Optimize Digestion for Maximum Growth
Problem: Poor digestion and nutrient absorption with high protein and calorie intake
Why it happens: Steroids can increase appetite but disrupt gut flora and slow GI motility
Bundle & Effect: Better digestion → improved nutrient absorption → more muscle growth
Recommended product: Enzyme PB – a complex to improve protein and carb digestion
High Protein, Low Absorption? Here’s Why Gains Slow Down
On cycle, nutrition takes center stage. Protein intake rises, carbs become denser, appetite can go through the roof. On paper, everything looks perfect: you eat on schedule, count macros, control volume. But here’s the catch — you are not what you eat, you are what you absorb. And if your digestion can’t keep up, no matter how hard you try, your growth won’t be optimal.
Steroids increase your body’s demand for nutrients. Makes sense — metabolism speeds up, protein synthesis intensifies, appetite spikes. But at the same time, the stress on your GI tract increases. Processing an extra 200–300g of protein daily isn’t easy — especially with a diet overloaded with meat, eggs, and casein. Digestion slows, enzymes fall behind, and some protein reaches the large intestine undigested — which doesn’t build muscle, but causes fermentation, bloating, and inflammation.
Many athletes feel it but ignore it: “Just a heavy meal, no big deal.” But if you're frequently bloated, tired after eating, or feel heaviness during your cycle — chances are, you’re losing calories and protein due to insufficient digestive enzymes. That means losing gains and recovery potential.
Why Healthy Digestion Directly Affects Hypertrophy
- Enzymes = complete digestion. Without them, proteins, fats, and carbs aren’t broken down into amino acids, fatty acids, and glucose. Undigested fragments either pass through or cause inflammation.
- Absorption = bioavailability. If protein isn't fully digested, it can’t be used for muscle synthesis.
- The more protein, the higher the enzyme demand. 150–200g per day is already the upper limit for most digestive systems. On cycle, it’s often more.
- Digestive stress = systemic stress. Poor digestion leads to worse recovery, poor sleep, and even increased cortisol.
In short: without efficient digestion, you're literally losing gains you worked hard for with fork and spoon
How to Improve Digestion
Proper digestion is often overlooked during a cycle, but it directly affects how much of your food actually translates into recovery and growth. Enzyme PB helps break down protein and complex meals more efficiently, reducing bloating, heaviness, and that post-meal fatigue that many athletes just accept as “normal.” With improved enzyme support, amino acids from food become more bioavailable — meaning your body can absorb and use more of them for muscle repair and growth.
Better digestion also helps you stay consistent with meals. When your gut isn’t backed up or inflamed, appetite holds steady, meal timing stays regular, and food becomes easier to process day after day. This is especially critical on high-calorie, high-protein diets common during AAS cycles. Enzyme PB doesn’t just make digestion smoother — it helps prevent the silent gut inflammation that often builds up with heavy eating, ultimately protecting performance and nutrient uptake. A cycle without proper digestion is like dumping premium protein straight down the sink.
During a cycle, digestion becomes a top priority. Enzymes addresses a key challenge — it helps break down increased amounts of protein, carbs, and fats, reduces the load on the pancreas, and improves nutrient absorption. But there's another subtle yet critically important element — the liver and the biliary system. That's where TUDCA — tauroursodeoxycholic acid — comes into play.
Enzyme PB
In simple terms, Enzyme PB is a digestive enzyme complex designed for high-protein diets. But in practice, it’s a true “absorption amplifier” — especially effective during high-calorie, high-protein cycles.
What’s inside:
- Proteases (5 types): break down protein into amino acids across different pH levels — active from stomach to intestines. That’s critical, because protein digestion is multi-staged.
- Amylase, Glucoamylase, Maltase: break down complex carbs — ideal if you eat a lot of starches (rice, potatoes, oats).
- Lipase and Beta-Glucanase: support fat and fiber digestion. Improve absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) and reduce GI irritation.
- Lactase: great for those using dairy (casein, whey, cottage cheese) but struggling with lactose tolerance.
- Papain and Bromelain: plant enzymes with anti-inflammatory properties that support gut health and break down dense animal proteins.
This isn’t just a "pill for heaviness" — it’s a systematic tool for serious lifters on a serious diet. Enzyme PB improves protein absorption, reduces fermentation, cuts down gas, and boosts the ROI of every plate.
More details on Enzyme PB here
Why TUDCA Is Important During a Cycle
During an AAS cycle, TUDCA works “behind the scenes”: it supports liver function and bile flow, enhances fat absorption, and overall boosts digestive efficiency. Under increased liver stress, bile becomes less fluid, and the risk of stagnation rises. This not only impairs detoxification but also hinders fat digestion, slows GI motility, increases intestinal inflammation, and negatively affects the microbiome.
The key point is that bile isn’t just a waste-removal fluid — it plays a crucial role in digestion: it’s involved in the breakdown and absorption of fats, fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K), and cholesterol metabolism. Supporting bile flow with TUDCA is not a superficial measure — it’s a fundamental part of maintaining proper digestion and recovery during a cycle.
Benefits:
- Increases bile fluidity, reducing its thickness
- Improves liver and bile duct function
- Enhances fat digestion and absorption
- Acts as a hepatoprotector — protecting liver cells from stress
More details on TUDCA here
