| Food & Diet
Does Chrysin Increase Testosterone
By Tyler Woodward
Content:
What Is Chrysin:
Chrysin is a naturally occurring flavonoid chemical that is found primarily in bee products and the plants geranium, silver linden, and passionflower. Flavonoids are considered a type of phytochemical or plant nutrients, but certain types of flavonoids can be found in animal products as well. Flavonoids are known to have a number of potent beneficial effects from reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, helping to fight cancer, the list goes on. Chrysin specifically is related to the potent chemical apigenin and has risen in popularity recently due to its potential ability to increase the production of testosterone and decrease the synthesis of estrogen.
Chrysin As A Testosterone Booster?:
May Increase Testosterone Levels - Chrysin has grown in popularity as a potential testosterone boosting supplement. A number of rat studies, in-vitro studies and one human study were found to exert a positive effect on testosterone levels.
There are currently two proposed theories as to how chrysin may be able to effectively increase testosterone levels. First, chrysin’s anti-inflammatory qualities may relieve neuroinflammation allowing for larger synthesis of luteinizing hormone. Luteinizing hormone is a hormone secreted by the adrenal glands which signals to the testes to fuel testosterone production.
The other and more likely theory behind hrysin’s testosterone boosting effects is it’s anti-aromatase qualities. Similar to its chemical cousin apigenin, both chrysin and apigenin are believed to have anti-aromatase effects. Aromatase is an enzyme that is responsible for the conversion of testosterone into estrogen. By inhibiting the aromatase enzyme you prevent testosterone from being converted into estrogen and thereby increase the testosterone levels in the body.
Despite chrysin’s effects on testosterone it's yet to be determined whether or not chrysin supplementation is an effective means of increasing testosterone levels. Chrysin supplements seem to have a very poor bioavailability meaning that they are not readily absorbed and utilized in the body. One study found that up to 99% of chrysin was not readily absorbed when in its isolated form. Additionally, it appears as though chrysin is readily conjugated (changed) into other forms when passed through the liver which may not have the same biological effects. While chrysin does appear to be a potent aromatase inhibitor the issue is absorbing enough of it to be able to administer a strong enough effect.
Read More: The Definitive Guide To Testosterone Boosting Supplements
How To Supplement With Chrysin:
According to the research summation at examine.com it appears that supplementing with as much as 400 and up to 3,000 mg of chrysin is not absorbed well enough to administer any sort of significant biological effects. Although you could use higher dose chrysin supplementation or pair a chrysin supplement with other compounds aimed at boosting its absorption there’s likely a better way of getting the benefits from chrysin and it’s name is honey.
Honey and in particular manuka honey is a very potent source of chrysin among other beneficial chemical compounds. Unrelated to its chrysin content, honey likely has a number of beneficial effects on testosterone production due to being a great source of sugar, antibacterial effects, anti-oxidant effects and a good source of minerals. Honey itself has been proposed to have similar effects compared to chrysin itself on increasing testosterone levels by decreasing oxidative stress and increasing the secretion of luteinizing hormone. But referring back to chrysin, it's likely that chrysin will have a much higher rate of absorption when in its original form surrounded by all the other chemical compounds that are naturally found in honey.
When choosing a honey I always recommend using an organic honey to ensure that it is high-quality and the bees are not exposed to any high quantity of pesticides, herbicides, hormones or other potentiall toxic substances. Additionally, I always recommend the darker the better for honey as darker honey will contain a higher concentration of minerals.
Read More: Bioenergetic Friendly Meat, Dairy, Eggs & Honey Sources
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