It is evident that as men age, they produce less testosterone naturally, which later affects aspects such as sexual drive, muscle growth, body fat distribution, and fertility. However, what if we told you there is hope in increasing these testosterone levels? Testosterone is a sex hormone that plays an important role in any man’s life.
If you are looking to enhance your testosterone levels, we have conducted a list of some of the best testosterone boosters there are on the market. With careful analysis on these supplements, we have gathered enough information to make sure you make the right decision.
TestoPrime turned out to be the most efficient and cost-effective T-booster that sits well with men of every kind of health condition.
Manufactured by Wolfson brands (UK) Limited, TestoPrime is among the best all-natural, standalone testosterone boosters suitable for men in their 30s and 40s.
As a men’s health and wellness brand for over a decade, TestoPrime has been on a mission to “unlock and revitalize existing testosterone” among men of all ages. The product contains no additives or fillers and uses only natural ingredients that your body recognizes as compounds that help boost natural testosterone.
Made from FDA-approved ingredients at GMP-certified facilities, this high-quality diet supplement is designed with a well-researched formula to achieve the best weight loss and muscle build-up at the earliest.
Safe, natural, and clinically tested formula; proven effective on human test subjects
Manufactured at FDA-approved facilities in the US & the UK
Proven body-sculpting and fat-reducing benefits
Increases libido, fertility, and stamina, besides overall physical and mental strength and energy
No prescriptions needed
100% satisfaction with a lifetime guarantee
e-Guides with every purchase
Fast & free shipping
Cons of TestoPrime:
Gulping down four capsules at one go (or even one after the other) can be difficult for some; better dosing would have been to distribute the dosage over the entire day.
Ingredients of TestoPrime:
D-Aspartic Acid: (2000mg) Triggers and maintains testosterone release by the body, ensureshigher free testosterone.
Panax Ginseng (8000mg): Also known as Korean Red Ginseng; improvessex drive, physical and mental performances, and sleep.
Ashwagandha (668mg of KSM 66®): Apart from being a natural T-booster andlibido andfertility enhancer, it also suppressesstress hormones (cortisol), improves muscle mass and strength, and reduces inflammation caused by workouts.
Fenugreek (800mg): A natural body heat-booster; helps burn fat and increase libido and fertility, especially more discernible among aging men.
Green Tea Extract (4,000mgl 70% catechins): Green tea can increase sperm count and improve sexual health, besides liver and kidney health.
Pomegranate Extract (360mg; 40% Ellagic Acid): Increases immunity, strength, and energy, besides salivary testosterone levels and mood.
Vitamin D: Enhances bone density and keeps joints and skeletal structure strong and vibrant; supports muscle growth and builds immunity, andboosts testosterone production.
Zinc (40mg): Maintains a healthy sperm count and quality.
Vitamin B5 (8mg): Enhances sexual health and sperm quality, besides improving sleep quality, increasing energy levels, lowering stress levels, and regulating metabolic activities.
Black Pepper Extract (95% Piperine): Black pepper increases the potency of the other ingredients and also increases body heat, helping it burn fat faster.
Boost testosterone levels: Unlike steroids, D-Aspartic Acid and the other natural ingredients naturally increase T-levels.
Prevent testosterone breakdown: Garlic, Ashwagandha, and Zinc help prevent free testosterone from getting metabolized into estrogen or progesterone, allowing higher levels of free testosterone to remain in the system.
Reduce physical stress: Ashwagandha prevents cortisol levels from rising in the body, thus keeping your body as stress-free and fat-free as possible. Yes, stress causes indigestion and increased fat deposition!
Burn fat and convert it into energy: The combined effects of its natural ingredients support a healthy and consistent flood of free testosterone, enforcing the fat burning and muscle building processes.
Helps build endurance: Its ingredients increase overall oxygen intake by a person. This increases the nitric oxide levels in the body, thereby offering longer-lasting energy and stamina.
Increases muscle strength and stamina: TestoPrime’s ingredients induce better blood flow. This helps provide more fresh oxygen to your muscles, thereby giving you more energy, stamina, and strength.
Boost libido: Some of the components (see ingredients) promote better and healthier sex life, performance, and stamina, besides increasing the urges.
Overall wellbeing: TestoPrime has included several ingredients to maintain and improve your overall health, besides boosting your T-levels. This helps support your body’s overall need for energy, stamina, strength, and immunity.
TestoPrime Dosage:
TestoPrime recommends a daily dose of four capsules before breakfast daily.
The pack contains 120 capsules, enough for 4 weeks, within which you should see visible changes. Couple your regular diet with these supplements and drink lots of water for the best results.
Why Trust This Brand?
TestoPrime is one of the best quality, most highly reviewed, and highly effective testosterone boosters sold at standard market prices. The brand is clear about its ingredients, formulation, and lab results.
Besides, this product has been clinically tested on human test subjects and contains 100% natural ingredients sourced from around the world, where they are available in their highest quality.
The effects are significantly higher than other similar products in this segment. It helps build muscles, support bone health, burn excess fat, and increase libido, stamina, strength, and energy levels in the most natural way possible.
Yet, you don’t need to wait forever to see the effects. The effects are usually quite obvious within a month. With a maximum of 3 – 6 months, you should be able to notice a whole new person staring back at you from the mirror.
Unlike most other T-boosters, TestoPrime doesn’t cut corners with its quality or hide its ingredients under the garb of “proprietary blend”. That is why you can use these daily supplements and achieve maximum results in the shortest time without experiencing any side effects.
So, if you’re trying to get bulkier muscles, higher energy, more stamina, and maximize your sexual potential, without steroids or expensive testosterone replacement therapy sessions, you should try this natural, clinically tested formula.
If you don’t notice any visible change in your physical fitness even after 4 weeks have passed, you can return the product anytime – literally, any time. The company offers an iron-clad, no-questions-asked 100% lifetime guarantee.
TestoGen is yet another industry leader, thanks to its strongest combination of all-natural ingredients.
Manufactured by Muscle Club Limited, TestoGen being one of the strongest testosterone booster, is used by bodybuilders, athletes, and typical office-goers alike, aiding in boosting sex drive, building lean muscle mass, reducing body fat, and increasing overall stamina and energy.
TestoGen’s proprietary blend of 11 ingredients, including vitamins, minerals, and botanical extracts, makes it a wholesome dietary supplement for people struggling to see the difference even after spending hours at the gym.
Boost testosterone levels: Unlike steroids, T-boosters like TestoGen contain D-Aspartic Acid, Boron, Magnesium, Vitamin B6, and Zinc to boost testosterone levels naturally.
Prevent testosterone metabolism: Some of its ingredients, like Nettle Leaf Extract, prevent certain enzymes from transforming stored testosterone into estrogen, thereby promoting higher availability of free testosterone levels in the body.
Boost libido and overall stamina: Certain ingredients specifically target testosterone to raise a man’s libido, improve his performance in bed, and boost his overall stamina.
Support active lifestyle: Besides increasing body heat to induce weight loss, certain components, like Vitamin K1 and Vitamin D3, help enhance the effects of the other ingredients. These aid in building muscles, reducing fat, and reviving energy and strength lost during workouts.
TestoGen Dosage:
TestoGen’s dosage comprises taking 4 capsules with breakfast or within 30 minutes before breakfast for best results. But don’t forget to increase your water consumption while on these supplements.
Like most other T-boosters, one pack contains enough capsules for a month.
Why Trust This Brand?
Apart from its efficacy and strong doses of ingredients, it has proven to be highly effective among a lot of people with different kinds of body types.
These supplements, like the TestoPrime, are lab tested and pose no health risk.
Besides, the brand also offers excellent customer support and worldwide shipping.
Prime Male is among the most innovative Testosterone boosters, formulated by the company’s own with the help of 12, including some unique, all-natural ingredients to help middle-aged and aging men maintain their vigor and vitality into their old ages.
Manufactured by UK-based company Propura Limited, Prime Male is among the safest all-natural dietary T-boosting supplements in the market.
Unlike other supplements, this testosterone booster is mainly suited for men above the age of 40. Even bodybuilders could step away from anabolic steroids and use these instead.
Besides helping you lose body fat, boost your testosterone levels, libido, and energy levels, Prime Male also improves blood pressure, metabolism, bone development, and muscle strength.
Some individuals may find it difficult to keep up the dosing schedule
Ingredients of Prime Male:
D-Aspartic Acid Calcium Chelate (1600mg)
Bioperine (10mg)
Korean Red Ginseng Extract (120mg)
Boron (5mg)
Vitamin K2 (45mcg)
Zinc (30mg)
Vitamin D3 (5000IU)
Vitamin B6 (7.5mg)
Nettle Root (also known as nettle leaf; 160mg): Improves prostate health.
Magnesium Citrate (100mg)
Mucuna Pruriens Extract (300mg): Mucuna Pruriens is a natural source of levodopa or L-Dopa, which is an amino acid and a precursor of dopamine (a neurotransmitter that boosts testosterone levels).
Luteolin (60mg): Luteolin, an aromatase inhibitor, prevents testosterone from breaking down into estrogen, which contaminates the free testosterone in the bloodstream.
Overall wellbeing: Some of the ingredients are meant to support the effects of the key ingredients and improve the user’s strength, stamina, immunity, and overall health.
Prevent testosterone breakdown: Ingredients like Nettle Leaf Extract and Luteolin can safely and effectively prevent testosterone breakdown and increase free testosterone levels in the bloodstream.
Prevent female hormone activity: Unlike other supplements, Prime Male’s unique formulation offers Luteolin and Mucuna Pruriens. These components reduce estrogen and progesterone levels in the body as well as prevent prolactin activity that causes “man boobs”.
Boost stamina & sex drive: Red ginseng boosts libido, sexual performance, as well as overall stamina and energy.
Best For Aged/Aging: Prime Male is best suited for the older generation who need youthful vibrant and vigor than anyone else. Apart from being a testosterone booster, it also improves the overall health of individuals.
Prime Male Dosage:
Prime Male has a convenient dosing system. Take 1 tablet 4 times a day at different times throughout the day. But the doses should be taken only when the sun is up, such as 8 am, 11 am, 2 pm, and 5 pm.
Like any other T-booster, it’s best to take these along with some food and increase fluid intake while being on these supplements. The supplements are also available in the standard one container per month package, i.e., it contains 120 capsules.
Why Trust This Brand?
As mentioned earlier, Prime Male is one of the safest products in this segment, even for aging individuals. It naturally balances hormone levels in users, stopping aging in its tracks – in every way.
Its effects aren’t focused on increasing testosterone levels alone. It aids in increasing libido, building stamina, improving immunity, supporting joints, and pumping up lean muscles, besides lowering body fat, blood pressure issues, and heart health problems. It has also been noticed to help improve prostate and skin health.
Testo-Max is not only legal but is also a safer choice over anabolic steroids. It is completely natural – like all the other products in this guide.
Manufactured by Cyprus-based fitness brand, Crazy Bulk, Testo-Max contains a blend of 11 essential nutrients.
Like most other supplements in this list, Testo-Max also helps build lean muscles, pushes the body to recover quickly after an intense workout, enhances libido, promotes testosterone production, and improves muscle gain and stamina. Besides, it helps you quickly revive your energy levels after a workout.
It has been formulated from potent doses of all the testosterone-boosting compounds we have already spoken of, such as D-aspartic acid, magnesium, zinc, boron, vitamins D, B6, K1, among other ingredients.
Owing to its standard and natural ingredients, you could also couple this booster with any other boosting supplement to get better and faster results.
Boost luteinizing hormone production: D-Aspartic Acid, Magnesium, Vitamin B6, and Zinc help induce the release of LH hormone that naturally triggers testosterone release in the body.
Raise free testosterone levels: Fenugreek, nettle extract, and boron boost levels of free testosterone levels in the system.
Enhance immunity: Nutrients like Zinc, Vitamin K1, and Vitamin D3 improve immunity. Besides, Boron helps regulate processes like cognition, moods, muscle formation, and bone-building, while Bioperine, Vitamin K1, and Vitamin D3 boost other ingredients’ effects and help in their easy absorption.
Boost energy and stamina: Besides increasing body heat, Fenugreek, along with other natural nutrients, also boosts stamina and energy.
Testo-Max Dosage:
The recommended dosage is 4 capsules 20 minutes before breakfast.
Each container of Testo-Max contains enough doses for a month.
Why Trust This Brand?
Besides being natural, safe, and lab-tested, Testo-Max is a tried-and-tested formulation that has been around for a long time. A popular product among bodybuilders and athletes, this supplement is known for its high efficiency.
Besides, the brand ships worldwide and has excellent customer care as well as good consumer-centric policies.
Our final product is also a natural alternative to steroids. It contains zinc magnesium aspartate (ZMA) and a bunch of numerous natural ingredients to boost muscle building and toning, strengthening bone and joints, and increasing stamina and energy.
But most importantly, it’s the best T-booster for increasing sex drive.
Manufactured by Leading Edge Health, a Cyprus-based company, this product was carefully tested on football players for over 7 weeks before releasing it in the market. Besides, TestRx also provides one of the best customer services.
However, there are other libido enhancer in the market
ZMA boosts muscle growth and helps in the release of Luteinizing hormone (LH).
D-Aspartic Acid triggers growth hormone secretion, thereby promoting muscle and bone buildup.
Vitamin K regulates overall health, besides maintaining hormone levels, moods, heart, and blood vessels, and bone tissue development.
Vitamin B6 helps improve cellular and enzymatic processes, such as metabolism.
Fenugreek raises free testosterone levels in the blood.
TestRx Dosage:
TestRx advises consumers to take 4 capsules a day, all of them together before or with breakfast.
Each bottle of TestRx contains 120 capsules, the same as all the other T-boosters in this list.
Why Trust This Brand?
Although it doesn’t give you a money-back guarantee after 67 days, purchasing 3 containers together gets you free shipping.
You could also buy 2 packs for a smaller discount, and then increase the number of containers in the next purchase to avail of the free shipping or a discount of $10 per extra container.
As for its effects, these supplements have also been around for a long time. They have been proven to be effective and safe.
It’s also one of the best and natural alternatives for bodybuilders and athletes who have been on steroids, as these contain nutrients, like vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that are vital for building bone strength and lean muscle mass.
Besides, these supplements also help quicker recovery after workouts, boost stamina during workouts, and retain your energy levels afterward. It also improves your sex life substantially.
And if you have any queries, you can always reach out to the company’s customer support team 24×7.
How We Pick Testosterone Booster Brands That Work?
According to Observer, Adding a testosterone booster to your daily routine is an excellent choice. Especially for the men reaching their early 30s. Although there are numerous companies that make testosterone enhancers, few of them contain quality ingredients, and fewer still have all-natural ingredients. Nonetheless, some reliable brands do exist.
We’ve thoroughly verified each brand of product to ensure they contain only natural and lab-verified ingredients that are both effective and safe.
Here’s what we did to verify each product:
Researched the most popular and reputed brands in the market.
Pored over customer reviews and ratings to assess their effectiveness and safety.
Checked their websites and relevant documents to verify their commitments and adherence to the health parameters.
Interviewed consumers for their feedback and surveyed public forums and social media platforms to assess their overall performance, quality, effectiveness, safety, and other parameters.
Studied the ingredients of each product, among other aspects, to ensure these were all-natural, effective, and available in potent amounts to make a difference!
Although our main objective was to test the products ourselves, we couldn’t be sure about them until we had checked out what everyone else was saying – something that you, too, should do before buying any product!
Finally, we tested 10 T-boosters to check for their efficacy, potency, safety parameters, and overall performance.
Features We Considered Choosing The Best Supplements To Boost Testosterone:
Product Ingredients: We only considered products that had natural ingredients in potent enough volumes to make a difference.
Benefits: We weighed each of their benefits (and potential side effects) to ensure these were indeed the best in the market.
Dosage: The efficiency and affordability of a product are somewhat determined by its daily dosages. This includes the number of pills required, the frequency of dosing, the time needed for effects to show, as well as the duration of each pill’s effectiveness.
Customer-Centric Policies: Certain company policies matter for customer loyalty, such as shipping, return, and refund policies, as well as the customer care’s assistance.
Cost: We also looked into how much value one would get for the money spent on each product available in the market.
Why Should You Consider Buying Testosterone Boosters?
If you think T-boosters are only for athletes and bodybuilders, think again.
Do you really want to feel fatigued all the time? Do you want to leave your partner unsatisfied in bed? These are only a couple of things that low-T could do to your body in your middle age.
Whether you visit the gym regularly, lead an active lifestyle, run a company, or even lead a sedentary lifestyle at home, you need to ensure you have enough energy, strength, and stamina to get through like a breeze.
But, as you age, you’d need a bit of extra help to stay fit, healthy, feeling confident, performing well in bed, and maintaining a well-chiseled look.
It’s not always easy to lose fat and pump up those lean muscles just by going to the gym. Your workouts may seem to fall flat even after months of spending time, money, and effort at the gym. This is yet another reason why you may need an extra zing in your life.
A good brand of Natural Testosterone Boosters should do the trick. They can enhance your overall body strength, stamina, energy, fertility, and libido – safely and naturally!
Besides, they are great for boosting your lean muscles and bone density, as well as reducing body fat.
Are Natural Testosterone Boosters Different From Steroids?
According to theNational Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA), anabolic steroids or anabolic-androgenic steroids are synthetic (man-made) variations of testosterone that artificially boost up your muscle-building abilities, besides increasing your libido.
In contrast, natural testosterone boosters made by reputable brands contain only natural ingredients that help induce a more balanced hormone level. That helps you maintain the normal functioning of your body, besides retaining your stamina and energy as you work out at the gym to build your muscles and strength.
These supplements do not introduce any artificial hormones into your body. They merely help your body utilize the existing testosterone to its highest potential.
That makes these supplements safer for your body than steroids. Your body recognizes T-boosters as natural nutrients and not artificial chemicals. Your body is designed to fight anything artificial. That is why people often suffer from the side effects of pharmaceutical medications made from synthetic chemicals.
In this guide, we’ve discussed how each ingredient of these boosters helps you. Nevertheless, they, together, boost the body’s overall capacity to take on heavy workouts and accommodate an action-packed lifestyle, while maintaining a healthy sex life.
Each of these products contains a different blend of natural ingredients. How you want to utilize them depends on which product you choose.
Low Testosterone Symptoms:
Before you purchase your first testosterone booster, you should first ask yourself: Do I really need a T-booster? In other words, is your testosterone level really low, or is there some other underlying health issue?
Some of the typical signs of low-T are:
Random, irrational mood swings
Sudden, massive weight gain
Reduced muscle tone and/or bulk
Low libido and/or erectile dysfunction
Smaller or underdeveloped testicles
Fatigue and/or low stamina
Frequent memory failure
Underdeveloped or loss of muscle bulk
Bone/joint tissue loss (painful and restricts movement)
If your problem is that of low-T, these signs usually appear in combination. If any of these indicators seem to appear in isolation, you could have some other health issue, for which you must consult a doctor.
Why does a person have Low Testosterone Levels?
Testosterone levels fall when your testes are unable to meet the demand. Aging is a primary cause. But there could be several other reasons. Here are a few reasons:
Physical and/or mental trauma
Sleep apnea
Cancer and/or cancer treatment
Some harsh medications
Obesity
Hormone imbalances
Ill-developed pituitary gland
Do Testosterone Boosters Work?
Different T-boosters work differently. But most offer a variety of effects, which no one product could do for everyone.
Some of the things that you can expect from a typical testosterone booster are:
Natural boosting of T-levels & overall health parameters: Although these testosterone boosters don’t contain anything that you can’t easily get in nature, these supplements are the results of well-researched formulations.
That is why the dosage of each ingredient is important. These components, together, provide a synergistic effect that boosts the overall parameters that contribute to better and faster results.
Enhancement of free T-levels in the body: After being released into the bloodstream, free testosterone often tends to bind with “sex-hormone-binding globulin” or SHBG – just like carbon tends to bind with free oxygen atoms.
But this renders the hormone useless (bound/inactive). This does not allow your body to meet its required T-levels to boost your muscle and bone health or enjoy healthy sex life.
It is mostly seen in people suffering from some physical or mental problems. The ingredients used in these T-boosters were selected, based on their capacity to prevent this from happening. That would allow the testosterone to circulate freely in the bloodstream.
Reduction of female sex hormones in men: Female hormones, like estrogen, progesterone, and prolactin, are present in men as well. But their proportions are ideally far below that of androgens like testosterone. When the proportion is off, the hormone balance is lost, even if the actual amount of testosterone remains the same. This can adversely affect a man’s libido, strength, stamina, moods, and overall musculoskeletal structure.
The typical ingredients of natural testosterone boosters prevent this from happening in two ways:
inhibiting the enzymes that break down testosterone into female sex hormones
preventing the production of female sex hormones or allowing their entry into the bloodstream
Benefits of Testosterone:
The typical health benefits of natural testosterone are:
stronger and bulkier lean muscles
denser bones and stronger joints
improved libido
firmer erection
healthier heart
happier and confident mood
better cognitive skills
higher energy and stamina
FAQs About Testosterone Supplements:
Q. Are Testosterone Boosters Safe?
The fitness market is filled with different kinds of testosterone-enhancing products. Frankly, not all of them are reliable. Nevertheless, we can still vouch for the efficacy and safety of the products we’ve tested. They don’t contain any toxic ingredients, preservatives, fillers, or any other synthetic chemicals that could harm you.
All the products listed in this guide contain ONLY natural ingredients. So, they pose little risk to your health. However, we must warn you that anything you put into your body could have an adverse effect if you take too much of something – even if it’s natural.
We’d recommend you consult a doctor before trying any testosterone supplement. Besides, you should also ensure that you do have low-T.
Also, don’t consume something with hopes for magic. You still have to put in the hard work if you’re to turn those lean muscles into mean muscles!
Q. Are Testosterone Boosters, Steroids?
Natural T-boosters, like the ones we’ve mentioned in our list, don’t have any synthetic chemicals, leave alone steroids. These products will merely help your body produce and release optimal amounts of testosterone into the bloodstream and let it do its job on its own.
Unlike steroids, T-boosters don’t introduce any synthetic chemical into your body. Your ability to improve your sex drive, sexual performance, strength, endurance, and muscle build depends entirely on you. These boosters will only help you get there.
Q. How to increase Testosterone Levels quickly?
For quick and best results, whenever a T-booster manufacturer launches any product. Get access to the proper guidelines regarding its dosage. This is based on their formulation and test results, which were derived after meticulous and rigorous hours of research.
It’s best to follow their instructions. They have thousands of scientists, chemists, and doctors speaking for them!
In Conclusion: Should You Use Testosterone Boosters?
Testosterone Levels drop with age. The age between 25 and 30 is the most crucial and when you exceed 30, the T-Level automatically starts to decline. Therefore, Testosterone Boosting supplements are an outstanding choice for you if you are looking to work on the same.
After extensive research, We believe that TestoPrime is the best T Booster supplement on the market, followed by TestoGen as the close second.
Unlike others, these supplements boost your testosterone levels to a healthy range which means you can get a lean body along with an improved athletic and sexual performance. If these are the benefits you are looking for, start your journey with any of these brands! However, before jumping to any product, we would prefer you to consult a doctor especially if you have any medical condition.
Disclaimer: If you are in your 60s or 70s, don’t expect to feel like you did in your 20s. You won’t. But you also won’t feel or look as old as you would if you didn’t take care of it. These boosters help stop aging in its tracks – not reverse it completely. They aren’t steroids or hormone injections. They only optimize the capacity of your existing body hormones
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There’s no doubt when the weather turns colder as we settle into winter, stouts take center stage. And while we enjoy all its iterations: standard stout, imperial stout, and robust barrel-aged stouts, we think this malty, chocolate-filled beer’s close cousin deserves a little respect as well. Of course, we’re talking about the oft-overlooked porter. And the best porters, oh buddy, they’ll have you rethinking your seasonal bevvie of choice.
For those uninitiated, the porter style had its genesis in England like many other iconic beer styles. It first appeared in the 1700s and is (you guessed it) named after porters—individuals tasked with transporting luggage.
A confusing origin story
“Stout is the direct descendant of porter. In the 1700s, it was common to use the word ‘stout’ to refer to a bolder, higher-alcohol version of any beer style, much in the same way we use the word ‘imperial’ today,” says Zach Fowle, advanced cicerone and head of marketing for Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. in Phoenix, AZ. “Porter was the most popular beer of the day, and over time, “stout porter” became a popular variant. But by the late 1800s, demand for regular porters evaporated, and stout porter shortened simply to stout.”
But more has changed between the 1800s and today than just our penchant for wearing top hats. “Today, most brewers seem to market beers as either stout or porter based on vibes, rather than on any notable stylistic differences,” he says.
Specifically, porters are known for their dark, almost pitch-black color and rich, sweet flavor profile. If you were to drink a porter and a stout side by side, you might even have difficulty discerning the differences between the two.
Stout versus porter is an enduring topic of discussion in the brewing industry. “While there’s no debating the porter came first—and stout used to be called stout porter, so it was a stronger version of a porter—the lines have become very blurred over the years,” says Rob Lightner, co-founder of East Brother Brewing in Richmond, CA.
“I would venture that even among professionals, a blind taste test would often yield inconclusive results,” says Lightner.
The difference between porters and stouts
Porters tend to be on the milder, more chocolatey end of the spectrum, Lightner says, whereas stouts are typically a little stronger and more roasty. Of course, this isn’t a hard and fast rule
Fowle agrees, “Porters tend to be fruitier, sweeter, and less bitter than stouts, with cocoa and caramel flavors in balance with dark malt bitterness. And stouts are usually hoppier, drier, maltier, and more coffee-forward—and may even have a touch of acidity.”
Whether or not they fit neatly into boxes, one thing’s for sure: both make for incredible cold-weather brews.
“As the nights grow longer, drinking a light, summery beer just doesn’t seem right,” says Fowle. “Porter is the perfect style for the transition to winter: warming and toasty yet not too heavy, with flavors of coffee, chocolate, and pie crust that correspond with autumn weather and holidays.”
It’s the perfect time to broaden your repretoire. Sweet, robust, warming, and well-suited to the season, here are the best porters to drink now.
Courtesy image
1. Deschutes Black Butte Porter
There are few porters more well-respected than Deschutes’ iconic Black Butte Porter. It’s brewed with Cascade and Tettnang hops as well as 2-row, Chocolate, Crystal, and Carapils malts as well as wheat. This 5.5% ABV year-round offering is great for cold-weather drinking because of its mix of roasted malts, coffee, and chocolate. It’s a robust, subtly sweet beer perfect for imbibing on a crisp fall night.
The key to 360-degree muscle: 90-degree eccentric isometrics. It might seem like we’re throwing a lot of geometry at you, but the concept behind time under tension (TUT) is simple, says Joel Seedman, PhD, owner of Advanced Human Performance: “Perform the lowering phase of a movement in a slow, controlled fashion, usually 3 to 5 seconds; pause in the stretched position, typically around 90 degrees; then perform the lifting phase in a powerful yet controlled fashion.” Believe us, a time-under-tension workout can humble even seasoned lifters…Eccentric isometrics are like the pressure cooker of training.
“Rather than mindlessly performing slow-tempo reps, you’re using the increased time under tension as a means to fine-tune your body mechanics and alignment, which requires more mental engagement and focus,” Seedman adds.
If you want to forge functional muscle mass and strength while simultaneously bulletproofing the joints and connective tissue, give this 10-move, full-body eccentric isometrics workout a go.
Directions
Perform the following moves as 90-degree eccentric isometrics following the above protocol. Use heavy weight, but not at the detriment of proper form. Rest 60 to 90 seconds between sets and 2 minutes between circuits. Perform once every 2 to 4 days for optimal results.
Best Time-Under-Tension Workout for Total-Body Strength
Circuit 1
Marius Bugge
A. Barbell Back Squat
Set a squat rack up with heavy weight, then grasp bar and step under it. Squeeze shoulder blades together, then stand to unrack bar and step back with feet shoulder-width apart. Inhale, hinge at hips and slowly bend knees to 90 degrees. Pause, keeping natural arch in low back, then extend through hips to powerfully stand. 3 x 4-6 reps
Marius Bugge
B. Renegade Row
Start in the top position of a pushup with hands shoulder-width apart on moderate-to-heavy dumbbells (shown). Explosively drive right elbow back to row dumbbell toward ribs while balancing on opposite hand and feet. Pause, then slowly lower weight, stopping a few inches above floor. Switch sides after all reps are done. 3 x 5 reps each side
Circuit 2
Marius Bugge
A. Dumbbell Bentover Row
Stand with feet hip-width apart, holding two moderate-to-heavy dumbbells in front of thighs, palms facing you. Push hips back and hinge torso forward so it’s nearly parallel to floor, soft bend in knees. Dumbbells should be near shins. Drive elbows back to row weights toward ribs. Pause, then slowly lower down for 3 to 5 seconds. 3 x 4-5 reps
Marius Bugge
B. Incline Dumbbell Chest Press with Legs Raised
Set an adjustable bench to a 30- to 45-degree angle and lie back with dumbbells in either hand. Engage core and lift legs off floor, flexing feet. Press weights overhead, palms in. Slowly lower to 90 degrees, staying tight and compact. Pause, then drive weights up directly over chest. 3 x 4-5 reps
Circuit 3
Marius Bugge
A. Dumbbell Bulgarian Squat
Stand lunge-length in front of a flat bench, holding heavy dumbbells in each hand by your sides, palms facing in. Rest the ball on top (shoe’s laces) of your right foot behind you on the bench. Slowly lower your body until your front thigh is parallel to the floor. Pause, then drive through your heel to stand. Switch sides after all reps are complete. 2 x 3-4 reps each side
Marius Bugge
B. Single-leg Romanian Deadlift
Stand with feet hip-width apart holding dumbbells or kettlebells. Drive right leg up, foot flexed, knee aligned with hip, making a 90-degree angle. Hinge at hips as you slowly lever your torso toward floor, lowering weights and driving right leg back for counterbalance. Hold, then squeeze glutes to reverse. 2 x 3-4 reps each side
Circuit 4
Marius Bugge
A. Pullup
Hang from a pullup bar using an overhand grip with legs extended and feet flexed. Engage lats and draw shoulders down your back, then pull yourself up until chin is higher than hands. Pause at the top, then slowly lower. Pause at bottom, then reset before your next rep. 2-3 x 4-5 reps
Marius Bugge
B. Kneeling Overhead Barbell Press
Hold a bar with moderate-to-heavy load at shoulder level with forearms perpendicular to floor. Kneel at end of bench with feet flexed to grip edge for support. Inhale, engage your core and glutes, then press the bar overhead, pushing your head forward so it passes your face, exhaling at the top. Slowly lower until elbows are at 90 degrees, then hold to maintain tension. Begin your next rep from here. 2-3 x 4-5 reps
Circuit 5
A. Dumbbell Pushup
Place hands on dumbbells (this provides greater range of motion) at shoulder width and feet wider than shoulder width with just toes touching the ground. Keep head neutral and hips high to increase tension on core, chest and tris and reduce stress on spine. Slowly lower to the floor. Stop once elbows hit 90 degrees, pause, then push up to start. 1-2 x 6-8 reps
B. Biceps Curl
Stand with feet hip-width apart with moderate-to-heavy dumbbells in each hand hanging by sides. Engage biceps to curl the weights up, keeping upper arms still. Pause at the top, then lower slowly. Don’t let arms drop all the way down to keep greater time under tension on biceps. 1-2 x 6-8 reps
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If you haven’t picked up a jump rope since elementary school, you’re missing out on a fantastic cardio workout. Not only will you burn a ton of calories in a short amount of time—200 to 300 calories in 15 minutes—but jump ropes can also improve your coordination and agility. Better yet, jumping rope doesn’t require much space, so it’s easy to do at home, and it’s often more mentally stimulating than jogging or swimming.
Choosing a Jump Rope
When deciding which jump rope is best for you, it’s important to determine what your goals are. While lightweight speed ropes are popular for cardio-focused training, weighted or drag ropes will be best for those focused on strength training.
No matter what your training goals are, we’ve got you covered with this roundup of 10 jump ropes from top brands including Crossrope, TRX, Rogue, and more.
The Best Jump Ropes of 2022
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