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Tribulus Terrestris For Testosterone?
Plus: how to improve blood flow & circulation in your legs
The 10almonds Team
July 08, 2024
Today’s almonds have been activated by:
❝Taking time to care for yourself sustains your ability to take care of others❞
In A Rush?
Today’s 30-Second Summary
If you don’t have time to read the whole email today, here are some key takeaways:
Tribulus terrestris has enjoyed longstanding use in Traditional Chinese Medicine and in Ayurveda, for increasing testosterone levels and more
Today’s main feature examines the science of these claims and what, if anything, it is good for.
Omega-3 fatty acids have a lot of health benefits—including for joints and for the brain—but not all sources are created equal, and some are far better than cod liver oil!
You can get such a supplement from today’s sponsor NativePath, who are offering a form that’s not only much more convenient, but also with better bioavailability, and it’s sustainable too. Better for you and the planet!
Today’s featured recipe is for blood-sugar-friendly ice pops—bearing in mind that even “just juice” ice pops are usually very bad news for blood sugars, these make quite a (positive) difference!
Read on to learn more about these things, or click here to visit our archive
A Word To The Wise
Watch and Learn
Seniors: Improve Blood Flow & Circulation In Your Legs
Dr. Doug Weiss, a physiotherapist with decades of experience, wants you to avoid some unpleasantries later by doing these things now:
Prefer text? The above video will take you to a 10almonds page with a text-overview, as well as the video!
Research Review Monday
(Clinical) Trials and Tribul-ations
In the category of supplements that have enjoyed use as aphrodisiacs, Tribulus terrestris (also called caltrop, goat’s head, gokshura, or puncture vine) has a long history, having seen wide use in both Traditional Chinese Medicine and in Ayurveda.
It’s been used for other purposes too, and has been considered a “general wellness” plant.
So, what does the science say?
Good news: very conclusive evidence!
Bad news: the conclusion is not favorable…
Scientists are known for their careful use of clinical language, and it’s very rare for a study/review to claim something as proven (scientists leave journalists to do that part), and in this case, when it comes to Tribulus’s usefulness as a testosterone-enhancing libido-boosting supplement…
❝analysis of empirical evidence from a comprehensive review of available literature proved this hypothesis wrong❞
Strong words! You can read it in full here; they do make some concessions along the way (e.g. mentioning unclear or contradictory findings, suggesting that it may have some effect, but by an as-yet unknown mechanism if it does—although some potential effect on nitric oxide levels has been hypothesized, which is reasonable if so, as NO does feature in arousal-signalling), but the general conclusion is “no, this doesn’t have androgen-enhancing properties”:
That’s a review though, what about taking a look at a representative RCT? Here we go:
❝Tribulus terrestris was not more effective than placebo on improving symptoms of erectile dysfunction or serum total testosterone❞
As a performance-enhancer in sport
We’ll be brief here: it doesn’t seem to work and it may not be safe:
From sport, into general wellness?
Finally, a study that finds it may be useful for something!
❝Overall, participants supplemented with TT displayed significant improvements in lipid profile. Inflammatory and hematological biomarkers showed moderate beneficial effects with no significant changes on renal biomarkers. No positive effects were observed on the immune system response. Additionally, no TT-induced toxicity was reported.
In conclusion, there was no clear evidence of the beneficial effects of TT supplementation on muscle damage markers and hormonal behavior.❞
About those lipids…
Animal studies have shown that it may not only improve lipid profiles, but also may partially repair the endothelial dysfunction resulting from hyperlipidemia:
Want to try some?
In the unlikely event that today’s research review has inspired you with an urge to try Tribulus terrestris, here’s an example product on Amazon 😉
If on the other hand you’d like to actually increase testosterone levels, then we suggest:
Topping Up Testosterone? ← a previous main feature did earlier this year
Take care!
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Recipes Worth Sharing
Blood-Sugar-Friendly Ice Pops
This generic food product has so many regional variant names that it's difficult to get a universal name, but in N. America they're also known by the genericized brand name of popsicles. Anyway, they're usually very bad news for blood sugars, being merely frozen juice even if extra sugar wasn't added.
Today's recipe, on the other hand, makes for a refreshing and nutrient-dense treat that won't spike your blood glucose!
Click below for our full recipe, and learn its secrets:
Penny For Your Thoughts?
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Wishing you the very most well-informed start to the week,
The 10almonds Team
