We get a lot of questions about Hi-Tech’s Somatomax so we decided to take a look at this product.  This post contains information provided by the manufacturer.  We do have a few reviews coming from our in house testers which we hope to have posted in the next couple of weeks.

Somatomax is a unique new nighttime formula that can increase the amount of HGH you release by over 1,600% during the first few hours of sleep, which is when the vast majority of HGH is released. Somatomax produces important physiological, biochemical, and behavioral effects when administered orally. The possible benefits that Somatomax™ administration has upon athletic performances are remarkable. Somatomax has been shown to do the following:

HGH secretion by as much as 16 times that normally produced (HGH presence in the body’s system is critical for: 1) protein anabolism and muscle growth and repair; 2) cartilage growth and repair; 3) fat metabolism that induces less body fat and more muscularity.)

Activates and increases protein synthesis in muscle, and limits nitrogen catabolism (destructive metabolism).

Lowers blood cholesterol levels.

Induces sleep and hypotnia (muscle relaxation) enhancing recuperation from muscular effort.

Enhances libido and sexual performance in both sexes.

In More Detail – Somatomax™ increases HGH Secretion

A 2004 Belizean and Chinese research study demonstrated that from a single dose of Somatomax, plasma HGH levels increased 16 times over a two-hour period, peaking after 60 minutes.

The increased HGH secretion produced by Somatomax administration is far in excess of any other previously available HGH stimulator. In fact, daily Somatomax administration produces a more pronounced and enduring plasma HGH level than daily injections with 1 ml (2 IU) of the currently marketed synthetic growth hormones (Protropin®, Humatrope®, etc.).

Injected HGH has a very short half-life of 20 minutes in circulation and 2 IU Protropin® or Humatrope® will only increase circulating HGH levels by approximately four times. HGH is of great importance in human growth and development. Its secretion diminishes with age. HGH regulates cellular transport of amino acids and has a pivotal role in protein anabolism. Muscle and cartilage growth and repair are under the positive influence of this hormone. HGH also promotes fat and carbohydrate metabolism. It stimulates adipose (fatty) tissue to release fats and helps in mediating the switch from burning predominately carbohydrates to predominately fats for energy.

HGH has been used (or seriously considered) by many athletes, regardless of its legality and its great expense, to elicit the obvious advantages of greater plasma concentrations. Somatomax provides an alternate, more convenient, natural, and inexpensive method of substantially increasing HGH plasma levels beyond previous parameters. Somatomax also exhibits other anabolic properties in addition to those produced by the increased HGH secretion by stimulating protein synthesis, activating the pentose pathway (carbohydrate and protein metabolism), by limiting nitrogen catabolism.

Somatomax Induces Sleep And Acts As A Muscle Relaxant

The study by Pharmatech Ltd. on Somatomax explored the effect it has on inducing sleep and providing “remarkable hypotnia” (muscle relaxation), probably resulting from inhibition of muscle stretch. This study concluded that Somatomax is a rapid sleep-inducer. The sleep is calm and deep, with rapid, complete, and good quality awakening. Somatomax – induced sleep closely resembles normal physiological sleep patterns, causing slow-wave sleep almost immediately, followed by a predominance of REM sleep. These studies also showed that periodic brief arousals during deep sleep result in impaired daytime performance and increased fatigue in normal young adults. Somatomax consolidates sleep, aids recovery and recuperation, and leads to increased daytime function and ability. This action of Somatomax™ is especially meaningful for hard training athletes. If recovery and recuperation can be amplified, then workout intensity and productivity will be maximized.

Somatomax™ – New HGH Releaser

In the training athlete, numerous changes in anabolic hormone levels accompany workouts and play a direct role in muscle fiber growth and body composition. Of the anabolic hormones testosterone, insulin, and HGH, HGH is unique in that it directly promotes increases in muscle mass and decreases in body fat. In the normal course of events, HGH is produced in the pituitary gland and is released into the bloodstream, but in amounts that decrease with age. These reduced HGH levels are one of the reasons why people tend to accumulate more body fat as they grow older. The most significant and noticeable effects of Somatomax™ are its HGH-releasing sedative actions. The HGH releasing effects of Somatomax™ have been shown in healthy males, ages 25 to 40, who receive one dose of Somatomax™. Within 30 minutes of administration, blood HGH levels were 9 times higher than normal (pre- Somatomax™); after 45 minutes, HGH levels were over 16 times higher than normal. Two hours after Somatomax™ dosing, the subjects’ blood HGH levels were still 7 to 8 times higher than baseline. An additional revelation has shown Somatomax™ to release HGH in significant amounts and reduce protein breakdown. The sedative action of Somatomax™ contributes to restoration of normal sleep, metabolic recovery in individuals experiencing overtraining/overstress syndrome related to insomnia, and the stimulation of general anabolic facilitating processes.

Application To Strength Training

Power lifting and weight lifting place tremendous metabolic demands on the skeletal, muscular and endocrine (hormonal) systems. Increases in tissue synthesis and repair can lead to the over-training spiral, causing excessive muscle breakdown and injury. HGH is a very powerful non-steroidal hormone that combats the potentially damaging effects of stress, and heavy training upon the anatomy. Somatomax™ is quite possibly the most powerful HGH-releasing stimulator yet to be discovered!

One Side Effect To Somatomax Is Its Ability To Make You Feel Good!

Somatomax™ causes a large increase in levels of a neurotransmitter called dopamine. Dopamine has a very noticeable effect on mood, causing you to feel good. Ironically, very large amounts of dopamine in the brain can cause nausea, especially in those using Somatomax™ the first few times. Therefore, it is advisable to reduce the amount of Somatomax™ consumed the first few times to prevent nausea. It also has an effect similar to alcohol in that it effectively removes inhibitions, which is beneficial as a sexual stimulant.

Somatomax™ is a dietary supplement used as a nighttime formula to enhance natural sleep and to assist the body in the release of natural hormonal compounds, including HGH. Somatomax™ may also be used in smaller serving amounts as a daytime formula for a feeling of well-being, increased energy, and to enhance libido and sexual function. In conjunction with proper exercise, Somatomax™ will lead to an increase in muscle and a reduction of fat. Clinical studies on Somatomax™ suggest that Somatomax™ significantly stimulates HGH and modulates cortisol (resulting in a decrease of blood cortisol levels), which makes Somatomax™ a particularly effective supplement for males desiring to increase muscle mass. GHB and its precursors (GBL and BD) were clearly powerful HGH secretagogues, but changes in the law make those products no longer available to us. (GHB is a Schedule I drug for you or me, yet a prescription drug called Xyrem® by Orphan Medical… figure that one out!)

Somatomax™, however, is now available to us and is more effective than any previous HGH stimulator, including prescription HGH products. Let us just hope that the FDA will not try to pull another safe and effective product off the market, as they have done in the past. Somatomax™ can help HGH stimulation, but that is just one of many positive effects this amazing product has on our health and well-being.

Supplement Facts
Serving Size: 1 heaping scoop (14 grams)
Servings per Container: 20
Amount per Serving / % Daily Value Proprietary Blend:
4-amino-3-Penylbutyrica acid, gamma amino butyric acid, macuna pruriens extract (standardized to 20% L-Dopa), L-Arginine HCL, L-Tyrosine, L-Phenylalanine 14g * Vitamin B-6 (as Pyridoxine HCL) 10 mg / 500%

This week I’ll be taking a look at Gaspari Nutrition’s Size On.  This is basically a creatine product meant to be consumed during or after the workout.  Gaspari’s supplements seem to be quite popular with the weightlifting crowd but is this because of the Gaspari ads plastered all over the magazines or is it because these are quality supplements?  We shall see.  The main ingredient in Size On is, you guessed it, creatine.  I love how Gaspari Nutrition describes the creatine as “Drive II Mitochondrial Energy Factor”; buzz words meant to make your standard, every day creatine sound more like some sort of experimental rocket fuel.  They’re also adding various forms of carbohydrates and insulin mimickers as a delivery system to help shuttle the creatine into the muscle cell.  This is kind of standard in today’s creatine products. 

Gaspari Nutrition does use a few unique ingredients in the formula including Peak ATP and Creatine Gluconate.  These ingredients are both involved in cellular energy and ATP production.  As a result you should see some strength gains from this product.  They also use a proprietary carb which they call Outlast which is essentially a mix of maltodextrin, amylose and fibersol 2. 

Gaspari Nutrition Size On is a decent creatine formula and it should deliver on the promise of strength gains.

When reformulating TNT we built off the strengths of the original formula to make ANS TNT 2 one of the most potent natural testosterone boosters on the market.  With new research and better standardization processes available we decided to update the original formula. 

The new formula (TNT 2) has an increased dose of Acetyl L-Carnitine; in fact the dose has more than tripled for this single ingredient.  Although many people are familiar with L-Carnitine for its ability to help the body utilize fat stores the Acetylated version is also a potent test booster.  It has two main mechanisms of action.  First it directly influences LH (luteinizing hormone) which controls the amount of testosterone produced by the testicles.  It is in a sense maximizing the signal going from the brain to the testicles telling your body how much testosterone should be produced.  Acetyl L-Carnitine also influences the sensitivity of androgen receptors in muscle tissue by making them more sensitive/receptive to circulating testosterone.  The receptors in the body desensitize with age.  The more sensitive your testosterone receptors are the more productive the testosterone circulating in your body will be.

Nettle extract is a new addition to the TNT 2 formula.  Most of the body’s testosterone is bound up by SHBG which prevents testosterone from having an effect in the body.  Total testosterone levels are important but free circulating levels are probably more important as this is the testosterone that can actually have an impact on performance and physique.  Nettle has been shown to have an affinity for SHBG which keeps SHBG from binding to testosterone resulting in greater levels of free circulating testosterone.

ANS TNT 2 also includes a healthy dose of tribulus but what makes it different from many other formulas is the standardization process this tribulus has undergone.  With any plant there are active components which are responsible for the pharmacological effect of the plant.  Having a high dose of tribulus means nothing if it is not standardized to the right ingredients.  The two most potent components of tribulus are protodioscin and saponins which is why TNT 2 is standardized for these compounds.

Iccarin is also a new compound to this formula.  Recent research on this ingredient has found that it not only boosts libido but that it also acts like testosterone in the body.  It is considered a testosterone mimicker.  What this means is that it can bind to the testosterone receptor and provide a result similar to what you would see from testosterone.  Namely increases in protein synthesis which leads to muscle recovery and muscle growth.

The estrogen blocking complex was enhanced with white button mushroom extract.  White button mushrooms suppress aromatase activity and estrogen biosynthesis.  White button mushroom helps keep your testosterone from being converted to estrogen via aromatase enzymes.

DIM and Resveratrol help your body rid itself of bad estrogens.  Some estrogen is needed to remain healthy however bad estrogens can cause negative reactions when they are allowed to build up in the body.  DIM and resveratrol bind with these bad estrogens allowing the body to clear them out more efficiently.

Ahh, MuscleTech…the mother of all supplement companies.  This week I’ll be reviewing their creatine product, MuscleTech Cell Tech Hardcore.  MuscleTech is notorious for making outlandish product claims, using creative “buzz” words and employing high profile athletes to market their supplements.  As informed consumers we know that we must look past the smoke and mirrors to get down to the true efficacy of a product.  MuscleTech Cell Tech uses a total of 10g of creatine from seven different sources.  Are seven sources of creatine really necessary?  No, but it doesn’t really hurt the formula either.  Whether you get 10g of creatine from creatine monohydrate or from a blend the end result is the same; enhanced ATP production.  As an added benefit MuscleTech added insulin mimickers to enhance the absorption of the creatine.  I do like the alpha lipoic acid and chromium used as insulin mimickers and blood sugar stabilizers but Cell Tech also adds some odd compounds which have very little scientific evidence backing them as insulin mimickers.  If you look at the sugar content of this product you can understand why they would need to add blood sugar stabilizers.  75g of sugar!!  It’s no secret that this ghastly amount of sugar will put on the pounds, just in the wrong areas.  Creatine is well known for its poor absorbability and by adding massive amounts of sugar the body’s insulin levels spike which helps to shuttle the creatine into the muscle cell.  So then why do they use insulin mimickers?  MuscleTech loves adding a bunch of ingredients to make it seem like the end user is getting more for his money when in reality its just eye candy to make the label look good and confuse the customer.  Will Cell Tech work?  It should, but compare the price of a jug of straight creatine monohydrate and a bag of sugar to Cell Tech, which is essentially what MuscleTech Cell Tech is.

This week I’ll be reviewing a well known supplement, BSN’s NO Xplode.  If you haven’t heard of this product then you probably don’t get out from under the rock you live under too often.  BSN has done an excellent job marketing this and all their products, I mean, who hasn’t tried NO Xplode?  At first glance this pre-workout powder contains all the ingredients that makes up most strength building, pump enhancing, energy producing powders.  BSN uses a couple different kinds of creatine with creatine ethyl ester being the main source.  Ethyl ester creatines are supposed to reduce water retention with an increased absorbability and work well with some people but in my experience its kind of been hit and miss.  In addition to a healthy dose of caffeine, NO Xplode uses various amino acids such as L-tyrosine and taurine to enhance energy levels.  This is what the user “feels” when he takes this product.  Although caffeine and other various stimulants are great for a kick in the ass before the gym it doesn’t necesserily translate to size or strength gains.  In fact studies show that high doses of stimulants can actually release cortisol into the bloodstream.  Cortisol is a stress hormone and is catabolic in nature which can hault muscle growth.  The nitric oxide component of NO Xplode is quite interesting.  In addition to a few oddball, unstudied compounds, BSN uses L-arginine AKG and two types of citrulline to increase the pump effect of working out.  Nitric oxide is sythesized from these compounds.  This combination works well if dosed correctly.  Thats where this formula gets a little hazey.  The extensive list of ingredients is labeled as a total of about 18 grams in a proprietary blend.  There are about 30 ingredients in NO Xplode which begs the question “Is anything in the right dosing?” and “Are these exotic compounds even proven?”  It’s tough to tell.  I do believe that this product will give you energy due to the stimulant content and it will pump you up but I think its more from the massive amounts of sodium they add to the powder (bloat pump).  NO Xplode wouldn’t be my first choice for a pre-workout powder but it definately deserves a fair chance.

If you’re anything like me you want the absolute best of everything.  When it comes to exercise you want the best facilities and the best training techniques and, of course, the best supplements to promote recovery.  Let’s say you’ve got the first two covered and as an avid gym goer you use protein as your foundation supplement.  There are many different kinds of protein on the market including; casein, whey, egg, soy and even hemp protein!  By now I’m sure you’ve figured out that you should be using whey protein due to its absorbability, high BCAA content, mixability and better flavoring.  But did you know there is more than one type of whey?  From poorest quality to purest, this list includes: whey concentrate, whey isolate, micro filtered ion exchange whey isolate, and hydrolyzed whey isolate.  Ion exchange whey is of the purest quality and hydrolyzed whey is a form of ion exchange whey broken down for enhanced absorption.  Although these are the absolute best types of whey they are not cheap to manufacture and can be a costly finished product.  The people that use Isopure or VP2 know what I’m talking about.  I’ve seen Isopure at $52 for a 3lb and VP2 at $50 for a 2lb!!  Ok, you might just want to wipe down your computer screen real quick because you’re about to kiss it.  I’ve found an affordable ion exchange/hydrolyzed whey protein that actually tastes good, no, scratch that, great.  Fortified with glutamine and a vitamin and mineral complex Intek’s Isolate Evolution Protein is, bar none, the best isolate I’ve ever had.  As an added bonus it contains way less sodium than any of the other isolates on the market and it comes in a really cool see through green jug!  Did you kiss your computer screen yet?  Well if that didn’t do it than let’s talk price.  A 3lb jug fetches just $39.99…seriously; you can stop kissing your computer screen now. 

Intek’s Thermogenic Evolution??  More like Intek’s Where the F#*% Did the Fat Go!!!  I’ve used alot of fat burners in my time and this one ranks with the elite.  Having gained a solid 15lbs for my strongman competition I figured it was time to get back down to a leaner, healthier bodyweight of 220lbs. I’m sure you can do the math.  Gaining 15lbs was fun and quite easy; I just ate more.  Dropping 15lbs is another story.  Cardio sucks but its a necessary evil and being hungry all the time gets annoying.  Intek’s Thermogenic Evolution is the answer to your dieting woes.

I was sent a bottle to try and with like most supplements I was skeptical, until I took my first dose.  Holy gratuitous amounts of energy, Batman!! The compound blend Intek uses is specifically formulated to boost energy levels, kill appetite, and even enhance mood. I was zipping through my day and when it was time for my work out I conquered that gym like Conan the Conquerer.  And talk about appetite suppression!  At 235lbs I am hungry all the time.  It takes alot of food for me to maintain that bodyweight.  When I’m on Thermogenic Revolution the hunger is crushed.  It’s almost like I have to remind myself to eat.  It literally took me three weeks to drop that 15lbs.  No joke.  This is not a fat burner for the faint of heart.  This is, however, a fat burner for anyone that wants to drop bodyfat fast.

Digestion is of primary importance to health. An under active digestive system does not absorb the nutrients the body needs, either from food or from supplements. Complete Digestion is a broad spectrum digestive enzyme supplement that supports health and digestion in a multitude of ways. Without digestive enzymes, the body cannot break down proteins into their constituent amino acids. In addition to being imperative for mineral absorption, these amino acids are also the building blocks from which cells, anti-bodies, hormones and enzymes are built. If the body does not produce enough enzymes, it cannot break down protein sufficiently to manufacture more enzymes.  Supplementary enzymes can help to break this vicious cycle.

Complete Digestion continues to support digestion in the intestines with the addition of protease, a complex enzyme that digests proteins, amylases (for digesting starches) and lipases (for digesting fats).  Complete Digestion adds plant enzymes, to further assist with the breakdown of proteins. The digestive aids peppermint and ginger are also included to soothe the gastrointestinal tract and reduce flatulence.

Working out and dieting can help create a calorie deficit (taking in fewer calories than burned) which is necessary for weight loss.  The ideal situation is one in which you lose body fat and maintain muscle tone.  The trick is to get your body to use fat as a fuel source.  This is where CLA and L-Carnitine can help.

Conjugated Linoleic Acid or CLA has been shown to inhibit the activity of lipoprotein lipase, an enzyme involved in the uptake of fat into fat cells.  This can reduce fat uptake into cells preventing accumulation of body fat.  CLA also promotes the body’s use of fat as fuel, helping to breakdown fatty acids allowing them to get into the blood stream to be used as fuel.   Several studies have shown that CLA can positively affect body composition and has a beneficial effect on lean muscle mass. 

Carnitine is a nutrient responsible for the transport of long-chain fatty acids into the energy-producing centers of the cells (known as the mitochondria). In other words, carnitine helps the body convert fatty acids into energy, which is used primarily for muscular activities throughout the body. 

Intek CLA Evolution combines both of these ingredients in the doses researched to provide results.  Try Intek CLA Evolution for a non stimulant product to help your body burn more fat. 

SNI Pro Whey is actually a blended protein consisting of whey concentrate, whey isolate Egg Albumin, and Potassium Caseinate.  This product is geared toward the consumer looking for value.  The price point is low but the quality holds up with almost any other blended protein.  Each scoop packs 30grams of protein and because it is a blend of several different protein types it is more versatile than many other products.  It can be used post workout, between meals or even before going to sleep. 

The addition of digestive enzymes makes it easy to digest and the product flavor is good even when mixed in water.

If you are looking for protein value we think this is definitely one of the better options available.