There are hundreds of testosterone supplements, but they all revolve around the same ingredients. Compounds like Vitamin B6, Vitamin D3, D-Aspartic Acid, Zinc, and Magnesium are all very common in testosterone supplements because they're proven effective and safe. However, the difference between the absolute best and mediocre testosterone boosters is how the manufacturers choose to blend these ingredients and dose them
. Some manufacturers miss the point entirely by overlooking some of these key ingredients. Others leave nothing to chance and pick all the potent ingredients they can get their hands on to make a potent product perfect for the ‘hardgainers’. Animal M Stak is said to be a good example of the latter. Is it, though?
What is Animal M Stak?
Animal M Stak is a “non-hormonal anabolic stack” developed by Universal Nutrition. It is formulated to boost muscle growth and increase testosterone levels.
The word anabolic should not be confused to mean that it is an anabolic steroid. No, it's not. This is a non-hormonal drug, so it works pretty much like a natural testosterone booster, except it has a more potent formula. The use of the word “anabolic” is probably more of a marketing gimmick than anything else. That’s because many people associate “anabolic” with steroids, but anabolic simply means the drug increases your body's muscle-building ability. The mention of “anabolic stack” is likely to infer the abilities of steroids, but that’s not the case here.
Don't get me wrong, though; this supplement has a few useful ingredients that can give you some gains and help you overcome a plateau. However, it's not very powerful.
With that said, I have to give Animal Stak the props for having a unique formula. It doesn’t contain Vitamin D3, Magnesium, Zinc, or Fenugreek, but it has some powerful amino acids like L-Carnitine, which can promote athletic performance.
On the flip side, the formula is made up of proprietary blends. This essentially means we don’t know the specific dosages of some of the ingredients used since they are quoted under the entire blend. I personally distaste proprietary blends. When I don’t know how much of an ingredient is present in a supplement, I have no way of knowing whether it is adequately dosed to make a difference or not.
Another problem is if you are sensitive to a particular ingredient, you won't know whether the dosage is enough to induce adverse reactions unless you try out the supplement. Case in point; the supplement contains caffeine under the Energy Complex alongside Kola nut and guarana seed powder. The entire blend is 500mg, but we don't know the specific dose of caffeine. Caffeine is known to produce side effects at high doses, so the fact that we don't know how much of it is here is very discomforting.
Note that Animal Stak and Animal M-Stak are two different products. The former is designed for boosting muscle growth, libido, and fat loss. It has the more popular ingredients like Zinc, Magnesium, and Vitamin B6, so it could be the right choice for you if you want a “regular” testosterone booster.
Meanwhile, Animal M-Stak is purportedly the more powerful option, and that's why it is recommended for serious bodybuilders.
Ingredients
The supplement has a very extensive list of ingredients covered under the following proprietary blends:
Energy Complex or Methylxanthine Complex (500mg)
This blend is made up of energy-boosting ingredients. Caffeine is the star compound here. It's a stimulant we're all familiar with, and its vast benefits, i.e., it boosts energy levels and mental awareness or alertness.
The other ingredients present in the blend are Kola Nut see and Guarana Seed powder.
Anabolic Adaptogen Complex (1000mg)
The complex contains Ashwagandha Extract, Kudzu, and Eleutherococcus Senticosus root.
These compounds combat stress to maintain optimal body function. They create a conducive environment for muscle building and enhanced physical performance.
Anti-Catabolic Amino Complex (300mg)
It’s the biggest complex of the formula. It is also the primary blend for muscle building.
The Anti-Catabolic Amino Complex contains five amino acids; L-Leucine, L-Isoleucine, L-Valine, L-Taurine, and Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALC). That’s an impressive lineup!
These amino acids boost muscle growth by increasing protein synthesis. Proteins are the building blocks of muscle tissue, so an increase in protein directly results in more muscle mass. Of course, you still need to support the complex with a good training routine and the right diet.
My only problem with this propriety blend is it seems to be a bit under-dosed.
Insulin Potentiating Complex with CinnulinPF (500mg)
It contains Fenugreek seed, Banaba leaf extract, cinnamon bark extract, and Na-R-Alpha Lipoic Acid (Na-R-ALA).
As the name suggests, this complex tries to improve the functions of insulin. In doing so, it should theoretically increase energy and endurance since more glucose is reaching the cells. It should also enhance muscle recovery between training sessions.
Natural Flavone/Sterone Complex (750mg)
This complex is supposed to replicate the effects of testosterone in the body.
It contains Ajuga Turkestanica Extract, Cyanotix Vaga Extract, 5-methyl-7-methoxyisoflavone, and phytosterols which supply beta-sitosterol.
The clinical research on some of these ingredients is very limited.
M Factor Complex with BioPerine (500mg)
The proprietary blend contains ginger root, grapefruit, and piper nigrum fruit extract.
These ingredients increase the bioavailability of the other compounds used in the formula allowing your body to utilize them before excretion.
Side Effects
Animal M-Stak contains dozens of ingredients, so the risks of experiencing adverse reactions are very high. This is especially the case if you have a sensitive body. For instance, caffeine can induce headaches, stomach upset, jitters, irritability, and sleep disturbance.
I will urge you to go through the entire formula and identify any specific ingredients that you may react to before using the supplement.
You should also take the supplement as recommended to avoid severe medical complications.
Dosage
The container comes with around 21 packs. Take one pack per day. You can use it any time of the day.
Final Thoughts
Animal M-Stak is a unique performance enhancer. It is usually categorized as a testosterone booster but looking at its formula; you can tell it is nothing like the typical t-boosters. Like it doesn’t have any of the key ingredients known for increasing testosterone levels.
It's unfortunate that Animal M-Stak is marketed for serious bodybuilders – a very difficult niche to crack – yet its formula isn’t particularly potent. As an advanced bodybuilder, you want something that guarantees results. You want a transparent supplement where you can tell the exact dosages of each ingredient you are ingesting. The formula from Universal Nutrition is simply not convincing enough.
In summary, I believe some of my favorite testosterone boosters can totally wipe the floor with this supplement.