How to Increase Testosterone!
Testosterone is a hormone which controls many aspects of the male reproductive system. Low testosterone levels are a common problem. According to estimates, as many as 25{629041bc9a6ff041fc0b7c543548a1c0f13f59ea1b47b2bc21e5d68d30575962} of men are affected. Starting at the age of thirty, levels in all men decline gradually at an approximate rate of 1{629041bc9a6ff041fc0b7c543548a1c0f13f59ea1b47b2bc21e5d68d30575962} per year. Low libido and erectile dysfunction are common complaints of men with low levels of this hormone.
A testosterone supplement can help treat the problem naturally.
The herb Passion Flower, and a derivative this flower, called chyrsin both do this very effectively.
Read on to learn how…
Passion flower is an herbaceous flower found all over the world, with the exception of Antarctica. In ancient times, the plant was used for its calming and pain-relieving properties. In more recent times, it has become a popular herb for treating sexual related problems such as erectile dysfunction, low libido and decreased sperm count.
The herb’s name fits well considering its uses for boosting sex drive. However, passion flower actually got its name when Spanish explorers in the sixteenth century came across the climbing vine and thought it looked similar to the Passion and Crucifixion of Christ.
Passion flower’s libido-boosting properties can be attributed to two compounds found in it-chrysin and benzoflavone(BZF). Scientific research has found that these two substances play a role in keeping the male reproductive system healthy and working at peak performance.
Chrysin is believed to keep to inhibit aromatase, an enzyme found in the body that is responsible for breaking down testosterone and converting it to estrogen. By helping to conserve testosterone, it naturally increases levels of the hormone in the body. It also blocks some cells from responding to estrogen, reducing the effects of it in the body. For men with problems related to inadequate testosterone production or overactive estrogen production, passion flower is an excellent supplement choice.
When researchers at Iowa State University tested a supplement that contained several herbs, including chrysin, they found that it increased serum androstenedione by 342{629041bc9a6ff041fc0b7c543548a1c0f13f59ea1b47b2bc21e5d68d30575962}, free testosterone by 38{629041bc9a6ff041fc0b7c543548a1c0f13f59ea1b47b2bc21e5d68d30575962} and dihydrotestosterone(DHT) by 71{629041bc9a6ff041fc0b7c543548a1c0f13f59ea1b47b2bc21e5d68d30575962}. Androstenedione is a precursor to sex hormones and converts to testosterone in the body if the correct enzyme is available. DHT is a metabolite of testosterone and may play a role in sex drive. The study was published in 2001 in the International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research.
A 2002 study by scientists at Punjab University in India examined the effects of benzoflavone on rats with simulated alcohol and nicotine-induced sexual problems. They found that the rats who received BZF exhibited significant increases in mating behavior, fertilization potential and sperm count. When the study was published in Life Sciences, the researchers stated that BZF restored virility, libido and vigor by keeping blood testosterone levels high.