Brad Murphy

Massacr3 Review – Muscle Building Supplement

Updated on September 20, 2021 by Brad Murphy

A natural muscle supplement that has been around for a while. Massacr3 has seen a formula change recently. Does this mean it is now weaker and not as effective?

PROS
Natural formula
Some good customer reviews

CONS
Lots of hype
Expensive
Formula not the greatest

VERDICT – LOOK ELSEWHERE
If you are going to pay around $50 for a bodybuilding supplement, there are better options you can choose and the best of them have money-back guarantees.

In our opinion a more effective natural muscle builder supplement is D-Bal from Crazy Bulk. A great product if you want to naturally gain muscle quickly. It can also increase your strength and stamina. D-Bal is a true natural Dianabol alternative for the bodybuilder who wants results fast but safely.

Massacr3 Review

Massacr3 is a bodybuilding supplement made in the USA by Olympus Labs. It was launched in 2017 as a high-potency bulking formula.

Massacr3 only had three active ingredients – Urobolin, Vaso6, and laxogenin. The combination was designed to support improvements in muscle strength and size while also providing more noticeable pumps.

As of September 2020, Massacr3 no longer contains laxogenin. It’s been replaced with tectochrysin and as with its predecessor, the new ingredient is enhanced with the PhytoFuse delivery system to improve its bioavailability.

Laxogenin is a plant chemical that allegedly has an anabolic/androgenic ratio similar to Anavar (steroid) but is safer to use. Unfortunately, there is no proof it can support muscle growth in any way. (https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-1567/laxogenin)

Let’s face it, if laxogenin was such a big deal, more manufacturers would be using it. More to the point, Massacr3 would not have dropped it in favor of something else.

But what of the new ingredient? Olympus Labs appears to be the only supplement manufacturer using it so we’re sailing into uncharted waters.

Like a lot of bodybuilding supplements, Massacr3 is marketed on the back of a lot of hype. When you get past it and see the product for what it is, there’s not an awful lot going on.

What Is Massacr3 and How Does It Work?

Massacr3 is an encapsulated supplement you take every day. Olympus Labs describes it as “an athlete’s dream” that will helps build lean muscle, prevent muscle breakdown and improve joint health. You may have heard similar claims for certain steroids.

Olympus Labs doesn’t provide much information about the way Massacr3 is meant to work. A lot of competing products have long, informative sales pages.

All the Massacr3 sales page has are a few short paragraphs that are hidden in collapsible sections. You can only access them by clicking the headings. It’s a peek-a-boo scenario that’s as annoying as it is unnecessary.

When you open it, the ingredient information section provides a brief overview of the benefits the ingredients are meant to provide, but there are no links or scientific references to prove the claims are true.

Massacr3 Usage Guidelines

The way you use Massacr3 is different on training days than it is on rest days.

On training days, you need to take two capsules 20-30 minutes before your workout. On your rest days, you take one capsule in the morning and another in the evening.

You need to take the doses with plenty of water and the results will be better if your stomach is empty.

As is often the case with this type of supplement, Olympus Labs is keen to encourage people to stack Massacr3 with some of its other products.

Advertised Benefits

Potent natural muscle builder
Increases lean muscle mass and reduces muscle breakdown
Boosts nitric oxide (10x greater than Citrulline)
Improves athletic performance
Supports muscle and joint recovery
Provides significant doses of the strongest natural ingredients with superior absorption

Ingredient Profile

Two capsules provide:

Vaso6 (300 mg)
Tectochrysin PhytoFUSE (200 mg)
UroBolin (150 mg)

This is the part of the review where things start to get interesting. It’s time to take a look at each of the ingredients and see if they are capable of helping the formulation do the things Olympus Labs claims it will do.

Vaso6 (300 mg)

Vaso6 is a patented green tea extract.

Green tea is an excellent source of antioxidants that can reduce levels of free radical toxins within the body and prevent oxidative stress.

The antioxidants in green tea (green tea catechins) also increase metabolism and thermogenesis. That’s why green tea extracts are key ingredients in so many diet pill formulations.

Olympus Labs is not using this patented green tea extract to support weight loss though. It’s using it as a nitric oxide (NO) booster.

NO boosting supplements aim to relax the blood vessels, causing them to expand. Scientists call this “vasodilation.” It improves circulation, allowing the muscles to receive extra oxygen and nutrients.

The extra oxygen and nutrients aid energy production within the muscles making it possible to train a little harder and make better gains.

By pumping extra nutrients to the muscles, vasodilation also aids recovery and supports improvements in muscle growth.

Many ingredients can provide vasodilation. Niacin, L-arginine, L-citrulline, and beetroot extract, are just a few examples.

Research shows green tea can provide vasodilation too. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19101751/)

Vaso6 green tea extract was developed by Compounds Solutions, Inc. The company claims its creation is “clinically proven to increase vasodilation by 50%.”

Compound solutions also claims VASO6 is more powerful than standard green tea extracts and brags “300mg of VASO6 is clinically proven to be more effective at increasing vasodilation than 7 grams of arginine.”

We were unable to find any proof to support these claims.

In 2019, a competing company (ThermoLife) initiated court proceedings against Compound Solutions, claiming it had tested Vaso6 and discovered there’s nothing special bout it. ThermoLife say the ingredient is normal green tea. (https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/thermolife-international-sues-compound-solutions-alleging-vaso6-is-nothing-but-green-tea-extract-vaso6-is-not-patented-and-the-science-is-fake-300806484.html)

If this is true, it’s a shocking discovery. Vaso6 is an expensive option for manufacturers to choose. Could Olympus Labs have been duped?

Tectochrysin PhytoFUSE (200 mg)

Tectochrysin PhytoFUSE is a brand of black ginger root (Kaempferia Parviflora) extract.

Olympus Labs says the ingredient “is essentially a building block in which your body uses as a blueprint to create results.” Okay… WTF is that supposed to mean? Way to go with the technobabble.

The company also alleges PhytoFUSE increases protein synthesis and nitrogen retention, while also promoting “other anabolic effects” such as improvements in muscle mass and skeletal muscle hypertrophy.

Olympus Labs claims its PhytoFUSE ginger extract does a lot more too. However, although it claims research supports some of the claims, Olympus Labs does not say what research or where. Without links and references, it’s just a lot of hot air.

During our research, we found a clinical review of Kaempferia parviflora that suggests the ingredient may improve vasodilation, leading to increases in strength. The review suggests the ingredient may have potential in other areas too. However, the researchers say there is a need for further study. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5871153/)

UroBolin (150 mg)

UroBolin is a brand of shilajit extract. Other than a fancy name, it’s unlikely to offer anything more than standard extracts do.

Shilajit is a sticky, tar-like compound that oozes out of rocks in the Himalayas. It’s the result of the slow decomposition of plant matter and takes centuries to form.

Olympus Labs says UroBolin inhibits muscle breakdown, improves protein synthesis, and helps you to build lean muscle. The company fails to say why it believes the compound will do these things.

However, the results of one study suggest shilajit may boost testosterone. That would certainly aid muscle growth. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26395129/)

It’s only one study, though, and the men who took part got 250 mg of shilajit per day. Massacr3 only provides 150 mg.

Massacr3 Customer Reviews

Customer reviews are pretty hard to find but several online stores offer a feedback section that has a few comments and most of them are good.

However, most of the reviews are for the original formulation with laxogenin and many customers were heaping praise on that ingredient in particular.

The updated formulation does not provide laxogenin so most of the online reviews will not provide accurate guidance on how the present version is likely to perform.

Massacr3 Side Effects

Massacr3 does not have any known side effects. However, if you have any existing health issues, or would need to use the supplement alongside medication, it makes sense to avoid using this or any other supplement without checking with a doctor first.

Where to Buy Massacr3

For most people, the easiest option is probably to buy Massacr3 from the Olympus Labs website but it’s also available via several third-party supplement stores including Strong Supplement Shop, Suppz.com, and Predator Nutrition.

Each bottle provides a 30-day supply of capsules and usually has a price tag of around $50.

Money-Back Guarantee

Olympus Labs promises a “100% satisfaction guarantee” but it’s not as good as you may think.

A real guarantee allows you to get your money back. The Olympus Labs guarantee only allows you to receive a store credit to use for future purchases.

So, if you buy Massacr3 regardless of whether you love it or hate it, Olympus Labs gets to keep your money either way. It’s better than nothing but still a pretty poor state of affairs.

Massacr3 Review Conclusion – The Bottom Line

What an example of hype running wild! Olympus Labs makes a lot of big claims for Massacr3 but provides no supportive evidence at all.

The use of three little-known ingredients may make the formulation appear exciting and new but, when you take a good look at what’s under the hood, there’s not a lot going on.

It’s hard to get excited about this product. Even harder to believe it will work.

If you are going to pay around $50 for a bodybuilding supplement, there are better options you can choose and the best of them have money-back guarantees. Real guarantees that allow you to take back your money and run.

Does Zinc Increase Testosterone? Zinc Supplementation and Testosterone Health

Updated on September 13, 2021 by Brad Murphy

Does zinc increase testosterone levels. Is it possible to get enough from your diet to raise T levels or should you take a zinc supplement

Zinc Supplementation and Testosterone Health – Diet Might Not Be Enough

Zinc is a mineral that plays many roles in the human body. It helps maintain healthy growth and development, supports a healthy immune system, and contributes to normal energy levels. The question is: can you get enough zinc from your diet alone or should you take supplements? This article will discuss some of the best dietary sources for zinc as well as how much zinc you need per day to support testosterone production.

Is it Possible to Get Enough Zinc from Diet?

Zinc is essential for survival. As one of 24 such micronutrients, it can be found in various foods including meat and eggs.

One of the richest sources of Zinc is oysters, and it happens to be the reason why this highly regarded sea food is widely considered an aphrodisiac.

As well as improving sex drive, Zinc is a key component of the endocrine system (hormonal processes), immune system and enzyme function, while acting as a powerful antioxidant and protecting the prostate.

Other Foods High in Zinc

The best dietary sources of zinc include oysters, red meat and poultry. Other good sources include: crab, lobster and other seafoods; dairy products such as milk and cheese; beans, nuts & seeds (like pumpkin & squash seeds); grains like wheat bran cereal.

Vegetarians need to pay attention because many plant-based foods contain high levels of phytic acid which can interfere with zinc absorption in the body. The following list shows you some common vegetarian options that are high in zinc: cashews; sunflower & sesame seeds; buckwheat flour; oatmeal ; soybeans ; quinoa .

Also keep an eye out for fortified cereals since they tend to be a good source too! You will also find small amounts of zinc in fruits like oranges and grapefruit, as well as vegetables including spinach & broccoli.

It is, however, Zinc’s interaction with testosterone and estrogen that we’re going to concentrate on in this article.

Sweating (Zinc) Bullets

Zinc is lost from our bodies via perspiration. Replenishment is therefore vital, considering the broad spectrum of influence it has in our systems.

We will come to discuss Zinc’s effect on testosterone levels in more detail, but it’s worth mentioning here that athletes, gym goers, sports players and anyone who leads an active life – indeed anyone who sweats a lot – would do well to ensure they are getting enough zinc for its optimization of testosterone production alone.

Supplementation is probably the easiest way to adequately replenish as it is sometimes difficult to absorb enough through diet alone – especially for people who exercise regularly.

Zinc and Testosterone

Studies have shown that zinc can bind to androgen receptors and therefore increase circulating testosterone levels.

People with a deficiency, or those who are heavily active and/or sweat a lot, will experience a reliable increase towards optimal levels of testosterone by simply supplementing a small amount daily (see below for dosage recommendations).

In other words, rather than this boosting your testosterone production above and beyond its natural potential, it normalizes it and therefore provides a solid base with which to work.

While many athletes and gym rats are struggling to make gains due to lack of replenishment, someone who supplements zinc on a daily basis can at least check that off their list of potential obstacles.

Zinc and Estrogen

In higher doses, zinc has been shown to be an aromatase inhibitor. This is the natural conversion of testosterone to estrogen.

For men looking to build muscle, a reduction of this aromatization process is very desirable.

It keeps free testosterone circulating for longer and reduces some estrogenic effects such as gynecomastia (man-boobs) and excess water retention (which can make you look bloated and therefore hide muscle).

Other Clear Benefits of Zinc

Don’t forget their are plenty of other positives to supplementing with zinc. Here are a few:

Increase in growth factors (IGF-1), which may aid in muscle growth and recovery
Reduction of LDL-C (“bad” cholesterol)
Decreased levels of depression
Acne reduction

What’s the Best Zinc Dosage to Increase Testosterone?

About 10mg is optimal for long term, daily supplementation, to minimize risk of deficiency through exertion and/or excessive sweating, and to keep testosterone levels healthy.

Higher doses are tolerable to a level of 100mg a day but only in the short term (i.e. less than a 4 month cycle).

The tolerable upper limit for extended use appears to be about 40mg a day.

Recommendations for Zinc Supplementation

It’s definitely worth checking which zinc-rich foods are in your everyday diets. Legumes, meats and eggs contain it in higher levels than most groups.

However, if you are into lifting weights, crossfit, endurance sports and activity in general…or if you are simply a sweaty person, it is absolutely worth supplementing daily.

Something that works for most of our clients is to take a combined testosterone booster that contains several ingredients that work together to actually boost testosterone levels.

A good product will definitely be based on Zinc, like TESTOPRIME which is noted for its potency. We think it is the best product released this year.

What Else Should you know about zinc?

The amount needed for men is 11mg per day while women need around only eight mg. It’s important to note that the RDA (recommended daily allowance) for children varies based on age group (see below).

Zinc toxicity can cause nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, abdominal cramps and diarrhea so it’s important not go overboard with intake! Also keep in mind that alcohol consumption can interfere with zinc absorption which may increase your risk for deficiency if you drink too much.

Recommended Daily Allowance – Children ages 0-14 years old: Male/Female = 300mcg/210mc

Zinc and Testosterone References

Jalali GR et al. Impact of oral zinc therapy on the level of sex hormones in male patients on hemodialysis. May 2010 [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20446777]
Kilic M. Effect of fatiguing bicycle exercise on thyroid hormone and testosterone levels in sedentary males supplemented with oral zinc. Oct 2010 [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17984944]
Kilic M et al. The effect of exhaustion exercise on thyroid hormones and testosterone levels of elite athletes receiving oral zinc. Feb-Apr 2006 [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16648789]

Zinc and Estrogen References

Om AS, Chung KW. Dietary zinc deficiency alters 5 alpha-reduction and aromatization of testosterone and androgen and estrogen receptors in rat liver. Apr 1996 [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8613886]

Redotex Review

Updated on September 8, 2021 by Brad Murphy

Redotex is a weight loss pill that produces a laxative, stimulant, and thyroid boosting effect. It is popular in Spanish speaking countries, particularly Mexico. Is it worth using, what is the typical weight loss and are there any side effects

Redotex is weight loss pill with some pretty powerful ingredients that have been prone to some side effects.

PROS
Some weight loss success stories

CONS
Possible side effects
Availability issues
Other diet pills preferred

VERDICT – LOOK ELSWHERE
People who buy Redotex and use it alongside diet and exercise should lose weight faster than they would with diet and exercise alone, but the same can be said for many of today’s best diet supplements.

There is no need for anyone to jeopardize their health or put their life at risk in order to lose weight. When diet pills are banned it is not without good reason and, when people know a certain product is illegal, that is the best reason to look elsewhere and find a safer way to lose weight.

Which weight loss pills are most popular?

What is Redotex ?

What does it do: Redotex helps users lose weight by suppressing appetite, aiding the fat burning process and acting as a diuretic

Pros: Some people have lost weight using it,

Cons: Can cause side effects, not natural, hard to buy in the Europe, UK and Ireland. Really just a diuretic

Redotex is a diet pill manufactured in Mexico. It’s believed to facilitate a weight loss of 6 pounds a week, so it has become tremendously popular in the US and many other countries of the world, but there’s a snag.

Contains a combination of hormones, drugs, and laxatives that is capable of causing many nasty side effects and it has also been linked to four deaths.

The FDA has issued an alert warning consumers of the dangers involved, and customs officers in the US are working hard to keep it out of the country, but many overweight Americans throw caution to the wind and buy Redotex online.

Consumers in other countries of the world are also willing to flout the law and obtain the pills, even though the price per bottle can be exceedingly high.

Advertised Benefits

Acts as a diuretic
Detoxifies the body
Boosts the metabolism
Suppresses the appetite
Improves fat burning

Key Ingredients

According to the FDA, each capsule contains:

Norpseudoephedrine (50mg): A weight loss drug that is similar to amphetamine and is only suitable for short-term use.
Aloin (16.2mg): A compound obtained from aloe vera. It’s main value is as a laxative, but it can irritate the bowel.
Diazepam (8mg): Also called Valium, Diazepam is tranquilizer that is unsuitable for people with certain medical conditions and should never be used without a doctor’s supervision.
Atropine Sulfate (0.36mg): A drug medical personnel use to clear the airways of patients about to receive surgery.
Triodothyronine (75mcg): A thyroid hormone that helps control the metabolism. Triodothyronine also plays a vital role in brain development, muscle control, and heart and digestive functions.

Does Redotex Work?

The fact that Redotex contains a diuretic will mean people who take the pills will retain less water in their bodies.

This will cause some degree of weight loss, but the water levels will return to normal when usage stops.

This means the amount of body fat lost per week is unlikely to be as high as 6 pounds, especially bearing in mind the fact that the pills are also a laxative and will not doubt cause people to poop away the pounds as well.

The laxative effect of Aloin is not without value though. It may help purge the body of any toxins that might have built-up in the bowel and had a detrimental effect on the metabolism.

If the toxins are successfully purged from the body the metabolism will increase, enabling the body to burn calories faster. If the capsules are used with a calorie controlled diet the amount of calories available may become so low the body will begin burning its fat.

Norpseudoephedrine works in a similar way to the prescription drug Phentermine. It suppresses the appetite and helps people to stick to a calorie controlled diet. It seems likely that it will support weight loss, but the use of drugs like this require medical supervision.

How to Use Redotex

Only one capsule is needed per day and it should be taken before breakfast. After three weeks of use a one-week break is required.

Redotex Customer Testimonials – Consumer Experiences

Many customers say the pills helped them to lose weight, but in nearly all cases side effects were a problem.

A few customers reviews read:

Been taking the pills for 8 weeks and lost 16lbs, but I’m getting a lot of heart palpitations, and feel quite nauseous a lot of the time.

I’ve been taking Redotex for 5 weeks and lost 15 pounds, but its murder on my stomach. I feel sick and bloated a lot of the time and get nasty pounding headaches.

Redotex has helped me to lose 17lbs in 3 weeks, but it makes my mouth feel constantly dry and my menstruation has not stopped. Some day’s it gets lighter, others its full on, so I don’t think this is a healthy way to lose weight.”

Side Effects & Health Considerations

Many people who took a risk and decided to buy Redotex report side effects.

A few of the Redotex side effects reported include:

Dizziness
Feeling hot/cold
Throwing up
Insomnia
Irritability
High blood pressure
Thyroid problems
Thoughts of suicide
Feeling weak
Extended menstruation periods
Dry mouth
Upset stomach
Depression
Schizophrenia

Where to Buy Redotex

Several websites that are hosted in Mexico are selling Redotex on an international level and the going price appears to be USD$ 500 to USD$ 750.

That must make it one of the most expensive diet pills on the planet and it is possible that the shipment may be seized by customs officers working in the countries where the drug is banned.

Guarantee

Redotex does not have a money back guarantee.

The Verdict

People who buy Redotex and use it alongside diet and exercise should lose weight faster than they would with diet and exercise alone, but the same can be said for many of today’s best diet supplements.

There is no need for anyone to jeopardize their health or put their life at risk in order to lose weight. When diet pills are banned it is not without good reason and, when people know a certain product is illegal, that is the best reason to look elsewhere and find a safer way to lose weight.

Recommended Alternative

PhenQ is our No1 choice for both men and women. It is a multi benefit diet pill that can:

Burn your existing body fat
Block newly acquired fat from food
Reduce your appetite and calorie consumption
Prevent fatigue and tiredness
Improve your mood

PhenQ is available direct and carries a 60 day money guarantee. It is also delivery with no shipping fees anywhere in the world.

Read why PhenQ fat burner is rated so highly.

Increase Testosterone with D-Aspartic Acid

Updated on September 3, 2021 by Brad Murphy

As men get older their testosterone levels drop. Thankfully there are several things that a man can do to help raise low testosterone – taking D Aspartic acid being one of them.

It’s no secret that men are at a disadvantage when it comes to hormone balance. After all, testosterone is the male sex hormone that helps build muscle mass and regulate moods.

Unfortunately, as our bodies age, natural production declines leading to lowered energy levels and increased fat storage.

The good news? You can help combat this by supplementing with D-Aspartic Acid (DAA). This amino acid has been shown in multiple studies to increase testosterone naturally within just 30 days!

Boost Your Testosterone With D-Aspartic Acid

D-Aspartic Acid (D-AA) is a form of an amino acid – Aspartic Acid. The other form is known as L-aspartate, but D-AA has unique properties.

The property we are particularly interested in is its ability to increase testosterone levels quite significantly.

It works for both infertile men and athletes and everyone in between.

What makes it even more exciting is the short term period in which it takes effect. Even elite athletes can get a couple weeks of testosterone spike after taking D Aspartic Acid.

The best way to take D aspartic acid is in supplement form, testosterone boosters such as TestoPrime have the correct dosage and can work incredibly for most men. TestoPrime has 2000mg so right slap bang in the middle of the recommended range for the majority of people.

How Does D Aspartic Acid Increase Testosterone?

Scientific evidence tells us that D-AA acts in a couple different ways which work in combination to stimulate an increase in the testosterone hormone.

Directly: via the increase of regulatory proteins in the Leydig cells which triggers testosterone production in the presence of Luteinizing Hormone (LH).

Indirectly: via stimulation of Luteinizing Hormone release from the hypothalamus. LH signals the testicles to make testosterone.

As you can hopefully infer from the above, D Aspartic Acid covers both ends of the testosterone production process, which may account for its speed of effect.

Are you feeling less confident in your abilities? Are you experiencing a loss of energy or stamina? These are the symptoms that many men experience when their testosterone levels dip. Testosterone is one of the most important hormones that drive male sexual function and physical health. Fortunately, there is something you can do to increase your T-levels naturally with D-Aspartic Acid!

How Effective is D Aspartic Acid at Increasing Testosterone levels?

Studies with elite athletes and infertile men have shown that after only 12 days of supplementing with D-aspartic acid, testosterone may increase by up to 42%.

The spike seems quite short lived though, and suggests the compound is best used in short burst cycles for athletes.

Men with low testosterone levels appear to respond better to long-term supplementation.

As part of an all-round testosterone supplement, D-aspartic acid would form the ‘kick-start’ aspect of the boost, while other ingredients would take longer to start taking effect.

Other Effects of Note

Luteinizing hormone and the direct stimulation of testosterone are of obvious importance, but D-AA also increases other hormones of interest to the strength / muscle / bodybuilding athlete.

Both Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone (GHRH) and Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) are increased when D aspartic acid builds up in the pituitary gland.

Both of these hormones are the precursors to anabolic pathways, which suggests testosterone may not be the sole muscle and strength building property of this ingredient.

If you are looking for an inexpensive, yet highly effective testosterone booster, look no further than D-Aspartic Acid. This amino acid has been shown to increase testosterone in men by up to 42%! But how does it work? Studies show that this amino acid can help regulate hormones and help combat conditions like erectile dysfunction. The best part is that not only will your sex life improve but so will your mood and energy levels.

What About Dosage – How Much D Aspartic Acid to Take?

The ideal dosage of D-AA appears to be in the range of 1500mg to 3000mg per day, but will probably depend on the person’s reason for taking it.

We tend to recommend that infertile men and men in a low testosterone state dose in the middle to upper end of that range, while athletes might want to stay at the lower to mid-range.

It looks like prolonged use at high dosages for athletes would cause a kind of feedback loop where the initial testosterone increase reduces to normal levels.

This simply means the athlete can comfortably use around 1500 to 2000mg per day and get the benefits rather than feeling they have to dose higher.

Recommendations to Get The Most Out of D Aspartic Acid

So how is the best way to take D Aspartic acid?

We suggest you take D aspartic acid alongside other testosterone boosters in order to take advantage of its speed of effect.

This way, testosterone levels will spike within the first two weeks, while the slower acting ingredients kick in.

A quality capsule product should contain 1500mg or more, such as the highly rated Prime Male which has won the top place in this year’s product trials.

Scientific Study References

Gemma D’Aniello et al. D-Aspartate, a Key Element for the Improvement of Sperm Quality. Oct 2012 [http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?paperID=24016]
Topo E et al. The role and molecular mechanism of D-aspartic acid in the release and synthesis of LH and testosterone in humans and rats. Oct 2009 [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19860889]

Hydroxycut Hardcore Review

Updated on September 3, 2021 by Brad Murphy

America’s best selling weight loss supplement is Hydroxycut Hardcore according to Muscletech. How does it work, what is in it and are there different versions for the United States, UK and Europe?

PROS
Well known brand
Contains some good ingredients
Well prices

CONS
Not the best formula in our opinion
Some users complain of side effects

VERDICT – Look Elswhere
It’s hard to know what to make of this product. It’s overly reliant on stimulants and appears to be carrying a considerable amount of dead weight.

It is our opinion to look at another fat burner or weight loss pill.

We have our list of best fat burners here

What is Hydroxycut Hardcore

Part of a range of supplements made in the USA by Iovate Health Sciences International and distributed under the Hydroxycut brand name.

Hydroxycut is one of America’s best-selling weight loss supplement brands and its “Hardcore” fat burner is one of its most popular products. However, there is also a more advanced version called Hydroxycut Hardcore Elite.

There are also other supplements in the range such as SX-7 Revolution which is pre workout supplement.

Hydroxycut Hardcore is primarily aimed at men and women who like to workout and spend a lot of time in the gym. So, as is often the case with supplements of this nature, the Hardcore formulation is rich in stimulants to help boost energy and provide improvements in training capability.

Several competing manufacturers produce similar supplements designed for hard-training individuals, but the best ones don’t tend to deliver such a high level of stimulants in a single dose.

Other brands that can be compared with Hydroxycut Hardcore are Nugenix Thermo, SS8 Super Shredded, Burn XT and Victory Fat Burner.

Unless you have a poor tolerance, there’s nothing wrong with using stimulants in moderation but overly high doses can cause problems. The higher the dose, the greater the chance of side effects.

The benefits stimulants provide also tend to diminish as you become used to them. That’s why so many athletes end up taking stronger and stronger products and build up an unusually high tolerance.

That’s not a good game to get into. The supplement you find “hardcore” today can become a waste of time a few months further down the line. When do you stop?

The manufacturers of many competing products get around this problem by resisting the temptation to up the stimulant content and add alternative energy providers, such as B Vitamins instead.

Manufacturer Credibility

Hydroxycut is an established brand. It’s been around since 2002.

The original brand owner and creator, MuscleTech, sold Hydroxycut to Iovate Health Sciences International in 2003/2004.

Although the brand got off to a good start, there were a few teething problems. The first Hydroxycut products had Ephedra and/or other potentially harmful ingredients in them.

The side effects were unacceptable so there were calls for stricter regulation of the supplement industry.

Since then, Hydroxycut products have improved a lot. It’s a popular brand that readily available all over the world.

Hydroxycut Hardcore Benefits

The front of the bottle promises three main benefits:

Extreme energy
Hardcore weight loss
Maximum intensity

How Hydroxycut Hardcore Works

Hydroxycut Hardcore is designed to be used alongside a sensible diet and training regimen. It uses stimulants to boost energy levels and make it easier to train. Because you can train harder you should burn extra calories and attain improvements in muscle growth.

The stimulants in Hydroxycut Hardcore also increase metabolism. When metabolism becomes faster, you burn more calories than normal.

Presuming your diet forces suitable restrictions in energy intake, a faster metabolism will help you to burn more calories than you could by dieting, training, or both. This increases your body’s need to burn fat.

How to Use Hydroxycut Hardcore

The standard dose is four capsules per day but new users are advised to begin with just one. It’s best to take the capsules 30-60 minutes before one of your largest meals of the day.

If no tolerance issues become evident, you increase the dose to two capsules per day on days two and three. Again, these should be taken together before one of your meals.

Presuming the higher dose causes no side effects or other issues, you can take the maximum dose of two capsules, two times per day, from day four onward.

The best times to take the capsules are before breakfast and lunch.

Hydroxycut Hardcore provides a high dose of caffeine, paired with an additional stimulant so it’s advisable to check with your doctor before incorporating this supplement into your normal fat loss regimen.

Ingredient Profile

There are nine active ingredients in Hydroxycut Hardcore. They are spread across three proprietary blends, so in most cases, there is no way to know how much of each one is involved.

The formulation is encased in gelatin capsules. That makes Hydroxycut Hardcore unsuitable for vegans and vegetarians.

Each two capsule serving provides:

Pyroxyclene Anhdraine Blend 370 mg

Caffeine anhydrous (Supplying 270 mg of caffeine)
L-theanine
Cayenne pepper

Yohimbacore Robusta Blend (256 mg)

Green coffee bean extract
Yohimbe extract

1,3 D-Norepidrol Blend (130 mg)

L-tyrosine
L-methionine
L-leucine
Trans-ferulic acid

Hydroxycut Hardcore Ingredient Potential

There are a lot of gray areas with this fat-burning formulation. We know what the ingredients are but not the quantities involved. All we know for certain is the Pyroxyclene Anhdraine Blend provides 270 mg of caffeine.

However, although this situation is anything but ideal, let’s push forward and try to ascertain the possible value of the three Hydroxycut proprietary blends.

Pyroxyclene Anhdraine Blend

This blend is a little easier to evaluate than the two blends that follow.

Two capsules provide 370 mg of the proprietary blend and 270 mg of the blend is made up of caffeine. That means 100 mg of it is L-theanine and cayenne pepper. Unfortunately, it’s unlikely to be a 50-50 mix. It may be, of course, but there is no way to know.

For example, there may only be 8 mg of L-theanine and 92 mg of cayenne. Or, it could be the other way around. The possible combinations are too many to bear thinking about so let’s start with caffeine first.

Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system. This increases mental focus and delivers a useful energy boost. However, if you get too much caffeine it can make you feel very hyper. Two hundred and seventy milligrams is enough to have some people bouncing around the room.

Research proves caffeine can also support improvements in fat loss by increasing metabolism. Lots of studies show this but some data suggests it may offer less value to the obese people who need its help most. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7369170/)

L-theanine is an amino acid. You can get it from several botanical sources but the most common one is green tea.

L-theanine is famous for its ability to relax the mind and produce an “alert calm.” It’s often paired with caffeine because it has a tempering effect that can reduce caffeine-related side effects such as jitters and nausea. The problem here is, we don’t know if the L-theanine content is high enough.

Cayenne is another good ingredient. Several studies, including one involving Japanese women, prove cayenne is a fat burner that works so it’s very aggravating that we don’t know if Hydroxycut Hardcore provides enough. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10211048/)

Yohimbacore Robusta Blend

Two capsules provide 256 mg of this blend. There are only two ingredients in it but the lack of inclusion rates is particularly worrying here because yohimbine is a stimulant and high doses can cause side effects.

Yohimbe is a tree bark extract. The stimulatory effects are due to a compound called yohimbine. It’s a key ingredient in many male enhancement products because one of the things it can do is help pump extra blood into the penis and alleviate erectile dysfunction.

It’s unclear if yohimbe can support weight loss but lots of manufacturers use it as a fat burner. (https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-759/yohimbe)

Green coffee bean extract is a more useful ingredient so let’s hope it makes up the majority of this proprietary blend.

Green coffee beans provide chlorogenic acid. The main thing it does is regulate blood sugar and insulin but one study suggests it may also lower BMI and waist circumference. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6683100/)

1,3 D-Norepidrol Blend

Four ingredients here and, collectively, they account for 130 mg of the ingredients you get by swallowing a couple of Hydroxycut Hardcore fat burning pills.

L-tyrosine, L-methionine, and L-leucine are amino acids. Trans-ferulic acid is an organic compound you can get from various plants including bran, barley, and flaxseed.

L-tyrosine is unlikely to encourage fat loss but it supports healthy cognitive function. It may also have the potential to improve athletic capabilities by providing increases in stamina and strength.

It’s hard to say what role L-methionine is meant to play in the 1,3 D-Norepidrol Blend or the Hydroxycut Hardcore formulation as a whole. It’s a better fit for supplements that aim to provide healthy skin, nails, and hair.

Perhaps it’s included to help you look your best in the gym.

L-leucine is a more worthy inclusion. It plays a key role in protein synthesis and also supports fat loss. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4446786/)

Trans-ferulic acid is an antioxidant that may help prevent premature aging of the skin and is sometimes added to skincare products. This is an unlikely inclusion that probably doesn’t contribute any value to a supplement that aims to boost energy levels and burn fat.

Hydroxycut Hardcore Customer Reviews

Some customer reviews are very positive,but others criticize the product for a lack of results. There are also some reports of side effects.

A few average customer comments read:

I have been Hardcore for several months and feel jittery. I can’t actually say for certain if I have lost weight or body fat but I can say it makes me a bit on edge.

Not for me unfortunately, I feel as though I have butterflies in my stomach and can’t seem to sleep at night

Known Side Effects

Some customer reviews mention the kind of side effects you would expect from any product that is high in caffeine:

Nausea
Headaches
Insomnia
Jitters
Feeling dizzy

The majority of users appear to be able to use Hydroxycut Hardcore without problems with side effects but two capsules provide 270 mg of caffeine. That’s a high dose. You’d get a similar blast of caffeine if you were to drink four shots of espresso in rapid succession.

However, Hydroxycut Hardcore also has L-theanine. Presuming the capsule provides an adequate dose, its presence should reduce the intensity of caffeine-related side effects. That’s the main reason the two are often paired.

The Yohimbacore Robusta Blend also provides yohimbe though. That’s a stimulant too. Unless you have built up a strong tolerance of stimulants, Hydroxycut Hardcore may not be the right fat burner to use.

Where to Buy Hydroxycut Hardcore

Hydroxycut is such a popular brand most people shouldn’t have any difficulty finding a supplier. Even if you can’t find a local supplier, you will be spoiled for choice if you check a few online supplement stores.

Some pharmacies and stores that sell Hydroxycut Hardcore in the United States include:

Amazon
CVS
Walmart
Walgreens

If you don’t like dealing with middlemen, it’s also possible to go direct to the source and buy Hydroxycut Hardcore via the Hydroxycut website.

At the time of this review, Hydroxycut Hardcore between $21.99 and $39.99 per bottle, when bought from the manufacturer’s site.

At first blush, that seems pretty cheap but there are only 60 capsules per bottle and the standard dose is four capsules per day. That means each bottle will only be good for 15 days. So, using Hydroxycut will cost around $44 per month plus additional shipping charges.

If you strike lucky you may be able to get three bottles for the price of two. That takes some of the sting out of using Hydroxycut Hardcore but you need to be aware Hydroxycut products don’t have a money-back guarantee.

NOTE: It may be a good idea to avoid buying Hydroxycut Hardcore via Amazon. Many customers report extreme side effects and the ones who are familiar with the original product point out the pills they got from Amazon were the wrong color. That could suggest a counterfeit version.

Is Hydroxycut Hardcore A Good Fat Burner?

It’s hard to know what to make of this product. It’s overly reliant on stimulants and appears to be carrying a considerable amount of dead weight.

The fact that it provides cayenne gives Hydroxycut Hardcore extra credibility but so many users report poor results it may not contain enough.

A lot of the positive reviews for this product focus on its ability to boost energy, not its ability to encourage fat loss. Again, this suggests Hydroxycut Hardcore may not contain sufficient cayenne.

Caffeine, on the other hand, it’s got loads of that but caffeine doesn’t do a lot for people who have a strong tolerance. Even if you don’t have this type of tolerance, it’s easy to build it up over time.

A supplement like this may work better in cycles, such as 8 weeks on, followed by four weeks off. This may help prevent an unduly high tolerance but there are plenty of other problems with this product.

We can’t help but look at the 1,3 D-Norepidrol Blend and wonder what the F@@k is that all about. We’d ditch the entire thing and replace it with 130 mg of green tea.

Some people will probably find Hydroxycut Hardcore delivers extra energy and improvements in weight loss. Others will find it does not and there is a strong probability of side effects so it’s important to follow the instructions a start with a low dose.

Hydroxycut Hardcore is somewhat of a hit-and-miss product. That’s the bottom line. The only way you can see if it will work for you is to buy it and see. That’s going to be a big gamble with a product that doesn’t have a money-back guarantee.

Other Versions of Hydroxycut Hardcore

Hydroxycut Hardcore Next Gen has two formulas. This is our review of the International formula.

There are also

Hydroxycut Hardcore Next Gen
Hydroxycut Hardcore Elite

Difference Between International and USA Versions?

Ingredients, mainly, plus some different tests and regulations each product is subjected to.

Wait…the ingredients are different!?

Yes. MuscleTech’s Hydroxycut product line is popular all over the world, but the product you’re reading about in a magazine might not be the one you can buy in your local supplement store, despite it having exactly the same name.

In the case of Hydroxycut Hardcore Next Gen, like many other products, its USA formula contains ingredients that are either controversial or outright banned in most other countries.

Yohimbe is the main one singled out here. You can see why in the USA HydroxyCut Hardcore Next Gen review by reading in the Side Effects section.

We’ll get on with the Internationally (non-US) available product.

How Does it Work?

Hydroxycut promise the following benefits from their fat burner:

Advanced, Scientifically Tested Weight Management
Extreme Energy and Mental Focus

The first one there refers to the scientific studies that have been carried out with Green Coffee extract, the main ingredients of Hardcore Next Gen.

Green coffee contains chlorogenic acid, which – amongst other things – might block some carbs from being absorbed when you eat them. Hence, the “weight management” aspect.

The studies do support this to some degree but green coffee is far from powerful, especially compared to some other ingredients available.

The second point about extreme energy and mental focus is in relation to the caffeine, skullcap, huperzine and coleus inclusions, all of which are known as nootropic (cognitive enhancing) or energy boosting.

The combination of the 2 effects is pretty much what 99.99% of fat burners are designed and marketed for. So, no shocking revelations there.

Ingredient Formula

The following ingredients make up the formula:

400mg – Green Coffee extract
377mg – “Unparalleled Sensory Complex” including:
– caffeine
– coleus
– skullcap
– huperzine
100mg – Choline Bitartrate
60mg – Coleus extract
25mg – Blue Skullcap

Green coffee extract is reported to reduce obesity by preventing the absorption of a portion of the carbohydrates consumed.

Realistically, it might do this, but not as powerfully as other ingredients.

The Unparalleled Sensory Complex is a group of ‘nootropic’ compounds – those which enhance cognitive function in some way. Focus and mental energy are the main benefits. The majority of this proprietary blend will be caffeine.

Choline Bitartrate is another cognitive booster. It increases levels of acetylcholine – a principal neurotransmitter, responsible for muscle signalling amongst other things.

Coleus has been found to act as an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. This means it acts as a blocker for the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, keeping it active in the system for longer.

Blue Skullcap might be useful in preventing anxiety along with a host of other problems but it is early days yet and research is lacking.

Side Effects

We can quite confidently assume there is more than 200mg of caffeine in the “Unparalleled Sensory Complex” so there is potential for a few mild side effects there, especially if you are unused or unsuited to caffeine.

The irony is that you must be ‘off’ caffeine for a couple of weeks – i.e. not habitually drinking coffee – before using it for it to work as a fat burner.

Basically, don’t consume any other source of caffeine while using these pills, and take half the recommended dose for the first couple of days to get used to it.

The other ingredients are generally well tolerated by most people. The Blue Skullcap is an unknown to be honest. There isn’t much information on its effects, however, it is unlikely to cause problems from preliminary evidence.

Pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, people with medical conditions and those using medication should avoid this product and other like it.

Hydroxycut Hardcore Review Conclusion and Recommendations

This is the internationally available Hydroxycut Hardcore Next Gen. We wouldn’t use either again, given the choice.

Green coffee is not good enough in our opinion to be used as a main ingredient. After that you are left with caffeine and some small doses of nootropic ingredients.

We’d rather stick to what we know works for us and has strong doses of the right ingredients.

If you want to see the reviews of our favourite fat burners are click here

DMBA 1,3-dimethylbutylamine for Fat Burning and BodyBuilding

Updated on October 4, 2021 by Brad Murphy

DMBA (1,3-dimethylbutylamine) is found listed on the labels of a number of weight loss products.

The ingredient is also favoured by many manufactures of bodybuilding supplements and the fact that it can deliver very good results when used in both types of supplement has ensured DMBA is also a hit with supplement buyers.

Unfortunately DMBA has never really been tested on humans.

The same can be said of many popular supplement ingredients, but in the case of DMBA this appears to have become a big issue and the ingredient has been receiving a lot of bad press of late.

What is DMBA?

On a chemical level DMBA is very similar to AMP-citrate; an ingredient that is highly favoured by many members of the bodybuilding community.

It is also often compared to the equally controversial ingredient DMAA, but it is generally accepted that DMBA has the greater potency and can provide better results, both as a fat burning pill and as a bodybuilding supplement.

Most of today’s DMBA is synthesised in laboratories located in Asia. It is produced in powder form and anyone looking at its whiter than white appearance could be forgiven if they began to wonder if the ingredient is really as black as the media are trying to paint it.

As with most controversial compounds in the supplement industry, the safety of DMBA and the risk of side effects aren’t going to be well defined any time soon.

The pervasive issues of minimal authoritative control, limited human trials and lack of true dosage data are going to hound ingredients like this one until some manufacturer takes it upon themselves to spend the necessary cash to do clinical tests.

Even then, the money factor tends to skew the truth, and what profit-making company puts a high-selling product under the microscope to test its safety – unless they are ordered to?

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it would be the message between-the-lines. In the case of questionable synthetic substances designed to stimulate the central nervous system, the deeper reasoning tends to be; we don’t know if it’s broke but it sells like hot cakes so we ain’t gonna fix it!

Anyway, the point I’m trying to make is – use it at your own risk, but if you really want to then please do these two things:

Start small – micro-dose first, to see how your body deals with it. Even if it’s a multi-ingredient supplement.
Go steady on the intensity of your workout until you know how you go with DMBA. It is a powerful, heart accelerating stimulant, after all. Don’t do a Max Heart-Rate treadmill run after taking it!

DMBA Fat Burning Benefits

DMBA assists weight loss by initiating thermogenic fat burning. This is a process by which calories are converted to heat. Science informs us that everything in the universe is energy in one form or another and heat is the lowest form of energy.

The calories provided by food are a form of chemical energy. When the body is provided with too many calories those calories are converted to body fat (a different form of chemical energy).

When DMBA is introduced to the body it initiates a chemical reaction that produces a slight rise in the body’s core temperature which then, via a complicated set of processes, causes the body to begin losing an increased amount of calories as heat.

Then, as the body is robbed of its main energy supply, it is forced to turn to its back up energy provider, body fat.

DMBA Bodybuilding Benefits

DMBA is a potent stimulant that can be very useful for providing extra energy so, not surprisingly, it is often favoured by bodybuilders who are looking for a pre-workout supplement to provide them with the extra edge they need to train harder and get better results.

It is also worth noting DMBA has a greater bioavailability than many similar ingredients and is, therefore, usually faster acting.

The fact that DMBA can also provide fat burning provides an added bonus that bodybuilders are sure to appreciate because hard, toned, muscles cannot be shown off to their best advantage if they are covered in layers of fat.

There are other fat burning supplements for bodybuilding to help fat loss and cutting that are less controversial.

DMBA vs AMP-Citrate

The fact that DMBA and AMP-citrate are so similar can often make the process of choosing the right supplement more difficult than would normally be the case.

On a chemical level the only difference is DMBA is bound to a molecule of hydrochloride, while AMP-citrate is bound to a molecule of citrate.

So which is the best? As is often the case scientific opinions can differ, but it is generally accepted that DMBA is the more powerful of the two.

Possible Side Effects of DMBA

Just like any other ingredient, DMBA may cause some users to experience side effects and the severity and range of side effects will vary on an individual basis.

Many people may experience little or no side effects at all, but possible side effects include headaches, insomnia, and increased heart rate.

Again, such side effects are typical of many other ingredients, so the present controversy surrounding the use of DMBA as a supplement ingredient appears to be largely due to the lack of testing on humans.

Typical Usage

Dosage is also somewhat of an issue because there are no official recommendations regarding this, but many manufacturers suggests a dosage of 150-200mg.

This is less than a typical dosage of AMP-citrate, but bearing in mind the fact that DMBA has a greater potency the dosage could be seen to be about right.

The recommended dosing intervals vary from one product to the next, but when DMBA is taken for weight loss the doses are usually spread throughout the day and timed to correspond with a main meal.

When taken as a bodybuilding supplement at least one of the doses is usually taken before training is commenced. In all cases, the product packaging should provide the best indication of how to use specific products in a safe and effective manner.