Supplement Reviews - iSatori Eat-Smart Bar, Chocolate Peanut Caramel Crunch

This product review will cover a few different aspects of this protein bar. First, I will review the taste/texture. Next, I will provide my general thoughts about the bar eating experience. Finally, I will provide my review of the bar's ingredients and nutritional aspects.

Taste / Texture

The first thing I noticed about this bar was its appealing look. It was shaped similar to a traditional rice krispie bar (rectangular) while a bit flatter. The rice krispie looking bottom is covered with a tasty looking chocolate shell on top. The body of the bar was crunchy and the chocolate top layer was chewy. I really enjoyed this contrast. While I didn't get an overly distinguish peanut flavor, I definitely tasted a subtle, "natural" peanut flavor. Overall, the flavor and texture of this bar were both a major plus for this bar, as the majority of protein bars that I have previously eaten all follow a similar mold: chocolate exterior, standard candy bar shape, and an overly chewy interior - Not the Eat-Smart Bar!

Eating Experience
In general, I really enjoyed eating this bar. The chewy/crunchy texture and good flavors made this bar taste like a treat - I found myself wanting more. The natural, nutty flavor was quite unique and one that I could enjoy over and over again. The bar melted similar to that of other chocolate-based protein bars (enough to leave a little chocolate residue on your hands if you were to hold the bar in your hand while eating the entire thing). Probably one of the most important aspects of a protein bar for me is whether or not it will give me a nice, full feeling (as I general use protein bars as meal replacements). This bar did provide the fullness that I would like for a bar to provide, as it held me over for about three hours.

Ingredients / Nutrition
Now, on to the ingredient aspects of the bar. I noted that the proteins listed were Isolate/Concentrate/Hydrolosate (I liked these and their order). Often times protein bars will contain the cheaper proteins (if not exclusively, certainly first on the protein line up), but it was nice to see this bar list a superior protein first (Isolate) and follow up the Concentrate with another superior protein like Hydrolosate. I also liked the vitamin/mineral blend that was included and the fact that the nutritional profile also listed out the vitamin/mineral content. One downside to the nutritional aspect of this bar was that it included soy as an ingredient which, in some studies, can supposedly impact testosterone negatively (albeit in very large quantities).

Nutritional Panel:

• Calories - 330
• Total Fat - 12 g
• Saturated Fat - 5 g
• Trans Fat - 0 g
• Cholesterol - 5 mg
• Sodium - 310 mg
• Potassium - 280 mg
• Total Carbohydrate - 33 g
• Dietary Fiber - 5 g
• Sugars - 15 g
• Sugar Alcohol - 6 g
• Protein - 27g
• Vitamin A - 0%
• Vitamin C - 0%
• Calcium - 20%
• Iron - 20%
• Vitamin E - 50%
• Thiamin - 6%
• Riboflavin - 10%
• Niacin - 15%
• Vitamin B6 - 30%
• Folate - 30%
• Vitamin B12 - 25%
• Biotin - 10%
• Pantothenic Acid - 10%
• Phosphorus - 25%
• Magnesium - 6%
• Zinc - 10%
• Selenium - 4%
• Copper - 20%
• Manganese - 15%

In conclusion, this bar is one that ranks toward the front of the pack when compared to other protein bars that contain similar ingredients and macro nutrients. The flavor and texture of this bar were definite strong points and the natural nuttiness that the bar provided makes this bar a bit unique in that regard. The satiating effects that it provided are what I look for in a protein bar. Therefore, if one were looking for a protein bar to include in their dietary regimen, the iSatori Eat-Smart Bar definitely has my stamp of approval. Buy iSatori Eat-Smart Bars

Supplement Reviews - Gaspari Nutrition MyoFusion, Delicious Vanilla

For those of us who lift weights and exercise on a regular basis, increased protein intake is essential to aid the body in rebuilding the muscles that were broken down in order to support the weights lifted, the miles ran, etc. While we should get the majority of our daily protein from whole foods such as lean meats, eggs, and cheeses to name a few, there are times when a supplemental protein option may be appropriate. Supplemental proteins generally come in a few forms: powder, bar, ready-to-drink (RTD), or, more recently, gel. This review will provide an overview of my past and ongoing experiences using Gaspari Nutrition's MyoFusion, Delicious Vanilla. In short, this is one of my favorite protein powders on the market (and I have used many). I hope that this review will help you to understand why I feel that way and provide you with a foundation, off of which, you can make an informed buying decision.

How does it taste?

Let me start by saying that I am generally not a fan of vanilla flavored protein powders. The reason for this is that I have found it EXTREMELY difficult to find one that actually tastes good whether in milk or water. That being said, Gaspari has come up with something here that I continue to go to over and over again. Not only does it actually taste like a nice, rich vanilla, it also mixes relatively thick (can vary depending on the amount of liquid added). It is almost as though you are drinking a thinned out vanilla shake. The other great thing about finally finding a solid vanilla flavored protein is that I can now add random goodies to it to vary things up a bit. So far I have enjoyed mixing this protein (really, a blender is required when you start incorporating solid foods in) with peanut butter, blueberries, cinnamon, honey, oatmeal, and bananas. All of these blends were extremely good. If you choose to go this route, be sure to not add too much protein and liquid as, again, this protein is quite thick and if you over do it you might end up with a frothy, thick mixture that is a bit difficult to drink...Trust me, I have done it!

How well does it mix?

When mixing this protein in a shaker cup, it generally mixes quite well. Occasionally I will run into some small clumps of protein that didn't break up. If you have a shaker cup with a screen or mixer ball inside, this shouldn't be an issue. If not, you may want to pay special attention to really giving it a good shake before drinking (if the occasional clump bothers you). Another thing that seems to help break down the clumps is to shake up the protein, let it sit for a couple minutes and shake again. Usually, after letting the protein sit for a minute or two before shaking again, there are no clumps remaining thereafter (and any that do remain are considerably smaller).

What's in it?

I find myself drinking this protein at a number of different times throughout any given day. My favorite times to drink it are with my breakfast (mixed with the milk in my cereal) and as part of my post workout shake (mixed with oats and dextrose). Each scoop contains 157.5 calories, 25 grams of protein, 3 grams of fat, and 5 grams of carbohydrates. The MyoFusion Athlete's Edge Complete Protein Blend consists of whey concentrate, isolate, egg albumin, and milk protein isolate - A nice assortment of various proteins. In addition to this protein blend, it also includes their Pro-Compliance Lipid Complex which consists of sunflower oil powder, CLA, and flax seed oil powder. These added ingredients are somewhat unique to MyoFusion and are not found in many other powdered proteins. In addition to the aforementioned, MyoFusion includes an assortment of vitamins and minerals. The vitamins and minerals listed (and the % of daily value for each) are as follows:

• Vitamin A: 25%
• Vitamin C: 25%
• Vitamin D: 25%
• Vitamin E: 25%
• Vitamin K: 1%
• Thiamin: 35%
• Calcium: 25%
• Sodium: 2.4%
• Potassium: 6%

This goes to show that Gaspari Nutrition's MyoFusion is more than just your every day protein. Another bonus to this protein being a bit more "loaded" than some others is that it is relatively filling as well. A couple scoops of MyoFusion thrown into a shaker cup makes for a great, protein-packed snack.

Now what?

In conclusion, Gaspari Nutrition's MyoFusion is one of, if not the, preferred protein powders in my arsenal. I find the other flavors in the line to be very good as well. Due to vanilla being so versatile (and just so darn good), as of right now, this is my go to MyoFusion flavor. As outlined earlier, in addition to its great taste and texture and inclusion of important vitamins and minerals, MyoFusion provides the fullness the I look for in a protein. In regard to price, a 5 lb. jug can be found on the internet for $35-40 from time to time when on sale. If you plan to purchase it from a brick and mortar store (such as GNC or Vitamin Shoppe), barring some sort of sale you will likely end up paying far more for it. From time to time you can even find it on eBay for a reasonable price as well. If you compare this price to other proteins on the market, you will find that $35-40 is a very fair price for a very quality protein. I suggest visiting bodybuilding.com if you are interested in purchasing.