You ate your cake.
And now it’s gone.
But F*** THAT you say, and you’re right: F*** THAT!
We work hard for our cake, so why should we be punished for eating it? Likewise, we work hard for our testosterone, so why should we lose it at the end of an intense testosterone increasing cycle? MuscleTest agrees, which is why it is bringing us a crew of Post-Cycle Therapy (PCT) ingredients to keep our testosterone pumping well after we’ve spent it on building muscle.
But are these ingredients any good?
Check out the review:
Table of Contents
About MuscleTest
Texas-based American Metabolix, formerly known as American Muscle, takes the typical Texan “bigger-is-better” approach with their PCT supplement MuscleTest. If BIG muscles are all you’re here for, then you’ve come to the right place. Formula notes:
- Post-Cycle Therapy: MuscleTest claims to be a few things, but its primary identity is “Post-Cycle Therapy.” It doesn’t elevate T so much as it sustains already elevated T levels.
- Libido Booster: Testosterone itself already supplies sex-charging energy, but MuscleTest ups it up with more libido boosting botanicals.
- Quality, Purity, Potency: Or QP2, the promise made by American Metabolix regarding their supplements, that, frankly, remains to be seen with this one.
MuscleTest Supplement Facts |
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Serving Size: 3 Capsules Servings Per Container: 30 |
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Ingredients | Amount Per Serving |
LH Rejuvenation Blend | 545.16 mg |
Bulbine Natalensis, Fadogia Agrestis, Tribulus Terrestris, Eurycoma Longifolia, Avena Sativa | |
Estrogen Killer | 192.45 mg |
Indole 3 Carbinol, Diindolyl Methane, White Button Mushroom, 6,7 Dihydroxy Bergamottin | |
TSH and Adrenal Support Blend | 254.76 mg |
3,5 Diiodotyrosine, Citrus Aurantium, Amla Fruit, Ashwagandha Extract, Green Tea Extract, Reishi Mushroom, Rhodiola Rosea Root Extract | |
Libido Aphrodisiac Blend | 592.98 mg |
Stinging Nettle Extract, Pygeum 4:1 Bark Extract, L Dopa (from Mucuna Pruriens), Velvet Bean Extract, Deer Antler Extract, Chlorophytum Borivilianum (as Safed Musli) | |
Other Ingredients: Maltodextrin, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Magnesium Stearate, Talc, Gelatin. |
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Directions: Take 2-3 capsules 30 minutes prior to your workout. |
Four Blends for Testosterone, Estrogen, & Post-Cycle Therapy Benefits–plus a side serving of extra horny!
Can’t say we’re too fond of the proprietary blend nonsense happening here, but it could be worse: At least the dosages are aight. Not great, but aight.
Which essentially sums up our first impression of this formula: There are things it seems to get right, others it definitely needs to improve.
But before we get into that, let’s check out what’s in the blends:
LH Rejuvenation Blend
- Bulbine Natalensis. Traditional aphrodisiac, potentially unsafe at higher doses for its “steroid-like” status. Its promotion of Luteinizing Hormone may serve PCT value, but we’d like to see more research on this herb to determine its safety.
- Tribulus Terrestris. More sex enhancer than T-booster. May help optimize extraneous sex hormones (such as LH), but research demonstrates benefits only with older men.
- Eurycoma Longifolia. Solid choice for LH promotion. Tongkat Ali is a powerful sex enhancer with numerous sex hormone (& anti-cortisol) bio-pathways.
- Avena Sativa. Primarily valued for its nootropic brainwave benefits, Oatstraw is believed to have testosterone boosting advantages as well (remains to be verified).
Estrogen Killer
- Indole 3 Carbinol. Metabolizes into DIM (the next ingredient), the true anti-estrogen, making I3C a redudant, low-value addition compared to the next ingredient.
- Diindolylmethane. More bio-active than I3C, DIM is believed to inhibit aromatase, the enzyme responsible for converting testosterone into estrogen (yeeks!).
- White Button Mushroom. Another aromatase-inhibitor backed by more promising research than DIM.
- 6,7 Dihydroxybergamottin. Popular PCT compound, sourced from grapefruit, valued for its anti-estrogen potential.
TSH and Adrenal Support Blend
- 3,5 Diiodotyrosine. Risky ingredient believed to stimulate Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone, but may involve too much stimulation on the thyroid.
- Citrus Aurantium. Typically found in fat burners, this bitter orange extract may help stimulate energy metabolism, theoretically helping the thyroid.
- Amla Fruit. More energy metabolism effects for easier thyroid function.
- Ashwagandha Extract. Powerful Ayurvedic adaptogen herb, delivering anti-stress and pro-testosterone benefits.
- Green Tea Extract. Green tea compound L-Theanine is a notable mental relaxer.
- Reishi Mushroom. More Thyroid support.
- Rhodiola Rosea Root Extract. Powerful Siberian adaptogen herb (perhaps the best adaptogen herb), supporting mental & physical performance by resisting fatigue & stress.
Libido Aphrodisiac Blend
- Stinging Nettle Extract. By preventing DHT build-up, Stinging Nettle is great for the prostate, particularly after an intense cycle. Aphrodisiac? Maybe.
- Pygeum 4:1 Extract. More inhibition of testosterone to DHT conversion.
- Mucuna Pruriens Extract. The only ingredient in this formula sitting in our Top 5 T-Boosters list. Aids testosterone via the LH-pathway.
- Deer Antler Extract. Controversial ingredient for its growth hormone supply (that, admittedly, doesn’t seem to do anything–so back off Ray Lewis, dammit!).
- Chlorophytum Borivilianum. Adaptogenic aphrodisiac that doesn’t do much for testosterone, but will make you nice & horny!
Formula Analysis
American Metabolix claims commitment to QP2 with their sports nutrition supplements. But what exactly is QP2, you ask? It’s shorthand for:
- Quality
- Purity
- Potency
Evidence of QP2 would be vitamins & minerals in their bio-available forms, standardized botanical extracts, and perhaps Bioperine (or some equivalent) extract for enhanced nutrient absorption.
MuscleTest doesn’t really have any of this.
As far as we can tell, most of the herbs are either in plain form or unspecified extracts–which should be specified if QP2 is the name of your game. There are no vitamins & minerals, which is fine. And there is no enhanced nutrient absorption, which is also puzzling given the talk of QP2.
So what does MuscleTest give us? Three things:
- Sex hormone balance.
- Energy metabolism optimization.
- Wicked hot libido spikes.
In a nutshell, MuscleTest is a qualified PCT with an added dimension of sex enhancement. It’s not the most polished PCT, nor a shiny supplement in general, but it seems to work well in the department of hormonal restoration (following an intense T-boosting regimen). However, make sure you’re also cycling off this supp to avoid any nasty effects of the questionables (e.g. Bulbine natalensis).
Unless you plan on taking a separate PPCT for your PCT.
MuscleTest Benefits
There are four benefits claims made by American Metabolix re: MuscleTech:
- Elevate Testosterone
- Anti-Aromatase
- Libido
- Post Cycle Therapy
That about covers it with this one. However, compared to big bruising T-boosters, MuscleTech doesn’t seem to elevate testosterone so much as it helps deal with the repercussions of elevated T levels (which, ironically, could lead to a backlash of diminished T if left unchecked by a PCT).
Who Takes It?
Post-Cycling Machos. Big men on the post-end of an intense testosterone boosting regimen, steroidal or non-steroidal. MuscleTest slightly hints at being more than a PCT supplement, one that can be taken as in non-PCT conditions, but we’d have to disagree.
Any Side Effects?
None reported. Even given the controversial ingredients such as Bulbine Natalensis & Deer Antler Velvet, MuscleTest seems relatively safe, so long as you adhere to the directions and don’t use the supplement long term.
For the record & peace of mi: Deer Antler Velvet has been dropped from WADA’s banned substances list.
MuscleTest Summary
Pros
- Post-Cycle Therapy. Helps restore balance to an otherwise ransacked system.
- Elevates Testosterone. Albeit slightly.
- Libido. Because why the hell not?
Cons
- Questionables. Bulbine Natalensis & Deer Antler Velvet are risky & risqué.
- Talk, No Walk. The QP2 talk is not evident in this unpolished formula.
- Proprietary Blends. The individual dosages are hidden by prop blends.
Pricing & Buying Info
- 1 Bottle (1 month): $89.99
- Available online and in retail stores
Final Word on MuscleTest
The cycle + post-cycle routine is the quintessential “eat & have your cake” strategy in the world of muscle-building, that, when we put it that way, sounds almost too good to be true. Perhaps that analogy is off, because it’s a sound, workable strategy as evidenced by MuscleTest, a ho-hum T-booster, but a qualified PCT formula.
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