Looking for a simple antiaging tool to boost your physical, psychological and sexual health? This natural blend of antioxidant-rich compounds may be just what the doctor ordered

We can't slow down the hands of time, but it is possible to put the brakes on biological aging, at least to some extent. In men, a natural combination of pomegranate fruit rind and cocoa seed extract does just that, effectively mitigating the effects of aging.^[i]

Men between the ages of 36 and 55 who took the supplement blend had improvements in several areas that typically decline with age, including boosts to physical, psychological and sexual functions.

Testosterone Declines With Age, but Nature May Help

In men, testosterone regulates sexual function, bone and muscle mass, muscular strength, production of red blood cells, psychological wellness and metabolic homeostasis, among other important functions.

But testosterone levels decrease with age, beginning with a 1% drop per year in the 30s and increasing to declines of 2% to 3% per year after age 50. This drop in testosterone can have a significant impact on daily functions.^[ii] As noted in the International Journal of Medical Sciences:^[iii]

"Low testosterone level decreases aging adults' physical performance, mood status, energy level, and quality of life (QOL). A low level of FT [free testosterone] causes erectile dysfunction, loss of muscle mass, reduced sexual desire, abnormal abdominal fat gain, low bone mineral density, joint pain, sleep disturbances, fatigue, depression, and a decline in cognitive functions."

Natural compounds, such as velvet bean (Mucuna prurines), ashwagandha and the plant Tribulus terrestris, have a long history of use to boost hormone levels and harnessing plant compounds for this purpose continues to this day.

Pomegranate-Cocoa Blend Increases Testosterone, Grip Strength and More

The study involved 120 men who took a blend of pomegranate fruit rind and cocoa seed extracts, at a dose of either 200 milligrams (mg) or 400 mg, or a placebo for 56 days. The researchers compared aging males' symptoms (AMS) scores, along with muscular strength and serum testosterone levels before and after the supplement usage.

Both doses of the supplement significantly reduced mean AMS scores, while improving general, psychological and physical well-being. Testosterone levels also increased significantly compared with levels before the supplement usage as well as to placebo.

Hand-grip strength, a widely used biomarker of overall muscle strength and aging, also significantly improved, while perceived stress scale scores went down. Separate research also found the pomegranate-cocoa blend effectively increased testosterone level and muscle strength in young men between the ages of 21 and 35 as well.^[iv]

Pomegranate Is a Symbol of Fertility

Traditionally, pomegranate is regarded as a boon to fertility, so its role in boosting testosterone isn't entirely surprising. The rind is also heralded for a range of beneficial pharmacological activities, including:^[v]

Pomegranate is an antiaging superstar in part due to urolithin A (UA), a compound your gut bacteria produce when you eat ellagitannins and ellagic acid found in pomegranates, berries and nuts. UA offers benefits to mitochondrial and cellular health, age-related conditions, metabolic function, gastrointestinal homeostasis and acute diseases.^[vi]

"UA enhances cellular health by increasing mitophagy and mitochondrial function and reducing detrimental inflammation. Several preclinical studies show how UA protects against aging and age-related conditions affecting muscle, brain, joints, and other organs," researchers noted in Trends in Molecular Medicine.^[vii]

Unfortunately, it's estimated that only 40% of people can naturally produce meaningful levels of UA from dietary compounds, so supplementation or attention to improving gut health may be useful. Nonetheless, pomegranate and pomegranate extracts are rich in polyphenols known to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, which may be useful for erectile dysfunction, benign prostatic hyperplasia^[viii] and other ailments.

When you browse through our pomegranate research database, you can learn much more about the powerful health benefits of pomegranate.

Cocoa Reverses Cardiovascular Aging

In addition to boosting testosterone, cocoa contains flavanols that may help reverse age-related changes in the cardiovascular system. "Increased vascular stiffness, endothelial dysfunction, and isolated systolic hypertension are hallmarks of vascular aging," a research team wrote in the journal Age. But, "Regular cocoa flavanol (CF) intake can improve vascular function in healthy young and elderly at-risk individuals."^[ix]

In a study of 22 young and 20 older men, consuming a cocoa flavanol drink for just 14 days reversed the age-related burden of cardiovascular risk.^[x] Further, in terms of aging, consuming cocoa is linked to a number of beneficial effects, including:^[xi]

• Lower risk of heart failure hospitalization and death
• Decreased risk of cognitive decline
• Increased cerebral blood flow
• Reduced body weight
• One-third reduction in the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

Use our cocoa research database to discover even more reasons why eating cocoa is good for you.

Looking for More Ways to Boost Testosterone Naturally?

There are many ways to fight back against the natural declines in testosterone that occur with age. First, learn more about the importance of this hormone via our testosterone research database. Then, discover these five evidence-based ways to boost your testosterone naturally -- when you do, you'll also learn five common things to avoid to keep your production optimal.

References

[i] Int J Med Sci. 2022; 19(8): 1290-1299. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9346391/

[ii] Int J Med Sci. 2022; 19(8): 1290-1299. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9346391/

[iii] Int J Med Sci. 2022; 19(8): 1290-1299. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9346391/

[iv] J Diet Suppl. 2023;20(3):411-427. doi: 10.1080/19390211.2022.2035037. Epub 2022 Feb 6. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35129040/

[v] Int J Med Sci. 2022; 19(8): 1290-1299. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9346391/

[vi] Trends in Molecular Medicine July 2021, Volume 27, Issue 7, P687-699 https://www.cell.com/trends/molecular-medicine/fulltext/S1471-4914(21)00118-0

[vii] Trends in Molecular Medicine July 2021, Volume 27, Issue 7, P687-699 https://www.cell.com/trends/molecular-medicine/fulltext/S1471-4914(21)00118-0

[viii] Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2013; 2013: 701434. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3622365/

[ix] Age (Dordr). 2015 Jun; 37(3): 56. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4444618/

[x] Age (Dordr). 2015 Jun; 37(3): 56. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4444618/

[xi] Food and Chemical Toxicology May 2021, Volume 151, 112121 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S027869152100154X