Regarded as a natural testosterone supplement for men in the UK, does Tongkat Ali work to improve athletic performance or men’s fitness?
In this review, we ask Khadaffi Javeed, a 22-year-old British sprinter from Harrogate about his experience of Tongkat Ali after taking it for six consecutive weeks.
Our data-driven analysis and observation provide a real-world performance on the short-term immediate effects of Tongkat Ali before and after, assessing the performance after 3 weeks.
This review helps to assess the effectiveness of herbal supplements such as Tongkat Ali in elevating sports or athletic performance in a highly-trained male athlete over a long-term use of six weeks.
Natural testosterone supplements are gaining popularity in the UK due to its ergogenic aid to boost athletic performance. For most professional athletes, elevating baseline fitness with optimal diet and nutrition from natural supplements is crucial for optimizing performance during training and actual race day.
For non-athletes however, studies showed that sprinting is a good exercise that can increase testosterone. But repeated sprints for longer durations may impair your health, with lower testosterone found in chronic endurance athletes.
Now here is a question for us mere mortals.
Does adding Tongkat Ali supplementation with sprinting exercises increase your testosterone or performance to optimal levels?
“Adding testosterone boosters such as Tongkat Ali may benefit competitive runners, such as sprinters, where shaving off even a fraction of a second can significantly impact final time” said AJ Brookes, a British functional health coach from Milton Keynes.
But it’s not just performance on the track that matters, with consistent training and recovery being just as important to maintain peak form for most British athletes. In the UK, most men prefer natural testosterone supplements such as Tongkat Ali as a long-term healthier option compared to TRT.
Standardized hot-water Tongkat Ali root extract has attracted new discerning customers in the United Kingdom, reported to aid stamina, muscle strength and power for professional athletes – including runners, sprinters and bodybuilders.
Growing Tongkat Ali clinical studies showed positive effects on stamina, energy and strength which translate to better protein synthesis and energy conversion. This helps post-training muscle recovery and the development of lean muscle.
Health experts are now recommending supplementation of standardized Tongkat Ali extract to enhance sports performance during training, or as a post-workout supplement – viewed as one of the most effective natural supplements by UK functional health coaches. It is also widely used by running communities, ultramarathon runners and professional natural bodybuilders.
For pure pro sprinters such as Khadafii, the gruelling competitive season can, in truth, be more like a marathon than anything else. In fact, numerous factors come into play, from managing fatigue as you approach the tail end of the season to building the optimal amount of leg muscles to sustain explosive anaerobic power off the blocks as well as maintaining good form for optimal endurance for professional athletes who trains 6 days a week.
Our team recently approached British athlete Khadaffi in Leeds to obtain his feedback about Tongkat Ali as a performance sports supplement.
Here is his review after six weeks.
Reviewer Test Profile:
Our Tongkat Ali reviewer is no other than Khadaffi Javeed, a young British professional athlete who represent Harrogate Harriers in 100 and 200 meters. With Nike sponsorship at hand, he competes in various leagues across the UK like the Northern League.
Khadaffi trains hard 6 days a week, alternating between weight and strength training and plyometrics and various sprinting exercises on and off the track with his coaches Katie Joyce (pictured right), Jon Ireland (pictured far right) as well as his father and manager, Imran Javeed.
According Katie, an expert in Sports and Exercise Science from Leeds Beckett University, watching Khadaffi’s athletic potential unfold has been nothing short of a joy to see. She underscored that her coaching philosophy is centred around unlocking such potential and helping each athlete under her guidance establish individual methods and systems that work for them.
She says Khadaffi has cemented himself in this lifestyle and has committed to progress on all fronts, even cheekily praising him for his fancy protein shaker.
On his progress with sprinting itself, Katie praises him for finding his groove in a sport that requires high levels of discipline and says that she’s proud to support him on his journey to be the best.
In a bid to boost his performance and optimize his body composition, Khadaffi turned to Applied Nutrition’s Tongkat Ali to give him an extra edge, but the results from this natural herb turned out to be inconsistent for his needs at best.
Due to impurities and adulterants that are found in most British Tongkat Ali supplements that are not 3rd party lab-tested, we are seeing growing consumers reporting side effects with no noticeable improvements in testosterone, libido or mood after Tongkat Ali for several weeks.
In fact, his body composition analysis did not show any athletic improvements in fat mass, reduction in visceral fat or lean mass after taking Tongkat Ali supplements in the past.
Taking Tongkat Ali supplement made from standardized hot water extract has greater effects on your body; strength, stamina and performance. It is simply more potent.
Frustrated and cheated by various UK Tongkat Ali brands, he made the change from generic Tongkat Ali supplements to AKARALI’s pure, standardized hot-water root extract over a month ago.
AKARALI helps runners around the world to achieve their best performance and its clinically tested supplements are highly regarded as amongst the most reputable Tongkat Ali brands in the UK – 3rd party lab-tested by EUROFINS, with higher eurycomanone, eurypeptides and glycosaponin.
This assurance provides our tester a greater chance of demonstrating its ergogenic and anabolic effects on his athletic performance.
In our observation, we analyze how big of a difference the switch has made in terms of helping with his training, recovery, mindset, as well as his performance on the track.
In this exclusive interview, we took the opportunity to study the changes in his body composition after taking standardized Tongkat Ali root extract for six weeks.
Could Tongkat Ali be the answer to the best herb for sports performance in Great Britain?
Improvements:
The Boditrax score of a highly-trained athlete such as Khadaffi showed an improvement of 2.4% (from 789 to 808) after taking Tongkat Ali supplementation of 600mg per day for the first 3 weeks, with improvement in lower body fat percentage, higher muscle mass, higher metabolic rate and better water balance.
Based on the Boditrax data provided by the athlete, here are key observations regarding improvements and trends during the 3 week-study period (03/01/2024 to 22/01/2024):
| Before Taking Tongkat Ali (1st week) | After Taking Tongkat Ali (3rd Week)
|
Body Fat Mass | 13.8kg | 12.7kg |
Total Fat Percentage | 17.7% | 16.4% |
Fat-Free-Mass | 64.3kg | 64.5kg |
Visceral Fat Rating | 3 | 2 |
Basal Metabolic Rate | 1911 kcal | 1913 kcal |
1. Body Composition:
2. Muscle Mass:
3. Metabolic Efficiency:
4. Visceral Fat Rating:
5. Water Balance:
General Observations:
Taking Tongkat Ali daily for a minimum of six weeks may increase your strength and energy significantly with mild-to-moderate effects on libido and mood. This is backed by 175 research papers and clinical studies complied from HerbMedPro, showing elevated testosterone levels in men with androgen deficiency whilst other studies reported improvements in lean muscle mass and strength. These randomized placebo-controlled studies point to the after-effects of your body function from taking Tongkat Ali is generally caused by the increase of testosterone levels and secretion of hormones that help various organs to function more efficiently.
If you are into competitive sports or if you are an athlete, taking Tongkat Ali may yield measurable performance on track or in your training after six to twelve weeks of daily supplementation between 400mg to 600mg.
Being a professional athlete who trains 6 days a week, British sprinter Khadaffi reported that Tongkat Ali improved his sprinting time by 20% coupled with a noticeable increase in anaerobic power after taking 600mg of Tongkat Ali daily for six weeks.
It’s a godsend! I’ve noticed increased speed and power coming off the blocks, with a noticeable increase in my anaerobic peak power. Tongkat Ali improved my sprint time by 20%.
However, Tongkat Ali may not work to produce any effects if the bioactive ingredients such as eurycomanone, eurypeptides and glycosaponin do not meet the minimum threshold as per the Tongkat Ali Standards, MS2409. The reality is, clinically tested Tongkat Ali that uses standardized hot water extract has a higher chance of producing noticeable and measurable improvements on testosterone, sports performance, mood and even libido.
“I’ve been taking AKARALI Tongkat Ali consistently for 6 weeks every day (600mg) and I have seen a significant improvement in my sleep quality, mood, how much I can lift, and exert energy when it comes to sprinting” said Khadafii from Leeds, UK.
He added that the effects of standardized Tongkat Ali extract on health, body and his performance were due to the purity of the potent standardized extract, which offers higher eurycomanone, eurypeptides and glycosaponin.
“The growing evidence of Tongkat Ali from clinical trials showing elevated testosterone levels may contribute to overall performance during training or competition for athletes” said Dr. Shuayib, a medical doctor based in Yorkshire.
Tongkat Ali on Athletic Output Performance: Results After Six Weeks
Why You Should Trust Us?
At AKARALI, we pride ourselves on conducting rigorous research and firsthand testing of every health product and service we review. Over the years, we’ve invested thousands of hours in understanding the most effective supplemental strategies to enhance sports performance and men’s health. Our dedicated team of researchers has meticulously examined more than 300 scientific papers on Tongkat Ali, exploring its benefits, treatments, and the ingredients used in most Tongkat Ali supplements. Additionally, we’ve personally tested all Tongkat Ali supplements available in the market today, comparing their formulations and performance on athletes using science-backed performance data.
Our deep research, hands-on testing by real athletes, consultations with health experts and sports coaches brought us to an inescapable truth: many Tongkat Ali products excluded critical, science-backed ingredients and the addition of excessive maltodextrin and adulterants do not benefit athlete’s performance. Other brands may use ingredients with insufficient research or clinical trials to support their effectiveness.
Despite our entry into this market, objectivity remains our guiding principle. To ensure accuracy and relevance, we consulted with certified health coaches, dietitians and medical professionals to understand how Tongkat Ali impact men’s health and athletic performance. Our data-driven reviews were thoroughly scrutinized and reviewed by our Medical Review Board to ensure its accuracy and reliability.
For years, AKARALI has helped hundreds of athletes achieve their best through community partnerships, empowered thousands of readers with the knowledge they need to make healthier, more informed decisions. With our data-driven insights and extensive research, we remain committed to being a trusted resource in your journey toward optimal health and wellness.
At a higher dose of 600mg daily, the 3-week body composition data on a highly-trained male athlete supports the hypothesis that Tongkat Ali supplementation contributed positively to fat reduction, lean mass maintenance, metabolic efficiency, and overall body composition.
Primarily driven by optimal testosterone and cortisol hormone support, this aligns with other clinical trials and scientifically-known benefits of Tongkat Ali on energy balance, stress reduction, and hormonal regulation, which are crucial for athletic performance when taken long-term (typically 6 to 24 weeks).
The outcome of this study also showed sprint-time improvements of 20% after taking standardized hot water Tongkat Ali for six weeks, indicating that the combination of sprinting exercise and Tongkat Ali may contribute to higher testosterone levels that are closely associated with higher peak power output and strength.
Our assessment and review suggest that the short-term and long-term use of Tongkat Ali may support athletic performance by improving body composition that are needed for athletes to keep their fitness levels optimal during training or before races.
This Tongkat Ali review was conducted exclusively through an interview by our team with Khadaffi. We believe this represents an authentic review of Tongkat Ali in the UK given his vast experience of using sports nutrition supplements as part of his daily training and diet.
I’m Khadaffi, 22, and a UK professional athlete – I sprint 100 and 200 meters, competing for my club Harrogate Harriers in various leagues across the UK for instance the Northern League. I’ve loved running for as long as I can remember – there’s this moment of pure zen when you’re in the middle of a sprint, like you’re one with your body and the track. It’s a sort of magic really. My goal has always been to be the best at sprinting and to try my absolute hardest to get to the top no matter the challenges or hurdles in the way! So, when I turned 19, I decided to go pro and the rest is history.
My journey with Tongkat Ali started by word out mouth, I’d heard it was an effective performance-enhancing supplement – some people even called it “legal steroids”. I was a bit sceptical, but decided to give it a go anyway, trying a UK Tongkat Ali brand I found online: Applied Nutrition.
After finishing one bottle, I was pretty disappointed that there were no tangible results, despite the fact that it’s dosed at a whopping 1,200mg. Even my own mother was shocked at the dosage and disapproved. After doing some research online, I discovered that the average dose recommended for even serious athletes doesn’t exceed 600mg. That’s half what I was taking!
This definitely set off alarm bells. In my head, I said to myself that if I’m going to be taking a supplement and spending money on it, I’m going to get myself the best out there – something that actually works. After hours of research, I discovered AKARALI.
My first impression was that it was amazing to see this amount of effort put into this one plant. I just loved how transparent they are from documentation of use cases to their detailed reviews from real people who’ve benefitted from it. Even better, most of the claims are backed by clinical research.
What was really great was that along with use cases, technical documentation on each step of the process, and clinical research, they also had comparisons to competitors and even recommended other brands for different use cases.
I haven’t seen a company do this before mainly because most of them clearly just want you to buy their product and shove it down your throat instead of actually recommending something good for you plus tangible lifestyle changes to help the customer. This along with the consistent support and advice I got from them sealed the deal – I never looked back.
I train 6 days a week! Monday to Friday I do weight and strength training for my legs, upper body, and general cardio with some added rest days in. On Wednesdays I do speed endurance to help me build a base for my fitness as when it comes to 200M the end is where it can be the life or death. Fridays I work on my sprinting starts – being explosive out the blocks – and plyometrics; there are times I get annoyed by the rigid structure, as I honestly just want to run at a million miles per hour, but I trust my coach Katie to keep me reined in and grounded.
In fact, my work with both my coaches has been crucial to my sprinting career and for keeping me in peak form, they’ve really helped push me to be the best I can be, not to mention the consistent support and advice on and off the track. Jon Ireland is a seasoned legend in his own right, UK over-50s champion during his prime, so he knows exactly what it takes to win and stay consistent.
Meanwhile, Katie Joyce’s determination and guidance has been nothing short of invaluable and an inspiration. She’s a great friend, only 23 herself and has gone through so much with Long COVID, so I know she can relate when it comes to setbacks to being an athlete at the top of your game. As a young coach, her willingness to experiment and her expertise in Sports and Exercise Science has helped me immensely with applying new bleeding edge techniques, utilizing the latest sports performance research on nutrition, as well as other theories to get the most out of my training.
And, of course, I’d be nowhere today if it wasn’t for the support of my father and manager – Imran Javeed. He’s always been there and has been one of the most supportive people in my life who’s been more than happy to help and push me to reach for my dream of an Olympic Gold Medal!
He was a bit sceptical of supplements and Tongkat Ali in general too, especially after what happened with Applied Nutrition, but I know he just wants me to be safe, happy, and healthy. What’s a dad if not someone who’s just looking out for your best interests, right? As my manager, he’s softened a bit now, though, after seeing the amazing support you guys have given me along with the detailed research, reviews, use cases, and knowing this is something I’m serious and passionate about.
As for the Tongkat Ali itself, I’ve been taking AKARALI consistently for 6 weeks every day (600mg) and I have seen a significant improvement in my sleep quality, mood, how much I can lift, and exert energy when it comes to sprinting. I occasionally even ask my coaches to push me a bit more in terms of endurance training to see how Tongkat Ali has helped – it hasn’t disappointed so far!
There were lots of good descriptive use cases, with real world examples! I also appreciated their detailed explanations of potency supported by evidence from clinical trials. It’s all very transparent about what it does and was very easy to understand.
I’ve been using it every day for just over a month now, dosing at 600mg (3 capsules). I don’t see the need to cycle because I engage in pretty intense exercise 6 days a week.
Happier and more optimistic! It’s a great feeling, like being filled with excitement and motivation at the same time. I also tend to find I can do anything without much worry at all. Feels like I can grab on to my dreams without any fuss or stress!
As an athlete, physical fitness is my top priority, so being able to build more muscle and reduce my recovery time has been fantastic. The improvements in my mood and sleep cycle have made my day-to-day life much lighter and more enjoyable.
For my sprinting, it’s been a godsend! I’ve noticed increased speed and power coming off the blocks, with a noticeable increase in my anaerobic peak power. In sprinting, every second or half a second I can shave off my final time is crucial, so it’s been fantastic. I’ve also noticed better post-workout recovery and better sleep quality. I track all these metrics to ensure I’m heading in the right direction.
There have also been less measurable benefits like increased optimism, happiness, and motivation, which have been great for helping me cope with the pressure of expectations and bouncing back from setbacks. And this is only after over 6 weeks! Can’t wait to see how much better I can get after 12.
Everything is easier to do – it’s like nothing is that deep anymore or stressful. I feel like I can get on with anything and really do anything.
I think it can definitely benefit other athletes as well as young men. Though, I’d stress that it’s not some sort of miracle drug that will change your life without you putting the work in.
As someone who trains a lot, in physical terms, it helps with performance and recovery. One of the initial reasons I got it was to help with getting the ideal body composition, but it’s done so much more. It’s also been fantastic in terms of helping boost my mood and mindset – I generally feel like a stronger, happier, and more motivated person.
For the most part, I think it can be a key addition to a good training regimen – a strong supporting component that makes a meaningful difference when combined with the right lifestyle changes.
That it’s not some kind of miracle herb that’ll give you superpowers in a week. It’s more like something that works over time to adapt (adaptogen) to your body and routine to give you great results, especially when taken consistently and combined with healthy lifestyle changes like regular exercise. Your hormones will be more optimized, you’ll feel lighter, happier, and less stressed. Just have fun with it and enjoy the process because, at the end of it, it’s all natural!
Two things, actually – the amount of muscle growth with my weight and strength training and the increase in anaerobic peak power during sprinting and plyometrics!
I’ve tried other Tongkat Ali supplements, specifically from Applied Nutrition. It didn’t really work for me and the dosage was off the charts high! At the time I wasn’t aware of the idea of potency vs dosage, but after reading a post on the AKARALI blog I realised that 1,200mg is way higher than anything used in clinical trials, and the reason was that it’s probably not potent at all.
After making the switch, I was blown away by how well just 200mg of potent Tongkat Ali worked and the dose of 600mg they recommended for a professional athlete like myself was just right and did the trick in no time at all.
Give it a try yourself to see if it works for you! Get yourself something pure, potent, and from the source like AKARALI and stick to it to see the best benefits. It’s plant-based, so it’s going to work a little differently for everyone. But generally, to see optimal benefits, I recommend combining it with regular exercise and good lifestyle changes brings out the best in it.
If you’re an athlete like me and are able to log down all the data to see measurable improvements, that’s even better. But if not, just give it a try and stay consistent to see what a potent natural supplement and good lifestyle changes can bring you. The most important part is to not give up when it gets hard, keep pushing and stay consistent with whatever you do in life and – be happy!
We were very pleased to hear that Khadaffi experienced a marked difference after making the switch to AKARALI and that it has helped with his performance, recovery, and mood. As a professional athlete and someone who knows the ins and outs of his body much better the average person, this glowing review exemplifies the difference a potent, pure, and clinically tested Tongkat Ali supplement can make vs generic 200:1 non-standardized Tongkat Ali extract.
From increasing his anaerobic peak power and building more lean muscle to enhancing his mood, motivation levels, and improving his sleep quality – the difference appears to be night and day, a similar experience reported in a four-week Tongkat Ali review by UK functional health coach AJ Brookes.
Clinical trials show that the Tongkat Ali benefits for active men mainly derive from its ability to boost testosterone levels, which can help with building lean muscle mass, boosting energy and endurance, and even supporting recovery. It also has cognitive benefits that can help improve mood, reduce stress, and boost motivation to give athletes a more optimistic winning mindset.
Khadaffi recommends that those who are interested in experiencing these benefits to try it for themselves and to seek out a potent and pure supplement, right from the source. He emphasizes that while it is a godsend for professional athletes like himself, regular people who do not drill down to the granular health data can also reap its benefits. Much like his training regimen, he says the most optimal results come from consistency and meaningful lifestyle changes, citing that these will help you best reap the benefits of standardized hot-water Tongkat Ali root extract!
You can follow Khadaffi’s journey to Gold here on his Instagram, or check out his performance on Power of 10, or lend your support to his club Harrogate Harriers!
Learn More or Contact Us
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.
19 Responses
UK-made Tongkat Ali supplements are low quality. I prefer standardized hot water root extracts for better potency and purity.
AKARALI products are made from hot water standardized extract that is highly preferred by British athletes, footballers, professionals and UK health coaches. It is the most trusted and positively reviewed Tongkat Ali supplements in the UK that works across a wide spectrum of profession, catering to men and women with differing lifestyles (i.e active & sedentary). Unfortunately, many UK consumers fall for mainstream generic Tongkat Ali supplements that are filled with fillers and adulterants (eg: maltodextrin) that gives little to zero benefits to health. Our advice – avoid buying Tongkat Ali on eBay or Amazon if you are seeking for authentic trusted Tongkat Ali brands in UK.
I’ve tried a few brands in the past, but nothing compares to Tongkat Ali root extract for enhancing my performance as a runner. Highly recommended!
AKARALI Tongkat Ali has drastically improved my 100m sprint performance by 20%. This supplement has significantly enhanced my speed and overall athletic performance.
Great stuff for runners. Am currently training for a 10K marathon and have been on 400mg daily. Works a charm to get me motivated, pumped up, and energetic. It’s only been a couple of weeks, but I definitely feel I can go a lot longer now.
This extract is crazy good for athletic performance. Some of the most potent Tongkat Ali in UK for serious runners, sprinters and marathon warriors. Recently got back into running for health reasons and it’s made it a breeze to pick up again. My strength training regimen at the gym has also progressed very nicely.
If you’re in the UK and are looking for the purest and most potent Tongkat Ali, look no further. Couple of months on Akarali and it’s given me a massive boost for both my cardio and weight training. Feels like I can take on the world with this stuff! Can’t recommend it enough, especially if you’re very phsycially active.
Thanks for sharing your experience and amazing results!
Brilliant stuff. Have tried a bunch of other Tongkat Ali brands, including Applied Nutrition and Solaray, and they’re rubbish compared to this standardized hot-water root extract. I’m a long-distance cylist and similarly track my performance religiously. The difference in terms of endurance and recovery is not even the least bit comparable.
Now I’m wondering if I should be on 600mg a day. Not a professional athlete by any means, but I do run in marathons regularly. 400mg has been great for boosting performance and clocking longer distances during training. Love the stuff.
Yes you can up the dose to 600mg if you need that extra stamina and energy to the finish line. Expect the added performance if you use 100% pure Tongkat Ali extract.
Great to see this is being recognised and used here now. When we’re taking about herbal supplements like Tongkat Ali, it’s always advisable to get it from the source. I travel to Malaysia several times a year for work and one of the things I’ll always pick up is some standardized hot-water root extract to bring back to the UK. You won’t get any better around the world.
Malaysian Tongkat Ali is highly sought after by Brits who visit Malaysia which is highly regarded as pure as most Tongkat Ali supplements sold in the UK is rather of low quality and sub-par.
Me and my friends are regular trail runners. We do this all around the world. I’ve recommend this stuff to as many of my fellow runners as possible. It’s simply fantastic for energy and endurance. Great to see that actual atheletes are using it to its full potential too!
Good to hear more British runners and athletes are using Tongkat Ali supplements! North Yorkshire lads love this herb!
Comparing this to some of the products I’ve tried locally in the UK is like the difference between night and day. Either the stuff made by other producers is less potent or pure, but I had so many more random side effects with brands like Solaray. Whatever it is, I don’t regret making the swicth to Akarali at all.
Was looking for soimething to give me a good boost and this really did the trick! I’m not some professional athelete like this lad, but my time at the gym on this extract has been nothing short of spectacular. Can lift more and push further. 2 months on it and I’m definitely getting myself more.
Some of the best Tongkat Ali I’ve tried as a running enthusiast. Makes it a lot easier to get up and going during the wee hours of the morning. I gulp it down with some black coffee as a pre-workout and I feel like I can just keep going all day.
Nothing quite like potent and pure Tongkat Ali. Tried all sorts of other brands, but none of them worked the way that was advertised. There were even some unfortunate side effects from a few of the mixed poly-herbal ones. Could feel the difference right away when a friend recommended I make the switch. Never going back.