Does Moringa Boost Testosterone?
Written by Ben Bunting: BA, PGCert. (Sport & Exercise Nutrition) // British Army Physical Training Instructor // S&C Coach.
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If you want to boost your testosterone, you should choose the best nutrients that will help you achieve your goal.
Some supplements promise more strength, muscle and a sculpted body, while others just do not deliver.
While there are T-boosting supplements, they don't always deliver the promised results.
This article will tell you everything you need to understand about Moringa Oleifera, and why it is not the best supplement available.
What we will cover:
- What is the moringa plant?
- Does moringa increase testosterone levels?
- How does it affect your health?
What is Moringa and how can it be used?
Moringa is also known as drumstick, horseradish or miracle tree.
This fast-growing, tropical or subtropical plant's long triangular seeds are its most distinctive feature. The fragrant yellow flowers and the wispy, drooping branches of this plant are open-crowned and wispy.
This plant is traditionally used in cooking. It is used for a variety of culinary practices in many different areas due to its drought resistance and nutritional value.
Leaves can also be used as garnishes or fried with other seafood. The seeds can be used to make soups and curries.
Moringa is also economical. The moringa plant contains proteins which act as water purifiers by aggregating impurities and separating them from clean water.
The medicinal potential of many parts of plants has been well-documented. Traditional medicine has used the bark, leaves and roots of plants to treat disease.
Can Moringa Boost Your Health?
Plant leaves are rich in protein, vitamin C and iron.
A study found that the moringa leaves can boost blood antioxidant levels among post-menopausal females [1]. Free-radical fighting substances have been shown to reduce cancer, heart disease and oxidative damage, as well as kill bacteria.
The leaves contain tannins as well as trypsin inhibitor and oxalic acids, which all act to reduce the amount of nutrients in the plant. Protein content is low in digestibility at 31.8%, so you may find that it's not as rich in nutrients as first believed [2].
In terms of specific health benefits, oleifera has shown to reduce cholesterol in studies that reviewed the literature [3] as well as blood sugar in study groups consisting of female participants [1]. The majority of current research is based on animal studies.
Studies on animals have indicated that this plant can protect against arsenic toxicity. It is especially useful for areas where there is a high level of arsenic pollution. Long-term exposure to the poison can cause serious health problems.
Currently, it's unclear if the findings of these studies on animals can be transferred to humans.
The understudied nature was elegantly documented in one review.
There are no documented toxicological studies to determine the safety of the herbal formulation of Moringa.
Does Moringa Oleifera Boost Testosterone?
Manufacturers of moringa supplement make a lot of claims about its ability to boost testosterone, erections, and sexual performance. It is essentially an aphrodisiac.
It is shocking that these statements are based solely on the results of a single animal study.
A study conducted on rats under stress found that low doses of oleifera leaves extract increased testosterone levels in the serum over a seven-day period.
It is interesting to note that despite claims of moringa boosting testosterone, the truth may be quite opposite.
Another study found that 250mg of oleifera extract per kilogram decreased the number of sperms over a period 60 days [5]. The tests were conducted on animals with no medical problems.
This supplement's role in improving the health of men is currently understudied. The market is flooded with far superior supplements that are proven to boost testosterone.
You should avoid using moringa until there is more information available.
What are the side effects?
Many people are choosing to use plant-based supplements in their quest to achieve a healthier body.
While many of these nutrients can be effective and safe, others may cause adverse effects ranging in severity from mild to severe.
The leaves have laxative effects, which are not as serious but can still be an inconvenience. The leaves of the moringa plant can cause diarrhea, heartburn, and stomach upset.
There is currently no proof that the product is dangerous.
Conclusion
Rats who were forcefully immobilized for 12-hours per day underwent tests using both the methanol and hexane fraction of moringa seeds were shown to display spermatoxic properties, meaning their consumption reduced sperm count, motility and luteinizing hormone levels when compared with control groups that did not consume moringa seeds.
This effect may be linked to its ability to mitigate oxidative stress induced by immobilization that moringa helped alleviate. It also enhanced superoxide dismutase/catalase levels as well as decrease malondialdehyde molecules.
Studies utilizing moringa oleifera methanol and hexane extracts were performed on human sperm cells in vitro to evaluate their impact on testosterone and steroidogenesis, with both increasing CYP11A1 gene expression as well as decreasing aromatase expression, while simultaneously inhibiting adipose tissue growth, increasing GSH levels, and increasing serum testosterone concentrations among rats testis tissue samples.
However, this is merely one anaimal model study,and does not necessarily relate to humans.
Otherwise, the leaves contain zinc and other essential nutrients that can boost libido, enhance sperm motility, treat erectile dysfunction and fight free radical damage, as well as promote overall sexual health in men.
Glucosinolates found are natural phytochemicals that contain anti-inflammatory enzymes and proteins responsible for diseases like cancer or rheumatoid arthritis, as well as amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and other phytochemicals.
References
- Kushwaha, S et al. Effect of supplementation of drumstick (Moringa oleifera) and amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor) leaves powder on antioxidant profile and oxidative status among postmenopausal women. Journal of Food Science and Technology. 51(11): 3464–3469
- Teixeira, EM et al. Chemical characteristics and fractionation of proteins from Moringa oleifera Lam. leaves. Food Chem. 2014; 147: 51-4
- Mbikay, M. Therapeutic Potential of Moringa oleifera Leaves in Chronic Hyperglycemia and Dyslipidemia: A Review. Front Pharmacol. 2012; 3: 24
- Sheikh, A et al. Protective effects of Moringa oleifera Lam. leaves against arsenic-induced toxicity in mice. Asian Pac J Trop Biomed. 2014; 4(Suppl 1): S353-8
- Awodele, O et al. Toxicological evaluation of the aqueous leaf extract of Moringa oleifera Lam. (Moringaceae). J Ethnopharmacol. 2012; 139(2): 330-6
- Prabsattro, T et al. Moringa oleifera extract enhances sexual performance in stressed rats. J Zhejiang Univ Sci B. 2015; 16(3): 179-90