Primobolan and Primobolan Depot Cycles for Lean Muscle Gains

If ever there was a steroid that can be considered “perfect” (or as perfect as can be), it would be Primobolan. It’s considered to be the safest and least suppressive anabolic steroid, has few side effects and is extremely effective. So why isn’t Primobolan used by everybody? The reasons may lie in many of the misconceptions surrounding this incredible drug.

Primobolan does not give fast gains, or more accurately, does not cause a quick increase in water retention, therefore it’s considered “weak”, yet in terms of building solid muscle, it’s one of the most effective steroids available.

All steroids are based on the testosterone molecule and all steroids provide two functions – one, of mimicking androgenic effects within the body. (Basically all “male” attributes – strength, aggression, the ability to grow muscle, etc). And there’s also the “anabolic” effect, in that they recirculate nitrogen (protein) therefore utilizing more of the necessary building blocks needed for tissue growth and repair. Unless sufficient amino acids are present muscle growth will be sub par and in the case of Primobolan this is of utmost significance. You MUST train hard and you MUST eat a lot of protein. THAT, is when you’ll see what Primobolan can do.

The concept behind Primobolan was to have a far greater anabolic to androgenic ratio. The reasoning is not far removed from the original steroid Dianabol, which was formulated to be a “kinder, gentler” form of testosterone. In this way, the athlete can get all the benefits of greater muscle growth without all the detriment and suppression of excess androgens. In the case of Dianabol, it was a good idea yet just it didn’t turn out quite as well as expected. With Primobolan, they got it right.

Primobolan also has a unique fat burning/estrogen blocking capability resulting in “lean gains.” (Leading some people to believe it’s just a “cutter” which is also ridiculous since all steroids are growth drugs). It doesn’t actually burn fat but it can prevent more fat from being formed.

Being a DHT derivative (technically it’s DHB) Primobolan blocks SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin) thus preventing estrogen from forming. When using Primobolan you not only do not need to add an anti aromatase it acts as one on its own, so if you add testosterone, an anti e may not be required.

If you’re wondering if you can do a cycle solely of Primobolan without suppression you’d be mistaken. Although mild, Primobolan is a source of exogenous androgen and after a few weeks the HPTA will begin to shut down and one’s natural Testosterone production will be compromised since the androgens in the drugs will not sufficiently replace what’s been lost. Consequently, strength and libido will tank. For that reason, most bodybuilders add some testosterone into a Primobolan cycle.

Primobolan has often been compared to Deca Durabolin – most likely due to the fact that they’re both mildly androgenic. However, Deca’s “nandrolone” qualities are actually more suppressive than straight testosterone. Deca also increases progesterone that causes extreme water retention, which incidentally is often regarded, incorrectly, as muscle growth. Primobolan causes almost no water retention that is why many people feel it isn’t a good “mass” builder, which is probably its biggest misconception. Primobolan is deceptive in that the gains are so clean they aren’t overtly apparent at first - which accounts for another myth that Primobolan takes weeks to “kick in.” That, of course, is nonsense. It begins working within hours, but the results may not be noticeable for a while.

Primobolan can be an outstanding size drug on a bulking cycle, If... you consume adequate protein. That is the principal on which it is based. It repairs though increased anabolism. Without the food source, the drug has nothing to work with, so if you aren’t committed to training hard and eating a lot of protein, Primo will be a disappointment. But for more advanced trainers, and those who are used to training naturally, Primo will seem like a wonder drug. Which it kinda is.

There is also an oral form of Primobolan that is often overlooked, the reason being, they are probably the most impractical steroids available. Primobolan acetate is not 17 alpha alkylated, therefore they do not stress the liver. Sounds great, eh? The problem is, they’re only bioavailability for about 4 hours, resulting in several dosages throughout the day (and night) in order to maintain stable blood levels.

People are concerned with hair loss with the usage of Primobolan but most users claim it’s no harder on the hairline than straight testosterone.

Because of Primobolan’s mild nature some bodybuilders use it as a “bridge” between cycles though that is not recommended since it will further suppress natural testosterone production and make it more difficult to rebound.

Primobolan can be an excellent addition to HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) (200 mgs of Primo with 100mgs of testosterone weekly) but it is not available even with a prescription in most countries.

Dosages:

Primobolan is usually injected several times a week since a cc contains only 100 mgs. ( This is due to a heavy molecular weight. Only so much will “fit” into a ml of oil). It’s active for approximately 2 weeks. Anything under 200 mgs a week will not show a tremendous difference but once it goes to 400 mgs, that’s when the magic usually begins. Also due to the molecular weight, Primo tends to be a painful shot. Not bad going in, but the next day you can expect some soreness.

Arnold Schwarzenegger was known to love Primo and to use 100mgs a day, which by today’s standard is quite conservative for a pro but back in the 70’s it was considered outrageous! As mentioned, Primo needs a more androgenic compound to truly get the maximum benefit so an additional steroid is often used and Arnold was thought to maybe use 50 mgs of d-bol a day, which was also pushing the envelope at the time. As little as 200 mgs of test will suffice to maintain a favorable androgenic environment. (Though most people use more, which is essentially more than they need. At a certain point, the risk/benefit ratio becomes unfavorable).

Proviron Minimum and maximum dosages per cycle.

As Proviron is one of the most misunderstood steroids on earth, so are Proviron Doses. One reason for this misunderstanding is this steroid's ratings based on its structural nature; however, its translating action does not match up to its structural nature.

This often leads many to supplement with low Proviron doses that are honestly a waste of time, but there is a similar problem with high doses. As you have seen in the profile page, Proviron has the ability to increase free testosterone levels, but it even goes a step further. This anabolic steroid has the ability to increase Luteinizing Hormone (LH) levels. LH being one of two hormones responsible for natural testosterone production, the other being Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH). While this steroid has such an ability, if the dose goes too high, natural testosterone suppression will occur; as you can see, there will be a fine line to walk when it comes to Proviron doses.

Minimum Proviron Doses:

Proviron doses of 25mg per day are enough to promote the traits held within. However, it will be minimal and often so minimal it's not going to produce anything of notable worth. Most men will need total Proviron doses of at least 50mg per day, and in many cases, this will be all they ever need. The dosing can increase, and often within the realm of safety, but you need to keep something in mind. When we increase our Proviron doses beyond the 50mg point, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) related side effects increase in risk, but we can still increase within the realm of safety.

Increasing Proviron Doses:

50mg is a great place to start, but most men will find Proviron doses of 100mg to 150mg per day to be far more efficient and effective. Such doses will ensure all the effects of this DHT compound are maximized, and if there are no underlying physical issues and no abuse of other steroids you should still be in the realm of safety. Such Proviron doses will still keep you in the realm of promoting more testosterone, and that's one of the primary reasons behind Proviron supplementation. If such doses are attempted, you will need to keep a close eye on your prostate; ensure you receive a physical on a regular basis.

Maximum Proviron Doses:

When it comes to maximum Proviron doses, 200mg per day is as far as anyone should ever take it; however, there is rarely a need for such a dosing. First and foremost, it's unlikely you'll receive a greater benefit of any worth above the 100mg to 150mg range. But you will be incurring a large DHT buildup and opening the door to side effects with a far greater risk. Further, there's a chance you may not enjoy the testosterone benefits to such a strong degree, then again you may, but Proviron doses beyond this mark is unadvisable in all cases.

As youre well aware, there are numerous types of anabolic steroids; theres no such thing as just a steroid as popular culture would have you believe. How many anabolic steroids are there; more than you could imagine, but most who supplement wont use that many; in-fact, over their life most hardcore performance enhancers wont use more than a dozen or so of the top 20 steroids. At any rate, of the more popular anabolic steroids, right in the mix is Proviron, and we can say without question this is one of the most overrated and misunderstood steroids of all time.

When speaking of overrated, theres something we need to explain; were not implying this steroid is a piece of junk, but its so misunderstood the expectations are often blown out of proportion. Brought to the market by Schering, one of the leading anabolic steroid manufacturers, Proviron has been praised for its testosterone protecting and increasing effects, and some consider it essential to their performance planning.

Further, while possessing testosterone related promotional effects, Proviron also carries an anti-estrogenic nature, and on this basis you might compare it to a SERM or AI, but we assure you its an anabolic steroid. At any rate, this is not a foundational steroid by any means, and we wouldnt put it in the same category as secondary steroids like Anadrol and Dianabol, but it serves a purpose; in that there is no doubt.

With this in mind, lets take an in-depth look at Proviron and see what we can find.

Proviron Nature and Traits:

Mesterolone is a dihydrotestosterone (DHT) derived anabolic steroid best known by the popular trade name Proviron given to it by Schering. On a structural basis, Proviron is similar to many other DHT compounds such as Winstrol; however, its mode of action is a closer related to Masteron. As a DHT compound, Proviron does not carry an aromatizing nature and carries a low androgenic rating as does Masteron, but its anabolic rating is much higher. Even so, Proviron displays one of the most deceiving anabolic ratings of all time. Carrying an anabolic rating of 150, 50% greater than testosterone, Proviron will display little to no anabolic properties.An oral steroid, as you know, most oral steroids are C17-alpha alkylated (C17-aa) and by this nature they are toxic to the liver. While an unfortunate trait, the C17-aa nature is necessary in-order for the hormone to survive ingestion or the liver will destroy it, but it means the compound carries a hepatotoxic nature. In the case of Proviron, there is no C17-aa nature and no liver toxicity; however, this means the anabolic action of the compound is diminished greatly.

At any rate, despite lacking the C17-aa nature, Proviron carries a 1-metyhl addition that allows it to be used effectively.While weak at first glance, Proviron binds strongly the androgen receptors and Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) and it is by such actions we see many of the benefits of this steroid. Through such actions, Proviron has the ability to greatly promote direct lipolysis and even promote more free testosterone by its SHBG binding nature. Further, this creates a synergetic action that makes other steroids being used more powerful than they would be otherwise. These, along with its decent anti-estrogenic effect represent the traits that can make Proviron a valuable steroid.

The Benefits of Proviron:

From the traits and nature as described above, you should already be able to see the benefits of Proviron, but well go in a little deeper and provide you with a realistic expectation. Without question, Proviron is largely dependent on other steroids in a total stack and is virtually useless on its own; simply put Proviron has the ability to make your other steroids more powerful. Further, by its nature, it also makes the some of the other steroids you may be using safer due to its anti-estrogenic nature. In-order to put this in perspective, as you know many anabolic steroids aromatize heavily and cause an estrogen buildup, but with Proviron, as is with Masteron this can be limited and many estrogenic related side effects can be avoided. While extremely valuable, just as valuable is the exogenous testosterone you will be supplementing with in most cycles will become more powerful, you will have more testosterone to pull from and utilize thereby making your total cycle more efficient.When it comes to the benefits of Proviron, the above mentioned are the most well-known and most commonly spoken of; however, this steroids promotion or metabolic efficiency is another worthy benefit.

As is with most anabolic steroids, Proviron will enhance the overall metabolic rate, but through its strong binding to the androgen receptors it takes it a step further and can actually promote direct fat loss. Even so, we wouldnt call this a cutting steroid per say but one that simply enhances or promotes all actions to a higher level of power.

The Side Effects of Proviron:

If its an anabolic steroid, its going to carry possible adverse side effects. For that matter, if we put it into our body, and this goes for all things in life even non-steroidal substances its going to carry possible adverse side effects.

When it comes to the side effects of Proviron, in many ways we have a relatively friendly anabolic steroid. As this compound does not aromatize or promote any estrogenic activity, the side effects of Proviron cannot lead to gynecomastia or water retention, and it is relatively mild on blood pressure.

Further, despite being an oral steroid, there is no toxic nature, but were not quite out of the water. As you know by now, Proviron is a DHT compound, and there are three DHT related side effects of Proviron that must be addressed.

Of such side effects, the most concerning is prostate enlargement, and if you already suffer from prostate issues you should not touch this or any anabolic steroid. Due to this steroids strong DHT nature, large buildups in DHT can lead to prostate enlargement; it will take a large buildup and shouldnt be a concern with responsible use; however, you need to keep an eye on things in case there is an underlying issue. If for any reason problems do arise, you will find Finasteride can greatly aide you, as it is an androgen suppressor.

The next often concerning side effect of Proviron is hair loss; DHT can deteriorate the hair follicles; however, this will only be a concern for those predisposed to male pattern baldness. If you are not predisposed, you will not lose any of your hair, but if you are predisposed, while the hair loss will occur no matter what you do the DHT may speed it up. If you are predisposed to male pattern baldness and concerned about your hairline, once again Finasteride can offer protection; it doesnt always work but it does for a lot of men.

The final side effect of Proviron of any note is acne, and this is by far the most common side effect as DHT compound are notorious for causing acne. Even so, once again predisposition will play a role; specifically, those who are genetically sensitive will be the first to have a problem. If this sounds like you, youll want to ensure you put in extra effort when it comes to keeping your skin clean and dry at all times, but if this doesnt work it may mean you need to avoid DHT compounds. Even so, if you put in the effort, most will be fine.

Masteron is the perfect anabolic androgenic steroid for everyone who wants to add muscle density and hardness in a short span of time. One of the biggest advantages of Masteron is that it dramatically promotes muscle mass and body strength when body fat is low. In other words, Masteron is the best choice for athletes who want to gain muscles and add strength without gaining weight.

Primarily considered a pre-contest drug, Masteron also has the potential of improving free testosterone circulating in the body. Moreover, Masteron can quickly enhance the bioavailability of other steroids in a cycle. This is done by preventing considerable amount of Sex Hormone Binding Globulin from binding to other anabolic steroids to render them inactive. This easily available and affordable steroid is considered to be the ideal steroid in a cycle as it takes up a big share of the aromatase enzyme and thus reduces the levels of estrogen formed by other anabolic steroids used in the cycle.

Masteron has the ability to negate the side effects of estrogens due to aromatization. Masteron is well-known in bodybuilding circles for its potential of providing an aesthetic enhancement effect or ‘hardening’ or a ‘chiseling’ effect on the physique. This Dihydrotestosterone derivative is equally beneficial to prevent loss of muscles while dieting or keeping body fat levels stable. Moreover, potent steroid Masteron can even significantly reduce the odds of any possible subcutaneous water retention that may have otherwise obscured the view of muscle mass underneath. Masteron can even improve abilities of athletes to lift heavy weight and perform more repetitions during training sessions. Masteron can potentiate the effects and activities of other anabolic androgenic steroids stacked with it.

The recommended dose of Masteron for Masteron only cycles is 500-700mg every week for male athletes and 50-200mg every week for female athletes. Masteron is usually stacked with Ephedrine, T3, Winstrol, Anadrol, Testosterone propionate, Dianabol, and Trenbolone acetate.

Post cycle therapy drugs such as Clomid or Nolvadex should always be used immediately after or just before the end of a cycle with Masteron so that Hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis (HPTA) level is restored to normal and the production of endogenous testosterone gets restored at the earliest.

Masteron is an extremely potent prescription drug and must always be purchased from a reputed steroid pharmacy or medical store, using a valid medical prescription. The decision to buy Masteron and use it should always be preceded by the recommendation of a medical practitioner following thorough evaluation of all medical reports.

Masteron-Safe Use Tips

Masteron is not recommended to girls and women, especially those who may get pregnant while using the drug or those who are already pregnant or breastfeeding. Masteron is not meant for children and those diagnosed with health conditions such as testicular atrophy, testicular cancer, liver damage, kidney damage, stroke, and respiratory problems or those with hypertension, high blood pressure, and prostate or breast cancer. In case a Masteron dose gets missed, it should be taken as early as possible and then one should continue with the regular dosing schedule. If it is almost time for the next dose of Masteron, the missed dose should be skipped and the regular dosing schedule should then be continued.

Masteron abuse can result in irregular heartbeat, breathing problems, or leg cramps or pain in the toes or fingers. Use of Masteron should be stopped and medical intervention should be sought at the earliest if side effects like weakness, tiredness, breast pain, hot flushes, dizziness, unusual sleepiness, or abdominal pain are experienced after using this steroid.

Anabolic Steroids. Bulking, Cutting and Post Cycle Therapy

Generally, injectable steroids are more suitable for beginners. Orals can be more toxic, which we recommend to intermmediate users, so to keep our benefit to risk ratio high, we will only discuss injectables here. Many people get freaked out when thinking about sticking a needle into their body. In reality, its a very easy and painless procedure when done properly. You may read about the basic steroid injection procedure on our site.

Testosterone is the base of our cycles. A beginner doesnt need much to see great gains. Over the last couple years on the internet, the beginner dosage has slowly increased. Once upon a time, 250mgs of testosterone a week was enough to see very good strength and muscle gains. However, today, many people will say a dosage of 500mgs a week, is the very minimal. This is not true, this is being suggested under the thinking, more is better, which is false.

A successful first cycle (assuming the diet is in check), would be 250mgs of testosterone, every 5 days. Possible testosterones for this cycle would be Sustanon (a testosterone blend), Testosterone Enanthate, or Testosterone Cypionate. These testosterones have a slow acting ester, which means they do not have to be injected frequently. With a slow acting testosterone, a user will begin to see results at approximately the 3-4 week mark. If the user has proper diet and training, a 10-20lb size increase can be expected. Other positive side effects will include increased energy, sex drive, strength, and a sense of well being.

At this dose, negative side effects should not be present. Depending on the diet there may be some water retention. Taking testosterone propionate, which should be injected every second day (minimal), would decrease the water bloat, but many people do not like frequent injections.

For added boost, or possibly for a second cycle, a user can add Equipoise (Boldenone Undecyclate) with the testosterone. Equipoise is a popular veterinary steroid, which can be used for adding mass, or while dieting. Equipoise will give a slow, steady increase in mass and strength. Another plus to equipoise is that it increase appetite, which makes it more appropriate for bulking than cutting. 150mgs every three says will yield impressive results. Equipoise is a rather safe steroids, with no major side effects. It has been my many users at 800-1000mgs a week without any noticeable side effects.

A total steroid cycle should last 8-10 weeks. This is a beginner recommendation. Some suggest doing short 2-3 week cycles, on and off, while others will suggest doing 16-20 week cycles. We believe beginners should start at the basic 8-10 week cycles.

Surprisingly, the same above steroids can be taken to lose weight, and will work effectively. Steroids arent magic, they arent going to help you lose weight. They will help you maintain your muscle, while you are dieting, and give your muscles the full look, but they dont burn fat. Testosterone Suspension or Propionate are better choices than Enanthate and Cypionate, as you wont hold as much water. The Suspenion or Propionate can be taken 50mgs everyday. They are fast acting, and you should see a lot quicker results compared to the slower acting testosterones. Although equipoise increases appetite is also great for that veiny or vascular look. Winstrol (Stanozolol) is another option, but there is the chance of increased negative side effects. There is a chance of hair thinning, acne and liver toxicity but it all depends on how the users body reacts to the drug, and if they are taking anything to minimize the side effects. Winstrol can be injected at 50mgs every other day, or taken orally at 30-50mgs a day, (30mgs/day suggested) with the dosages being split up through out the day. A non-steroid drug, Clenbuterol, can be used to aid fat loss. Clenbuterol is a bronchodilator, used in treatment for asthma. It is slightly thermogenic, and increases the bodys temperature, which in turn, increase the bodys fat loss capabilities.

Other steroids
There are a few other steroids that are also for beginners; with very little side effects. You have:

• Deca Durabolin (Nandrolone Decanoate)
• Anavar (Oxandrolone)
• Primobolan

The only problem with the above three is the price, it can get quite expensive. Deca Durabolin can take the place of equipoise in the above bulking cycle, but we wouldnt recommend it in the cutting cycle. Users can hold water with Deca, and you just wont get the same look and feel, as you will with equipoise. Anavar is a great overall drug, but is probably the most expensive steroid available. It is known as the safest steroid, side effects are extremely rare. It yields slow steady gains, and can be used while bulking or cutting. Primobolan, similar to Anavar, it will give slow, steady gains, with very little side effects. Primobolan and Deca are injectables, while Anavar is an oral steroid. Several years ago, Primobolan and Deca Durabolin were two of the top steroids on the market. Because of research on other drugs, availability, and changing in prices, they arent used quite as often anymore.

If you dont come off properly, you can lose your gains, have emotional problems, and your testosterone may remain shut down, just to name a few. As you can see, its very important to come off anabolic steroids the right way.

First, let us see the basics. Forget the steroids, forget the drugs, we need to really concentrate on the training, dieting, and rest part of your life. Training focus and intensity must remain high. Your mentality can change once you are off steroids, so you must keep training hard, and keep your mind focused. You must keep your protein intake high as well. Dont think once you are off you can stop eating properly. This is possibly the most important time to make sure your diet is in check. Rest, rest and rest. Make sure you get a lot of rest. While you were on steroids, your body, more specifically you muscles recovered a lot faster than they would naturally. Get a lot of rest, and make sure you dont overtrain.

On to the drugs and supplements. Over the years there have been a number of different theories of how to come off anabolic steroids. Some say take HCG, some say not to, some say take Clomid, some say dont, some say take Nolvadex, some say dont you get the point. More info on those drugs are on our main page, and there is a huge drug database in our members section.

We are going to give two basic choices, and reasons why we decided to offer two choices. Remember, there are numerous ways to come off steroids, or Post cycle therapy (PCT). This is our way, and we feel its best. However, its just our opinion, everyone can do more research and decide what is best for them. Method one, Nolvadex (Tamoxifen Citrate) only.

Recommended dosage:
40mgs a day for 14 days, then 20mgs a day for the next 14 days. The idea to use Nolvadex post cycle came around not too long ago, and Nolvadex only, even sooner than that. Users report full recover in their testosterone product and overall feeling. No side effects noticed. Thats it for the first method, nice and simple.

Method two, Nolvadex with clomid (Clomiphene Citrate). Users report an even better recovery with this, than Nolvadex alone. On the down side, Clomid has known to cause temporary side effects. Some users will get acne and extremely emotional for 2-4 weeks. However, many believe this is due to the natural testosterone production, and the imbalance with estrogen levels. 2-4 weeks is a very short period, considering your body is once again producing its natural testosterone once again, and you shall keep almost all of your gains.

As for health supplements, some like to take tribulus territories, which helps with the libido. Protein powders are always useful, while on or off steroids. Glutamine, which some swear by, while others claim it is useless, may be used as well, which is supposed to aid in muscle recovery. Creatine can also be started, which will help you keep your strength and weight (water) up, to avoid any immediate emotional disorders ie. if you happen to lose a bit of weight or strength, you may go into a depressed state.

Melanotan and Melanotan II

Melanotan and Melanotan II are peptides that have recently become very popular due to their abilities to cause tanning of the skin, something much sort after by many bodybuilders and those who like to have dark and tanned skin for aesthetics. The secretion of melanin causes the tanning and darkening of the skin, and melanin is heightened by Melanotan (more melanotan equals more melanin), a peptide characteristically twinned with α-MSH. The functions are not just limited to skin pigmentation, however. Hair pigmentation, libido and appetite are also determined by Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone. The tanning effect is heightened by the exposure of UV light, although tanning of the skin has been noted in areas of the body that do not usually get expose to the light. Tanning is usually more pronounced in the facial area and arms.

Within clinical studies the main side effects noted were nausea and flushing of the face. Appetite suppression is also widely noted with Melanotan, which could either be welcomed or unwelcome for a bodybuilder depending on their dietary goals at the time! Many of users experiences with melanotan has backed this up with many users reporting a feeling of nausea after the injections. At the dosages outlined in this article it would be less common to actually vomit from the result of the administration of the Melanotan, although this side effect has been noted in clinical studies (which usually involve higher dosages). Users have noted fatigue as another side effect of the Melanotan. Tanning, headaches, nausea, flushing, itching and irritation, tiredness, dizziness, and the formation of white patches are all possible. Melanotan II has been noted to have more side effects than those just previously listed, including increased sexual arousal.

The side effects associated with Melanotan often decrease with each administration of the substance, although most will experience the most common side effects of nausea and flushing only shortly after injecting the peptide, with the effects lasting up to a few hours.

Melanotan is the peptide that is being trailed for main stream use due to its shorter list of possible side effects from its usage. Melanotan II has a greater list of side effects due to its interaction with a greater number of melanocortin receptors. This brings about more effects from the peptides usage, and also can make the outlined side effects that both Melanotan and Melanotan II share more pronounced.

Melanotan and Melanotan II are supplied in vials as powders that need to be mixed with bacteriostatic water for injection. The Melanotan and Melanotan II powder are best stored in a freezer due to their slow degradation at room temperature, and are often shipped in ice packs for this reason. The degrading process is slow, so if your Melanotan did not get shipped in ice packs it will not make your batch that less effective as long as the exposure to the higher temperature has not exceeded several days.

As previously stated, Melanotan needs to be mixed with bacteriostatic water prior to injection. To achieve a concentration of 10mg/8ml, use 8ml of bacteriostatic water in your 10mg vial of powder. From this we can have a concentration level of 0.25mg per 0.2ml. This should be enough liquid for you to accurately draw up using a 1ml marked syringe, although you could choose your own concentration level using a similar process. By using a 1ml syringe we can successfully attach and detach needles, and store the solution filled syringe in the fridge ready for the next injection.

The required dosages of Melanotan are greater than that of Melanotan II. A daily dosage of 2-3mg of Melanotan will bring about fruitful results, and a daily dosage of 1mg will do the same for Melanotan II. To restrict the undesirable side effects it is often best to start the dosages at a level of 1-1.5mg for Melanotan and 0.25mg-0.5mg for Melanotan II, and build the dosages by .25mg each day until the target dosage is reached. The injection itself is done into the sub-cutaneous layer.

Muscle Gains with Testosterone Cycle

If you were to give a survey to steroid users, there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that testosterone would rank as #1 on almost everyone's list. It is by far one of the most effective tools in achieving maximum muscle and strength gains in the shortest time possible. Proper testosterone usage will blast you past your natural limitations. But in all its greatness, testosterone does have some serious side effects. These side effects are avoidable!

Before I even begin, I'd like to address what I believe to be two of the most annoying myths about steroids:

The first myth is that testosterone supplementation leads to steroid-induced bouts of rage, better known as "roid-rage." I do not know how this rumor surfaced. I believe that it may have to do with football players, who were taught that violence is good, losing control. Testosterone has an effect on endorphin levels. Everyone I know that has used testosterone says that it brings about a general feeling of wellbeing. I can attest to this personally. There is no such thing as "roid-rage." It is a myth! If there is an asshole inside you, sure testosterone may bring it out even more. But it does not turn otherwise normal people into raging psychopaths.

The second myth I would like to address is the one that states "Steroids shrink your dick." Is this a joke? I would think so if it were not for the many people I have heard say this in seriousness. How could steroids possibly shrink your penis? I can not even imagine a possible way that testosterone supplementation would bring about penile shrinkage. This rumor was probably started over a misunderstanding. Testosterone usage will cause testicular shrinkage. But this is so easily avoidable that it should never happen to anyone with half a brain cell. I will discuss prevention of testicular shutdown in further detail later in this article.

Proper testosterone usage can yield amazing results. In a 3 month period, a first time steroid user can expect to gain 30-50 pounds. Once steroid usage has ceased, he may lose 10-15 pounds of water-weight, but should retain all the muscle gain. The rumor that all gains made on steroids will go away once you stop using it is utterly false! If you choose to allow you testicles to shutdown and stop testosterone supplementation without a taper, sure you'll lose a lot of the gains. But the fact remains, if you are properly educated in the use of testosterone, you should be able to gain a lot of muscle with minimal to almost non-existent side effects and keep most of those gains.

The first step in assessing whether or not testosterone is the steroid for you is taking a look at your goals. If your goal is maximum fat-loss with no interest in muscle gain, then testosterone is not for you. I will address the proper steroids for such a cycle in another article. Now if your goal is to gain as much muscle and strength as possible, then testosterone is for you. After you have decided that you would like to supplement testosterone, the next step is choosing which form of testosterone you'd like to use. Testosterone is almost never found in pure form. Most of the time, some ester or another has been added to it. The purpose is to avoid a sudden rush of testosterone in your system. Esters will let the testosterone get absorbed in a time-released manner.

There are many forms of testosterone to choose from. Testosterone Propionate will hit your system in 2-3 days. Testosterone Suspension (which has no ester) will hit your system in 1 day. Testosterone Enanthate will take about 10 days. Sustanon (a blend of 4 different testosterones) will remain active in your system for periods of up to 4 weeks. The general rule is the faster acting a testosterone is, the more side effects you will experience from its use. So the goal is to find a testosterone that doesn't hit your system so fast that most of it is rapidly converted to estrogen and DHT while at the same time choosing a testosterone that is not so long acting that it will be hard to control. I suggest Testosterone Enanthate. It is my personal favorite.

The next step is to find a reliable brand of testosterone. There are many brands out there. Since it is impossible to test all brands and their subsequent batches, we have to go by personal experiences.

Next, you'll have to decide what type of doses you are going to be taking. For a beginner using a good quality testosterone, I suggest 500mg a week. Here is what a good beginner cycle's base looks like:

1. Weeks 1 to 10: 500mg testosterone enanthate per week
2. Week 11:          300mg testosterone enanthate
3. Week 12:         200mg testosterone enanthate

Now if that were all you would be doing, you most certainly will experience some side effects. Side effects usually are a result of the two paths testosterone can take once it hits your system.

The first path testosterone could take would be if 5alpha reductase turns it into DHT. Even though DHT has some beneficial effects on muscle gain, it is highly androgenic. DHT is the main cause of steroid's two biggest side effects: balding and enlargement of the prostate (i.e.- prostate hyperplasia). You know enough about balding, so I won't explain why you don't want it. Basically, DHT binds to the hair follicle in your head. It causes an inflammation that in turn starves your hair of oxygen. Thus, your hair dies. Having an enlarged prostate is definitely something you want to avoid. The frequent need to urinate aside, DHT has been shown to dramatically increase your chances of getting prostate cancer. So how do you avoid this? Take finasteride. Finasteride has been shown to inhibit 5alpha reductase from converting testosterone to DHT. Research has shown it to be highly effective in treating and preventing baldness and prostate enlargement.  I suggest using 1 to 1.25 mg of Finasteride a day for every 500mg of testosterone you use. If you have a 5mg tablet, that means using one quarter tablet a day. Prolonged use has shown no adverse side effects in most subjects.

The next path that testosterone could take would be if it aromatizes into estrogen. Estrogen can cause the development of gynocomastia (also known as gyno). Gynocomastia is an often seen steroid side effect. It is the irreversible development of breasts in a male subject. Although it is harmless in nature, and very small, it often causes an immense amount of mental anguish in the subject. Estrogen also causes increased water retention, bloat, and an increased rate of fat gain. Getting rid of estrogen is very easy. I suggest the use of an anti-aromatase (i.e.- a substance that prevents testosterone from being converted into estrogen). Arimidex is number one on my list of anti-aromatases. Arimidex is the brand name for anastrozole. It comes in 1mg tablets. I suggest using one-eighth to one quarter of a mg of anastrozole per day per 500mg of testosterone that you use. That equates to using a quarter of a tablet every other day or every day. Anastrozole has been shown in countless research to cut down estrogen production by up to 90%. Prolonged use has been shown to be extremely safe.

Another side effect of testosterone supplementation is testicular shutdown. The body senses all of the excess testosterone in your system and decides to stop producing its own. This causes your testicles to shrink and your sperm count to decrease significantly. The use of clomiphine citrate (more commonly known as clomid) can prevent this from happening. Clomid stimulates your body to keep producing its own testosterone. That way, testicular shutdown never comes about. Even though testicular shutdown is completely reversible once steroid use has ceased, it is a good idea to prevent it from ever happening. Once you stop using steroids, your body will start producing its own testosterone again. But this can take up to a month to happen. During that month, you will have significantly reduced amounts of testosterone in you system. Thus, you will most likely lose much of your gains once you stop using testosterone. To prevent testicular shutdown, I suggest using Clomiphine citrate. I recommend 25mg of Clomid per day per 500mg of testosterone you use. Since Clomid most often comes in 50mg tablets, that would equate to one tablet every other day. If you are using 1000mg of testosterone, that equates to 1 tablet a day. Clomid has been shown extremely safe in many laboratory tests and medical research.

Another side effect of testosterone supplementation is an increase in your cholesterol levels. That is why I suggest you follow a low-cholesterol diet when on testosterone. Most of the time you hear about someone having a heart attack because of steroid use, it is most likely due to the fact that the person refused to give up a high cholesterol diet when on steroids. I also suggest getting your blood work done on your first cycle. Personally, my cholesterol level went up from 170 to 200 when on a cycle. I did not stop eating junk food. In fact, I ate a lot more junk food. So personally, testosterone does not affect my cholesterol levels all that much. But you have to find out if it affects you for yourself. If it does, no big deal , just fix up your diet a little.

Testosterone supplementation also has an effect on your sebaceous glands. Your sebaceous glands are located in your skin. Their main responsibility is to produce oil. Testosterone enlarges this gland and cause the production of excess body oil. This in turn leads to acne, which can occur on your back and chest. If you experience this side effect, it is very easy to reverse. Taking 2 showers a day is your first step. Next, tan once or twice a week. If it is summer, go to the beach and swim in the ocean every so often. If it is winter, take a bath using 2 cups of Epson salt and .5 to 1 cup of chlorine bleach every so often.

So here is what a complete beginner's steroid cycle would look like:

Weeks 1-10:
*500mg testosterone per week
*1 quarter tablet of Finasteride per day (1.25mg)
*1 quarter tablet of Arimidex every other day (0.25mg)
*1 tablet of Clomid every other day (50mg)

Week 11:
*300mg testosterone per week
*1 quarter tablet of Finasteride per day (1.25mg)
*1 quarter tablet of Arimidex every other day (0.25mg)
*1 tablet of clomid every other day (50mg)

Week 12:
*200mg testosterone per week
*1 quarter tablet of Finasteride per day (1.25mg)
*1 quarter tablet of Arimidex every other day (0.25mg)
*1 tablet of clomid every day (50mg)

Week 13:
*1.25mg of Finasteride per day
*.25mg of Arimidex every other day
*100mg of clomid every day

Week 14:
*1 quarter tablet of Arimidex every 3rd day (0.25mg)
*50mg of clomid every day

People often get confused about training and dieting while on testosterone. First, to facilitate all the extra muscle building, it is strongly suggested that you increase daily caloric intake by around 2000 calories. Increase protein intake to 1.5 to 2 grams of protein per pound of lean bodyweight. Training should remain relatively unchanged. You may increase sets per body part by 2 additional sets per week. Sleep is another important factor. Get at least 8 hours a night; and that is bare minimum.

If you train, eat, and sleep right, you should expect to gain anywhere from 20-40 pounds off this cycle. About 5-10 pounds will be water, so don't be alarmed when you start losing the water at the end of your cycle. You will retain the muscle. I'd say water gain would make up approximately 10% of you overall weight gain. If you choose not to use an anti-aromatase, expect much more water gain, which will in turn cause greater overall weight gain.

If you have any more questions, feel free to email me at any time. Almost forgot, take as much time off between cycles as you are on. In other words, if you do a 12 weeks cycle (12 weeks of actual testosterone), then you should take 12 weeks off before your next cycle.

Testosterone Propionate is a powerful steroid

In the world of anabolic steroids testosterone is king; in-fact, all anabolic steroids owe their allegiance to the testosterone hormone, for without it they would not exist. Of all the forms of anabolic steroids it is testosterone that was first and regarding mass production Testosterone Propionate was the first to hit the shelves in mass quantity ready for human use. Testosterone Propionate is one of the longest existing anabolic steroids and since its inception and into the present day it has remained one of the most popular of all time. Its popularity stems from many points but first and foremost it remains popular because it is simply pure testosterone, a hormone of great anabolic and androgenic power. Further, as we will shortly see testosterone is one of the more versatile hormones we can ever become acquainted with and while all testosterone forms are simply that, testosterone, Testosterone Propionate holds a special place in the hearts of many performance enhancers due to its fast acting nature. Regardless of anything else Testosterone Propionate is the easiest testosterone form to control, it is very easy to maintain stable levels, easy to control in-terms of side-effects and generally one of the more user friendly anabolic androgenic steroids anyone could ever choose.

Testosterone is a hormone produced by both men and women and is essential to our very functioning existence. As it is responsible for a host of functions we can see the majority of the functions when we examine low levels of the hormone and the negative effects it can cause. As for Testosterone Propionate, what we have is identical to the testosterone hormone you naturally produced, the only difference being Testosterone Propionate is synthetically manufactured.

How important is the testosterone hormone? Largely the examination of low levels can tell us everything we need to know and while low levels in of themselves are not life-threatening they can be beyond problematic and lead to many problems that can be life-threatening indeed; look at it like opening a door that should remained closed. Individuals who suffer from low testosterone and while more men will fall prey many women do as well, will often find symptoms such as increases in body-fat, loss of muscle tissue and strength, the inability to lose body-fat even when dieting and exercising, loss of libido, erectile dysfunction in men, a weakened immune system, lethargy, depression, a lack of mental focus, a lack of clarity of thought; the list goes on and on. Again, directly none of these conditions are life-threatening but you’d be hard pressed to make a positive argument regarding a single one. Further, it’s no secret, excess body-fat and a loss of muscle tissue is well-known to be the gateway to many serious physical problems, many of which are quite life-threatening indeed. An interesting note, in recent year’s low testosterone has also been linked to dementia, most notably regarding fatal Alzheimer’s disease.

For the individual who suffers from low levels, when he supplements with testosterone and Testosterone Propionate can be used for just that, he will in-fact see each and every area that was once found lacking improved upon and to a strong degree this is exactly how we can look at performance enhancing. For the performance enhancer the idea is simple, to take the levels of testosterone past what can be produced naturally thereby enhancing the traits and functions for what it is responsible for greatly. It really is that simple and is nowhere nearly as complicated as many like to make it out to be.

So how does it all work? By its nature and direct mode of action Testosterone Propionate as a pure testosterone form greatly increases nitrogen retention in the muscles as well as overall protein synthesis. Both of these traits are key factors in building lean tissue as well as preserving it and as lean tissue increases so does our overall metabolic rate. If nothing else this makes the hormone immeasurable in-terms of how truly beneficial it is but as you may have guessed its direct mode of action goes much deeper.

Testosterone Propionate will dramatically reduce and inhibit the release of glucocorticoid hormones in the body. This is important because these are the hormones that destroy muscle tissue and promote the storage of body-fat; while you may not be familiar with all glucocorticoid hormones you’ve probably heard of one, the most famous of all, cortisol. By supplementing and increasing our testosterone levels through the use of Testosterone Propionate we now have less cortisol in our body; again, promoting greater metabolic activity.

Testosterone also plays a key and vital role along with IGF-1, a naturally produced peptide hormone of immense anabolic power and importance. IGF-1 effects nearly every single cell in the human body and the more testosterone in your system the greater release of this peptide hormone there will be. IGF-1 also play a direct role alongside another peptide hormone, the most famous of all, Human Growth Hormone (HGH) and it is the release of IGF-1 that plays a very important role in how much HGH you produce.

While this gives you a general understanding of the testosterone hormone you still need to understand the Propionate ester. Propionate is not a steroid, it is not a hormone, it is an ester that can be attached to a hormone and testosterone is not the only one. Propionate is one of the smaller esters we have available, not the smallest but pretty close; of the most common esters used the only smaller ester most will use will be Acetate. As a small ester based testosterone, Testosterone Propionate will become active and noticeable very quickly and as to be expected will carry a very short half-life; meaning, the total duration of activity is very short lived, thereby making frequent administration necessary. Testosterone Propionate carries a half-life of approximately 4 days and will need to be administered at least every 3 days with every other day being far more optimal. Further, as more of an interesting note, as the Propionate ester is so small it will take up very little mass in the compound; meaning a larger portion of the compound will be pure testosterone. For example, 100mg of Testosterone Propionate will yield more usable testosterone than 100mg of a larger ester based form such as Testosterone Cypionate. In the end, while worthy of note it is of little consequence since dosing can easily be adjusted to receive the same amount with any form.

As Testosterone Propionate is just that, testosterone it is for all intense purpose one of the very few perfect anabolic steroids. Individual goals can greatly vary from treating low testosterone, performance enhancement, bulking, cutting, improving athletic performance or simple vanity and Testosterone Propionate can have a place in each and every one. As is evident from the hormones description above Testosterone Propionate can greatly add muscle mass, increase strength, improve metabolic efficiency, improve athletic performance and grant you a greater sense of well-being; is there really much more you could want? Further, because Testosterone Propionate is such a fast acting anabolic steroid, while most will tolerate it very well if you are one of the few who does not for whatever reason, simply discontinuing use will be very simple as the hormone will clear in just a few days.

By-and-large the simplest way to look at the benefits are as we discussed above; when we understand what testosterone is responsible for we then understand why it’s important to make sure levels are adequate if they are lacking. Further, regarding performance enhancement when we understand again what the hormone is responsible for we understand very easily how increasing our levels increases its efficiency by in-which it functions, we literally enhance the performance of the testosterone hormone.

Anabolic steroids carry with them possible side-effects and as Testosterone Propionate is an anabolic androgenic steroid it too carries with it possible side-effects. However, it is very important to remember testosterone is not akin to taking medicine; although steroids are often labeled “Drugs” such a label is somewhat haphazard. As you recall, testosterone is a hormone you naturally produce and have so your entire life and by basic logic the presence of testosterone will generally be very well tolerated. Even so, when we present to our body anything in exogenous form there is always some level of risk; how great the risk varies from each and every item and in the world of anabolic steroids the level of risk varies with each and every one. In the case of Testosterone Propionate, as it is very well-tolerated in most healthy adult men most will not have any problems; however, responsible use will always be the safest route to follow. Of course it must be noted, “responsible use” can mean quite a few different things to different people but nevertheless, there are facts and there are real life experiences we can pull from to gauge our choices.

 Of the possible side-effects you will find they most commonly include Gynecomastia, water retention, high blood pressure and issues of a cholesterol nature as well as testicular atrophy; testicular atrophy being the one guaranteed side-effect in all men. Testicular atrophy occurs for one simple reason; the presence of anabolic androgenic steroids, even testosterone suppresses natural testosterone production. As testosterone is produced in the testicles and production comes to a halt the testicles simply shrink in size; no, contrary to popular belief they do not shrink to where you can barely see them, we’re speaking of a slight decline is fullness. Once use is discontinued your testicles will return to their normal size as natural testosterone production will begin yet again.

As for the other side-effects, they are by no means guaranteed but if they do occur they will do so because of the testosterone conversion process. Testosterone converts into estrogen via the aromatase process and as excess estrogen builds up such related side-effects can become problematic. Absolutely, the total dose of Testosterone Propionate you take will play a big role; the more testosterone in your system the more testosterone there is to convert into estrogen. Individual sensitivity will also play a large role but there are things we can do if we are sensitive or as simple precautionary measures and none is better than supplementing with an aromatase inhibitor (AI.) An AI inhibits the conversion to estrogen and further reduces the amount of estrogen in the body; as the brunt of potential side-effects are brought on by estrogen you an easily see how and why this can be so beneficial.

Go to any steroid related message board and you’ll find individuals who claim Testosterone Propionate is better suited for cutting cycles and that longer ester based testosterones should be used when bulking; the point, do not listen to these people. Testosterone Propionate can be used for any cycle, as can pretty much any testosterone form; Testosterone Propionate is a perfect steroid because it is pure testosterone and it is not the ester that deems it better for one purpose or the other. It is true, some people will hold a little less water when they use this small ester version but in most cases any water problems can be controlled with diet and the use of AI’s. As for bulking, again, as this is pure testosterone and testosterone is the best agent for a bulking cycle Testosterone Propionate can be perfect. Yes, you’ll need to inject frequently regardless of the end goal but sometimes this isn’t really a bad thing. Frequent injections of small ester based anabolics are often much easier to control in-terms of maintaining stable and peaked levels of a particular hormone. In the end, when making your choice you’ll find Testosterone Propionate to be a fine one regardless of anything else but other forms can be just as good.

For the Testosterone Replacement Therapy candidate generally dosing will fall in the 100mg-200mg per week range and rarely surpassing this amount. However, as frequent injections are necessary most physicians will generally opt for larger ester forms, most commonly Testosterone Cypionate so the patient only has to inject once per week.

For the performance enhancer the dosing will be much larger and the varying levels will be much wider too but he must necessarily inject frequently as discussed if he is going to maintain stability. Generally the minimal dose when supplementing for performance purposes will be 100mg every other day with 200mg every other day being as high as most will ever go. Yes, you an absolutely take more, there is no set in stone amount but understand such high-end doses can open up the doors to side-effects that you may have wished to remain shut. In elite level competitive sports, especially in elite level bodybuilding it is not uncommon to see doses surpass a 2,000mg per week range but this can be very harsh and there is simply no way such a dosing could ever be recommended in a responsible manner.

As with all cycles, as natural testosterone production will be suppressed, once use is discontinued and responsible use will include breaks Post Cycle Therapy (PCT) is a must in order to aid and speed up the recovery process. This is where Testosterone Propionate has a bit of advantage over many other forms of testosterone; as a small ester that clears very quickly if your cycle ends with Testosterone Propionate and there is no other long ester gear present in your system your PCT plan can start almost immediately. Remember, the sooner we start our PCT the better off we’ll be and such rapid PCT application cannot be accomplished with long ester based testosterone. If your cycle ends with Testosterone Propionate you could reasonably wait 3 days before PCT therapy begins; if it ends with large ester gear you will need to wait approximately 2 weeks. 

Winstrol Depot (Stanozolol) by HardCoreLabs

Winstrol Depot (stanozolol injectable) is an anabolic steroid with interesting properties. It generally is not used as the foundation of an anabolic steroid cycle, and is not necessary for most cycles. Still, however, it has benefits in certain situations.

Winstrol Depot and Liver Toxicity

Winstrol differs from nearly all other injectables in being 17-alkylated, a property more typically associated with oral anabolic steroids. This results in liver toxicity not usually associated with injectables. Further, in terms of liver toxicity Winstrol may be more potent (have more effect per milligram) than most other alkylated steroids: for this reason I prefer for the injected amount to be limited to 50 mg/day, and period of use to be limited to 6 – 8 weeks.

Winstrol Depot and Joints and Tendons

Additionally, Winstrol may be more prone than other anabolic steroids to increasing tendon brittleness. I am not so concerned about this as to consider it a reason to never use Winstrol at all, but it is reason to limit the total weeks of use per year. I don’t have any firm guideline on that, but for example I consider six weeks of use twice per year a reasonable amount.
Further, Winstrol use sometimes leads to joint pain during a cycle.

Benefits of Winstrol Depot

So where is Winstrol of particular benefit? Most typically, I look to Winstrol where an athlete’s needs are for strength or speed with mass increase is unimportant or actually undesirable. Another situation is for physique enhancement if a “hardening” effect is desired but the user does not wish to use trenbolone.

Winstrol is a suitable choice for simpler purposes as well. For example, though not ordinarily used for mass gain it can provide significant mass advantages to a 500 mg/week body-recomp testosterone cycle, while not increasing estrogen or requiring use of an aromatase inhibitor. It will also increase fat loss effect compared to a steroid cycle using that amount of testosterone alone.

Winstrol Depot Half-Life

Winstrol differs from other injectable anabolic steroids in being an aqueous suspension of fine particles of steroid, instead of being an oil solution of an esterified compound. For this reason, it has unusual pharmacokinetics which do not follow the classic half-life pattern. Instead, there is a sustained effect which slowly tapers. The duration of action is probably at least a week. Individual particles of Stanozolol may remain at the injection site for extended periods of time, however, which can cause drug test failure.

Winstrol Depot and Women

While no anabolic steroid is completely safe for women, Stanozolol is a particularly unsuitable choice. First, even oral Winstrol is very problematic for women. Doses as low as 2 mg/day have caused side effects of virilization (though most women can tolerate somewhat more than this) but low dose use offers no remarkable anabolic benefit compared to other steroids. The injectable is an even worse choice for women because of its slow clearance.

Winstrol Depot Side Effects

Stanozolol does not aromatize (convert to estrogen) or undergo metabolism by the 5-alpha reducatase enzyme (5AR.) It does not convert to DHT. However, like all anabolic steroids nonetheless it has adverse side effect on the hair for those with the genetics for male pattern baldness.

To summarize, Winstrol Depot is a specialty anabolic steroid which usually does not need to be added to an anabolic steroid cycle for either athletic or bodybuilding purposes. It can add to mass gains but more usually is used for cutting, hardening, or increasing speed or strength without necessarily increasing muscle mass. Adverse side effects particular to Winstrol and different from other injectable anabolic steroids include liver toxicity, occasional joint problems, and possibly tendon brittleness.

Diet may influence gut bacteria more than genes

More and more studies are revealing the important role that our gut bacteria play in our health. Their trillions of cells vastly outnumber ours. Fortunately, many of them are "friendly," in that they help us digest food and crowd out pathogens that cause disease.

But the mix of gut microbes varies considerably from person to person and also over time. And, until now, it has not been clear whether this variation is due mostly to genes (nature), or things we can change (nurture), such as diet and lifestyle.

Peter Turnbaugh, an assistant professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF), and colleagues describe how - by studying hundreds of mice - they discovered diet may have a stronger influence on gut bacteria than genes.

Prof. Turnbaugh says in a healthy adult, the same strains and species of gut microbes can live in the gut for years, while their relative abundance - the sizes of their populations - can change quite a lot over time.

"These new results emphasize that, unlike a mammalian genome - which is relatively constant - the microbial genomes that comprise the gut microbiome are relatively plastic," he adds.

Findings suggest it may not be necessary to tailor gut bacteria treatments

Prof. Turnbaugh explains that one day it may be possible to treat diseases by shaping the balance of bacteria in the gut. And these new findings suggest it may not be necessary to tailor treatments differently for each person, because "the microbial response to a given diet may be similar for many people's microbial communities."

In another recent study in humans, Prof. Turnbaugh and colleagues found the mix of gut microbes changed quickly when diets varied between vegan and animal-based - after just a few days.

In this new study, they used hundreds of mice with a wide range of well-defined genetic backgrounds.

They fed the mice two different diets, altering between a high-fat, high-sugar diet (14.8% protein, 44.6% fat and 40.6% carbohydrate) and a low-fat, plant-based diet (22.2% protein, 16.0% fat and 61.7% carbohydrate).

Switching diet changed gut mix in days, showed influence lasts for months
The researchers discovered that switching the mice to a high-sugar, high-fat diet changed the mix of microbes in their gut to a new, stable mix within 3 days. The effect was repeatable and was mostly independent of the genetic variations among the mice, they note.

Regardless of the mice's genetic makeup, the high-fat, high-sugar diet increased the abundance of Firmicutes bacteria and reduced the abundance of Bacteroidetes bacteria.

The team found that varying diet had a much stronger influence on gut microbe mix than genetic variation. And the influence can last for several months.

Prof. Turnbaugh says they are not sure whether changes in the gut's microbe mix are a direct result of changes in the diet - which changes the mix of nutrients in the gut that the bacteria are exposed to - or an indirect result of the effects of diet on the overall body of the host.

Past diets also play a role in determining gut microbe mix. The team also found that when they returned the mice to their original diets, changes in the gut microbe mix were largely reversible - but not quite. It seems that imprints of past diets - as well as current diet - play a role in determining gut microbe mix.

Ginger can treat stomach issues, boost immunity and more

Few herbs have received as much praise throughout history as ginger, the rhizome of the Zingiber officinale plant. Testimonials of ginger's significant medicinal properties have been recorded as far back as ancient Greece, though it was also mentioned in the ancient literature of Europe, Asia and the Middle East. The ancient healing systems of China and India particularly venerated ginger, and often prescribed it to treat fatigue, poor blood circulation and nausea.

Ginger remains the world's most widely cultivated herb, and a large number of studies confirm its numerous health benefits. Like most herbs, almost all of these benefits stem from ginger's many bioactive compounds; it contains few vitamins or minerals in significant amounts.

Research into ginger

Treatment for gastrointestinal complaints - Ginger has been used for centuries as a home remedy for constipation, bloating, gastritis, gastric ulcerations, indigestion, morning sickness and countless other gastrointestinal issues. A study also found that ginger could help the muscles of the stomach contract, thereby boosting digestion. According to a review ginger is effective at treating gastrointestinal conditions due to its high concentrations of antioxidants, whose free radical-scavenging abilities bestow the herb with gastroprotective effects.

Rich in anti-inflammatory gingerols - Ginger is rich in bioactive, anti-inflammatory compounds called gingerols and shogaols. These substances are believed to be the reason why so many people with rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis experience reductions in pain and improvements in movement after consuming ginger on a regular basis. For example, a study found that crude ginger extracts and gingerol derivatives could prevent joint inflammation. A later study discovered that ginger could alleviate neuropathic pain in rats.

Boosts immune function - Ginger is a proven diaphoretic, meaning it can increase perspiration. Though most of us are aware that sweating can detoxify our bodies, German researchers have recently discovered that sweat contains a natural antibiotic named dermcidin that can ward off bacterial, fungal, viral and microbial infections. For this reason, eating more ginger can directly boost our body's immune system and protect us from common infections such as Staphylococcus aureus (a common cause of skin conditions) and Candida albicans.

Natural aphrodisiac and antidepressant  - According to a study ginger extracts have a positive effect on the reproductive functions of male rats due to its "potent  antioxidant properties and androgenic activities." These results confirm the allegations of ancient Chinese and Indian medicine, which claimed for centuries that ginger is a potent aphrodisiac. Moreover, the aforementioned gingerols in ginger are known to possess sedative properties, which might help explain why ginger is also an effective antidepressant that can improve low moods.

Consuming ginger

While ginger root can be eaten raw, it is far more pleasant to consume in tea or powdered form. Ginger tea is an especially popular way to consume ginger and is probably the most accessible way to treat a persistent stomach complaint. Some people like to add honey or lemon to the tea to boost its stomach-settling qualities.