At Best-Supps they come from selected brands such as Applied Nutrition, QNT, PER4M, Dedicated and others, mostly as capsules or powder. On this page we explain factually and honestly what lies behind the category, which ingredients are typical and what you can look out for when buying – without exaggerated promises.
What are testosterone boosters?
„Testosterone booster" is a term commonly used in sports for dietary supplements that bundle certain ingredients that are in demand in this topic area. These are foods or dietary supplements – not hormones, medicines or anabolic substances. The composition differs significantly depending on the product: some preparations combine several ingredients in a complex, others rely on a single ingredient like Tribulus or Maca.
Important for an honest classification: for most of the plant-based ingredients in this category there is no officially authorized health claim in the EU. We therefore describe the products purely factually via their ingredients and deliberately make no efficacy promises. Where individual nutrients such as zinc have authorized claims, we reproduce these in their exact wording. For reliable information about your own hormone balance, the medical route is the right one anyway – a dietary supplement replaces neither diagnosis nor treatment.
The best-known ingredients at a glance
The following are among the ingredients that appear most frequently in this category. We describe them neutrally – what they are and where they come from. What a specific product contains and in what amount is stated on the respective ingredient list.
Tribulus Terrestris
Tribulus Terrestris (puncture vine) is a plant traditionally used in Ayurvedic practice. In dietary supplements an extract of the plant is usually used, often standardized to so-called saponins, with such extracts sometimes containing up to 90% saponins. Tribulus is one of the longest-known ingredients in the context of this product category and is offered both in single products and as a component of complexes. Depending on the manufacturer, high-dose products can provide up to 3,600 mg of Tribulus extract per daily dose. The effect of Tribulus terrestris as a booster has not been scientifically proven, and an increase in testosterone levels is not reliably documented.
Maca
Maca (Lepidium meyenii) is a tuber plant from the South American Andes, where it has long been used as a food. As a dietary supplement, Maca mainly comes as a powder or in capsules, sometimes in different color varieties of the root. Maca is a plant-based ingredient that is also known outside the sports context.
Turkesterone
Turkesterone is a so-called ecdysteroid that occurs naturally in certain plants – it is known above all from Rhaponticum carthamoides as well as from Ajuga turkestanica. In recent years, Turkesterone has been in high demand via social media. It is usually offered as a capsule with a standardized extract. Here we describe it solely as what it is – a plant-based ecdysteroid – and make no health-related claims.
Shilajit
Shilajit is a natural, resin-like substance that is obtained in mountain regions such as the Himalayas and has a long history in traditional use. In dietary supplements, Shilajit is offered as an extract in capsules or as a paste and is often standardized to components such as fulvic acid. Shilajit, too, is among the ingredients in demand in the context of this category.
D-Aspartic Acid (DAA)
D-Aspartic Acid (DAA for short) is an amino acid that occurs naturally in various foods. In dietary supplements it is usually offered as a powder or in capsules. DAA is one of the ingredients found in testo complexes and single products in this category.
ZMA – zinc, magnesium and vitamin B6
ZMA, also known as zinc magnesium aspartate, is a well-known combination of zinc, magnesium and vitamin B6 that is often offered as capsules. Unlike the plant-based ingredients, there are authorized health claims for these nutrients that we may reproduce in their exact wording: Zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal testosterone levels in the blood – that is, to maintaining a normal testosterone level. In addition: Magnesium contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue, and vitamin B6 contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism. Some products in this category additionally contain vitamin D, for which the authorized claim applies: Vitamin D contributes to the maintenance of normal muscle function. These claims require that a product provides the respective necessary amounts of nutrients – a look at the product’s nutrition table shows whether and to what extent this applies. You’ll also find further minerals individually in the Minerals category.
What you should look out for when buying
Because the products in this category differ greatly, before buying it’s worth taking a close look at ingredients, dosage and comparing the price-performance ratio. These points help with the selection:
Ingredient list and amounts: Look at which ingredients are contained in what amount per serving. Transparent information with clear amounts is a mark of quality; vague „complexes" without individual amounts are less transparent.
Dosage per serving: What matters is not the capsule size but what is actually contained per recommended daily serving. Depending on the product, the recommended daily dose is often 2–4 capsules; the information on the label is always decisive.
Capsules or powder: Capsules are precisely portioned and handy for on the go, powder can be dosed flexibly and is often more economical per serving. This is above all a question of preference.
Brand quality and genuine products: Renowned manufacturers stand for transparent, legal information; high-quality products are ideally also tested for contaminants. At Best-Supps we carry products in this category exclusively as genuine products from selected brands.
EU compliance: Look for ingredients that are exclusively authorized in the EU. Products with sensational promises are a warning sign.
Intake and combination
The correct use – timing and amount – is always stated on the respective product packaging. Many capsule or tablet products are taken with sufficient water, often ideally with a meal. Follow the manufacturer’s consumption recommendation and don’t exceed the recommended amount. Some products are taken at a certain time of day, others are flexible; for most supplements, regularity over time is decisive, whereby a possible effect, depending on the product, tends to become noticeable after a few weeks rather than immediately.
In everyday training, products in this category are often used together with other basics – for example with a protein product from the Proteins area to cover protein needs, with creatine or with a product from the pre-workout boosters before training. Anyone structuring their training around the goal of muscle building will find suitable products bundled under Muscle-building products. Important here: with multiple preparations, be careful not to unintentionally take the same nutrients – for example zinc or magnesium – twice from different sources, and follow the respective consumption recommendations.
Dietary supplements are not a substitute for a balanced, varied diet and a healthy lifestyle. The stated recommended daily consumption amount must not be exceeded. If you use several products, you should also keep an eye on your health and individual hormone levels.
Frequently asked questions
ZMA is a nutrient combination of zinc, magnesium and vitamin B6 – minerals and a vitamin with some authorized health claims. Tribulus, by contrast, is a plant extract (from Tribulus Terrestris) for which there is no authorized claim. So they are two completely different types of ingredients.
The products we stock are food supplements for the European market and contain ingredients such as vitamins, minerals or plant extracts. They are not hormones, medicinal products or anabolic substances and must not be confused with them. We stock exclusively EU-compliant goods.
They are aimed at adult, physically active people who are specifically looking for products in this category. Many buyers are men who inform themselves in connection with muscle building, muscle mass, strength and general performance. Regardless of the product, the following applies: training, nutrition and recovery are the decisive foundations – supplements can complement an athletic routine but do not replace it. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, in the case of pre-existing conditions or when taking medications, the use should be clarified with a doctor beforehand.
Both have their advantages: capsules are convenient and precisely portioned; how many capsules per day are intended differs depending on the product, often several capsules per day are part of the recommended daily serving. Powder can be dosed more flexibly. "Better" depends on your preference – the ingredients contained per serving can be found on the label in both cases.
By a transparent, complete ingredient list with amounts per serving, exclusively EU-approved ingredients and the absence of exaggerated promises. Some buyers additionally pay attention here to the absence of artificial flavors and colors. Established brands additionally stand for consistent quality; a high-quality item is not only cleanly declared, but also dosed in a comprehensible way in use. Reviews and star ratings from other buyers can supplement your own impression, but the transparent declaration of the item remains more important.
In principle this is possible; especially if you combine several products or a testo booster, an exact comparison of the ingredients is important. However, you should be careful not to unintentionally supply the same nutrients twice, and to stick to the consumption recommendations. Various factors such as dosage, the nutrients contained and your other nutrition and training routine influence a sensible combination. In case of uncertainty, medical consultation is the safest way.