Turkesterone -- Gains And Performance
Serious athletes are always on the hunt for ways to improve performance, recovery, and growth.
And, chances are high that you’re already doing everything you need to do to maximize your natural potential (if you’re not, stop reading right now and learn how to lift, eat, and sleep properly for muscle gain!).
Beyond the “basics” (e.g. creatine, protein powder, amino acids, sleep and total calories), there are some other alluring options for those looking to maximize their gains and performance. One such ingredient is turkesterone.
What is Turkesterone?
Turkesterone belongs to a family of compounds known as ecdysteroids -- anabolic compounds naturally occurring in plants, insects, and certain fungi that affect everything from growth and development to reproduction.
Turkesterone is found in Ajuga turkestanica, a plant that has been used for centuries for its anabolic, adaptogenic, hepatoprotective and hypoglycemic activity.
What Are the Benefits of Turkesterone?
The primary reason that turkesterone has jumped to the forefront of the natural anabolic supplement category is for its potential benefits for building muscle and strength.
Research indicates that ecdysteroid-enriched extracts of Ajuga turkestanica (as well as pure turkesterone) may exert anabolic effects on muscles.
Specifically, extracts from Ajuga turkestanica, enriched in phytoecdysteroids, stimulate protein synthesis via the PI3K–Akt pathway in C2C12 skeletal muscle myotubes.
In addition to directly stimulating protein synthesis, turkesterone may also decrease myostatin as well. Myostatin is a dastardly protein in the body that hinders muscle growth. By decreasing Myostatin, your body can go far beyond its natural limitations.
Furthermore, turkesterone possesses anti-stress effects, which can indirectly support muscle building via optimizing cortisol levels in the body. Remember, that excessive, prolonged elevations of cortisol can lead to protein breakdown and muscle loss.
Collectively, this makes turkesterone an appealing option for those hardcore athletes looking to take their results to the next level and explore new supplements for muscle gains beyond the “standards” of creatine, beta alanine, and betaine.
