FIVE TEST-BOOSTERS

On Saturday 21st of August 2010 03:07:51 PM

FIVE TEST-BOOSTERS...

That you've never heard of...

Clayton South

Testosterone. You live for it, you breathe for it, you lift for it. When it comes to testosterone, you'll go to the ends of the earth to get it, for one simple reason: more testosterone means more muscle, and that means a bigger, stronger, meaner you. Testosterone is King.

To that end, we constantly offer you cutting-edge training programs to get you big in a hurry. But we would be remiss – negligent – if we didn't also delve into the very important art and science of testosterone boosting supplementation. In that spirit, then, here is a list of five supplements that demonstrate anabolic, testosterone boosting properties. And don't worry: we've excluded tribulus from this list – it's time to let that old dog, and the debate surrounding it, lie. We've moved on, we've moved forward. Without further ado, here's your list!

THE TEST(Y)FIVE:

Rhodiola Rosea: A popular herb in many circles, rhodiola is relatively unknown to, and under-used by, most hard-training bodybuilders. Rhodiola contains many biologically active substances including rosavin and tyrosol, both of which show positive effects on concentration, physical power and mental stamina, and reduce stress.¹ Rhodiola is also an antioxidant.²

Studies show that rhodiola improves exercise performance³ after just four weeks of supplementation, and that it is highly effective at protecting you from the effects of stressful training.⁴Not surprisingly, the use of rhodiola and the corresponding significant decreases in cortisol, inflammation and catabolism has led to more testosterone and muscle growth both immediately and over the long-term!

Macuna Pruriens: Macuna pruriens are technically legumes, but we're interested in them because they boost testosterone. Macuna pruriens contain high concentrations of L-dopa, and they increase dopamine production dramatically, stimulating adrenaline release. Increases in dopamine and adrenaline dramatically increase your energy levels and are great for getting your brain activated and “in the game” for an intense testosterone-boosting, mind-muscle-bending workout. New research shows that macuna pruriens increase the production and quality of sperm in males, increase dopamine production, and increase testosterone by increasing Luteinizing Hormone.⁵

Catuaba Bark: This tree bark comes from the Amazon forest and has been used medicinally by indigenous peoples for thousands of years to treat various ailments including male sexual dysfunction, muscle loss and decreased muscle tone quality. It's used today as an aphrodisiac in Brazil. Erythroxylum Catuaba is the only type of catuaba bark to demonstrate these effects.

The mechanism by which catuaba increases testosterone has not yet been elucidated, but that it boosts testosterone is not disputed. One hypothesis suggests that catuaba contains yombine alkaloids that are responsible for the increased libido, testosterone production, fat burning and muscle growth from its use. Regardless, catuaba demonstrates real-world efficacy and, when used post-workout, may speed recovery by scavenging for free radicals and reducing inflammation while simultaneously increasing immune defense to opportunistic infections like sinusitis – a frequent complaint of hard-training athletes.

Forskolin: Derived from the Coleus plant (plectranthus barbatus), forskolin plays a role in cAMP (cyclic adenosine monophosphate). cAMP is a second-messenger that activates enzymes that can enhance testosterone production, and studies show that forskolin enhances testosterone favorably through cAMP and by exerting effects on testicular Leydig cells. Supplementation can increase testosterone production by 40%.⁶

D-aspartic acid: D-aspartic acid is a variation on the amino acid L-aspartic acid. Created from aspartic acid via an enzymatic reaction, d-aspartic acid has shown incredible effects by working via cGMP (cyclic guanosine monophosphate) to stimulate more LH and more testosterone. New research shows that a dose of 3.5 grams daily can increase testosterone by as much as 33% in just 12 days!

This hot new ingredient isn't popular yet, and the studies that we have on it are limited, but it won't stay that way for long. Keep your eyes open for next-generation cutting-edge products to contain this exciting new ingredient.⁷And remember… you heard about it here FIRST!

THE FINAL WORD...

While these ingredients are quite diverse in their constitution (that is, each differs qualitatively from the others), and admittedly suffer from a lack of reputation, they can profoundly boost your testosterone. Don't confuse lack of reputation for lack of efficacy. These ingredients work – big time!

But a word of caution: while the urge to use multiple supplements together is strong, it's recommended against – for safety reasons and scientific ones. By using each ingredient alone, not only is safety increased, but the true effects of each ingredient can be precisely measured, allowing for effectiveness testing over time.

SCIENTIFIC REFERENCES:

Medicina (Kaunas). 2004;40(7):614-9.
Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2009 Apr;The influence of supplementation with Rhodiola rosea L. extract on selected redox parameters in professional rowers. Skarpanska-Stejnborn A, Pilaczynska-Szczesniak L, Basta P, Deskur-Smielecka E. Department of Water Sports, University School of Physical Education, Poznan, Poland.

Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2004 Jun;14(3):298-307.
Planta Med. 2009 Feb; Olsson EM, von Schéele B, Panossian AG. Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Fertil Steril. 2008 Oct 28.
Body Composition and Hormonal Adaptations Associated with Forskolin Consumption in Overweight and Obese Men. Michael P. Godard, Brad A. Johnson and Scott R. Richmond. Obesity Research (2005) 13, 1335–1343; doi: 10.1038/oby.2005.162.
Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2009 Oct 27;7:120.

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