Dr. Mike Jansen
Dr. Mike JansenCurious about Ecdysterone benefits?
Then you’ve come to the right place. In this comprehensive guide, we cover all of the major benefits of ecdysterone, including why so many athletes and bodybuilders have started using this over-the-counter supplement.
We also answer your most important questions on ecdysterone, such as:
- What is ecdysterone?
- How does ecdysterone work?
- Is ecdysterone a banned substance?
- How can I purchase ecdysterone?
…And much more!
The truth is ecdysterone has been studied since the 1960s.
However, the first high-quality studies on ecdysterone weren’t published until 2015. Today many of the biggest fitness experts in the world are using ecdysterone with incredible results.
If you’re serious about getting maximum results in the gym, then learning the benefits of this breakthrough supplement is one of the most important decisions you can make.
Now let’s get started!
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What is Ecdysterone?
Ecdysterone, also known as 20-Beta-Hydroxyecdysterone, is popularly referred to as ‘the plant steroid’, since it bears a striking molecular similarity to the structure of testosterone.
In fact, fitness fanatics will be happy to learn that ecdysterone tends to be found in abundance in two commonly available foods – spinach and quinoa.
Ecdysterone actually belongs to a large family of over 200 plant hormones called ‘phytoecdysteroids’, of which turkesterone, another supplement that has recently surged in popularity, is also a member.
Besides plants, you’ll also find it in arthropods – insects with an exoskeleton, like grasshoppers – where it serves the purpose of controlling their molting process [1].
If you are serious about hitting your fitness goals, then you probably have some questions about ecdysteorne, like:
- What makes ecdysterone special?
- Why do people take ecdysterone?
- Is Ecdysterone a steroid?
Due to the recent publicity that ecdysterone has received, such as a report on CNN, a lot of people both in the fitness community and in the public at large are curious as to what benefits ecdysterone can have for humans [2].
Here’s the thing: according to data from numerous studies, especially those carried out during the 1970s in Soviet Russia, ecdysterone can produce anabolic effects in humans nearly on the level of commonly used steroids, like dianabol or trenbolone [3, 4, 5].
Russian researchers found the following early benefits of ecdysterone:
- Increased muscle mass
- Faster strength gains
- Improved stamina and recovery
With potential benefits like these, it’s understandable who people take ecdysterone.
On top of that, it does not cause testosterone levels to plummet after cycling off. Add in the fact that it’s a naturally occurring compound, and it becomes clear why it’s been marketed as being safer than synthetic steroids [3].
Currently, ecdysterone is one of the many substances on WADA’s (the World Anti-Doping Agency) Monitoring Program.
This mainly came about as a result of a study conducted by researchers in Germany in 2019, where they, like many scientists before them, found the performance enhancing effects of Ecdysterone to be substantial [6].
Their findings resulted in the recommendation that Ecdysterone be added to WADA’s list of banned substances, which has yet to happen.
Ecdysterone Benefits
Controversy surrounding ecdysterone supplements over the past few years has erupted.
A growing number of people in the fitness community are paying attention and showing an interest in this ‘natural plant steroid’ that is rumored to be just as effective, if not more so, than classic steroids like dianabol and trenbolone.
Could this just be another fleeting trend in the supplement industry… or could it be that ecdysterone truly is the supplement that athletes and bodybuilders have been waiting for – a naturally-occurring substance that can really produce anabolic effects comparable to “real” steroids?
We dove deep into the studies about ecdysterone to uncover as much evidence as we could that showed what this compound is capable of.
Improved Body Composition
First and foremost, studies have found a strong correlation between both people and animals who were put on an ecdysterone regimen and reported measurable improvements in both their lean muscle mass and strength [6, 7].
One reason for this is due to the increase in protein synthesis caused by taking ecdysterone, which has been reported to be as high as 20%.
Others have compared the muscle gains from Ecdysterone to what one could expect from taking a cycle of Dianabol – a much more commonly used anabolic steroid [3, 5].
Another study on animals that yielded incredible results found that 20-Hydroxyecdysone (another name for ecdysterone) extracted from Rhaponticum carthamoides (a wild herbaceous plant abundant in Siberia and Kazakhstan) resulted in a whopping 115% increase in developing body mass.
On top of that, the researchers in this particular study found that ecdysterone caused increases in both skeletal muscle mass and muscle protein [1, 5].
As if that weren’t enough, ecdysterone has also been shown to reduce body fat.
Another Russian study found that while subjects did both resistance and endurance training for three weeks, the fat just melted off them, with a reduction in body fat of up to 14% [1].
Improved Stamina And Endurance
Another well-documented benefit of ecdysterone is increased stamina and endurance.
In fact, in Russia and other countries that used to be part of the Soviet Union, Rhaponticum carthamoides has been used for centuries as a tonic in to counter physical and mental fatigue, as well as decreased endurance.
Research has shown that the ecdysterone content found in this plant had apoptogenic properties which lengthened swimming time by up to 22%, as well as improve the ability of mice to run for up to 32% longer before being fatigued. It’s not just effective for bodybuilders or strength athletes, but for virtually any athlete that’s looking for an extra edge.
One study that illustrates this involved two groups of runners who were monitored for twenty days, with one group taking Dianabol, and the other taking Ecdysterone.
They concluded that the stamina of the athletes taking Ecdysterone increased between 10-15% [5].
Faster Recovery
In addition, ecdysterone usage can also improve people’s ability to recover from intense exercise.
Studies have shown that an improvement in appetite, sleep, and the general physical and mental state of human subjects have been documented, without any negative side effects [1].
Ultimately, it’s not surprising that ecdysterone has become one of the most sought-after supplements on the market because of its potential benefits.
In short, not only is it regarded as a powerful, all-natural anabolic agent with numerous benefits for strength, stamina, and fat loss, but it also poses very little, if any, side effects [5, 8].
Is Ecdysterone Safe?
Publicly available data on ecdysterone and beta-ecdysterone is still quite limited, even though it’s been studied since the 1960s.
However, what we have so far shows that there are very few side effects from it.
When considering the safety profile of a compound, especially one known to produce anabolic effects like ecdysterone, one of the key factors to take into consideration is how the compound affects hormonal balance.
In the case of ecdysterone, there have been no studies that have discovered an induced fluctuation of hormones in humans because of taking it.
In other words, for the more seasoned bodybuilders and fitness fanatics out there, this means that since it has no androgenic or estrogenic effects, you won’t have to take drugs like nolvadex or clomid for a PCT (post-cycle therapy) [5].
In addition to how safe ecdysterone is regarding your hormones, it also poses very low toxicity to humans.
One of the main concerns with using typical anabolic compounds like dianabol, is that users frequently need to take compounds like milk thistle to combat the liver toxicity caused by them.
This isn’t necessary with ecdysterone, as researchers have reported seeing an absence of biomarkers for liver or kidney toxicity while cycling it [6, 8]. Even if you decided to take two or three times the recommended dose of ecdysterone, it still wouldn’t be toxic to the body [5].
However, keep in mind that once a certain dose is exceeded, the strength of the effects of ecdysterone tend to diminish.
Here at Testosterone.org we are looking for more studies to confirm the fact that ecdysterone has no harmful side effects. However, the studies available suggest that ecdysterone is perfectly safe when used responsibly.
How to Take Ecdysterone | What You MUST Know
No matter what compound you’re taking, it’s always a good idea to start with a low dose, and then slowly increase it if you don’t feel any adverse effects. W
ith ecdysterone, due to the limited amount of publicly available data, we’d recommend not doing more than two cycles per year, with each cycle ranging between 8-12 weeks.
This is since nearly every study referenced in this article was conducted within this time range.
One study monitored the effects of an ecdysterone dosage of 2 g per day for a total period of 12 weeks. Two key takeaways from the data were that no adverse effects were noted, and that there was also a marked gain among the participants in lean muscle mass and strength [9].
But how do you take ecdysterone?
At the time this article was written, in early 2023, ecdysterone is only commercially available in the form of capsules and powders. There’s no need to use a hypodermic needle, which is usually one of the reasons why some athletes and gym enthusiasts stay away from most steroids.
As mentioned before, there is no standardized dosing protocol for ecdysterone that has been proven to yield maximum benefits.
Typically, an Ecdysterone dosage can be taken once per day, or split up into two doses – one in the morning, and one in the evening [5, 10].
Best Ecdysterone Supplements | 2023 Edition
If you look at the amount of ecdysterone supplements out there, it’s understandable that you’d be overwhelmed.
How do you know which ecdysterone supplement to buy? What is the best ecdysterone supplement? What is the best value ecdysterone supplement?
Don’t worry, we’ve done all the ‘heavy lifting’ here, so that we can confidently recommend the best sources to buy ecdysterone from, according to strict criteria, such as multiple shipping options and payment methods, as well as the level of purity of their products.
Our number one recommendation for a trustworthy and legitimate vendor to purchase ecdysterone supplements is Huge Supplements.
Simply put, Huge Supplements’ ecdysterone is our top choice because of a few key reasons.
- Real-world results. Firstly, it works! Huge Supplements has dozens of glowing reviews on their site of satisfied customers using their ecdysterone product
- High-quality products. Their products are made in an FDA-approved facility in the United States – not overseas in places with dubious manufacturing practices.
- Superior shipping. If you place a domestic order over $100, you’ll be given free shipping. If you’re placing an international order, Huge Supplements Ecdysterone can be shipped anywhere outside the EU.
- Great customer service. The customer service at Huge Supplements is truly top-notch. Instead of having to wait a long time to speak to a representative on the phone, we were able to get through to someone surprisingly quickly. That means it’s likely if you have any questions or concerns about your order, you’ll be able to get the attention you need in a timely manner.
- Better ingredients. Huge Supplements Ecdysterone also includes cyclodextrin – a polysaccharide that speeds up and improves the absorption of ecdysterone upon being ingested.
As you can see, there are a number of reasons why Huge Supplements is our #1 recommended source for buying quality Ecdysterone.
You can visit them here to purchase a bottle of 98% pure Huge Supplements Ecdysterone capsules:
Another vendor we recommend purchasing ecdysterone from is Intelligent Elephant.
Intelligent Ecdysterone can be purchased with cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, so if you’d prefer alternative payment methods, this would be a good choice.
To learn more and buy Intelligent Ecdysterone, you can visit their site here:
Benefits of Ecdysterone | Overall
In conclusion…
Ecdysterone is an incredibly promising supplement with many benefits.
Studies show that ecdysterone can increase muscle protein synthesis in humans by up to 20%, and that it produces size gains on par with many anabolic steroids, including dianabol.
However, ecdysterone is technically not a steroid. It belongs to a family of naturally occurring plant and insect hormones called phytoecdysteroids.
It’s easy to understand why there would be confusion about whether ecdysterone is a steroid or not, based on the name of the class of substances it’s a part of, as well as the overwhelming number of steroid-like effects it has.
If you’re on the fence about trying ecdysterone, then we strongly recommend you pick up a bottle from a trusted vendor, such as Huge Supplements.
They manufacture their ecdysterone product in FDA-approved facilities, so you know you are getting a product that produces real-world results.
So what are you waiting for?
Pick up a bottle of Huge Supplements’ ecdysterone today and watch your gains shoot through the roof!