BPI Sports A-HD Overview

Feeling sluggish and fatigued? Experiencing mood swings out of the blue? Things not up to par in the bedroom? For guys, this short list of symptoms could be the result of low testosterone levels. Testosterone levels peak at the age of 30 then slowly make their way downhill every year thereafter. In order to maintain proper health and an overall sense of well being, it’s important for guys to keep those levels up as long as they can. One of the most convenient ways to do this, outside of seeing your doctor, is to supplement your diet with a testosterone booster.

BPI Sports has a reputation for making hardcore bodybuilding supplements, and BPI Sports A-HD is no exception. BPI refers to it as a stimulant based testosterone-boosting supplement that you can feel right away. The focus of the supplement is to increase your testosterone levels while blocking its conversion to estrogen. BPI claims that this is the product to take if you want to get that shredded, hard, dry cut look. So what’s in this stuff exactly and does it live up to its promises?

BPI Sports A-HD Ingredients and How They Work

BPI Sports A-HD comes in both powder and capsule form, and it is meant to be used as a daily supplement. The BPI Sports A-HD formula contains a number of ingredients in its proprietary blend including:

Safflower Seed (Carthamus Tinctorius)

• Typically grown and pressed for the vegetable oil contained within, Safflower Seed is a high protein, high fat food. Studies suggest that it is more anti-estrogenic than a direct testosterone booster. Similar to pumpkin and hemp seeds, Safflower helps block the production of estrogen within the body. What’s more, studies with mice have shown that Safflower has the ability to boost libido. That same study showed that the testosterone levels of the mice were barely affected. While it does not play a direct role in encouraging your testosterone levels to increase, it is a valuable ingredient for its anti-estrogenic properties.

Flax Seed (Linum Usitatissimum)

• Healthy as it may be, for a man with low levels of testosterone, Flax Seed is not a food that you want to add into your diet. Flax Seed is used heavily as an alternative method to block the conversion of testosterone into DHT. You’ll see it being prescribed to men who are experiencing inflammation with the prostate or coming out of prostate surgery. While this sounds great, keep in mind that you need DHT to keep your estrogen in check. If you’re already suffering from low testosterone, then there’s a good chance your estrogen levels may be high as well. Preventing DHT from doing what it does best (blocking estrogen production) is not a wise move. Flax Seed has no place in a testosterone booster.

Ginger Root (Zingiber Officianale)

• There’s simply nothing bad to said about the Ginger Root. It’s been used for centuries for a number of medical ailments. It can improve your digestions, increase circulation, boost cognitive function, and, lucky for you, it can also boost testosterone. Ginger has been the subject of much study and for men, it plays an important role in aiding the body with the stabilization and production of testosterone. While human trials are still pending, studies performed with mice had very favorable outcomes. Despite the lack of human studies, Ginger Root has so many additional benefits that it is a must-have on anyone’s dietary list. (“Stereological study of the effect of ginger’s alcoholic extract on the testis in busulfan-induced infertility in rats” 2013. Para. 1)

Indian padauk (Pterocapus Marsupian)

• You will find this ingredient being tested on rats for diabetic research and metabolic conditioning. You’ll even find it in shampoo. You’re going to have trouble finding it in a study dealing directly with its ability to boost testosterone. However, even though studies are lacking in proving Pterocapus Marsupian as a direct testosterone enhancer, let’s not overlook its role with the production of insulin. Studies have found that low testosterone levels directly correlate with higher levels of insulin resistance in men. Pterocapus Marsupian has been shown in studies to help regenerate cells responsible for producing insulin. It is possible that by encouraging proper production of insulin in the body, Pterocapus Marsupian may play a positive role in the boosting testosterone levels.

Turmeric (Curcuma Longa)

• It makes your dinner taste great and it is one of the most anti-estrogenic foods around. Turmeric, a common spice in many Indian dishes, is an anti-inflammatory and a powerful anti-oxidant that has been used as an alternative medicine for centuries throughout many cultures. Outside of the laundry list of additional benefits that Turmeric can provide, studies show that it helps to block the production of estrogen in the body. This is one serious anti-estrogenic spice, capable of supporting healthy testosterone levels in the body.

Cardoon (Cynara Scolymus)

• Found in the same family as the artichoke family, Cardoon is another ingredient on the list that turns up few results when you try delving deeper for information. It was part of a study testing the efficiency of a botanical blend on sex hormones. The results showed little impact on estrogen and an overall decrease in testosterone and DHT. Again, this was a blend and Cardoon was not the sole ingredient.
• One thing to consider is that Cardoon is a part of the artichoke family and the artichoke has been considered a testosterone friendly, libido boosting food. While studies are lacking to prove Cardoon as a natural testosterone booster, it should be comforting to know that it comes from a long line of testosterone supporting vegetables.

Propolis (Caffeic acid phenethyl ester)

• Anything that bees touch seems to instantly become a super food and Propolis is no different. Collected from the sap of trees, Propolis is used within the hive to seal up open spaces. Taken as a daily supplement, Propolis can boost the immune system as it acts as an anti-microbial and anti-oxidant. It’s also used to treat allergies. One thing that animal studies have shown is that Propolis is capable of increasing testosterone levels. Again, this was confirmed in studies on rats. If this were any other ingredient, I would suggest discrediting the animal lab results, but seeing as how this is a product of the honey bee, I would consider giving it a try. Plenty of human studies have shown the long list of benefits of raw honey and bee pollen. With animal studies under its belt and the history of bee ingenuity, I’d say this is one ingredient that could be useful for overall wellbeing as well as testosterone support.

The BPI Sports A-HD formula also includes Yohimbe for its stimulant properties; however, they also have a version that is Yohimbe free. For those of you who are not aware, Yohimbe is a powerful stimulant that is used in hundreds of supplements ranging from pre-workout boosters to male enhancers. As a stimulant, there is always the risk of side effects for those who are sensitive to it. Be sure to consult with your physician prior to using it.

Instructions are to take one scoop mixed with 4-8 ounces of water or juice in the morning on a full stomach. It is recommended that you cycle it on for 4 to 8 weeks before taking a 4-week cycle off. For the capsule version, you’re supposed to take 1 pill daily, typically in the morning as well.

BPI Sports A-HD Pros and Cons

Advantages

• A majority of the ingredients in the blend are testosterone friendly, if not a proven testosterone booster
• The product is priced well
• The company has a long standing history and a number of favorable reviews

Disadvantages

• The presence of a known ingredient considered to be a phytoestrogen
• It was difficult to find data and research on a few of the ingredients
• Reviews are mixed on this particular product

A-HD Vs A-HD Elite

Recently, BPI came out with a new and improved version of A-HD called A-HD Elite. This formula is surprisingly different, and contains the following ingredients

Montanoa tomentosa

• Found in the mountains of Mexico and Central America, Montanoa tomentosa has been shown to have aphrodisiac properties on male rats.

Chenopodium album

• Used as a natural ecological pest control, this ingredient has no evidence backing it up as a testosterone booster. It is sometimes used in thermogenic or fat burning supplement as an appetite suppressant.

Caesalpinia benthamiana

• This African herb has been used as a libido booster and an aphrodisiac for many years. Research studies are just now catching up. While it was positively tested on rats, many people swear by this ingredient to boost their bedroom performance.

Curcuma Longa

• I can only say great things about Turmeric. Refer to the review of this ingredient above for full details.

Trichopus Zeylanicus

• Used in India as an alternative medicine, Trichopus Zeylanicus has been shown, in animal studies, to be a powerful aphrodisiac.

Where to Buy

You can pick up BPI Sports A-HD at GNC or online through a variety of different retailers. The 28 serving tub sells for about $27 through most of the retailers I found. It comes in fruit punch and watermelon flavors. If you want to avoid the hassle of mixing, you can pick up a bottle of the capsules for slightly less at Bodybuilding.com for a price of $24.

As for the BPI Sports A-HD Elite, you can find that on the BPI website, as well as on the same retailers listed above. The price is comparable to the original, depending on the serving size.

Conclusion

My biggest reservation with A-HD are a few of the ingredients. It would be nice if hard facts and research could be found on these ingredients. Instead, your left to make associations to plants in the same family that have shown promise. The worst offender on the ingredient list is Flax Seed as this is a known pro-estrogen compound, used to block the conversion of DHT. Still, even with these little hiccups, I believe that A-HD is worth a try. For a one-month supply, you can’t beat the price compared with other testosterone supporters. You could go to the trouble of isolating those ingredients and buying them separately, but if you’d rather save yourself the trouble, go with A-HD.

As for the new and improved version (A-HD Elite), I would NOT recommend this formula. It’s an overpriced supplement that has the sole claim of being an aphrodisiac, based solely on animal studies. If you’re looking to boost your testosterone, Elite is not worth your money. If you’re looking to boost your performance in the bedroom, Elite is still NOT worth it. Check out my top picks for libido boosters above.

Have You Used BPI Sports A-HD? Leave Your Review Below!

References:

1. Bordbar, Hossein. “Stereological study of the effect of ginger’s alcoholic extract on the testis in busulfan-induced infertility in rats” 2013. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3941314. Web.