What Is Turkesterone? Benefits and Side Effects Explained
Written by Taisiia Dobrozorova
Taisiia Dobrozorova is a nutrition and fitness writer at Unimeal and a healthy lifestyle devotee. She has accomplished several courses on health, nutrition, dietology.
Fact checked by Stephanie Beaudette, M.Ed., RDN
Stephanie Beaudette is a dietitian and nutritionist accredited by the Commission of Dietetic Registration. She is a BS in Dietetics and an ME in Nutrition.
Do you enjoy going to the gym, weight training, or even competing as an athlete? Then Turkesterone is a good supplement in your everyday nutrition. Before deciding whether to buy it, let's go through more details about this additive and what results from it can lead.
Turkesterone explained
People who have previously heard about what ecdysteroid is will quickly get the explanation of Turkesterone. It's a bioactive component of Leuzea or Maral root and Ajuga turkestanica plant, the last one accounting for ~0.2 – 0.4% of the dry weight of aerial parts. The fertile lands of Asia and Siberia made the plant famous worldwide for its anabolic and adaptogenic influence on the organism1Luan, F., Han, K., Li, M., Zhang, T., Liu, D., Yu, L., & Lv, H. (2019). Ethnomedicinal Uses, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Toxicology of Species from the Genus Ajuga L.: A Systematic Review. The American Journal of Chinese Medicine. DOI:10.1142/s0192415x19500502. Also, it has a hepatoprotective and hypoglycemic effect2Guibout, L., Mamadalieva, N., Balducci, C., Girault, J.-P., & Lafont, R. (2015, May). The minor ecdysteroids from Ajuga turkestanica. Phytochemical Analysis. Wiley Analytical Science. DOI:10.1002/pca.2563. In other words, knowledgeable people believe Turkesterone to be an excellent pocket assistant for men and women who want to see perfect bodies in the mirror without steroids. How is it possible?
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What does Turkesterone do
The supplement balances the body's adrenal, pituitary and hypothalamic glands. These glands are responsible for hormones that control blood pressure, immunity, mood, vision, growth, and protein synthesis3Parr, M K et al. (2015, Mar). Ecdysteroids: A novel class of anabolic agents? Biology of sport. DOI:10.5604/20831862.1144420. The organism can increase muscle mass and improve muscle recovery when a stable balance is reached. Research on the supplement promotes lipid and carbohydrate metabolism and finishing by improving protein synthesis, aiding muscle hypertrophy, and increasing strength4Ambrosio G, Wirth D, Joseph JF, Mazzarino M, de la Torre X, Botrè F, Parr MK. (2020, Jan). How reliable is dietary supplement labeling? - Experiences from the analysis of ecdysterone supplements. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. DOI:10.1016/j.jpba.2019.112877. In other words, all these processes may assist with fat loss and maintaining healthy body composition.
Side effects
Turkesterone is appealing due to its anabolic effects of steroids. But what is important it's not the steroid itself. For example, it is unlikely to affect your mood, appetite, libido, hair growth, skin health, or sleep as testosterone does5Lafont R, Dinan L. (2003, Mar). Practical uses for ecdysteroids in mammals including humans: an update. Journal of Insect Science. DOI:10.1093/jis/3.1.7. However, Turkesterone is known to have such side effects as nausea, lightheadedness, and sometimes light digestive issues. The recommendations say not to take it on an empty stomach and always follow dosage recommendations strictly to avoid unpleasant symptoms.
Benefits
There are so many of them, and all are essential, so it's impossible to rate the benefits from the most important to the least ones. Furthermore, it should be good to start with:
- Turkesteron can help recover and build muscle tissue. Scientists suggest the supplement helps remove lactic acid after hard training, maintains a positive nitrogen balance, and promotes workout recovery6Bucci LR. (2000, Aug). Selected herbals and human exercise performance. The American journal of clinical nutrition. DOI:10.1093/ajcn/72.2.624S. There is no doubt that everyone knows how crucial a recovery process is for athletes' performance7Parr MK, Zhao P, Haupt O, et al. (2014 Sep). Estrogen receptor beta is involved in skeletal muscle hypertrophy induced by the phytoecdysteroid ecdysterone. Molecular Nutrition & Food Research. DOI:10.1002/mnfr.201300806.
- Reduces anxiety and "burnout" feeling. Have you ever heard about ashwagandha or Rhodiola? They are adaptogens people use to support mental health by helping the body cope with stress and fatigue. Turkesteron has even more advantages. You are welcome to start the course if you want to forget about lack of sleep, brain fog, and depression9Báthori M, Tóth N, Hunyadi A, Márki A, Zádor E. (2008). Phytoecdysteroids and anabolic-androgenic steroids--structure and effects on humans. Current Medicinal Chemistry. DOI:10.2174/092986708783330674.
- Better muscle-to-fat ratio and body composition. It improves digestion and immune function and supports liver and heart health by lowering cholesterol and blood glucose levels8Chen Q, Xia Y, Qiu Z. (2006 Feb 2). Effect of ecdysterone on glucose metabolism in vitro. Life Sciences. DOI:10.1016/j.lfs.2005.06.031.
FAQ
Here are some other curious questions people have while deciding to start taking the supplement or not. The most frequently asked are listed below:
How to take Turkesterone?
The suggested dosage of Turkesterone is still being studied and isn't precisely defined. The scientific community recommends a Turkesterone dosage of between 250 to 500mg per day spread into two doses. If it's your first try, it's good to start with a low amount, such as 250 mg, and go from there to see how you respond to the substance. Many consumers take it for a course of between 6 to 12 weeks. Sure every case is strictly individual and depends on a set goal. Users claim that running it for longer seems more effective, as it takes some time to build up the system. Anyway, this compound isn't a magical pill. You will still have to eat correctly and train heavily to increase performance and muscle mass.
Is Turkesterone legal?
You can legally purchase this product in stores and online; remember that it is sometimes listed as Ajuga turkestanica extract. Manufacturers sell Turkesterone as a pill. It never shows up on a drug test; otherwise, bodybuilders and athletes are unlikely to use this supplement regularly.
Should I take Turkesterone?
The opinions on it differ, and it's up to you whether or not you want to spend the money and try it out. However, before using any drug, you should consult a doctor and make sure you have no contraindications to the supplement.
Does Turkesterone Require PCT?
The great news is that it does not require any post-cycle therapy (PCT).
Is Turkesterone OK for women?
Yes, because it doesn't increase male sex hormones such as testosterone, it's equally as safe for women as men.
When are the first body changes visible after taking Turkesterone?
The majority of the users say that it kicks in around the first week. Please note that it is different for every individual, which may take slightly longer for you.
Is Turkesterone safe?
There are no side effects to warrant any serious concern5Lafont R, Dinan L. (2003, Mar). Practical uses for ecdysteroids in mammals including humans: an update. Journal of Insect Science. DOI:10.1093/jis/3.1.7. Besides, the known issue with ecdysteroids is that body quickly metabolizes them. In conclusion, Turkesteron, 100 percent can be considered safe and even beneficial for an exercising organism.
Summing up
It would help if you remembered that Turkesterone is a non-steroid dietary supplement that people use after intensive sports training. It fastens muscle recovery, stamps out any depressive emotions, and even improves digestive processes.
Turkesterone dosage correlates between 250 to 500mg per day. The course can last six months to a year. The supplement is safe and 100 percent legal! So, if your dream is to have a beautiful and perfect body, maybe we managed to speed it up a bit? We hope so, but remember that it's not a magical capsule. You also should train hard to get the wanted results!
Article updated: July 12, 2022
Unimeal does not diagnose or suggest treatments. Any description of the diet, training plan or supplement should be discussed with your current physician or nutritionist. This article does not address specific conditions and is simply meant to provide general information on healthcare topics. Following any advice is at your own initiative and does not impose any responsibility on the blog authors for your health and safety.
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