Not just another pre-workout (and if we’re being honest, there are hundreds of pre-workout products), Infinite Labs Juggernaut offers what I believe to be the best value on the market. At $29.99 for 40 scoops, and most users needing only 1-1.5 scoops (as there is 200mg caffeine per scoop), Juggernaut is good for anywhere between 40 and 26 workouts. That’s clocking in at less than $1 per workout. Even the naysayers who stick to coffee as their pre-workout drink of choice probably spend more, depending on where they get their coffee.

This is where the discerning customer asks: “yeah, but does it work?”

And subsequently, the discerning Best Price Nutrition blog writer answers: “let’s take a look.” You guys know I won’t make blatantly unsubstantiated claims, e.g., “yeah, it works… totally. Because, you know, it does. So buy it.” Only all the other websites do that.

Any good businessman knows that in order to find a niche for your product, you have to be the best in a single category, e.g., best-tasting, most caffeine, least expensive, etc. This is usually referred to as differentiation. Juggernaut has, ahem, “the highest glycerol load on the market” (hey, that’s their ad copy, not mine). They’ve differentiated themselves that way. What is glycerol, you ask?

Without getting into too much biochemical detail, suffice it to say glycerol aids in hyperhydration when dosed appropriately and the person ingesting it is already adequately hydrated. Glycerol, the form in Juggernaut, is superior to glycerol monostearate, another common form. There is some anecdotal evidence that the hyperhydration glycerol induces pulls other nutrients along with it into the muscle, thus having an osmotic effect (this is theoretically very good, but the research isn’t cut and dry). Glycerol’s hyperhydration effect is very conducive to “pumps” in the working muscle as increased muscle cell volume increases intramuscular tension, AKA “pump.” So this is a good thing, and I’d much rather have the “highest glycerol load on the market” than the highest arginine load on the market. More on that later.

Other than that, this is a bit of a “kitchen sink” product (as in, “everything but the kitchen sink” is included), but in a good way. There’s arginine, citrulline, norvaline, b-vitamins, whey hydrolysates, creatine, taurine, acetyl-l-carnitine, beta-alanine, caffeine, alpha-GPC (don’t know this one? Read about it here), electrolytes, minerals, waxy maize, blood sugar/insulin support, antioxidants, and even more I’m not going to list.

I kind of view this as the ultimate “I’m on a budget” pre-workout product. For thirty dollars you are simply not going to get a more comprehensive product than this. On top of that, it tastes good (I’ve had crimson punch and raspberry lemonade so if anyone’s had orange, chime in) and the energy is right up there with a Jack3d, SuperPump250, or NO-Xplode as these are consistently lauded as the best pre-workouts from purely a stimulant perspective.

If I had to find a negative in this product, it would have to be the inclusion of arginine (arginine does what you think it’s going to do when administered via IV but not orally, more info here and here) and the use of hydrolyzed whey instead of hydrolyzed casein.

Arginine is going to have its meteoric fall just as it had its meteoric rise very soon, mark my words. In addition the fact that orally administered arginine does NOTHING for pumps, there is new research coming out showing that arginine creates a gradient effect outside of the cell pulling valuable water and amino acid from inside muscle cells (good: that’s where we want it) to the extra cellular fluid (bad: now it needs to be transported back in). I’m going to do a blog post about this soon, but for now suffice it to say you can hedge your bets against this effect by consuming an amino acid supplement pre- and post-workout. Juggernaut doesn’t contain very much arginine compared to other products, so don’t interpret this as a reason to avoid it altogether.

As far as the hydrolyzed whey versus hydrolyzed casein goes, I’ve written about it before: PeptoPro, a patented form of hydrolyzed casein, is the one with all the research in its corner when it comes to speed of absorption from the splanchnic bed — basically, the intestinal lining. When it comes to maximizing anabolism in and around the workout window, rapid influxes and spikes in plasma amino acid concentrations is what we are looking for. PeptoPro confers this advantage to the highest degree.

I think Juggernaut is a great pre-workout supplement for those looking for a change of pace from their current pre-workout of choice, or those that currently take several of the things found within it individually. It is also very affordable. Finally, Lee Priest loves it and the man’s arms are like legs of lesser mortals. So you’ve got that going for you. Give it a try and let us know what you think! You can always call us at 800-499-4810 if this article requires further explanation. Get your Juggernaut here!

Until next time,

Tim and the Best Price Nutrition Team

There has been considerable “buzz” on the ‘net about USPLab’s Jack3d, and rightfully so. This product was a paradigm-shifter when it launched due to its price point (almost all prior pre-workout products cost between $30 and $50, whereas we sell Jack3d at the guaranteed lowest price on the Internet of $22.99 for the same number of servings), formula (again, usually you’ll find a laundry list of crap a mile long, but Jack3d only has 6 ingredients — simpler is better), and, perhaps most importantly, effect (try it — you’ll see what I mean).

The current Jack3d (note the “3″ instead of an “e”) is actually the third iteration of the formula. The first version of the product, “Jacked”, had a proprietary blend of 3,166mg, was flavored differently, and apparently there was some confusion about patent infringement conerning creatine and sodium bicarbonate blend with supplement manufacturer BSN of NO-Xplode fame. There was also a separate issue with naming rights. Here’s a quote from a USPLabs rep:

“We had to remove the Fizz because BSN has liscensed the Patent for combo of creatine and sodium bicorbonate. That is why the FIZZ is gone and so the taste had to changed [sic] for that reason. Changed name from JACKED to Jack3d because another company has a trade mark on Jacked. We increased the amount of beta A and AAKG, but everything else is exactly the same including the price.”

“Jack3d”, the second effort, saw its proprietary blend increased from 3,166mg to 3,500mg, with the increase purportedly coming from beta-alanine and arginine alpha-ketoglutarate if you believe our intrepid USPLabs representative (I do). So the first formula revision was actually an upgrade, but here’s where it gets interesting: if you look at the label for the difference between the second and third versions — a change that was not highly publicized — there is one conspicuous absence: theophylline.

There were rumors flying all over internet message boards as to why theophylline was removed. For the official stance, I’ll call in another USPLabs rep (this one appears to be much more literate):

“The only ingredient that was removed since the first run of Jack3d is theophylline (in the latest version). Originally, theophylline was a part of the methylxanthine complex in Jack3d that would exert it’s effects partly via competitive inhibition of cAMP degradation, apart from the synergistic interaction with 1,3-Dimethylamylamine. This change, and the corresponding label changes, were undertaken to match FDA compliance requirements in terms of ingredients and their nomenclature. Back to theophylline. As it turns out, due to the small amount of theophylline originally used, coupled with the fact that caffeine could exert comparable effects in the formula without theophylline, the elimination of theophylline was not at the expense of formula potency. Furthermore, USPLabs took the opportunity of the removal of theophylline to increase the per-scoop amounts of creatine and schizandrol A.”

I think what’s interesting here is the interpretation of the word small, i.e. “…the small amount of theophylline originally used.” How much is small? If you look at the amount in tea, for example, the amount is downright minute: ~1mg/L, perhaps a bit more in yerba maté. As a reference point, most theophylline prescriptions (and thus, “prescription-strength”) contain 200-300mg — a couple orders of magnitude more. Alas, we may never know for sure unless a USPLabs rep is willing to divulge the milligram amounts; this is why I detest proprietary blends, by the way, although I do recognize that they are a necessary evil.

Anyway, USPLabs maintains that their removal of theophylline was entirely voluntary; furthermore, it didn’t weaken the formula — “the elimination of theophylline from the blend did not result in any decipherable loss in formula potency.” As mentioned above, with per-scoop increases in creatine and schizandrol A, there was a concomitant increase in proprietary blend size (again), but this time from 3,500mg to 4,145mg. One more thing I can’t help but notice: the first two versions of this product recommended two scoops, but the third version recommends three.

In any case, there is a reason why USPLab’s Jack3d catapulted up the ranks of best-selling pre-workout drinks, going from relative obscurity to threatening the category magnates, SuperPump250 and NO-Xplode, in less than a year’s time: the stuff works. I’ve castigated arginine and proprietary blends before (both present in Jack3d), and often lauded the scientifically proven combination of creatine monohydrate and beta-alanine (again, Jack3d has both). There are pros and cons to the formula “on paper,” but all pre-workout drinks are feeling products; the most important thing about any of them is that they make you feel fantastic before your workout. That alone will have more performance-enhancing effects than any other factor, and Jack3d seems to accomplish this quite resoundingly. I’m not buying or selling, but like everyone else on the Internet seems to be, I find myself taking Jack3d more often than not.

Buy your USPLab’s Jack3d here.

Every once in awhile, a product comes out that I feel compelled to do a write-up on; it’s either because I love a product or because I strongly dislike a popular product and I hate seeing people waste their money on it.

MAN’s new product, “Swagger” (aptly named, if I do say so myself),  fits the bill of the former. I daresay that I love this product. I liked it on paper, but sometimes a wicked-looking formula will fail to deliver. Not this one. The feel matches the formula.

As usual, I’ll justify myself:

1) The right amount of caffeine:

225mg (per serving — 3 capsules) is just about my sweet spot for caffeine content: any more than 300mg and I’m useless, but any less than 200 and I don’t get much out of it. Plus, it’s split into three capsules (at 75mg apiece), so you can ratchet the amount up or down depending on tolerance and desired effect (and time of day, and blah, blah, blah). Many products are so inundated with caffeine — just to make you feel “buzzed” — that they aren’t actually doing anything from a fat-loss standpoint; making you feel like a rodent on cocaine isn’t conducive to anything but, well, feeling like a rodent on cocaine.

2) Full Disclosure:

I’ve talked about this before. I am much more receptive to new products when companies don’t try to conceal their formulas behind the guise of proprietary blends. Swagger is one of the rare products that tells you, down to the milligram, how much of each ingredient it contains. Let me tell you a secret: simpler is better. Full disclosure’s rarity (at least, in this industry) is only rivaled by its awesomeness. Nothing is more reassuring than knowing you — and your wallet — aren’t getting hosed by some half-ass, pixie-dusted “kitchen sink” product.

The blend is novel and fairly unique, which also garners high marks from me, and takes an expansive approach to fat-loss by offering more than a typical hackneyed fat-burner. Specifically, it addresses all four things I want from a product aimed at fat-loss: appetite suppression, increased energy, increased energy expenditure, and cognitive support. Most products fulfill about two of the four, or decide to forgo anything that might resemble an effective formula in favor of enough stimulants to kill a horse.

There’s Bacopa, Citicoline, Picamilon, 1,3-Dimethylamylamine… lots of interesting, uncommon ingredients. If you have a question about what any of them do just ask. This is one of the better fat-loss products I’ve seen recently, and I’ve been enjoying it simply for the feeling it imparts (i.e., you can still take it even if you do not have any fat-loss goals). Enjoy!

Purchase MAN Swagger here. Questions? Call 800-499-4810, or leave ‘em in the comments!

For about the last two years, we’ve been quite enamored with a product called “Peptibolic” from Empyrean Nutrition:

If you’re a customer that we’ve had the distinct pleasure of talking on the phone with and we’ve recommended this product to you, we hope you’ve enjoyed it as much as we have. Empyrean Nutrition was one of the “early adopters” of PeptoPro amino acid technology in North America, and accordingly, we’ve supported them because we feel their products are validated by science. As you may have discerned from some of my other posts, here at Best Price, we don’t hesitate to call BS on gimmick products.

So what is PeptoPro, and why is it popping up in new supplements all over the Internet?

PeptoPro is hydrolyzed casein protein. I know hydrolyzed is a big, intimidating word and it’s easier to just take BCAAs because the guy at your gym told you to, but let’s pull our heads out of the ground for a minute. Hydrolyzed (hydrolysis) simply refers to a chemical process of breakdown. Most processes of digestion are hydrolysis reactions: you’re breaking down something large into progressively smaller parts so it can ultimately be absorbed (in the intestine). So you can think of hydrolyzed as “pre-digested.” Unfortunately, classic hydrolysis of whey resulted in bitter, turbid preparations with very poor solubility. Casein, on the other hand, offered a viable solution due to its unique amino acid structure: when it is hydrolyzed with with PeptoPro’s patented enzyme process, it produces an incredibly high yield of di- and tri-peptide form amino acids.

Why should you care about di- and tri-peptides? Let’s have a look:

I’d like to note two things here:

1) Di- and tri-peptides have up to 3x greater absorption than either free-form amino acids or longer chain proteins.

2) Free-form (i.e., single, like your favorite BCAA or arginine product) have the worst absorption of the group.

Amino acids can exist as single amino acids (e.g., l-glutamine), di- and tri-peptides (two or three amino acids bonded together), or longer chains of polypeptides (like your typical whey protein). The di- and tri-peptides in PeptoPro are completely water soluble, and therein lies the competitive advantage:

Taking PeptoPro before exercise causes a rapid increase in amino acid levels in the blood because it absorbs so darn fast. Maintaining high levels of amino acids during exercise reverses muscular protein breakdown and starts to stimulate muscle protein synthesis during exercise. PeptoPro most readily maintains the requisite high level of amino acids better than anything else I’m aware of. It also requires zero digestive effort on the part of your body (remember, pre-digested?), whereas other proteins may sit in your stomach during exercise waiting to be broken down into their absorbable parts. Not only is this bloated feeling uncomfortable, but it is indicative of the fact that your valuable amino acids are not making it where you intended (your muscles), when you intended (umm, how about now?).

Finally, there was a study done that any strength/power athletes may find relevant about rate of recovery for muscular force:

Again, the peptide-bonded amino acids from PeptoPro win.

Here are the products we have with significant amounts PeptoPro in them:

Questions about how to make these products work for you? Give us a call at 800-499-4810

Here at Best Price Nutrition, we’ve known for years that arginine, well, doesn’t really work. At least, it doesn’t do what it is touted to do on every single supplement label: vasodilate, increase nitric oxide levels, impart a better “pump”. The wool has been pulled over the collective eyes of the supplement industry for quite some time; this is the unfortunate result of an industry that spends billions a year on marketing to uneducated consumers. While informing said consumers instead of pitching them more bullshit is central to our business identity, it often feels like slogging uphill and it would be nice if we had a supplement company on our side (i.e., the righteous side, of course) for once. Enter iFORCE Nutrition’s Hemavol.

Again, there is no arginine (gasp!?) in this product. If that distresses you, go back and read the first paragraph again. Here’s what there is in this product:

Hemodynamix Matrix:

-Agamatine Sulfate 1000mg

-Citrulline Malate 5000mg

-Glycerol Monostearate 2000mg

-Norvaline 250mg

Agmatine and Citrulline are the shining stars here, with Norvaline getting an honorable mention. Agmatine inhibits endothelial nitric oxide synthase, the enzyme that breaks down nitric oxide in your blood. Instead of the crapshoot that is ingesting arginine and hoping that it eventually turns itself into nitric oxide, and then hoping that your body doesn’t break down that nitric oxide, you just directly boost the levels of nitric oxide in your blood. If blocking an enzyme sounds like sketchy voodoo science to you, bear in mind this is exactly how most prescription drugs work.

Citrulline malate is an interesting ingredient that has been used for years in Europe as a fatigue-fighter, among other things. This is not a new ingredient by any means, and I won’t bill it as such; you can find citrulline entering sports performance write-ups in the United States as early as 1998. This is the quick and dirty: citrulline significantly increases aerobic performance at a dosage of 6g per day - some studies go as high as 18g per day. It will also indirectly boost anaerobic performance by boosting the re-absorption of bicarbonates that protect against metabolic acidosis and by raising the anaerobic threshold. Yes, the supplement only has 5g of citrulline, but the dosage is already 10 capsules. If you really want the 6g, take 12 capsules or add in a few scoops of Scivation’s Xtend (2 scoops has 1g of citrulline).

Norvaline is finally gaining traction because it too inhibits an enzyme: arginase, the enzyme that degrades arginine. What I didn’t mention above is that both agmatine and citrulline are both derived from arginine, and may actually be superior in bolstering plasma levels of arginine than, well, arginine itself; this has to do with agmatine and citrulline dodging liver metabolism whereas arginine cannot.

Long story short, you’re blowing the door off the limiting factors of endothelial nitric oxide levels as opposed to previously only gently knocking (with arginine). Enjoy.

NO2 Vasodilation Support Matrix: L-Alpha-Glycerophosphorylcholine (Alpha-GPC), Vitamin C, Rutacaerpine, Epimedium

Alpha-GPC is an awesome addition to this product that is just now peeking its head over the vast horizon that is sports performance supplements, but despite its late entrance, it is a very welcome addition. Not only does it sensitize the body’s growth hormone receptors, thereby making growth hormone more effective, but it also has a powerful effect on the central nervous system by acting as a parasympathomimetic acetylcholine precursor, and rapidly delivers choline across the blood brain barrier. Canadian strength coach Christian Thibaudeau lauds Alpha-GPC as his favorite supplement, “… it is the only supplement I’ve ever tried that made me significantly stronger the first time I ever took it.” Don’t overlook this ingredient: it is not cheap, and certainly not a “cutting-corners” filler ingredient.

Quite simply, if you’re looking for a nitric oxide supplement that actually works, this is as close to defying the laws of physiology I’ve seen a supplement company come up with, and I’m thoroughly impressed.

(And hey, we’re shipping iFORCE’s Hemavol free! Give the gift of pump for the holidays!)

By now there is a battery of research available on alpha-lipoic acid, and one form in particular shows the most promise: Na-R-ALA — sodium-stabilized, R-enantiomer alpha-lipoic acid.

Quickly, the R-enantiomer (+) is the one that is used by the body, but if you were to buy basic alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) you would be getting what is known as the racemic mixture of ALA. Racemic simply means a 50/50 mixture of the R-enatiomer (+) and the S-enantiomer (-). To avoid getting too technical, what’s important here is that the S-enantiomer (-) is not found in nature and may inhibit the R-enantiomer (+) from interacting with proteins, enzymes, and genes, and thus is undesirable. Of primary significance, R-enantiomer alpha-lipoic acid has shown to be ten times more effective than racemic alpha-lipoic acid for reducing inflammation. Furthermore, adding the sodium group (Na+) makes the compound water-soluble and further enhances absorption, as well as extending the shelf-life to up to three years without refrigeration.

Here are some of the purported benefits of Na-R-ALA:

• Protect both the fatty and aqueous portions of cells from harmful free radicals
• Reverse oxidative damage to enzymes and DNA
• Restore levels of glutathione, a protective antioxidant and detoxification compound
• Increase ATP (energy) levels
• Support a healthy response to inflammation, including decreasing C-reactive protein
• Enhance cardiovascular health by promoting vasodilation (relaxation of blood vessels)
• Improve metabolism, increase insulin sensitivity and improve glucose transport
• Reduce appetite, decrease fat accumulation and increase lean muscle mass
• Protect the integrity of the brain and nervous system
• Chelate heavy metals

In this form, this is definitely a supplement worth taking a second look at, if not a staple. There is even some interesting, although not yet conclusive, research showing that Na-R-ALA can induce apoptosis (cell death) in human colon cancer cells.

Click for product page

Hey guys!

Welcome to the FIRST EVER video blog post — vlog — on Best Price Nutrition. This time, there’s no need for you to read on. Just push play!




FYI we took about three drafts of this and it went from 15 minutes to 9 minutes to the current state: 5 minutes. I had a lot to say and it was hard to fit it into the five minutes so if I raised any questions that were not addressed adequately, just ask below.

Finally, give me a free pass on that awkward moment near the end. A coworker started asking me a question not realizing I was live and I get completely derailed. We all had a few laughs at my “Ron Burgundy”-esque moment there.

I was really excited to do this so I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I did. Here are the products mentioned (click images):

I am on a mission to banish every ounce of fat from my midsection in preparation for Chicago’s beach season. I want to walk the shores of Lake Michigan with a paramedic in tow to resuscitate the droves of swooning women. I want sweet, grandmotherly old ladies to heatedly fan themselves and have flashbacks of doing laundry on a washboard while ogling my abs and crooning, “Oh, dear” to one another. Okay, I’m not that vain. I do, however, enjoy the discipline and sense of accomplishment that comes with attaining the level of conditioning my coworker John (here’s his blog post if you’re tired of reading me) refers to as “prison-ripped”.

…

Did anyone actually buy that “discipline and sense of accomplishment” nonsense? Maybe that’s the attitude I had on day two of the diet, but certainly not now. Six weeks in with no cheat meals and no “adult sodas” and I am utterly dragging ass. My inner masochist dictates that I refuse to stop watching Iron Chef America on Food Network or put down last month’s issue of GQ (let me preempt the naysayers now by saying that I don’t subscribe to that magazine, but my gym does and I read it when I do cardio) when I turn the page to unveil the Top 25 Pizzas in America complete with full-color pictures. Yup, I’m there; those pizzas were talking to me. Somewhere in the midst of the mouth-watering array of my favorite food, in a moment of cardio-induced clarity, I had a realization. I need some stimulants. When beautifully photographed pizzas in a magazine start making me promises, I need some stimulants badly. I had been saving myself for a certain product that I had high hopes for: Cytolean V2 from Gaspari Nutrition. Salvation arrived on Monday in the form of a brown box from Rich Gaspari himself, and soon our warehouse was stocked with the 90 “CytoTAB” bottles.

It’s official; Cytolean V2 is now available for purchase. I was eager to see the ingredients:

Lipolytic Drive Complex ^TM 565mg

Green Tea Extract, Proprietary Extract of Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae, B­-Phenylethylamine HCL, Proprietary Extract of Paulinia Cupana

Psycho-Corticoid Optimization Matrix ^TM 420mg

Caffeine, Lactium® (aS1-casein tryptic decapeptide), 7b-OH (7b-hydroxy-dehydroepiandrosterone), Chinese Boxthorn Extract (Lycium Chinense), Bioperine®, Huperzine A

First Impressions

There are ten ingredients total. I am a bit more partial to products with fewer ingredients because it seems to lend itself less to “pixie dusting”, a practice I described here. That being said, this product isn’t a horrible offender. I think that sometimes these products’ ingredients can produce a synergistic effect, too, so it can be a double-edged sword. With “fat burners” or stimulant products in general, there is an amazing array of different feelings they can confer on the user. I’ll examine this more later; suffice it to say, ten total ingredients is just about where a product like this should be. Pixie dusting is a worse offense when the product in question is a powder-based product. Finally, there is also an ingredient I’ve never seen before: Lactium ®. We’ll check that one out later in the post.

What these ingredients are… really

There are three “creatively” labeled ingredients, and by that I mean that they are somewhat well-known ingredients that are labeled with more obscure names. I’m referring to Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae, Paulinia Cupana, and Lycium Chinense (all three are also labeled as extracts). Allow me to translate, although I wish they would’ve labeled it so I wouldn’t have to:

Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae ­- This is tangerine peel. Its possible uses, especially from traditional Chinese medicine (its most common application), are incredibly diverse. It is most commonly touted as a digestive aid or tonic.

Paulinia Cupana­ - This is just Guarana, shame on them. I mean really, was it necessary to hide the fact that your product contains Guarana by deliberately using its botanical name? Guarana is a natural source of caffeine. It’s not the demon ingredient the energy drink decriers make it out to be. At the end of the day, it’s no different chemically than any other source of caffeine.

Lycium Chinense - This is wolfberry/goji berry. It is often lauded for its antioxidant properties and purported anti-aging/longevity effect.

The presence of tangerine peel and goji berry in a fat burner are curious to me. They’re novel ingredients, to be certain, but I’m not sure if they’re really contributing that much to the total effect of the product. Even further, if they were using them as “buzzword ingredients”, why are they named in a misleading manner? You shouldn’t lose faith, however, because it gets a lot better. Read on.

The other, better ingredients

B-Phenylethylamine HCL - You will often see this ingredient abbreviated as PEA or β-PEA. This is a monoamine (an aromatic group connected to an amino acid by two carbon chains). This one happens to be derived from the aromatic amino acid phenylalanine, as you can probably infer from the name. Phenylethylamines and their substitutions are a very broad class of compounds that include the neurotransmitters epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine; ephedrine; and the (meth)amphetamines and their salts (e.g., Adderall). Please don’t get the wrong idea; I’m not likening β-PEA to methamphetamines. I’m just pointing out that this is a very interesting compound that is part of a family which contains stimulants and hallucinogens, among other things. It is perfectly safe, however, and most users report increased focus and increased body temperature/feelings of warmth, and even mild euphoric feelings at times. The most commonly reported side effects are mild nausea and mild tightness of the throat, but Cytolean V2 probably does not contain enough β-PEA to cause these side effects.

Lactium ® - This is a decapeptide (10 amino acids bonded together) that is isolated from casein (milk) protein. It is hydrolyzed (basically, broken down) by the enzyme trypsin, which is secreted by the pancreas into the small intestine.

Apparently, the impetus for the discovery of this peptide was to determine the calming ingredient in milk that soothed infants after breastfeeding. Five clinical studies on women only showed significant reduction in stress markers (as compared to placebo) in the following areas: digestive (+ 29.5%), cardiovascular (+ 12.5%), intellectual (+ 28.1%), emotional (+20.3%) and social (+ 14.2%).You can read more about this here. This is an interesting concept, and certainly a unique ingredient. I will go so far as to say that this is the first time, to my knowledge, that this angle has been taken with a fat burner product.

7b-OH (7b-hydroxy-dehydroepiandrosterone) - This is a downstream metabolite of DHEA and is very similar to 7-keto DHEA. 7b-OH-DHEA has the strongest anti-cortisol/anti-glucocorticoid activity of the supplemental DHEA metabolites, and has shown the greatest propensity to increase resting metabolic rate. This product, Lean Extreme, made the 7b-OH-DHEA ingredient popular in the supplement industry. My personal experience with this ingredient is that it works acutely and rapidly for the first few weeks or so and then tails off in effect, and it specifically targets abdominal fat. Lean Extreme didn’t have any stimulants in it (sigh), but Cytolean V2 has both stimulants and 7b-OH-DHEA (yay!). I do think it is a nice ingredient overall, and worth trying (preferably with stimulants) if you haven’t before.

Huperzine A - This is a plant alkaloid. It has been shown to inhibit the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE). This inhibitory action increases acetylcholine levels in exactly the same way some prescription Alzheimer’s drugs (e.g., Donepezil) do. Without getting too technical, acetylcholine is the primary contractile neurotransmitter of muscle tissue, and in the brain it is involved in plasticity (memory) and excitability (neurotransmitters are chemicals that help your nervous system communicate with other cells). Huperzine A is currently undergoing clinical trials as an Alzheimer’s treatment. This is an interesting ingredient to be in a fat burner as well, and it is also in Gaspari’s other recent product: Mitotropin. It appears that the product formulators at Gaspari Nutrition are fond of this ingredient, and so am I.

Effect

The directions are curious with this product; they indicate that you should take all three tablets in the morning. Most products adopt the opposite approach and request that you take some tablets in the morning, and then additional tablets later that day. Anyway, I’ve never been one to back down from a challenge so I threw three pills down the hatch and waited… (While we’re waiting, let me just point out that the pills receive high marks in badassery for having freakin’ daggers on ‘em)

…

And we’re back. Okay, so they legitimately are not kidding. I was wired, but not in the wild, headachy way that a typical caffeine overdose would yield. I was actually processing everything faster than normal, at least in my own mind. My co-workers did point out that I was talking way too fast as I was frantically trying to communicate to them that I was having hot flashes like a perimenopausal woman.

Seriously, I loved original Cytolean and was sad to see it go, but this product was worth the wait. I didn’t start taking an energy product right away because my personal dieting philosophy is to always have tricks up your sleeve to add at a later date; if you throw everything you have at your body all at once, then what happens when you stop progressing? Cytolean V2 delivered everything I needed at a critical juncture in my diet: energy, appetite suppression, focus/concentration, and increased lipolysis. Granted, increased lipolysis is hard to quantify, but I attribute the “heat waves” feeling to increased oxidation of fatty acids which is an exothermic (i.e., heat-releasing) reaction. I would highly recommend this product to anyone who has hit a wall in their dieting pursuits, or just someone looking for more energy in general. If I had to guess, it’s the Lactium ® ingredient that really changes the “feel” of the product; you don’t feel haywire at all. I’m really impressed with this ingredient if it is indeed the culprit. I even felt that the product put me into a “get things done” frame of mind at work; this, again, earns it high praise in my book. Anyone who has ever dieted for a substantial length of time knows the accompanying lethargy and irritability and hunger can be productivity killers. For me, the mental fog was lifted and I was able to concentrate entirely on the task at hand.

Final Thoughts

I always tell our customers that fat burners and stimulants are “feel” products. They don’t do much in terms of increasing caloric expenditure directly. Instead, they make you feel certain ways that may be beneficial to your energy or hunger levels, or even your sheer willpower to adhere to the diet. In this way, they increase caloric expenditure indirectly by causing you to eat less and move more. It really is that simple. Furthermore, I am particularly fond of products that impart clarity of focus or improve concentration, and Cytolean V2 did just that. My criticisms would be the deliberate misdirection with the labeling of the ingredients, and the curious dosing instructions. I do plan to experiment with my own dosing protocol: two tablets in the AM and one capsule mid-afternoon. I am not going to exceed three tablets per day, however, because I would like my bottle to last a whole month. Cytolean V2 is also designed to neatly stack with Mitotropin, and they are perfect complements to one another because Mitotropin is not “stimulant-y” at all. I am not inherently biased towards Gaspari; they did an excellent job on these products. My recommendation would be to pit this product against any run-of-the-mill hyper-caffeinated fat burner you may be currently taking. The innovation and effect of this product will not disappoint.

Here’s the eponymous Rich Gaspari himself on the product:

Finally, you can purchase it here for $29.95

As always, please leave a comment or question on the blog or a product review on the product page!

EDIT

Okay guys, as promised, I’ll always do due diligence for you. I contacted my Gaspari representative and was ultimately directed to Liz Gaspari herself (Rich’s wife). Here was her — surprisingly awesome — response:

For the paulinia extract, the reason we didn’t just say guarana is because of new cGMP requirements. They dictate our label must match our C. of A. from the materials supplier. For this proprietary extract, the supplier labeled it paulinia instead of guarana.

For the pericarpium, this is a novel extract that no one has used before. Some people mistake it for the bitter orange citrus aurantum extract (synephrine). We want it to be clear and specific that it is not that extract. There are studies which show our specific extract to inhibit adipogenesis.

For the goji berry (boxthorn), we didn’t list it as goji berry because most people associate that fruit with antioxidants only. Our extract is for the potent MAOI found in boxthorn which is referenced in several studies.

Although some companies may rename ingredients that are common to sound more exotic, we are trying to be as specific as possible while still protecting our proprietary extracts.”

My Final, Final Thoughts

I officially have nothing negative left to say. This is an unbiased and honest review, and I was taken aback by the acumen shown here by a supplement company.

A) Paulinia Cupana - they’re adhering to their manufacturing standards. cGMP stands for current Good Manufacturing Practices; it basically dictates that utmost care is taken during every facet of the whole process, from acquring the raw materials until you purchase the product. C. of A. stands for certificate of analysis. Basically, a laboratory will certify the purity of an ingredient contained within a product. These are all good things for you, the consumer.

B) Inhibiting adipogenesis, if indeed possible, is certainly an exciting prospect. Adipogenesis is the creation of new fat cells. So, theoretically, this product could be used even in the offseason to attempt to maintain leanness while trying to add muscle.

C) In my opinion, it is the boxthorn addition that puts the final “there’s-no-reason-why-you-shouldn’t-buy-this” stamp of approval on this product. B-PEA has one significant drawback: due to an enzyme called MAO (monoamine oxidase), it has an extremely short half-life and not much of it crosses the blood-brain barrier. The addition of a MAO Inhibitor effectively solves this problem.

Most companies just throw B-PEA into their products because, well, someone else did? Using a MAOI with this ingredient shows that Gaspari Nutrition has an good grasp of physiology/biochemistry, which, unfortunately is not a prerequisite to being  in this industry. Lately, it seems all you need to know how to do is skillfully use copy and paste and try to pass it off as your own. Gaspari took a tricky ingredient that they were apparently sold on and found a way to make it effective enough to be worth your while. If nothing else, you should appreciate that.

Read Liz’s response again. ” … this is a novel extract that no one has used before” (as are others mentioned above, e.g. Lactium). Trust me when I tell you how refreshing this actually is. Innovation is fantastic to see in this “me too” industry where everyone is trying to keep costs down and stay inside safe (proven) zones. Research and development? Nah, that costs too much, right? Let’s just see if we can buy another 7-page special advertisement in the next Muscular Development. Yeah, that should do it. Here is an example of a company fighting for your business, and I strongly suggest you reward them for it. I don’t see an extra penny if you buy this product over any other we sell, but at least I can have the peace of mind that comes with recommending something that works really well. Try it and see. I (and now you) cannot fairly criticize anything about this product anymore, except perhaps the fact that the cool insights into the three products that were clarified needed clarification in the first place. But hey, that’s what you guys have me for, right?

Lately, I’ve been on a mission to find the best pre-workout drink available (see my previous post on Maximize from IForce). Again, I am not a huge fan of nitric oxide products personally, but after getting an exhaustive amount of inquiries, I’ve concluded that I might actually be the only one on the planet who cannot claim to have had lengthy affairs with several of them. After watching an elderly gentleman get robbed by what appeared to be an unruly mob of NO-Xplode-toting 8th graders on bicycles from my office window, I have officially adopted the “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em” mentality” (the pre-workout drink users, not the prepubescent bicycle gang, however tempting).

In either case, despite its purported effect, there is probably not enough of it to do anything at all. Was this the studied amount? Or did the study use something like 10g of ACTINOS₂IR, which would yield 40kcal, assuming it was purely amino acids? See the bait-and-switch here? Don’t fall for it. (*Note: if someone reading this has seen or can find the studies to perhaps clarify things a bit, by all means leave a link in the comments. I gave up after two hours.)

Taste/Mixability:

The powder both tastes good and mixes fine. You would expect something that contains 11g of carbohydrate per serving to taste good – they don’t need to use as many artificial sweeteners. It is when you try to flavor some of the lower/no-carbohydrate pre-workout drinks that you run into trouble. I tried the orange flavor and it was enjoyable, although, as mentioned above, I kept hoping for the drink to turn black as night when I mixed it due to the product’s name (it wasn’t – just light orange). I think that’d be hilarious to have in the gym with you – e.g. “what are you drinking, tar?”

If you guys want, I’ll make a product like that and sell it through Best Price. Imagine the marketing possibilities! “Unlock the anabolic potential of the color black! It’s like becoming a blind-man dropped into a black hole – instantly! You have to take it every other day because if you don’t, you will actually go blind! Our warehouse operators have to wear night vision goggles when we produce it!” You get the idea. Seriously, though, let me know. If not, I can always just sell it to MuscleTech.

Effect:

I did not notice any effect from this product. I may be slightly desensitized to caffeine at this point, but I still didn’t really “feel it”. Same with the beta-alanine - usually if you get a high enough dose of it you get a harmless tingling sensation on your skin known as paresthesia. I did not feel it.

Final Thoughts:

I think that the price of this product does not really justify its effectiveness. I’m trying to be fair in my assessment; I just feel that sometimes everyone is missing the forest for the trees with things like this. You’d be amazed how many people are not getting in enough protein, not getting enough essential fats, and not getting enough calories, and yet they keep going from one pre-workout supplement to the next because they feel like that’s the missing link in their supplement and training regimen. There is usually no protein in any of these supplements. You can’t synthesize new muscle tissue (which is composed of proteins) without ingesting protein. That’d be like me asking you to build a house without giving you any bricks. It doesn’t matter how motivated you are. If you still want to try it, go ahead. We offer the 20-packet size for only $18.99. I’m not trying to get you to NOT buy something from us. I just think there are better things available - in the pre-workout category and overall - and that’s my honest opinion. Feel free to call us at (800) 499 – 4810 and we can make some suggestions if you like, or hop on the live chat. The bottom line is that you should find something that you enjoy drinking and drags you off the couch if you’re a bit low on energy. If it tastes good and has some performance enhancing ingredients in it, it’s a win-win proposition. Just remember why you’re taking these products and what they do (and, perhaps more importantly, what they don’t do). I want your business, but I want you to come back, too. And the best way for me to do that is to make sure you’re buying things that work, and that help you meet your individual goals. And if you have tried the product before, give us a review! Here’s the links:

MRI Black Powder 20 Packets

MRI Black Powder 1.76 LBS

Citation:

HH Schmidt, TD Warner, K Ishii, H Sheng, and F Murad. 1992. Insulin secretion from pancreatic B cells caused by L-arginine-derived nitrogen oxides. Science, Vol 255, Issue 5045, 721-723.