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A LITTLE MORE SCIENCE FROM "THE GUERRILLA CHEMIST"

Testosterone is the key to training extremely hard in the gym and building crazy amounts of muscle and losing body fat. Super Test Maximum was scientifically formulated specifically to maximize your body’s natural testosterone levels, as well as keep a healthy level of estrogen in order to achieve your perfect physique. SuperTest Maximum uses trademarked ingredients that are proven to increase the king of all anabolics: Testosterone! This article will explain the science behind this clinically-dosed and loaded formula.

Furostan® Fenugreek extract 50% Saponins: Fenugreek seeds have long been used in both Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine. The seeds contain molecules known as saponins which are steroidal compounds that have been shown to increase both free and total testosterone in men. In a 2017 12- week study involving 50 resistance-trained men, the group who received a fenugreek supplement demonstrated a 46% increase in free testosterone. Free testosterone is the more important value compared to total because free testosterone is unbound and available to your body to use. Another study in 2010 involving 30 young, healthy, weight-trained subjects showed that taking fenugreek increased bioavailable testosterone levels by 26%. The group taking fenugreek also improved significantly on bench press and leg press 1RM. Researchers also noted that the fenugreek group lost more body fat compared to the placebo.

KSM-66® Ashwagandha extract: Ashwagandha is an Ayurvedic adaptogen that is mostly used to combat stress and increase fertility. It is so highly touted that it is often called the "King of Ayurveda" and oddly translates to the "smell of horse." The main active compounds in ashwagandha are called withanolides, which are steroidal lactones found in the root of the plant. KSM-66® is standardized to 5% withanolides but also keeps the exact ratios of withanolides that naturally occur in the plant. Ashwagandha has tons of health benefits, but for the purpose of this article, I will focus on its ability to decrease cortisol and increase testosterone levels. Cortisol is catabolic and released from your adrenal glands during periods of stress. While in small amounts it can be beneficial (fight or flight), prolonged elevated levels are more conducive to storing body fat and breaking down muscle tissue.

KSM-66® is a proven and powerful testosterone-boosting supplement. From the research, it seems that ashwagandha stimulates LH and FSH to increase DHEA and testosterone production. This is the same pathway your body naturally uses to increase testosterone. In a study involving 180 hypogonadic men, subjects given 5g/d of raw ashwagandha for 3 months showed an increase of up to 22%.³ Another study in 57 healthy males(average starting testosterone levels of 630ng/dL) given 300mg or KSM-66® twice daily for 8 weeks showed a 15% increase in total testosterone levels(the placebo only saw a 2.5% increase). Researchers also noticed a significant increase in 1RM bench press and leg extension, as well as a 3.5% decrease in body fat(the placebo only dropped 1.5%). Ashwagandha has even been shown to increase performance in the bedroom, desire, and fertility in women. Typical doses of raw ashwagandha are up to 5g of root a day and 600mg of standardized formulas like KSM-66®.

KSM-66® might be the most effective herb at lowering serum cortisol levels in humans. In a study involving 52 healthy men and women, subjects given 300mg of KSM-66 twice daily for 8 weeks saw a 22.2% decrease in serum cortisol levels vs baseline values. The same study also yielded a 3% decrease in body weight, almost double compared to the placebo, along with a 2.9% decrease in BMI. Another study using KSM-66® had 64 participants (men and women) receive either 300mg twice daily of KSM-66 or a placebo for 60 days, with serum cortisol levels checked every 15 days. The KSM group noticed a 44% decrease in perceived stress, a 76% decrease in anxiety, as well as a 27.9% decrease in serum cortisol levels.

PrimaVie® Shilajit extract 50% Fulvic Acid: Fulvic acid is one of the main bioactive compounds from the adaptogen shilajit which has been used in Ayurveda medicine for vitality and fertilization. Shilajit translates to “conqueror of mountains and destroyer of weakness" in Sanskrit. Most shilajit contains 2-6% fulvic acid by mass. Because of its' extreme lipophilicity, fulvic acid is great for chelation and mineral transportation not only across cell membranes but also removing harmful heavy metals from the body. It can effectively carry 60 times its weight in minerals, and why it has been used in soil to help with plant germination and detoxification. One of the other main benefits of supplementing with fulvic acid is its ability to increase testosterone levels. Probably the best study demonstrating this involves 75 healthy men(mean age 50) who either received a PrimaVie® shilajit supplement containing 50% fulvic acid or a placebo for 90 days. Subjects taking PrimaVie® saw a 20% increase in total testosterone levels, as well as a 19% increase in free testosterone, which is the active form. Researchers concluded that the mechanism of action for raising testosterone levels was an increase in FSH levels and an increase in DHEA production. The only other human study involved 60 infertile men who either took 100mg (54.8% fulvic acid) of shilajit or a placebo twice a day for 90 days. Participants who used the shilajit supplement noticed a 23.5% increase in total testosterone, a 9.4% increase in FSH, as well as a 61% increase in total sperm count and a 17% increase in sperm motility. Free testosterone levels were not tested.¹⁶ Another benefit of fulvic acid is its positive effect on blood lipids. In a study using shilajit(6.6% fulvic acid), subjects noticed a 22% decrease in triglycerides, a 6% increase in HDL(good cholesterol), and a 23% decrease in LDL(bad cholesterol). Overall, fulvic acid has many health benefits, including increasing testosterone levels in men (unknown if will affect women the same way).

Boron Citrate: Boron is a highly bioavailable mineral that can significantly affect free testosterone levels. A 2011 study, male subjects ingested 10mg of boron on days 1 and 7. Data showed that boron impressively increased free testosterone levels, while also decreasing plasma estrogen levels. DHEA and vitamin D levels were also elevated. This is the protein that inactivates plasma testosterone. Higher free testosterone levels can be beneficial to adding muscle mass and decreasing body fat.

Testosterone is the king to building muscle, however, it can also convert to estrogen in the body. This process is called aromatization. To help maintain healthy estrogen levels, Super Test Maximum contains 2 compounds shown to metabolize estrogen.

Japanese Knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum): Japanese knotweed has been used in both Traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine and is an excellent source of resveratrol and its various derivatives. Resveratrol has been shown to decrease aromatization by acting as an aromatase inhibitor- blocking the conversion of testosterone to estrogen.

3,3'-Diindoylylmethane (DIM): DIM is the main active metabolite of indole-3-carbinol, which is found in many cruciferous vegetables including brussel sprouts, turnips, kale and cabbage. The main mechanism of action for DIM is two-fold: it can, in low doses act as an aromatase inhibitor preventing the conversion of testosterone to estrogen (however in high doses can have the opposite effect), and it can modify potent estrogens into healthier estrogens via selectively hydroxylating certain parts of the estrogen molecule. For example, 4-hydroxyestradiol is a very potent estrogen that can cause gynecomastia in men. DIM metabolized estradiol into the less potent 2-hydroxy estrone, which is then eliminated. DIM also binds to the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) which causes a downregulation of estrogen receptor production. Some studies show that a metabolite of 2-hydroxyestrone, 2-methoxyestradiol can even help displace testosterone that is bound to SHBG to increase free testosterone levels. This is due to 2-methoxyestradiol's high affinity to SHBG. Interestingly, 2-hydroxyestradiol is not suppressive to the HTPA where 4-hydroxyestradiol is. This may also indirectly increase testosterone levels. Typical doses of DIM are between 100-300mg daily.

Testosterone also can convert to DHT, which can increase the prostate size and male pattern baldness. In order to combat this, Super Test Maximum includes 2 powerful compounds to control DHT levels.

Stinging Nettle Extract: Stinging nettle root extract contains compounds that have been shown to act as 5-alpha reductase(5AR) inhibitors. 5AR is the enzyme responsible for the conversion of testosterone to DHT. The main compounds that do this are β‐sitosterol and scopoletin. In a 28-day study in rats, treatment with stinging nettle root was shown to be effective for reducing enlarged prostate size due to benign prostate hypertrophy. It was concluded that the mechanism of action was indeed inhibiting the conversion of testosterone to DHT. Stinging nettle extract may also lower this SBGH, the protein that binds with testosterone to inactivate it. This effect may increase free testosterone.

Pumpkin Seed Oil Extract: The plant Cucurbita pepo contains high levels of triterpenoids, carotenoids, and phenolic acids. These phytosterols have been shown to possess 5-alpha reductase inhibiting properties. There have been several studies in rats to confirm this. There are 2 in vivo studies using pumpkin seed oil extract to treat both benign prostate hypertrophy and male pattern baldness. Both studies showed statistical significance in blocking the conversion of testosterone to DHT.

One unique ingredient to this formula is S7™, a patented blend of 7 plant-based ingredients that can increase endogenous nitric oxide (NO) levels by 230%! S7™ works by substantially increasing your body’s antioxidant activity and thus lowering levels of free radicals. In turn, by lowering free radicals and inflammation can increase the concentration of NO levels in the body and thus have greater blood flow. This is known as cellular redox signaling. S7™ was added to this formula to help aid in blood flow, specifically to aid in erection strength and frequency.

N-acetylcysteine (NAC): N-acetylcysteine is an amino acid precursor to the body’s main antioxidant, glutathione. The greatest levels of glutathione are found in the liver, which is the body’s main detoxifier. When glutathione levels decrease, it makes it harder on the liver to metabolize substrates and can increase damaging free radicals. Supplementing with NAC has been shown to increase glutathione levels, as well as lower free radical production and damage. NAC is crucial to liver health and fighting cellular damage from free radicals. Daily values are from 200-600mg 2x day.

Overall, Super Test Maximum is an ultra-premium, comprehensive testosterone-boosting formula that includes several trademarked ingredients with scientifically-backed claims in efficacious doses. Super Test Maximum covers many different mechanisms of action that your body can naturally increase testosterone, and may maintain healthy estrogen levels and may control DHT levels. Super Test Maximum also includes compounds to offer maximum liver and kidney support.

There is not a more potent testosterone-boosting product on the market!