Tongkat Ali, or Malaysian Ginseng, is a popular Southeast Asian herb used for centuries by the indigenous population of Malaysia as an energy tonic, cure-all for anything from gout to malaria, and for male enhancement.
A substantial body of clinical research has underscored the numerous health benefits of Tongkat Ali. With its growing popularity across the world among athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and generally, you may take Tongkat Ali in six different forms, i.e in the form of pure powder extract, dose-optimized capsules, coffee, and more.
In this article, we deep-dive into five best ways to consume Tongkat Ali including instructions to gain the most optimal results.
Tongkat Ali powder extract is one of the best ways to consume Tongkat Ali as it offers greater dosing flexibility if you are seeking to enhance absorption by mixing it in a variety of ways that can both enhance its taste as well as benefits.
Some popular combinations of Tongkat Ali powder extract include adding a teaspoon of it to tea, coffee, or a smoothie as a daily energy drink to start your day. It can also be added to baked goods or as an ingredient for cocktails or mocktails.
As a pre-workout drink, Tongkat Ali powder is also an ideal addition to enhance your protein shakes, as standardized hot-water root extract contains a high crude protein content of between 20% to 40% that can benefit muscle-building activities, support muscle recovery, as well as supplement your daily protein intake.
Instructions
Related Article: Top Best Tongkat Ali Cocktail Recipes
Capsules are one of the most convenient ways to consume Tongkat Ali since they’re already optimized for dose and can easily be consumed anywhere or anytime – just pop a capsule and you’re done.
Most dosage-optimized Tongkat Ali capsules contain between 400mg to 600mg depending on the size of the capsule (eg: size 0, 1, or even 2). Most size 0 capsules are easy to swallow with minimal fuss, and you may take it after or before meal.
If you are taking the capsule form, the best way to take Tongkat Ali for optimal benefit is to check if the capsules are made from pure Tongkat Ali standardized extract, which is touted to be more potent than generic non-standardized extract.
Unlike pure powder extract, there is no need to measure the dose or worry about having a base to mix it with when taking Tongkat Ali capsules. However, Tongkat Ali capsules absorb slightly more slowly than pure extract powder, as it takes more time for the stomach to break it down – which may deter those who seek for fast results when taking Tongkat Ali.
Instructions
Related Article: When to Use Tongkat Ali for Optimal Results
Mixing Tongkat Ali with coffee is one of the optimal ways to experience Tongkat Ali whilst enhancing the benefits of Tongkat Ali and caffeine. This potent energy-enhancing combo is achieved by mixing pure extract powder with your brew of choice or choosing a quality pre-mixed Tongkat Ali coffee like AKA Koffee.
Caffeine or coffee synergizes well with Tongkat Ali’s inherent alkaloid properties that amplify compounded benefits such as overall energy levels, physical performance, mental clarity, immune function, and more. Both ingredients also combine to add a diverse number of antioxidants to your diet although excessive consumption of caffeine may not be good your hormones and health. However, Tongkat Ali’s adaptogenic properties may reduce negative side effects associated with too much caffeine, reducing symptoms like tension and jitteriness when taken in small doses.
The optimal way to use Tongkat Ali is to take 25mg to 50mg per serving of Tongkat Ali extract which is found in some Tongkat Ali coffee brands, that is mostly pre-mixed with instant coffee powder / blends.
Instructions
Related Article: Health Benefits of Tongkat Ali Coffee
If you had bought a raw slice of a Tongkat Ali root, the best way is to use 1 -2 slices and boil it in hot water before drinking the water.
Boiling raw Tongkat Ali root slices for 30 minutes or longer is viewed as the original method used by the indigenous, and for purists, it is the most traditional method of consuming Tongkat Ali. However, it is important to be aware that you are also extracting other impurities or heavy metals from the raw slices of Tongkat root as it does not go through any purification process.
At the same time, raw-boile Tongkat Ali root may be less potent than pure extract powder or capsules, the resulting extract can still provide plenty of health benefits like increased energy and even a libido boost.
This method works best if you can secure mature and freshly harvested Yellow Tongkat Ali roots that have been dried and prepared the right way.
Instructions
Dark chocolate is a healthy snack that contains antioxidants like flavonoids, which may have potential health benefits that act as a natural libido food for women as well as men. The bitterness of dark chocolate blends perfectly with Tongkat Ali into the creation of an energy libido-boosting chocolate.
By making your own at home and combining this with pure Tongkat Ali extract powder, you could create a delicious homemade snack that offers a blend of diverse antioxidants along with Tongkat Ali’s bioactive compounds for enhanced energy, aphrodisiac qualities, as well as for better cardiovascular health.
Dark chocolate is also a perfect medium to mask the bitter taste of Tongkat Ali extract. So you need strong vanilla extract and the right amount of Tongkat Ali to enhance the overall dark-bitter chocolatey taste that will reinvograte your senses.
Instructions
Diet forms a key component of Tongkat Ali protocol if you seek for optimal results. Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma Longifolia) pure root extract is best taken with sugar-free diet or keto diet in order gain higher production of total testosterone that benefit your overall endocrine system, libido, stamina, weight loss and strength.
When taken at 200mg to 400mg of Tongkat Ali daily in the morning and afternoon, combining or sticking to either sugar-free diet or ketogenic fat-based diet may contribute to higher production of total testosterone in your adrenal glands whilst retaining higher hormone percentage in your bloodstream during various situations (or conditions).
Those taking protein-based diet with Tongkat Ali may also benefit from higher testosterone levels, but the key success to higher production of testosterone is to reduce processed sugar or fructose from your daily intake.
Tongkat Ali supplementation works better with sugar-free or low-sugar diet as recent studies showed that sugar lowers your testosterone levels and at the same time increases inflammation in your cells. This is backed by a 2018 US-based study showing sugar-sweetened beverages has impact on reducing serum testosterone in adult males between 20-39 years old.
For optimal results, it is recommended to lower your sugar intake or avoid ultra-processed food, and processed sugar when taking Tongkat Ali. This helps to improve your testosterone, stamina, energy, lean muscle mass and libido levels.
Taking Tongkat Ali with ketogenic diet comprising of 70–75% fat, 15–20% protein, and 5–10% of carbs may improve testosterone to optimal levels. A 2020 study on highly-trained athletes published at the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research showed that total testosterone increased significantly from weeks 0 to 11 in the group consuming ketogenic diet (118 ng·dl) as compared to the Western Diet (-36 ng·dl) while insulin levels did not change between both groups.
You may combine keto diet and sugar free diet when taking Tongkat Ali supplement in your daily routine as individual diet-related studies showed vast improvements in total testosterone. This enables you to optimize your stamina, energy and libido levels.
Tongkat Ali offers plenty of consumption methods that cater to different preferences, ensuring that everyone can incorporate this potent and remarkably versatile herb into their daily routines in a way that suits their tastes, lifestyle or needs.
Whether you’re seeking a quick dose for your health goals, a traditional brew of an energy libido tonic, a fun cocktail evening of social awakening or even a culinary delight, Tongkat Ali offers a range of options to reap its numerous benefits. There are many how-to’s when it comes to Tongkat Ali and the best way to consume Tongkat Ali bogs down to individual preference.
If you are interested in experiencing the many benefits of standardized hot-water Tongkat Ali root extract, try AKARALI’s dose-optimized capsules, pure powder, or coffee options here.
Learn more about the best Tongkat Ali in the world here, or reach out to us at any of our international offices if you have any queries or concerns.
Naressa Khan contributes regularly on AKARALI. As a researcher and investigative journalist, Naressa is all about creating, deconstructing, and reassembling meaningful content through words and facts. With this approach always in mind, she eagerly explores the nuances in life via the aspects of lifestyle, culture, travel, health, and wellness in Malaysia .
Our articles are third party reviewed by our panel of experts and medical advisors to ensure the facts are accurate and credible. These are validated against multiple source references which include but not limited to research studies, peer-reviewed journals, pre-clinical studies, clinical tests and other credible publications.
Our panel of medical advisors and experts are highly experienced in their individual fields. However, they do not provide any medical advice or recommendations arising from content published in this article.
Disclaimer:
The content published on this website is for educational purposes and should not be viewed, read, or seen as a prescription or constitute any form of medical advice. We recommend you consult your nearest GP or doctors before consuming Tongkat Ali or any products which contain Tongkat Ali. For further information, kindly refer to our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for more information.
