Muscle Elements Amino Flow Review

        Muscle Elements is a new company that I had my eye on for a while, but just recently decided to jump in and try some of their products. For starters their promotion method is kinda cool, going with the table of elements theme. I also noticed that they do not do that thing that a lot of companies happen to be doing, using the proprietary blends crap. I see full disclosure of all the ingredients on the back of every product i have bought.

My review is going to be on their Amino Flow product which is an anytime BCAA/Nitric Oxide booster drink. I went with fruit punch flavor because I think a lot more people go with what they know and expect rather than taking a chance on something that they cant stomach.

Taste: I mixed one up now just so I can describe it as I drink it. The initial taste is sweet, with a hint of fruit punch in the after taste. There is a weird taste which is hard to describe, sorta like "mediciny" or cough syrup like if I you made me describe it. Its still very drinkable and not that bad on the taste buds. I would rate this about a 7.5/10 because I have tried some pretty bad ones in the past and this one taste like crystal light compared to those.


Ingredient Profile:

30 Servings	Fruit Punch
Serving Size: 1 Scoop (12.5g)
Servings Per Container: 30
Amount Per Serving	% Daily Value †
Calories	0	0%
Total Carbohydrate	0 g	10%
Sugars	0 g	10%
Calcium	100 mg	10%
Magnesium	40 mg	13%
Phosphorus	150 mg	15%
Sodium	80 mg	8%
Muscle Growth & Recovery Elements:
Instant BCAA Blend 3:1:2	5,000 mg	**
L-Taurine	1,000 mg	**
Pump & Transport Elements:
L-Citrulline	2,000 mg	**
AgmaMAX® (Agmatine Sulfate)	250 mg	**
L-Histidine	125 mg	**
L-Ornithine HCl	125 mg	**
Grape Seed Extract 95%	75 mg	**
Hydration & Endurance Elements:
Disodium Phosphate	250 mg	**
Dicalcium Phosphate	250 mg	**
Dimagnesium Phosphate	250 mg	**
† Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
** Daily Value Not Established.
Other Ingredients:
Natural & Artificial Flavors (Milk), Citric Acid, Malic Acid, Sucralose, Beet Juice Powder (Color), and Acesulfame Potassium.
ALLERGEN WARNING: Manufactured on equipment which processes products containing milk, eggs, soybeans, wheat, shellfish, fish oil, tree nuts, and peanut flavor.

I love that this company puts exactly what your getting per scoop. I like knowing that I'm getting the proper dosage that is known to be effective rather than hoping I'm getting it. Lets start with the BCAA blend of 3:1:2,  this ratio is the standard that has been set in the industry. If you dont know what BCAA's are let me give you a brief description, BCAA's are amino acids that your body breaks down and uses to to build and repair your muscles. The aminos that are used in the ratio are L-leucine, L-isoleucine, and L-valine. They also added L-Taurine which is another amino acid that helps with your heart function and overall exercise capacity.

Nitric Oxide (N.O) portion contains some very good ingredients with a good amount of each.

L-Citrulline is a precursor to Nitric Oxide meaning it will be turned into N.O later, its know to reduce your soreness, reduce fatigue, and increase your workout performance. You get 2grams per serving which is ideal because you need 1.5 grams daily for normal N.O production.

AgmaMax or Agmatine Sulfate is metabolite of arginine that induces vasodiliation which leads to better muscle pumps, transportation of nutrients. and enhanced bloodflow to your muscle.

L-Histidine is an amino acid that is found in meats and is thought to increase N.O. production and balance.

L-Ornithine HCl is precursor to arginine and is thought to increase protein synthesis, protein catabolism and reduce your overall fatigue.

 Grape Seed Extract 95% was added because it contains resveratrol which has been shown to increase N.O. production and reduce oxidative stress.

The phosphates are basically electrolytes to balance the bodys fluid levels.

Overall I have to say this is a pretty impressive list of ingredients with proper functioning dosages. It gets a 10/10


Effectiveness: I have been taking this as pre,intra, and post and have to say that I have been getting some great pumps and endurance. I have been able to go harder and for a longer period of time, I know this because I wouldn't take it some workouts and those workouts would end up being sub par. Im not saying you need this but to me it makes a world of difference. I also end up way less sore and with way more energy. I rate this a 10/10

Value: One tub of this goes for between  $30-40 dollars for 30 servings. Not cheap and considering that they recommend at least two to three scoops a day, this can go pretty fast. Its great stuff, its just the cost makes it hard to consistently buy it unless you use it one scoop a day. I say if you have the extra cash and you already have the essentials then go for this stuff it will make a difference 
I rate the at a 8/10 because the ingredient profile is probably worth much more if you get them separate.

Overall: I have to admit this was a great buy. I really think this company is on the up and up because they are very transparent. I know what ingredients and how much of it is being put into my body, which is something every health conscious person likes to know. I would seriously recommend you try this product and all their others as well. They offer samples for like 5 bucks on their site http://www.muscle-elements.com/products/samples/

 

Is Sugar In Your Diet Good Or Bad?

I get what this article is trying to say; sugar is not the cause of  fat gain, rather its  the amount of calories consumed. I just have a think it makes it way more harder than it has to be when your trying to lose weight and still eat sugar. It makes more sense to try and limit sugar intake while on a diet, but also knowing that a sweet treat isnt going to hurt you can help just as much. Imagine being able to eat what you want and all you have to do is make sure you stay within your calorie limit, this for me makes it easy. 

"Having spent more than a decade in the fitness industry, I've seen every macro nutrient demonized at various points. And the object of this demonization changes every few years.

In the 1970s and '80s it was fat, with protein caught in that undertow as well. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, carbohydrates were demonized, a trend that's coming back around. Protein has gotten some new undeserved hatred again recently. And then there's the on-again, off-again battle that consumes other ingredients, such as dairy and gluten."

The Science Of Sugar And Fat Loss

Read more ...

Another thing to think about is if your family has a history of diabetes, it would be wise to stay away from too much sugar. This is just another article I though was decent read that gave some insight into fat gain/loss, ill do my best to keep it interesting.

Is Organic Whey Better Than The Normal Whey?

There has been a lot of talk of organic protein vs regular protein. This article will give you rundown of each. I myself have never tried an organic whey yet but I plan to, and I will post a review as soon as I do. If you know of any good ones I should try just leave me a comment.

"THE FAT IS WHERE IT'S AT

First, you need to consider what exactly makes milk from grass-fed cows better for you. It's the fat! Organically raised, grass-fed cows have higher amounts of the all-important and essential omega-3 fats, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), and vitamin E (a fat-soluble vitamin) than their grain-fed counterparts, and these nutrients are found in the milk fat."

Ask The Supplement Guru: Is Organic Whey Protein Worth The Money?

Read more ...

MuscleTech Creactor Creatine Review

This is another innovative product from Muscletech, its creatine only a different kind. What I mean by different is that it does not use the industry standard creatine monohydrate, instead they make use of creatine hcl and free acid creatine. So im sure you are curious about how these two types of creatine are different and how they work on the body. Here is the difference.

Creatine hcl or (creatine hydrochloride) is essentially adding a salt molecule to the basic creatine monohydrate which in turn makes it extremely soluble and easy to absorb into the body. This has taken away the loading phase of normal creatine which was as long as a week, and has sped up the intake of creatine. It also has eliminated bloating that comes with taking creatine monohydrate which is a huge plus.

Free Acid Creatine is just another way of saying very pure. It contains no acids or salt, meaning it is 100% pure. Compared to normal creatine monohydrate which is 87% pure, free acid creatine is supplying the purest creatine to your muscles.
                                                            

So here is my review after a month of taking this.

I purchased the unflavored version so i could mix it with anything i wanted, I noticed a problem with this right off the bat. I was trying my first test with plain water and noticed an actual taste, it was like lime flavored water. Although it doesn't come through when i mix it with protein it did a flavor when I wanted an unflavored version.

The mixabilty left a lot to be desired, i can get over clumping but this did not dissolve well in water. I could see it fall and rest at the bottom. I had to shake it then drink really fast, and get more water for the rest that was left at the bottom. Once again I didn't have a problem when i mixed with a protein shake so all was well after i figured that out.

I started to notice subtle effects after about the 3rd day, I was able to lift longer and a bit more weight. Its always nice to see something you spent money on work! After a few weeks I started to feel my muscles getting more full and my head getting as big a balloon. With creatine it really is a case of consistency is key, If you don't take it everyday you wont get what you paid for.

I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking to creatine for the first time, it works but it wont if your not putting in work on your end. Thanks your for taking the time to read my reviews, I know they aren't much but I do pay for these products myself and try to provide honest feedback. Please leave a comment if have questions or want me to try a product.

Muscle Tech Clear Muscle Review

I'm a huge fan of companies that are constantly being innovative and look to provide us customers with the next big thing. MuscleTech is one of those companies and with that being said they also get tons of flack for over hyping products based on limited science. So you either are a fan or not, i am a little bit in the middle because i want to review it fairly, but at the same time i spend my own money on these products and i would like them to work as promised.

I purchased these when they first came out because i am a sucker for new products with bold promises. I started using them about three week ago, don't know why i waited so long, but i did and now i am able to provide my review. 

So what exactly is Clear Muscle?

Clear Muscle is Free acid beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate or HMB-FA. HMB-FA is a by product of leucine and as you know leucine is an essential amino acid that aids in protein synthesis. Check out most of your protein supplements and you will see Leucine there. Clear Muscle provides the HMB-FA which is used my the body much faster. For More In Depth Info Look Here

When To Take?

On the instructions it says to take 3 times daily for maximum results. I took it 2 time daily, once in the morning and 30-45 minutes before a workout.

The pills 

The pills are clear as is the liquid, they do have something that appears to be a glue substance that locks them in the center. Hope its not glue..lol  

After Effects

I usually don't have issues with most supplements because i can stomach a lot of it but for whatever reason i have to run to the restroom right before i start my workout. But after im good to go and the workouts are really good. 

Positives

I did notice that i was making some very good gains and the weights i usually have trouble with were no problem. My recovery was very nice even on leg day. This product does work, but it has its drawbacks which i will explain next.

Negatives

For me this product worked but it came with a price, that price being that you have to keep buying it to stay where you are at. What i mean by that is that i stopped taking it for a week just to see what would happen with my progress, everything that was easy became harder and the progress i had made took a step back. I mean i didnt lose everything, but the ease was just gone. Value wise is dependent upon how you take it, 3 times you get 28 days at 2 times you get 42 days for around $40 bucks.

Overall

This product does work and you will see some gains but be prepared for when you stop, it will be noticeable. If you have the extra cash i say give a try, buy at least a 2 month supply go hard in the gym make some nice gains then when you run out go a week or two without it then make the decision if your going to make it apart of your permanent stack.

 

MuscleTech Micellar Whey Review

Muscletech is one of those companies that you either love or hate. They always tend to come out with the next "great supplement" in the bodybuilding world. So when i ran out of casein protein I was more than eager try to this new Micellar Whey concoction they had just come out with. It is supposed to be better than casein in all ways but i beg to differ on some points.


Taste: Im going to start with the worst part first because this is one of the few protein drinks that I actually had a hard to putting down. I had both the chocolate and the vanilla, and i have to say they are both very bland and generic tasting. I had a problem even when drinking it with milk! Muscletech products usually taste good but this one is bad. 2/10 cause i didn't throw up!

Ingredient Profile:

Serving Size: 1 Scoop (37g)
Servings Per Container: Approx. 25
Amount Per Serving	% Daily Value
Calories	140
Calories from Fat	20
Total Fat	2 g	3%*
Saturated Fat	1.5 g	8%*
Cholesterol	85 mg	28%
Total Carbohydrate	6 g	2%*
Sugars	1 g	†
Protein	25 g	50%*
Vitamin A	127 IU	3%
Calcium	235 mg	24%
Sodium	150 mg	6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
† Daily Value not established.
Ingredients:
Micellar Whey, Maltodextrin, Natural Flavors, Salt, Soy Lecithin, Gum Blend (Cellulose Gum, Xanthan Gum, Carrageenan), Acesulfame-Potassium, Sucralose.
Contains milk and soy ingredients. Processed in a facility that processes egg, fish, tree nut, and wheat ingredients.

 I liked the 25g of protein, what i didn't like was the Maltodextrin which is a filler. 7/10

Effectiveness: I am very self aware and notice any changes my body may be going through when taking a new supplement. I noticed right off the bat that i was not starving when i woke up, i took my time getting up before going to the kitchen. That alone helped me make better eating choices because i wasn't going into the kitchen with a huge appetite. The other thing i noticed was that it helped with overall soreness, meaning along with the other supps i take i noticed an additional relief while taking this. 9/10

Value: The average price is anywhere between $35-42 bucks for 2lbs depending on if you find a sale. If you use it one scoop a night you will only get 25 servings meaning not even a months supply. If you use more you may only get a 10-12 day supply. I recommend you buy this if you have the extra cash and work out hard(4-5 days) if not i would stick to casein. 5/10 worth it to some but maybe not to others.

Overall: If it wasn't for the taste and low value for what you pay this would be a great replacement for casein.  Again i would say if you have the extra money to spend, try it but prepared for the taste. Its effects are moderately better than casein but nonetheless better, if your like me go hard or go home then you should try this.
 

Micellar Whey Micellar Whey 2 Pound Powder

Protease: Benefits And Why Your Protein Should Have It

  I'm sure many of you have seen, most likely in small print below the list of ingredients on your protein powder, the word protease. 

What is Protease?

Protease is an enzyme that helps our body breakdown many types of proteins. It will begin to breakdown protein bonds by going through a process calleds hydrolysis which will eventually turn the protein you intake into amino acids.

A natural source of protease can be found in plants such as, pineapple as well as papayas. 


Benefits Of Protease

Its not by accident that protease is included many of the protein supplements today. Without it our intestinal lining would have a very hard time digesting protein, As you all know digestion plays huge role in our overall health and getting any kind of aid in that process frees our body to fight other battles. Below is a list benefits that protease can give us.

1. Inflammatory bowel disease
2. Skin Burns and stomach ulcers
3. Sprains
4. Slow or Stop irritation
5. Beneficial gut bacteria
6. Clots

      
Click Here For More Info on Protease

Ronnie Coleman Pro-Antium Protein Review

   If you know anything about bodybuilding you will surely recognize 8 time Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman(RC). Aside from being being one the best Bodybuilders around, he decided to put his name on his own supplements. Thus the Ronnie Coleman Signature Series was born.

The RC line at least to me is for the more experienced bodybuilders around because they use a lot more ingredients that you don't expect or get from most lines.

So I purchased RC Pro-Antium about a week and started taking it almost immediately. What first drew me to this was the fact that it included 2.5g of Betaine, there is a new craze with this because some recent studies suggest it helps build and harden muscles. I also saw that it included 5g of creatine monohydrate, for some people this a deal breaker because they don't take creatine or have another supplement for it. I didn't mind either way and bought it. So here is my Review:

Taste: I ordered the double chocolate cookie flavor and used 2% milk as my liquid of choice. First thing I noticed it that it mixes very well and did have bits of actual cookies in it. The consistency was semi-thick and the taste was a bit weird at first. It tasted kinda like a medicine chalky chocolate taste if that makes sense, im thinking because of the extra ingredients. Although some sips tasted great because of the cookies overall i have to give it.. 6/10 No need to chug though..lol

Ingredient Profile: As noted before the RC line uses lots of ingredients and Pro-Antium is no different.

Serving Size: 1 Rounded Scoop (51g)
Servings Per Container:50
Amount Per Serving	% Daily Value
Calories	180
Calories From Fat	25
Total Fat	2.5 g	4%‡
Saturated Fat	1.5 g	8%‡
Trans Fat	0 g	†
Cholesterol	90 mg	30%
Total Carbohydrate	8 g	3%‡
Dietary Fiber	1 g	4%‡
Sugar	3 g	†
Protein	30 g	60%‡
Calcium	150 mg	15%
Iron	1.8 mg	10%
Sodium	150 mg	6%
Potassium	430 mg	12%
Creatine Monohydrate	5 g	†
Betaine Anhydrous	2.5 g	†
‡ Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
† Daily Value Not Established.
Ingredients:
Protein Complex (Whey Protein Concentrate, Milk Protein Isolate, Calcium Caseinate, Whey Protein Isolate, Micellar Casein, & Egg White Albumin), Cocoa Powder, Chocolate Cookie Crumbs (Rice Flour, Sugar, Tapioca Starch, Palm Oil, Cocoa Processed With Alkali, Corn Starch, Salt, Chocolate Liquor, Natural Flavor, Sodium Bicarbonate, & Soy Lecithin), Natural And Artificial Flavors, Gum Blend (Cellulose, Xanthan, & Carrageenan), Non Dairy Creamer (Maltodextrin, Sunflower Oil, Sodium Caseinate, Tricalcium Phosphate, Mono and Diglycerides, Natural Tocopherols), Enzyme Blend (Protease, Amylase, & Lactase), Sea Salt, Caramel Color Powder, Flour, Salt, Sucralose, & Acesulfame Potassium.
ALLERGEN WARNING: CONTAINS INGREDIENTS FROM MILK, EGG, WHEAT, AND SOY. Made in facility that also processes peanuts, tree nuts, fish and crustaceans/shellfish products.

Effectiveness: I have been taking this the second i got it in the mail and i can honestly say i feel stronger and more solid. Most likely its the added Betaine and Creatine. Its also protein blend which helps to keep you building muscle longer, so all in all a great deal. 10/10

Value: Its a bit pricey for a 5 pound tub, about $45-$57 dollars some places. Its serving amount is at 50 which isn't even two months. But im willing to pay for the added ingredients so ill give it 8/10 

Overall: Aside from the taste this protein blend can provide everything you need when bodybuilding. I would definitively recommend this to anyone looking to advance or who want a more hardcore protein blend.

 
  

Beast Sports Nutrition Fish Oil Review

   I have tried a few fish oil supplements in the past; im talking a few years ago, and i always had to stop because i would get such horrible fish burps. Its was not good! But a few months ago i started reading about the benefits of omega-3s and fish oil.  I was still worried about the fish burps so i was looking for something that promised no fishy after taste.

I bought Beast Sports Fish Oil because it uses citrus flavor caps that have yet to give me a fishy burp. these pills are not huge so they are easy to swallow.

Ingredient Profile:

Serving Size: 1 Softgel
Servings Per Container: 90
Amount Per Serving	% DV
Calories	9
Total Fat	1 g	2%*
High Potency Fish Oil 70% Omega-3 Fatty Acids	1,000 mg	**
Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA)	400 mg
Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA)	300 mg
* Percent Daily Value based on a 2000 Calorie Diet.
** Daily Value Not Established
Other Ingredients:
Gelatin, Water, Glycerol, Methacrylic Acid (copolymer dispersion), Triacetin, and Natural Citrus Flavor.
ALLERGEN WARNING: This product was produced in a facility that may also process ingredients containing milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat and soybeans.
CONTAINS: Fish (Anchovy)

This profile is om the higher end of the spectrum because of the 1000mg omega-3 and the fish oil being 70% of it.  9/10

Dosing: It suggest taking taking 1 pill 3x a day with food which is not too hard to remember.  9/10

Effectiveness: I used to have to crack my fingers everyday or they just would bother me, but since i have been taking beast sports fish oil my need to do that has since diminished to an insignificant level.With that being said i would say my joints have been feeling a lot better so that is a huge plus. 8/10

Value: There is only a 90 count bottle which if you use as directed would equal a month supply. The average price ranges anywhere from $12.50 to $17.00 so to me its a good investment with good value.