The Difference Between Free and Bound Testosterone
By: Steven Crawford
November 6, 2020

Knowing the Difference Between Free and Bound Testosterone
Your body's ability to maintain decent testosterone levels dictates how healthy, strong, mentally vital and masculine you get to be. Decades ago, falling testosterone levels were never a concern for men before they hit their 60s. Today, major studies show that with environmental contamination and poor lifestyle choices taking their toll, average hormone levels among the population have dropped precipitously: by 20% over the past 20 years (see: endocrine.org/news-room/press-release-archives/2006/testosterone_lvls_in_men_decline). One in four males fall below even these depressing average levels. Men in their thirties have to worry about inadequacy today.
How to Improve Your Testosterone Levels:
Testosterone replacement therapy is one of the most commonly prescribed treatments for hypogonadism or low testosterone. Yet, everyone from research organizations to the FDA are beginning to recognize that it is one of the worst possible ways of helping men with fading testosterone levels.
Relying on Your own Testosterone: The Alternative to Artificial Supplies:
Looking for supplements to help your body ramp up its own testosterone production is one of the most obvious and straightforward approaches to improving your testosterone levels. This method, though, tends to be inefficient and difficult. To understand why, you need to know about how the body handles testosterone.
Bound and Free Testosterone:

The liver produces a protein molecule called the Sex Hormone Binding Globulin or SHBG. When this molecule finds testosterone in the bloodstream, it attaches itself to it and renders it useless. The body's cells are unable to absorb testosterone that is bound up. Less than 2% of all testosterone produced by the body is available for use by the body. While you have plenty of the hormone you need floating around in the body, it is rendered inaccessible. As testosterone production falls with age, the problem of unavailability only grows worse. SHBG production rises, leading to the locking up of ever higher proportions of testosterone from a supply that is already in decline.
When you suffer from low testosterone levels, then, aiming to raise testosterone production overall is an approach that doesn't work very well. Whatever improvements you manage are only likely to be bound up by the ever-increasing SHBG levels your body produces. The smart way to see improvements in testosterone levels is to free up the vast quantities of bound testosterone that you already have.
How do you raise levels of bioavailable testosterone?
Natural supplements are the most direct route to improved levels of bioavailable testosterone. A number of minerals and at least one herbal supplement help the body tackle the problem of rising SHBG production and falling levels of bioavailable testosterone.
-
Zinc Supplements
The mineral zinc is one of the most important contributors to endocrine health. Many studies (see: sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S096007600300195X) show that zinc supplements or a healthy level of zinc in the diet reduce SHBG levels considerably, thus helping free bound testosterone. -
Magnesium Supplements:
An adequate supply of magnesium helps the body regulate the levels of a number of enzymes and hormones, SHBG included. Studies find that those who use magnesium supplements improve their levels of bioavailable testosterone by 25% (see: sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0731708508005955). -
Get Out in the Sun:
Healthy vitamin D levels offer better immunity, cardiovascular health and overall vitality. For those battling low testosterone levels, vitamin D supplements are a powerful way of reducing SHBG production. According to one study the average person needs 3332 IU of vitamin D each day. -
Boron Can Help:
Anyone who eats processed foods is likely to experience boron deficiency. A 10 mg boron supplement each day is known to lower SHBG levels by up to 20% (see: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21129941). -
Reconsider Your Diet:
Modern diets leave most people severely nutrient-deficient. From vitamins to minerals, regular diets lack in most primary nutrients. It makes little sense to blame one's health when one simply doesn't give it the ingredients necessary to produce testosterone and. Changing to a diet of fresh foods rather than processed or canned foods, by itself, can quickly raise your body's testosterone levels. Depending on the level of deficiency that you experience currently, improvements of up to 10% are possible. -
Finally consider supplements of tongkat ali (Eurycoma longifolia):
Tongkat ali (Eurycoma longifolia) is an Asian herb that helps with a low testosterone condition in a number of ways. To begin, it stimulates testosterone production by revitalizing the Leydig cells of the testes. It is also one of the most powerful natural agents in existence when it comes to controlling SHBG levels and freeing up bound testosterone. Brands such as Predoxen offer the herb in pure form.
All About Tongkat Ali

Tongkat Ali:
Eurycoma Longifolia (tongkat ali or pasak bumi) is native to Indonesia and Malaysia and can also be found growing wild in smaller quantities in Thailand, Vietnam and Laos. Tongkat Ali is a flowering plant from the family Simaroubaceae. The plant also goes under the following names used by people native to the regions where it grows wild: penawar pahit, penawar bias, bedara merah, bedara putih, lempedu pahit, payong ali, tongkat baginda, muntah bumi, petala bumi (all Malay); bidara laut (Indonesian); babi kurus (Javanese); cây bá bệnh (Vietnamese) and tho nan (Laotian). [4] These names reference the medicinal nature of the plant as well as the extremely bitter taste. Penawar pahit means "bitter charm" or "bitter medicine".
A 2010 ethnopharmacological inventory study on E. longifolia stated: "The plant parts have been traditionally used for its antimalarial, aphrodisiac, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, and antipyretic activities."
This plant is so potent and effective at increasing free testosterone that a water extract is copatented by the government of Malaysia and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, "MIT" one of the most prestigious universities in the world. This extract is considered ideal for sexual dysfunction and male infertility. Other specific patents [5] related to "tongkat ali" have been filed under claims it is clinically significant at "maintaining anabolic hormone profile during weight loss and intense exercise."
The highest quality Tongkat Ali comes from Indonesia and is aged around 13 years. Of all the products we tested theabsolute highest quality and highest purity Tongkat Ali was found in "Predoxen" which is proven to increase free testosterone.
In addition to increasing free testosterone this miraculous plant according to WebMD also has the power to increase sperm quality and quantity which will increase the volume of ejaculate and allow men to blow much much larger loads. [6] It has been reported that Predoxen is used by men in the adult business to not only increase the size of their penis but also the volume they ejaculate in their "cum shots". Guys frequently report spraying porn sized loads after taking this product.

Predoxen: [Presopin Vasodilation]
1 800 341-8509
www.predoxen.com
Supplement Facts:
Servings Per Day: 2 Tablets
Servings Per Bottle: 30
Ingredients
Amount Per Serving
%DV
Tongkat Ali
400mg
*
L-Arginine
250mg
*
Zinc (oxide)
50mg
333%
Maca (0.6% Extract)
250mg
*
Ginseng (Eleutherococcus Blend)
125mg
*
Proprietary Blend
745mg
*
- Consisting of:,
- Sasparilla (root) Extract,
- Pumpkin (seed) Extract,
- Muira Puama (bark) Extract,
- Oat Straw (leaf and stalk),
- Nettle (leaf),
- Cayenne Pepper (fruit),
- Astragulus (root) Extract,
- Catauba (bark),
- Licorice (root) Extract,
- Tribulus Terrestris,
- Orchic (substance),
- Oyster Extract and Boron (amino acid chelate)
** Daily Value Not Established. Percent Based on 2,000 Calorie Diet
- Other Ingredients:,
- Dicalcium Phosphate,
- Microcrystalline,
- Magnesium Stearate (vegetable),
- Silicon Dioxide (vegetable);
- <1% Ethylcellulose,
- Triacetin
- Diacetylated Monoglycerides,
- Macrogel/PEG