At the end of 2015, I introduced my new Brain & Brawn Formula. Subjective feedback has been great so far, and now I have some objective proof as well. My blood work just came in, and the results look good! Take a look:

A 12% increase in total testosterone is a solid gain for a 44-year-old taking a natural product. According to Dr. William Wong, testosterone supplements work great in your 20s, work well in your 30s, work in 50% of people in their 40s, and won’t work in your 50s and beyond. At that point, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) becomes necessary—pharmaceuticals rather than nutraceuticals are required for a significant testosterone boost.

The drop in estradiol was an unexpected but welcome surprise. Estradiol is the main biologically active estrogen in males. It stems primarily from the conversion of testosterone (a process known as aromatization). Some estrogen is necessary for muscle growth and libido, but too much can lead to prostate issues and feminizing effects, such as gynecomastia—commonly known as “man boobs.” Most serious trainees would welcome a slight reduction in estrogen.

Growth hormone (GH) is released in pulses throughout the day, so a single measurement wouldn’t be useful. However, insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) serves as a reliable marker of GH levels. While it’s a costly test, it provides valuable insight into GH status. In this case, the 55% increase in IGF-1 suggests that GH levels rose significantly.

Of course, this is just a small n=1 study, and countless factors could influence the results. Still, it’s promising to see that the theory behind the “brawn” aspect of the formula may hold true. Further testing is needed, but for now, the results are encouraging—both on paper and in practice!

We’ll keep studying the roots. In the meantime, go ahead and enjoy the fruit!