Zinc, ZMA and Testosterone
Scientists have for decades known that a zinc deficiency is associated with decreased testosterone production.
Furthermore,
zinc actually inhibits the
aromatase enzyme and therefore could decrease estrogen and estrogen is another enemy of
testosterone. So the theory is that zinc should be a testosterone booster
for many guys.
For example, if you happen to be having
a lot of sex - you lucky dog! - about 5 mg of Zinc, or a third of your body's RDA,
is lost during ejaculation. Heavy exercise and infection also can
depelete zinc and often those on a largely vegetarian diet consume less zinc. So some of you guys could actually be running low on
zinc and benefit from
supplementation. Don't forget that Casanova ate several dozen oysters
every day for its supposed aphrodisiacal super powers and oysters do have a lot
of zinc.
Do you know the foods and drinks that increase erection-boosting
Nitric Oxide? Check out the
Peak Erectile Strength Diet where I show
you how to dramatically and naturally improve your erectile strength.
However, before you go popping zinc like breath mints, you should keep in mind a
couple of things. First of all, some researchers think that too much zinc
is hard on the brain and neurons, so more is not better. Secondly, a very
absorbable form of Zinc called ZMA (which also contains
Magnesium), was created by
Victor Conte of Barry Bonds fame.
(Read
this link
if you do not know what I am talking about!) Mr. Conte backed a study that
shows a nice increase (34%) in testotserone in young athletes taking
ZMA. [1]
Sounds good, eh? Unfortunately, subsequent research has cast doubt on
Mr. Conte's work and showed no testosterone increase with ZMA. [2] The problem
appears to be that supplementat zinc does not boost Zinc except in individuals
who are zinc-depleted. Normal, healthy individuals receive little to no benefit
as far as testosterone.
Furthermore, ZMA has an aspartate molecule attached to it. I'm not sure who
got the bright idea of attaching an
Excitotoxin to a mineral supplement, but
there are reports of sleep distrubances and other thigns with it. I highly
recommend you avoid excitotoxins at all costs. Plus, the picolinate form of zinc
has been shown in one study to be very absorbable eliminating even the
motivation for using ZMA. [3]
NOTE: One nice side benefit of ZMA that you will hear about is the
Magnesium, which will help you sleep better and
avoid Metabolic Syndrome and heart disease. Again, though, there is
no reason not to buy an inexpensive Magnesium and Zinc supplement without the
excitotoxin molecule attached.
