Products

What is 5% Nutrition All Day You May?

All Day You May is a powdered amino acid drink, to be mixed with water, built around a BCAA complex of 6,000 mg per 12 g serving. It stands out for its 10:1:1 ratio, that is to say ten parts of leucine to one part of isoleucine and one of valine, where the market's historical standard is 2:1:1.

The product comes from 5% Nutrition, a brand whose formulas are recognisable by their length: here there are not three amino acids but seven families of ingredients, from the joint complex to the muscle buffer. The rest of the brand's catalogue is in our 5% Nutrition aisle.

The flavours listed: Push Pop, Blueberry Lemonade, Southern Sweet Tea, Lemon Lime, Fruit Punch, Blue Raspberry, Watermelon and Mango Pineapple. The number of servings per tub is not published by the manufacturer in the information available to us; the net weight shown on the packaging you receive lets you work it out by dividing by 12.

What does a 12 g serving contain?

No nutrient reference value exists for free amino acids: a percentage column would make no sense here, and we will not invent one.

5 g of leucine per serving is considerable, and it is the product's real selling point. Leucine is the amino acid that triggers the protein synthesis signal, and the threshold generally accepted sits between 2.5 and 3 g. One serving delivers almost double that.

What that ratio implies does need saying, though, because nobody says it. Triggering the signal is not enough: you also need the bricks. The other six essential amino acids are present here only to the tune of 200 mg in total, which is a trace. Put another way, this product fires the starting gun for construction without delivering the materials. That is perfectly coherent if you use it around a meal or a protein shake that supplies the rest. It is far less so if you rely on it on an empty stomach, thinking it replaces a complete protein. In that case, a complete EAA is the right product, not this one.

The rest of the formula deserves reading line by line. The 1,500 mg of intramuscular buffer combine beta-alanine and creatinol-O-phosphate; it is the beta-alanine that explains the tingling in the face and forearms that many users feel within a quarter of an hour of taking it. It is harmless and it fades with habit. If that is the ingredient you want at a proper dose, our beta-alanine aisle offers it on its own.

The 600 mg of joint complex combine glucosamine and MSM, with no published split. That is well below the quantities used in the work on glucosamine, around 1,500 mg a day. It is a touch, not a treatment. The same remark applies to the 500 mg of N-acetyl-cysteine and to the glutamine, whose exact share of the 2,800 mg is not disclosed.

A regulatory clarification, which belongs here: none of these ingredients holds a health claim authorised in Europe. Not the BCAAs, not glutamine, not carnitine, not beta-alanine. We can describe the quantities and compare them with the market; we cannot attribute an effect to them, and legally nobody can.

Ingredients list

BCAA complex (L-leucine, L-isoleucine, L-valine), conditionally essential amino acid complex (L-glutamine, L-carnitine L-tartrate), support complex (L-taurine, coconut water concentrate, HICA [alpha-hydroxyisocaproic acid], bromelain, blueberry fruit powder), intramuscular buffer (beta-alanine, creatinol-O-phosphate), joint complex (potassium D-glucosamine sulphate, MSM [methylsulfonylmethane]), N-acetyl-L-cysteine, essential amino acid complex (L-histidine, L-lysine, L-methionine, L-phenylalanine, L-threonine, L-tryptophan), natural and artificial flavourings, citric acid, sweeteners (sucralose, acesulfame potassium), colourings depending on the flavour. May contain traces of MILK, SOYA, EGG and GLUTEN depending on the flavour and the production conditions.

How do you take All Day You May?

Serving: one 12 g scoop. Liquid: 300 to 500 ml of cold water. Timing: 15 to 30 minutes before the session, or sipped during training, or between two meals. Frequency: one serving a day to begin with. Duration: the manufacturer sets no course length.

Start with a single daily serving for at least a week. The manufacturer allows up to four servings a day for the most highly trained athletes, but that is a ceiling, not a recommendation. At four servings you are swallowing 6 g of muscle buffer, 2 g of N-acetyl-cysteine and 2.4 g of joint complex over the day: those quantities deserve at the very least to be discussed with a healthcare professional before you go there.

The volume of water matters too. Below 300 ml the drink becomes very concentrated and acidic, and free amino acids irritate some people's stomachs. For a long session, go up to 700 or 800 ml and spread out your consumption.

A practical point: avoid taking it at the same time as a complete protein shake. It is not dangerous, simply redundant: the protein already supplies all the amino acids. The right slot is the one where you have nothing else: between two widely spaced meals, or during training.

Who is All Day You May for, and who is it not for?

It suits someone who trains fasted or a long way from their last meal and who is looking to limit catabolism over a long session. It also suits those who cannot tolerate a shake during exercise.

The manufacturer advises against it for pregnant and breastfeeding women and restricts it to adults over 18. It also asks for the advice of a healthcare professional in the event of liver or kidney disease, which is consistent with a high daily load of free amino acids.

Two points of caution that the manufacturer does not highlight and that we prefer to put in writing. First, the glucosamine: it is of shellfish origin in the vast majority of cases, the source is not specified here, and that is information which matters to anyone allergic to crustaceans. It also calls for a doctor's advice in the event of diabetes or anticoagulant treatment. Second, the creatinol-O-phosphate: this is a synthetic molecule whose regulatory status as a food supplement ingredient in the European Union is not clearly established. We flag it because a buyer has the right to know before buying.

What you should not expect from it: it is not a protein substitute. One serving supplies 12 g of ingredients including 6 g of BCAAs, which replaces neither a chicken breast nor a shake. Nor is it a product that "builds muscle" by itself: if your daily protein intake is already adequate, the measurable benefit of additional BCAAs is small, and the literature is fairly harsh on this point. Finally, if you are subject to anti-doping testing, check the batch status with your federation before taking any.

All Day You May or a complete EAA?

This is the central trade-off in this category, and it is settled fairly clearly.

A complete EAA supplies the nine essential amino acids in proportions close to those of muscle, generally with 2.5 to 3 g of leucine per serving. It is the better choice if you take the product on an empty stomach, if you are not eating within the following two hours, or if your daily protein intake is low. It provides both the signal and the materials, which is the only way to obtain a real effect on protein synthesis.

All Day You May follows a different logic: plenty of leucine, very little of the rest, but a whole series of comfort ingredients around it — joint, buffer, antioxidant, hydration. It is the better choice if you use it as a training drink alongside meals that are already protein-rich, if the beta-alanine tingling does not bother you, and if you like long formulas. It is also, let us say it, a product of habit rather than one with demonstrated efficacy on a specific point.

If your need is simply to have something to drink during a long session, without chasing performance, an electrolyte drink costs less and does the job.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 10:1:1 ratio better than 2:1:1?

It supplies more leucine for the same total quantity, which is verifiable. But a ratio says nothing about overall effectiveness: protein synthesis requires the nine essential amino acids, not just the trigger. A 10:1:1 taken around a protein-rich meal makes sense; taken on its own, it does half the work.

Why do I get tingling after taking it?

That is the beta-alanine in the buffer complex. The sensation affects the face, the scalp and the forearms, appears within fifteen minutes and lasts half an hour. It is harmless, well documented, and fades with repeated servings. If it bothers you, split the serving in two.

How many servings a day at most?

The manufacturer sets the ceiling at four. That is a lot, and that ceiling is designed for athletes with a very high training volume. One serving a day covers the use of the vast majority of people, and two already amount to sustained use.

Can it be taken on rest days?

Yes, between two widely spaced meals. The benefit remains modest: on a day without training, what counts for recovery is total protein intake and sleep, not the distribution of free amino acids.

Does this product contain creatine?

No. The creatinol-O-phosphate in the buffer complex has a name that looks similar but it is not creatine and does not have the same effects. If you are looking for creatine, you need to buy it separately.

Is it suitable for vegetarians?

The glucosamine in the joint complex is most often of shellfish origin, and the manufacturer does not specify the source in the information available to us. Without that detail, we cannot state that the product is suitable for a vegetarian diet. The label on the tub you receive is the only reliable reference.

Can it be mixed with a pre-workout?

Technically yes, but look at the labels first. Many pre-workouts already contain beta-alanine, taurine and tyrosine: the totals add up quickly, with no extra benefit. The one ingredient there is no point in doubling up is precisely the muscle buffer.

Where can you buy 5% Nutrition All Day You May?

The flavours can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, the first question we ask in front of this tub is "how much protein do you eat a day?" — because the answer determines whether this product is going to bring you something or simply add to an already full list. The rest of the aisle can be browsed in our sports nutrition section.

What is 5150 Legendary by 5% Nutrition?

5% Nutrition Rich Piana 5150 Legendary is a powdered pre-workout, created by the brand founded by American bodybuilder Rich Piana. The tub holds 30 servings of 12.5 g. The name refers to the California police code 5150; the brand makes no secret of its intentions, and the formula lives up to them.

What sets this product apart from most others is its multi-source caffeine complex: caffeine anhydrous, dicaffeine malate, green tea extract, yerba mate extract, guarana extract standardised to 22 %, green coffee extract and gotu kola extract. The total exceeds 400 mg per serving. Alongside that, the formula delivers citrulline, beta-alanine, taurine, N-acetyl-L-tyrosine, choline, Cocoabuterol® (a patented cocoa extract), huperzine A and two B vitamins.

The flavours available: Green Apple, Blue Ice, Tropical, Wildberry, Raspberry Mojito and Citrus Mango. The product joins our boosters range, in the most heavily dosed category of all.

What is in a 12.5 g serving?

Unlike many competitors, almost everything here is quantified, and that is the first point in the product's favour. Only the split between the seven caffeine sources stays inside a proprietary blend: you know the total exceeds 400 mg, not how it breaks down. The "of which sugars" line is not declared either.

The 400 mg of caffeine deserve to be faced squarely. EFSA considers that 400 mg spread across the whole day raises no safety concern in healthy adults, and sets 200 mg as the reference for a single intake. One serving of 5150 therefore takes you to your daily ceiling in one go. This is a product for users already accustomed to stimulants, and the manufacturer says so itself.

On everything else, the dosing is serious: 4 g of citrulline and 2.5 g of beta-alanine sit within the ranges genuinely used, where many formulas make do with a pinch just to be able to print it on the label. The 1,000 µg of vitamin B12 represent 40,000 % of the NRV: enormous on paper, with no known risk for this water-soluble vitamin, but with no demonstrated benefit at that level either. The authorised wordings that apply are these: niacin and vitamin B12 contribute to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue and to normal energy-yielding metabolism. For citrulline, beta-alanine, taurine, tyrosine, choline, Cocoabuterol® and huperzine A, no claim is authorised in Europe.

How should 5150 Legendary be dosed?

Serving: 1 scoop of 12.5 g, never more than one a day. Liquid: 200 to 300 ml of cold water. Timing: 20 to 30 minutes before the session, ideally on an empty stomach or at least two hours after the last meal. Frequency: the manufacturer recommends keeping it to 2 or 3 sessions a week, no more. Duration: a 6 to 8 week period, followed by a compulsory 2 to 3 week break.

If you are not used to stimulants, start with half a scoop for the first three sessions. This is not a formality: at 400 mg of caffeine, misjudging your tolerance means shaking, a racing heart rate and a wasted session.

Three further instructions. Do not take it within 6 hours of going to bed. No other source of caffeine or stimulants on the same day — coffee, tea, energy drinks, thermogenic fat burners. And increase your water intake by at least 500 ml on the days you use it: the formula increases sweating.

Save it for the sessions that warrant it — legs, back, training that runs beyond 75 minutes. Used five times a week, it loses its edge within three weeks and you will have no headroom left to go up.

Who is this pre-workout for, and who is it not for?

It is aimed at trained adults who already have a high tolerance to stimulants, for heavy morning or midday sessions. As a first experience of the category, avoid it without hesitation: start at 150 or 200 mg of caffeine.

The restrictions are explicit. Strictly not recommended for under-18s, pregnant or breastfeeding women. Medical advice is mandatory in cases of cardiovascular disorders, high blood pressure, diabetes or anxiety disorders. The possible effects listed by the manufacturer are the tingling associated with beta-alanine, an increased heart rate, sweating and restlessness; stop using it if the discomfort persists. The product is made in a facility that also handles MILK, EGGS, SOYA, NUTS and FISH, and may contain traces of them. Shelf life 24 months in the original packaging.

What you should not expect from it: strength or muscle. A pre-workout acts on alertness, focus and perceived effort. It makes up neither for insufficient sleep nor for food intake that is too low — and at this level of caffeine, using it to mask chronic fatigue is precisely the wrong idea.

5150 Legendary or a caffeine-free booster?

The choice does not come down to the quality of the formulas but to your tolerance and to the time of day you train.

A caffeine-free booster is the better choice in three clear cases. You train after 18:00: 400 mg of caffeine at that hour costs you a night's sleep, and sleep weighs more heavily on progress than any pre-workout. You train four to six times a week: 5150 is designed for 2 to 3 weekly sessions, so you will need a solution for the other days anyway. Or you have anxiety, high blood pressure, palpitations — in which case the question does not even arise.

5150 keeps the advantage on the sessions where you want everything: it combines serious doses of citrulline at 4 g and beta-alanine at 2.5 g with a stimulant load few products reach. Non-stimulant formulas often supply just as much citrulline, sometimes more, but nothing on the nervous side. Plenty of users end up with both tubs in the cupboard, alternating according to the session. If you would rather build your own, taurine and B vitamins are also available separately.

Frequently asked questions

How many servings are in a tub?

Thirty servings of 12.5 g. At the recommended use of 2 or 3 sessions a week, one tub covers roughly ten to fifteen weeks — breaks included, since the manufacturer requires 2 to 3 weeks off every 6 to 8 weeks.

Why seven different caffeine sources?

The sources do not all behave in the same way: caffeine anhydrous is absorbed quickly, dicaffeine malate and the plant extracts more slowly. The idea is to spread the effect across the length of the session rather than produce a single peak. The exact split between the seven is not published by the brand.

Is 400 mg of caffeine dangerous?

In a healthy adult who is used to it, EFSA puts at 400 mg the daily intake that raises no safety concern — but spread across the day, not in a single intake. Here it all arrives at once, which explains the manufacturer's warning and the recommendation to start with half a serving. Anyone affected by the contraindications listed above should abstain.

Should it be taken on an empty stomach?

The manufacturer recommends it, or at least two hours after the last meal. In practice, on an empty stomach the effect arrives faster and harder — which is not always what you want the first time. If you are sensitive, take it on a stomach that is not empty for your first session.

What are Cocoabuterol® and huperzine A?

Cocoabuterol® is a patented extract of cocoa (Theobroma cacao), present at 50 mg. Huperzine A is an alkaloid extracted from Huperzia serrata, dosed at 300 µg. No health claim is authorised in Europe for either of them: we mention them because they appear on the label with a precise dose, which is already better than the average for the category.

Can it be combined with a fat burner?

No. The manufacturer explicitly asks that it not be combined with other sources of caffeine or stimulants, and a thermogenic fat burner typically supplies a further 200 to 400 mg. Stacking them would take you well beyond any safety reference.

Is the 40,000 % NRV of vitamin B12 a problem?

Vitamin B12 is water-soluble and no upper safe limit has been established for it: the excess is excreted. The figure impresses more than it worries. You simply should not read a proportional benefit into it — 1,000 µg do not deliver 400 times more than a normal dose.

Where can you buy 5150 Legendary by 5% Nutrition?

The flavours can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. This is a product we do not put in just anyone's hands: the question of stimulant tolerance comes before the question of flavour.

In our shop in Vendargues, about ten minutes from Montpellier, we often advise starting with half a serving and keeping this tub for two heavy sessions a week — that is the use it was built for. The brand's full range can be found in the 5% Nutrition collection.

What is FULL AF by 5% Nutrition?

5% Nutrition Rich Piana FULL AF is a pre-workout with no stimulants whatsoever. No caffeine, no stimulant extracts: the formula is built solely around muscle pump and cellular hydration. It is a category in its own right, often misunderstood, and this product is one of its most heavily dosed representatives.

Five active ingredients make up the formula: 8 g of L-citrulline, 2 g of L-taurine, 2 g of GlycerSize™ (65% glycerol), 2 g of anhydrous betaine and 750 mg of Nitrosigine® (inositol-stabilised arginine silicate). Everything is quantified, there is no proprietary blend — rare enough in this section to be worth pointing out.

The flavours on offer: Wildberry, Push Pop and Blue Raspberry. The product appears in our caffeine-free booster section, and also stands comparison with the formulas in the creatine-free pre-workout section.

What does one serving of FULL AF contain?

The manufacturer publishes neither the macronutrient breakdown, nor the salt content, nor the number of servings per tub: we are flagging that rather than estimating it. The 60 kcal come mostly from the glucose polymers used as a carrier.

The figure that makes this whole page is the 8 g of citrulline per serving. For context: ordinary pre-workouts provide 1 to 2 g, serious formulas 4 to 6 g. Very few products reach 8 g, quite simply because citrulline is expensive and takes up room in the scoop. At that dose, the price of the tub explains itself.

One regulatory point is interesting, and rare in this category: betaine has an authorised claim in Europe — it contributes to normal homocysteine metabolism, from an intake of 1.5 g a day. The 2 g in this formula exceeds that threshold. The regulations require it to be stated that a daily intake in excess of 4 g may significantly increase blood cholesterol levels: at 2 g per serving and one serving a day, you stay below that, but the information has to appear. For citrulline, taurine, glycerol and arginine, no claim is authorised.

How should you dose FULL AF?

Serving: 1 full scoop, without exceeding one a day. Liquid: 250 to 350 ml of cold water. Timing: 30 minutes before training, preferably on an empty stomach. Frequency: one serving a day. Duration: the manufacturer gives no cycle or mandatory break — logically enough, since there is no stimulant to build tolerance to.

One particular feature of this product: it can also be taken on rest days, in the morning on an empty stomach. The manufacturer recommends this to maintain the sensation of muscle fullness, and it is a use that would make no sense with a stimulant pre-workout.

Drink plenty. This is not a throwaway piece of advice: glycerol works by holding water, and without a sufficient fluid intake the formula cannot do anything. Allow at least an extra half a litre on the day you use it.

The manufacturer also states that it is possible to pair it with a stimulant pre-workout, by taking FULL AF thirty minutes beforehand. It is a common combination among advanced users: the pump on one side, the energy on the other. If you do it, add up the caffeine from the second product, not from this one — it has none.

Who is FULL AF for, and who is it not for?

It is aimed at three clearly identified profiles. Those who train in the evening and do not want to sacrifice their sleep. Those who are sensitive to stimulants — palpitations, anxiety, tremors — and have given up on conventional pre-workouts. And those who work in long sets, in the 8 to 12 rep range, and are after the sensation of a pump.

The restrictions are shorter than on a stimulant product, but they exist. For adults over 18 only. Not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women. Consult a healthcare professional before use if you are on any medical treatment. Do not exceed one scoop a day. The product contains COCONUT derivatives, which rules it out if you are allergic to tree nuts. It also contains FD&C Yellow No. 5, tartrazine, for which European regulations require the statement: may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children. Finally, do not use the product if the safety seal is damaged.

What not to expect from it: energy. That is the most frequent misunderstanding about this product. Without caffeine, you will feel no kick, no heightened alertness, nothing edgy. You may feel your muscles fuller, and that is all the formula is aiming for. Nor should you expect strength or muscle from it: a pump is a sensation, not a result.

FULL AF or a stimulant pre-workout?

The two do not replace each other, and the best advice we can give is to work out which of the two problems you are trying to solve.

A stimulant pre-workout is the right choice when the problem is finding the will to go. A session at 6:00 in the morning, a heavy end to the week, motivation at a low ebb: caffeine is what solves that, and nothing else. The formulas in the pre-workouts section typically provide 200 to 400 mg of caffeine, often with more modest citrulline doses. They also win on price: citrulline costs more than caffeine, and a tub with 8 g per serving has to be paid for.

FULL AF wins as soon as stimulation is not the point, or is itself the problem. On citrulline alone, it is ahead of just about everything we sell, including the most expensive formulas. It also wins on flexibility: it is the only type of product you can take at 20:00 without a second thought, or on rest days. The isolated ingredients that make it up — taurine, L-arginine — are also available separately if you would rather put together your own blend, but at 8 g of citrulline per serving, the sums rarely work in your favour.

Frequently asked questions

How many servings does a tub contain?

The manufacturer does not publish the net weight or the number of servings in the data supplied, and we will not estimate it. The information is on the packaging: read it when it arrives. The serving is one full scoop, once a day at most.

Is there really zero caffeine?

Yes. The formula contains neither caffeine nor any other stimulant, and the manufacturer states so explicitly. That is precisely the point of the product: it can be taken late in the day with no consequences for sleep.

What is the glycerol in the formula for?

GlycerSize™ is a 65% glycerol powder, dosed at 2 g. Glycerol holds water in the tissues, which explains the instruction to increase hydration that comes with the product. No health claim is authorised in Europe for glycerol: we describe its role in the formula without attributing any regulated effect to it.

Can it be combined with a stimulant pre-workout?

Yes, and the manufacturer even recommends it: take FULL AF thirty minutes before the stimulant. Since it provides no caffeine, there is no risk of stacking on that front. Just check the caffeine dose of the second product, which remains subject to the usual guidelines.

Can it be taken on days without training?

The manufacturer says so: one serving in the morning on an empty stomach on rest days. It is a possible use, specific to non-stimulant formulas. That said, if your budget is tight, keep the product for training sessions: that is where it makes the most sense.

Do you need to drink more than usual?

Yes, at least 500 ml more on the day you use it. Glycerol works by holding water: if you are already short on fluids, the formula cannot work and you mostly risk headaches. A bottle next to the bench is not optional here.

Does it contain allergens?

Yes, it contains coconut derivatives, which rules it out if you are allergic to tree nuts. It is, on the other hand, declared gluten-free and free from artificial colours with the exception of FD&C Yellow No. 5.

Where can you buy FULL AF by 5% Nutrition?

The flavours can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. It is a product we often recommend to customers who tell us they have stopped taking pre-workouts because of sleep or palpitations: most of them do not know this category exists.

Our Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, is also the place to compare citrulline labels side by side — that is generally the moment when the gap in dosing becomes obvious. The full range can be found in the 5% Nutrition collection.

What is Animal Cuts by Universal Nutrition?

Animal Cuts is a food supplement supplied as 42 individual sachets, each sachet containing several capsules to be taken together. It is the long-standing format of Universal Nutrition's Animal range: one sachet a day, nothing to measure out, nothing to weigh.

The phrase "thermogenic fat burner" that appears in its name is a commercial category label, not a promise of any effect. We come back to this further down, because it is the most important point on this page. The product belongs to our fat burners range, and more specifically to capsule fat burners. Universal Nutrition is an American brand whose range we stock in our Universal Nutrition section.

What does a sachet of Animal Cuts contain?

The formula is organised into eight complexes, for a stated total of more than 8,500 mg of active ingredients per sachet. Four of them are quantified on the label:

• Thermogenic complex: 200 mg of anhydrous caffeine, guarana, yerba mate, kola nut;
• Stimulant complex: 750 mg — tyrosine, choline bitartrate, gotu kola;
• Diuretic complex: 800 mg — nettle root, dandelion root;
• Nootropic complex: 500 mg, and the so-called thyroid complex: 350 mg — L-tyrosine, olive leaf extract.

The other three — a metabolic complex based on green, oolong, white and black tea extracts; a cortisol-inhibiting complex containing SerinAid and ashwagandha; a bioavailability complex with Bioperine — are not quantified ingredient by ingredient. That is a genuine limitation: without doses, no serious comparison with another product is possible, and we will not fill the gap with an estimate.

Two points about the composition to be aware of before buying. The excipients include bovine gelatine: the product is suitable neither for vegetarians, nor for vegans, nor for anyone who avoids beef. And the labelling data we hold lists colourings under their American names (FD&C Red #40, Blue #1, Yellow #5 and #6) as well as titanium dioxide: these are North American labelling conventions, and the composition of a version intended for the European market may differ. Read the list printed on the tub you receive, it is the one that counts.

The exact number of capsules per sachet does not appear in the data available to us; we would rather flag that than put forward a figure.

How do you take Animal Cuts?

The manufacturer's protocol is precise. 1 sachet a day, on waking, with a light meal and 250 ml of water. Advanced users may move up to 2 sachets a day, the second 4 to 6 hours after the first. In every case, nothing after 15:00, since the caffeine content disrupts sleep when taken late.

The course is organised into cycles of 3 weeks on followed by 1 week off. The 42-sachet format therefore covers two complete cycles at one sachet a day. Always start with a single daily sachet, even if you are aiming for the advanced protocol: it is the only way to assess your tolerance.

The caffeine arithmetic is worth setting out. One sachet provides 200 mg, exactly the single-dose intake that EFSA considers safe for a healthy adult. At two sachets you are at 400 mg for that day alone, which is the daily reference total, without counting coffee, tea or any pre-workout. The diuretic complex also means drinking more than usual during the course.

Who is Animal Cuts for, and who is it not for?

The product is intended for healthy adults who are used to stimulants. The list of situations that rule it out is long and deserves to be read in full.

It is not suitable for the under-18s, for pregnant or breastfeeding women, nor in cases of heart disorders, high blood pressure, thyroid disorders, diabetes, liver or kidney disease, nor while on antidepressant treatment. The name of the "thyroid complex" should mislead no one: it is a commercial designation, and a thyroid that is not working properly is precisely a contraindication. If in doubt, or if you are on any current treatment, medical advice is essential before starting.

On allergens and composition, the manufacturer flags possible traces of soya and the presence of bovine gelatine. The effects reported are those of a stimulant product: increased sweating, palpitations, anxiety, disturbed sleep when taken late. Stop using it if you experience an adverse effect and speak to a healthcare professional.

That leaves what you should not expect from it, and this is the most important point: no slimming, fat-loss or weight-control claim is authorised in Europe for this type of formula. So you will read no promise here of cutting, definition or kilos lost. What changes body composition is a calorie deficit sustained over time, protein intake, training and sleep; a supplement replaces none of the four, here as throughout our weight loss range. What this product does provide can be described without ambiguity: a quantified dose of caffeine, plant extracts, a format that avoids juggling several tubs, and a cycling protocol written by the manufacturer.

Animal Cuts or a caffeine-free fat burner?

The difference comes down first to caffeine, and the choice depends on how your day actually runs, not on the formula. A product from our caffeine-free fat burner range is the better choice if you already drink coffee, if you take a stimulant pre-workout, if you train late in the day, or if you tolerate stimulants poorly. It is also the only workable option for anyone who has to keep an eye on their blood pressure.

Animal Cuts is the better choice if you are starting from zero where stimulants are concerned, if you prefer a single sachet in the morning to a pile of tubs to manage, and if the cycled protocol suits you. Its all-in-one format is its real advantage: it avoids the stacking of supplements that nobody really keeps track of taking.

There is a third route, and it is often the right one: take no stimulant at all and put the budget into your daily protein intake, the item that changes the most during a calorie deficit.

Frequently asked questions

How many sachets of Animal Cuts a day?

One sachet a day on waking, with a light meal and 250 ml of water. The advanced protocol allows a second sachet 4 to 6 hours later, but at two sachets you reach 400 mg of caffeine over the day from this product alone. Start with one, whatever your experience.

How long does a box of 42 sachets last?

Forty-two days at one sachet a day, that is two complete three-week cycles separated by a week off. At two sachets a day, the box lasts three weeks, in other words a single cycle. The cost-per-day calculation doubles depending on which protocol you follow.

Does Animal Cuts make you lose weight?

No, and nobody can claim it does: no weight-loss claim is authorised for this type of product in Europe. A change in body composition comes from a calorie deficit, protein intake, training and sleep. A supplement is no substitute for any of the four.

Is the product suitable for vegetarians?

No. The capsules contain bovine gelatine, which rules out vegetarian and vegan diets as well as anyone who does not eat beef. The manufacturer also flags possible traces of soya. If that is a deal-breaker for you, look instead at a powder form or a vegetable capsule.

Should you take it on non-training days?

Yes, the manufacturer's protocol is daily throughout the three weeks of the cycle, training or not, since it is taken on waking rather than before the session. That is a difference from a pre-workout, which is kept for training days. Do not combine the two on the same day without having added up your total caffeine.

Why do you need to drink more during the course?

Because the formula contains an 800 mg diuretic complex based on nettle and dandelion root, and caffeine pushes in the same direction. The manufacturer stresses increased hydration throughout the cycle. If you train in hot weather, give some thought to your electrolytes as well.

Can it be combined with a pre-workout?

That is not advised on the same day without doing the arithmetic. One sachet already provides 200 mg of caffeine, and most boosters contain as much, if not more. EFSA takes 400 mg a day as the reference total for a healthy adult, coffee and tea included. Beyond that, adverse effects increase with nothing gained in return.

Where can you buy Animal Cuts 42 packs?

You can order it on this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this product prompts the most useful conversation in the range: what actually happens over a day — how many coffees, what time the session is, what the protein intake is — counts for far more than the choice between two fat burner brands. The whole range is brought together in our sports nutrition section.

Caffeine reference: EFSA.

What is Applied Nutrition's ABE Energy Performance?

ABE Energy Performance is a ready-to-drink sparkling drink, sold in a 330 ml can. One can brings 200 mg of caffeine, 2 g of citrulline malate, 2 g of beta-alanine, 200 mg of anhydrous betaine, 200 mg of taurine and 200 mg of L-tyrosine, for zero calories and zero sugar. ABE stands for "All Black Everything", the name of the pre-workout range from Applied Nutrition, a British brand based in Liverpool.

The idea behind the product fits in one sentence: take the actives you usually find in a powder you have to scoop, and put them in a can. You open it, you drink it, there is no shaker to wash and no scoop to level off. It is a format as much as a formula.

The flavours in the catalogue: Grape Soda, White, Blue Lagoon, Apple Burst, Cloudy Lemonade, Orange Burst, Cherry Slushie, Fruit Candy and Slush Puppie. Each is available singly or in packs of twelve. The rest of the brand can be browsed in our Applied Nutrition aisle, and the other ready-to-drink formats in our energy drinks aisle.

What does a can of ABE Energy contain?

** Nutrient reference values not established for these components. The values above are those declared by the manufacturer on the label.

200 mg of caffeine is the equivalent of two short espressos in a 330 ml can. That is not trivial, and it is precisely the threshold beyond which the European authorities consider that a single intake deserves attention in adults. If you are sensitive, if you already drink coffee during the day, or if you train in the evening, take it into account before opening a second one.

On the other actives, the dosages have to be read honestly. 2 g of citrulline malate and 2 g of beta-alanine are real amounts, but they stay below the dosages found in a powdered pre-workout, where the figures are more like 6 to 8 g of citrulline and 3.2 g of beta-alanine. The can is a convenience format, not a complete booster compressed into 330 ml. If you are after high dosages, look instead at our pre-workout boosters aisle.

Two authorised claims can, on the other hand, be quoted as they stand, because they rest on the declared amounts: niacin and vitamin B12 contribute to normal energy-yielding metabolism and to the reduction of tiredness. Those are the official wordings from the European regulation. By contrast, no claim exists for caffeine, beta-alanine, citrulline, betaine or tyrosine: what we are describing there are ingredients and quantities, not promised effects.

Ingredients list

Carbonated water, beta-alanine, citrulline, anhydrous betaine, acidity regulator (citric acid), natural flavouring, caffeine, taurine, L-tyrosine, sweetener (sucralose), preservative (potassium sorbate), niacin, vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin).

The manufacturer declares the absence of common allergens. High caffeine content: not recommended for children or for pregnant or breastfeeding women (200 mg per 330 ml).

How do you take ABE Energy Performance?

Dose: 1 can of 330 ml. Liquid: none, the drink is ready to drink. Timing: 15 to 30 minutes before training. Frequency: one can a day, without stacking another source of caffeine. Duration: the manufacturer does not set out a course, it is a training-day drink.

Drink it very cold. This is not a comfort tip: taken from the cupboard at room temperature, the beta-alanine and the acidity make the taste distinctly less pleasant, and many people who find these drinks undrinkable have simply drunk them lukewarm. The fridge changes everything.

Expect tingling on the skin, and do not worry about it. The 2 g of beta-alanine cause, in most people, passing pins and needles on the face, neck or forearms, appearing some twenty minutes after drinking and going away on their own. It is a well-known reaction to this molecule, and it is harmless. Nobody ever warns you, and yet it is the first question we get asked at the counter.

One can a day, and not two. At 200 mg of caffeine per unit, two cans put you at 400 mg, which matches the maximum daily reference for a healthy adult — before counting the morning coffee. And no late-day intake: caffeine stays active for several hours, and an 8 pm session paid for with a broken night is a poor trade.

Who is ABE Energy for, and who is it not for?

It suits a trained adult who wants energy before a session without preparing a drink, and who tolerates caffeine well. The can format has a real practical advantage: it slips into a bag, it can be drunk in the car or in the changing room, and the zero sugar makes it compatible with a controlled diet.

It is not for children, nor for pregnant or breastfeeding women — that is the mandatory statement tied to the caffeine content, and it is not decorative. It is strongly discouraged for people sensitive to caffeine, as well as in cases of high blood pressure, heart rhythm disorders, anxiety or ongoing medical treatment: in all of those cases, a doctor's opinion comes before the purchase.

Do not stack it with any other source of caffeine. A coffee, a powdered pre-workout, a fat burner in capsules, a tea: it all adds up. That is the situation where we see the most unpleasant surprises, with palpitations and a sleepless night at the end of it. If you train in the evening, there is a simple solution: our caffeine-free pre-workout aisle offers exactly the same vascular actives without the stimulant.

What not to expect from it. It does not make you progress, it does not replace structured training or adequate food, and it does not make up for a short night. It contains zero calories, therefore zero fuel: on a long session it will supply no energy in the metabolic sense of the word. It is a pleasant stimulant before training, nothing more.

ABE can or powdered pre-workout?

Both answer the same intention, but not the same need, and the choice becomes clear once you lay out the figures.

The powder wins on dosages, no argument. A classic pre-workout brings 6 to 8 g of citrulline and 3.2 g of beta-alanine, against 2 g of each here. You can also adjust the dose: half a scoop on the days you are tired, a full scoop before a big session. Our creatine-free pre-workout aisle and our citrulline selection cover those formulas.

The can wins on everything else: taste, simplicity, consistency. No lumps, no shaker rolling around in the bag, no approximate scoop. And a pleasant drink actually gets drunk, where a tub of mediocre-tasting powder ends up at the back of the cupboard. For someone training three times a week who simply wants a lift before the session, it is the most honest format.

A third route is worth mentioning: if what you are mainly after is beta-alanine, it is taken every day and not only on training days, which a can does not reasonably allow. Our beta-alanine aisle offers dedicated powders for daily use. And for what gets drunk during the session rather than before it, look instead at EAA.

Frequently asked questions

How much caffeine is in a can?

200 mg per 330 ml, roughly two short espressos. That is a high content, which requires a mandatory statement on the label. One can a day at most, without stacking a coffee, a powdered booster or a fat burner in capsules, since it all adds up.

Which flavours are available?

Grape Soda, White, Blue Lagoon, Apple Burst, Cloudy Lemonade, Orange Burst, Cherry Slushie, Fruit Candy and Slush Puppie. The formula is identical from one flavour to another, only the flavouring changes. Each is available singly or in packs of twelve.

Why do I get tingling after drinking it?

That is the beta-alanine, present at 2 g per can. In most people it causes passing pins and needles on the face, neck or forearms, some twenty minutes after drinking. The sensation lasts a few tens of minutes and goes away on its own. It is harmless.

Zero calories, is that really possible?

That is what the manufacturer's label declares, and that is what we report. The drink contains neither sugar, nor fat, nor protein: the sweetness comes from sucralose. What matters most is that it supplies no fuel, which makes it unsuited to a long session where you need carbohydrates.

Can you drink it on non-training days?

Nothing forbids it, but it is not the intended use and it is an expensive way to consume caffeine. The formula is designed to be drunk 15 to 30 minutes before training. On rest days, an ordinary coffee does the same job for a great deal less.

Is it suitable for a vegan diet?

The ingredients list contains no component of animal origin and the manufacturer declares no common allergen. We do not, however, have a certified vegan statement on the label: if that point is decisive for you, check the wording on the can you receive.

Does it need to be drunk cold?

Yes, and that is the most useful tip on this page. Lukewarm, the acidity and the beta-alanine dominate the taste and the drink becomes unpleasant. Straight from the fridge, it goes down easily. That is the main reason some people find it excellent and others undrinkable.

Where to buy ABE Energy Performance

The can can be ordered singly or by the pack of twelve from this page, in the available flavours, and we ship throughout France and Europe. In the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, we always advise trying a single can before buying a pack: at 200 mg of caffeine, tolerance varies enormously from person to person, and a flavour you do not like bought twelve at a time is a bad memory. The rest of our selection can be browsed in the sports nutrition aisle.

What is Applied Nutrition's ABE Pre Workout?

Applied Nutrition ABE — short for All Black Everything — is a powdered pre-workout sold in a 375 g tub, that is 30 servings of 12.5 g. The British brand has turned it into its best-selling line, and it is probably the most recognisable pre-workout on the shelf, thanks to its boldly pitched flavours.

The formula is built around four actives with stated amounts: 4 g of citrulline malate 2:1, 3.25 g of creatine monohydrate, 2 g of beta-alanine and 200 mg of anhydrous caffeine. To these are added 200 mg of taurine, VitaCholine™ choline, niacin and vitamin B12. All of it sugar-free, sweetened with sucralose.

The flavours on offer run from Fruit Punch to Cherry-Cola by way of Candy Ice Blast, Sour Gummy Bear and Slush Puppie. The product sits in our pre-workouts and Applied Nutrition sections.

What does a 12.5 g serving contain?

Three dosages are missing — choline, niacin, vitamin B12 — and we are not going to invent them. The manufacturer does not publish the energy value or the macronutrient breakdown per serving either. That is a shame, because the rest of the label is precise to the milligram.

The 200 mg of caffeine define where the product sits, and it is an intelligent choice. It corresponds exactly to the benchmark EFSA uses for a single serving that raises no safety concern in healthy adults — whereas many competitors climb to 350 or 400 mg. In practice, you get a genuine stimulant effect without hitting your daily ceiling first thing in the morning.

The 3.25 g of creatine monohydrate exceed the 3 g per day threshold above which European regulations authorise the claim: creatine increases physical performance in successive bursts of short-term, high intensity exercise. Read it carefully, though: that claim assumes a daily intake, and this product is only taken on training days. The 4 g of citrulline malate sit within the useful range without being remarkable. For citrulline, beta-alanine and taurine, no claim is authorised in Europe; for niacin, B12 and choline, approved wordings do exist, but since the dosages are not published we cannot verify that they reach the required thresholds.

How should you dose ABE Pre Workout?

Serving: 1 scoop of 12.5 g, one serving per day only. Liquid: 250 ml of cold water. Timing: 15 minutes before the session. Frequency: one serving per training day. Duration: in cycles of 6 to 8 weeks, followed by a break of 1 to 2 weeks.

New users start with a half serving of 6.25 g for the first seven days, as the manufacturer advises. At 200 mg of caffeine this is not essential for everyone, but it is the right way to find out your tolerance without ruining a session.

The manufacturer recommends taking it on an empty stomach or two hours after your last meal, and advises against taking it in the evening. Bear in mind that the stimulant effect stays noticeable for several hours: at 200 mg, a serving taken at 17:00 can still get in the way of falling asleep for anyone sensitive. For late sessions, the caffeine-free pre-workout section exists for exactly that.

Expect tingling within a quarter of an hour of taking it: that is the 2 g of beta-alanine, the sensation lasts around twenty minutes and has no consequences.

Who is ABE for, and who is it not for?

It is probably the pre-workout we most readily recommend for a first experience of the category. The dosages are serious without being extreme, the caffeine is at a sensible level, and the flavours are markedly more pleasant than the shelf average — a criterion that matters more than people admit when it comes to finishing a 375 g tub.

The restrictions are standard but real. High caffeine content: not recommended for children or for pregnant and breastfeeding women. Do not exceed one serving per day. Consult a healthcare professional if you have a known or suspected health condition, or if you are taking medication. The product contains no major allergen in its recipe, but it is manufactured in a facility that handles MILK, SOYA, EGGS, FISH, CELERY and CEREALS CONTAINING GLUTEN.

One thing to check before buying: if you already take creatine separately, the 3.25 g provided here are added on top on training days. That is not dangerous, it is simply money spent twice.

What you should not expect from it: strength or muscle. A pre-workout acts on alertness, focus and perceived effort. Creatine, for its part, works over weeks and only if taken every day — which this product does not allow for. And 200 mg of caffeine will not make up for a four-hour night.

ABE or a pre-workout with 400 mg of caffeine?

The question comes up often, and the answer has less to do with potency than with the way you train.

A heavily dosed pre-workout, at 350 or 400 mg of caffeine, earns its place in one specific case: two or three heavy sessions a week, for someone already well used to stimulants, who wants a pronounced effect and accepts not taking it the rest of the time. Those formulas also often list higher amounts of citrulline, sometimes 8 or 12 g. On that ground ABE is outdone, and there is no point pretending otherwise.

ABE wins on consistency. At 200 mg of caffeine, you can use it four or five times a week without sending your daily intake through the roof, which is impossible with a 400 mg formula. It also wins on the presence of creatine at a full dose, a rarity in this category, and on the flavours — a tub of pre-workout whose taste you tire of ends up at the back of a cupboard, whatever its dosages. If you want to avoid doubling up on creatine, a product from the creatine-free pre-workout section will suit you better.

Frequently asked questions

How many servings are in the 375 g tub?

Thirty servings of 12.5 g. At four sessions a week, one tub covers a little over seven weeks — that is, the 6 to 8 week cycle the manufacturer recommends before the break.

Is 200 mg of caffeine a lot?

It is the equivalent of two espressos, and it corresponds exactly to EFSA's benchmark for a single serving in healthy adults. It is an unapologetic but measured dosage: enough to be felt, low enough not to mortgage the rest of your day.

Should you take creatine alongside it?

If you want the benefit of creatine, yes: it requires a daily intake, rest days included, whereas ABE is only taken before sessions. The 3.25 g in here are a bonus on training days, not a complete supplementation.

Why are some dosages not stated?

VitaCholine™ choline, niacin and vitamin B12 appear in the ingredient list with no quantity published in the data available to us. We flag that rather than estimate it. The four main actives, on the other hand, are given to the milligram.

Which flavour should you choose?

Fruit Punch and Bubble Gum are the safest bets; Cherry-Cola and Candy Ice Blast the most unusual; Sour Gummy Bear and Baddy-Berry the sharpest. This is the section with the widest range of tastes, and it is worth switching from one tub to the next.

Can it be taken on an empty stomach in the morning?

Yes, the manufacturer even recommends it: on an empty stomach or two hours after your last meal. The effect comes on faster. If you are sensitive to stimulants, taking it on a stomach that is not completely empty remains more comfortable the first time.

Is the tingling normal?

Yes, it comes from the 2 g of beta-alanine. It appears within a quarter of an hour, affects the face and the forearms, lasts around twenty minutes and is harmless. At 2 g the intensity stays moderate compared with formulas that put in 3 or 6 g.

Where can you buy Applied Nutrition ABE Pre Workout?

The flavours can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. It is the most requested pre-workout in our catalogue, and the only one where people regularly ask us to recommend the flavour rather than the formula.

In our shop in Vendargues, about ten minutes from Montpellier, the flavours are lined up on the shelf — that is still the best way to choose. The rest of the pre-training range can be compared from sports nutrition.

What is Applied Nutrition's Amino Fuel EAA?

Applied Nutrition Amino Fuel is a free-form amino acid powder to be mixed with water, dosed at 13 g per serving. It belongs to our EAA range: it contains the nine essential amino acids, that is, the ones the body cannot make itself and which must come from food. To these are added 2.5 g of L-glutamine, which is not an essential amino acid but is the most abundant one in muscle.

The point to grasp before anything else: these are free-form amino acids, not a protein. They are not bound to anything, they require no prior digestion, and they are drunk in a large volume of very cold water — the manufacturer advises 500 ml. That is what makes it a training drink rather than an end-of-session shake.

The ingredient list for the Fruit Burst version reads in descending order of weight: L-leucine, L-glutamine, L-valine, L-isoleucine, L-lysine, citric acid, natural flavouring, L-threonine, L-histidine, L-phenylalanine, salt, sucralose, L-methionine, natural beetroot colouring. The flavours listed: Icy Blue Raz, Fruit Salad, Fruit Burst, Candy Ice Blast and Millions Pineapple. The British brand's range can be found in our Applied Nutrition section.

What does a 13 g serving contain?

No nutrient reference value is established for amino acids: a "% NRV" column would make no sense here, and we do not show one.

The total comes to almost 11 g of amino acids in a 13 g serving, including 6 g of BCAAs in the classic 2:1:1 ratio and 8.5 g of essential amino acids. It is a well-loaded product with very few excipients: the rest is citric acid, flavouring, sucralose and colouring.

Now for the honest reading of that table, the one you will not find elsewhere. The profile is heavily weighted towards the top of the list. Leucine, isoleucine and valine on their own account for 6 of the 8.5 g of essentials. At the other end, methionine is at 50 mg and tryptophan at 100 mg — token amounts. Saying that the product contains the nine essential amino acids is accurate; implying that it supplies useful quantities of each would be far less so. It is a BCAA product with extras, rather than a complete, balanced amino acid profile.

A second labelling curiosity: the line "Protein: 0 g" when the serving contains 11 g of amino acids. This is not a mistake. Free-form amino acids are not declared as protein under European nutrition labelling, which is based on a measurement of protein nitrogen. That has a practical consequence: these 11 g do not count as protein in your macros, even though they are its building blocks.

Finally, no health claim is authorised in Europe for BCAAs, EAAs or glutamine. So we describe a composition and doses, never a promised effect on recovery or muscle mass. As the net weight of the tub does not appear in the data supplied to us, we also cannot work out the number of servings: divide the weight printed on the packaging by 13 g.

How do you take Amino Fuel?

Serving: 1 scoop of 13 g. Liquid: 500 ml of cold water. Timing: 30 minutes before the session, during training, or straight afterwards. Frequency: 1 to 3 servings a day depending on training volume. Duration: no fixed course imposed by the manufacturer.

The 500 ml is not a suggestion for comfort. A free-form amino acid powder is acidic and very concentrated in flavour: with too little water it becomes frankly aggressive, and the flavours in this range are already very pronounced. Shake vigorously until fully dissolved.

The most sensible use is during the session. You are drinking anyway, the drink supplies only 3 kcal, and you are not left with a full stomach. That is also what sets it apart from a protein shake, which nobody drinks between two sets. With 3 kcal and 0.49 g of carbohydrate, it also remains compatible with a fasting window in the calorie sense of the term.

A common-sense note on frequency: three servings a day are only worthwhile if your training volume is genuinely high and your protein intake is already covered. If it is not, the money is better spent on a tub of protein. We come back to this further down, because it is the real question.

Who is Amino Fuel for, and who is it not for?

It suits anyone who trains for a long time and wants a drink to sip during the effort without anything sitting heavily on the stomach. It also suits anyone who digests protein poorly before or during a session, and anyone who trains fasted in the morning and wants to avoid calories.

The manufacturer restricts it to adults, advises against it for pregnant and breastfeeding women, and recommends consulting a healthcare professional if you are on any medical treatment. It notes that natural variations in colour may occur — the colouring is beetroot red, whose shade is not stable. The product is declared free from added sugar, gluten and lactose.

It is not for you if your daily protein intake is not already covered. That is the essential point: free-form amino acids are only worthwhile in addition to a diet that already hits its protein target, not as a replacement for it. Nor is it for you if you are looking for a balanced amino acid profile — 50 mg of methionine does not replace what is in an egg.

What you should not expect from it: it is neither an immediate performance product nor a stimulant — it contains no caffeine. Nor is it a source of protein as far as your macros are concerned, as explained above. And it will do nothing for you if you train for thirty minutes three times a week: in that case, a decent meal after the session does the same job for far less money.

Amino Fuel or a whey isolate?

This is the decisive comparison, and it is less favourable to amino acids than is usually claimed. Let us look at the figures rather than the arguments.

A 13 g serving of Amino Fuel supplies 8.5 g of essential amino acids. A 30 g serving of whey isolate supplies around 25 g of protein, roughly half of which is essential amino acids — a comparable order of magnitude, but with a complete, balanced profile, and generally at a lower cost per serving. Add to that the fact that whey does count towards your protein total. On quantity for the money, protein wins, and that needs saying.

Whey is therefore the better default choice: if you have to pick a single product, it is that one. Free-form amino acids keep three genuinely real situations for themselves. During the effort first of all: nobody drinks a milky shake between two sets, whereas a clear 3 kcal drink goes down very easily. Fasted next, if you are set on taking in no calories. And in cases of lactose intolerance or difficulty digesting dairy protein, where a free-form amino acid powder poses no problem at all. If your interest is mainly in BCAAs, do compare with our BCAA range; and if it is glutamine you are after, a pure glutamine will cost you less per gram.

Frequently asked questions

Why does the label say 0 g of protein?

Because free-form amino acids are not counted as protein under European nutrition labelling, which is based on a measurement of protein nitrogen. It is not a manufacturer's error. Practical consequence: do not count these 11 g in your protein macros, even though they are its components.

How many BCAAs in a serving?

Exactly 6 g: 3 g of leucine, 1.5 g of isoleucine and 1.5 g of valine, that is the 2:1:1 ratio. It is a straightforward dose, leucine being the most studied amino acid of the three. Those 6 g on their own make up more than half the amino acids in the serving.

Why so little methionine and tryptophan?

50 mg of methionine and 100 mg of tryptophan are token amounts, and it is a feature of the formula you need to be aware of. The product does contain the nine essential amino acids, but overwhelmingly in the form of BCAAs. If you are after a complete, balanced profile, what you need is a complete protein, not this powder.

Can you drink it while fasting?

In the calorie sense, yes: 3 kcal and 0.49 g of carbohydrate break practically nothing. It is in fact one of the uses proposed by the manufacturer. We should point out, though, that amino acids do trigger a metabolic response, which is nothing like a plain glass of water — it is up to you to decide what you want from your fast.

Do you really need 500 ml of water?

Yes, and it is not negotiable where palatability is concerned. Free-form amino acids are acidic and concentrated, and the flavours in this range are very pronounced. In 250 ml the drink becomes aggressive and hard to finish. Use properly cold water, and shake until fully dissolved.

Can it be combined with a whey or a booster?

Yes to both, no interaction is known. The question is rather one of usefulness: if you are already taking a whey that covers your intake, adding free-form amino acids brings little. With a pre-workout booster the combination is coherent — one stimulates, the other is drunk during the effort — provided you keep an eye on the booster's total caffeine.

Which flavour should you choose?

The flavours are frankly sweet and tangy, in a confectionery register: Icy Blue Raz and Candy Ice Blast are the most distinctive, Fruit Salad and Fruit Burst the most crowd-pleasing, Millions Pineapple the most fruity. If you drink it right through a session, go for a flavour you will not find sickly by the end of 500 ml.

Where can you buy Applied Nutrition Amino Fuel EAA?

The flavours can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe.

Amino acids are the range we sell least readily, and that is deliberate. At our Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, the first question we ask is how many grams of protein you get in a day. Until that figure is reached, a tub of EAAs is a comfort purchase; once it is, the product makes full sense during long sessions. The complete range can be browsed in our sports nutrition section.

What is Applied Nutrition Beef XP?

Applied Nutrition Beef XP is a powdered beef protein, sold in a 1.8 kg tub and dosed at 30 g per serving. What sets it apart is its texture: this is not a milky shake but a clear drink, transparent and fruity, from the same family as clear whey. You drink it ice-cold, like a juice, not like a milk.

The formula is a short one: 92% beef protein isolate, citric acid, xanthan gum as a thickener, flavouring, sucralose, and a colouring that varies with the flavour. It is that 92% figure that defines the product — the rest is the few grams needed for taste and consistency.

The appeal of a bovine source is above all a matter of what it leaves out: no milk, no lactose, no soya in the formula. That is why this category exists at all. The flavours listed: Lemon & Mint, Millions Pineapple, Millions Blackcurrant, Blue Raspberry, Orange & Mango, Mixed Berry, Tropical Vibes, Strawberry & Raspberry, Citrus Twist and Cherry & Apple. The British brand's full range can be found in the Applied Nutrition section.

What does a 30 g serving contain?

* Column calculated from the values declared per serving, as the manufacturer does not publish a per-100 g column. Let us point out what is missing, because it matters: no kilojoule equivalent, no “of which saturates” line, no “of which sugars” line, no “fibre” line, and no figure for salt. “Negligible amount” is the wording the regulations provide for very low levels, but it is not a number, and we will not replace it with an estimate.

27.7 g of protein for 114 kcal is a remarkable ratio. Protein supplies virtually all of the product's energy here, which makes the “high protein” nutrition claim beyond dispute. And the applicable regulatory wording is this one: protein contributes to a growth in and the maintenance of muscle mass.

Do the maths with us all the same: 27.7 g of protein in 30 g of powder works out at 92.3 g per 100 g — exactly the isolate content stated in the formula. In other words, that figure assumes a beef isolate that is almost pure protein. It is theoretically possible, it is very much top of the range, and it is a line we would encourage you to check on the label of the tub you receive.

Zero carbohydrate and 0.5 g of fat per serving: on paper, that is the leanest profile in the protein category, leaner still than a whey isolate. During a strict cutting phase, that is a genuine argument.

There is one point on which we will be cautious, however: the manufacturer states that the product contains all the essential amino acids, but publishes no amino acid profile. Yet that is precisely the data that would allow a beef protein to be compared with a whey. Without it, we can neither assert nor dispute any equivalence — we simply note that the figure is missing.

How do you prepare Beef XP?

Dose: 30 g, i.e. one scoop. Liquid: 300 ml of cold water. Timing: after your session, between meals, or in the morning. Frequency: 1 to 3 servings a day depending on your protein needs. Duration: continuous, no course of treatment is indicated.

Shake for 15 to 20 seconds until fully dissolved. Use really cold water, and water only. That is the rule that makes all the difference with a clear protein: with milk, the mix curdles and the result is frankly unpleasant. Ice-cold, on the other hand, it drinks like a fruit drink, which makes it considerably easier to face after a hard session than a creamy shake.

The manufacturer notes that the doses provided by the scoop are approximate and recommends precision scales if you are counting to the gram. That is a piece of honesty you do not often see, and it is useful: between a level scoop and a heaped one, the gap easily exceeds 5 g.

The powder also takes well to being added to porridge, to cereal or to a baking mix to enrich a lactose-free recipe. The result will be fruity — bear that in mind before folding it into a chocolate cake. The 1.8 kg tub covers 60 servings, i.e. two months at one shake a day.

Who is Beef XP for, and who is it not for?

It is aimed at two very specific profiles. The first: people who are lactose intolerant or who digest dairy proteins poorly, and for whom even a whey isolate remains uncomfortable. The second: those who can no longer stand the milky texture of shakes, particularly straight after training, and who would rather drink something clear and cool.

The formula contains no milk and no soya. The product is, however, made in a facility that handles MILK, EGG, SOYA, FISH, CELERY and CEREALS CONTAINING GLUTEN: in the event of a severe allergy to any of these, cross-contamination remains possible and caution is called for.

As the source is bovine, it is suitable for neither vegetarians nor vegans, nor for anyone who excludes beef for religious or personal reasons. In those cases, look instead at our egg proteins or our plant proteins. The manufacturer does not recommend it for the under-18s and asks pregnant or breastfeeding women, as well as anyone under medical treatment, to seek medical advice.

A word on the colourings, because it is rarely said: they vary with the flavour. Most are of natural origin — beetroot red, turmeric, beta-carotene — but the Blue Raspberry version contains brilliant blue FCF, a synthetic colouring. If you avoid those on principle, choose another flavour.

What you should not expect from it: it is not a miracle product just because it comes from beef. It is a protein source, like a whey, with a very clean nutritional profile and a different texture. It is not a gainer, not a weight-loss product and not a meal replacement — 114 kcal replaces no meal.

Beef XP or a whey isolate?

This is the comparison that decides the matter, and it comes down to just two criteria: your digestion and your budget.

A whey isolate is the better choice for the vast majority of people. It provides 24 to 26 g of protein for 105 to 115 kcal, in the same ballpark, and it has two solid advantages: its amino acid profile is published and documented — which is not the case here — and its cost per serving is generally lower. If you digest whey without any trouble, there is no reason to pay more for a bovine source.

Beef XP is the better choice in three concrete situations. If lactose genuinely causes you problems, including with an isolate. If you need the leanest possible profile — zero carbohydrate, 0.5 g of fat — at the end of a prep. And if the milky texture puts you off: drinking 300 ml of an ice-cold fruit drink after a session of thirty sets is nothing like swallowing a creamy shake, and plenty of people give up on their protein for that reason alone. The best product is still the one you actually drink. The rest of the sources can be compared in our protein section.

Frequently asked questions

Can it be mixed with milk?

No. This is a clear protein, designed for cold water only. With milk, the mix curdles, the texture becomes unpleasant and the fruity taste sits badly with the dairy. Stick to 300 ml of really cold water, that is where the product is at its best.

Is it really free of any meaty aftertaste?

There is no beef taste: the isolate is deodorised and given fruit flavouring. Expect something tart instead, close to a diluted juice. Some people notice a slight bitterness at the finish, more marked on the citrus flavours than on the berry ones.

How many servings are in the 1.8 kg tub?

Sixty 30 g servings. At one shake a day, that covers two months; at two shakes on training days, reckon on six weeks. The manufacturer notes that the scoop doses are approximate: weigh them out if you are counting precisely.

Is this product suitable for people who are lactose intolerant?

The formula contains neither milk nor lactose — that is its very reason for existing. One caveat, though: the product is made in a facility that handles milk, which makes cross-contamination possible. In the event of an allergy to milk proteins — which is not the same thing as lactose intolerance — caution is called for.

Why is there no amino acid profile?

The manufacturer states that the product contains all the essential amino acids, without publishing the detail. That is a shame, because it is exactly the data that would allow an objective comparison with a whey. We will not fill that gap with an estimate: if you need that information, ask the manufacturer for it.

Zero grams of carbohydrate — is that believable?

Yes, on a protein isolate flavoured with sucralose: the sweetness comes from an intense sweetener, used at doses of the order of a milligram, not from sugar. The citric acid and xanthan gum in the formula are likewise present in quantities far too small to register on the carbohydrate line.

Which flavour should you start with?

On a clear protein, go for the sharply tart profiles, which work best ice-cold: Citrus Twist, Lemon & Mint or Blue Raspberry. Berry flavours such as Mixed Berry or Strawberry & Raspberry are gentler and more universally liked. Avoid Blue Raspberry if you rule out synthetic colourings.

Where can you buy Applied Nutrition Beef XP 1.8 kg?

The flavours can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe.

A clear protein is not judged on a label but on the first mouthful: either the texture suits you and you will never go back to a milky shake, or it throws you and the 1.8 kg tub takes a long time to finish. That is exactly the kind of trade-off we talk through at the counter of our Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, before letting you leave with two months' supply. The full range can be browsed in our sports nutrition section.

What is Applied Nutrition Shred X?

Applied Nutrition Shred X is a powdered fat burner, to be mixed with water and drunk before training. A 10 g serving delivers 228 mg of caffeine and 450 mg of green tea extract concentrated to 95% polyphenols, alongside acetyl L-carnitine, choline bitartrate, L-theanine, L-tyrosine, taurine, gymnema sylvestre extract and vitamins C, B3, B6 and B12.

Applied Nutrition is a British brand based in Liverpool, known in France for its ABE pre-workout range. Shred X is its counterpart: the same formulation logic, but built around caffeine and green tea rather than around vascular actives. The label "fat burner" is a commercial category name, not a promise of effect — we come back to this below.

The flavours in the catalogue: Sour Gummy Bear, Strawberry Kiwi and Lemon Ice Tea. The composition is identical from one to the next. The rest of the brand can be browsed in our Applied Nutrition aisle, and the other formulas in the category in our fat burners aisle.

What does a serving of Shred X contain?

Let us be blunt: the manufacturer publishes the dose of only two ingredients out of the ten or so in the formula. Caffeine and green tea extract are quantified, the rest is not. We prefer to put that in black and white rather than repeat figures seen elsewhere: without a quantity, it is impossible to say whether the acetyl L-carnitine is present at 500 mg or at 50 mg, and the difference is not trivial. That is the main criticism we make of this technical sheet.

228 mg of caffeine is a high dose for a single serving. For reference, the European food safety authority takes 200 mg as a single intake without adverse effect in a healthy adult, and 400 mg across the day. A serving of Shred X therefore already puts you slightly above the first benchmark, before your morning coffee has even been counted. That is why the manufacturer sets a limit of one serving a day, not two.

The green tea extract calls for the same vigilance. At 95% polyphenols, 450 mg of extract is a serious concentration. The manufacturer itself states not to exceed 800 mg of green tea extract a day from all sources combined: if you already take another fat burner or a green tea extract capsule, add them up before you buy.

What we can say within the regulatory framework is limited, and it is better set out plainly: vitamins B3, B6 and B12 contribute to normal energy-yielding metabolism and to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue, and vitamin C contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. Those are the official European wordings. For caffeine, green tea, carnitine, gymnema or Pro GBB, no health claim is authorised in Europe — not on fat, not on weight, not on metabolism. No fat burner makes you lose weight, whatever its composition.

Ingredients list

Acetyl L-carnitine, citric acid (acidity regulator), vitamin C (ascorbic acid), green tea extract 95% polyphenols, choline bitartrate, L-theanine, gymnema sylvestre leaf extract (containing 75% gymnemic acids), taurine, L-tyrosine, sodium bicarbonate, anhydrous caffeine, natural flavouring, natural colouring (beetroot red), anti-caking agents (silicon dioxide, calcium silicate), Pro GBB™ (gamma-butyrobetaine ethyl ester HCl), sucralose (sweetener), vitamin B3 (nicotinamide), vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride), vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin).

The manufacturer refers to the product labelling for the allergen declaration and flags the possibility of traces depending on manufacturing conditions. If you have a severe allergy, check the packaging you receive.

How do you take Shred X?

Serving: 1 level 10 g scoop. Liquid: 200 ml of cold water. Timing: 15 minutes before the session, or in the morning. Frequency: one serving a day maximum. Duration: the manufacturer sets no course length; on a product this caffeinated, a regular break remains the wisest approach.

A level scoop, not a heaped one. On a product dosed at 228 mg of caffeine, a generously filled scoop can take you 30 or 40 mg higher without your realising it. If you have kitchen scales, weigh out your 10 g the first few times: you will then know what a correct scoop looks like.

No servings late in the day. Caffeine stays active for several hours; a serving at 18:00 is paid for overnight, and lack of sleep is the best way to sabotage precisely what you are trying to achieve. If you train in the evening, this product is not the right one: our caffeine-free fat burner aisle exists for that situation.

Drink more water during the period you are taking it. Caffeine and green tea have a diuretic effect, and 200 ml of water at the time of the serving is not enough to cover the day. It is obvious advice, but it is the advice that settles most of the headaches wrongly blamed on the product.

One last point of common sense: this type of formula fits within a controlled diet and regular activity, not in their place. A serving of protein after the session and a calorie deficit held over several weeks weigh infinitely more in the result than any fat burner.

Who is Shred X for, and who is it not for?

It is aimed at a trained adult, used to caffeine, who wants a stimulant before a session during a period when they are eating below their needs. That is where this type of product makes the most sense: it helps you get through a decent session on a day when energy is short, which is no small thing.

It is not for under-18s, nor for pregnant or breastfeeding women. It is not advised for people sensitive to caffeine, and the advice of a healthcare professional is necessary in the event of high blood pressure, heart rhythm disorders, anxiety, thyroid disorders, liver problems or ongoing medical treatment.

Do not add any other source of caffeine or green tea extract on the same day. A coffee, an energy drink, a pre-workout, a fat burner in capsules: it all adds up, and on this product the margin is already thin. The manufacturer reminds you not to exceed 800 mg of green tea extract a day from all sources combined.

What you should not expect from it. This product does not make you lose weight. No weight loss claim exists in Europe for its ingredients, and if a seller promises you one, they are stepping outside the legal framework. It does not make up for a diet in surplus, targets no area of the body, and replaces neither the calorie deficit nor the training. What it genuinely brings is alertness and perceived energy before a session — which is already an honest reason to buy it, provided you do not ask more of it. The real work is done on the plate, and our weight loss aisle brings together the products that support that approach.

Shred X in powder or a fat burner in capsules?

This is the concrete choice facing most buyers in this aisle, and it is settled on two criteria: the dose and the flexibility.

Powder lets you adjust, a capsule does not. With Shred X you can take half a scoop for the first few days to assess your tolerance at 114 mg of caffeine before moving to the full serving. That is exactly what we advise for someone who has never taken this type of product. A capsule, by contrast, is taken whole or not at all.

The capsule wins on discretion and portability. No shaker, no water to find, nothing to measure: you swallow it at the office with a glass of water. For a morning serving, outside a training context, it is often easier to keep up over time. Our fat burners in capsules aisle covers those formats, and our powdered fat burner aisle the other powders in the category.

And what if neither suits? That is the case if you train in the evening, if you tolerate stimulants poorly, or if you already take caffeine elsewhere. A caffeine-free formula settles the question without making you give up the rest. There is no point putting yourself through palpitations for a product whose effect on weight nobody can legally promise.

Frequently asked questions

How much caffeine is in one serving?

228 mg per 10 g serving, counting the green tea contribution. That is above the 200 mg benchmark taken for a single intake in an adult. One serving a day maximum, and no other source of caffeine during the day: coffee, energy drinks or pre-workouts all add up.

Which doses does the manufacturer disclose?

Only two: 228 mg of caffeine and 450 mg of green tea extract at 95% polyphenols. The quantities of acetyl L-carnitine, choline, theanine, tyrosine, gymnema and Pro GBB are not published. We do not invent them: without a figure, those ingredients cannot be compared from one brand to another.

Does this product make you lose weight?

No, and nobody can legally state that it does: no weight loss claim is authorised in Europe for these ingredients. A fat burner accompanies a calorie deficit and regular training, it does not replace them. Without those two conditions, nothing will happen.

Which flavours are available?

Sour Gummy Bear, Strawberry Kiwi and Lemon Ice Tea. The composition is identical in all three, only the flavouring changes. Each is mixed into 200 ml of cold water, which gives a short drink with a fairly concentrated taste.

Can it be taken on non-training days?

The manufacturer provides for a serving in the morning or before physical activity, without distinguishing rest days. In every case, stick to one serving a day. We would rather advise keeping it for session days: that limits caffeine tolerance building up and makes the tub last.

How many servings does a tub contain?

The manufacturer does not disclose the number of servings in the material available to us, only the serving size: 10 g. We therefore give no figure. Refer to the net weight shown on the packaging you receive and divide by ten.

Can it be combined with a pre-workout?

No. Most pre-workouts contain 200 to 350 mg of caffeine; adding the 228 mg in this serving, you would go well beyond the daily 400 mg benchmark in a single intake. Choose one or the other depending on the session, never both on the same day.

Where can you buy Applied Nutrition Shred X?

The tub can be ordered from this page in the available flavours, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, we systematically advise starting at half a serving with this product: 228 mg of caffeine in one go, when you are not used to it, is distinctly noticeable. And we always ask what is already being taken alongside it, coffee included. The rest of our selection can be browsed in the sports nutrition aisle.

What is Bolero Sugar-Free Drink?

Bolero Sugar-Free Drink is a powder to dilute, sold in individual 9 g sachets. One sachet flavours between 1.5 and 3 litres of water, depending on the intensity you are after. It is neither a food supplement nor a sports drink: it is a concentrated, sweetened flavouring that makes tap water drinkable when plain water bores you.

The brand is Bulgarian and offers a very wide range, from classics such as lemon, peach or strawberry-banana through to more unusual registers — ginger, cinnamon, guanabana, goji berry, almond. The flavours available at any given moment vary with deliveries; the list shown on this page is the one matching actual stock.

On the label, the list fits on a single line: acids (citric acid, malic acid), inulin fibre, natural flavourings, sweeteners (acesulfame K, sucralose, steviol glycosides extracted from stevia), acidity regulator, anti-caking agent, thickeners (guar gum, gum arabic), L-ascorbic acid and natural colours. No preservatives, no aspartame. At 0.80 € a sachet, the litre works out at a few cents — that is the real argument, and it has nothing to do with nutrition.

What does a glass of Bolero contain once prepared?

The values below are those of the reconstituted drink, not of the powder. That is the useful reading: nobody swallows a dry sachet.

* Nutrient reference values for a typical adult. The manufacturer does not publish a separate “of which sugars” line, nor a value for salt: we are not going to reconstruct it on their behalf. The figures correspond to an average dilution and may shift from one flavour to another.

Two numbers are worth pausing on. 2 kcal per 100 ml, or around twenty calories per litre: over a day in which you drink two litres of flavoured water, that comes to 40 kcal. It is negligible within a deficit, and it is exactly what you ask of this kind of product. Then the 12 mg of vitamin C per 100 ml, or 15% of the NRV — above the threshold that allows a drink to be described as a source of vitamin C. On that basis, the authorised wordings apply: vitamin C contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism and contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. A prepared litre provides around 120 mg. It is not the reason to buy the product, but it is not nothing either.

How do you prepare a Bolero sachet?

One 9 g sachet, in 1.5 to 3 litres of cold water, once a day at most according to the daily portion stated by the manufacturer. There is no course to follow: it is a drink, it is used as you go, for as long as you like.

Setting the intensity comes down to three benchmarks: 1.5 litres for a bold, tangy taste, 2 litres for the most common balance, 3 litres if you simply want to break the neutrality of water without feeling you are drinking a cordial. Start at 2 litres and adjust from there.

Pour the powder into an already filled bottle and shake for thirty seconds: the gums need agitation to disperse, otherwise you will be left with lumps at the bottom. An opened bottle keeps in the fridge and should be drunk within twenty-four hours.

Beyond water, the powder is also used to flavour fromage blanc, plain yoghurt or a serving of neutral-tasting BCAAs and EAAs, which many people find hard to finish. Half a sachet is more than enough in that case.

Who is Bolero for, and who is it not for?

The product is aimed first at people who do not drink enough because water bores them, and at those trying to get away from fizzy drinks without turning to the shop-bought diet versions. During a cutting phase, it is also a simple way to add variety without adding calories, in the same way as our zero sauces.

It is not suitable in several cases. If you are sensitive to intense sweeteners — bloating, digestive discomfort —, start with a 3-litre dilution, or give it a miss: the formula contains three of them, acesulfame K, sucralose and steviol glycosides. The manufacturer recommends not exceeding one sachet a day and that children drink it under adult supervision. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should seek the advice of a healthcare professional before making daily use of it. Anyone who is diabetic or following a medically supervised diet should discuss it with their doctor rather than rely on a product page.

And above all, what not to expect from it. Bolero does not make you lose weight: it avoids calories, which is not the same thing. With 1 mg of sodium per 100 ml, it is not a rehydration drink either; after two hours out in the sun, what you need is real electrolytes, not a flavouring. And it contains no stimulants, unlike what the energy drinks section offers.

Bolero or an electrolyte powder?

The question comes up often at the counter, because the two come in the same form: a powder, some water, a taste. Yet they are two products that answer different needs.

Bolero is a flavouring. Its value lies in the volume it allows you to drink: 1.5 to 3 litres per sachet, at a derisory cost, with 2 kcal per 100 ml. Use it for everyday hydration, at the office, in the car, across the whole day.

An electrolyte powder provides sodium, potassium and magnesium in stated amounts, precisely what Bolero does not have. It is the better choice as soon as you sweat heavily: a long session in a heated gym, running in summer, endurance sport beyond an hour, or the day after a heatwave. In those situations, flavouring water is not enough, and nobody should be selling you the opposite.

The two combine very well: minerals during training, Bolero for the rest of the day. And if you are looking for energy before a session, it is the pre-workouts you should be looking at, not this.

Frequently asked questions

How many litres does a 9 g sachet make?

From 1.5 to 3 litres, as you prefer. At 1.5 litres the taste is pronounced and slightly acidic; at 3 litres it becomes discreet. The dilution recommended by the manufacturer, the one that suits most people, is around 2 litres per sachet.

Does Bolero contain aspartame?

No. The sweeteners used are acesulfame K, sucralose and steviol glycosides extracted from stevia. The label explicitly mentions the absence of aspartame, as well as the absence of gluten and lactose.

Does Bolero hydrate better than water?

No, and the formulation does not allow for it: 1 mg of sodium per 100 ml is far too little to talk about rehydration in the sense that sports drinks mean it. What the product changes is the amount you actually drink. Drinking two litres of flavoured water rather than one litre of plain water is the only mechanism at work, and it is more than enough.

Which flavour should you choose to start with?

The tangy flavours go down best on a first order: lemon, iced peach, strawberry, watermelon. The unusual registers — cinnamon, ginger, almond, guanabana — are good but divisive, so save them for a second purchase. At 0.80 € a sachet, trying three flavours costs less than a bottle of fizzy drink.

Can it be used to flavour unflavoured amino acids?

Yes, and it is a common use. Half a sachet in a shaker of unflavoured EAAs or glutamine is enough to make the mix drinkable. Just take care not to add up two full sachets in the same day, since the manufacturer recommends sticking to one.

Is it suitable for children?

The manufacturer asks that consumption by a child takes place under parental supervision. Given the intense sweetener content, a generous dilution and occasional use are more sensible than a daily bottle. If in doubt, your pharmacist will answer better than we can.

Is the composition the same across all flavours?

The base is identical, but the flavourings and the natural colours change, and the nutritional values may vary slightly at the margin. The colour comes from a carrot concentrate on the flavours concerned. Always refer to the label of the sachet you have in your hand.

Where can you buy Bolero Sugar-Free Drink?

Every flavour in stock can be ordered from this page, individually, which lets you put together your own selection without buying a whole box of a flavour you do not like. We ship throughout France and Europe.

At Vendargues, in our shop about ten minutes from Montpellier, the sachets are displayed loose and it is the shelf customers spend the most time in front of: picking five flavours at random remains the best method. The rest of the range can be found in the Bolero collection, and the other ways of adding flavour without sugar — powders, syrups, flavourings — in flavourings and sweeteners.

What is Bucked Up Pre-Workout?

Bucked Up Pre-Workout is a powdered pre-workout from DAS Labs, an American brand. The dose is one 15 g scoop, and the formula is presented as free of any proprietary blend — a claim we qualify further down, because not every dosage is published.

Three actives give the formula its structure: 6 g of L-citrulline, 2 g of beta-alanine and 200 mg of caffeine anhydrous. To these are added AlphaSize® (alpha-GPC), ActiGin® (an extract of Panax notoginseng and Rosa roxburghii), AstraGin®, taurine, vitamin B12 and one unusual ingredient: 50 mg of deer antler velvet, of animal origin.

The product declares zero calories, zero carbohydrate and zero sugar, and it is stated to be gluten-free, aspartame-free and compatible with a ketogenic diet. The flavours on offer: Strawberry Kiwi, Rocket Pop, Killa OJ, Blue Raz and Blood Raz. It joins our boosters and Bucked Up ranges.

What does a 15 g dose contain?

Here is the qualification we promised: all four of the main actives are quantified, but five secondary ingredients are not in the data available to us — alpha-GPC, ActiGin®, AstraGin®, taurine and vitamin B12. The net weight of the tub is not published either, which makes it impossible to work out the number of doses. We point this out rather than paper over it.

On what is quantified, the balance is good. The 6 g of citrulline is a full dose, well above the average for the category — and this is pure citrulline, not citrulline malate, so the 6 g really are 6 g of citrulline. The 200 mg of caffeine matches the EFSA reference for a single serving in a healthy adult: enough to feel stimulated without hitting your daily ceiling during the warm-up. And zero calories for 15 g of powder, which explains the claimed compatibility with a ketogenic diet.

A word on the deer antler velvet, dosed at 50 mg: this is an ingredient of animal origin, which rules the product out of a vegetarian or vegan diet. No health claim is authorised in Europe for this ingredient, nor for the citrulline, the beta-alanine, the alpha-GPC or the patented extracts in the formula. Athletes subject to anti-doping testing should check with their federation before using a product containing this ingredient.

How should Bucked Up Pre-Workout be dosed?

Dose: 1 scoop of 15 g, one per day at most. Liquid: 200 to 250 ml of cold water. Timing: 15 to 30 minutes before the session. Frequency: 5 to 6 days a week, with 1 to 2 stimulant-free days. Duration: the manufacturer recommends alternating with stimulant-free periods rather than setting a fixed course length.

Start with half a scoop to gauge your tolerance, then build up gradually. At 200 mg of caffeine this is not strictly essential for a regular user, but it is the right method if this is your first pre-workout.

Two instructions from the manufacturer. Do not take it within the 6 hours before bedtime, and take no other source of caffeine the same day. Hydrate well during training. Expect mild tingling from the 2 g of beta-alanine: at that dose it stays moderate compared with formulas that use 3 or 6 g.

The recommendation to keep 1 to 2 days a week stimulant-free is worth following. It is what preserves your sensitivity to caffeine, and what stops you needing a double dose two months down the line.

Who is this pre-workout for, and who is it not for?

It suits someone who trains often and wants a product they can use almost every day: at 200 mg of caffeine, using it five or six times a week remains manageable, which is impossible with a 400 mg formula. The 6 g of citrulline also make it a good choice for those who want the pump as much as the energy. And the zero-calorie profile suits ketogenic diets or periods of strict deficit.

The restrictions are clear-cut. Contraindicated in pregnant or breastfeeding women. Not recommended for people sensitive to caffeine or with cardiovascular disorders. Consult a healthcare professional before use if you are taking medication or have a health condition. Stop use if any adverse effect occurs. The product may contain traces of DAIRY, SOYA and EGGS depending on production conditions.

Two further points. Deer antler velvet is of animal origin: the product is therefore suitable for neither vegetarians nor vegans. And if you are subject to anti-doping testing, check with your federation before taking it.

What you should not expect from it: strength, muscle or a transformation. A pre-workout acts on alertness and on perceived effort, not on the result. And expect nothing perceptible from the undisclosed ingredients: without figures, nobody can say whether they are present at a useful level.

Bucked Up or a stimulant-free formula?

The choice comes down to the time of your sessions and to how much caffeine you get elsewhere.

A caffeine-free formula is the better choice in two clear-cut cases. You train after 18:00: even 200 mg can interfere with falling asleep, and sleep weighs more heavily on progress than any booster. Or you already drink three coffees during the day and do not want to stack. These formulas often offer as much citrulline, or more — up to 8 or 10 g — with no nervous-system trade-off at all.

Bucked Up keeps the advantage on balance. Six grams of pure citrulline and 200 mg of caffeine in 15 g of powder is the most usable day-to-day compromise: stimulating enough to be felt, moderate enough to be taken five times a week. It also wins on the nutritional profile, with zero calories and zero sugar, which is not the case for every formula in the category. The isolated amino acids it contains are available separately in beta-alanine and taurine, if you would rather build your own blend.

Frequently asked questions

How many doses are in a tub?

The net weight does not appear in the data supplied by the manufacturer, so we cannot work it out. Divide the weight shown on the packaging by 15 g to get the number of servings.

Is the citrulline pure or in malate form?

Pure. The label states 6,000 mg of L-citrulline, not citrulline malate. The distinction matters: with a 2:1 malate, you need around 9 g to obtain 6 g of effective citrulline. Here, the 6 g stated really are 6 g of citrulline.

What is deer antler velvet?

An ingredient of animal origin, present at 50 mg in the formula, traditionally used in Asia. No health claim is authorised in Europe regarding it. Its presence rules the product out of vegetarian and vegan diets, and warrants a check with your federation if you are subject to anti-doping testing.

Is 200 mg of caffeine enough?

For most people, yes: it is the equivalent of two espressos, and the reference adopted by EFSA for a single serving in a healthy adult. If you already take 400 mg elsewhere and no longer feel anything, the problem is not the product's dosage, it is your tolerance — hence the recommendation of stimulant-free days.

Can it be taken every day?

The manufacturer recommends 5 to 6 days a week, with 1 to 2 recovery days free of stimulants. That is a reasonable rhythm, and it is one of the few products in this category that allows it without blowing past the caffeine reference values.

Is it suitable for a ketogenic diet?

The manufacturer states so explicitly: zero calories, zero carbohydrate, zero sugar, gluten-free and aspartame-free. That is consistent with the composition, which contains neither maltodextrin nor any carbohydrate bulking agent.

Why are some dosages not published?

Alpha-GPC, ActiGin®, AstraGin®, taurine and vitamin B12 appear in the ingredients list with no quantity given in the data available to us. The brand claims a formula with no proprietary blend; on these five ingredients we cannot verify it, and we would rather say so.

Where to buy Bucked Up Pre-Workout?

The flavours can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. It is a well-balanced pre-workout, one we happily recommend to people who train often rather than intensely twice a week.

Our Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, keeps the range in stock. If you are torn between several formulas, bring the list of what you already take: adding up the caffeine is what makes the right product obvious.

What is a Callowfit sauce?

It is a German zero sauce, in a 300 to 350 ml bottle, at 11 kcal per 100 ml on average across the range. The flavours listed here: Tomato Ketchup, Smoky BBQ, Mayo Style, Teriyaki Sauce, Salty Caramel and Chocolate Sauce.

The base is simple and identical from one product to the next: water, vinegar, modified maize starch, salt, a set of thickeners — xanthan gum, cellulose gum, guar gum — acidity regulators and sucralose as a sweetener. The thickeners replace the oil in mayonnaise and the sugar in ketchup, and that is where the texture comes from.

Some flavours are savoury, others sweet. That is what sets this range apart from most reduced-calorie sauces: the same brand covers the grilled steak and the evening fromage frais. The rest of the range is in our Callowfit section.

What is in a 15 ml serving?

* Reference intake for an average adult (8,400 kJ / 2,000 kcal), Regulation 1169/2011. The energy values are range averages published by the manufacturer; they vary from one flavour to another, from 1 to 6 kcal per serving. The salt content is not quantified in the data provided, and it is the figure most sorely missed on a savoury sauce.

The figure that decides the purchase is less than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 ml. The regulatory threshold for the “sugar-free” claim is set at 0.5 g per 100 ml on a liquid: this range meets it. The same goes for fat, below the 0.5 g threshold that permits the “fat-free” claim. These are not brand arguments, they are quantified thresholds, and they are cleared.

For perspective, the most telling comparison is mayonnaise. An ordinary mayonnaise sits at around 700 kcal per 100 ml, roughly 105 kcal for a tablespoon. The Mayo Style in this range puts that same spoonful at a few calories. For someone who uses sauce every day, that is not a subtlety.

The trade-off comes down to one word: additives are what do the work. Gums for texture, sucralose for sweetness, potassium sorbate as a preservative, lactic and citric acids for acidity — plus sodium benzoate on the ketchup version. This is not an artisan sauce, and nobody should present it to you as one. It is a technical product, and it owns what it is.

How do you use Callowfit sauces?

Serving: 1 to 2 tablespoons, that is 15 to 30 ml. When: at the table, at the end of cooking, or as a dip. How often: no practical limit given the calorie profile, while keeping an eye on salt. Storage: in the fridge once opened, to be used within the following weeks.

Four uses that work, as the manufacturer sets them out. On grilled meat: apply after cooking, or use the sauce as a marinade before grilling — the barbecue and smoky versions go particularly well with chicken and beef. In a salad: two tablespoons stirred through the vegetables replace a vinaigrette. As a dip: serve in a bowl for dipping raw vegetables or crackers. In a hot dish: add at the end of cooking to a wok or over pasta, warming gently without letting it boil.

Two practical habits: shake the bottle before use, as the gums settle unevenly at rest, and put it back in the fridge every time after opening. A sauce with this sugar content does not keep like a conventional ketchup.

The real piece of usage advice, the one that changes something: help yourself generously. That is the whole point of the product. Rationing a sauce at 11 kcal per 100 ml drop by drop means imposing a pointless constraint on yourself. The only parameter to watch remains the salt in the savoury versions, whose content is not published.

Who are these sauces for, and who are they not for?

They suit anyone on a calorie-controlled diet who is tired of eating bland food — which in practice means the majority of people who give up on changing their eating habits. They also suit meal prep, where the same chicken-and-rice base becomes bearable if the sauce changes. The manufacturer states a product that is gluten-free, lactose-free, aspartame-free, vegetarian and vegan.

On allergens, several flavours contain MUSTARD — that is the case for the barbecue and mayonnaise versions, whose spices include it. Traces of MILK, SOYA, GLUTEN and NUTS are possible depending on manufacturing conditions. The manufacturer asks that the product be kept out of the reach of children under 3.

They are not for you if you avoid additives. The list is long and unapologetic: gums, sweetener, preservatives, acidity regulators, flavourings. If your buying criterion is a short ingredients list, this product is not for you, and a home-made olive oil vinaigrette will suit you better — more calorific, simpler.

Nor are they for you if you monitor your sodium intake strictly. The manufacturer does not publish the salt content and states only that it varies by flavour: on savoury sauces, that is a missing piece of information, and we would rather say so than pass over it in silence.

What not to expect from them: any effect on weight. A sauce does not make you lose weight. What it does is take 100 kcal off a plate by replacing a mayonnaise, and make a diet meal good enough that you will cook it again tomorrow. The weight loss section has few products this useful and this unpretentious.

A zero sauce or a sugar-free flavouring?

Both exist to add taste without calories, but not at the same point in the meal.

A flavouring or sweetener is concentrated: a few drops are enough, it costs next to nothing per use, and it is measured out by the millilitre into fromage frais, porridge or a recipe. It is the best choice for flavouring a neutral base, particularly on the sweet side, and for cooking — a flavouring stands up to heat far better than a sauce.

Callowfit sauce brings something a flavouring cannot: texture and volume. The gums create a coating consistency that clings to a piece of meat or a salad, and it is that mouthfeel that is missed most on a diet, more than the taste itself. On savoury flavours — ketchup, barbecue, teriyaki, mayonnaise — a flavouring simply does not do the job.

So the two complement each other, like cooking spray for the pan and zero jam for toast. Four jobs, four products, none redundant.

Frequently asked questions

Is a serving really 1 kcal?

It depends on the flavour: the manufacturer states 1 to 6 kcal per 15 ml, with a range average of 11 kcal per 100 ml. The lightest versions are close to zero, the richest climb to a few calories. In every case, the gap with a conventional sauce runs to tens of calories per spoonful.

What does the sucralose taste like in these sauces?

Discreet in the savoury versions, where acidity and spices dominate by a distance. More noticeable in the sweet versions, Salty Caramel and Chocolate Sauce, where the sweetener carries most of the taste. If sweeteners bother you, start with a savoury flavour.

Can they be heated?

Yes, at the end of cooking and without letting them boil. The gums that give the texture cope badly with prolonged boiling: the sauce breaks down and turns runny. Add it to the wok or over the pasta off the heat, or just before serving.

How many servings in a bottle?

Around twenty, according to the manufacturer, for a stated format of between 300 and 350 ml. The range is wide because the format varies slightly from one product to another: the exact volume is shown on the bottle you receive.

Do they contain mustard?

Several flavours do, yes. The barbecue and mayonnaise versions contain spices that include it, and the manufacturer declares it as an allergen. If you are allergic to mustard, read the label flavour by flavour before buying.

How long do they keep once opened?

A few weeks in the fridge, tightly closed. The manufacturer gives no precise period. The practical rule of thumb: with no sugar to provide preservation, a zero sauce keeps less well than an ordinary ketchup once started.

Do all the flavours have the same composition?

The base is common, only the flavourings and certain ingredients change. The detailed label data available to us covers the ketchup, barbecue and mayonnaise versions; for the Teriyaki, Salty Caramel and Chocolate Sauce flavours, refer to the list printed on the bottle you receive.

Where to buy Callowfit sauces?

The flavours can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At this price, the smartest way to approach the range is to take two or three at once: one savoury for main courses, one sweet for desserts.

At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is the shelf people linger in front of the longest, and for good reason: nobody imagines before tasting it that a one-calorie sauce could have any body. The rest of the products that make a diet bearable can be browsed in our sports nutrition section.

What is DailyLife's GoNuts spread?

DailyLife GoNuts is a cocoa-hazelnut spread reformulated to be high in protein and very low in sugars. Per 100 g it provides 25 g of protein and less than 1 g of sugars. The jar holds 350 g.

DailyLife is an Italian brand specialising in reformulated snack products — the idea is not to invent a new food, but to take a product everyone already knows and change its nutritional profile. Here the benchmark is obvious: a classic spread contains around 55 g of sugars per 100 g and 6 g of protein. The ratio is reversed.

What makes that possible is replacing the sugar with maltitol and adding whey protein. It is a deliberate formulation choice, with its advantages and its limits, and we set out both further down. The rest of the brand can be browsed in our DailyLife section, and the other spreads and nut butters in our peanut butter section.

What is in GoNuts?

25 g of protein per 100 g is a quarter of the jar. That is what genuinely sets this product apart from an ordinary spread, and the figure is accurate. In practice a generous slice takes about 20 g of product, so 5 g of protein: a worthwhile top-up at breakfast, not a main source. Do not count on it to cover your needs for the day.

We have to be blunt about what the manufacturer does not publish: fat, energy value and fibre do not appear in the data available to us. That is awkward on a high-fat product, and we would rather write it than line up a figure found elsewhere. Refer to the table printed on the jar you receive. What the ingredients list does tell us, on the other hand, is that two oils are present — shea and sunflower — and that there is no palm oil.

The point that deserves the most attention is maltitol. It is the first ingredient on the list: it is what replaces the sugar and what explains the “less than 1 g of sugars” line. Maltitol is a polyol; it does not count as sugar in regulatory terms, but it still provides calories and it is poorly tolerated in large amounts. The manufacturer flags it itself: excessive consumption may have laxative effects. That is not boilerplate, it is the reality of this family of sweeteners — and it is why we talk about slices of bread rather than one spoonful after another.

On the regulatory side, one point worth knowing: the wording “source of protein” is a controlled nutrition claim, which a product may carry as soon as 12% of its energy value comes from protein. No promise of results, on the other hand, is permitted. This product is a reformulated spread: pleasant, higher in protein than most, and nothing more.

Ingredients list

Sweetener: maltitol, whey protein (MILK), shea oil, low-fat cocoa powder, sunflower oil, milk powder, SOYA flour, emulsifier: SOYA lecithin, flavouring.

Allergens: MILK and SOYA. May contain traces of NUTS. No palm oil, no added sugars. Excessive consumption may have laxative effects.

How do you eat GoNuts?

Serving: 15 to 20 g at breakfast, 10 to 15 g as a snack. Base: wholemeal bread, crispbread, or as a recipe ingredient. Timing: morning or snack. Frequency: one to two servings a day. Duration: no notion of a course, it is a food.

Stir the jar before first use. The oil naturally rises to the surface during storage, as it does in any nut butter without a stabilising additive. One turn of a knife and the texture is even again. Without that, the first slice is oily and the bottom of the jar turns dry.

It cooks as well as it spreads. A spoonful in fromage blanc, in a bowlcake, in a protein pancake batter or as a muffin topping: that is often where it is at its most interesting, because it brings the cocoa-hazelnut flavour without the usual sugar load.

Keep the quantities sensible, and not for diet reasons. Maltitol is well tolerated in small servings and much less so when you get through half the jar in front of a film. Start with a 15 g serving to see how you tolerate it, since digestive sensitivity to polyols varies enormously from one person to another.

One last thing, and it is an obvious point that deserves writing down: this is not a main protein source. It rounds out a breakfast, it does not replace one. If your goal is protein intake, a scoop of protein powder does the job far more efficiently.

Who is GoNuts for, and who is it not for?

It is aimed at someone who likes spreads and is looking to cut the sugars in their breakfast without giving up the taste. It is a substitute product, and it is well designed for that. It also suits people who make their own snacks and want a low-sugar cocoa-hazelnut ingredient.

It is not suitable for people allergic to milk or soya, both of which are in the recipe. Traces of nuts are possible: if your allergy is severe, bear that in mind. Nor is it suitable for vegan diets, since the whey protein and the milk powder are dairy-derived.

It should be avoided if you digest polyols badly. Maltitol causes bloating and intestinal discomfort in some people, and the tolerance threshold varies a great deal. If you already know that chewing gum and “sugar-free” products upset you, this product will upset you too. With children, adjust the servings.

What not to expect from it. It does not make you lose weight, it replaces no meal and it is not a food supplement despite the 25 g of protein on the label. It remains a treat food, higher in protein and far less sugary than a classic spread — that is already reason enough to choose it, and no other is needed.

Protein spread or peanut butter?

That is the real trade-off in this section, and it is settled on composition more than on taste.

A pure peanut butter contains a single ingredient: peanuts. No sweetener, no emulsifier, no flavouring. It provides around 25 g of protein per 100 g, exactly the same order of magnitude as here, with higher fat but entirely plant-based and unprocessed. If your criterion is the simplicity of the ingredients list, our peanut butter section wins hands down.

GoNuts wins on cocoa-hazelnut flavour and on texture. A peanut butter, however good, does not replace a chocolate spread for someone who grew up with one. That is the need this product addresses, and answering it with a lecture about natural products has never convinced anyone at the counter.

A third option, often the smartest one: if it is the sugar that bothers you on your morning toast, a zero-sugar jam brings the fruit flavour with no fat at all, and combines very well with a nut butter. And if you are simply after a sweet snack that fits in a bag, protein bars answer that need better than a 350 g jar.

Frequently asked questions

How much protein in one slice?

About 5 g for a 20 g serving, on the basis of 25 g of protein per 100 g. That is a reasonable top-up at breakfast, not a main source. For comparison, a standard scoop of protein powder provides five times as much.

Why so little sugar?

Because the sugar is replaced by maltitol, a polyol that does not count as sugar in regulatory terms. It still provides calories and can cause digestive discomfort in large amounts. That is the accepted trade-off of this type of recipe.

Does the product contain palm oil?

No. The two fats in the recipe are shea oil and sunflower oil. It is a point on which the formulation stands clearly apart from classic spreads, almost all of which rely on palm oil.

What are the allergens?

Milk, through the whey protein and the milk powder, and soya, present as flour and as lecithin. The manufacturer also flags possible traces of nuts. The product is therefore unsuitable both for people allergic to milk or soya and for vegan diets.

What is the energy value per 100 g?

The manufacturer does not disclose it in the data available to us, any more than the fat or fibre content. We are not going to invent it. Refer to the nutrition table printed on the jar you receive: it is the only reliable source on this point.

Why does it need stirring before use?

Because the oil rises to the surface during storage, the recipe containing no heavy stabiliser. One turn of a knife is enough to restore an even texture. Without that, the first slice is greasy and the bottom of the jar ends up dry and compact.

Can it be heated or cooked with?

Yes, it works well in a bowlcake, in pancakes or in muffins, and that is often its best use. Add it towards the end of the preparation or as a topping: long cooking at high temperature degrades the cocoa flavour and hardens the texture.

Where to buy DailyLife GoNuts?

The 350 g jar can be ordered from this page, and we ship anywhere in France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, it is a product we happily suggest to anyone who wants to lighten their breakfast without giving it up — but we always mention the maltitol, because tolerance varies and it is better to know beforehand than afterwards. The rest of our snack ideas can be browsed in the protein snack section.

What is DailyLife Protein Pancake?

DailyLife Protein Pancake is a powdered pancake mix, to be blended with water or milk and cooked in a frying pan. A 50 g serving provides 19.5 g of protein, i.e. 39% of the powder, and is built on 45% oat flour. The manufacturer states a net weight of 500 g, which works out at ten servings per pack.

The composition comes down to two blocks: oat flour for the carbohydrate base, and a protein blend combining whey concentrate, egg albumin and hydrolysed whey peptides. To these are added waxy maize starch and medium-chain triglycerides derived from coconut oil.

The versions in the range: Chocolate, Vanilla and Natural. The base is identical in all three; only the flavouring, the cocoa and the colouring change. The Natural version additionally contains whey isolate in its protein blend. The rest of the brand can be browsed in our DailyLife section, and the other mixes in our protein pancakes section.

What does a serving of Protein Pancake contain?

19.5 g of protein in a plate of pancakes is what you get from three eggs. That is the useful benchmark. This is a genuine protein breakfast, not a side dish: for comparison, an ordinary supermarket pancake mix tops out at around 8 to 10% protein, against 39% here.

The protein blend is more interesting than it looks. Whey concentrate, egg albumin, hydrolysed peptides: this is not a decorative choice. Egg albumin holds up to cooking better than whey alone, which tends to turn rubbery when heated. That is the technical reason these mixes exist instead of simply stirring whey into flour, and it is what makes the difference in the pan.

What the manufacturer does not publish has to be said: the energy values, the carbohydrate and the fat do not appear in the data available to us. On a product sold as a breakfast base, that is a gap, and we are not going to fill the box with an approximate figure. Refer to the table printed on the packaging. What we do know is that the base is 45% oats, so complex carbohydrates, and that the only added fats are medium-chain triglycerides derived from coconut oil.

On the regulatory side, one authorised claim can be quoted word for word: protein contributes to a growth in and the maintenance of muscle mass, and to the maintenance of normal bones. That is the official European wording, and it is justified here by the content. For the oats, the MCTs or the hydrolysed peptides, no claim is authorised: we are describing a composition, not an effect.

Ingredients list

Chocolate: OAT flour 45%, protein blend [WHEY protein concentrate, powdered albumin (from EGG), hydrolysed WHEY peptides], fat-reduced cocoa powder, waxy maize starch, medium-chain triglycerides (from coconut oil), flavourings, emulsifier: sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, sweetener: sucralose.

Vanilla: the same base, with the addition of a colouring (beta-carotene).

Natural: OAT flour 45%, protein blend [WHEY protein concentrate, powdered albumin (from EGG), WHEY protein isolate, hydrolysed WHEY peptides], waxy maize starch, vegetable oil [medium-chain triglycerides (from coconut oil)], emulsifier: sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, sweetener: sucralose.

Allergens: EGG, MILK PROTEIN, GLUTEN. Made in a factory that also handles soya, peanuts and crustacean-based ingredients. Excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

How do you make Protein Pancake?

Dose: 2 scoops, i.e. 50 g of powder. Liquid: 100 ml of skimmed milk or water. Cooking: lightly oiled non-stick pan over medium heat; flip when bubbles appear on the surface. Time: under five minutes. Timing: breakfast, after a session, or as a snack.

The 50 g to 100 ml ratio gives a thick batter, and that is deliberate. A batter that is too runny spreads across the pan and gives thin pancakes that tear when you flip them. If you want tall, fluffy pancakes, stick to that 100 ml; add another 10 to 20 ml only if the powder is not hydrating fully.

Let the batter rest for two or three minutes before cooking. The oats and the carboxymethyl cellulose need that time to absorb the liquid, and the texture changes completely. This is the tip that turns a disappointing first attempt into a decent result, and nobody ever writes it on the packaging.

Medium heat, never high. High-protein mixes burn on the surface before they are cooked through if the pan is too hot. Allow two to three minutes on each side and wait for the bubbles before flipping. Skimmed milk gives a fluffier result than water, for a slightly higher protein intake.

As for toppings, anything goes: fresh fruit, quark, a spoonful of nut butter from our peanut butter section, or a zero-sugar jam if you want to keep the plate low in sugar.

Who is Protein Pancake for, and who is it not for?

It is aimed at someone who wants a substantial protein breakfast without counting grams or getting out three ingredients. The honest comparison is this: you can achieve the same thing with porridge oats, whey and an egg white, for less money. What you are buying here is the fact that the blend is already made and that it holds up to cooking.

It is not suitable for anyone allergic to egg or milk protein, both of which are present. It contains gluten, the oats being declared as such: it must therefore be ruled out in cases of coeliac disease. The manufacturer states that it is made in a factory that also handles soya, peanuts and crustacean-based ingredients — worth knowing if your allergy is severe.

Nor is it suitable for vegan diets, with whey and egg albumin in the recipe. And it contains sucralose: if you avoid artificial sweeteners, this is not the product for you.

What not to expect from it. It is not a meal replacement, as the manufacturer states itself, and it is not a slimming product. Excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. It does not build muscle on its own: it is a convenient, well-composed breakfast, which is already a good reason to buy it.

Pancake mix, or oat flour and protein bought separately?

This is the question any reasonably discerning customer asks, and it deserves a straight answer.

Buying separately costs less, no argument. A bag of oat flour and a tub of protein let you put together exactly the same kind of mix, adjusting the ratio to your taste, and serve ten other purposes with the same products. If you already cook, that is the more rational route.

The ready-made mix wins on one technical point and on consistency. The technical point is the egg albumin and the emulsifier: they hold up to cooking where a home-made blend of whey and flour often turns out dry or rubbery. Consistency is more mundane: two scoops and 100 ml, there is nothing to think about at 7:00 in the morning, and a breakfast you actually make beats a perfect recipe you skip.

And if what you are after is instead a neutral carbohydrate base to combine freely with your protein, cream of rice answers that need better: it is prepared without cooking and digests more easily before a training session.

Frequently asked questions

How much protein per serving?

19.5 g per 50 g of powder, i.e. 39% of the mix. That is the equivalent of three eggs. The blend combines whey concentrate, egg albumin and hydrolysed whey peptides, with the Natural version additionally containing isolate.

Which versions are available?

In the range: Chocolate, Vanilla and Natural. The base is identical, only the flavouring, the cocoa and the colouring change from one version to the next. The Natural version lends itself well to savoury or sweet toppings, the other two are already flavoured.

Water or milk for the batter?

Both work, with 100 ml per 50 g of powder. Skimmed milk gives fluffier pancakes and a little more protein; water gives a lighter result with a more neutral taste. It is a matter of preference, not of technical success.

Does the product contain gluten?

Yes, the oats are declared as a source of gluten and account for 45% of the recipe. The product must therefore be ruled out in cases of coeliac disease. The other declared allergens are egg and milk protein.

Why do my pancakes tear?

Almost always for two reasons: the batter is too runny, or the pan is too hot. Stick to the 100 ml per 50 g, let the batter rest for two to three minutes before cooking, and work over medium heat. Only flip when bubbles appear on the surface.

How many servings in a pack?

The manufacturer states a net weight of 500 g, which amounts to ten 50 g servings. The full nutrition table — energy, carbohydrate, fat — does not appear in the data available to us: refer to the packaging you receive.

Can the batter be made the night before?

There is nothing against it overnight, in the fridge and in a sealed container: the batter will thicken, and you simply add a little liquid. The product contains milk protein and egg, so do not leave it at room temperature and cook it the following morning.

Where to buy DailyLife Protein Pancake

The mix can be ordered from this page in the versions available, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is the product we reach for when someone tells us they eat nothing in the morning: a breakfast that takes five minutes to make and delivers 19.5 g of protein solves the problem better than yet another shake. The rest of the selection can be browsed in the protein snack section.

What is Dorian Yates' Blood & Guts?

Blood & Guts is the powdered pre-workout from Dorian Yates Nutrition, the brand of the British bodybuilder and six-time Mr. Olympia winner. The name is taken from his 1990s training method. It is a product to be mixed with water and taken before your session, and it sits right at the top end of the scale when it comes to stimulation.

The formula combines three families of ingredients. Nitric oxide precursors first: citrulline DL-malate and an A-AKG complex pairing L-arginine with calcium alpha-ketoglutarate. Stimulants next: anhydrous caffeine, guarana extract standardised to 22% caffeine, green tea extract standardised to 95% polyphenols and 5% caffeine. And what is billed as a focus component: L-tyrosine, vitamin B3 as nicotinamide, black pepper extract standardised to 95% piperine. Beta-alanine is in there too.

The flavours on offer: Cola, Strawberry, Pear-Kiwi, Mojito, Mango, Bubble Gum, Blueberry and Watermelon. The product joins our selection of boosters, and the brand's full range can be found in the Dorian Yates collection.

What is in a serving of Blood & Guts?

A full serving is two scoops, or 19 g. One scoop therefore weighs 9.5 g. Here is what the manufacturer declares.

Four dosages are missing from the list — beta-alanine, tyrosine, guarana, green tea — and we are not going to invent them. That is a pity in the case of beta-alanine in particular, whose usefulness depends directly on the amount. Nor does the manufacturer publish energy values or macronutrients for the serving.

The figures that are available, on the other hand, are serious ones. 6 g of citrulline malate, of which 4.34 g is pure citrulline: that is the top of the range you tend to come across, where many pre-workouts settle for 1 to 2 g just so they can put it on the front of the tub. 2.68 g of arginine is added on top. And above all 350 mg of caffeine for two scoops, which is considerable: EFSA puts the single dose of no safety concern for healthy adults at 200 mg, and total daily intake at 400 mg. A full serving therefore takes you well above the single-dose benchmark. This is not a product to start out on.

For vitamin B3, the authorised wordings apply: niacin contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism and contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. For citrulline, arginine, beta-alanine and tyrosine, no health claim is authorised in Europe, and we will not be making any.

How should you dose Blood & Guts?

Five reference points, all of them quantified by the manufacturer. Serving: start with 1 scoop of 9.5 g to gauge your tolerance, then move up to 2 scoops (19 g) if all goes well. Liquid: 250 ml of cold water. Timing: 20 to 30 minutes before your session. Frequency: one serving a day, never two. Duration: 4 to 5 days a week, with a 1 to 2 week break every 8 weeks.

One instruction on timing that is not negotiable: nothing after 16:00. With 350 mg of caffeine, a session at 19:00 will cost you your night's sleep, and you will pay for it twice over at training the next day. Also avoid any other source of caffeine in the 6 hours before and after.

Drink more than usual during your session. And if you feel tingling on your face or forearms in the twenty minutes after taking it, that is the beta-alanine: the sensation is temporary, harmless, and fades as you get used to it. If it bothers you, the creatine-free pre-workout aisle and formulas with separately dosed beta-alanine let you adjust.

Who is this pre-workout for, and who is it not for?

It is aimed at trained adults, used to stimulants, who train early in the day and are looking for genuinely full citrulline dosages. As a first pre-workout it is a bad idea: start with a product at 150 or 200 mg of caffeine and you will keep some headroom for later.

The product is not for minors and contraindicated in pregnant or breastfeeding women. It is not recommended for people who are sensitive to stimulants or who have cardiovascular disorders. Seek advice from a healthcare professional before use if you are on any medication whatsoever. Stop immediately if you experience any adverse effect.

Two regulatory points worth knowing. The formula contains the colours Ponceau 4R and indigo carmine; for Ponceau 4R, European regulations require the statement “may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children”, which comes on top of the ban on sale to minors. And the product is made in a facility that handles MILK, GLUTEN, EGGS, SOYA, NUTS and PEANUTS: traces are possible.

What you should not expect from it: no gain in strength or mass in itself. A pre-workout acts on alertness and on perceived effort. What you do with that energy under the bar remains your own work, and a product with 350 mg of caffeine makes up neither for poor sleep nor for inadequate intake.

Blood & Guts or a caffeine-free booster?

That is the trade-off that matters, and it turns not on effectiveness but on the time of your sessions and on your relationship with stimulants.

A caffeine-free booster is the better choice in three specific cases. You train in the evening: at 19:00, 350 mg of caffeine wrecks your sleep, and sleep weighs more heavily on your progress than any pre-workout. You already drink several coffees during the day and you do not want to stack more on top. Or you are only after the pump, in which case citrulline and arginine are enough — which is exactly what the non-stimulant formulas offer, often with equivalent citrulline dosages.

Blood & Guts keeps the advantage when what you are after is the stimulation itself: a heavy morning session, legs at the end of the week, training after a short night. On its 6 g of citrulline malate it stands comparison with just about everything we sell. That said, beta-alanine and tyrosine are not quantified, which rules out any serious comparison on those two actives — a point on which several competitors in the aisle do better. The isolated amino acids, for their part, are found in L-arginine and beta-alanine.

Frequently asked questions

How much caffeine is there in one scoop?

Around 175 mg for a 9.5 g scoop, since the manufacturer states approximately 350 mg for the full two-scoop serving. That is already the equivalent of two strong espressos. Start there, and only add the second scoop once you have checked your tolerance.

Why is the beta-alanine not quantified on the label?

The manufacturer declares it as present “at the clinical dose” without giving a figure. We can therefore neither verify it nor compare it, and we would rather say so. If that point matters to you, choose a product that publishes its gram amounts, or dose beta-alanine separately.

Is the tingling normal?

Yes. That pins-and-needles feeling on the face, the back of the neck or the forearms is the paraesthesia linked to beta-alanine. It comes on within twenty minutes, lasts about half an hour, and has no known consequences. It fades with regular use. If it makes you uncomfortable, cut back to one scoop.

Can you take it in the evening?

No. The manufacturer asks that you avoid taking it after 16:00, and at this caffeine level that is an instruction to follow to the letter. For late-in-the-day sessions, go for a stimulant-free formula.

How many servings per tub?

The manufacturer does not publish the net weight of the container in the data supplied to us, so we cannot work out the exact number of servings. What we do know: a full serving weighs 19 g, a scoop 9.5 g, and the recommended use is 4 to 5 sessions a week.

Should you take breaks?

Yes, the manufacturer recommends a 1 to 2 week interruption every 8 weeks. Caffeine tolerance builds quickly, and the break serves as much to bring the effect back as to give the nervous system a rest.

Which flavour should you choose?

Cola and Bubble Gum are the safest bets, Mojito and Pear-Kiwi the most refreshing with very cold water. Pre-workouts heavily dosed in amino acids all have an underlying bitterness; diluting a little more generously than the recommended 250 ml takes the edge off it noticeably.

Where can you buy Dorian Yates' Blood & Guts?

The flavours can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. In our shop in Vendargues, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is a product we never recommend without first asking two questions: what time do you train, and how many coffees have you had today. The answers are almost always enough to settle it.

The rest of the pre-workout aisle can be compared in sports nutrition.

What is ESN Clear Whey Isolate?

ESN Clear Whey Isolate is a clear whey: a whey protein isolate formulated to stay dissolved in an acidic medium and give a translucent, fruity drink rather than a creamy shake. The list is short: whey isolate, citric acid, flavourings, sweeteners (sucralose, acesulfame K), colours depending on the flavour.

It is produced by ESN, a German brand, and stands out from most clear wheys on the market by how much it is diluted: the manufacturer recommends 500 ml of water for a single serving, where the average across the category sits between 300 and 400 ml. The result is closer to a thirst-quenching drink than to a shake.

The flavours listed, two of them built on an iced tea profile — which remains rare in the category.

What does a serving of ESN Clear Whey Isolate contain?

The reference serving is 30 g. It provides 25 g of protein for around 100 kcal, less than 0.5 g of carbohydrate of which as much again in sugars, less than 0.1 g of fat and less than 0.1 g of lactose per 100 ml of the prepared drink once diluted.

Twenty-five grams of protein in thirty grams of powder puts the product very high on density, where many clear wheys top out at 18 or 20 g per serving. The manufacturer states a purity of 90 to 95% on the raw material, as well as 48.9% essential amino acids and 22.7% BCAAs in the protein fraction — figures we pass on while attributing them to it, in the absence of a detailed amino acid profile.

Three pieces of data are missing and we are not inventing them: the manufacturer publishes neither a "per 100 g" column, nor a value in kilojoules, nor a salt content — it states only that the salt varies according to the flavour. The net weight of the tub and the number of servings it contains have not been communicated to us; we would rather write that than put forward a figure. The detail that is available appears in the nutritional values tab.

Protein here accounts for virtually all of the energy provided. The only usable health wording remains the one in Regulation 432/2012: proteins contribute to a growth in and the maintenance of muscle mass.

How do you prepare ESN Clear Whey Isolate?

The manufacturer states 30 g of powder in 500 ml of very cold water, shaken for 10 to 15 seconds. One to three servings a day, with no course duration: it is a protein food, not a treatment. You can go down to 400 ml for a more concentrated drink, but below that the taste turns acidic and the foam lingers longer.

Two instructions apply specifically to this type of product. Do not mix it with milk: the acidity makes the casein flocculate and the drink turns grainy. And do not heat it — a clear whey coagulates when cooked, so it is unusable in baking.

Timing is not decisive: during the session in small sips, straight afterwards, or elsewhere in the day. What matters is the total protein over 24 hours. A shaker with a wide neck and no metal whisk keeps the foam down; the accessories section has some.

Who is this clear whey for, and who is it not for?

It is aimed at three profiles. Those who can no longer face a milky shake, whether from heaviness or from weariness. Those who train in summer and for whom nothing creamy goes down at the end of a session. And those who digest lactose poorly: less than 0.1 g per 100 ml of drink is one of the best tolerated forms of whey.

The product contains MILK and may contain traces of SOYA, EGG and NUTS owing to manufacture in a shared facility. An allergy to cow's milk protein rules it out: filtration removes the lactose, never the proteins. The manufacturer invites pregnant or breastfeeding women to seek professional advice and refers you to your doctor in the event of kidney trouble.

It does not suit you if you cook with your powder, if you are looking for a drink that keeps you going between meals, or if you take two or three servings a day: at that rate, the price per kilo of protein becomes the deciding criterion and a conventional isolate wins out. Nor is it a drink for during exercise: it provides neither carbohydrate nor electrolytes in useful amounts. For that, see our electrolytes or our EAAs.

ESN Clear Whey Isolate or Rule One Clear Isolate?

We sell both, and they are not separated by quality but by three figures.

The serving: 30 g at ESN for 25 g of protein, against 25 g at Rule One for 20 g of protein. If you are aiming for a high intake in a single serving, ESN comes out ahead. The volume: 500 ml against 350 to 400 ml. The ESN version takes longer to drink and is more thirst-quenching; the Rule One one is closer to a conventional shaker format. The formula: Rule One adds 300 mg of an electrolyte complex per serving, ESN adds none.

Rule One is therefore the better choice if you want a reasonable drink volume and a touch of sodium after a sweaty session. ESN wins if you are after the maximum protein per serving and a drink that lasts the whole session. And if the main criterion is budget, then neither: a whey concentrate is enough for most people, and an isolate is only justified by lactose intolerance, a tight cutting phase or a genuine digestive problem.

Frequently asked questions

What exactly is a clear whey?

A whey isolate formulated to stay clear in an acidic medium. Where a conventional whey gives an opaque, milky drink, a clear whey gives a transparent, tangy drink, close to a juice. The raw material is the same; it is the formula that changes.

Why 500 ml of water and not 250?

Because the formula is acidic and very concentrated in protein. Below 400 ml, the acidity dominates, the foam persists and the drink becomes hard to finish. The 500 ml recommended by ESN make it a drink to sip during exercise rather than a shake to down in one.

Which flavours are available?

Fresh Cherry, Iced Tea Peach, Iced Tea Peach-Mango, Green Apple, Blackberry and Cactus Fruit. The salt varies according to the flavour, as the manufacturer does not publish a single value.

How many servings does the tub contain?

We do not know for certain: the net weight of the pack does not appear in the data passed on by the manufacturer, and we do not publish a number of servings calculated on an assumption. Ask us before ordering and we will check on the tub.

Can it be mixed with milk?

No, and it is not a question of taste. The acidity of the formula destabilises the casein in milk: the mixture curdles and turns grainy. Use very cold water. Crushed ice improves the result further, especially on the iced tea flavours.

Is it suitable in cases of lactose intolerance?

In most cases, yes: less than 0.1 g of lactose per 100 ml of prepared drink is very low. Take care not to confuse lactose intolerance with an allergy to cow's milk protein: in the second case, the product is contraindicated, whatever the degree of filtration.

What is the difference from ESN Designer Whey?

Designer Whey is a blend of concentrate and isolate, to be drunk in 200 ml, with a milkshake texture and milky flavours. Clear Whey Isolate is an isolate on its own, to be drunk in 500 ml, translucent and fruity. The first can be cooked with, the second cannot. They are not aimed at the same moment of the day.

Where can you buy ESN Clear Whey Isolate?

The flavours can be ordered here, and we ship throughout France and Europe. On a tangy drink, the flavour is the one criterion a product sheet cannot settle: in our shop in Vendargues, about ten minutes from Montpellier, we will tell you which ones come up most often in the regulars' baskets — and which ones rarely leave a second time.

The rest of the range can be compared in our proteins collection.

What is ESN Collagen Peptides?

ESN Collagen Peptides is a powdered collagen peptide supplement to be mixed into a drink, providing 20 g per daily serving. The collagen comes in the form of a bovine hydrolysate: the protein has been cut into short chains, which makes it soluble in cold liquid and free of any gelatinous texture. That is the practical difference from gelatine, which sets and cannot be drunk.

What is distinctive about this product is how the dose is split. The 20 g are not a single hydrolysate: the manufacturer declares four fractions of 5 g each, three of which carry a registered name — TENDOFORTE®, FORTIGEL® and VERISOL® — while the fourth is standard collagen. Those three brands designate collagen peptides produced by their German manufacturer using specific hydrolysis processes. To these are added 80 mg of vitamin C, which are not there by chance, as we explain below.

The versions stocked: Nature, with no flavouring and no sweetener, Fresh Cherry and Lemon. The nutritional values below apply to the unflavoured version. The German brand ESN is one we distribute, and its full range can be found in the ESN aisle.

What does a 20 g serving contain?

Table drawn up for the Nature version. The flavoured versions add citric acid, flavourings and sucralose, which may shift the values slightly. The manufacturer publishes neither a “per 100 g” column nor a “fibre” line, and the net weight of the tub does not appear in the data supplied to us: we therefore cannot tell you how many servings the tub holds. Divide the weight printed on the packaging by 20 g. One labelling inconsistency is also worth pointing out: the declared blend (20,000 mg) plus the vitamin C adds up to more than the 20 g stated for the serving. We reproduce the manufacturer's figures without correcting them.

What really counts here is 20 g of peptides in a single serving. Many collagen products on the market stop at 5 or 10 g, which halves or quarters the actual intake for a price per tub that is often much the same. Always look at the grams per serving before the price of the tub, or the comparison means nothing.

The 80 mg of vitamin C, that is 100% of the NRV, are the only item in this formula that carries an authorised claim, and it is entirely in its place: vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of bones, cartilage, skin and blood vessels. In other words, the body needs vitamin C to make its own collagen. That is the technical reason for the addition, and it is also what makes a separate vitamin C intake unnecessary on the days you take this product.

A word, on the other hand, about the peptides themselves: no health claim is authorised in Europe for collagen, nor for TENDOFORTE®, FORTIGEL® or VERISOL®. You will therefore read no promise here about tendons, joints, skin or nails. What we can describe is factual: a source, a quantity, a breakdown, a format.

How do you take ESN Collagen Peptides?

Dose: 20 g, that is one level scoop. Liquid: around 300 ml. Timing: in the morning or after training, no constraint. Frequency: 1 serving a day. Duration: the manufacturer recommends daily, continuous use, without setting an end point.

The powder dissolves in water, juice, coffee, or straight into your protein shaker. That is one of its practical advantages: unlike gelatine, it does not set solid and does not change the texture of the drink. In a hot coffee it goes unnoticed — the Nature version brings almost no taste at all, barely a slightly salty note that comes from the 0.10 g of salt.

The timing matters little. The manufacturer suggests the morning on an empty stomach or after training; in practice, choose the slot you will not forget. With this kind of product, consistency over several months weighs infinitely more than a precise time of day, and a tub taken irregularly is of no use. If you mix it with a whey, measure the two separately: 20 g of collagen do not replace 20 g of whey, for the reason explained just below.

Who is this collagen for, and who is it not for?

It is a supplement for adults. It contains no fat, no carbohydrate and no sugars, which makes it compatible with a low-carbohydrate diet or a period of calorie restriction: 72 kcal is the price of an apple.

The source is bovine. This product is therefore suitable for neither vegetarians nor vegans, and it is equally unsuitable if you avoid beef for religious or personal reasons. There is no such thing as plant collagen: what is sold under that name is a blend of nutrients meant to support the body's own synthesis, not collagen.

The manufacturer declares that no major allergen is present as an ingredient, but flags possible traces of MILK, SOYA, GLUTEN and EGG arising from the packing environment. For adults only, keep out of the reach of children. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or on medication, seek the advice of a healthcare professional.

What not to expect from it, and this is the most useful point on this page: it is not a muscle-building protein. The 18 g of protein stated are collagen, whose amino acid profile is unbalanced — very rich in glycine and proline, low in or even devoid of tryptophan, and low in essential amino acids. Do not count them towards your daily protein total the way you would count those from a whey isolate. If your goal is muscle mass, a whey is what you need, not this product. And if your joint discomfort is long-standing or painful, the right place to go is a doctor, not a tub of powder.

Collagen Peptides or glucosamine?

The two end up in the same basket, often for the same reason, and it is worth saying straight away what they have in common: neither collagen nor glucosamine has an authorised health claim in Europe. Deciding on the basis of promises therefore makes no sense here. What separates them is concrete.

Glucosamine is taken in capsules or tablets, at doses of the order of a gram, often combined with chondroitin or MSM. It is the better choice if you do not want to prepare a drink every morning, if you travel, or if the idea of swallowing an extra 300 ml of liquid every day puts you off. It also generally costs less per day.

ESN Collagen Peptides is the better choice if you prefer a clear, straightforward dose — 20 g, with the four fractions itemised — rather than a blend of several actives at middling doses. It has a second practical advantage: it slips into a coffee or a shaker you were having anyway, so it does not add another item to your day. And it supplies the 80 mg of vitamin C, which most glucosamine products do not. Nor is there anything to stop you taking both: they share no ingredient.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between TENDOFORTE®, FORTIGEL® and VERISOL®?

They are three collagen peptides from the same German manufacturer, obtained by different hydrolysis processes that result in distinct chain sizes. The product contains 5 g of each. None of them holds an authorised health claim in Europe, and we therefore attribute none to them.

Can it be mixed into a hot coffee?

Yes, and that is in fact the handiest way to use it. Hydrolysed peptides stay soluble when hot and do not form a gel, unlike gelatine. The Nature version barely alters the taste of the coffee; the Fresh Cherry and Lemon versions, on the other hand, lend themselves poorly to the exercise — keep those for cold water.

Does collagen count towards my protein for the day?

Not the way a whey does. Collagen is an incomplete protein: very rich in glycine and proline, low in essential amino acids and without tryptophan. The 18 g stated are indeed protein in labelling terms, but they do not replace 18 g of dairy or egg protein where muscle mass is concerned.

How many servings are there in a tub?

The net weight of the tub does not appear in the data supplied by the manufacturer, so we cannot work it out without risking an error. Divide the weight shown on the packaging you receive by 20 g, the daily serving.

Should you take extra vitamin C?

No, the 80 mg present cover 100% of the nutrient reference value. Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation: that is why it is in the formula. Adding a 1,000 mg tablet on top will make no difference on that particular point.

Which version should you choose between Nature, Fresh Cherry and Lemon?

The Nature version if you are putting it into a coffee, a tea or an already flavoured shaker: it imposes no taste and contains neither flavouring nor sweetener. The flavoured versions if you drink it in plain water — they contain citric acid, flavourings and sucralose, which makes the morning glass distinctly more pleasant.

How long before you can judge?

The manufacturer recommends daily, continuous use without setting a duration. As no claim is authorised for collagen, we will not announce a timescale for results: that would be inventing one. What we can say is that a product of this kind is judged over months, not over days.

Where can you buy ESN Collagen Peptides?

The versions can be ordered from this page, and we ship anywhere in France and in Europe.

If you drop into our Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, take thirty seconds to compare the label on this tub with that of a collagen at 5 g per serving sitting next to it. It is the most instructive exercise in the aisle, and it often changes the mind of whoever does it. The rest of our everyday supplements can be found in the sports nutrition aisle.

What is ESN's Crank Pump Pro 2.0?

ESN Crank Pump Pro 2.0 is a pre-workout that is caffeine-free and free of any stimulant, developed by the German brand ESN. The daily serving is 30 g, or two scoops — a bulky format explained by the sheer quantity of actives genuinely present.

The formula combines three families. Nitric oxide precursors first, with 10 g of citrulline malate. Cell hydration agents next: HydroPrime® glycerol and coconut water powder. Then a series of supporting actives: L-carnitine L-tartrate, taurine, L-tyrosine, L-glutathione, CitraPeak® glucosyl hesperidin, pine bark extract, AstraGin® and black pepper extract. On top of that come two B vitamins and four quantified minerals, which is unusual in this category.

The flavours on offer: Blue Raspberry, Peach Iced Tea and Tropical Punch. The product joins our caffeine-free booster and ESN France aisles.

What is in a 30 g serving?

The manufacturer publishes neither an energy value, nor a macronutrient breakdown, nor a number of servings per tub: we are flagging that rather than estimating it. Divide the net weight shown on the packaging by 30 to work out the number of servings.

The striking figure is the 10 g of citrulline malate, of which 6.8 g is pure citrulline. That is among the highest dosages on the market: most pre-workouts sit between 1 and 4 g, and few go beyond 6 g of effective citrulline. It also explains the 30 g serving — there is no way of fitting all of that into a 10 g scoop.

The second differentiating point is the minerals. Many so-called “pump” formulas contain none at all; this one delivers 400 mg of sodium, 354 mg of potassium, 120 mg of calcium and 60 mg of magnesium. Those amounts allow the following authorised wordings to be applied: potassium, calcium and magnesium contribute to normal muscle function, magnesium contributes to a reduction of tiredness and fatigue and to normal electrolyte balance, niacin and vitamin B6 contribute to normal energy-yielding metabolism and to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. For citrulline, glycerol, carnitine, taurine, tyrosine, glutathione, hesperidin, pine bark and AstraGin®, no claim is authorised in Europe.

How do you prepare Crank Pump Pro 2.0?

Serving: 30 g, or 2 scoops. Liquid: around 500 ml of cold water. Timing: 30 to 45 minutes before your session. Frequency: one serving per training day, without exceeding the recommended daily dose. Duration: the manufacturer imposes neither cycling nor breaks, which is consistent with a stimulant-free formula.

The 500 ml are not a detail. With 30 g of powder, including 10 g of citrulline malate which brings a pronounced acidity, too little dilution gives you a harsh drink that is hard to finish. And the glycerol works by holding water: the volume is part of the formula, not just of the taste.

The complete absence of caffeine changes the way this product is used. You can take it at 20:00 before a late session with no consequences for your night's sleep, which is impossible with any booster in the boosters aisle. That is the main reason we recommend it.

Who is this booster for, and who is it not for?

The product is aimed, in the manufacturer's own terms, at adults engaged in intense physical exercise. Three profiles will find themselves in it: those who train late, those who cannot tolerate stimulants, and those looking for the highest citrulline dosages available.

The restrictions are shorter than on a stimulant product. This is a food supplement with sweeteners intended for adults: do not exceed the recommended daily dose, keep out of the reach of children in a cool, dry place. On allergens, the product may contain traces of MILK, SOYA, GLUTEN and EGG owing to the factory's processes. As with any supplement, ongoing medical treatment warrants the advice of your doctor or pharmacist before use.

What you should not expect from it: energy. That is the most common misunderstanding about this category. With no caffeine, there is no kick, no heightened alertness, no start-of-session euphoria. What you will feel is a sensation of fuller muscles — no more strength, no more motivation. Nor should you expect the 1,000 mg of L-carnitine to have an effect on body composition: no claim authorises it, and the dosage would not allow for it.

Crank Pump Pro 2.0 or citrulline bought on its own?

That is the most honest comparison to make here, because citrulline alone accounts for a third of the weight of the serving.

Buying pure citrulline powder is the better choice if budget is what decides. Per gram, plain citrulline costs markedly less than a formulated complex, and you can adjust your dose to the gram — 6 g, 8 g, whatever you want. You also choose between citrulline malate and pure citrulline, something the formula decides for you here. The downside: it is bitter, you have to weigh it out, and you get neither glycerol, nor minerals, nor the supporting actives.

Crank Pump Pro 2.0 wins on what citrulline on its own does not do. The 1.5 g of glycerol and the four quantified minerals change the drink: it is no longer just a nitric oxide precursor, it is also a hydration drink, which brings it close in some respects to the electrolytes aisle. The formula is flavoured, fully quantified on the label, and ready to use. For anyone who does not want to play chemist every morning, it is the right compromise. Note that taurine and L-arginine are also available as isolated powders if you want to top up separately.

Frequently asked questions

Why is the serving 30 g?

Because the formula really does contain what it says it does. Ten grams of citrulline malate on their own take up a third of the serving; add 2.3 g of glycerol, 1.5 g of carnitine tartrate, the taurine, the tyrosine and the minerals, and you naturally arrive at that volume. A 10 g scoop could not hold them.

How many servings in a tub?

The net weight is not in the data supplied by the manufacturer, so we cannot calculate it. Divide the weight shown on the packaging by 30 g to get the number of servings.

Can you take it in the evening?

Yes, without reservation, and that is its main appeal. The formula contains no caffeine and no other stimulant: taking it at 20:00 before a 20:45 session will have no effect on how you fall asleep.

What is the difference between citrulline malate and pure citrulline?

Citrulline malate pairs citrulline with malic acid. On this label, 10 g of citrulline malate corresponds to 6.8 g of effective citrulline: the rest is malate. It is an essential distinction when comparing two products, and ESN deserves credit for publishing both values, which many brands do not.

Are the minerals enough to replace an electrolyte drink?

For a gym session, the 400 mg of sodium and 354 mg of potassium provide a genuine base. For a long endurance outing or in high heat, a dedicated drink remains more suitable: it also provides carbohydrates, which this formula does not.

Does the product contain allergens?

No allergen is present in the recipe, but the manufacturer flags possible traces of milk, soya, gluten and egg linked to the factory's processes. If you have a severe allergy, take that into account.

Which flavour should you choose?

Peach Iced Tea is the mildest and Blue Raspberry the sharpest. At 30 g in 500 ml, the drink stays pronounced: if the acidity bothers you, go up to 600 ml — it changes nothing about the dosages you swallow.

Where can you buy the ESN Crank Pump Pro 2.0?

The flavours can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. ESN is a German brand whose labels we appreciate on one specific point: they detail everything, including the share of effective citrulline within the malate. That is not so common.

If you are passing through Vendargues, about ten minutes from Montpellier, ask to compare this label with that of a conventional booster: the gap in citrulline dosage is visible to the naked eye, and it explains the difference in price.