disease saw improvements through testosterone therapy and were able to increase their exercise endurance by 33%. However, a further study showed that increasing testosterone only widens already healthy arteries but doesn’t improve the pain from angina.
There was a much bigger and more recent study that examined 83,000 men and found significant results. The study shows that men who were able to increase their testosterone levels to normal were 36% less likely to have a stroke and 24% less likely to have a heart attack.
- Testosterone boosts muscle and helps to lose fat
Muscle mass is increased by testosterone, and the leaner your body mass is the easier it is to control your weight and maintain energy levels. There is evidence to show that men with low levels can increase their muscle strength and size by taking supplements or undergoing hormone therapy combined with strength training.
- Testosterone gives you stronger bones
Bone mineral density is massively affected by testosterone. As men age and levels naturally fall, bone density decreases, which can lead to osteoporosis. The strength of your bones is key to support internal organs, muscle strength and more, and also affects athletic endurance and performance. Increasing testosterone does increase bone density as long as the dose is high.
- Testosterone helps reasoning skills and verbal memory
Studies show that men with higher levels of testosterone are less likely to develop Alzheimer’s. There also appears to be a strong link between verbal memory, mental processing and reasoning skills.
- Testosterone boosts the libido
Men who have higher testosterone usually have a higher sexual libido. Older men often need extra testosterone for erectile function, but this can also be due to many other conditions or medications. Studies show that boosting levels can help sexual performance and health. However, this is generally only useful for men with clinically low levels of testosterone.
- Testosterone improves general quality of life
Symptoms related to low testosterone levels include fatigue, depression and irritability, so replacing the hormone can help some men to have a better quality of life. However, the effects of testosterone supplements and replacement therapy on mood do vary. For some it can be an effective anti-depressant.
Maintaining a healthy diet and exercising regularly will help to keep hormone levels balanced. And supplementing with testosterone can help your mood, ability to gain muscle mass and lose fat. Just ensure any supplement you take is high quality and by a respected brand.