Supplement Reviews - LG Sciences BC+EAA, Grape

There is nothing for more refreshing than taking a large sip (or several) of a nice, cold beverage in between sets during one's workout (and no, I'm not talking about beer!). Lucky for the avid weightlifter / exercise-enthusiast, the market is full of great intra-workout drinks aimed at helping to replenish the body while also tasting great. That being said, there certainly are some "winners" and some "losers" when it comes to intra-workout drinks and unfortunately LG Sciences BC+EAA Grape falls into the latter of these two categories in my opinion.

The Product
Branched-Chain Amino Acids (BCAA) and Essential Amino Acids (EAA) are crucial building blocks for muscular development. As the name of the product sounds, LG Sciences BC+EAA Grape is simply a grape-flavored, intra-workout drink that delivers a healthy dose of BCAA and EAA, as well as some L-Glutamine.

The supplement facts are as follows:

Serving Size: 11 g (~3 scoops)
Servings Per Container: 30

Total Amino Acid Content: 10.5 g
   Branched-Chain Amino Acid Blend: 4.5 g
     -L-Leucine
     -L-Isoleucine
     -L-Valine
   Essential Amino Acids : 4 g
Recovery Agent
     -L-Glutamine (2g)

Other Ingredients: Natural & Artificial Flavor, Natural & Artificial Color, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Sucralose

The directions for use state the user should "put 3 scoops into 12 oz. of water and shake or stir well."

Additional supplementation of BCAA and EAA is intended to help increase training endurance, enhance the breakdown and utilization of protein in the body (protein synthesis), and increase muscular development (by promoting a state of anabolism and preventing muscular breakdown).

Efficacy
While I currently don't regularly use supplements that are explicitly BCAA and EAA, I have been around the block a time or two with regard to these types of supplements. The claims of increased endurance, while subtle, are what I personally believe is the most valid reason for supplementing with additional BCAA and EAA and this holds true for this product. I feel fresher throughout my workouts and feel as though I am able to push a bit harder for longer while supplementing BCAA and EAA. That being said, it should be noted that when I do take this product I generally double the serving size suggested. As far as increased protein synthesis and increased muscular development are concerned, I can't say that I necessarily "feel" a difference when taking this kind of supplement or not - That isn't to say that it isn't helping on some level, simply that there are no physical indicators to me of this taking place.

Taste
This was the BIG negative about this product for me. I generally enjoy grape-flavored products. LG Sciences BC+EAA Grape does a very poor job of replicating any sort of true grape flavor. As strange as it may sound, the flavoring of this product provides me with a hint of some sort of taco or burrito flavor with a hint of very chemically, artificially-derived grape flavoring. I am sure you can imagine how unappealing this is any time, much less in the middle of your workout! Bare in mind that taste is largely subjective and can be based on the supplement to water ratio that one employs; I have tried all sorts of supplement / water mixtures and the only thing that happened was that the aforementioned flavor was either more or less pronounced, but not any better.

Mixability / Appearance
For those who are not familiar with BCAA and EAA, they are notorious for mixing VERY poorly. For as soon as you stop stirring or shaking the mixture, its clumpy contents rise to the surface of your drink. This is definitely the case with this product as well, but not necessarily something I got too bent out of shape over. That being said, there are other products in this category that some how do a wonderful job of mitigating this issue so I know that it can be done. For those interested in appearance, once mixed you are left with a grayish (think dolphin-like) liquid that contains flecks of water chunks floating about - Not overly appealing to the eyes.

Price
"You get what you pay for" would be an accurate statement when it comes to this product. I have found prices for this as low as $12-13 when on sale online. If you can get past the flavor (or by some chance actually enjoy the flavor), this really is a low price for this type of product.

Overall
In conclusion, while I do feel that BCAA and EAA can be nice additions to any athlete's supplement arsenal, LG Sciences BC+EAA Grape is not the supplement that I would recommend in order to do so. While I can not dispute the potential benefits of this sort of product, there are far better tasting and better mixing intra-workout supplements available on the market.

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 - Athletic Edge Nutrition, IntrAbolic Wild Berry Punch

IntrAbolic by Athletic Edge Nutrition is a very complete peri-workout supplement that is intended to be consumed around (and specifically during) the time of your workout. IntrAbolic is packed with ingredients that are intended to increase muscular endurance, aid in muscle recovery and encourage an environment in the body conducive for building muscle as efficiently as possible.

Nutrition Facts:
Serving Size: 1 scoop (12 g)
Servings per Container: 40

-Calories: 25
-Total Fat: 0 g
-Cholesterol: 20 mg
-Total Carbohydrates: 1 g
-Protein: 4 g
-Vitamin C: 30 mg
-Vitamin E: 15 IU
-Calcium: 45 mg
-Phosphorus: 55 mg
-Magnesium: 25 mg
-Chloride: 20 mg
-Sodium: 50 mg
-Potassium: 75 mg
-Peptobolic Response Blend: 8,028 mg
30% Hydrolyzed Whey Protein [IntrAbolic-Peptides], L-Leucine [2.5g], Arginine, L-Valine, L-Lysine HCL, L-Phenylalanine, L-Threonine, L-Isoleucine, L-Histidine, L-Methionine
-Power/Strength/Endurance Blend: 1,870 mg
Beta-Alanine [1.6g], Potassium, Phosphorus, Sodium, Calcium, Magnesium, Chloride

My Experience
While it can vary from time to time based on the sort of training program that I am following, I generally lift weights four days each week. My sessions generally focus on many of the main, compound lifts for each body group (i.e. bench press, squats, dead lifts, etc.). In addition, I will add in some supplemental / isolation work as I see fit. Since the majority of my lifting is of the compound variation, and compound lifts are known to require more energy and effort (due to their involvement of more muscle groups), I often find myself fatiguing by the latter half of my workout - This is where I personally found IntrAbolic to shine.

Before heading to the gym, I mix up a Nalgene bottle with 1-1 1/2 scoops of IntrAbolic. During my short commute, I begin sipping on the concoction. Then, over the course of my workout, I continue sipping on the mixture. If possible, I try to consume my drink over the course of my entire workout. That being said, I have been known to get a little "over ambitious" with my drinking and find myself having to add water as I go in order to stretch it out. While this is an effective way of prolonging the mix, it does dilute the flavor.

Ingredients

IntrAbolic does contain beta-alanine. Beta-alanine is a supplement used primarily for its abilities in the muscular endurance arena. It should be stated though that in order to reap these benefits from the ingredient (or at least maximize these benefits), studies have shown that the body needs to reach a certain level of saturation. In order to do this, one should consistently use beta-alanine for several weeks (or more) on a daily basis. Another well-known aspect of beta-alanine is the fact that it can cause a "tingling" sensation when consumed. The best way to describe this is that it sort of makes your head itch a little bit (in my experience). Don't worry though, this isn't permanent! It usually goes away after an hour or so after consumption and the recurring tingling upon each dose generally subsides after a week or two of consistent use. All of this being said, I have found beta-alanine to be extremely effective at improving muscular endurance.

In addition to the beta-alanine, I feel that the other key ingredients to IntrAbolic's success are the Essential Amino Acids (EAA's) and the Hydrolyzed Whey Protein. Essential Amino Acids are the key building blocks of protein that help rebuild muscle after breaking it down (via lifting weights). Many supplements include just the Branch Chain Amino Acids (BCAA's), but not the other EAA's. IntrAbolic has both. Hydrolyzed Whey Protein is protein that has gone through a process that breaks it down into smaller pieces which enable quicker absorption. IntrAbolic is known for its protein being hydrolyzed to an extent that is superior to similar supplements. In other words, the protein in the supplement is very quickly absorbed which is crucial during a time when your muscle is being broken down.

Taste / Mix

The Wild Berry Punch flavor is pretty good. While I have tasted better tasting supplements, I have tasted MANY that were far worse. I would say that the flavor is on par with a sugar-free, berry-flavored Crystal Light, but perhaps a touch sweeter. Of course, this can be manipulated by adding more (less) water or more (less) IntrAbolic. One thing to watch out for is some staining if you spill this due to the colored dyes that are in it.

I have never run into problems mixing this supplement. As mentioned previously, I add it to my water-filled Nalgene bottle (usually with about 28-32 ounces of water in it), shake / swirl it around, and hit the road. I have made a habit of shaking / swirling the mixture before drinking it just to make sure that I break up any settling that has occurred.

Cost
IntrAbolic is a bit more expensive than some other intra-workout products. It is usually priced in the $32-35 price range per bottle. In addition, if you are like me and find yourself liking more than one scoop from time to time, your cost per workout does go up. However, you can find this on sale occasionally for $25-30, but this is not too common. I have only purchased this supplement online (as I do with all of my supplements), so these prices are estimated accordingly.

Conclusion
Athletic Edge Nutrition's IntrAbolic is a great peri-workout supplement for the avid weightlifter / bodybuilder. It is very effective at providing increased endurance during your workout and is said to also aid in recovery and growth. This supplement is best used on a consistent basis and as such, would not necessarily be something I would recommend to the person who only works out on occasion. The Wild Berry Punch flavor is good and quite refreshing during your training session, but watch out for stains upon spilling. One bottle of IntrAbolic can last for quite a while, so the value really is there; however, the $30-35 price tag may be a bit steep for some. If you have room in the bank account and are serious about your training, give it a try! Purchase AEN IntrAbolic

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.