Doubling Testosterone Naturally

by Scott - 46 Comments

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This is a story about being a testosterone guinea pig and a business I decided not to start.

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Just over a year ago, I decided to move to Brazil with some of my buddies from NYC.

A few months prior to our departure, my future roommate Ben tried a new diet regimen called intermittent fasting which increased his testosterone by 30%.

I knew testosterone was an important hormone for dudes,  but wasn’t really sure why increased levels were desirable.

After he told me this, I did some more research….

A lot of people hear the word Testosterone and just think of aggressive males, bar fighting with veins popping out of their foreheads. In reality, it’s a pillar for both men and women’s optimal health.

A meaningful number of studies indicate that high testosterone in males is correlated with:

  • Higher capacity to burn fat and build muscle
  • Stronger bones
  • Increased sex drive
  • Higher baseline levels of energy and self-esteem

What person doesn’t want these things?

I followed up with Ben to see if he felt any difference or the 30% increase was simply a spike in a nominal measurement unit.

This is paraphrased, but basically his response was something like this:

“Dude. I have to limit the number of times I’m lifting every week because I’m putting on muscle mass way too easily and I want to stay lean. I’m also attracted to way more girls…which is awesome for me.”

Whoa. I’m in.

Before I left, I decided to get a baseline blood test to see where I stood.

When I got the results back I was shocked.

I was at 273 ng/DL.

DUDE

This is narrowly within the “normal range” for adult males: 270-1,070 ng/dL. You can read more on normal T ranges here.

But narrowly within the normal range at 25? Come on.

To be totally candid I thought I’d be on the higher side. It’s not all that hard for me to put on muscle and I wasn’t experiencing any of the common low-T symptons like decreased sex drive, depression, or lack of self-esteem. I felt quite the opposite in many cases to be honest.

Realizing that I might be operating below my physical potential across a spectrum of things that were important to me, I launched into a quest to naturally increase my testosterone as soon as I arrived in Brazil.

If I could get my T up, all the things I was already doing like working out would be enhanced. Addressing the source by changing my hormones would be a residual investment which are my favorite kind.

I adopted the intermittent fasting diet made popular by Lean Gains, EatStopEat, and subsequently Engineering The Alpha.

Basically the premise is that you do a short fast on regular basis.

This helps you restrict calories and influences the expression of key pituitary and satiety hormones related to testosterone health.

I chose the lean gains protocol which recommended only eating within an 8 hour window each day.

Tactically, all my eating and caloric liquid consumption between 2pm and 10pm. Basically it meant skipping breakfast and late night eating.

This version of intermittent fasting was the diet that Ben did which resulted in a 30% increase in his testosterone and the aforementioned physical and mental benefits.

There’s a bunch of factors that contribute to your testosterone level that I now know about, but at the time the main variables I focused on where:

  • Diet – paleo within the intermittent fasting framework
  • Sleep – get 7-8 hours
  • Exercise – functional strength training

For 3 months, I did intermittent fasting using a pretty paleo diet. I ate a ton of steak and avocados to get plenty of saturated fat which is supposed to be good for T.

I also lifted heavy, slept moderately well, and was overall pretty relaxed.

When I came back to the U.S. for Christmas, I got another blood test. I couldn’t wait to see the difference…

Yet again, I was stunned.

T2

My T had decreased from 273 to 260. WTF.

I left the hustle and bustle of NYC, limited drinking to 5 glasses of wine over the course of 3 months, and followed the intermittent fasting protocol all but maybe 2 days…

Blasphemy!

After an extended multi day pity party that involved lots of christmas cookies and cervezas, I decided to take a different approach when I returned to Brazil.

This time I chose to focus on ingesting the proper balance of micronutrients and trace minerals instead of my eating window.

I looked into all the nutrients and minerals related to testosterone and started each day by making sure I was getting them.

It was literally the first thing I did in my daily morning routine.

I’d wake up and throw down:

  • 3 Brazil nuts in the morning and evening for Selenium and Magnesium
  • 2 Tbsp of Coconut Oil for Saturated Fat
  • Liquid Vitamin D (they didn’t have pills in Brazil?)
  • Zinc
  • Fish Oil
  • A multivitamin

My core diet, sleep, and exercise remained the same. So as far as I can tell all other primary variables remained controlled outside of cognitive and emotional states.

In just a few short weeks, I noticed a positive difference in how I was feeling. I kept going and eventually got in the best shape of my life and felt more energy than before.

Here’s a pic late March about 3 months into new nutrient supplementation plan. Unfortunately I don’t have one after the Christmas party, but I definitely put on lean mass.

Screen Shot 2014-08-04 at 10.45.09 AM

In the back of my mind, I hoped my gains could be attributed to an increase in testosterone…

When I got back to the states, I decided to find out for sure by getting my blood taken, again.

This time it was 612!

612

Woohoo. This was more double my levels before I left for Brazil and well within the normal range for adult males.

Sayonara fringe T!!!

I was really pumped about this and fascinated that you could double your testosterone (at least if you were under-optimized) through nutrient and mineral supplementation when all of these crazy drugs were all over TV…

Reflecting on the outcomes, I feel pretty confident my T was less than ideal due to nutrient deficiencies. A simple WellnessFX or InsideTracker might have surfaced this, but I didn’t know much about those services or epigenetics at that time.

You can read all about the causes of low-T here and here.

The Business That Never Was

Since I’ve moved back to the U.S. and stopped traveling (basically the past 3 weeks), I’ve been testing a variety of business ideas to potentially pursue building a company around.

A testosterone optimization solution was at the front of the list not only because I personally dealt with it, but also because I think it’d be incredibly fun to build a brand around human optimization.

**Generally, I find that we all want to give to the world either what we need or what we needed at one point in our journeys….let that one stir for a second ; )

I figured there had to be other guys out there just like me who wanted to naturally increase their testosterone and probably didn’t want to take 8 different vitamins each morning like I was.

photo 1 (2)

I mean our pantry looks like a damn pharmacy.

People probably don’t want a sketch pill either when it could come in food form….

A nut butter might work!

I threw up a landing page using my buddy’s software QuickMVP for a Brazil Nut Butter and drove some paid traffic to it. I called it Gorilla Butter : )

Screen Shot 2014-08-04 at 9.40.39 PM

The results came back and they looked good…people I didn’t know were clicking to buy!

I then reached out to some other friends into self-improvement/optimization and asked if they’d ever use something like this…

Unanimously they all wanted to buy it and were willing to pay me for it on the spot. My one friend’s uncle even heard about it and he wanted in!

Sickkkkk. This might just have legs and is something I actually care about.

I did some pre-lim market research to see what was available for T optimization. I thought an all natural food-like solution like this was way better than anything out there.

I then listed the ingredients I’d need, did some quick unit economics, and it looked like the margins would work.

So I went to it and made a few batches of “Gorilla Butter.” Here’s a pic of my first two batches…yum!

photo 2 (2)

It basically was a combination of Brazil nuts, coconut oil, and liquid vitamins and minerals related to testosterone. The mixture was proportionally calibrated so that each ingredient amount was slightly above what the average male required on a daily basis.

It tasted yummy and a hearty spoonful in the morning to satisfy my nutrient intake in the T department sure beat the pill fest.

At first I was stoked. I had V1 of a product I cared about that people were willing to pay for.

Then I started to think more though about the ethical implications of this type of product.

Would this work for everyone?

Could I really claim that this was contributory to testosterone or was I an anomaly?

Before I decided to double down on this I took some time to dig into the science. I spent two days reading clinical studies on everything about testosterone, nutrient supplementation, and the profiles of all my ingredients.

Here’s what I learned that changed the way I felt:

  • Supplementation of Vitamin D and Zinc will only help you increase your testosterone to normal baseline levels.
  • High concentrations of Selenium (brazil nuts) could cause toxicity which has a potential slew of dangers including tremors, lightheadedness, facial flushing, and kidney failure.
  • Brazil nuts are also incredibly high in Omega 6 which when ingested in disproportion to Omega 3’s, is correlated with a bunch of bad stuff like heart disease.

At the end of the day, people are required to  use their own discretion with everything and I could totally create a serving size that would fall within safety guidelines.

But if something I created made it easier for someone to potentially harm themselves that’d be terrible.

Not to mention, there are so many variables related to rectifying and optimizing this hormone that many people might not get the results a product like this touts even if they took it….

Although I could probably create and brand Gorilla Butter in a way that was both honest and safe, I decided to shelve this idea despite a flurry of excitement and validation.

 

I wanted to write about this because:

a) I want other dudes to be more aware of their hormones

b) I think the business story serves as an important anecdote for people starting companies that hopefully inspires self-awareness

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is the difference in self-esteem you experience when you’re genuinely proud of a product you’re trying to sell vs. one you know has some potential holes in it.

Even if there’s a high financial upside and you’re raking in the dough, a small part of your self-esteem decays when you’re pushing something you’re not 100% proud of. You might not feel it immediately when things are going well, but eventually these feelings will sink in…and eat away at you.

At least that’s the case for me.

And if you don’t have high self-esteem than all the money in the world isn’t worth it.

In fact, I’d argue the whole reason we do anything is to feel good whether we’re talking about making a lot of money to feel significant, giving back to satiate our desire to contribute, or hanging with friends to feel love and connection.

A high quality life is one that is full of high quality emotions.

What usually determines what we decide to pursue comes back to the notion that we think the process or result will produce high quality emotions.

With this in mind, PURSUING ANYTHING that will cannibalize your self-esteem -> daily emotional state is playing to lose the end-game.

Sometimes we’re in such a rush to feel progress in whatever our pursuits are that we skip the thoughtfulness required to ensure that we’ll be content with the end result once we achieve it.

We end up getting trapped in the pursuit of hollow success because we didn’t plan properly or avoided the tough questions we should’ve have been asking ourselves before turning on the jets.

I’m all about running fast, but speed can kill, especially if you’re running on the wrong road.

 

If you have any questions about T or Gorilla butter, hit me up in the comments : ) 

*BTW I can’t claim you will double your testosterone by following this nutritional stack for the record! It just helped rectify mine.

**I get my bloodwork done using WalkInLab and going to a local LabCorp. For a Testosterone Total Serum test it costs $39 and you get results next day.

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46 comments, add to the conversation.

  1. Rock Capuano

    Much respect to you, Scott. Where a lot of people would have went for the money knowing the product had faults, you decided to take the road less traveled. I commend you for the great decision. The fitness industry needs more of this kind of decision making.

    Although, the idea was fantastic. Fast, easy, convenient…and anything to keep the pantry from looking like yours!

    Still, great tips for boosting T levels. Thanks!

    Rock Capuano

    Reply

  2. Ben

    You’re the man Scott! First, A+ self experimenting and actually tracking your results. I’m glad you didn’t give up when IF failed you.

    Second, this post is awesome for anyone looking to boost T or test a business idea out. Two for one – I’m sharing this all over the internets!

    Seriously thanks for always putting out such killer content. I’m looking forward to hanging in SD!

    Reply

    1. Post Author Scott

      HAHA thanks for inspiring to start taking an interest in my hormonal health + epigenetics. I think one of the biggest things Brazil and our friendship has done for me is help me prioritize my health over everything!

      See you soon homeboy : )

      Reply

  3. Dylan

    So, say I were to want to make this nut butter myself. What would I include and what would a proper dose be? This would be for self use and I wouldn’t hold you liable for my demise of course 😉

    Reply

  4. Joe Antenucci

    Hey Scott, this is a great post… one question:

    I haven’t been to the doctor in a while, how did you get baseline blood test of your testosterone levels? Is there an easy way to get this done? Where do you look?

    Also mad respect for having the guts to make a tough decision going with your values instead of the $. I love the idea but sounds like it’s not 100% practical.

    “A high quality life is one that is full of high quality emotions.” love that.

    Reply

  5. Post Author Scott

    And thanks man. Values > money. Most people make money to create self-esteem. This isn’t the best strategy especially if your values are not in alignment with the way you’re making dough

    Reply

  6. Rawson

    Interesting stuff man! So do you still do the intermittent fasting, just with the supplements in the AM? Glad everything is going well!

    Reply

  7. Chuck

    Great article man. Did you pay attention to the conditions going into your initial test, like the day of the week and the time of day? I ask because that can play some big factors. It seems like you were still functioning pretty well even when it was low.

    Great site!

    Reply

    1. Post Author Scott

      Thanks Chuck. I took all my tests in the morning on a relatively empty stomach. From what I’ve researched the difference in conditions doesn’t make a statistically significant difference…

      Reply

  8. Carter

    Scott,
    This article couldn’t have come at a better time! I’ve been dealing with fatigue and a few other low testosterone issues and finally pulled the trigger to have all my blood work done last week. It really helps to hear another guys perspective and own journey with it all.
    I’ve always gotten a bit overwhelmed with all the supplements and different pills and such to take. Love the idea of combining it all into a simple butter. I’ll shoot you an email if you’re still willing to share the recipe! Thanks again

    Reply

  9. Luka

    Great Read Scott. I myself have been doing the Eat stop eat I.F. for a few months now and have experienced fat loss and increased energy. I have never tested my T levels though. Why do you think I.F. worked for Ben and not for you? And do you still do a form of I.F.?

    Reply

  10. Post Author Scott

    We all have different bio-chemistry so I have no idea why it worked for Ben and not me…so many variables. I’m back on lean gains IF but really only to make it easy to day a slight caloric deficit because I’m trying to shed a few lbs I gained while traveling for 6 weeks. It’s def not hormonal as there is no scientific evidence of a causation

    Reply

  11. Pete Bruce

    awesome post Scott! Ironic it came out at this time. I had been thinking my T levels were low for awhile. I was emotional, hungry all the time and overall just really tired. I joined the NOBNOM from Tim Ferriss (no booze and no masturbation). Its really made an incredible difference in my energy levels and overall state of mind. I don’t know if I’ve ever felt this great! I will be emailing you about the recipe for the gorilla butter as well. I’ve seen similar posts but you really break it down and make it easy. Thanks so much and I look forward to talking to you!

    Reply

  12. Craig Haywood

    Awesome stuff dude. I recon this approach is way better than the carpet bombing strategy. The endocrine system is super sensitive and to synthetically bomb your body with extra testosterone, just leads to a chronic deregulation. A little fine tuning can work wonders! Thanks for the cool post.

    Reply

  13. Post Author Scott

    Thanks for reading Craig! From all accounts I’ve read of using artificial testosterone enhancements, it definitely doesn’t sound fun or beneficial in the long term. I appreciate your support man

    Reply

  14. Alex T

    Thanks for writting this, both the nutrition fixing your testosterone & business suggestion at the end was great for me. I really like how you were able to take those blood samples before your tests, I’ve been traveling around Eastern Europe and Asia for 2 years now and I really miss the convenience of being able to get blood tests done. Tests here are still old school and expensive :(.

    I experiment with a lot of stuff myself and my ultimate goal is something similar like gorilla butter if it was made, create a product that simplifies something that I already do and others would find useful. I definitely agree with what you say about making a product that helps vs promoting something that does not but makes money… I’ve had issues with that in the past with internet marketing.

    Reply

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  16. Bob

    Thanks for the article. It was very informative and it was a good reminder to work on the fundamentals before trying to enhance or tweak the process.

    One correction I wanted to throw your way. Coconut Oil is high in Medium Chain Triglycerides, and is mostly saturated fat. It is not, primarily, a source of Monounsaturated Fat.

    –Bob

    Reply

  17. Gary

    Scott,

    What a great article! I just got directed here because someone was talking about landing pages over on Reddit and the gorilla butter one was mentioned. Certainly was interesting reading your journey and measurements!

    Personally I don’t think you should give up on GB, sure you have to determine a way to keep the doses safe but anything in high quantity can do you damage, even water!

    As a 46 year old male who used to wokout alot and still does train I’m acutely aware of declining T, I feel my strength has decreased so am looking at ways to boost it so I think there is a big opportunity for safe natural products that can acheive this.

    Thanks again

    Gary

    Reply

  18. Max

    Awesome post Scott! Can you do one on increasing our HGH levels in the near future? For young and upcoming entrepreneurs its hard to get the recommended amount of sleep every night and it sucks having to worry about reaching your maximum potential height and muscle recovery from the lifting.

    Reply

  19. Anthony Sanchez

    This is a great article. There is a lot of programs that sell this information for steep prices and you managed to simplify it in one article. This works, Im already using it. You should write more articles like this. May I have your Gorilla butter recipe for my own use please

    Reply

  20. Fonzie

    Hello! I would take off a doubt about one thing, when you started to introduce supplements have also stopped following the intermittent fasting diet?Or you have continued intermittent fasting and you only have added supplements? For me it would be very important to understand this point.

    Reply

  21. Post Author Scott

    I do IF sparingly these days. I didn’t really see any endorcine response from it, but do it more for the ease of controlling my cal intake

    Reply

  22. sean

    Yeah great post i have been researching boosting testosterone natural for the past 2 months, here’s what i’ve been doing.

    I have fasted for the past year so this is no new thing for me! I limit my green tea intake to 3 cups a day as there have been studies that over 5 decreases test, i take in around 4-5 tbsp of coconut oil a day, i take 5000iuc of vitamin d a day, i also take a goto kola tincture and then probably what a lot of people don’t know a bout is pine pollen, i take the powdered form so not sure if this directly affects the test but i like the stuff, because i fast until 12pm i take BCAA’s which are known to increase test slightly as well and well help me with muscle retention. I have a lot of fat in the form of nut butters and mixed nuts and pumpkin seeds (another great test booster)

    Regards to workout i train calisthenics 4 days a week and train sprints 2 days a week.

    I also follow the NOFAP, seriously guys don’t waste your test over a computer screen only for real women, this alone will boost your test.

    Since following this i am in the best shape of my life, i seem to gain muscle and lose fat easily, i haven’t had any test results but i am in the thinking that i always had below average test results as i always had trouble gaining and keeping muscle but now it seems a lot easier

    Reply

  23. Luis

    T Butter dude! I had the same idea haha, wow I though to myself the other day “I certainly could NOT be the only one who’s played with this idea”.
    I’d love to bounce some ideas back and forth with you about how I personally would suggest improving upon the idea, from a product and marketing perspective.
    But anyways I’m a podcaster myself” Ask The Ab Guy Podcast” would love to connect when your free. All the best and I’ll be checking out your podcast FOR SURE!

    Best,
    Luis Diaz

    Reply

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