Each pre-workout is different which makes choosing the right one quite tricky. You don’t want a supplement that’s been under-dosed and not gives you all of the benefits you’re looking for.

Equally, however, you don’t want a supplement that’s got more than you need simply to make you pay more. All you’re looking for are proven ingredients in clinically-correct levels to ensure that you have a fantastic workout.

Almost all pre-workouts contain caffeine as the main ingredient due to its stimulatory nature. If you are looking for non-caffeine and stimulant free pre workouts check out our Top 10 list here. You most commonly find caffeine in coffee, but the caffeine within pre workouts tends to be synthesized in a lab.

For reference, one shot of coffee tends to contain around 80mg of caffeine. A venti caffe americano from Starbucks contains 300mg of caffeine. This is around the same amount found in most pre-workout supplements.

Another common ingredient you’ll see are BCAAs. BCAA (Branched-Chain Amino Acids) refers to leucine, isoleucine, and valine – all of which help promote muscle growth and reduce muscle catabolism. Leucine is most notable for spiking MPS (muscle protein synthesis) levels.

This is simply the process by which your body creates new muscle tissue. Isoleucine helps to draw glucose into the muscle tissue to provide it with a readily available source of energy and increase hydration levels. The research so far has suggested that valine has similar effects to leucine and isoleucine but they’re much milder.

You’ll most likely also see beta alanine listed on many pre-workout packages. Beta-alanine is the building block of carnosine, a molecule which helps to reduce the levels of lactic acid within the muscle. This leads to increased performance in the 60-240 second range, perfect for volume or hypertrophy gains.

Lastly, creatine is very commonly found in pre-workouts as it’s a very well-researched ingredient that can help boost your strength and power output. Creatine increases our stores of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), a group of molecules which provide your body with energy.

By supplementing with creatine we provide our body with an immediate and effective source of energy that it can utilize extremely quickly to increase our performance.

Both beta-alanine and creatine are more effective when supplemented daily so on top of using a pre-workout which includes these ingredients you’ll also need additional supplementation. Make sure to check out our reviews of the best BCAAs and top 10 creatine supplements.

Best Pre-Workout Supplements – 2018 Top 10 List

10 Top Rated, Strongest Pre-Workout Supplement Powders And Shakes For Energy, Pump And Focus Review

1. APS Mesomorph

APS have used a whopping 65 mg in Mesomorph to make sure that you get the full focus-enhancing dose. However, we prefer 25-50mg of DMAA so recommend a ½ to ¾ scoop if you choose this product.

Due to the nature of DMAA, this supplement definitely isn’t for the faint of heart. Don’t think it’s just like taking caffeine – it’s far more than that.

That’s why we don’t recommend it to any newbies. Though, if you think you’re ready to take your workouts beyond what normal pre-workouts allow, then this is a fantastic choice.

Unfortunately, a major downside about this product is that it uses proprietary blends. Essentially, proprietary blends are mixed prior to being added to the product and therefore, you can only know how much of the total blend is there, not of the individual ingredients.

From what we do know, there’s a full 3.2 gram dose of beta-alanine alongside Citrulline Malate in a 2:1 ratio. These are at the forefront of the first 6.5 gram proprietary blend so you can be sure there’s a decent amount of the latter ingredient.

The 3.2 grams of beta-alanine is what helps to buffer lactic acid and therefore, improve your endurance capabilities, power, and strength. The citrulline malate also works to reduce fatigue and improve performance. Coupling these together means that you can work harder, for longer.

You’ll also notice in the Mesoswell-Cell Volumizing ATP Matrix that they’ve included 3 different forms of creatine: di-creatine malate, creatine nitrate, and creatinol-o-phosphate. This means that there are three different pathways for increasing your ATP production. We also know that the total amount of creatine adds up to 3 grams – the perfect amount!

If you’re a fan of DMAA as much as we are, then this is definitely the product for you.

2. JYM Pre JYM

If you look at the ingredients, you’ll notice that there’s not a single proprietary blend. A proprietary blend is simply a blend of various ingredient mixed together before the supplement is made.

The downside to this is that manufacturers don’t always list the full ingredients of these blends or the amount in which the ingredients come in. This results in cheap, low-quality, ineffective powders.

Jym Pre Jym contains not a single proprietary blend so that you know 100% what’s in your powder so that you can make an informed decision.

Not only this, but Pre-Jym doesn’t contain any ‘abbreviated formulas’. This refers to mixes which use the correct doses of all the ingredients but may not contain enough ingredients to get the job done.

For example, a powder may just contain caffeine, creatine, and BCAAs. Whilst this is a good mix, it could be enhanced through other ingredients.

That’s why Pre Jym contains all of the ingredients that are backed by research to give you results with your workouts.

Each serving gives you:

• 6 grams of citrulline malate
• 6 grams of BCAAs in a 2:1:1 ratio
• 3 grams of Leucine
• 1.5 grams of Isoleucine
• 1.5 grams of Valine
• 2 grams of creatine HCl
• 2 grams of CarnoSyn Beta-Alanine
• 1.5 of Betaine
• 1.5 grams of Tyrosine
• 1 gram of Taurine
• 600 Milligrams of N-acetyl L-Cysteine
• 500 Milligrams of betavulgaris L. (beet) extract
• 350 Milligrams of choline bitartrate
• 300 Milligrams of caffeine
• 300 milligrams of Alpha-Glyceryl Phosphoryl Choline (50%)
• 5 Milligrams of BioPerine

That’s an incredibly strong mix of effective ingredients.

As the supplement contains a caffeine content flirting with the upper recommended level, those who are stimulant sensitive will want to take a lower dose.

3. Sparta Nutrition KRAKEN

If you’re the kind of person who likes to use unique and interesting stimulants but doesn’t like the side effects high amounts of caffeine can have, then this could be the perfect product for you. It delivers everything it promises and even more!

In terms of the pump effects, there’s a full 4-gram dose of L-Citrulline, the correctly dosed HydroMax + Taurine water pump combination, one whole gram of agmatine, and L-Norvaline as an added bonus.

The supplements you’re used to taking will possibly give you just 1/5th of the pump that Kraken provides. Trust me, one workout with this pre-workout will leave your muscles bulging out of your clothes.

The supplement is completely creatine free which some of you may see as a negative. However, creatine is best taken at the same time at the same dose each and every day. This makes it much better suited as an additional supplement opposed to as part of a pre-workout blend.

Creatine can also dehydrate you if you don’t drink enough water and the last thing you want to be doing throughout your workout is constantly visiting the water tank and losing focus on your lifting.

They’ve also made sure to use an interesting array of flavors. Sour Gummy Bears and Sex on the Beach are both available options which should mask the ‘chalky’ taste that the HydroMax sometimes brings.

4. NutraBio PRE-Extreme

Just one scoop of this powder contains more ingredients than we’ve ever seen before! So, we better delve straight into it.

NutraBio has made sure not to use any mysterious proprietary blends in their pre-workout. Every ingredient is fully disclosed and comes in at clinical, proven doses.

One of the first things you’ll notice is the 15 grams of carbohydrates. Not many products utilize the power of carbs, but NutraBio want to make sure that you’re fully loaded with glycogen and so, have included 15 grams of CusterDextrin (highly branched cyclic dextrin).

The next blend is called Athletic Endurance and Performance Complex and that’s why there’s 6 grams of L-Citrulline DL-Malate and 2.5 grams of CarnoSyn Beta-Alanine.

There’s also an ATP Power, Strength & Recovery Complex which features 3.5 grams of L-Leucine to boost MPS (Muscle Protein Synthesis), 2.5 grams of Betaine Anhydrous, 2 grams of PharmaPure Creatine Monohydrate, and 1 gram of Creatine HCI. These all work to increase your energy as well as your power output.

Next up is an Electrolyte & Hydration Optimizer with 1.5 grams of taurine, 525mg of TRAACS Calci K (calcium potassium phosphate citrate), and 189mg of Sodium Phosphate. This addition is extremely prevalent as they’ve included 3 grams total of creatine which can cause dehydration. NutraBio has really gone the extra mile to ensure that you get only benefits with PRE-EXTREME.

The final three mixes are titled Focus & Drive Stimulation Complex, Nitric Oxide Performance Matrix, and Nutrient Absorption Enhancer. In these, you’ll find a ridiculous 350mg of caffeine – far beyond what other products are offering. The caffeine is also separated into caffeine anhydrous and caffeine malate to make sure the effects are smooth and sustained.

It would take us far too long to discuss all of the ingredients and benefits of PRE-EXTREME so you’ll have to try it for yourself. Be warned, after just one scoop you may never want to try another pre-workout again!

5. Transparent Labs PreSeries BULK

Per serving, you get:

• 6000mg of Citrulline Malate
• 4000mg of Beta-Alanine
• 4000mg of BCAA in a 2:1:1 ratio
• 2000mg of L-Leucine
• 1000mg of L-Isoluecine
• 1000mg of L-Valine
• 2500mg of BetaPure Betaine
• 1300mg of Taurine
• 600mg of N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine
• 500mg of Choline Bitartrate
• 360mg of L-Theanine
• 180mg of Caffeine Anhydrous
• 60mg of L-Norvaline
• 50mg of Synephrine
• 25mg of Hordenine
• 5mg of BioPerine

Alongside a testosterone support matrix which includes a blend of vitamin D3 (3,000 IU), Boron (5mg), and Zinc (30mg).

First off, let’s address the stand-out ingredient that most of you are probably questioning: caffeine. We all know how effective caffeine is. Yet, in just a 180mg dose will it really provide the same energy you normally get?

Obviously, the impact won’t be as big as other pre-workouts. However, it’s important to stress the negatives of having too much caffeine such as anxiety, shakes, and just an overwhelming sense of unease. If you really want to maximize the benefits of caffeine, then take one and a half scoops for a 270mg total.

The product also contains 4g of BCAAs in a 2:1:1 ratio which means there’s 2 grams of the leucine to help increase muscle building and reduce muscle catabolism if you’re on a cut.

If you want a product which delivers exactly what’s on the label, then Transparent Labs are the right choice. With 13 clinically proven ingredients, your workouts will feel better than ever.

6. Kaged Muscle Pre-Kaged

With 8 different blends included in the full mix, founder Kris Gethin has really delivered with his pre-workout Pre-Kaged.

First up is Pro-Pump designed to give you a ridiculous pump thanks to 6.5 grams of fermented l-citrulline and 200mg of quercetin dihydrate.

For those of you unfamiliar with the latter ingredient, quercetin is a flavonoid that’s been shown to improve endurance through increased mitochondrial biogenesis. It can also help enhance the body’s ability to utilize other ingredients in Pre-Kaged.

After Pro-Pump comes the Muscle Fuel Matrix that consists of 3.5 grams of BCAAs – 1750mg of L-Leucine, 875mg of L-Isoleucine, and 875mg of L-Valine. However, the BCAAs don’t stop there as their Anabolic Activator mix uses 3 grams of L-leucine making for 4.75mg total!

Up next is the Endura-Burn Matrix with 1.6 grams of CarnoSyn (Beta-Alanine) and 100mg of Capsimax (Capsicum Extract). Pre-Kaged really make sure that there’s no base left uncovered when it comes to your performance.

There’s really something for every area of your workout; including a strength and power matrix, hydrate and defend blend with 500mg of coconut water powder, and a neuro focus matrix.

Each blend is fully disclosed which means there’s no proprietary blends whatsoever. No secrets, no fillers – just pure performance boosters designed to give you the best workout of your life.

If you’re a fan of Kris Gethin or even if you’ve never heard of him before, Pre-Kaged doesn’t disappoint!

7. Gaspari Nutrition SuperPump 250

SuperPump 250 is an industry veteran that many lifters swore by until it was taken off the market. Now, it’s returned with an even better formula than before!

The stimulants in this powder are what set it apart from the rest. The 350mg ‘Insane Energy Blend’ contains 250mg of caffeine anhydrous, 70mg of DMAA, and 30mg of Theobroma cacao extract.

Combining high levels of caffeine and DMAA together in one supplement means that this pre-workout packs a real punch for both your energy levels and mood. Yet, as we’ve stated earlier on, we prefer about 50mg of DMAA so you may want to take a reduced dose.

In terms of pumps, there’s 3 grams of L-Citrulline and 750mg of Agmatine Silicate. SuperPump really does what it says on the tub. Binding silica with arginine improves the bioavailability and absorption rates. We recommend drinking a lot of water when taking this product as taurine is included, too; an ingredient which helps with water-based pumps.

SuperPump is primarily focused on providing an incredible pump which is why most of the ingredients are geared towards boosting NO levels and improving blood flow. Yet, with 250mg of Caffeine and 70mg of DMAA, you don’t need to worry about sacrificing your energy levels whatsoever.

8. RedCon1 Total War

Don’t let the short ingredients list fool you, Total War packs everything you need to succeed.

Right off the bat, there’s 6 grams of Citrulline Malate which acts as a potent Nitric Oxide booster for increased blood flow and best of all, pumps. This is coupled this with 1 gram of agmatine and 1 gram of taurine for more of a water-based pump.

You’ll also find 3.2 grams of beta-alanine – the full clinical dose shown to buffer lactic acid for better endurance, power, and strength.

Total War also brings the perfect level of caffeine at 250mg. That’s not too much so that you get the shakes and not too little that you don’t feel it.

There’s more stimulants in the form of N-Phenyl Dimethylamine and 100mg of DMHA. All of this makes for a more sustained, smoother energy increase.

One of the biggest selling points is that Total War contains no artificial colors whatsoever. This means you don’t need to worry about any of the possible ill side effects from unnatural coloring.

All in all, Total War is a very well-rounded pre-workout supplement that we expect to see making huge waves in the fitness industry.

9. Inspired Nutraceuticals DVST8 White Cut

First and foremost, we have to cut to the best part: Inspired Nutraceuticals have combined three forms of caffeine alongside DMHA for an energy blend that’ll blow your socks off.

These all make part of their ThermoFocus Blast which includes 100mg of caffeine anhydrous, 50mg of caffeine citrate, and 50mg of di-caffeine malate. This makes for a total of 162.5mg of caffeine, so we’ve found the real sweet spot to be around 1.5-2 scoops for full effect.

There is a big issue in that they do not disclose how much DMHA is being used and therefore, it can be tricky to adjust the dosing. We suggest starting with one scoop and only increasing if you feel it absolutely necessary.

In terms of pump-enhancements, there’s 4 grams of l-citrulline in each scoop. Kicking the dose up to two scoops dramatically increases this to 8 grams! You’ll also receive 2 grams of betaine per scoop – another reason to take 1.5-2 scoops if you can tolerate it as the clinical dose of betaine is 2.5 grams.

Our personal favorite flavor is the mango-tasting California Gold. Yet, those who like a strong blueberry flavor will love their Pacific Crush!

It’s a warm welcome from us for Inspired Nutraceuticals who have seemingly outdone themselves with the return of DVST8.

10. Cellucor C4 Ultimate

Per scoop, you get 6 grams of citrulline malate which shows that Cellucor isn’t playing around. Not only have they used the full dose, but they’ve used citrulline malate which is even more effective at increasing l-arginine levels than taking straight l-arginine due to its bioavailability.

There are actually six ingredients all designed to increase your pump! The citrulline malate isn’t working alone. You’ll also find betaine, arginine AKG, and nitrosigine.

As well as this, there’s 300mg of caffeine! That’s definitely enough to avoid having to go in for another scoop. 250-300mg of caffeine is the range where caffeine is the most effective.

By using the upper limits of this range, Cellucor has ensured that you’re going to feel awake, alert, and ready to crush your workout.

Lastly, there’s 3.2 grams of Beta Alanine. Once again, this means you don’t have to double scoop which can really ramp the costs up.

Unfortunately, you may want to increase the amount of betaine as there isn’t the full clinical dose. Also, at 1 gram of creatine, it is hardly effective for saturating the muscles. Creatine is better supplemented alongside a pre-workout opposed to as part of one anyway.

FAQ

1. How do I choose the best pre workout supplement?

The best supplements will contain a combination of ingredients which boost your mood, energy, strength, and endurance capabilities. They’ll also include some sort of pump inducing ingredients to increase blood flow to the muscles to establish a better mind-muscle connection and help improve the appearance of your muscles throughout your gym time.

Here are the common ingredients you’ll want to look for:

• Caffeine: 200 – 300mg depending on your tolerance level
• Betaine: 1.25 – 2.5 grams
• BCAAs: 5 – 10 grams in a 2:1:1 ratio of leucine to isoleucine to valine
• Citrulline Malate: 6 – 8 grams

Ingredients such as beta alanine and creatine are undoubtedly useful for performance. However, they’re best taken every single day at a steady dose. This makes them helpful in pre-workouts, but not necessary, and far better taken alongside your supplements and diet opposed to as part of a blend. Another choice and definitely worth checking supplement would be Crazy Bulk’s No2 Max Nitric Oxide Booster.

References:

1. Col John Lammie; Report of the Department of Defense 1,3 Dimethylamylamine (DMAA) Safety Review Panel; Department of Defense; June 2013; Retrieved from http://hprc-online.org/dietary-supplements/files/ReportoftheDoDDMAASafetyReviewPanel2013.pdf
2. Bloomer RJ, McCarthy CG, Farney TM et al.; “Effect of caffeine and 1,3-dimethylamylamine on exercise performance and blood markers of lipolysis and oxidative stress in trained men and women.” J Caffeine Res (In Press); Retrieved from http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/jcr.2011.0019
3. Kendrick IP, et al. The effects of 10 weeks of resistance training combined with beta-alanine supplementation on whole body strength, force production, muscular endurance and body composition. Amino Acids. (2008)

The post Top Ten Pre Workout Supplements appeared first on Muscle & Cuts.

Yet, when you start looking for stimulant-free or caffeine-free pre-workouts, the selection becomes immediately bleak with only one or two options being available.

This can make it hard to find a product that contains all of the ingredients you’re looking for. Even then they may not come in the right doses.

As you may well know, many pre-workouts without caffeine fall short when their formulas are scrutinized. This is because many pre-workouts are centered around some form of stimulant.

We are sure that most people will be having second thoughts about switching from a standard pre-workouts to a stimulant-free option. That’s precisely why we’ve put together this list of the high rated stim-free supplements.

Best Stimulant Free Pre Workouts – 2018 Top 10 List

10 Top Rated, Non-Stimulant And Caffeine Free Pre Workout Supplements For Men And Women Review

1. Transparent Labs PreSeries STIM-FREE

Often stimulant-free pre-workouts are just masked pump-products with no desire to increase your performance through focus and alertness.

Transparent Labs have clearly acknowledged this by trying to provide almost all the same benefits as a normal pre-workout with not a single stimulant to be seen.

With ten different ingredients making up the entire formula, you’re getting a wide range of benefits:

• Citrulline Malate 2:1 – 6 grams
• BCAA 2:1:1 (Instantized) – 4 grams
• Creatine HCl – 3 grams
• BetaPure – Betaine Anhydrous 2.5 grams
• Taurine – 1.3 grams
• N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine – 600mg
• Choline Bitartrate – 5mg
• Mucuna Pruiens (98% L-Dopa) – 70mg
• L-Norvaline – 60mg
• BioPerine (Black Pepper Extract) (95% Piperine) – 5mg

First off, the citrulline malate is the primary pump-enhancement that we all love in a pre-workout. By boosting L-Arginine levels, our body increases the amount of nitric oxide within the muscles, the primary driver behind our eventual pump.

Pumps aren’t just for looking good, either. They help increase circulation which in turn, boosts performance and our ability to recovery!

Transparent Labs have also chosen to include BCAAs in the proven 2:1:1 ratio meaning that you’re getting 2 grams of leucine, 1 gram of isoleucine, and 1 gram of valine. Leucine helps to spike MPS levels (our body’s process for creating new muscle tissue) whilst the isoleucine draws more fluid into the muscle belly to ensure adequate hydration.

In terms of focus, you’re getting 600mg of N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine and 500mg of Choline Bitartrate. N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine is the more bioavailable version of straight L-Tyrosine which means your body is far more likely to be able to utilize the full amount.

As well as both of these, there’s Mucuna Pruriens which is standardized for 98% L-Dopa, a precursor to dopamine, the hormone which reduces stress and improves our mood.

However, there are two things to watch out for:

1. Large Scoops – when we weighed out one full scoop it came to much more than the expected 23.44 grams. Whilst this means you’re getting more pump, the total amount of servings will be dramatically reduced.
2. High Retail Cost – The fact that this product is sweetened with stevia increases the price as well as the high-quality ingredients. If money isn’t as much of an issue for you or you really want a high-quality product, then this is a fantastic option. Though, those of you who would rather opt for the cheaper side of the supplement market might want to choose one of the other products listed.

2. RedCon1 BIG NOISE

The full ingredients list is a little different to what you might expect from most powders:

• Glycerol Monostearate – 3 grams
• BetaPower (Betaine Anhydrous) – 2.5 grams
• Astragalus Membranaceus (Root) – 1 gram
• Agmatine Sulfate – 1 gram
• L-Alpha Glycerylphosphorylcholine – 300mg
• CPD Choline – 250mg
• Rhodiola Rosea Root Extract – 200mg
• Huperzine A (Toothed Clubmoss) – 200mcg

Glycerol Monostearate tops the list and is the primary driver behind all pump enhancement in this product. By increasing the amount of water in the muscle cells, the muscles look fuller from a water-based pump. This helps to deliver nutrients to the muscles and improve hydration.

However, we want more from a pre-workout than just incredible pumps. That’s where the 300mg of Alpha GPC and 250mg of Citicoline come in. These are two of the best forms of choline currently available to us and RedCon1 have chosen to combine them both in one single supplement.

You’ll also notice that there’s 2.5 grams of BetaPower Betaine Anhydrous, one of the most effective ingredients for building muscle due to its ability to increase your power and endurance whilst also decreasing muscle soreness.

Both the 200mg of Rhodiola Rosea Extract and 200mcg of Hyperzine A work as mood boosters to give you that feel-good effect associated with pre-workouts.

We believe this to be the best-feeling stimulant-free pre-workout currently available. RedCon1 is truly a brand who hasn’t left anything behind for your mental performance whilst still providing the same impressive pump benefits.

3. PES High Volume

Per 2 scoops (14 grams), you’re getting:

• 250mg of Vitamin C (416% DV)
• 4,000mg of L-Citrulline
• 3750mg of their ‘Performance Pump Matrix’
• Taurin
• Glycerol 65% (HydroMAX)
• Ferula Asafoetida (Root) Extract (95% Ferulic Acid)
• 2000mg of Arginine Nitrate (NO3-T)
• 1000mg of Agmatine Sulfate

PES have tried to create a product that will blow all other pumps out of the water, and they’ve definitely succeeded. With 4000mg of pure L-Citrulline, you’re getting more than the normal dose.

L-Citrulline is one of the most effective ingredients for increasing NO there, and PES are delivering 4-gram doses of it! Not to mention the 2 grams of arginine nitrate and 1 gram of agmatine sulfate which makes for a total of 7 grams of sheer NO pump ingredients!

Yet, there’s even more! The Performance Pump Matrix includes a mix of taurine and HydroMax glycerol for water-based pumps. This means no picking and choosing between whether you want NO or hydration – High Volume gives you both in some very heavy doses.

Now, PES state the serving size as 2 scoops which put the total servings per container at 18. However, we think that one is very much enough if you want to save money or even one and a half scoops. Two scoops just give you that little bit more.

4. Giant Sports Giant Pump

That means no proprietary blends with unknown ingredient amounts or any suspicious unnecessary extras to ramp the price or appearance.

One scoop (5.11 grams) of Giant Pump includes:

• 1,500mg of NO3-T (Glutamine Nitrate)
• 1000mg Agmamax (Instantized & Micronized Agmatine Sulfate)
• 500mg Sodium Glycerophosphate
• 150mg of Norvaline
• 90mg of Vitamin C (as Ascorbic Acid)
• 50mg of Stillbenox (Vitis vinifera aqueous extract standardized for Oligiprocyanidans)
• 5mg of Evodia rutaecarpa (aqueous extract standardized for Rulaecarpine)

This is definitely a more NO-boosting focused formula. However, they’ve still used glycerol as an extra ingredient so as not to leave the water-pump behind.

We’d like to note that Giant Pump works much better when taken at a similar time to some form of carbohydrate. The Vitis vinifera in the Stillbenox ingredient helps drive the carbohydrate into your muscle cells opposed to being converted into fat.

This helps improve performance and aesthetics at the same time by increasing your muscular size and making sure your muscles have a readily available source of energy. Giant Sports have even included a tape measure with each product so you don’t just have to take our word for it, you can measure the gains you get from Giant Pump!

5. MTS Nutrition Vasky

On top of this comes 1.5 grams of Nitrosigine arginine silicate, a nitric oxide booster that’s gaining more and more popularity lately.

They’ve also included glycerol to promote hyper-saturation of the muscles. All of the ingredients are supplied in entirely scientifically-backed doses so you know that everything you’re taking in works.

The obvious drawback with the powder is that it’s unflavored. However, Tiger Fitness ensure that there’s a pleasant taste and the reviews concur.

The other issue is that there’s not a wide range of ingredients either. With just Taurine, HydroMax Glycerol, Nitrosigine, and Vitamin C, you’re not getting the benefits that other powders can bring with them due to the extra ingredients.

It would be nice to see betaine and l-citrulline on the list, too. However, the reduced amount of ingredients mean that the powder comes at a lower price.

So, if you’re looking for something cheap yet effective, this might be the choice for you. Alternatively, you could mix this with a stimulant-containing pre-workout for a powerful pump inducing effect.

6. iForce HemaVO2 MAX

However, thankfully it’s now rolling out in full force becoming available to buy from many companies, and we couldn’t be happier.

HemaVO2 features a new formula that promises larger, more intense pumps than ever before.

The supplement contains two blends: a Strength & Power Matrix and a Mind & Muscle Amplification.

Strength & Power Matrix – 4000mg

• HydroMax (65% Glycerol)
• Potassium Nitrate (57% Nitrates)

Mind & Muscle Amplification – 1000mg

• Choline Bitartrate
• Selaginella Tamariscina Extract (20% Amentoflavone)
• Sceletium Tortuosum Extract (Leaves & Stems)

However, both of these are proprietary blends. iForce has disclosed the doses of some of their ingredients on various websites. Though, it’s understandable to be put off by this.

For pumps, there’s 3 grams of HydroMax and 1 gram of Potassium Nitrate. The old formula used to contain creatine nitrate. Yet, potassium nitrate is far better as part of a pre-workout supplement as creatine can dehydrate you. Potassium nitrate helps to reduce the oxygen cost of exercise and make your body more efficient with your workouts.

In terms of focus, they’ve included 1 gram of choline bitartrate which is much higher than the standard doses you find in most pre-workout supplements.

In our humble opinion, this formula is incredibly underrated. The only drawback is the proprietary blends. Yet, iForce has now disclosed the full doses of everything and so, there’s really no reason not to give it a try.

7. Cellucor NO3 Chrome

That means you can expect high amounts of both citrulline and arginine.

The full ingredients list looks as follows:

• 83mg of Vitamin C (as Calcium Ascorbate)
• 10mg of Calcium (as Calcium Ascorbate)
• 1250mg of Arginine Nitrate (NO3-T)
• 750mg of their Extreme Vascularity Complex Proprietary Blend
• Nitrosigine Inositol-Stabilized Arginine silicate
• Citrulline Malate
• Grape Seed Extract (95% OPC)

Again, the ingredients list is not extensive, but it does contain scientifically-backed doses of key compounds.

The 750mg proprietary blend is again not ideal. However, all of the ingredients within the blend are extremely effective and useful.

Not to mention, you’re getting 1250mg of arginine nitrate which helps to both lengthen the effects of the nitrate whilst boosting nitric oxide all on its own. It’s a two-pronged attack for a powerful pump.

The unique benefit of this supplement is that it comes in capsule form. This can make it easier to take with you on the move and eliminates the use of any flavoring or sweeteners.

However, the capsule shell is made from gelatin which makes it unsuitable for vegetarians and vegans.

8. GAT Sport PMP Stim-Free

GAT has made sure not to include no caffeine whatsoever and instead, have replaced this ingredient with 900mg of pump accelerators and 3.125 grams of nitric oxide enhancers.

This gives you all of the same focus and mental agility needed for your workouts without a single stimulant in sight.

The supplement contains four proprietary blends:

3.125mg of NO enhancers

• Beta-Alanine (Carnosyn)
• L-Arginine
• L-Citrulline
• L-Citrulline Malate
• L-Norvaline

900mg of Pump Accelerators

• Agamtine Sulfate, Glycerol Monostearate
• L-Arginine Alpha-Ketoglutarate
• Calcium Lactate

700mg of PMP Focus & Cognition Modulators

• N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine
• L-Theanine

200mg of PMP Energetics

• Acetyl L-Carnitine HCl

GAT state that their product works on a ‘Multi-Wave Delivery’ system:

Wave 1: This wave is designed to stimulate your mind and body, preparing you for your workout and delivery important nutrients to your muscles ahead of the training session.

Wave 2: Wave 2 aims straight for your mind by increasing your concentration and focus so that the only thing in your sights is progress and performance. The mind is an often overlooked factor of many pre-workouts, but GAT has acknowledged the importance of a strong mind as well as a strong body.

Wave 3: This wave hits during your workout as you slowly build up the intensity. The third wave increases blood flow to the muscles for insane pumps alongside oxygen and nutrient delivery. Through doing this, you can establish a better mind-muscle connection which helps to increase muscular growth.

Whilst proprietary blends can put some people off, and for good reason, all of the ingredients in these blends are extremely effective.

That’s one of the best features of this powder – its extensive ingredient list. There’s nothing left off so you can be sure you’re getting everything you need for a stellar workout.

9. Layne Norton Carbon PREP

For those of you unfamiliar with Norton, he’s a professional natural bodybuilder and powerlifter, and physique coach who holds a BS in Biochemistry and a Ph.D. in Nutritional Sciences. The guy really knows his stuff, especially when it comes to supplementation.

That’s how you know that this stuff really works as Layne would not attach his name to anything he wasn’t 100% proud of or confident in.

His entire formula would have been rigorously tested and scrutinized before hitting the shelves.

One serving of Carbon PREP packs in a massive 6 gram serving of Citrulline Malate, 2.5 grams of Betaine Anhydrous, and 3 grams of Creatine Monohydrate.

In all honesty, the formula could have only been improved by the addition of beta-alanine and BCAAs. Out of all the pre-workouts which don’t contain beta-alanine however, this is certainly the best.

The full list of ingredients in Layne Norton’s Carbon PREP is as follows:

• 6 grams of Citrulline Malate
• 3 grams of Creatine Monohydrate
• 2.5 grams of BetaPower Betaine Anhydrous
• 2 grams of Astragalus membranaceus (root)
• 1 gram of L-Carnitine L-Tartrate (as Carnipure)
• 450mg of Cocoa seed powder (std. 6% theobromine [27mg])
• 300mg of Alpha-Glyceryl Phosphoryl Choline
• 180mg of Rhodiola rosea root extract [std. 5% rosavins [9mg]]
• 200mcg of Huperzine A (toothed clubmoss, whole plant)

The only way to sum up Carbon PREP is that it’s a fantastic non-stimulant containing powder that’s created by one of the industry’s most knowledgeable individuals.

10. Promera Sports PEAK 400

Compared to other powders the ingredients list is incredibly short. Yet, its power comes in how you decide to use it.

Now, the supplement actually only contains one ingredient: adenosine 5’-triphosphate disodium. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is what our body uses for energy.

You probably know how effective creatine is for increasing performance in the long-term. Well, it does it by increasing our stores of ATP and therefore, the amount of energy readily available for immediate use.

By supplement with straight adenosine triphosphate, the theory is that we miss the steps between creatine being ingested and increasing stores of ATP to simply having more ATP ready immediately.

However, as Peak 400 only contains one ingredient and misses many other vital ingredients such as betaine, beta-alanine, and l-citrulline, it may be best taken alongside another pre-workout which does not contain ATP or creatine.

Think of Peak 400 not as a stand-alone pre-workout, but instead as an extra ingredient that’s missing from most other pre-workouts, whether they contain stimulants or not. This is where its true value lies.

FAQ

1. Why choose a non-stimulant supplement?

Some of you may have wandered onto this page without actually knowing why stimulant-free pre-workouts can be a good choice.

Well, stimulant-free supplements supply similar benefits for your muscles and performance without the energy rush. This is perfect for those who have health conditions, don’t enjoy the caffeine kicks, or have to train late at night.

As caffeine stays in the system for up to 6 hours after ingestion, consuming a high amount in the evening or night time prior to a workout will dramatically affect your sleep. You’re still going to get huge pumps and most of the mental benefits, but you don’t need to worry about getting the jitters or being unable to get some peaceful shut-eye.

You may have also experienced a large crash after using pre-workouts. This is down to the stimulants within the powder. Usually, it’s a sign that you just need to build up your tolerance. However, if you’re particularly sensitive to the crashes, then you might want to avoid stimulants altogether. That’s why stimulant-free pre-workouts are so useful.

This doesn’t make regular pre-workouts bad in any sense, they just need to be used wisely and by the right people. With non-stimulant pre-workouts, you can choose to use them as you need, when you need, to enhance your workouts, maintain a healthy mind, and avoid ill-physical effects.

2. What are the benefits of stimulant and caffeine free pre-workout supplements?

Just like with the regular stimulant containing pre-workouts, there are good products worth your time and money, but equally under-dosed, filler-full products you need to avoid.

Caffeine has a very specific job in the body: to preserve a metabolic cascade that raises blood glucose levels. This essentially means that the muscles have a more readily available source of energy as there’s more glucose in the blood.

Unfortunately, this isn’t the whole story. When your body triggers blood glucose to rise, primarily through the release of the glucagon hormone, nearly every effort is made to raise glucose, including pathways which have a negative effect on bodybuilding results.

For instance, as the body begins to call for more blood sugar, your body activates the process of gluconeogenesis. This is the process of turning non-carbohydrates into carbohydrates for energy. More specifically, amino acids into carbohydrates. Whilst you’re lifting weights, the last thing you want is for your muscles to be broken down for their amino acids to be used as fuel.

These are just a few of the stand-out benefits of using a stimulant-free pre-workout supplement. We haven’t even delved into the complex bodily reactions that can run much smoother in a caffeine-free environment.

Thankfully, stimulant-free pre-workouts are now available and increasing in both popularity and variety. A solid caffeine-free pre-workout booster is the perfect addition to any muscle building stack.

3. Do stimulant-free, non-caffeine pre-workouts work?

Whilst they obviously don’t come with the same energy rush as caffeinated products, stimulant-free pre-workouts can still improve your focus, blood flow, and in turn, your energy. Caffeine isn’t the only valuable component of pre-workouts; they contain many other beneficial ingredients which improve cognition, pumps, strength, and overall alertness.

4. What is the best caffeine free pre-workout?

The best caffeine-free pre-workout will depend on you and your situation. There are certain factors to keep in mind when choosing any supplement:

• Value for Money – you want to look at how much each serving costs. Some products might be cheaper, but contain far fewer scoops than other more expensive powders. However, most of the time you get what you pay for, and so the more expensive powders tend to contain higher quality ingredients and a greater range, too.
• Taste/Mixability – obviously it’s hard to know what the powder tastes like prior to using it yourself. Yet, you can get a pretty good idea of the flavors from the description and the reviews. Always read the reviews of any supplement before purchasing it to make sure the product is more than just marketing.
• Ingredients – check the full ingredients list. Does it contain everything you’re looking for? Are all the ingredients in the correct doses? Do any of the ingredients already come in another supplement you’re using? Do you know the purpose of all the ingredients?

The post Top Ten Stimulant Free Pre Workouts appeared first on Muscle & Cuts.

It is through articles such as this BSN Hyper FX review that you stand the best chance of filtering the good from the bad, so let’s get started.

I have been practicing the sport of bodybuilding for almost 7 years now (as of writing) and know first-hand that not every supplement delivers. You should know that the things you read on product labels are not actually verified by anyone, so basing your choice on that is mostly a bad idea. As mentioned earlier, reviews have been a great way for me to gauge a product’s effectiveness because they give you a realistic look at said product, although you have to make sure that the reviews are actually legit.

BSN Hyper FX Facts

BSN is one of the most well-known companies when it comes to supplements and has some of the most popular athletes on its team such as Flex Lewis, Roelly Winklaar, and Mark Bell. Ronnie Coleman, 8 time Mr. Olympia champion, was also with BSN during his bodybuilding career. Known for making very high-quality supplements, let me start off by saying that Hyper FX is no exception.

Now you may have heard about N.O.-Xplode which is another pre-workout supplement by the same company, but these two products are not the same. Although they are indeed both pre-workout supplements, N.O.-Xplode’s main ingredient is creatine and as such is more focused on strength and power while BSN Hyper FX ‘s main ingredient is beta-alanine which gives it great endurance, energy, and focus properties. This makes both products different from each other although I don’t recommend you take them together.

Using Hyper FX Properly

Just like most other pre-workout supplements out there, this product is to be consumed about 30 minutes prior to training by mixing it with water (about 3 oz to 6 oz, according to the labeling). You know this product is starting to affect you when you start to get a tingling sensation in your body. Make sure you do not shake the mixture or it will expand and overflow out of your cup; instead stir using a spoon or something similar. The instructions on the back tell you to take 1 scoop, but not everyone has the same tolerance. A rule which I like to apply to all pre-workout supplements is to first start out with half a scoop in order to test my tolerance, and then go up from there. From this dose, you can then go up to 1 scoop, 1 and a half scoops, and even 2, but don’t go above this point. Once 2 scoops no longer affect you properly, cycle off the product for some time in order to let your tolerance go down.

The reasons why you need to cycle this product are simple:

• If you keep using it for a prolonged period of time you will have to keep increasing the dosage. This is called diminishing returns.
• This product contains a lot of caffeine, which can be harmful to the body when taken in large dosages.
• It is recommended on the back to not take more than 2 scoops per day. After long-term use 2 scoops will no longer affect you.

Speaking of caffeine, do not take this product close to bed time or you will have a very hard time actually getting to sleep; trust me on this one!

The energy I got from this product was quite noticeable especially on days where I felt tired. I didn’t actually use this product for every workout (although it is perfectly safe to do so) but instead opted to use it only on days where I was down in the dumps. If this is your first time using this product I highly suggest you try out the Blue Raspberry flavor and go for the 30 servings size since this gives you the most bang for your buck.

That’s all for this write-up guys; I hope you have learned something new from this Hyper FX review! If you have anything to add or wish to ask something please don’t hesitate in order to leave a comment below.

Thanks !

Jarrett

Last update April 17th, 2016

BSN Hyper FX Supplement Facts:

The post BSN Hyper FX appeared first on Muscle & Cuts.

I have been training for close to 7 years now and, like I mentioned in the introduction, this supplement was one of the very first which I tried. BSN was and still is one of the biggest supplement companies around (with names such as Ronnie Coleman associated with it) and is probably the reason why I chose Xplode back then. Granted my methodology was not very correct as no research was actually done on the product from my side, but fortune was on my side as I picked one of the best pre-workouts out there which I still use to this day, 7 years later!

BSN N.O.-Xplode Benefits

This product was originally introduced back in 2004 but has recently been re-engineered to come with a more concentrated formula. Now this product was already good, but needless to say these changes made it a lot better especially considering most of the alterations were based on user’s feedback. I love this product because it covers all of the areas a pre-workout supplement should cover which are strength, energy, focus, and endurance. It does this by incorporating several ingredients that have been proven to be effective time and time again such as creatine monohydrate, caffeine, vitamins, and amino acids.

This new and improved version also comes with enhanced mixability and a new set of flavors. I can vouch for both of these things as not only does the powder dissolve almost instantly, but the flavors are just magical. If you tried the old flavors, which were also good, wait until you try the new ones which include:

• Blue Raspberry
• Fruit Punch (my favorite)
• Green Apple
• Grape
• Watermelon

Now this product is not cheap but you surely get your money’s worth. As far as I know it comes in 3 sizes with the biggest one offering the best value. These sizes are 12 servings, 30 servings, and finally 50 servings. There is a reason why this pre-workout received an overall score of 8.7 on Bodybuilding.com based off of 4,270 user-posted reviews, and that reason is that it’s great!

Using BSN N.O.-Xplode

The first time I ever used BSN N.O. Xplode it was amazing; the first thing you feel as soon as it starts to hit you is a tingling sensation all along your body, followed by a massive burst of energy. It is best that you take this product 20 to 30 minutes prior to your actual workout as this seems to be the time it takes to digest. I highly recommend you start one with 1 or even half a scoop (to test your sensitivity) then slowly increase it as time goes by but never go over 2 scoops per day. Also, because this product is high in caffeine do not take it at nighttime or you can forget about actually getting any sleep.

The results from this product were definitely there. My workouts started improving day after day and it seems the effects gained from BSN Xplode only got better as time went by. I saw noticeable differences in strength, between-set recovery, endurance, and pumps, but after a prolonged period of time, I started to get diminishing returns. Because of this, I suggest you cycle this product and take some time off every once in a while. Also, if you are a competitive athlete check with your federation as some of the substances found in this product may be banned. Don’t worry, it’s not dangerous, but I thought this was worth mentioning.

One last thing I want to warn you about is to not actually shake the mixture in a shaker or blender, but instead stir with a spoon. Shaking it will not cause the product to explode but will cause it to expand at a very fast rate, often resulting in it spilling all over your floor.

This marks the end of this BSN N.O.-Xplode review. I hope you liked it and found it helpful.

Jarrett

Last update April 17th, 2016

BSN N.O.-Xplode Supplement Facts:

Evlution Nutrition ENGN Review >>

The post BSN N.O.-Xplode appeared first on Muscle & Cuts.

This intense marketing and competition does result in a lot of variety, but it also makes it hard for people to actually buy the good products. One of the best ways to filter out the good from the bad is to read reviews such as this EVLUTION NUTRITION ENGN review which not only explain what is inside the product but also how effective it is.

Before I get on with the actual review let me introduce myself a little. I have always had an interest in bodybuilding ever since I was young, and have currently been training for about 7 years as of writing. While the actual training did teach me a lot in terms of experience, I gained most of my knowledge from reading and talking to experts. It is through this knowledge and experience that I can write posts such as this one, so make sure you pay attention and absorb as much as possible.

Evlution Nutrition ENGN Facts

Let’s start by talking about what actually makes this product great. Pre-workout supplements should have one thing in order to be truly effective: a well-rounded approach. It should provide the user with energy, strength, pumps, and endurance; four things which are supplied by Evlution Nutrition ENGN.

It does this by incorporating several key ingredients which I will list below, along with a short explanation of what each one does:

• Pikatropin

A brain booster, this will improve mood and cognitive function.

• Huperzine A

Helps to increase concentration and focus.

• Alpha Glycerylphosphorylcholine

This hard to pronounce ingredient helps with focus and training, and also provides a source of choline for the brain (which is in turn used to make acetylcholine).

• Caffeine

Most of you already know what this does, but just in case you don’t: it gives you energy, endurance, and helps improve the overall workout intensity.

• Infinergy

Composed of ionically bonded molecules of caffeine and malic acid, this compound helps with energy, focus, and thermogenesis.

• Choline Bitartrate

Improves mental function and muscle activity.

• L-Tyrosine

This essential amino acid improves your mood and focus.

• Beta-Alanine

This is the main ingredient of this product and is what causes you to get that tingling sensation. It helps by increasing your endurance during training.

• Creatine MagnaPower®

Creatine bound to magnesium, this brings about additional energy and strength.

• Creatine Monohydrate

The basic and most common form of creatine; this gives you strength and endurance.

• Agmatine Sulfate

Provides improved pumps and enhanced recovery.

• Betaine

Improves your pumps, strength, and power.

• Niacin

Allows your body to metabolize carbs better and thus produce more energy.

• Vitamin B6

Increases your metabolic rate while also supporting protein synthesis.

• Vitamin B12

Provides additional energy and endurance using the same mechanics as Niacin.

This product comes in 3 sizes as far as I know: 3 servings, 8 servings, and 30 servings, with the latter providing the best value for your money. The flavors are also quite good with Fruit Punch being my favorite.

Using Evlution Nutrition ENGN

I experienced quite a good increase in strength and endurance while using this product, but the most noticeable benefit was definitely the increased pumps. I pumped up so much I sometimes had to stop to let the blood drain out a little! ENGN should be consumed about 20 minutes prior to hitting the gym by mixing it with water for the best effect.

The best thing about this product is that it starts out strong and continues to be strong for a very long time. While other supplements have diminishing returns and require you to constantly increase the dosage in order to get the same effect, with this one I was able to keep using 1 scoop for a very long time. I did eventually have to cycle off of it for some time as my body did build a tolerance, but it happened after a very long time.
One last thing I want to mention is that some sport federations ban certain substances that are found within this product, so make sure you check it’s safe to use first.

Every good thing must come to an end guys, and unfortunately this is the end of this Evlution Nutrition ENGN review. Please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below if you have anything to add, even if your comment is a question.

Thanks for reading and hopefully you learned something new.

Jarrett

Last update April 17th, 2016

Evlution Nutrition ENGN Supplement Facts:

MusclePharm Assault Review >>

The post Evlution Nutrition ENGN appeared first on Muscle & Cuts.

The truth is you need to know how to lift, how to eat, and how to take care of your body if you are to improve in the long-run; one way you can care for your body is through supplementation. Although vast in utility and quality, such products all have a single purpose and that is to help your body constantly improve. Now with varied quality also comes the risk of buying a bad product, which is why articles such as this MusclePharm Assault review will be of great help to you.

The product we will be looking at in this review is MusclePharm Assault, a pre-workout. Pre-workout supplements only gained popularity in recent years so they are a relatively new thing, but the benefits they bring are quite welcome. How many times did you have to force yourself to go to the gym because of lack of energy? It happens to all of us, but thanks to these supplements you can hopefully avoid this situation altogether.

The best and most effective pre-workout supplements are ones that cover all the important areas, which is exactly what Assault does. It provides you, the user, with energy, strength, endurance, size, and finally focus.

MusclePharm Assault Benefits

If you’ve been around the bodybuilding scene for some time you may have already heard or seen this product, but you should know that it was recently re-designed and re-branded. It now comes with a new formula and a new green tub, but does it work? It sure does! Assault comes with a 5-stage delivery system which does the following:

• Amplifies ATP levels in order to buffer lactic acid buildup
• Give you performance through the “ION-3 Nitrate Technology Matrix”
• Activates insulin and increases cellular energy
• Acts as a neuro igniter
• Hydrates your body

It achieves all of these benefits by incorporating several ingredients. Now the full list is too big to show here, but the key ingredients include:

• Beta-alanine

Each serving provides 2 grams of Carnosyn® Patented beta-alanine, which is a very popular ingredient found in many pre-workout supplements that helps with endurance.

• Caffeine

Helps with energy and focus. This product includes a special blend of caffeine known as PurEnergy that not only affects you for longer than regular caffeine but also removes the typical crash from the equation.

• Creatine Nitrate

Creatine fused with nitric acid, this results in a highly absorbable creatine that boosts both your Nitric Oxide and ATP reserves.

Using MusclePharm Assault Effectively

As with most such supplements you should only take Assault on your training days, about 30 minutes before actually hitting the gym, by mixing it with water. You know this supplement is about to hit you when you start to get that tingling sensation (which is caused by the beta-alanine); when this happens you know it’s time to get physical!

I noticed quite a good increase in my lifts when using this product, but the biggest benefit were the insane pumps I got while training. They were so good that I frequently had to stop training in order to let the blood drain out a little. If you do decide to use this product I suggest to start out with half a scoop first just to test your tolerance. When you notice that 2 scoops are no longer affecting you through diminishing returns, that’s your cue to take some time off.

If it is within your budget always go for the 50 serving size for the best value. As for the flavor, I prefer Lemon Lime the most but this falls mostly to personal preference; you have a lot to choose from anyway!
Also worth mentioning is that even though this product claims to be banned substances free, you should still check with your federation if you are a competitive athlete just to be sure.

That’s all. I hope that this MusclePharm Assault review was useful.

Jarrett

Muscle Pharm Assault Supplement Facts:

The post MusclePharm Assault appeared first on Muscle & Cuts.

Nobody likes working out with little energy and the results are normally pretty poor, but there are steps you can take to ensure this doesn’t happen. Steps like getting a good night’s rest and proper nutrition are all well and good, but you can also go a step further and start taking pre-workout supplements.

These supplements are taken right before your training session and greatly enhance your performance in several aspects such as strength, muscle protection, energy, focus, and pumps. They can be taken on bad days to feel better and also on good days to feel super! Pre-workout supplements have only become popular in recent years but even so there are many such products from which you can choose from and finding the right one can be quite difficult.

This Cellucor C4 Extreme Pre Workout review will hopefully make it a little easier for you to pick out a supplement of your own, so let’s get started.

Cellucor C4 Extreme Facts

Marketed as “The most explosive pre-workout intensifier in supplement history”, how does this supplement fare? Cellucor has done a very good job with this product as it includes a lot of different compounds that when paired together give the user a great deal of benefits in various areas of his workouts. In my opinion, this is what makes a pre-workout great; while some products help to increase your pump or help to give you more energy, this one helps in both of those areas and more. Cellucor C4 Extreme does this by incorporating a vast array of helpful compounds which I will list below, along with a short description of each:

• Creatine Nitrate

Possibly the most prominent ingredient in this product, creatine nitrate is, as you might have guessed, a new compound that is the result of creatine fused with nitrate (NO3). This helps to increase both Nitric Oxide and ATP levels in the user’s body, along with giving amazing pumps. Traditional creatine supplements are sometimes associated with intestinal problems, but I didn’t experience any of that here possibly due to how soluble this powder is.

• Beta Alanine

This helps to increase your energy levels, your performance, and your endurance thanks to the fact that it reduces lactic acid buildup.

• Arginine AKG

A precursor to nitric oxide, AKG helps with strength, vascularity, pumps, and also increases GH levels.

• N-Acetyl-L-Tyrosine

This compound helps with awareness, focus, energy, and also with your body’s natural GH levels.

• Mucuna Pruriens

Also known as the velvet bean, this compound helps by increasing your body’s dopamine reserves. Dopamine, in turn, helps with GH secretion and also with energy, metabolism, and enhanced adrenaline states.

• Vitamin B12

A very important vitamin, B12 helps with your body’s nervous system function, blood formation, cellular metabolism, and energy levels.

• Caffeine

I believe most of you already know what this does, but just in case you don’t caffeine helps with focus and energy levels. Since one serving contains 135mg of Caffeine Anhydrous, make sure you do not take it close to bedtime or you might have problems with actually falling asleep! Most pre-workout supplements contain this compound.

• Niacinamide

Also known as vitamin B3, this compound helps by increasing joint mobility, strength, and nervous system function.

• Folic Acid

The last, but definitely not the least, the compound found in Cellucor C4 Extreme is folic acid. Also a B vitamin, this helps with energy and mood elevation while also assisting with cell repair.

This product also comes with a very large selection of good tasting flavors such as Green Apple, Pineapple, Lemon Lime, and Pink Lemonade which can even be mixed together to create your own unique flavors. Mixability is also very good as the powder dissolves almost instantly as soon as it touches the water.

These factors, along with all of the previously mentioned ingredients, are the reason why this product received both the 2014 Exclusive Product Of The Year award and the 2014 Pre-Workout Supplement Of The Year award from Bodybuilding.com. It also has an overall rating of 8.5 based off of 3,665 user-posted reviews on the same site.

Before I close off this Cellucor C4 Extreme review please be aware that some of the ingredients found in this product as well as in many other pre-workout formulas are banned by certain sports organizations; make sure you check first before you start taking it!

Ending this post, here is my final rating.

Jarrett

Cellucor C4 Extreme Supplement Facts:

The post Cellucor C4 Extreme appeared first on Muscle & Cuts.

This product comes from a company called CrazyBulk which you will already have heard about since I have already reviewed many of their other products.

Although this product shares the same high level of quality with the other CrazyBulk products, it differs from them in that it isn’t an alternative to anabolic steroids but actually a pre-workout supplement.

Having trained for over 7 years as of writing this post, I feel as if I have quite a lot of experience with bodybuilding not just when it comes to training, but also when it comes to supplements. When you have lived the bodybuilding life for as long as I have, you will quickly realize that there are a lot of things which you need to stay away from. One of these things are supplements, or more accurately, ineffective ones.

Supplements generally tend to fall under one of three categories: good supplements, bad supplements, and supplements that exceed your original expectations. One of the best ways to find out which category your chosen supplement falls under is to read reviews about it, real and legit reviews such as this one. Based on  the information found in these reviews you can then formulate an accurate opinion and decide upon that whether you wish to purchase the supplement or not.

No2 Max is a pre-workout supplement. Such supplements have become very popular in recent years and for good reason: in today’s hectic life it is common for people to feel tired or rundown, which often leads to them skipping their workout. Even if they push and go to the gym anyway, it is very likely that they won’t really have an effective training session since the will and energy will not be there. This is where pre-workouts come in; using specially formulated ingredients such supplements help to revitalize you, make you feel more energetic, and generally allow you to have a better workout. Now like I mentioned earlier in the introduction, not every supplement delivers the same results. It is especially important for you to understand that what you read on the supplement labels is not actually approved by the FDA and as far as you know it could all be made up. Because of this, never base your decision on what the company says about its product, but instead, use the ingredients label and reviews.

Now there is a reason why I chose No2 Max as the product of choice for this review, and that reason is that it works! I have tried many pre-workout supplements over the years but it’s this particular one that has stuck with me through all this time. For this reason, I find it very easy to recommend it to my fellow partners in iron so you too can experience the great benefits that it brings.

Nitric Oxide Supplement – NO2 Max Benefits:

• Gives you more energy
• Allows you to lift more weight through increased strength
• Gives you better and longer lasting pumps
• Improves recovery times

It works by increasing your blood and oxygen flow, making it a powerful vasodilator. It also greatly boosts your body’s Nitric Oxide levels, which is its other method of action. The increased blood and oxygen flow give your muscles not only more oxygen but also more nutrients, increasing their performance while also boosting recovery.

While taking this Nitric Oxide supplement I instantly experienced a big boost in my energy levels, especially when I was feeling down in the dumps and didn’t feel like training. During training, I noticed I was getting better pumps that also lasted longer while having more energy and being able to lift more weight. Now don’t expect to be able to double your lifts, but there definitely was an increase especially in my core lifts (squat, deadlift, and bench press).

I used this supplement for about 4 months but you can go up to 8 according to the instructions posted on the bottle. After this period you should take some time off to stop your body from building tolerance, thus rendering No2 Max ineffective. Each bottle comes with 90 pills with each pill containing 2400mg. I took 3 of these pills about 1 hour prior to my workout as I found this is the best time to allow them to take full effect.

I hope you guys have found this review useful, and I also hope you have the same positive experience with his product like I had. If you have anything to ask, or wish to share with us your own personal experience with Nitric Oxide Supplement – Booster No2 Max, please don’t hesitate in order to leave a comment below.

Jarrett

The post Nitric Oxide Supplement – CrazyBulk NO2 Max appeared first on Muscle & Cuts.