Does Turkesterone Burn Fat?
Every now and then, a new product finds its way into the fitness industry, promising to help users make massive muscle gains within a short timeframe. One such product is turkesterone. While some people are convinced that turkesterone is the next big thing in the bodybuilding market, others believe that the supplement doesn’t live up to the hype.
So, what exactly is turkesterone, and does it really work as well as some people claim? Another question worth answering is, “Does turkesterone burn fat?” Here’s everything you need to know about turkesterone, from how it works to its benefits, side effects, and recommended dosage.
What Is Turkesterone?
Turkesterone is a concentrated type of ecdysteroid (ECDY) that comes from plants and animals. According to recent studies, ecdysteroids have anabolic and adaptogenic capabilities, making them suitable for the manufacture of supplements taken for various reasons. These include increasing athletic performance, decreasing inflammation, promoting fat burn, boosting the growth of muscle mass, and increasing marrow production.
Turkesterone is usually extracted from a flowering plant known as the Ajuga turkestanica, which grows in parts of Central Asia, Europe, and Africa. While it’s similar to other kinds of ecdysteroid supplements like ecdysterone, it may have more powerful muscle-building capabilities.
Some people also claim to have lost significant weight and fat after adding turkesterone to their diets. And since it boosts protein synthesis instead of binding to androgen receptors in the body, you may not get the steroidal side effects associated with anabolic steroids. It’s also naturally found in plants, unlike synthetic anabolic steroids.
Does Turkesterone Burn Fat?
Turkesterone doesn’t technically burn fat when used as a supplement. It enhances your body’s ability to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a molecule responsible for carrying energy within cells. This increases your strength and endurance when working out in the gym.
That said, turkesterone can also potentially help your body burn fat in three different ways:
- It may accelerate the body’s metabolic processes, making it burn more calories at rest and during activity.
- It can potentially promote muscle growth, which causes a subsequent increase in your body’s calorie consumption.
- It may boost the body’s ability to use food energy, reducing fat accumulation.
How Does Turkesterone Work?
Due to insufficient scientific research and evidence, the exact manner in which turkesterone works has yet to be completely understood. However, the following are some of the ways turkesterone works:
1. Work as an Estrogen Receptor-beta Agonist
Turkeesterone is thought to work as an estrogen receptor-beta agonist like other ecdysteroids.
Estrogen receptor beta plays an important role in regulating skeletal muscle growth and regeneration by regulating the immune system, activating skeletal muscle stem cells, and stimulating anabolic pathways.
2. Regulate Secretion of the Glands
Another potential anabolic effect of turkesterone is regulating the secretion of the hypothalamus, pituitary, and adrenal glands. Each gland produces hormones that control your vision, mood, immune system, blood pressure, and growth. Taking turkesterone may enable the three glands to work harmoniously by managing your body’s stress response.
3. Activate G protein-coupled Receptor and PI3K-Akt Pathway
It’s worth noting that estrogen receptor beta isn’t the only source of turkesterone’s anabolic effects. G protein-coupled receptor and PI3K-Akt pathway activation are also believed to be one of the mechanisms in which ecdysteroids like turkesterone produce these anabolic effects.
4. Enhance mRNA Translation Process
Taking turkesterone supplements also triggers several reactions in muscle tissues. This helps enhance the mRNA translation process, which is vital in protein synthesis.
5. Increase NO Production
Turkesterone is also believed to increase nitric oxide (NO) production in the body. This aids in improving blood circulation and carrying oxygen to different muscles, resulting in improved workout performance and recovery. In fact, most stimulant-free pre-workout supplements in the market today are based on increasing nitric oxide production to boost workout performance.
Benefits of Turkesterone
Here are some of the most common benefits of using turkesterone as a fitness supplement:
1. Increases Muscle Mass
One of the most notable benefits that have made turkesterone famous is its potential to enhance the development of muscle mass and increase the muscle-to-fat ratio. It mostly does this by boosting your muscle leucine intake and modifying your body’s mRNA translation process. This results in higher protein production levels and increased muscle mass.
To date, the exact amount of muscle mass a turkesterone user can gain has yet to be established. However, if your body responds positively to turkesterone, you can expect to gain anywhere between 8 lbs and 12 lbs of muscle mass from an eight-week cycle. If this amount of muscle gain is lean and dry, it can result in a noticeable change in your appearance.
Some even claim that turkesterone has strong anti-obesity and metabolic-boosting capabilities. It can potentially fight insulin resistance, lower lipid absorption, and increase glucose metabolism.
2. Prevents Muscle Breakdown
When the body doesn’t get enough food, it turns to body fat and muscle mass to meet its caloric needs.
Turkesterone may enhance nitrogen retention in your muscles, making it easier for your body to maintain muscle mass even in a caloric deficit. This means you can potentially cut weight and build a healthy amount of muscle mass simultaneously.
Additionally, taking turkesterone supplements may boost protein production and promote positive protein balance, which is important in preventing muscle breakdown.
3. Helps in Muscle Recovery
The repair of damaged muscle fibers requires regular protein production. Regular consumption of turkesterone can potentially increase protein production, which is important for boosting post-exercise muscle recovery.
Taking turkesterone supplements may also boost glycogen concentration levels in your body, which helps get rid of lactic acid and speed up recovery after a workout.
It goes without saying that this is one of the benefits that make turkesterone quite popular among athletes who can’t afford to undergo a long recovery period.
4. Does Not Require Post Cycle Therapy (PCT)
Most synthetic fitness supplements require Post Cycle Therapy (PCT) after taking them. The main reason for this is that taking these supplements reduces your body’s testosterone levels, which is why you’ll need a PCT to get them back to normal.
Turkesterone doesn’t bind to androgen receptors in the body and doesn’t result in any notable impact on the body’s natural testosterone production. For these reasons, there is no need for PCT after taking it. This makes it a great supplement for anyone looking to enhance their fitness results.
5. Increases Strength and Power
Ecdysteroids like turkesterone may even increase muscle ATP levels. As a result, taking turkesterone supplements regularly may help improve your muscle strength and power. After completing your cycle, you can expect to increase the amount of weight you lift in the gym.
That said, you still need to stick to a healthy diet and train regularly to see improvements.
6. Has Adaptogenic Features
The Ajuga turkestanica plant from which turkesterone is derived is widely considered to be adaptogenic. This plant and other plant herbs with the same features, such as ashwagandha and Rhodiola, have been linked with several therapeutic uses, including stress management, psychological resilience, maintaining aged skeletal muscle, and improving the overall well-being of a person.
Other potential adaptogenic benefits of turkesterone include eliminating brain fog, boosting motivation, and alleviating burnout symptoms. Turkesterone may also help you cope better with difficult life situations like stressful exams and a new work environment.
Turkesterone Side Effects
Turkesterone has not yet been linked to any serious long-term side effects. Because it doesn’t bind to androgen receptors in the body, it’s highly unlikely to negatively affect your hair growth, libido, skin, sleep, appetite, or mood.
However, this doesn’t mean that turkesterone is completely harmless. Taking it on an empty stomach can cause nausea and dizziness. Other reported short-term turkesterone side effects include diarrhea, headache, digestive issues, stomachache, and lightheadedness.
The best way to avoid these side effects is by always following the recommended dosage and eating before you take it.
Turkesterone Dosage
Currently, an established dosage for turkesterone doesn’t exist due to limited scientific research. However, the general recommendation is to start taking turkesterone supplements in dosages of 500mg per day, divided into two. This dosage should be taken for the first eight to ten weeks before taking a break.
Since turkesterone doesn’t cause dependence like most steroid drugs, you can take it for a long period. When shopping for turkesterone supplements, always go for capsules that contain at least 95 percent turkesterone to ensure you’re taking a high-quality and pure product.
The Bottom Line
Turkesterone is fast gaining popularity due to its ability to enhance athletic performance and increase muscle mass without the need for a PCT. Turkesterone also doesn’t present the same risks associated with anabolic steroids. So, it’s a supplement worth considering for fitness enthusiasts looking to answer, “Does turkesterone burn fat?”
While it doesn’t technically burn fat on its own, it potentially enhances the body’s ability to burn calories and use food energy. It may also increase energy levels during workouts, leading to reduced fat levels.
Therefore, turkesterone is an ideal supplement, especially if you’re dieting or working out and want to retain muscle mass along the way.