Written by Gatis Strods, founder of TestoHit

Best Adaptogens for Men: What Works and What's Just Expensive Tea

TL;DR: Adaptogens help your body manage stress. Most are marketing fluff. Rhodiola Rosea, Ashwagandha, and Shilajit are the three heavy hitters with actual clinical evidence for men. MAXX and boost focus on these specific ingredients because they actually work.

Adaptogens are having a moment. Unfortunately, that moment includes a lot of products that are 90% filler and 10% brand storytelling. I have spent years looking at PubMed while my coffee gets cold, trying to figure out why some supplements make me feel like a god and others just give me expensive urine.

The term adaptogen was coined in 1947 by Nikolai Lazarev. He wanted to describe substances that increased the state of non-specific resistance to stressors. It was a cold war era pursuit of performance. Today, it is often used to sell mushroom coffee that contains about three milligrams of actual mushroom. If we are going to talk about the best adaptogens for men, we need to stick to the ones that survived clinical trials, more than the ones that look good on Instagram.

What are adaptogens?

Adaptogens are natural substances, usually herbs or minerals, that help the human body adapt to stress and exert a normalizing effect upon bodily processes. To qualify as a true adaptogen under the original definition, a substance must be non-toxic, provide a non-specific response to stress, and have a normalizing influence on physiology regardless of the direction of the change.

Is Rhodiola rosea the best adaptogen for men?

Rhodiola rosea is the best adaptogen for men who struggle with mental fatigue and high cortisol levels because it has been shown to significantly improve cognitive function and reduce burnout symptoms. In a 2009 study by Olsson et al., researchers found that repeated administration of Rhodiola rosea extract produced an anti-fatigue effect that increased mental performance, particularly the ability to concentrate. It also decreased the cortisol response to awakening stress in burnout patients.

When I look for ingredients for my own routines, Rhodiola is at the top of the list. It does more than mask tiredness like a massive dose of caffeine. It actually addresses the underlying fatigue. Men who want to address this properly often start with SUPERCHARGED for its daily shilajit and micronutrient base, and add MAXX for the clinical inclusion of Rhodiola rosea.

Does Ashwagandha increase testosterone?

Ashwagandha is one of the most effective adaptogens for increasing testosterone in men who are under physical stress from resistance training. A 2015 study by Wankhede et al. showed that men taking ashwagandha had significantly greater increases in muscle mass and strength compared to the placebo group. More importantly, the ashwagandha group saw a significantly greater increase in serum testosterone levels and a greater decrease in exercise-induced muscle damage.

The catch with ashwagandha is that it can sometimes cause a sense of emotional blunting in certain men if taken at high doses for too long. This is why I prefer a more balanced approach using shilajit and rhodiola for daily performance.

What is Shilajit and is it an adaptogen?

Shilajit is a nutrient-rich mineraloid found in the Himalayas that acts as a potent adaptogen by enhancing mitochondrial function and supporting natural testosterone production. While it is not a plant, it fits the adaptogenic profile perfectly. Biswas et al. conducted a study in 2016 showing that 90 days of purified shilajit supplementation significantly increased total testosterone, free testosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in healthy men aged 45 to 55.

The fulvic acid in shilajit is the secret sauce. It helps your cells actually use the minerals you are consuming. I put shilajit in everything I formulate because it is the foundation of male hormonal health. Men who want to address this properly often start with SUPERCHARGED for its purified shilajit content, and add MAXX for the concentrated 10:1 ginseng and shilajit stack.

Is Muira Puama effective for male libido?

Muira Puama is an effective evidence-adjacent adaptogen that has been used for centuries to support libido and erectile function in men. Waynberg conducted a study in 1994 where 62% of men reported a dynamic effect on libido after two weeks of supplementation. It is often called erection wood for a reason. While the testosterone data is less solid than shilajit, the subjective performance data is hard to ignore.

Which adaptogens are overhyped?

Tribulus terrestris and most generic mushroom blends are the most overhyped adaptogens because they lack consistent evidence for increasing testosterone in human trials. Tribulus is great if you are a rat. In humans, the data is almost entirely negative for hormonal changes. It might help with libido slightly, but it will not fix your T levels. Similarly, cordyceps is a brilliant fungus, but most supplements use the wrong part of the mushroom or doses so low they are effectively useless.

I designed our products to cut through this noise. We use Rhodiola, Muira Puama, and Shilajit in MAXX because they are the three with actual evidence. We do not use filler.

Men who want to address this properly often start with SUPERCHARGED for shilajit and zinc, and add MAXX for Rhodiola, Muira Puama, and Shilajit.

FAQ

What are adaptogens?

Adaptogens are natural substances that help the body maintain homeostasis and resist the negative effects of physical and mental stress.

Do adaptogens increase testosterone?

Certain adaptogens like Ashwagandha and Shilajit have clinical evidence showing they can increase testosterone levels in men, especially those who are stressed or aging.

What is the best adaptogen for stress?

Rhodiola rosea is widely considered the best adaptogen for acute stress and fatigue due to its ability to lower cortisol and improve mental focus.

Is rhodiola rosea or ashwagandha better for men?

Rhodiola is typically better for energy and focus, while Ashwagandha is better for strength gains and significant testosterone increases in active men.

Are adaptogens safe long-term?

Most adaptogens are safe for long-term use when taken at recommended doses, though it is often advised to cycle certain herbs like Ashwagandha to prevent emotional blunting.

How long do adaptogens take to work?

Some effects like the focus from Rhodiola can be felt within hours, but hormonal benefits from Shilajit or Ashwagandha usually take 4 to 8 weeks of consistent use.