If there were only one factor that influenced a man’s manliness, it’d be testosterone levels. Testosterone is important for strength, muscle, confidence, sex drive, and many other masculine traits. So, it’s no wonder that many men want to try to boost their T-levels through the roof, and this often entails supplementation.
Now, some t-boosting supplements are good, but a lot of them are somewhat of a scam, so it’s important to sort out the good from the bad. So let’s take a look at one particular testosterone supplement called Nugenix Maxx. Can it really help take a man’s manliness to the next level? We’ll find out in this Nugenix Maxx review!
About Nugenix Maxx
Nugenix Maxx is created by perhaps the most popular male-supplement makers out there, Nugenix. They produce a variety of supplements, including Nugenix GH-Boost, and Nugenix Maxx is designed to be their most potent product. They claim it is an all-around testosterone booster that uses clinically-dosed ingredients of many of the best ingredients in the world for boosting T. Nugenix Maxx is designed to boost levels of free and total testosterone more than any other product out there, thus putting it “alone atop the pinnacle of male performance.” Sounds intriguing so far, hey?
Nugenix Maxx Benefits
Alright, so it’s designed to maximize total and free testosterone levels, but what benefits come along with this? Well, they claim that Nugenix Maxx will help you perform better in the gym, in your love life, and simply give you more energy on a day-to-day basis.
Workout Benefits
In the gym, you can expect to work out harder and recover faster. They also say you’ll be more likely to increase your muscle and strength, overall increasing your lean body mass. This is all due to adaptogens, other herbs, and key vitamins and minerals.
Sexual Benefits
No surprise here, as Nugenix Maxx claims to offer a number of sexual benefits, in large part due to the inclusion of herbs that are touted as aphrodisiacs. These are meant to increase libido and drive, as well as enhance vitality.
Energetic Benefits
Lastly, with the inclusion of adaptogens, stimulants, and other key herbs, Nugenix Maxx is supposed to help skyrocket your energy levels and reduce the effects of stress. In turn, this would help you to more easily handle the demands in your day-to-day life and, overall, just feel manlier.
Looks Good at First Glance
If you’re a man reading this, I’m sure all of this sounds intriguing. But, as always, we have to make sure that this product can actually stand by its claims. So, is Nugenix Maxx a potent male performance supplement, or is it simply going to leave men yearning for something more?
To answer this question, read on below!
Nugenix Maxx Ingredients
Nugenix Maxx states that it includes “a one-of-a-kind” blend of branded ingredients, all clinically researched to increase testosterone. These ingredients are:
(Note: All amounts based on the serving size of 4 capsules)
- Vitamin D (20mcg)
- Zinc (15mg)
- Fenugreek Extract (600mg)
- Ashwagandha Extract (600mg)
- Shilajit Purified Extract (500mg)
- Eurycoma longifolia Extract (150mg)
- Rhodiola Extract (150mg)
- Maca Extract (150mg)
- Asian Ginseng (Panax ginseng) Extract (140mg)
- Black Ginger (Kaempferia parviflora Extract (90mg)
- White Button Mushroom Extract (fruit body) (10mg)
- Black Pepper Extract (fruit) (5mg)
Whew, quite a long list. Now, I also want to mention that a few of these ingredients are in trademarked/branded forms, so I will mention those forms when talking about the individual ingredients that have that.
Vitamin D
The first ingredient contained in Nugenix Maxx is good ol’ vitamin D. While called a vitamin, vitamin D actually acts like more of a hormone. Vitamin D has an effect on many processes in the body; within this, the reproductive tract is known to be a target tissue for vitamin D. And vitamin D levels definitely have an influence on testosterone levels, as quite a bit of research has shown.
However, only some research has shown that supplementing with vitamin D can increase testosterone levels. Overall, it is inconsistent, but still promising.
Zinc
Up next in the ingredient list is zinc. Specifically, Nugenix Maxx included the trademarked form of zinc, L-OptiZinc. Zinc has a number of critical roles in the male reproductive system. For example, it directly affects testicular function and testosterone production. It is also involved in converting testosterone to di-hydrotestosterone (DHT), which is the most potent form. Lastly, it affects other androgenic hormones.
Unsurprisingly, a zinc deficiency is related to suppressed testosterone and decreased androgens overall, whereas having more zinc (whether through diet or supplementation) can increase testosterone levels. 15 to 30mg is typically the beneficial dose for supplementation.
Fenugreek
Nugenix Maxx also contains fenugreek in the specific form of Testofen. Fenugreek is an herb that has a number of androgenic and anabolic properties, and this is largely due to the steroidal saponins it contains. Taking 600mg of Testofen has been proven to increase free and total testosterone levels, enhance libido, and increases muscle and strength more than placebos. Overall, fenugreek is a fantastic herb for testosterone.
Ashwagandha
The next herb contained in this formula is ashwagandha, which has been used for over 3,000 years in Ayurvedic medicine. Nugenix Maxx contains KSM-66 ashwagandha, which is a great form because it is easily absorbed.
Ashwagandha is an adaptogenic herb, which means it helps the body respond to and manage stress. Indeed, the strongest benefits of ashwagandha are its ability to reduce stress (incl. cortisol) and anxiety levels. Other notable benefits include improvements in testosterone, sexual function, fertility, and athletic performance. All in all, ashwagandha is one of the best ingredients out there for male performance. Doses range from 300mg all the way up to 6g per day.
Shilajit
Another multi-faceted herb included in Nugenix Maxx is Shilajit, in the specific commercially available form of PrimaVie. It is also been used for thousands of years in traditional medicine, and now research is confirming long-held beliefs about its benefits.
With specific regard to male performance, around 300 to 500mg of Shilajit is known to reduce stress, increase energy, enhance sperm health, delay fatigue, and increase strength. In other words, Shilajit is a powerhouse for male performance. In a battle versus ashwagandha, it’d be tough to say who would win. But the good thing is Nugenix Maxx includes both.
Eurycoma Longifolia
Nugenix Maxx also included Eurycoma longifolia, which is more commonly known as Tongkat Ali or Long Jack, among others (I’ll just refer to it as Tongkat Ali from here on out). Tongkat Ali is another herb that has a number of benefits for sexual health in men, especially when used in dosages around 100 to 200mg daily.
Research shows that it increases testosterone levels, and it also is used to treat erectile dysfunction. Moreover, Tongkat Ali improves sperm health, libido, and sexual satisfaction. From an athletic performance perspective, it can also help to reduce fatigue and increase energy. It also can help with overall mood and well-being. In short, Tongkat Ali delivers all-around benefits for men.
Rhodiola
Another ingredient in Nugenix Maxx is Rhodiola. Specifically, this product contains the trademarked form Rhodiolife. Rhodiola is an herb similar to ashwagandha because it is also an adaptogen. Bioactive compounds in the roots of Rhodiola are known to enhance physical and mental performance and reduce fatigue.
One of the main ways the benefits occur is the regulation of the HPA-axis and the stress response, similar to ashwagandha and other adaptogens. Essentially, Rhodiola helps the body to more effectively deal with and recover from stress. This herb also acts as a potent antioxidant, helping the body get rid of free radicals. In turn, Rhodiola may help enhance exercise performance, energy levels, and testosterone. Doses typically range in use from 100 to 200mg.
Maca
Nugenix Maxx also included maca in this formula. Maca is an ancient plant, and it is actually a cruciferous vegetable related to broccoli, cauliflower, and kale. Some research shows that maca can improve sexual function in people with sexual dysfunction, but the overall research is inconclusive for its ability to increase testosterone.
Asian Ginseng
Asian ginseng, or Panax ginseng, is also included in Nugenixx Maxx. Ginseng is one of the most commonly used herbal remedies in the world. It is usually used to increase energy and fight fatigue. It also acts as a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.
Research shows that ginseng is likely effective for reducing physical and mental fatigue. However, there aren’t enough studies to definitively state it can improve athletic or sexual performance, even though the initial research is promising. Most of the research uses around 200mg, although studies have used up to 3g daily.
Black Ginger
Another herb? You guessed it. This testosterone formula also includes black ginger, which goes by a number of other names, including Thai ginseng. Black ginger has been used in folk medicine for many centuries for a variety of ailments. Certain compounds in black ginger offer anti-inflammatory and aphrodisiac-like effects, among other benefits.
Black ginger can increase nitric oxide and blood flow, thus providing benefits for erectile and overall sexual function. There are also researched benefits of it improving muscular strength and being able to increase energy expenditure, which could help you to lose fat. Even though there still needs to be more research, black ginger appears to be effective for various aspects of male health. Typical dosages range from 50 to 100mg.
White Button Mushroom
The second-to-last ingredient is white button mushroom. White button mushrooms have compounds in them, such as CLA, that act as aromatase inhibitors, which decreases estrogen. In turn, decreased estrogen may improve masculinity. Initial research in rats also shows that white button mushroom extract increases testosterone levels, but they used a very high dose (200 to 400mg/kg). So, this ingredient may do something, but it is unlikely to be a main player.
Black Pepper
Finally, Nugenix Maxx contains BioPerine black pepper extract. Black pepper contains a compound in it called piperine, which is proven to enhance the absorption of vitamins, minerals, and other compounds taken along with it. Thus, this ingredient is included to enhance the absorption of all of the other ingredients.
Does Nugenix Maxx Work?
Based on all of the evidence, it is highly likely that Nugenix Maxx will work. There is an abundance of research on the ingredients used in Nugenix Maxx. They use vitamins, minerals, and herbs that are all proven to enhance both free and total testosterone, reduce stress, increase strength and muscle, improve libido and erectile function, and positively affect mood and well-being.
Furthermore, all of the ingredients used contain the clinically effective dose…this is something that’s very rare to see in supplements. This is particularly true for the trademarked ingredients where they used the exact amounts that were used in the studies (e.g., 600mg Testofen, 600mg KSM-66 Ashwagandha, 150mg Rhodiolife, etc.).
Claims vs. Reality
So, can Nugenix Maxx stand by its claims? Most likely. The adaptogens ashwagandha and Rhodiola should help you deal with stress, reduce fatigue, and improve energy and athletic performance. And many other herbs included are proven to enhance nearly every aspect of sexual function and athletic performance, too; thus, you can expect increased passion, libido, drive, and so forth. This is especially true for shilajit, Tongkat Ali, and fenugreek, though the others are beneficial too. Additionally, zinc and vitamin D should assist in the body’s natural production of testosterone and overall hormonal health and vitality.
One thing I do want to mention, however, is that you shouldn’t expect this product to be some miracle worker. It will definitely work, no doubt, but think of it as an added boost to your life, not some major cure-all. Even they say that it is supposed to act as a supporter, not something that will completely change who you are.
In other words, Nugenix Maxx should definitely enhance your workouts, increase sexual performance, and benefit your day-to-day stress and energy levels, especially alongside a healthy diet and lifestyle.
Who is Nugenix Maxx Best for?
Nugenix Maxx can be used by men of all ages looking to improve their all-around male performance…athletically, sexually, and energetically. Yet, it is most likely even better for older men simply because testosterone naturally declines with age. Also, athletes, people who work out intensely a lot, and people under a lot of stress are more likely to benefit from this product too simply because they are at risk for lower testosterone levels too due to their demanding lifestyles.
Is Nugenix Maxx Safe?
With any supplement, it is important to review its safety and side effects. Here are a few notable ones:
- Ashwagandha, Rhodiola, and fenugreek both have the potential to cause nausea, diarrhea, dizziness, or upset stomach, although these are rare.
- Fenugreek, in high doses, can also lower blood sugar.
- Shilajit may increase uric acid and iron, so individuals with conditions relating to these compounds should be cautious.
- Common side effects of ginseng and Tongkat Ali include insomnia, irritability, and restlessness. Ginseng can also cause headaches, dizziness, and stomach upset in high doses or long-term use.
- Black ginger may cause elevated body temperature, but side effects are rare when low doses are used.
Where to Buy Nugenix Maxx
Nugenix Maxx can be purchased from the Nugenix website along with GNC here.
Nugenix Maxx is a pretty expensive product, coming in at $169.99 per bottle, which contains 30 servings (120 capsules). GNC does offer a subscribe and save option, which will save you 10% and get you free shipping.
So, it is up to you to decide whether the all-around benefits of this product are worth paying quite a bit more than other, somewhat effective t-boosters.