June 8 - June 9, 2008
Days 9 - 10
Impressions / Results:
I continued with the tweaked protocol I began on Day 7.
There are no sleep disruptions; strength and endurance/stamina are somewhere between stable and increasing; muscle-hardening remains noticeable; and general well-being remains robust. No changes in testicular dimensions, temperament, or hair density, are discernible, to mention some common androgenic sides. No that these were expected, yet I wanted to emphasize that I have been unable to identify them, just in case any one was interested in that type of information.
I am aware quercetin was mainly introduced in the STOKED! matrix to enhance resveratrol uptake and bioavailability. Yet, I would like to mention one or two other known benefits of quercetin supplementation that also help explain some of the overall STOKED! results. Quercetin is one of the most important flavonols of the flavonoid class. It is recognized as one of the most potent superoxide-radical scavengers available; possesses anti-carcinogenic and anti-tumor properties; contributes to estrogen management; is a well-known anti-histamine and anti-allergy agent; promotes catechol-O-methyl-transferase (COMT) inhibition, just like EGCG in green tea. COMT is the enzyme that breaks down norepinephrine, the body’s most potent lipolytic hormone. Also, quercetin is known to interfere with various cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes involved in steroid-hormone synthesis. By inhibiting certain enzymes in this class, quercetin ensures extended uptake and usage of many compounds (including icariin, resveratrol, and so on), much like naringin and its metabolite, naringenin. Something else. Quercetin is also known to inhibit the cAMP phosphodiesterase enzyme in a dose-dependent fashion. This inhibition, is not only synergistic with icariin’s pathway, but also leads to enhanced thermogenesis. Quercetin’s pathway to enhancing thermogenesis naturally makes it a strong candidate for stacking with green tea. Here is the reasoning: It is known that in the presence of (nor)adrenaline or other beta-receptor agonists, certain flavonoids such as quercetin promote lipolysis. Since EGCG boosts noradrenaline, a quercetin-EGCG matrix is postulated to support lipolysis, leading to increased thermogenesis and oxidation of fat. So, if you wish to use STOKED! for not only stimulating testosterone levels (which itself can promote fat loss), but also to enhance lipolysis, it might be a good idea to add EGCG.
So overall, STOKED! looks like a versatile matrix!