Life Extension Magazine®

Spoon with pills used for testosterone supplements

Boosting Testosterone Naturally

Michael Aziz, MD, is an attending physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City and a frequent guest on several national TV and radio shows. Here he underscores the importance of hormone testing—and the benefits of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.

Scientifically reviewed by: Dr. Gary Gonzalez, MD, in October 2024. Written by: Michael Aziz, MD.

Michael Aziz, MD

Q: I’m a 55-year-old male whose testosterone is in the low range. My doctor does not want to prescribe me testosterone replacement therapy. What can I do to help boost my testosterone levels?

A: It is unfortunate that many doctors are either reluctant to replace testosterone in men, or are totally inexperienced in this area. Aging men need our hormones, just like women do. We may not get the hot flashes that women do, but we can experience low self-esteem, depression, erection problems, weight gain, etc. Many of these symptoms are frequently dismissed by doctors as part of getting older or misdiagnosed as depression, when, in fact, our testosterone is declining. Replacing testosterone to youthful levels has many benefits and can even help prevent heart disease.

What you need to know

Are you suffering from low T? If you’re deficient in this critical hormone and have not been prescribed testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), there are other ways to help maintain youthful levels. Correcting suboptimal vitamin D and zinc levels are two of them.

Many things lower testosterone, including: smoking, certain drugs, weight gain, and illnesses like diabetes and hypertension. Living a healthy lifestyle and following the right diet can boost your levels. If you are doing everything correctly and still not getting great results, I suggest checking 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels. Levels should be around 55 ng/mL. Most of us are deficient, especially if we live in a cold climate with little to no sun exposure. Correcting vitamin D by taking vitamin D3 at a dose of 4,000 to 5,000 IU a day can naturally boost your testosterone levels because D3 plays a part in its production. You can also take zinc at a dose of 80 mg a day, as well as a formula from Life Extension® that I personally take, called Super MiraForte. You should see improvement. However, if levels are still low, you may need to find the right doctor to prescribe testosterone cream or injections.

If you have any questions on the scientific content of this article, please call a Life Extension® Wellness Specialists at
1-866-864-3027.

Dr. Aziz is an attending physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. He is a member of the American College of Physicians/American Society of Internal Medicine, and he is also a fellow of The Royal Society of Medicine in the United Kingdom. He is a national and an international speaker for many distinguished organizations, including the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine. Dr. Aziz has been featured on several national TV and radio shows, including The View, The Doctors, 700 Club, and Good Morning America Health.

He is a regular contributor to MelRobbins, a nationally syndicated radio show. He is also the medical director for IBN Sports, a website that reaches millions of students and athletes in California.

For more information on The Perfect 10 Diet visit www.Perfect10Diet.com. To book an appointment with Dr. Aziz, please visit www.michaelazizmd.com.

If you suspect that you have low testosterone, it is important that you be tested. To obtain a comprehensive assessment, you should test for free and total testosterone as well as estradiol.