Tag: Nutrition
Best Fat Burner & Muscle Builder Combo For An Effective Shred
Give these fat burner and muscle builder combo ideas a try to see results.
Losing fat can be hard while also keeping on that lean muscle, but with the right fat burner and muscle builder combo, you can see great results in no time. For those looking towards an effective shred, what you will find are great supplements to enhance all areas of your gains for the better.
Fat burners are popular weight loss supplements as they work to suppress your appetite, kickstart your metabolism, and burn stored fat. What you will find is that in tandem with other supplements, these results may be amplified. Along with a well-planned and structured diet and training plan, you may even feel unstoppable.
Let’s take a look at these fat burner and muscle builder combo ideas to see what supplements pair well together for your gains. While supplements are great, it is important remember that the right exercises must also be in your routine to see the best gains possible.
How A Fat Burner Works With Muscle
For those looking into a fat burner, you are clearly looking to burn fat. But what happens to that muscle you have worked hard for when you put your body in a calorie deficit on top of a fat burning supplement? Without the right approach to weight loss you can end up losing that hard earned muscle.
A fat burner can help counteract this by helping to retain muscle despite the loss of fat. That dreaded muscle breakdown can be unfortunate and for those looking to actually build muscle, this is a great way to help your fitness goals. Proper muscle maintenance is important as you look to grow and build a shredded physique. While fat loss is great, you want muscle structure and lean muscle to stay intact as well.
Fat Burner & Muscle Builder Combos
Let’s take a look at some of these combinations to use with a fat burner. For those wondering about safety, always read the labels and be sure to take note of concerns to consult an expert about. As you look to burn fat and build muscle, your body will start to undergo some changes so staying on top of your diet, nutrition, sleep, recovery, and supplementation is a must.
Fat Burner & Pre-Workout
A fat burner and pre-workout combo can work really well, for you give yourself a boost of energy while also working towards muscle growth (1). However, be careful with these two especially if both supplements you are using contain a high amount of stimulants. Since stimulants, like caffeine, are popular ingredients in fat burners and pre-workouts, you don’t want to suffer from any unwanted side effects.
All in all, this fat burner and muscle builder combo will allow for high intensity workouts while also giving you muscle pumps rom the pre-workouts to help build valuable muscle.
Fat Burner & Protein Powder
As you start to shred and lose fat, part of the problem, as mentioned above, is retaining muscle. We all know that a protein powder is perfect for building muscle and enhancing recovery for those post-workout needs (2), but as a valuable protein supplement, this can help keep you full and work in tandem with a fat burner to suppress your appetite. Less of an appetite means less snacking which means less unwanted calories.
This fat burner and muscle builder combo is great for those looking to ensure that muscle stays on while they lose fat. On top of that, you are optimizing your health and overall wellness as well.
Fat Burner & BCAAs
Fat burners work to give you energy, as they burn that stored fat, however, what you might find is a mid-workout drain. Enter BCAAs, which can help stimulate growth, prevent muscle wasting, but also decrease soreness and reduce fatigue (3). This is helpful for you as you power through your workouts with less desire to quit.
This fat burner and muscle builder combo works well for those who feel a drain mid-workout. Losing fat is hard, but working out is a necessary component. By keeping all of this in mind, you work to better power through workouts for increased physical gain.
Fat Burner & Testosterone Booster
If you are seeking a testosterone booster, then you are looking to optimize your T levels. But in tandem with a fat burner, what you will find is a real change in body composition, as this is a potential component to testosterone boosters (4). Here is where strict attention should be paid to following the labels for this can really affect your body as you undergo these changes.
What you may find from this fat burner and muscle builder combo is a change in body composition as you look to increase and keep on lean muscle. At the end of the day, that is what we want after all if we are someone seeking a shredded aesthetic.
Best Exercises To Burn Fat & Build Muscle
While supplements are great for working to burn fat and build muscle, especially with a fat burner and muscle builder combo, what you will find are exercises to enhance these gains. It is necessary to have a well-structured routine in order to capitalize on what supplements can do.
These exercises can combine high intensity to burn fat while also working those muscles to see the best gains possible. These can fit well into any training plan, it just depends on what exactly your goals are. Great fat burning and muscle building exercises include:
Burpees
Kettlebell Swings
Battle Ropes
Jump Rope
Wrap Up
The right fat burner and muscle builder combo is exactly what you need to see the best gains possible. Supplements can take us a long way and with the right approach you can better challenge yourself and see the best gains possible. By putting an emphasis on supplements, what you will find is you can better attack those muscle building goals while also burning fat in order to see that shredded physique you want most.
Let us know what you think in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
*Images courtesy of Envato
References
Ellerbroek, A.; et al. (2019). “Effects of Pre-Workout Supplements on Strength, Endurance, and Mood”. (source)
Pasiakos, S.; et al. (2014). “Effects of protein supplements on muscle damage, soreness and recovery of muscle function and physical performance: a systematic review”. (source)
Blomstrand, E. (2006). “A role for branched-chain amino acids in reducing central fatigue”. (source)
Corona, G.; et al. (2016). “Testosterone supplementation and body composition: results from a meta-analysis of observational studies”. (source)
Straight Facts: Biggest Fat Loss Misconceptions & Mistakes
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Jerry Brainum gives the straight facts on the biggest myths in fat loss and how to avoid making these frustrating fat burning mistakes.
For many people across the world, weight loss is a nightmare. There is an entire industry and culture behind weight loss. Companies that attempt to sell you the next big trick to lose weight without the stress. Many are scams. Some are based in truth but oversold and oversimplified. But the mere existence of the fat loss industry showcases one painful truth – it is hard to lose weight for many individuals across the world. In our latest episode of Straight Facts, Jerry Brainum debunks the biggest fat loss myths and shares tips on how to avoid these big fat burning mistakes.
If you are someone who has either struggled to lose weight or focused on some sort of weight loss diet – you’ve likely heard all sorts of advice before. To simply it, there seem to be two schools of thought. One is the many complicated sciences and tricks into losing weight. These include fat loss products, nuanced diet trends, and sold nutrition programs like the Atkins diet or Weight Watchers.
The other school of thought boils it down to the simple basics. These people often say dieting is easy. Just eat less calories than your resting metabolic rate and you’ll drop fat. Easy, right? All you need is the will power to make it happen. It shouldn’t be complicated.
But the reality falls somewhere between these two extremes. The hard part is weeding through the crap to find out real helpful advice. That’s why we turned to Jerry Brainum to help debunk the biggest fat loss misconceptions and share tips using studies and facts on how to lose weight. Let’s jump into it with this overview of the biggest fat loss misconceptions.
1. Not all calories are created equal
One of the most basic strategies regarding weight loss is to consume less calories. While this is true in general, it’s also misleading. Different calorie sources go down different metabolic pathways.
Jerry Brainum explains that studies have long concluded that dietary fat contains more calories per gram than other nutrient sources. This has long lead to the believe that you should cut dietary fat for weight loss. But this is misleading.
In basic terms, Jerry Brainum uses the keto diet as an example. This diet asks you to cut carbs and replace with large amounts of dietary fat. The diet works (when done correctly). But based on pure calories alone this should not be the case due to the hight amount of calories per gram in dietary fat. This is just an anecdotal example of how not all calories are created equal.
In the video above, Jerry Brainum goes into more detail using studies that showcase the science behind this concept and why weight loss attached to calorie counting is more complicated than it seems.
2. Weight loss is not linear
There is also a generalized blanket statement made about fat loss. That if you cut 500 calories per day you’ll lose a pound per week and expand upon this linearly (1000 calories will lose you 2 pounds etc). This is not always true.
Jerry Brainum explains the concept of diet plateaus. This often happens after a few weeks of dieting successfully. A diet plateau happens often when your body realizes that your consuming less calories. Often times, cutting calories leads to bringing your daily caloric levels below what your body needs to function.
This is when your body goes into “starvation mode.” It begins pulling energy from other sources in your body, your metabolism slows down, and suddenly you stop losing weight.
3. Fat burner supplements will not directly burn fat
Fat burner supplements often advertise as miracle products that will help you lose fat without having to do anything else. This is not true. Studies have shown that fat burners don’t directly burn or oxidize fat. They help mobilize fat. So you often need to have a consistent exercise routine to make these products effective.
Related: Check out our review guide for the best Fat Burner supplements of 2022
4. Willpower is not the only factor in fat loss
There are those who believe that an overweight person simply has no willpower to eat healthy. This is not always true. Jerry Brainum explains that there are people with genetic disorders that will make it much more challenging to lose weight. For example, if you have low thyroid (hyperthyroidism) – you burn calories much slower than the average person. Even depression can lead to biological changes that slow down fat loss.
5. Exercise alone is not a good fat loss strategy
There are those who will jump on a bike or run for hours on end in the hopes of burning off the fat they ate for the day. This is not an effective strategy to lose weight. Jerry Brainum explains that over-exercising with cardio or aerobics will eventually lead to cannibalizing your muscles rather than burning fat.
On top of this, exercise is a much less effective way to burn fat than simply having a healthy or restricted diet. You would be surprised at how few calories an hour of running really burns.
6. Dietary fat does not always make you fat
This relates somewhat to item number one on this list. Especially in the past, dietary fat was seen as the enemy for weight loss. But this is not 100% true. There are many other nutrients such as carbohydrates (especially additive sugar) that contribute far more to gaining fat. As we mentioned above, diets like the keto diet are very effective in helping with fat loss and often involve a large amount of dietary fat.
7. Does healthy obesity exist?
This one is more controversial and currently being studied in more detail. For most of our modern existence, being obese was seen as being unhealthy. Jerry Brainum points out that many studies have shown that obesity leads directly to certain diseases (like type 2 diabetes) and ailments.
However, the culture is starting to shift into discussing the concept of healthy obesity. This comes from studies that show certain people who are categorized as obese have completely healthy bloodwork.
Jerry Bainum goes on to explain that this is currently a very controversial subject. Some doctors and scientists believe that, while an obese person can be healthy for some time, they will eventually suffer some sort of ailment in the long term. These ailments are harder to directly correlate due to the vast amount of other factors that may contribute. Even so, in today’s shifting culture, there has been a movement to promote “healthy fat” physiques.
The truth is this will likely require more studying before anything can be 100% concluded.
Wrap up
Jerry Brainum goes into far more detail and even more misconceptions and myths than we can discuss in this article. That’s why you should make sure to watch our latest episode of Straight Facts in full to become more informed on the biggest fat loss mistakes and how they can help you improve cutting fat. You can check it out above.
And don’t forget to check back in every Wednesday for new episodes of Straight Facts every week!
Vitamin D: The Essential “Steroid” For Muscle Growth
The Sunshine Vitamin for Bodybuilding.
In the Golden Age of Bodybuilding, Arnold and Franco Columbo would be seen sunbathing on the beaches in Venice. Today’s bodybuilders rely on Pro-Tan and artificial methods of tanning to color the skin, but bodybuilder’s maybe be missing out on getting adequate Vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency is a global health problem.
With all the medical advances of the century, vitamin D deficiency is still epidemic. Over a billion people worldwide are vitamin D deficient or insufficient. Vitamin D, also described, as “the Sun Vitamin” is a steroid with hormone like activity. It regulates the functions of over 200 genes and is essential for growth and development.
There are two forms of vitamin D. Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) and vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). Vitamin D status depends on the production of vitamin D 3 in the skin under the influence of ultraviolet radiation from sun and vitamin D intake through diet or vitamin D supplements. Usually 50% to 90% of vitamin D is produced by sunshine exposure of skin and the remainder comes from the diet. Natural diets most humans consume contain little vitamin D. Traditionally the human vitamin D system begins in the skin, not in the mouth.
However, important sources of vitamin D are egg yolk, fatty fish, fortified dairy products and beef liver. In addition to vitamin D’s well-known role in bone and calcium metabolism, vitamin D deficiency has been linked to a long-list of health conditions including atherosclerosis.
Vitamin D is critical to the proper functioning of the endothelial cells that line blood vessels. Without sufficient levels of vitamin D, these endothelial cells become more susceptible to damage and dysfunction that ultimately can lead to the development of atherosclerosis as well as arterial calcification.
Vitamin D Keeps Lead in Your Pencil
Given the link between vitamin D and atherosclerosis, Italian researchers conducted a study in 143 men with erectile dysfunction (ED). The men were evaluated for penile atherosclerosis by ultrasound along with blood levels for vitamin D3. Fifty men were classified as suffering from atherosclerotic ED, 28 borderline ED and 65 non- atherosclerotic ED. The average vitamin D level was 21.3?ng/mL and 45.9% of the men had vitamin D deficiency (
Are Meal Replacements Actually Healthy For Your Gains?
Meal replacements can work well for those on-the go needs, but are they actually healthy for you?
We all deal with busy schedules and often times turn to meal replacements when we can’t get a whole food meal into our diet. As convenient and versatile on-the-go options, what you find with meal replacements are tasty supplements packed with macronutrients, as well as other nutrients, to improve all areas of our gains.
But one question you may ask yourself is, are meal replacements actually healthy? So many supplements out there claim to be worth it but so often do we realize that they can be full of junk and other nonsense that we don’t need, or that won’t help.
Looking at the nutrition label is key in figuring out if a supplement, like meal replacements, are worth it for you, but what you will find is a little research and talking to people can go a long way. When it comes to something like a meal replacement, you want to be sure this is working for you. If you are going to replace a whole food meal, you want to be absolutely sure this supplement is giving you all of those vital nutrients you need most.
Let’s take a look at meal replacements and see what makes these supplements so great. For those wondering if they are healthy, we will dive right into that. And for those potentially skeptical, we will give you the facts so you don’t have to second guess or wonder if you are wasting your time and money.
What Are Meal Replacements Designed For?
Meal replacements are supplements designed to replace a meal for those on-the-go needs, or if your busy schedule doesn’t allow you time to sit and prepare an entire meal. Typically these come in the form of a powder, pre-bottled shake, or a bar.
What you will find in a premium meal replacement is a balance of macronutrients and as low a calorie count as possible. Keep in mind, you are replacing a meal so calories will be higher. On top of the larger elements of a meal replacement, there will be other aspects like fiber, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients added to make this supplement at least worth replacing a meal (1).
Benefits Of Meal Replacements
Before we dive into the actual health aspect of a meal replacement, let us take a look at a few benefits that meal replacements can offer. Knowing what they can do for you may make you want to look into one further. Plus, you won’t be disappointed by the results or benefits when you find the right product to add to your routine.
Benefits include:
Support weight management: High in protein with balanced macronutrients, these can work to support your weight management goals by ensuring the right amount of macros to give you energy while still keeping weight in mind (2).
Perfect for busy schedules: Great grab and go options for wherever you are to boost athletic performance and your overall health.
Have amazing ingredients: A variety of whole food ingredients are offered to aid in all aspects of our overall health, digestion, and recovery. On top of protein, carbs, and fats you will find fiber, vitamins, and minerals to give you that necessary boost.
Affordable and convenient: A quick source of protein rich fuel at an affordable price for convenience and recovery from a well-balanced diet.
Are They Actually Healthy?
When it comes to this question about if meal replacements are healthy, it should be said off the bat that it depends on the product and it depends on your goals.
Yes, meal replacements can be healthy alternatives but they should be used sparingly. It is always best to get these nutrients from whole foods, however, sometimes our busy schedules just don’t allow for it. Having a meal replacement every day isn’t the best idea, but used in moderation and these can be beneficial for your gains.
What makes meal replacements unhealthy are the amount of sugar and calories. As said before, these are replacing a meal so they are bound to be higher in calories, however, products that are not of the highest quality can have way too many calories with not enough reward, thus hurting your overall gains. Same with sugar. A great tasting product can be delicious with natural flavors and if a company is pumping the product with sugar and artificial sweeteners, then it is doing more harm than good.
Also, you want to be sure to check the ratio of macronutrients, for if a product is pumping you with carbs and not enough protein, then look elsewhere. The added ingredients should also be diverse and things like fiber, collagen, omega-3’s, and other vitamins and minerals should be included. If a meal replacement looks like a run of the mill product, then move on and look for one that is worth your time and money.
So, are meal replacement supplements actually healthy? Yes, absolutely, they can be. Looking at the nutrition label and comparing products is a key way to get the answers you want. Don’t settle for some bogus product and work to give yourself the best gains possible when it comes to staying full and aiding in weight loss and management (3).
If you have to skip a meal, meal replacements are those products to work wonders for you. While doing diligent research is important, don’t neglect what these can do for all of those goals.
Check out our list of the Best Meal Replacements for more great meal replacing products!
Wrap Up
For those wondering if meal replacement supplements are healthy options, then you’ve come to the right place. What a good meal replacement can do for you is replace a whole food meal if you live a busy life. But honestly, these supplements work great for those athletes who may be traveling and who need a meal mid-day. Whatever your needs may be, meal replacements can help so don’t neglect what these supplements can do. And yes, the right meal replacement can be a healthy option for you.
Let us know what you think in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
*Images courtesy of Envato
References
Kulovitz, Michelle; Kravitz, Len. “Do Meal Replacements Deliver Results?”. (source)
Treyzon, Leo; Chen, Steve; Hong, Kurt; Yan, Eric; et al. (2008). “A controlled trial of protein enrichment of meal replacements for weight reduction with retention of lean body mass”. (source)
Davis, L.; et al. (2010). “Efficacy of a meal replacement diet plan compared to a food-based diet plan after a period of weight loss and weight maintenance: a randomized controlled trial”. (source)
Kaged Muscle Omega-3 Review For Brain Support & Heart Health
This omega-3 supplement from Kaged Muscle is pure and highly absorbable to aid your health and wellness.
Product Overview
We all want the best for our overall health and wellness and working with the right omega-3 supplements is a great way for this to happen. You will find that looking for these products can be challenging, however, and since these are designed to boost your physical and mental health, you deserve only the best. With a focus by supplement companies to ensure their formulas are clean and working for your benefit only, feeling great and taking a worthwhile supplement is now easier than before. Kaged Muscle Omega-3 is a great supplement with a clean and fully disclosed formula designed to improve brain and heart health for those who want it.
An omega-3 supplement can come from a few sources, like fish and krill oil to name a few. What you will find is that an omega-3 supplement can work to promote eye health, fight and reduce inflammation, enhance heart health, and increase bone and joint health so you move and feel better. Kaged Muscle Omega-3 can do this and more and is great for athletes or everyday folks looking to better their health and wellness.
Code GENIRON10 For 10% Off
Kaged Muscle Omega-3 Fish Oil is a pure supplement to support brain and heart health. With high absorption triglycerides and fish-free burps, this supplement contains 100% wild caught fish oil.
Kaged Muscle is a supplements company who takes their production process and final products seriously, only reinforcing the deepest of integrity. They source the purest, most potent raw materials and ensure their labs operate beyond the status quo with rigorous testing and third-party assurance. Never compromising on quality and price, Kaged Muscle seeks to only make the highest quality supplements they can, for they know you, the athlete, deserves only the best.
Kaged Muscle Omega-3 Highlights
Kaged Muscle Omega-3 Fish Oil is great for anyone looking for a pure supplement to support brain and heart health. With high-absorption triglycerides and fish-free burps, this supplement contains 100% wild caught fish oil with 1,100mg of EPA and 900mg of DHA to promote healthy joints and support brain and heart health.
With superior absorption, this allows for these ingredients to hit you faster to optimize all 3,000mg of triple strength and max potency fish oil. A great option, this has extremely low oxidation value and is cleaned and purified to minimize heavy metals.
The nice part about the capsule is that it is almost clear and doesn’t have that traditional dark yellow color of other fish oil supplements. It is odorless and you don’t have any of those fish burps that can be unpleasant with other supplements. The purity and high-quality design of this supplement makes it a great choice for those looking to capitalize on their health and wellness gains.
Ingredients
Fish Oil (3000mg)
Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA): Found in cold water fish like herring, mackerel, and halibut, among others. May help improve heart health and can potentially work to improve depression. For physical improvements, it could potentially help slow the progression of arthritis (1,2,3).
Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA): Found in fish and cold water multi-cellular organisms. Can work to fight inflammation and support muscle recovery, can potentially help with cardiovascular health, and may improve cognitive function (4,5).
Other Ingredients
Gelatin, Glycerin, Purified Water
Calories
30
Protein
0g
Carbs
0g
Fat
3g
Number Of Servings
30
Price & Effectiveness
Kaged Muscle Omega-3 is a great omega-3 supplement that is highly absorbable and ultra-pure to aid in brain and heart health. With 30 servings per container of this fully disclosed formula, 2 softgels will give you a great dose of omega-3 for all those needs.
Pros
High-absorption triglycerides
100% wild caught
Pure and potent fish oil
Great for joints and brain and heart health
Cons
Heavy metal testing control could be a touch better
Price: $27.99
Who This Is Great For & How Best To Take It
This supplement from Kaged Muscle is great for those looking to capitalize on their omega-3 needs by improving brain and heart health. Finding a quality supplement can be difficult but for those looking for a clean product, you will find it here.
It is best to take two softgels daily with food. Always check the label on every supplement you take to make sure you follow the directions and get the most out of these supplements.
Check out our list of the Best Omega-3 Supplements for more health and wellness products!
Overall Value
Kaged Muscle Omega-3 is that omega-3 supplement you need most if you are someone looking to improve your overall brain and heart health. As athletes, it can be difficult to find those premium supplements at affordable prices, but with Kaged Muscle it is possible. What you are really getting is a clean and fully disclosed formula with great benefits from a company who understands the needs of athletes. Try Kaged Muscle Omega-3 today and work to improve your brain and heart health to better your health and wellness.
Try Kaged Muscle Omega-3 Today
Generation Iron may receive commissions on purchases made through our links. See our disclosure page for more information.
Let us know what you think in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
*Images courtesy of Kaged Muscle & Envato
References
Innes, J.; et al. (2020). “Marine Omega-3 (N-3) Fatty Acids for Cardiovascular Health: An Update for 2020”. (source)
Sublette, M.; et al. (2011). “Meta-analysis of the effects of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in clinical trials in depression”. (source)
Castillero, E.; et al. (2009). “Eicosapentaenoic acid attenuates arthritis-induced muscle wasting acting on atrogin-1 and on myogenic regulatory factors”. (source)
Corder, K.; et al. (2016). “Effects of Short-Term Docosahexaenoic Acid Supplementation on Markers of Inflammation after Eccentric Strength in Women”. (source)
Sinclair, A. (2019). “Docosahexaenoic acid in the brain- what is its role?”. (source)
The Best Types Of Protein Powders Explained For Gains
What are the differences between the best protein powders?
We’ve come to a time in history where the impossible is now attainable, the insurmountable odds can be not climbed but conquered, and everyone is looking to be a special and unique snowflake. As sarcastic as that may sound, there’s certainly nothing wrong with wanting to improve yourself and become the best version who you are.
In fact, if you’re not trying your best to be a special and unique snowflake then you’re just not living your life the right way. You should want to be in great health, to feel as if you could jump over someone’s head or lift someone over your head. Exercise is paramount to that as well as building quality muscle to be able to perform such acts.
If you want to take your fitness to new levels then you’re going to have to put in the work not only in the gym, but in the kitchen as well. All too often people get the wrong idea about building muscle and making gains. A great many people believe that dirty bulking is the way to put on massive size, not realizing that they’re likely to put on an immense amount of fat in the process.
This is where making wise choices comes into play. The primary source of building and maintaining muscle is protein consumption. But sometimes getting the adequate amount of protein from food sources is just too hard.
This is where protein powders come into play.
People are always looking for the best protein powders on the market, but the reality is that in order to get exactly what you need from protein, you have to know what your choices are and what makes them the right source for you.
Whey Protein
First on the list of best protein powders is the classic whey protein. Coming from milk, whey is produced during the cheese making process, the liquid that separates from the curds. Whey is considered one of the best protein powders simply for it’s high protein content, but there are things to look out for with this particular kind of powder. It contains lactose which some people have trouble digesting, but is great for building muscle and aiding in recovery (1).
For those who suffer from lactose intolerance whey protein powder doesn’t just come in one form. Whey protein concentrate contains some lactose elements, but whey protein isolate contains very little due to the extra breakdown during the process.
Those without a problem will find whey to be a quickly digested protein. It contains branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) which plays a major role in both muscle growth and recovery after a hard training session. Amino acid are absorbed into the bloodstream to generate the process of muscle protein synthesis which is the creation of new muscle.
Whey is one of the best protein powders because of its ability to be digested quickly.
Check out our list of the Best Protein Powders for great whey protein products!
Casein Protein
Casein protein powder shares similarities with whey protein as it is derived from milk. Casein unlike whey however is a protein that is digested more slowly. Because its digested slower than whey it means that the absorption of amino acids into the bloodstream is delayed. Though whey protein may have the edge over casein in terms of increasing muscle protein synthesis and strength, casein does have specific benefits (2).
It is still great in terms of muscle production and maintenance, however it is best consumed when you’re trying to restrict calorie intake. It allows for muscle maintenance and fat loss during a cut. It’s also great to consume casein protein before bed for better recovery as well as combating catabolism while you sleep, preserving and rebuilding your muscle mass after a hard training session.
Check out our list of the Best Casein Supplements for awesome overnight repair and support supplements!
Pea Protein
If you’re an individual with severe allergies in regards to dairy, then utilizing a pea protein powder is one of the best alternatives. Made from the high fiber legume the yellow split pea, the protein powder contains a ton of essential amino acids save for methionine. This is perhaps the biggest knock against pea protein as it’s not giving you all of the nutrients you would want out of a protein powder.
Nevertheless, pea protein does offer a nice balance. It’s absorbed in the blood stream slower than whey protein, but faster than casein. This effect can make it a great product to use in between meals to keep you satiated. Studies have also shown the individuals who utilize pea protein powders have similar muscular development to those who use whey (3). Other studies have also found that consuming pea protein can be beneficial for lowering blood pressure as well (4).
Check out our list of the Best Non-Dairy Protein Supplements for great plant-based options!
Wrap Up
So, what are the best protein powders out there? Well, the answer to that question is as simple as it is complicated. The bottom line is that these options can all be used together. Each protein powder has benefits that the others don’t. Mixing and matching is the best solution to seeing overall and consistent gains.
What do you think are the best protein powders? Let us know in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook and Twitter.
*Images courtesy of Envato Elements.
References
West, D.; et al. (2017). “Whey Protein Supplementation Enhances Whole Body Protein Metabolism and Performance Recovery after Resistance Exercises: A Double-Blind Crossover Study”. (source)
Tipton, K.; et al. (2004). “Ingestion of Casein and Whey Proteins Result in Muscle Anabolism after Resistance Exercise”. (source)
Babault, N.; et al. (2015). “Pea proteins oral supplementation promotes muscle thickness gains during resistance training: a double-blind, randomized, Placebo-controlled clinical trial vs. Whey protein”. (source)
Li, H.; et al. (2011). “Blood pressure lowering effect of a pea protein hydrolysate in hypertensive rats and humans”. (source)
How To Maintain Muscle Mass During The Month Of Ramadan
Looking to maintain that muscle mass and shredded aesthetic during Ramadan? No problem!
The month of Ramadan begins on April 12 and runs through May 12 and for those wondering how to maintain muscle mass during Ramadan, a good planned approach will allow you to do so. Practiced by millions of Muslims around the world, Ramadan is a fast that requires those to abstain from eating and drinking, among other things, to achieve a consciousness and closer connection to God.
This can be challenging for bodybuilders and those looking to keep on a desired physique for fasting is typically not part of a well-thought out routine to keep on muscle mass and maintain that shredded aesthetic.
We all know that maintaining muscle requires a strict workout routine and careful diet and fasting can be a detriment to those gains we’ve worked all year for. During Ramadan, your workout plan needs to evolve and adapt to changes in not only fasting, but also sleep patterns, when you eat and drink, and the times of day you exercise. This may require some careful planning to ensure you get the most out of your training and diet plans, while also sticking to the requirements of this sacred holiday.
It is possible to maintain muscle during Ramadan and here’s how. We want to give you the best chance at achieving all your goals and the key to success during Ramadan requires careful planning and a diligence that will test your will and physical capabilities. But do not fear, for we have some helpful advice and ways for you to continue to thrive during Ramadan.
How To Effectively Maximize Training & Workouts
When it comes to your workouts, there are some key ways to stay fit during Ramadan that will keep on that muscle mass.
Stick With What You Know
Instead of switching up your workout routine which will challenge your body in new and unique ways, look to stay with your existing workouts and what you know. You will still build muscle and can sprinkle in new exercises to cause muscle confusion and continue to see growth, but starting a whole new routine may cause you to fight the urge to break the fast even more so and can negatively impact other areas of your daily lifestyle.
Resistance Training
Resistance training is a great way to progressively build muscle mass and staying consistent with this will prove to be key in the long run. By increasing volume and focusing on power and explosiveness, you can work with things like high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and other forms of resistance training to really give your muscles what they need most (1).
High Reps & Focus On Intensity
Sticking with higher intensity will work your muscles effectively and putting in higher reps will continue to build muscle even during a fast. Increasing the number of sets and reps for your workout, while putting in different techniques like drop sets will not only work your muscles and target deeper into those muscles, but also ensure you don’t lose muscle, but in fact put lean muscle on. Lighter weight will allow you to maintain muscle mass and also allow you to perform these higher reps without putting yourself in a hole.
Sleep
Sleep is super important even outside of Ramadan, but during this month of fasting, getting adequate sleep will support muscle growth and muscle building so you start to build those muscles you want to keep. It should go without saying that proper sleep will allow you to function better in daily life and make better decisions when it comes to training, planning your diet, and just living and all-around better lifestyle (2).
How To Optimize Your Nutrition Routine
Make Protein A Priority
Since protein is the building block of all muscle, making sure you get adequate amounts of protein will allow you to maintain muscle mass and will keep you full for longer. This is where a high-quality protein supplement will come to your aid for they will provide a clean source of protein that is easily digestible to hit you faster to maximize the benefits. Something like a whey protein is useful, but also a plant-based protein powder is a great way to avoid dairy and still allow you to maintain muscle (3).
Avoid Sugar & Fast Carbs
We all love both sugar and carbs, but being cautious of your intake will prove to be important when it comes to your nutrition routine. Since you’ve been fasting all day, it can be easy to fall into the trap of eating whatever, but it is vital to fight this urge and not consume too many sugars and carbs. A high-carb meal should have equal amounts of protein if that is the route you choose to go.
Focus On Greens
Looking to incorporate as many vegetables and leafy greens into your diet as possible will provide those micronutrients and other essentials you’ve missed from a whole day of fasting. This is important for your cells, muscles, and other bodily functions overall to pump you with key vitamins and minerals so you don’t suffer any negative consequences to your growth and recovery.
Hydrate!
Hydration is absolutely key, but it’s important to do so slowly. You want to be sure your body properly absorbs water and while it is tempting to drink massive amounts of water, do so in a way that will allow your body to properly absorb and maintain it (4). For those who work out after breaking the fast, be sure to constantly sip water during and after working out. As much as we love coffee and other sources of caffeine, try and avoid it as much as possible for it can dehydrate you further.
Wrap Up
Ramadan is a sacred time for many and it can be a battle of juggling sticking to the routine and the rules of Ramadan while also sticking to your workout routine to maintain muscle mass so you don’t lose those hard earned gains. Remember to be smart with your plan of attack and although it may take some extra diligence, it will all be worth it for it is possible to take advantage of this month and be successful.
Let us know what you think in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
*Images courtesy of Envato
References
Laursen, Paul B.; Jenkins, David G. (2002). “The scientific basis for high-intensity interval training: optimizing training programmes and maximizing performance in highly trained endurance athletes”. (source)
Driver, Helen S.; Taylor, Sheila R. (2000). “Exercise and sleep”. (source)
Pasiakos, Stefan M.; McLellan, Tom M.; Lieberman, Harris R. (2015). “The effects of protein supplements on muscle mass, strength, and aerobic and anaerobic power in healthy adults: a systematic review”. (source)
Shirreffs, S. M. (2009). “Hydration in sport and exercise: water, sports drinks and other drinks”. (source)
Pre-Workouts Vs. Fat Burners: How Weight Loss Happens With Both
Whether you prefer pre-workout or a fat burner, weight loss can happen with both.
Some of us have debated on pre-workouts vs. fat burners before, however, we neglect that both are great for weight loss. We want to pick and choose and debate, but all that time could be spent in the gym and seeing gains.
Our gains are important and while supplements can get expensive, it is important to realize that it isn’t impossible to find great products. With ones like pre-workouts and fat burners, the choice to see great gains has never been easier.
Let’s take a look at pre-workouts vs. fat burners and see if one is better for weight loss. Since both have great properties, the results may be surprising.
Pre-Workouts: Benefits, Weight Loss & More
A pre-workout supplement, as most of us know, is a great way to boost energy and provide for muscle pumps for increased strength and size. We often find ourselves struggling to find the energy to get up and get moving and with a great supplement like pre-workout working for our benefit, it is entirely possible to really benefit from this supplement.
Some people often debate that pre-workouts are just loaded with caffeine and that you are better off drinking a cup of coffee before your workout. However, it is the other ingredients packed into a great formula that can make a pre-workout a worthwhile supplement.
Benefits
Benefits of pre-workout supplement include:
Better focus and energy: Offers more intense workouts while being locked into every exercise so nothing interferes with a good workout. Plus, it can offer that energy given our busy schedules (1).
Reduce fatigue: Allow for longer training sessions and the chance to burst through fatigue while reducing muscle soreness and unwanted pain for improved performance.
Muscle pumps: Allow blood to flow through your muscles and really increase strength and size for those muscles you wish to see grow (2).
Enhanced recovery: Bounce back faster and promote better growth while recovering more effectively for faster turn arounds.
When & Why Use Them
It is best to use a pre-workout around 30 minutes before your workout. This allows those ingredients to hit you and provide the best effect for your gains. Using pre-workout is worth it for those who want to boost energy, get the blood flowing, and work for the best muscle growth possible.
How They Affect Weight Loss
Pre-workouts can affect weight loss by getting your heart rate up and giving you the energy needed to perform a great workout. With a better mindset, more energy and focus, and the physical feeling of wanting to workout, you can work harder and burn more calories for that intended weight loss affect. Plus, by pushing through fatigue, you can workout longer for increased calorie burn.
Check out our list of the Best Pre-Workouts for more great pre-workout products!
Fat Burners: Benefits, Weight Loss & More
Fat burners are perfect for those who may struggle to lose fat and find that stubborn belly fat just doesn’t want to leave. A fat burner is great for it is packed with ingredients that have been studied for their affects on your metabolism, weight loss, and cravings all in efforts to help you see your desired physique unfold.
There is some debate about if fat burners actually work or not but with the right supplement produced by an honest company, it is entirely possible that these are effective. Like all supplements, it takes having the right ingredients to have the product work as intended.
Benefits
Boost your metabolism: Power your metabolism to burn that stubborn fat and extra calories, offering more energy for whatever workout comes your way and not allowing fat the chance to be stored (3).
Suppress appetite: Eliminate those hunger sensations that lead to cravings and snacking to rid your diet of unwanted and wasted calories.
Increase energy and focus: By burning more fat for fuel, you can increase those energy levels.
Maintain lean muscle: Work to keep on that lean muscle while shedding fat so you don’t lose your gains and start to see that desired physique actually come to life.
When & Why Use Them
It is best to follow the directions on the respective fat burner for when to use it. Some require it with food and others say without food. Plus, there are some that advise to take a certain amount of time before a meal so the ingredients can start working.
Using a fat burner is a great way to help lose fat for those struggling. When working in tandem with a good diet and training plan, these supplements can be highly effective.
How They Affect Weight Loss
Fat burners affect weight loss by working to suppress your appetite to eliminate cravings, boost your metabolism so it works for efficiently, and keep your body working to burn calories so you have a better chance at fat loss.
Check out our list of the Best Fat Burners for more great fat burning products!
Is One Better For Weight Loss?
When it comes down to it, this is a tough question to answer. Yes, a fat burner is literally designed to assist with weight loss, but this works better when paired with a healthy diet and training plan. On the other hand, a pre-workout is giving you that boost to have an effective and worthwhile workout, so considering this option isn’t a bad deal at all.
Is one better for weight loss? That is up to the individual. If you can afford to and you feel it is best for your body and your goals, consider a regimen that includes both so you can capitalize on those great gains and get the most out of your workouts and overall routine.
Wrap Up
When it comes to pre-workouts vs. fat burners and their intended goals for weight loss, you need to consider the fact that both are great for it. While fat burners are intended for weight loss, pre-workouts have the ability to work for our benefit in a number of other ways. When paired together, these supplements can create all the difference for your gains.
Let us know what you think in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
*Images courtesy of Envato
References
Ellerbroek, Anya C.; Antonio, Jose (2019). “Effects of Pre-Workout Supplements on Strength, Endurance, and Mood”. (source)
Kedia, A.; Hofheins, J.; Habowski, S.; Ferrando, Arny; et al. (2014). “Effects of a Pre workout Supplement on Lean Mass, Muscular Performance, Subjective Workout Experience and Biomarkers of Safety”. (source)
Jeukendrup, A.; et al. (2011). “Fat burners: nutrition supplements that increase fat metabolism”. (source)
Mike O’Hearn Tips On Getting Shredded & How To Keep Up Your Physique
Photo via @mikeohearn Instagram
Mike O’Hearn offers advice on how to get shredded and best way to take care of your body.
For so many of us, we look back on our younger selves, or even photos of us from a few years past, and wonder how we looked so good and how to get that back. Given our busy schedules and lives, it can be easy to lose the discipline and start to slack off in our routine. Before long, we find ourselves asking these questions with no real place to turn.
Mike O’Hearn is a familiar name to many and as a natural bodybuilder he knows just how important it is to thrive and stay consistent with an all-natural approach to building his body and seeing huge gains. Now that he has quite the accomplished career stacked up, he seeks to push himself to new heights, trying new approaches and testing his body. However, he still takes proper care for he knows how important his body is.
He is updating folks on his new diet and the progress he is seeing, being sure to mention some key tips and offer advice on how best to stay the course and see the best gains. For someone like Mike, it might seem easy to reach those goals, for he is a natural physical specimen, but even this pro has his own struggles, but doesn’t let those get in the way.
Let’s take a look at Mike and some of the great tips his picked up along his career. For those wondering how to reach these goals in a natural way without help from PEDs or other junk, Mike is the perfect mentor and role model to follow.
Photo via @mikeohearn Instagram
About Mike O’Hearn
Mike O’Hearn is a bodybuilder, fitness model, and entrepreneur, having a long of apparel, supplements, and workout plans. Having been in the bodybuilding games for decades now, he is a role model and someone to look up to for his calm demeanor, fun personality, and natural approach to looking huge.
As the youngest of 10 kids, Mike always strived to keep up with his older siblings. His dad being a former bodybuilder and football player, Mike wanted to follow in his footsteps and really took the health and fitness lifestyle.
Over the years, his hard and heavy approach to training earned him tons of bodybuilding wins, hundreds of magazine covers, and appearances in American Gladiators and Generation Iron 4: Natty 4 Life. Now with a massive platform and a desire to help others achieve their goals, Mike makes his best efforts to share what he knows and keep people up to date on the best ways to see gains.
Photo via @mikeohearn Instagram
Getting Shredded & How To Keep Physique
In a latest YouTube video, Mike offers up an update and helpful advice as he moves into his shredding diet. Mike wants to get a full body back and one that was seen in his younger years. With this diet being all about metabolism, he wants to get his metabolism to that of when he was 20-years old because he wants to peak and have people question how he can do all this naturally. But this requires his body working at 100%.
Eating almost 5,000 calories a day, people often ask how he can function at 100%. He makes it clear that your body has to tell you when it’s time and when it’s ready. You can’t tell your body. For Mike, it’s his body at the right time operating the right way as he wants to live his life. It is never about the show, but rather how well his body is functioning.
Mike uses an interesting metaphor that is actually very wise. He says how all of these fitness guys want to be millionaires for a day only to spend it all in a day. What he is alluding to is the fact that so many of these influencers want to get there fast so they load up on junk, try to get off it, and end up losing everything.
You have to do things the right way if you want to keep it. In the words of Mike, when you force it and cheat it, you don’t get to keep it.
For Mike, he keeps the same workouts and doesn’t mess around with cardio, supersets, or other extracurriculars because he is keeping everything for later. He isn’t trying to blow it all right away and seeks to only set himself up to win. At the end of the day, the whole goal is to keep it.
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Why Your Metabolism Is So Key
Mike makes a point to talk a lot about your metabolism and how important this is especially for those looking to make changes and really shred down. Your metabolism is what allows you to lose or gain weight. We all know that a faster metabolism allows you to lose weight faster (1).
In the video, Mike refers to wanting to get his metabolism back to when he was 20-years old. As we age, our metabolism starts to slow down (2) and for Mike, who wants to cut and shred in his older years (older being relative to when he was a teenage competitor), taking care of his body and working to improve his metabolism is key.
Thankfully, there are some key ways to improve your metabolism along with dieting that include strength training, high-intensity interval training, increasing your intake of green tea, coffee, and spicy foods, and getting more sleep, just to name a few (3,4,5).
Wrap Up
As Mike O’Hearn looks to shred and see great gains during his new diet, he was great in sharing some key tips that make a difference when on something like this. A key takeaway is to take care of your body and give it time. Those who rush the process will look back and wish they didn’t. A well-sculpted and toned body takes time so enjoy the process and know it will happen.
Let us know what you think in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
*Images courtesy of Mike O’Hearn Instagram
References
Harvard Medical School (2021). “The truth about metabolism”. (source)
Pennington Biomedical Research Center (2021). “Metabolism changes with age, just not when you might think”. (source)
Hirsch, K.; et al. (2021). “Metabolic effects of high-intensity interval training and essential amino acids” (source)
Acheson, K.; et al. (1980). “Caffeine and coffee: their influence on metabolic rate and substrate utilization in normal weight and obese individuals”. (source)
Sharma, S.; et al. (2010). “Sleep and Metabolism: An Overview”. (source)
Best Testosterone Booster Supplements 2022 For Masculine Vitality
Testosterone boosters are everywhere. They’re all over the supplement market with a lot of claims, but not a lot of studies. So, what are the best masculinity booster supplements for vitality with quality ingredients?
In this article, we examine the top testosterone boosters for masculine vitality, energy and that help the most with production of testosterone: what works – and why. These are nutrients that can help balance your hormone levels that are backed by clinical studies to prove their efficacy as testosterone supplements.
How Do Testosterone Boosters Help Testosterone Levels?
Natural testosterone boosters help testosterone levels by supplying your body with the natural nutrients it needs to encourage more of the masculine hormone body state.
For example, a good testosterone booster can optimize your body to:
Ramp up Testosterone Production
Increase Masculine energy
Increase Muscle Mass and Muscle Growth
Support Athletic Performance
Act as a mild inhibitor of the T-diminishing hormone prolactin
Lower Body Fat
Enhance Sex Drive
Masculine Vitality and Fights Estrogen
Balance Hormone Levels
However, not every T booster is capable of this. In this article, we look closer at the most effective boosters on the market.
These are products and supplements which are backed by clinical studies, well-dosed, provide masculinity in a capsule and are the best options out there for bodybuilding, low testosterone, older men and more.
Best Testosterone Booster 2022
#1. Testo Lab Pro | Best Overall Ingredients
Testo Lab Pro is the strongest testosterone booster on the market. Hands down.
It is an all-natural testosterone booster which contains 10 clinically-proven ingredients which all help in some way to help improve testosterone levels.
These natural ingredients can help increase testosterone levels by being:
Well-Dosed – In-line with clinical studies to offer the best effects.
Clinically Backed – Seen in clinical studies to help testosterone boosting
Clean and High Quality – Third-party tested, vegan, gluten-free, Non-GMO and more!
Proven Forms – Uses exactly the same branded ingredients as clinical studies (i.e. KSM-66 Ashwagandha)
And as we’ve mentioned, it’s not only the strongest testosterone booster on the market – it’s also the cleanest. There are no dyes, artificial fillers, or synthetic additives in this product unlike other testosterone boosters.
It’s natural all the way down. An all in one masculine enhancer for testosterone. Highly absorbable and very effective.
Each order of Testo Lab Pro comes with a 30 day money-back guarantee. Not seeing the results? Send it back for a full refund.
You can even save some money by buying in bulk. If you buy 3 boxes of Testo Lab Pro you get an extra one free. That’s 4 boxes for $51.75 each – instead of $69.00. This also includes worldwide shipping in the price. If you live in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia or anywhere – Testo Lab Pro can delivered to you.
Testo Lab Pro is an ultramodern test booster making this a strong option. Great for improving masculine vitality and muscle mass, this is a great natural option.
Best Testosterone Booster 2022 (Bodybuilding and Muscle Mass)
Looking to build muscle mass, boost energy levels, and take your lifting career to the next level? Don’t worry – we compiled a list of the best testosterone booster supplements that:
Boost Muscle Mass
Increase Endurance
Speed Up Recovery
Improve Physique
And more
Below are the top options that work the best for bodybuilding and muscle mass. They’re back by clinical studies and are the best natural options to give you the biggest return from all your hard work in the gym.
Here’s our top picks:
#2. D-Aspartic Acid in Testosterone Boosters
TL;DR: DAA has been seen in multiple studies to raise testosterone. One study shows it to raise test by 42% over 12 days. Another shows it boosting T levels by an average of 30 – 60% over 90 days. It rocks.
D-Aspartic Acid is an amino acid which is ideal for natural testosterone boosting and muscle mass. It works well because it can help promote your body’s levels of the Luteinizing Hormone (LH).
LH is your body’s precursor to both growth hormone and testosterone. The more of this that you have in your system, the more support your testosterone levels have to rise.
So, to get this amino acid in a testosterone supplement is always a good sign that you’re in for an effective ride.
But just how effective is D-Aspartic Acid compared to other testosterone boosters? Is it the best to boost testosterone?
In one study, men aged between 27 and 37 took D-Aspartic Acid for a period of 12 days. At the end of the study, 20 out of the 23 men that were supplementing DAA had an average increase of 42% in overall testosterone.
Three days later, without using any D-Aspartic Acid, their testosterone was still 22% higher than it had been at the start of the study.
In a similar study, men aged between 27 and 43 took D-Aspartic Acid over a period of 90 days. At the end of the 90 days, there was an average growth of 30 – 60% in overall testosterone.
D-Aspartic Acid is one of the more potent testosterone boosters and a great option for those who are looking to maximize their T levels and improve muscle mass for bodybuilding. One of the better testosterone boosters.
#3. Zinc (Best Mineral for Testosterone Production)
TL;DR: Studies indicate low Zinc levels appear to go hand-in-hand with low testosterone. Not only that, supplementing Zinc can help boost testosterone that has been lowered by intensive training and other factors.
Zinc is one of the most useful testosterone boosters for helping your testosterone levels with bodybuilding and muscle mass.
One of the main advantages that Zinc has, like DAA, is that this mineral can help to raise your overall levels of LH – the Luteinizing Hormone. As we’ve mentioned, fueling your LH can help with increased production and release of your growth hormone and testosterone.
The most notable study is from 2006, where a group of wrestlers were experiencing temporary low testosterone levels from training to exhaustion. When supplementing Zinc it seemed to reverse this effect and restore their T back up to their optimum levels – so they could keep training hard without the downsides.
Another study saw that supplementing Zinc can help to raise serum testosterone levels, in those who had experienced a drop in T from dialysis.
Other studies have indicated a connection to low zinc levels and low T levels. By helping to keep you Zinc intake at an optimum level, you may be able to maintain steady and healthy T and better muscle mass.
It’s a great mineral for free T and one of the main testosterone boosters to help T levels in a man. Another one of the top-tier testosterone boosters.
#4. Vitamin D3 + Vitamin K1 and K2 (Best Vitamins for Testosterone Production)
TL;DR: Numerous studies show that long-term supplementation of Vitamin D3 can help raise your levels of testosterone. Vitamin D is technically a hormone and closely linked to boosting testosterone levels – and experts believe up to 1 billion people are deficient in it!
Vitamin D is an essential vitamin to your body – and it’s also technically a hormone. It’s a potent, natural resource that has been linked to promoting your testosterone level. Especially with Vitamin K2 and K1.
Why do we need to supplement it for bodybuilding and muscle mass?
Because your body naturally absorbs it through your skin via the sun’s rays – and considering that we spend most of our time indoors, that’s not a whole lot of Vitamin D.
Experts actually believe that up to 1 billion people are deficient in Vitamin D. Not only that, studies have also found that there is a link between deficiencies in Vitamin D3 and low testosterone.
In one study, participants were made to spend more time outdoors in the summer sun. In doing so, there was a large spike noticed in their overall testosterone.
A yearlong study, involving participants supplementing Vitamin D supplements daily noticed a 20% increase in testosterone levels on average.
As it is technically a hormone – and one that most of us are deficient in – supplementing vitamin D3 can be huge for promoting your overall testosterone.
It’s always good to supplement Vitamin D3 with Vitamin K2 and K1. Vitamin K2 and K1 can help guide the added calcium to your bones, for a healthier skeleton and joints, as well helping to increase testosterone levels.
Best Testosterone Booster For Males Over 40 (Top Ingredients)
As you start to get older, your testosterone levels begin to drop. This typically begins after 30, with your testosterone levels declining around 1% every year.
At first, it’s not that noticeable – but sooner or later the effects start to show. Couple that with the lifestyle changes you face at that age – running a family, more responsibility and generally stress, stress, stress! It’s a cocktail of disaster for your T levels.
However, there are natural ingredients out there which can help with testosterone production, as well as managing your levels of stress. Combined this can give you a testosterone boosting supplement which can not only help your T levels – but can also help your mindset as well. Helping to promote better hormonal balance and more effective lifestyle management.
#5. Ashwagandha (as a Testosterone Booster)
TL;DR: Ashwagandha is arguably one of the most potent herbs when it comes to raising testosterone levels. KSM-66 Ashwagandha is the best and can help raise testosterone, muscles mass and even lower stress.
There are numerous ways that this herb can help improve your levels of T. It can help both directly and indirectly. Personally, we see it as one of the best testosterone boosters.
Indirectly, Ashwagandha can help lower cortisol, your body’s stress hormone. When your cortisol levels are higher, your testosterone levels drop. This is how your body manages the hormones. Ashwagandha has been seen in clinical studies to help reduce levels of the stress hormone, and by extension increase testosterone.
Lowering stress is ideal for the over 40s as this is typically a harder point in your life with children, work and more factors that create low testosterone levels.
In another study, Ashwagandha was seen to promote muscle mass and even reduce body fat by 3.5% compared to the placebo group.
The best form of Ashwagandha is definitely KSM-66. There’s an endless list of clinical studies supporting the KSM-66 strain. It’s seen to help stress, low testosterone levels, endurance, strength, sex drive, weight management, memory, anti-aging, sleep and more.
It’s one of the finest natural testosterone boosting supplements.
#6. Magnesium (for Free T Levels)
TL;DR: You should be looking to get a good amount of Magnesium in your testosterone booster. It’s effective for protecting your free testosterone and maintaining your overall T levels.
Magnesium is one of the better minerals out there for men over 40 for testosterone. It’s effective for helping raise your levels of free testosterone.
Free testosterone is the amount of T that is freely circulating throughout your body. The threat to this type of testosterone is Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG). SHBG binds to the free testosterone in your system, and strips it of its anabolic potency. The result is that it reduces your overall levels of free testosterone.
Supplementing Magnesium can help to minimize this problem. Studies show that taking Magnesium can help to reduce the impact of SHBG. Magnesium does this by inhibiting the SHBG, which helps stop it from binding to your free flowing testosterone.
#7. Mucuna Pruriens (Leans out Chest Muscle)
TL;DR: Mucuna Pruriens can help raise testosterone, lower stress, fight man boobs and even raise dopamine. What more could you want?
Mucuna Pruriens are a great testosterone booster for males over 40. The main active ingredient that matters most in Mucuna Pruriens is L-DOPA.
L-DOPA can raise your brain’s level of dopamine which can offer a combination of good effects including reducing levels of the stress hormone cortisol, erections, masculine sex drive and generally making you feel better.
What it can also do is increase your levels of GnRH – that’s gonadotropic-releasing hormone. This can help to raise your body’s levels of the Luteinzing Hormone. As we’ve mentioned this is your body’s precursor to both growth hormone, and testosterone.
Another benefit of L-DOPA in Mucuna Pruriens is that it can help reduce your overall levels of prolactin in your body. Prolactin is the hormone in your body which is linked to causing soft breast tissue – or man boobs – which is more of a risk as you get older.
By getting a good supply of L-DOPA, you can help reduce your levels of that hormone, and help create a leaner and meaner chest. It can also help in areas such as stress management and sex drive.
Best Testosterone Booster For Men Over 50 (Best Ingredients)
Lower testosterone is an issue in older men. It’s natural – but that doesn’t mean you have to settle for it. There are plenty of natural options out there which can help to fight the process and allow you to maintain (and in some cases raise) as much testosterone as possible at over 50.
However, testosterone isn’t the only problem. Another factor from being older men is a rise in estrogen – the female hormone. This can unbalance your hormones and create more issues for your overall masculine health and improve sex drive.
Below, we have compiled a list of what we believe to be the best testosterone boosters for men over 50. These can help if your testosterone levels are low, or even if you are struggling from a rise in estrogen.
#8. Boron (Top Mineral for Fighting Estrogen)
TL;DR: Boron is great for both raising testosterone, and lowering estrogen. This is ideal as those are big factors that need support as you get older.
Boron makes our list of the top testosterone boosters for men over 50 because it has been clinically proven to do 2 things: boost testosterone, and lower estrogen.
A full review of Boron in 2015 in the IMCJ covered a lot of the mineral’s overall effects, with the main takeaways being that it can help increase free testosterone by nearly 25%. It can also almost have the amount of estradiol (estrogen) in your system, and even allow more free testosterone to bond with proteins in your blood which can help as you age.
With all that considered, this makes it a great choice as a testosterone booster for men over 50. It can tackle many of the age-related factors that affect T as you get older. Including allowing for more protein binding and reducing growing levels of estrogen.
Boron has even been seen to help in these areas with subjects who are suffering from low testosterone. It’s an effective, natural mineral for T levels.
#9. Luteolin (Top Nutrient for Fighting Estrogen)
TL;DR: Luteolin can help lower estrogen – which becomes a much bigger problem as you get older.
The final testosterone booster that we’ll be covering in our list is Luteolin. It is an antioxidant found in citrus fruits like lemons and oranges.
Luteolin is technically not a testosterone booster – but it is a great natural aromatase inhibitor.
The aromatase enzyme is an enzyme in your blood which converts your testosterone into estrogen. As you get older, this enzyme becomes more active, converting more T into estrogen. This is definitely not what you want for hormone optimization.
Studies have shown that supplementing luteolin can potentially inhibit estrogen biosynthesis – which could in turn reduce your overall levels of the female hormone.
As you get older and your estrogen levels rise, and your T levels decline – it’s smart to get all the help you can get. Luteolin has some promising studies behind it and a great tool to help deter a rise in estrogen.
Best Natural Testosterone Booster Supplements 2022
As you can see, there are plenty of good options out there when it comes to maximizing your overall testosterone and hormone levels.
When it comes to which test booster is the most effective though – we have to give it to Testo Lab Pro.
Individually, many of the ingredients we’ve covered here are great for boosting testosterone – however, together, they are on another level. That’s what you get with Testo Lab Pro.
You get solid, clinically-backed, well-dosed ingredients all together in one stacked out supplement. It even uses KSM-66 Ashwagandha, which is the most clinically proven form of the herb.
The vitamins and minerals in Testo Lab Pro are also NutriGenesis – making them nature-identical and super easy for your body to absorb.
The clinical studies for all the ingredients in Testo Lab Pro are off the charts. The health benefits range from boosting muscle for a bodybuilder, to giving an energy boost to older men.
It hits all the marks, and we recommend to anyone looking for a natural, and above all, effective test booster.
You can find out more by visiting the Testo lab Pro site below:
Testo Lab Pro is an ultramodern test booster making this a strong option. Great for improving masculine vitality and muscle mass, this is a great natural option.
Testosterone Boosting Foods / Not Supplements
Testosterone boosters aren’t everything. Eating right and exercising goes a long way too. Below, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best testosterone boosting foods out there that you should add to your diet to maximize your overall progress.
Here’s a shortlist of the foods that could help you the most.
Tuna as a Testosterone Booster
Tuna contains a rich source of Vitamin D. Vitamin D, as you’ll know by now, is technically a hormone which has close links to raising testosterone levels.
Due to the mercury content, moderation is key with a food like this. Two to three servings a week should be enough for you to get a healthy supply of this vitamin from your food.
Other fish options that contain good amounts of this vitamin would be salmon or sardines. There’s plenty of options.
Milk as a Testosterone Booster
Milk is another good source of Vitamin D. Mostly touted for it’s ability to help bones and muscles through its high calcium and protein content, many people forget that it also contains a good amount of Vitamin D.
Again, with a nice amount of D in here, milk can help support a rise in your testosterone levels.
Pro-tip: Opting for a lower fat milk like skimmed or semi-skimmed may be a wise idea to avoid saturated fat content.
Egg Yolks as a Testosterone Booster
Again, another rich source of Vitamin D. Eggs can help raise testosterone levels by offering a good amount of this natural vitamin.
Not only that, eggs are also an effective source of healthy cholesterol. This can help support the leydig cells in your body to promote overall testosterone.
An egg a day is a good way to get the health benefits from this food, without overdoing it.
Fortified Cereals as a Testosterone Booster
Cereals that have been fortified with Vitamin D can be ideal for helping low testosterone. Getting fortified cereals into your diet can help increase your overall vitamin D and increase testosterone levels.
These types of cereals also pack vitamins and minerals that offer general health benefits to keep you going.
Oysters for Low Test
Unlike most of the other food we’ve mentioned, oysters are good for testosterone due to their level of zinc.
Zinc is a great example of testosterone boosting supplements, as it can increase your levels of the luteinizing hormone (LH), which is your body’s precursor to both growth hormone and testosterone.
Beef is a red meat that you shouldn’t over-consume. However, in moderate amounts it can be fine for your health – and even beneficial to your testosterone.
Beef contains a good amount of Zinc and Vitamin D, which can both contribute as testosterone boosting supplements.
Finally, a nice plant-based testosterone booster in our list of T boosting foods. Beans, lentils, chickpeas and more all contain a good amount of Zinc.
It’s a nice natural testosterone booster and an easy one to have with numerous meals to improve your low testosterone levels and give yourself a good amount of protein.
Conclusion: What Are The Best Natural Testosterone Boosters?
The best natural testosterone boosters are a mix of numerous clinically proven herbs, vitamins and minerals. These are all options which have been seen in studies to help tilt the hormonal balance in your body in favor of testosterone.
Ideally, you want a supplement that combines all of these natural ingredients into one easy stack. That’s why we’ve put Testo Lab Pro at the top of our list.
Testo Lab Pro contains all of these natural ingredients in high dosages with patented branded options that were featured in the original studies (like KSM-66 Ashwagandha).
Not only that, it’s aggressively clean with no artificial additives, or synthetic ingredients. It’s also totally vegan, and uses nature-identical vitamins and minerals to maximize absorption and effectiveness.
If you’re wondering what the top testosterone booster on the market at the moment is – let us answer it for you: It’s Testo Lab Pro.
Solid nutrient profile, clinically-effective dosages, and clean as a whistle. What more could you want? You can learn more by visiting their website below:
Visit Testo Lab Pro Here
Let us know what you think in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
*Images courtesy of Envato
References
D-Aspartic Acid Studies
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D’Aniello, S. Ronsini, T. Notari, N. Grieco, V. Infante, N. D’Angel, F. Mascia, M. Fiore, G. Fisher and A. D’Aniello, “D-Aspartate, a Key Element for the Improvement of Sperm Quality,” Advances in Sexual Medicine, Vol. 2 No. 4, 2012, pp. 45-53. doi: 10.4236/asm.2012.24008.
Zinc Studies
Kilic M, Baltaci AK, Gunay M, Gökbel H, Okudan N, Cicioglu I. The effect of exhaustion exercise on thyroid hormones and testosterone levels of elite athletes receiving oral zinc. Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2006 Feb-Apr;27(1-2):247-52. PMID: 16648789.
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Vitamin D Studies
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Ashwagandha Studies
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Wankhede S et al. “Examining the effect of Withania somnifera supplementation on muscle strength and recovery: a randomized controlled trial.” JISSN. 2015;12:43. DOI: 10.1186/s12970-015-010
Magnesium Studies
Excoffon L, Guillaume YC, Woronoff-Lemsi MC, André C. Magnesium effect on testosterone-SHBG association studied by a novel molecular chromatography approach. J Pharm Biomed Anal. 2009 Feb 20;49(2):175-80. doi: 10.1016/j.jpba.2008.10.041. Epub 2008 Nov 5. PMID: 19095394.
Mucuna Pruriens Studies
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Boron Studies
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Shea JL, Wong PY, Chen Y. Free testosterone: clinical utility and important analytical aspects of measurement. Adv Clin Chem. 2014;63:59-84. doi: 10.1016/b978-0-12-800094-6.00002-9. PMID: 24783351.
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Luteolin Studies
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