At first my doctors could not explain why I was having these symptoms. Several times it was suggested that I was just getting older (though I was in my twenties at the time) and it was only natural that I “slow down.” Basically, they didn’t know what was wrong with me and, in their befuddlement, pretty much just wanted me to go away. It was only after I met with a nutritional expert that the possibility was raised that low testosterone could be culprit. Lo and behold blood work did indeed find that to be the issue. At this point, I had a couple of options. I could re-visit my doctor and try to get a prescription for a testosterone patch or gel or I could take the nutritionist’s advice and try to raise my testosterone levels naturally.

I didn’t particularly like the idea of adding another prescription to the mix, since it was party because of prescription medications that I was in the fix in the first place, I decided to give the supplements a chance. I also wanted to give this nutritionist’s solution a chance since he was the only one that seemed to have any idea what was wrong with me.

I told him that I would take whatever he recommended. Almost instantaneous he got out a notepad and started making some notes. He told me that we could do this and that it would work, but that it would take some time for the supplements to begin to work. He told me that even if I wasn’t noticing any dramatic effects that I needed to be prepared to stay the course for at least 3 months. And I was okay with that.

In fact, on that subject, after I first started this supplement regimen I got frustrated after about six weeks. Thinking that I was not seeing quick enough results, I stopped the program for about ten days. After about a week of not taking my supplements I started to struggle with fatigue and exhaustion. It was then that I realized that actually had been working. It was just that the improvements that I had experienced had been very gradual. I didn’t realize how much better things had gotten since I quit taking them and saw my testosterone levels plummet.

I quickly re-started the supplement regimen and saw my level of functioning begin to rise. Within a couple of weeks, I found that I was experiencing a much higher quality of life. I was able to enjoy more activities and my focus and sexual functioning were back. Naturally, I attribute a great deal of this improvement to my increased testosterone levels.

Quickly a disclaimer: I am not a medical practitioner and I am not liable for any ill effects that you may experience if you choose to use any of these supplements. I am only telling you what I do and what works for me. Always consult a doctor before making any changes to your diet or taking any supplements.

How to Increase Testosterone Levels

I take the following supplements as indicated every day. I purchase mine from Amazon.com and I usually buy from third-party sources – the “new and used” merchants – to save myself some money. I’ve included the links if you want to do the same.

In the AM after breakfast I take the following:

• 1 Tablespoon Lecithin Granules (mixed with 8 oz water)
• 250 mg DMAE
• Hemaplex – 2 capsules (*see important note below on Hemaplex)
• 100 mg DHEA

* With the hemaplex it is very important that you cycle this supplement. I take two capsules in the morning for 21 days then for 7 days I do not take it at all. Then I return to taking for 21 days. And so on.

In the afternoon after lunch I take:

• 250mg DMAE

Finally, before bed I take:

• 3 capsules of Zinc Magnesium Aspartate (ZMA)

Remember that this should be used as a guide only. You will need to consult with a medical practitioner before making any changes to your diet or beginning a supplement regimen.

So, that’s the exact step-by-step path that I have taken to increase my testosterone levels naturally. This works for me. You will need to (after talking to a doctor or nutritionist) see what works for you.

I look forward to the comments from you guys about what you have done to increase your testosterone.

- I’m out

For instance, to this day, I still take some anti-depressants, and hence have low testosterone levels. The reason that I take the anti-depressants still is that I have had a very difficult time withdrawing from them. The particular medication that my doctor put me on, has a very profound discontinuation syndrome. The average person has a hard time weening off this medication once they are put on it. I have had a devil of a time and, therefore, have been unable to completing taper off it. I am in the process of a long (year long) taper to finally, get off these medications. When I do my testosterone might return to normal, but for now I need to take supplements to stimulate testosterone in my body to allow me to function properly. It is also possible that I have naturally low testosterone levels. It has been impossible to determine this since I have been unable to completely get off of the meds.

Anyway, I had to therefore set out to increase testosterone naturally. I was able to do this with the help of a doctor who put me on a prescribed regimen of supplements which have boosted my testosterone. Of course, they have also boosted my effectiveness. I have lost weight and gained muscle mass. In fact, I am in some of the best shape of my life now that I realize how important exercise can be to increasing the body’s testosterone levels. Additionally, my sexual functioning is vastly improved and, most importantly, my energy and focus have returned.

Obviously, I have experienced a lot of benefits since I set out to increase my testosterone. So much in fact that I started this site Increase Testosterone Levels to share what I have learned and what has worked for me. I have already detailed foods that increase testosterone so I’d next like to point out what dietary supplements I have been taking and how they have helped to increase my testosterone without drugs or medications.

Now for the disclaimer. I am not a doctor or health care provider. I do not give medical advice. What I can do is share with you what I do to boost testosterone levels. I simply tell you what I am taking and the results that I have experienced. If you choose to follow in my footsteps please know I take no liability for any adverse effects that you may experience.

Okay. Well what do I do? I take a number of dietary supplements that cause increased testosterone production in the body. Here are the supplements that I take, which you can purchase at Amazon.com. I buy mine at Amazon from companies that were recommended to me for their quality by my doctor. I get them quickly and the price is reasonable, but you can buy yours anywhere.

Here’s what I take:

ZMA – Before bed
Lecithen – In the morning
DHEA – After breakfast and again after lunch
DMEA – Once a day

Using this regimen I have been able to increase my testosterone without having to resort to prescription hormones. So, naturally, I am quite pleased. If you have any questions about anything, please use the comments below.

Still my poor diet didn’t cause my low testosterone syndrome. That was caused both by genetics and by side effects of a heavy dose of anti-depressant medications that I had been prescribed. Eventually, I ended up seeing an oncologist who specialized in nutrition. This guy was a pro’s pro and he identified that I was suffering from low testosterone almost immediately. After some blood work had been performed that confirmed his suspicions I was started on a dose of supplements that would increase testosterone levels in my body naturally.

Additionally, I was given some information to peruse that talked about the importance of diet and exercise in maintaining healthy testosterone levels in men. He told me that poor diet and lack of exercise can exacerbate many of the problems that I was having. Having realized that nature of my problem, I was eager to implement the diet suggestions that he made and I started to do additional research as well. I read lots of articles and websites about foods that increase testosterone and I altered my diet, using myself as a guinea pig. Eventually, I learned that the foods that I eat really played a factor in how I felt.

Looking back, I don’t want to say that all of my problems were caused by low testosterone. However, I know that I feel a lot better than I did then. And I give most of that credit to the fact that my testosterone levels have been brought back to where they should be.

Anyway, back to the subject of foods that increase testosterone, here’s what I’ve learned on that topic. First, the good news is that many of the best testosterone boosting foods are foods that men tend to like to eat. Also, they are natural, non-processed foods so they tend to be healthier for your body and metabolism as well.

Most of the foods that increase testosterone levels in the body have a healthy dose of zinc in them. Basically, if you have low testosterone levels zinc is critical. At it’s most basic level, zinc regulates serum testosterone in the body. A lack of zinc will affect the pituitary gland by inhibiting it from releasing pro-luteinizing and pro-follicle hormones. These are essential to stimulate testosterone creation in the body.

In addition, zinc will inhibits an enzyme in the body (aromatase) that transforms testosterone in the body into extra estrogen which can have many detrimental side effects. Men need to maintain a ratio of testosterone to estrogen of more than 10:1 (with 50:1 being ideal) and excess estrogen will obviously disrupt the ideal balance causing an elevated risk of obesity and heart disease.

Zinc also is believed to promote good sexual functioning as well. Studies have shown that zinc supplements can enhance sexual performance while also causing a rise in sperm counts, which can be useful if you are trying produce offspring. Therefore, you can clearly see how we want to maximize our zinc intake (within reasonable levels).

Among foods high in zinc, meats and seafood tend to be especially high and therefore especially effective. Red meat due to the presence of zinc and other nutrients does a good job of stimulating testosterone production. But, one of the zinc-containing high-fliers are oysters. Oysters are great because they pack a lot of pro-testosterone goodness into a relatively small package. Unfortunately, oysters are also difficult to come by in certain parts of the country, or they can be quite expensive. And, some people, just can’t stomach oysters for whatever reason. I admit that they do have some very distinctive qualities. And, for some, they just aren’t appealing.

More convenient to purchase foods include roast beef, pork chops, lamb chops wild game and ribs. All are considered excellent foods for those who are seeking to increase their testosterone. Chicken meat, poultry, is another excellent food to promote testosterone production. Chicken, like red meat, is high in our favorite nutrient and, because of it’s leanness and low fat, is more ideal for a staple food than is red meat.

I have found, for myself, that lean hamburger meat and chicken breast and chicken wings are the foods that I find myself eating most often to boost testosterone. While, I recognize the value of oysters, they are awfully inconvenient for me. I do share them here because they can be an excellent source of zinc for those who have regular access to them.

Non-meat foods that increase testosterone include beans and nuts – I particularly enjoy pistachios. Dairy products also include a healthy amount of zinc and can help promote an increase in testosterone levels. Particularly effective are low fat milk, cottage cheese and yogurt.

I’ve found that since I made some subtle dietary changes, that I have felt better and been higher functioning. However, I consider the supplements that I take to increase testosterone to be even more important than my diet in this regard. From my experience, diet plays a role and you want to load up on foods that increase testosterone production, however you are likely going to want to supplement your diet with some nutrients as well.