Testosterone Booster by HERCULES XL Reviewed

Ben BA(Hons), PGCert

Hercules XL Test Booster Review First Look

LAST EDITED: December 2018.

Ben established this free resource in April 2015. Since then it has gained over half a million hits.

Prior to this, he graduated from university in 2005 with a bachelors degree, played rugby since he was 6 years old and is now serving in the Army Reserve.

This test booster from HERCULES XL looks powerful.

There’s a ripped lion on the label which looks like we could be reviewing the perfect testosterone supplement.

However, will the powerful imagery translate to a powerful and effective natural testosterone booster?

We aim to find out whether Hercules XL have brought out a significant hormone enhancer or just another repackaged and generic product.

‘As men age, they often make less testosterone’ – [https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/understanding-how-testosterone-affects-men]

Can this T-Booster from High Mark Nutrition hit the mark? Let’s look at their background…

Who’s Hercules XL?

I literally have no idea.

The supplement looks like it has just been released and there’s no supporting information about who manufacturers it.

We do know it is made in the USA under GMP conditions which are both reassuring.

Hercules XL claims?

On the label it states that this test booster from Hercules can help improve the following:

Stamina
Strength
Energy

All pretty standard claims by any product looking to improve out testosterone levels.

Initial Summary

Two proven ingredients

–

Some harmful ingredients

Ingredients: The Evidence

So, let’s list through each ingredient and look at the associated studies:

– Saw Palmetto

Saw palmetto does not seem like the obvious choice for a test booster.

And, it is not just because it can be harmful to the organs such as the pancreas and liver.

No, it is not the obvious choice because there is no proof available to warrant any claims that it can increase testosterone levels or sexual desire.

If you are a woman do not take saw palmetto if you are pregnant or breast feeding as it has the potential not to be safe. [1]

– Horny Goat Weed

Why should we take a supplement that contains horny goat weed?

Studies state that it can have an effect on the nervous tissue which can have an effect on erections.

This may also translate to the female genitals.

Further evidence does seem to demonstrate that it actually lowers testosterone though.

This is strange, because a high level of testosterone is related to better erections and sexual function, but this reduces testosterone.

So it seems it is merely here to mimic the effects of increased test levels. [2]

– Calcium

Studies have found that when healthy adults exercise their testosterone levels increase when performing physically exerting exercise.

When this exercise is accompanied by calcium their levels of testosterone increase more. [3]

– Tongkat Ali

Tongkat Ali does not directly increase testosterone levels.

However, tongkat ali does help reduce modern day stress levels and stress itself can lower test levels. [4]

– Boron

Boron has the ability to to increase testosterone levels and reduce estrogen which is ideal.

In addition, boron can help strengthen bones and joints while preventing mineral and calcium loss. [5]

– Wild Yam Extract

The common misconception is that wild yam extracts can increase DHEA.

This is not true. DHEA is the precursor to testosterone.

The theory is that with more DHEA more testosterone would be produced, this is not true either.

Wild Yam does not have a place in a test booster. [6]

– 3,4-Divanillyltetrahydrofuran (Stinging Nettle)

The humble stinging nettle has other uses than just nettle soup.

Strangely extracts of nettle can reduce inflammation.

If you suffer from too much inflammation it can lower test levels and increase the risk of chronic disease such as obesity.

Nettle does not boost testosterone but it does help protect test production. [7]

– Sarsaparilla

It is claimed that the plant sterols found in sarsaparilla act like a steroid in humans.

However, this is not the case. There is no evidence that it can increase natural levels of add testosterone.

As a result, there’s not much use for it in this supplement. [8]

– Raw Orchic

There is a common belief that ingesting an extract from bull testicles will increase testosterone.

This is a belief without any scientific evidence to proof that it does so.

Eat a bulls testicles by all means but do not expect to become muscular because of it. [9]

How To Take Hercules XL

Just two pills per day with Hercules.

It is often better to have more pills that can be taken across the course of the day.

This prevents larger peaks and troughs of the ingredients and means we can get more benefit from them.

Hercules Dosage

The dose is 1598mg per day.

This is only about 50% of what the best testosterone boosters offer.

Hercules XL Price

$39.98

Pros

This lacks proven ingredients.

Unfortunately, for a natural testosterone booster this is lacking key and qualified ingredients that are able to offer nutritional value.

Without the well regarded and proven ingredients this test booster is going to have a very little effect on hormone levels.

That said, it is not all doom and gloom.

There are a few ingredients that will benefit anyone looking to increase testosterone levels.

So, the good stuff is:

Calcium
Boron
Tongkat Ali
Nettle

Even when we extract these four from the list of nine total ingredients there’s only two that will stimulate more testosterone.

They are Calcium and Boron.

Tongkat ali and nettle help protect test levels by reducing inflammation and stress.

Cons

This is a proprietary blend.

That means apart from calcium which we know is 114mg per daily dose we have no idea how much of each other individual ingredient is.

In fact, much of the blend can consist of just bulking agent with trace amounts of other ingredients.

Read more about proprietary blends, here.

The daily total of ingredients is not particularly high either.

Let us not also forget that from the nine ingredients just four have some hormone benefit.

That means over 50% of this product is not effective.

Unwanted Hercules Side Effects

Be careful when taking Hercules XL.

It seems that taking Hercules XL can trigger nosebleeds, a greater thirst and dizziness.

Studies suggest that there’s a risk of safety with saw palmetto and vital organs.

Long term calcium supplementation can actually line the arteries with a layer of plaque which can cause cardiovascular problems.

There’s also a few ingredients that seem to act like estrogen. This is not what we want from a test booster at all!

If you already suffer from asthma or even kidney disease do not take anything with sarsaparilla

Buyer Testimonials

As of yet there are no testimonials to discuss.

Hercules XL Video Review

Needed improvements

The primary issue with Hercules XL is that unlike some of the best test boosters on the market, this omits the most effective and proven ingredients.

Without these proven ingredients that can safely and effective stimulate more testosterone production there’s going to be a real lack of benefit.

This product needs to replace five ingredients with nutrients such as: