Why do we boost testosterone?

Many reasons: to build more muscle, to restore youthful levels of vitality and energy, to rekindle the libidinous fire down below.

And, yes, for some, to enhance cognitive performance.

Ever heard the phrase “losing your mojo”?

Generally speaking, “losing your mojo” refers to losing your essence — losing the competitive edge — in your field of performance. If you’re a poet, losing your mojo means losing your poetic prowess. If you’re a disco dancer, your mojo is disco-dancing.

For men, losing your mojo means losing the essence of your manhood: your testosterone.

And, naturally, losing your manly essence, as we all eventually do with age-related testosterone decline, can psychologically and neurochemically throw off a man’s psyche—his confidence, emotional stability, competitive awareness, etc., etc.1

Low T is quite literally anxiety-inducing, both psychologically and physiologically.

This is why many men tend to view testosterone boosters not only as physical performance enhancers but as cognitive boosters as well.

For mojo-depleted men, a testosterone boost is a restoration of one’s mojo and, with that, one’s psyche.

And in this article, we cover one of the most popular natural T-boosters for the job: D-Aspartic Acid—as well as two more nootropic T-boosters, all of which can be found in the best all-in-one T-booster formula, Testo Lab Pro®.

Before jumping into all of that, let’s first discuss the basics, starting with the physiological link between testosterone and anxiety.

The Link Between Testosterone and Anxiety

As we age, our testosterone levels naturally decline. This can be both physiologically and psychologically distressing, with this stress manifesting as depression and anxiety.

Because subjective psychology plays a role in an aging man’s feeling less manly, whether due to testosterone decline or not, the relationship between testosterone and anxiety is somewhat complicated.

As the primary male hormone, testosterone largely contributes to the following bodily functions:

  • Muscle Growth and Strength
  • Libido and Sex Drive
  • Bone Density and Strength
  • Body Composition
  • Sperm Production

And so, naturally, when any of these functions begin to diminish as we age, a man is apt to quote-unquote “feel bad.”

However, testosterone status correlates with mood state in such a way that depression and anxiety may contribute to testosterone decline—and vice versa.

Considering testosterone’s potential involvement in modulating GABAergic and serotonergic neurotransmissions,2 low testosterone may contribute to mood imbalance and impaired cognition.

Likewise, the stressors involved in depression and anxiety may be detrimental to healthy testosterone production and activity.

This two-way correlation is partly why ensuring healthy testosterone activity with natural T-boosting methods may help pinpoint the origins of cognitive and emotional issues (while also incurring the multiple health and fitness benefits associated with healthy testosterone activity).

So, Is D-Aspartic Acid a Nootropic?

If healthy testosterone activity contributes to healthy mood and cognitive state, and if D-aspartic acid (DAA) encourages healthy testosterone activity, then can it be said that D-aspartic acid (and all other natural testosterone boosters) is a cognitive enhancer—or nootropic?

This is a fairly bold claim, considering that much of what we consider as “nootropic” more directly promotes brain health and cognitive performance.

However, it is worth noting that DAA seems to work, even as a testosterone booster, primarily in the brain, specifically in the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Gonad (HPG) Axis.

By encouraging the release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in the brain’s hypothalamus, DAA indirectly promotes the secretion of LH and FSH, which in turn stimulate testosterone and sperm production.3

Aside from the HPG mechanism, some preliminary animal research also suggests that DAA may have a positive effect on memory and neuron-to-neuron communication.4 

Whether or not this translates to improvements in human cognitive function remains to be seen.

Other Testosterone Boosters for Anxiety and Mental Performance

Through the HPG axis, D-aspartic acid promotes testosterone production and activity, potentially indirectly promoting cognitive health and emotional state.

However, DAA isn’t the only natural testosterone booster, nor is the HPG axis the only means of boosting testosterone.

Likewise, DAA isn’t the only testosterone booster with nootropic potential. In fact, some testosterone boosters seem to possess more direct cognitive enhancing properties, while also assisting with healthy T gains.

A couple of beneficial testosterone boosters worth stacking with DAA, that also benefit cognitive performance, include:

Ashwagandha

An adaptogen, an anxiolytic, and, yes, a testosterone booster, Ashwagandha is a legendary herb famously used in the ancient Ayurvedic health tradition as both a sedative and vitality enhancer.

Sounds a bit paradoxical—ashwagandha both sedates and energizes??—but it’s true: while providing fast-acting relief from anxiety, ashwagandha also seems to improve energy and vigor, as well as sexual and psychological well-being with consistent supplementation.

Clinical human research has associated ashwagandha intake with a 14.7% increase in testosterone and an 18% increase in DHEA-S,5 two important hormones to male sexual and psychological health.

Mucuna Pruriens

Also known as “velvet bean” for its neurochemically rich “velvety” fur, Mucuna pruriens is a natural herbal testosterone booster ripe with L-DOPA, a precursor compound to dopamine.

Similar to DAA, Mucuna pruriens seems to encourage testosterone production via the HPG axis.6 However, as a nootropic, Mucuna pruriens’ dopaminergic bioactivities seem to also possess significant antidepressant properties.

As one clinical study concludes, “[Mucuna pruriens extract] has antidepressant action, which may be mediated by an interaction with the dopaminergic system.”7 

This effect combined with Mucuna pruriens’ T-raising capabilities make it one of the more highly prized natural T-boosters currently available.

Testo Lab Pro®

 

Supplying an advanced form of D-Aspartic Acid, as D-Aspartic Acid Calcium Chelate (D-AA-CC), Testo Lab Pro® delivers all the physical and mental benefits of DAA as part of a natural, comprehensive T-boosting stack.

With a mix of T-boosting botanicals and man-enhancing micronutrients, Testo Lab Pro® works by:

  • Supplying raw T precursor for well-nourished testosterone production;
  • Stimulating HPG axis for increased LH, FSH, and testosterone activity;
  • Protecting the testes against T-diminishing oxidative stress (free radicals);
  • Balancing male vs. female sex hormones for optimal anabolic metabolism.

Considering the link between testosterone and cognition, the indirect nootropic benefits of Testo Lab Pro®’s T-raising formula may help stabilize both cognitive performance and emotional balance.

Even better: Testo Lab Pro® naturally elevates testosterone activity with only all-natural ingredients encapsulated in all-natural NutriCaps® capsules, thereby maximizing the benefits of increased T activity while minimizing any potential risks.

Supplement Facts: KSM-66® Ashwagandha Extract (5% withanolides), D-Aspartic Acid Calcium Chelate (D-AA-CC), Mucuna Pruriens Extract (15% levodopa), Luteolin (from orange extract), Vitamin D (as NutriGenesis®), Vitamin K1 and K2 (as NutriGenesis®), Zinc (as NutriGenesis®), Boron (as NutriGenesis®)

Get the Best Deal on Testo Lab Pro® Here

Summary

Low testosterone contributes to depression and anxiety. Anxiety and depression contribute to low testosterone.

It wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to say that cognitive state and hormonal balance are so intertwined that they’re virtually one and the same—and, yes, this even involves sex hormones.

By optimizing a healthy male hormonal balance from multiple bio-pathways, Testo Lab Pro® naturally encourages healthier thinking with testosterone-charged vigor and vitality.

Pairing DAA with many other natural testosterone boosting extracts and compounds, Testo Lab Pro® is the best all-in-one male booster for both physical and mental health.

Get the Best Deal on Testo Lab Pro® Here.

References

  1. Golan R et al. Age-Related Testosterone Decline is due to Waning of Both Testicular and Hypothalamic-Pituitary Function. Aging Male. 2015; 18(3): 201-204.
  2. Domonkos E et al. On the Role of Testosterone in Anxiety-Like Behavior Across Life in Experimental Rodents. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2018; 9: 441.
  3. Roshanzamir F, Safavi SM. The putative effects of D-Aspartic acid on blood testosterone levels: A systematic review. Int J Reprod Biomed. 2017 Jan; 15(1): 1-10.
  4. Errico F et al. New insights on the role of free D-aspartate in the mammalian brain. Amino Acids. 2012 Nov; 43(5): 1861-71.
  5. Lopresti AL et al. A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study Examining the Hormonal and Vitality Effects of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) in Aging, Overweight Males. Am J Mens Health. 2019 Mar-Apr; 13(2): 1557988319835985.
  6. Shukla KK et al. Mucuna pruriens Reduces Stress and Improves the Quality of Semen in Infertile Men. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2010 Mar; 7(1): 137-144.
  7. Rana DG, Galani VJ. Dopamine mediated antidepressant effect of Mucuna pruriens seeds in various experimental models of depression. Ayu. 2014 Jan-Mar; 35(1): 90-97.