Ashwagandha and Testosterone – Is it safe and does it work?
But as it is with all hormones in the human body, they at times fall beyond the required levels. When this happens, your body will have to adjust this you’ll be feeling exhausted, moody as well as losing weight.
Research has shown that a man loses 1% of his testosterone levels once he hits 30. This is likely due to a wide variety of factors such as unhealthy eating habits, lack of exercise just to mention a few.
Currently, on the market, there are plenty of testosterone boosters that promise fast and quick results but in all honesty, it’s not true. Most of these supplements have not been proven to work leading to false advertisement.
For this Ashwagandha review, we are going to have a detailed and in-depth discussion regarding this wonderful supplement. So, let’s dive in straight away!
What is Ashwagandha?
For decades, native communities have used the red-orange fruit and its roots for medicinal purposes. Ashwagandha belongs to the Solanaceae family, the plant is used in the Ayurvedic system to treat a wide variety of ailments.
The plant has also been closely associated with boosting male vitality as well as virility.
Ashwagandha plant has also been widely known to have some anti-stress properties and effects as a result of having the properties of an adaptogen.
Just like all other natural remedies, Ashwagandha has been closely studied as a solution for a wide variety of ailments.
The findings were a bit mixed with some evidence that the herbal supplement was known to provide benefits to people dealing with anxiety and stress.
Ashwagandha is a herbal supplement, it’s not a medication thus it’s not regulated by the FDA, I know for some this might raise some eyebrows but this testosterone booster is completely safe and good for human consumption.
Benefits of Ashwagandha
Scientific studies and research have shown that Ashwagandha is beneficial to the human body in several ways.
But it should be noted, the herb’s reactions to the human body are quite limited as most of the dietary supplement interaction has been with cell models or animals.
Some of the key benefits of Ashwagandha include:
- Relieves anxiety and stress
Ashwagandha is widely known for its calming effect on anxiety and stress symptoms, a study carried out in 2000 showed that the herbal supplement has excellent anxiety-reducing effects compared to lorazepam. What this shows is that the supplement can play a huge role in reducing mental exhaustion.
One of the key ingredients of this herb is withaferin A and withanolide A; these two ingredients mimic GABA, an amino acid known for its neurotransmission in the central nervous system, it also calms the nervous system.
Studies carried out in different countries have also shown that Ashwagandha reduces cortisol levels in both humans and animals. Not only does it regulate Cortisol levels but also provides nourishment to the adrenal glands.
- Enhancing strength and muscle growth
Ashwagandha has been known to supercharge your gym sessions, studies have shown that dietary supplements enhance strength, reduction of body fat, increasing muscle mass.
There was a study carried out on 57 men, after they took Ashwagandha a huge majority reported to have had an increase in muscle mass as well as strength.
¾ of the men also reported having reduced their body fat percentage. Another study showed men who took at least one gram of Ashwagandha reportedly had an increase in muscle strength.
The herbal supplement also reduces the recovery period in-between workout allowing you to burn more calories and have that body that you’ve been desiring.
- Boosting brain function and memory
Ashwagandha has been known to boost memory in Ayurveda, studies have shown ingredients in the herbal remedy enhances antioxidants activity that protects all nerve cells against damage.
There have also been numerous studies conducted that show the herbal remedy has been widely known to improve other aspects of brainpower and capacity.
Adults who took the root extract twice daily reported having a significant improvement in attention span, task performance as well as general memory. It also brought a big improvement in task performance as well as reaction time.
- Supercharging sperm performance
Traditionally Ashwagandha has been known to improve sexual performance and libido in both women and men. The plant has been widely touted to improve fertility properties.
Research carried out on 75 infertile men who took 5g of Ashwagandha daily were found to have increased sperm count as well as motility.
How does the herbal supplement do this? Well, it reduces Cortisol levels thus stimulating the production of anabolic hormones such as DHEA and testosterone.
- Boost immunity and reduce inflammation
The herbal remedy is packed with lots of antioxidants that provide robust security to your cells against damage. Taking Ashwagandha daily will increase the number of immune fighting cells in your body thus improving your overall body immunity.
Ashwagandha and testosterone
Ashwagandha is one of the best natural testosterone boosting supplements currently on the market. Various research carried out has shown positive results on the impact of Ashwagandha and testosterone levels in men.
It’s important worth mentioning that there have been limited studies on Ashwagandha and testosterone. With that being said there was a study carried out in 2010 involving 150 men, the first 75 were healthy and fertile while the rest had infertility problems.
The study was specifically geared towards investigating the effects of Ashwagandha on testosterone, semen profile, and other reproductive organs on infertile men.
After treatment with Ashwagandha, there was a significant improvement in testosterone levels, luteinizing hormone, prolactin, the follicle-stimulating hormone in infertile men. All of the above-mentioned factors have close links with male fertility and sperm quality.
The potential testosterone-cortisol connection
Studies on human research have pointed to the impact of Cortisol on testosterone levels in the blood. When we are stressed or our sugar level crashes the brain stimulates the production of Cortisol also known as ‘stress hormone’.
Its release blocks the production of the vital hormone testosterone, with a reduced amount of testosterone in the body comes with its fair share of problems such as poor memory and sleep, weakened immunity, or depression just to mention a few.
When this happens, the next question should be; how can you mitigate it? Ashwagandha herbal remedy will block the production of Cortisol hormone which inhibits the production of testosterone.
Dosage and forms of ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is available over-the-counter, the herbal supplement comes in three forms: liquid, powder, and tablet form. The most popular form amongst users is the tablet.
For those who opt for capsules, a single dosage normally ranges anywhere between 450 milligrams to 2 grams. It’s always recommended to take 300–500 mg of Ashwagandha with a meal you can either take the single dose at once or split it into two meals.
As is the case with all herbal remedies, it’s always recommended to take low dosages at first and do so consistently as the benefits will start to show after its buildup in the body.
The herbal remedy is readily available at online vendors who sell natural supplements, pharmacies, and health stores. The good thing about Ashwagandha is the fact that you don’t need a prescription, but just to be safe always consult your physician or doctor.
Side effects
Ashwagandha is completely safe for human consumption. But, if you have any underlying health condition or you are under medication, it’s vital that you first talk with your physician before taking this supplement.
This is because of the possibility of adverse interaction between Ashwagandha and the medicine you’re taking.
However, there have been documented cases of mild side effects such as immune disorders, stomach ulcers, diarrhea or hamper recovery after surgery.
There have been no long-term effects of the drug so it’s completely safe to take especially if you’re experiencing lower testosterone levels.
However, always first enquire with your healthcare provider before taking this herbal supplement.
Final word
While research points out that Ashwagandha benefits men, there is strong evidence that it can also significantly boost your testosterone levels. Numerous studies have shown its positive effects on the male body.
Ashwagandha is also known to improve physical fitness, improving your strength, and stamina. Talk about killing two birds with one stone.
For those who are serious about enhancing their testosterone levels in the blood, then Ashwagandha should be at the top of your list. It has been proven to work.
However, there are quite several testosterone boosters that have been known to provide wonderful results such as Testogen. The supplement is quite potent and has no adverse effects on the human body providing you with a large pool of options to select from.
Remember nothing comes easy, be ready to put in the work and the results will be amazing. Cheers!
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Roger Kruger
Roger is an editor at Dietarious.com, he is passionate about dieting, bodybuilding, and weight loss supplements.
