Products

What is Rule One's Active BCAA?

Rule One Active BCAA is a powder to be mixed with water and drunk during or after training. A 12.5 g serving provides 5 g of BCAAs at a 2:1:1 ratio, rounded out with 1.5 g of glutamine, 1 g of citrulline, 500 mg of taurine, 350 mg of electrolytes and 350 mg of coconut water powder. The 375 g tub holds 30 servings.

Rule One Proteins is an American brand founded by a family that was already working in sports nutrition before launching its own range. On this particular product, the distinguishing feature is easy to state: this is not a standalone BCAA, it is a BCAA to which a training-drink base has been added. The difference lies in those 350 mg of electrolytes and that coconut water, not in the amino acids themselves.

The flavours in the range: Watermelon, Fruit Punch, Blue Raspberry, Orange and Peach Mango. All are caffeine-free, which means you can drink your serving at the end of the day with no consequences for your sleep. The rest of the range can be browsed in our Rule One section, and the other products in the category in our BCAA selection.

What does a serving of Active BCAA contain?

2.5 g of leucine per serving: that is the figure that counts in a BCAA, and the only one that genuinely separates two products. Leucine is the amino acid that carries most of the family's value; isoleucine and valine come along with it. A 2:1:1 ratio like this one is the original and by far the most common format. The spectacular ratios you see going around — 8:1:1, 10:1:1 — increase the share of leucine at the expense of the other two, without changing much about the total amount taken in.

1 g of citrulline, on the other hand, is a supporting dose, not an active one. In this category, citrulline is normally worked at between 6 and 8 g per serving. At 1 g, it is there to round out the drink's profile, not to play the role it has in a pre-workout. If citrulline is what interests you, our citrulline section offers doses on a completely different scale from this one, and it is more honest to tell you so than to let you believe otherwise.

The formula is low in calories and free from added sugar, its sweetness coming from sucralose and acesulfame potassium. On the regulatory side, one point has to be stated clearly: no health claim is authorised in Europe for BCAAs, glutamine, citrulline or taurine. Not for recovery, not for muscle mass, not for performance. What we can do is tell you exactly what the serving contains and when athletes drink it. The rest is advertising.

Ingredients list

L-leucine, L-isoleucine, L-valine, L-glutamine, L-citrulline, taurine, coconut water powder, sodium (sodium chloride), citric acid, natural and artificial flavourings, malic acid, silicon dioxide, calcium silicate, sucralose, acesulfame potassium, sunflower lecithin, colours depending on the flavour.

Allergen: COCONUT. The manufacturer states that production takes place in a facility that also handles milk, eggs, soya and tree nuts: traces are therefore possible.

How do you take Active BCAA?

Serving: 1 scoop of 12.5 g. Liquid: 300 to 350 ml of cold water. Timing: during your session, or within the 30 minutes that follow. Frequency: one serving per training day; on rest days, between two meals. Duration: the manufacturer sets no course length, the product can be used continuously.

The volume of water is not a detail on this product. 300 to 350 ml is a lot for 12.5 g of powder, and it is deliberate: the electrolytes and the coconut water are only of any interest if you actually drink during your session. Mixing it into 150 ml gives you a concentrated drink you swallow in one go, which loses half the point of it.

Sip it steadily throughout your training rather than downing it all at once. On a long session, in a hot gym, or in summer in Montpellier where the question genuinely arises, that is the best use of this formula. A shaker with volume markings will save you from guessing.

Caffeine-free, it can be drunk at any hour, including in the evening. That is a real practical advantage over stimulant training drinks, which have to be shifted when you train after 19:00. If, on the contrary, you are looking for energy before your session, this is not the product you need — you need a pre-workout.

Who is Active BCAA for, and who is it not for?

It is aimed at someone who wants a pleasant drink to sip during training, with a supply of amino acids and electrolytes and no stimulant. It is as much a comfort product as a nutritional one, and it is very well designed for that: clean flavours, good solubility, no caffeine at all.

It is not suitable if you are allergic to coconut, since coconut water powder is part of the formula. It is not recommended for children or for pregnant and breastfeeding women. If you are on medical treatment, seek the advice of a healthcare professional before use. The manufacturer flags production in a facility handling milk, eggs, soya and tree nuts: if your allergy is severe, take that into account.

What not to expect from it. No claim exists for these ingredients in Europe. And there is a point to add that few sellers own up to: if you already eat enough protein during the day, a BCAA does not add much. Branched-chain amino acids are present in quantity in milk, eggs, meat and in any protein powder. 5 g of BCAAs is what around 25 g of whey contains — which you may well already be taking. This product makes sense as a training drink, not as an essential supplement.

BCAA or EAA?

This is the comparison to make before buying, and it tilts fairly clearly to one side.

EAAs contain all nine essential amino acids, BCAAs only three. Yet the body needs the full set to build a protein: a supply of leucine, isoleucine and valine without the other six is an incomplete base. That is why the category has shifted massively towards EAAs over the past few years. Our EAA selection covers these complete formulas, and it is where we point most customers who come in looking for an “intra-workout”.

So when should you choose this one? When the drink interests you as much as the amino acids do. The 350 mg of electrolytes and the coconut water are not found in a standard EAA, and a lot of people quite simply drink more during their session when their bottle has some flavour to it. That is a real benefit, even if it is not a glorious one to write down.

A third option, often the best one: if you train for a long time and sweat heavily, a dedicated electrolyte product will provide considerably more sodium than the 350 mg of blend in here. And if your goal is protein intake, a serving of protein after your session remains the main lever, far ahead of isolated amino acids.

Frequently asked questions

How much leucine per serving?

2.5 g, out of 5 g of BCAAs at a 2:1:1 ratio. It is the only line that is genuinely comparable from one BCAA to another. Heavily skewed ratios of the 8:1:1 type increase the share of leucine but reduce isoleucine and valine, without changing the total quantity of amino acids taken in.

Which flavours are available?

In the range: Watermelon, Fruit Punch, Blue Raspberry, Orange and Peach Mango. The amino acid composition is identical from one flavour to the next; only the flavouring and the colour change. All of them mix into 300 to 350 ml of cold water.

Can you drink it in the evening?

Yes, the formula contains no stimulant. It is one of the few training products that can be taken after 19:00 with no consequences for falling asleep. If you are looking for energy before your session, you need to turn to a pre-workout, not to this one.

Does the product contain coconut?

Yes, in the form of coconut water powder, at 350 mg per serving. It is a declared allergen. The manufacturer also states that production takes place in a facility handling milk, eggs, soya and tree nuts, with a risk of traces.

Is 1 g of citrulline enough?

No, not for the use this molecule is usually expected to serve. Reference doses in this category sit between 6 and 8 g per serving. Here, citrulline rounds out the drink's profile. If it is citrulline you are interested in, buy a dedicated product.

Should you take it on rest days?

The manufacturer suggests you can, between two meals. We are more reserved: if your daily protein intake is adequate, an extra serving of amino acids on a day without training brings nothing measurable. Keep the tub for training days and it will last longer.

How many servings in a tub?

Thirty 12.5 g servings in the 375 g tub. At four training sessions a week, that comes to a little under two months. Use the scoop provided, or a scale if you want to be precise: heaped scoops throw all the calculations off.

Where can you buy Rule One's Active BCAA?

The 375 g 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, this is the product we suggest to people who cannot manage to drink enough during their session — a bottle with some flavour in it often solves the problem better than a lecture on hydration. We do, on the other hand, always ask about allergies first, because of the coconut water. The rest of our selection can be browsed in the sports nutrition section.

What is Rule One Burn?

Rule One Burn is a mix-with-water powder from the fat burners family, built around 200 mg of caffeine per serving and a series of plant extracts. The word “burner” here describes a commercial category, not a proven effect: we will come back to that further down, because it is the point most product pages in this aisle quietly skip over.

What sets the formula apart is the way the caffeine is delivered. Rather than a single anhydrous caffeine, Rule One combines five sources: anhydrous caffeine, guarana, tea, coffee and a microencapsulated fraction. The release rates are not identical, which spreads out the rise and softens the come-down. It is a formulation choice you can feel in use if you cope badly with an abrupt spike. The rest of the range is in our Rule One aisle.

The flavours listed: Watermelon, Snow Cone and Peach Mango. One point to watch when reading the label: the manufacturer's documentation also describes a capsule version, with different dosages and one extra ingredient, forskholii extract. That capsule version is not the one sold on this page — here it is the powder, and it is its figures that we set out.

What does a serving of Rule One Burn contain?

The energy values are negligible, as the formula is sugar-free. The number of servings per tub is not published by the manufacturer in the information available to us.

200 mg of caffeine is exactly the threshold set by EFSA as a single dose that raises no safety concern for a healthy adult, with the recommended total daily intake staying below 400 mg. In practice, one serving is the equivalent of two short espressos. It is neither timid nor excessive: it is calibrated to work without forcing you to split the dose. What it does leave is very little room for the rest of the day. If you drink three coffees at the office, you are already at the limit before you even open the tub.

Caffeine is the only ingredient in this formula with authorised health claims in Europe, and it is worth knowing which ones: it helps to increase alertness and helps to improve concentration, at 75 mg. It also contributes to an increase in endurance performance and to a reduction in the rated perceived exertion, at 3 mg per kilogram of body weight before exercise. No claim covers weight loss or fat burning.

The 100 mg of theanine is the other good idea in the formula. This amino acid from tea, paired with caffeine, takes the edge off the jitters without reducing its effect on alertness. It is a classic pairing and one of the best documented in this aisle.

The 1,500 mg of L-carnitine tartrate is a genuine dose for this molecule. One thing has to be clear, however: carnitine has no authorised claim in Europe, and the work on oral supplementation in people who are not deficient is very mixed. The powder burners aisle lets you compare dosages from one brand to another.

Finally, Capsimax® and grains of paradise are dosed at 25 and 20 mg. These amounts match the standardised extracts used in the published protocols, but the size of the documented thermogenic effect comes to a few tens of kilocalories a day. It is real, it is measurable in a laboratory, and it is far below what a twenty-minute walk represents.

Ingredients list

Anhydrous caffeine, L-carnitine L-tartrate, tyrosine, standardised green tea leaf extract, green coffee bean extract, Capsimax® (capsicum fruit extract), grains of paradise (seed extract of Aframomum melegueta), BioPerine® (black pepper fruit extract), forskholii extract, guarana seed extract, L-theanine, ginger root extract. Other ingredients: natural and artificial flavourings, citric acid, silica, sucralose, acesulfame potassium. Manufactured in a facility that processes MILK, SOYA, EGG, FISH, CRUSTACEANS, TREE NUTS, PEANUTS and WHEAT.

How do you take Rule One Burn?

Serving: one scoop. Liquid: 250 to 300 ml of cold water. Timing: 30 minutes before training, or in the morning on an empty stomach on non-training days. Frequency: one serving a day. Duration: the manufacturer recommends cyclical use, 8 to 12 weeks followed by 2 to 4 weeks off.

Start with half a serving. This is not over-caution: 200 mg in one go, in someone who does not drink coffee regularly, brings on tremors, a faster heart rate and sometimes nausea. Half a serving for three days tells you everything you need to know.

The most important rule is a matter of timing: nothing after 15:00. Caffeine has a half-life of five to six hours, which means a serving taken at 17:00 still leaves 100 mg in the blood at 23:00. The manufacturer recommends avoiding any intake in the six hours before bedtime, and that is a minimum. If the evening is the only time you can train, this is not the right product: turn instead to a caffeine-free burner.

Drink more than usual while you are on it. Caffeine increases urine output, and training does the rest. Finally, do not stack this product with a pre-session booster: most contain 150 to 300 mg, and the total goes well beyond what is reasonable in a single serving.

Who is Rule One Burn for, and who is it not for?

It suits an adult who tolerates caffeine well, who trains in the morning or in the early afternoon, and who is already in a calorie deficit — the condition without which none of this makes any sense.

It does not suit, and the manufacturer is explicit about this: pregnant and breastfeeding women, people sensitive to caffeine, or anyone with high blood pressure, heart conditions, insomnia or anxiety. These are not decorative warnings. In an anxious person, 200 mg of caffeine can turn a normal day into a difficult one.

Nor does it suit you if you are on any current medication: caffeine interacts with several families of drugs, and the question is one to put to your doctor or pharmacist before buying. The same applies to anti-doping testing: check the batch status with your federation.

What not to expect from it, and this is the most useful paragraph on this page: this product does not make you lose weight. No burner does, and no claim of that kind is authorised in Europe. What it actually does is supply energy and alertness at a point when the calorie deficit is stripping them from you, which makes sessions easier and the day less of a slog. Weight loss itself comes from the gap between what you eat and what you expend. If that gap does not exist, this tub will change precisely nothing.

Rule One Burn powder or a capsule burner?

Both exist in our range and they are not meant for the same use.

A capsule burner travels well, goes down in three seconds and splits easily: two capsules in the morning, one at midday. It is the better choice if your work takes you out and about, if you have no shaker to hand, or if you would rather spread the caffeine across the day than take it all at once.

The powder has two concrete advantages. The first is the volume of water: 300 ml swallowed along with the product is that much hydration taken as a matter of course, which counts during a cutting phase. The second is the ritual — a shaker before the session frames the training in a way a capsule does not. Its drawback: splitting a powder is less convenient.

If your aim above all is to build a calorie deficit, every product in this family can be compared in our weight loss aisle.

Frequently asked questions

How much caffeine is in one serving?

200 mg, spread across five sources: anhydrous caffeine, guarana, tea, coffee and a microencapsulated fraction. That is the equivalent of two short espressos, and it matches the highest single dose considered to raise no safety concern by EFSA in a healthy adult.

Can it be taken before an evening session?

It is not advisable. The manufacturer recommends avoiding any intake in the six hours before bedtime, and caffeine takes five to six hours for its concentration to halve. For training after 18:00, a caffeine-free burner is the consistent choice.

Should you take breaks?

The manufacturer recommends 8 to 12 weeks of use followed by 2 to 4 weeks off. The reason is simple: tolerance to caffeine sets in within a few weeks, and at high tolerance the same dose no longer does much. The break is there to restore sensitivity, not to “cleanse” anything.

Does this product make you lose weight?

No. No food supplement brings about weight loss on its own, and no claim of that kind is authorised in Europe for these ingredients. Fat loss comes from the calorie deficit. This product supplies energy and alertness during that deficit: it is a support, never the engine.

What is the difference with the capsule version?

The dosages differ: the capsule version contains more Capsimax® and grains of paradise, as well as a forskholii extract that is absent from the powder. Only the powder version is sold on this page, and it is the one the figures in the table above describe.

Can it be combined with a pre-workout?

Better not to. Most boosters contain between 150 and 300 mg of caffeine; add them together and you quickly go past 400 mg in a single serving, with a real risk of palpitations and anxiety. If you want both, choose a stimulant-free booster for the session.

Does the product contain sugars?

No, the formula is sugar-free and the sweetness comes from sucralose and acesulfame potassium. The energy values are negligible, which means it can be worked into a day of controlled intake without any calculation.

Where can you buy Rule One Burn?

The flavours can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, we never sell a burner without raising the question of coffee: between the tub and the four espressos over the course of the day, there is always one of the two that needs cutting back. It is rarely what the customer came in for, and it is nonetheless the most useful advice we can give. The rest of the aisle can be browsed in our sports nutrition section.

What is Rule One Clear Isolate 689 g?

Rule One Clear Isolate is a clear whey in a 689 g tub, that is to say a whey protein isolate formulated to stay dissolved in an acidic medium and give a translucent, fruity drink rather than a creamy shake. It is made by Rule One, an American brand.

The base is a whey isolate, never a concentrate: only that degree of filtration allows the clarity. The rest of the list is short — natural and artificial flavourings, malic acid and citric acid for the tartness, salt, sucralose and acesulfame potassium as sweeteners, silicon dioxide as an anti-foaming agent, potassium chloride, and blue spirulina as a colouring in the relevant flavours.

The flavours on offer: Blue Raspberry, Cherry Limeade, Peach Mango and Strawberry Lemonade. The register is that of a lemonade, not of a milky dessert. The manufacturer states that its batches undergo third-party laboratory testing for banned substances; we report that information and attribute it to them, not having seen the reports.

What does a serving of Clear Isolate contain?

The reference serving is 25 g. It provides 20 g of protein for 90 kcal (377 kJ), 1 g of carbohydrate, 0 g of fat, 0.3 g of salt and 120 mg of sodium. The 689 g tub covers 27 servings.

Two figures deserve to be looked at together. First the protein density: 20 g of protein in 25 g of powder, that is 80 g per 100 g. Then the size of the serving. Clear wheys are generally dosed at around 20 to 25 g against 30 to 35 g for a conventional whey, because beyond that the drink turns syrupy. This one therefore sits at the top of its category for the amount of protein actually delivered per serving, which is not that common.

* Column calculated from the values declared for 25 g, the manufacturer not publishing a per 100 g column. ** Reference intake of an average adult (8,400 kJ / 2,000 kcal, 50 g of protein, 6 g of salt). Two pieces of data are missing and we are not inventing them: the “of which saturates” line and the “of which sugars” line do not appear in the data supplied by the manufacturer. Nor is the mineral-by-mineral breakdown of the electrolyte complex published: only the sodium is quantified. The values correspond to the Blue Raspberry flavour and may vary slightly from one flavour to another.

The product comfortably exceeds the regulatory threshold allowing the “high protein” nutrition claim — protein accounts for close to 90% of the serving's energy. As for health claims, the authorised wordings are these: protein contributes to a growth in muscle mass, to the maintenance of muscle mass and to the maintenance of normal bones. No recovery claim exists for protein, and we shall not write one.

How do you prepare Rule One Clear Isolate?

The manufacturer specifies a 25 g serving in 350 to 400 ml of ice-cold water, to be shaken vigorously and then left to stand for 30 seconds while the foam subsides. One or two servings a day are enough for most uses; no course length is given, and there is no reason for one with a protein.

The timing: 30 minutes before the session, or immediately after, or at any point in the day to top up an intake. The timing matters less than the total protein over 24 hours — that is the point on which most labels mislead you.

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, do not use it in baking: a clear whey coagulates when cooked. For cooking, keep a whey concentrate.

Who is Clear Isolate for, and who is it not for?

It is aimed first of all at those who can no longer stomach the milky shake format — heaviness on digestion, the taste of vanilla every day, or simply a summer session after which nothing creamy will go down. A protein you do not drink is of no use: that is the soundest use case.

The product contains MILK. It is made in a facility that also handles SOYA, EGG and FISH, and may contain traces of them. In the case of a diagnosed allergy to cow's milk proteins, it is contraindicated: filtration removes the lactose, not the proteins. The manufacturer advises against it for children under 12 and invites pregnant or breastfeeding women, as well as people on medication, to seek advice before use. Any kidney or liver condition is a matter for your doctor.

What not to expect from it: the 300 mg of electrolytes per serving do not make it a sports drink. With 1 g of carbohydrate, the formula meets none of the European conditions that would allow a claim on hydration or on endurance. If that is what you are after, look instead at our electrolytes. Nor does it make you lose weight: it supplies a lot of protein for few calories, which helps you hold a deficit, but it is the deficit that does the work.

Clear Isolate or a conventional whey isolate?

Both rest on the same raw material. The difference lies in the formulation and, above all, in what you will do with it.

A conventional whey isolate is the better choice in three clear cases: you have a high protein requirement to cover and you take two or three servings a day, in which case the price per kilo of protein becomes decisive; you cook with your powder; or you prefer a creamy drink that keeps you going between two meals. On those three points, Clear Isolate loses.

Clear Isolate wins when the drink itself is the problem: milky shakes that are hard to digest, weariness of the milky taste, the urge for a cold, tart drink at the end of a session. It also wins on density, with 20 g of protein in a 25 g serving where many clear wheys stop at 18 g. The calculation that settles it remains the same: price of the tub, divided by its weight in kilos, divided by the protein content per 100 g. Do it on both sides before buying. The protein aisle lets you compare every family.

Frequently asked questions

How many servings does a 689 g tub contain?

Twenty-seven 25 g servings. At one serving a day, that covers almost a month; at two servings on training days only, count on longer. The manufacturer states a shelf life of 24 months in the unopened original packaging, kept away from moisture.

Do the nutritional values change with the flavour?

Slightly. The published figures correspond to the Blue Raspberry flavour, and the manufacturer notes that the others may vary a little. The flavours available are Blue Raspberry, Cherry Limeade, Peach Mango and Strawberry Lemonade. The blue colouring is spirulina, present only in the relevant flavours.

When should Clear Isolate be taken during the day?

Thirty minutes before the session, just after, or at any time to make up a shortfall in intake. The thirty-minute window people talked about fifteen years ago no longer holds: what determines the result is the day's total protein. In practice, take it at the moment you will actually drink it.

Can it be mixed with milk?

No, and that is a manufacturer's instruction, not a preference. The acidity of the formula destabilises the casein in milk: the mixture curdles and turns grainy. Use very cold water, 350 to 400 ml per serving. Crushed ice improves the result further.

Do the 300 mg of electrolytes replace a sports drink?

No. Set against the volume of the preparation, the 120 mg of sodium per serving remain well below the levels that characterise a carbohydrate-electrolyte solution within the meaning of European regulation, and the formula supplies only one gram of carbohydrate. Those minerals improve the drink's profile; they do not turn it into an endurance drink.

Does it contain lactose?

Traces only: this is an isolate, filtered to the point of removing most of the lactose and the fat. Many people troubled by a whey concentrate tolerate it without difficulty. Take care not to confuse this with an allergy to cow's milk proteins, which rules the product out — filtration does not remove the proteins.

How do you avoid the foam?

Pour the water in first, the powder second, shake, then leave it to stand for 30 seconds as the manufacturer indicates. Whey proteins are surface-active and stabilise bubbles: the harder you shake, the longer the foam holds. Taking the metal whisk out of the shaker and diluting generously settles the matter. Made in advance and left to chill, the drink is better.

Where to buy Rule One Clear Isolate 689 g?

This page lets you order the flavours, and we ship throughout France and Europe. With a tart drink, the flavour is the one criterion no product page can replace: in our Vendargues shop, around ten minutes from Montpellier, we talk them through with people who have actually drunk them, and we work out the price per kilo of protein against a conventional isolate in front of you.

If what you are after is instead an amino acid drink to sip during exercise, see our EAA; the whole aisle can be found in our sports nutrition section.

What is Rule One Energized Amino?

Rule One Energized Amino is a caffeinated amino acid drink mix that provides 5.5 g of amino acids and 120 mg of caffeine per serving, for just 10 kcal. It sits halfway between a conventional BCAA and a light pre-workout booster: too low in caffeine to replace a pre-workout, too stimulating to drink in the evening.

The caffeine does not come from an anhydrous source but from green tea leaf and green coffee bean extracts. In practice the molecule is the same; what changes is what comes with it — the polyphenols in tea slow the rise slightly, and the sensation is less abrupt than with 120 mg of pure caffeine. The rest of the range appears in our Rule One section.

The flavours listed: Pineapple Passion Fruit, Orange Clementine, Grape, Blue Raspberry, Sour Candy, Peach Mango, Watermelon and Fruit Punch. The number of servings per tub is not published by the manufacturer in the information available to us.

What does a serving of Energized Amino contain?

Two points about reading this table need making, and they are not trivial.

The first: the “protein: 0 g” line is not a mistake. Free amino acids are not protein in the sense used by nutrition labelling, which calculates protein from the nitrogen in whole proteins. You are indeed swallowing 5.5 g of amino acids, but they do not show up in the protein line. This throws a lot of buyers.

The second: the declared value of 10 kcal strikes us as low given the 5.5 g of amino acids stated, which would normally represent around twenty kilocalories. We will not settle the matter on the manufacturer's behalf, nor will we recalculate their label. Simply bear in mind that the intake stays low either way, and that nothing here weighs on a day of controlled intake.

2 g of BCAAs is modest. A dedicated product provides 5 to 7 g per serving. Here the amino acids act as a base for a training drink rather than a genuine intake: that is not a flaw if you buy the product for what it is, but it is one if you think you are buying a BCAA. Full EAAs answer a different need, and answer it better.

The 750 mg of citrulline malate is likewise below the amounts used in published protocols, which tend to be around 6 to 8 g. If the pump is what you are after, our citrulline section offers serious doses. The beta-alanine, whose amount is not published, does on the other hand explain the tingling some users feel a few minutes after taking it; the beta-alanine section offers it dosed in its own right.

One important regulatory point, and it concerns the colourings. The formula uses FD&C colourings depending on the flavour: Blue 1, Red 40, Yellow 5 and Yellow 6. The last three correspond in Europe to additives E129, E102 and E110, for which a mandatory statement applies: “may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children”. That statement must appear on the label of the product sold in Europe. Check for it on the tub you receive, and know that it exists.

Finally, no health claim is authorised in Europe for BCAAs, citrulline, taurine or glutamine. Only caffeine has one: it helps to increase alertness and to improve concentration from 75 mg upwards.

Ingredients list

Performance complex: L-leucine, L-valine, L-isoleucine, beta-alanine, L-citrulline, taurine, L-glutamine. Energy complex: green tea leaf extract, green coffee bean extract. Other ingredients: natural and artificial flavourings, citric acid, malic acid, inulin, silicon dioxide, sucralose, acesulfame potassium, sunflower lecithin. Colourings depending on the flavour: FD&C Blue 1, Red 40, Yellow 5 and Yellow 6. No added sugar and no creatine.

How should you take Energized Amino?

Dose: one scoop. Liquid: 240 to 350 ml of cold water. Timing: in the morning in place of coffee, 20 to 30 minutes before a session, or during a long workout. Frequency: one to two servings a day, at least four hours apart. Duration: the manufacturer sets no course length.

The timing rule is the same as for any caffeinated product: nothing in the six hours before bed. The manufacturer states this explicitly. At 120 mg per serving, a shaker drunk at 18:00 still leaves enough to disturb falling asleep at 23:00 in sensitive people.

The manufacturer permits a double serving before the most intense sessions. That takes the intake to 240 mg of caffeine in one go, which exceeds the 200 mg threshold EFSA identifies as a single dose of no concern in adults. It is not prohibited, but it should be kept for someone who knows their tolerance well, and never on a day when you have already had two coffees.

The most interesting use is the one the manufacturer puts first and that you would not expect: replacing the morning coffee. 120 mg is a little more than an espresso, with water and amino acids thrown in, and without the acidity of coffee on an empty stomach. For someone training in the late morning, it is a sequence that works well.

During a long session, dilute it further — 500 to 700 ml — and sip rather than downing it in one. The drink then serves as much for fluid intake as for amino acids, much as an electrolyte drink would.

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

It suits someone looking for a training drink with a little energy, without the 300 mg of caffeine in a full pre-workout. It also suits those who want to cut out the morning coffee without cutting out the caffeine, and those who train early.

The manufacturer is explicit about the exclusions: the product is for healthy active adults only, not intended for women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to conceive, and medical advice is needed if you are on treatment or under medical supervision. Under-18s should not consume it.

It is not for you if you are after a genuine amino acid intake: 2 g of BCAAs replaces neither a protein shake nor a properly dosed EAA. Nor is it for an evening session, or alongside a caffeinated pre-workout — the total would quickly go beyond what is reasonable.

What you should not expect from it: this is not a product that builds muscle. At these amounts, the effect on protein synthesis is negligible if your diet already provides enough protein. What it really provides is alertness, a bit of flavour in your water, and a ritual. That is useful in itself, but it is what you should be buying it for.

Energized Amino or a full pre-workout?

The difference comes down to one figure: 120 mg of caffeine here, against 200 to 350 mg in a pre-workout.

A full pre-workout combines a high dose of caffeine, beta-alanine at a proper dose, often 6 g of citrulline and sometimes creatine. It is the better choice for a heavy session where focus is the limiting factor, or for a morning workout after a short night. Its drawback is the flip side of its strength: at 300 mg, your margin for the rest of the day disappears, and sleep suffers if you train late.

Energized Amino plays a quieter tune. At 120 mg you stay in coffee territory, with the option of another serving in the afternoon without going past the guideline figures. It is the better choice for medium-volume sessions, for daily training, and for anyone who finds pre-workouts too aggressive. It is also, let us say it, a better hydration product than a pre-workout, because you drink it more readily over time.

If your goal is recovery rather than energy, the right section is elsewhere: a complete protein after the session will do more than either of these two drinks. The full comparison is in our sports nutrition section.

Frequently asked questions

How much caffeine is there per serving?

120 mg, from green tea and green coffee extracts. That is the equivalent of a generous espresso, so markedly less than a conventional pre-workout. A double serving takes the total to 240 mg, beyond the 200 mg threshold EFSA identifies for a single intake in adults.

Why does the protein line say 0 g?

Because free amino acids are not counted as protein in nutrition labelling, which is based on measuring the nitrogen in whole proteins. You are indeed consuming 5.5 g of amino acids, but they do not appear on that line. It is neither an error nor a deception.

Can it be taken in the evening?

No, unless you train very early in the evening. The manufacturer recommends avoiding any intake in the six hours before bed. For a late session, a stimulant-free product is the only coherent choice.

Is it a genuine BCAA?

Not in the sense dedicated products mean. 2 g of BCAAs per serving is two to three times less than a conventional BCAA. This is a caffeinated training drink that contains amino acids, not an amino acid supplement that contains caffeine. The distinction changes the use entirely.

Does the product contain creatine?

No, and the manufacturer says so. It is a coherent choice: creatine is taken every day, rest days included, whereas this product is designed for training days. If you take it, buy it separately and keep the daily dose going.

Why are there colourings in the formula?

For the colour that goes with the flavour, nothing more. Three of them — E129, E102 and E110 under European nomenclature — require a regulatory statement about activity and attention in children, which must appear on the label. If colour additives bother you, that is a legitimate basis for choosing, and colouring-free formulas do exist.

Can you drink two servings a day?

Yes, keeping at least four hours between them, as the manufacturer states. That takes the total to 240 mg of caffeine across the day, which stays under the 400 mg guideline — provided you also count the coffees, teas and soft drinks you have during the day.

Where can you buy Rule One Energized Amino?

The flavours can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is the product we recommend to those who find pre-workouts too harsh and BCAAs too bland: it wins on neither front, but it occupies the middle ground well. The rest of the pre-session range can be compared in our creatine-free pre-workout section.

What is Rule One Essential Amino 9?

It is an essential amino acid powder to be mixed with liquid, with a serving of 11.5 g providing 7.5 g of amino acids and 10 kcal. The 345 g tub covers exactly 30 servings. The flavours in the range: Fruit Punch, Blue Razz Lemonade, Peach Mango and Sour Watermelon.

The nine essential amino acids are the ones the body does not make. They are here in free form, that is to say not bound to one another within a protein: this is what distinguishes an EAA from a protein powder, and what explains why it drinks clear and tangy rather than thick.

To this is added a 500 mg electrolyte blend — sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium — then the formulating ingredients: malic acid, citric acid, natural and artificial flavourings, sucralose, acesulfame potassium, sunflower lecithin and two anti-caking agents. The manufacturer states production in Aurora, Illinois, and third-party laboratory testing for substances banned in competition; we report these statements as it publishes them. The full range can be found in our Rule One section.

What does an 11.5 g serving contain?

One inconsistency in the labelling supplied is worth flagging: the 200 mg of sodium declared would correspond to 0.5 g of salt using the official conversion, whereas the “salt” line states 0.3 g. We reproduce both values as they were communicated to us rather than correcting one of them at random.

The figure everything turns on is 2,500 mg of leucine per serving. Leucine accounts for a third of the blend, which is a straightforward dose for a 7.5 g EAA. Note the scale: 2.5 g of leucine is roughly what a whey serving providing 25 g of protein supplies.

A second reading, the one that separates a good EAA from a disguised BCAA: the other six essential amino acids are genuinely present, right down to the 50 mg of tryptophan. The amounts fall away sharply — 100 mg of histidine, 200 mg of methionine — which reflects the relative requirements of each rather than padding.

A third point, often overlooked: the magnesium at 100 mg, that is 26.7% of the NRV. It is the only component of this formula that exceeds the 15% threshold conferring the right to a regulatory wording, and therefore the only one about which we can say anything: magnesium contributes to electrolyte balance, to normal muscle function and to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. Potassium (7.5%) and calcium (6.3%) stay below the threshold: nothing can be claimed for them.

For the amino acids themselves, the framework is simple: no health claim is authorised in Europe for free amino acids. Neither recovery, nor protein synthesis, nor anti-catabolism. We describe a composition and a use, not an effect.

How do you take Essential Amino 9?

Dose: 11.5 g, that is one scoop. Liquid: 240 to 360 ml of cold water. Timing: 30 to 45 minutes before the session, or during the effort, or immediately after. Frequency: one serving on training days. Duration: ongoing, with no set course.

Shake vigorously for ten to fifteen seconds in cold water — free amino acids dissolve poorly when hot and the taste suffers for it. The manufacturer specifies that it can be taken on an empty stomach, which is precisely one of the cases where this product makes sense.

On volume, go for the upper end of the range. At 240 ml the drink is concentrated and decidedly tangy; at 360 ml it can be sipped across a whole session and it makes you drink, which is a benefit in its own right when the formula contains 200 mg of sodium.

The manufacturer allows for three windows, and they are not equally useful depending on your situation. Before the session if you train fasted in the morning. During if your session runs beyond the hour. After if your next meal is a long way off. If you ate a full meal two hours earlier, the benefit becomes slight: the amino acids from that meal are still circulating.

The powder combines without difficulty with creatine in the same shaker, or with carbohydrates after the effort. Close the tub properly: free amino acids pick up moisture and clump together, as the manufacturer points out itself.

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

It targets three specific situations: fasted training, long sessions, and days when the next meal is a long way off. It also suits those who cannot face a milky shaker before a workout — a clear drink at 10 kcal weighs on nothing.

The manufacturer does not recommend it for children under 12, and asks pregnant and breastfeeding women as well as anyone on medical treatment to seek professional advice. Traces of MILK, EGGS, SOYA and FISH are possible, as the facility handles these allergens. The formula is declared free from gluten, stimulants and added sugar. Do not exceed 11.5 g a day.

It is less well suited if your objective is to increase your daily protein total: 7.5 g of amino acids does not replace 25 g of complete protein, and costs a great deal more per gram. It also contains sucralose and acesulfame K, as well as artificial flavourings: this is not a neutral powder.

What you should not expect from it, and we are happy to repeat it: if your protein intake is already sufficient, this product will add nothing. An EAA fills a gap in the day; it does not usefully stack on top of three shakers and 180 g of protein. That is the first question to ask yourself, and rarely the one you hear asked on the shop floor.

EAA 9 or BCAA?

This is the comparison that matters, and it is clear-cut.

A BCAA provides only three amino acids: leucine, isoleucine and valine. It costs less per serving, and that is more or less its only advantage. The problem is structural: to build a protein, the body needs all nine essentials; supplying three amounts to delivering three bricks out of nine. It is the better choice only if you already take complete protein in quantity and are simply after an inexpensive workout drink.

Essential Amino 9 supplies the whole profile for a moderate extra cost, with 2.5 g of leucine — that is to say as much as many BCAAs — plus the other six. Add the 500 mg of electrolytes, and you have a complete training drink. In this category, the price gap does not justify choosing an incomplete profile.

One honest nuance to finish: if your main objective is hydration on long sessions or in high heat, the 500 mg of electrolytes in this formula does not replace a dedicated product. Our electrolytes are dosed for that, and cost less per serving.

Frequently asked questions

How many servings are there in the 345 g tub?

Thirty exactly, at 11.5 g per serving. That is a month's supply if you train every day, two months at four sessions a week. The manufacturer states a shelf life of 24 months in the sealed packaging: keep the tub dry, as moisture clumps the amino acids together.

Can it be taken on an empty stomach?

Yes, the manufacturer expressly allows for it, and it is in fact the situation where this product makes the most sense: a morning session without breakfast. At 10 kcal and with no fat, the drink does not sit heavily on the stomach, unlike a protein shake.

What is the difference from a protein powder?

The form and the use. Here, 7.5 g of free amino acids, immediately available, in a clear drink at 10 kcal. A whey supplies 25 g of complete protein for 120 kcal, cheaper per gram, but in a milky shaker that goes down badly mid-session. These are two products for two different moments.

Are the electrolytes enough for a session in high heat?

No. Five hundred milligrams spread across four minerals is a supporting contribution, not a hydration strategy. Only the magnesium, at 100 mg, exceeds the regulatory threshold that allows anything to be said about it. For a long session in the height of summer, take a dedicated electrolyte product.

Why so little tryptophan and histidine?

Because requirements are not the same for all nine amino acids. Tryptophan at 50 mg and histidine at 100 mg reflect requirements markedly lower than those for leucine or lysine. A formula that dosed them all equally would be less well designed, not better.

Which flavour should you choose?

All of them sit in a tangy register. Fruit Punch and Peach Mango are the mildest, Blue Razz Lemonade and Sour Watermelon distinctly sharper — the latter lives up to its name. If you have to drink 360 ml across a whole session, a mild flavour is easier to put up with than a very sharp one.

Does the formula contain a stimulant?

No, the manufacturer declares it free from stimulants: no caffeine, no stimulating extract. That is a useful point if you train in the evening or if you already take a caffeinated pre-workout — the two can then be combined without adding up the stimulants.

Where can you buy Rule One Essential Amino 9?

The flavours can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. The 345 g tub with 30 servings is an honest trial format: a month is enough to know whether this product has a place in your routine.

At the shop in Vendargues, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is a category where we often advise against buying before we sell. If you already eat enough protein and you train in the evening after lunch, an EAA will bring you nothing measurable — and it is better to hear that over the counter than after buying. The rest of the amino acids can be compared in our sports nutrition range.

What is Rule One PUMP?

Rule One PUMP is a caffeine-free pre-workout powder, built around a single objective: the muscle pump. It contains no stimulant — no caffeine, no yohimbine, no synephrine — so it is not trying to wake you up. It works on circulation and cell hydration, not on the nervous system.

The formula is fully transparent: every active is listed with its quantity, with no proprietary blend hiding the doses behind an overall total. That is still rare enough in this category to be worth pointing out, and it is the first thing to look at on a pre-workout. Rule One is an American brand whose other products are in our Rule One section.

The flavour offered here is Blue Razz Lemonade. One useful detail: the manufacturer's documents mention an unflavoured version, with no flavouring or sweetener, meant to be added to another product. It is not stocked by us at present — only the flavoured version appears on this page.

What does a serving of Rule One PUMP contain?

Here are the actives declared per scoop, in decreasing order of quantity.

Two pieces of information are missing from what the manufacturer publishes, and we are not going to invent them: the exact weight of the scoop in grams, the number of servings per tub, along with the energy and macronutrient values. The label on the tub you receive is the reference on those points.

3 g of citrulline is a straight dose. Plenty of pre-workouts put citrulline at the top of the list and then include 1 g of it, which achieves very little. Here the quantity matches what is actually used in the performance literature. Note that this is pure citrulline and not citrulline malate: for the same stated quantity, pure citrulline delivers more citrulline, since malate accounts for around 40% of the weight in a 2:1 ratio. If you are comparing with another product, compare like with like — our citrulline section lets you do the maths.

The 2 g of taurine plays a different role: taurine takes part in the osmotic balance of the muscle cell, in other words in how much water it holds. That is the second lever behind the feeling of a pump, and it is also what separates a formula designed for volume from a formula designed for energy. The taurine section offers it on its own for anyone who wants to add it to another base.

Nitrosigine® supplies arginine in a form complexed with inositol and silicon. A word of honesty: 500 mg of an arginine complex is not 500 mg of arginine, and the manufacturer does not publish the exact share. If it is arginine at a straight dose that interests you, take a look at our L-arginine section instead.

Finally, a regulatory point that belongs here and nowhere else on the page: none of these ingredients holds a health claim authorised in Europe. Not citrulline, not arginine, not the plant extracts in the S7 complex. We can describe what they are and what the doses are worth compared with the market; we cannot attribute a health effect to them, and legally nobody can.

Ingredients list

L-citrulline, taurine, Nitrosigine® (inositol-arginine silicate), natural and artificial flavourings, citric acid, S7™ (green tea extract, turmeric extract, garlic extract, blueberry extract, broccoli extract, tart cherry extract, kale extract), whole grape extract, pine bark extract, astragalus extract, panax ginseng extract, AstraGin® (astragalus root extract, panax notoginseng root extract), sweetener (sucralose), food colouring. Made in a facility that handles MILK, EGG, SOYA, WHEAT, PEANUTS, NUTS, FISH and CRUSTACEANS.

How do you take Rule One PUMP?

Serving: one scoop. Liquid: 240 to 350 ml of cold water. Timing: 15 to 20 minutes before the session. Frequency: one serving on each training day, not on rest days. Duration: the manufacturer gives no course length; use follows your training calendar.

For a first tub, start with half a scoop. This is not caution for its own sake: a full dose of citrulline causes digestive discomfort in a minority of users, and it is better to find that out with 1.5 g than with 3 g just before a leg session.

The volume of water matters more than you would think. Below 240 ml the drink is concentrated, sharper on the palate, and the desired effect — drawing water into the muscle — has less raw material to work with. If you train in a hot gym, go up to 400 or 500 ml without hesitation.

There are two ways to use it. On its own, it is a late-session pre-workout: no stimulant, so no impact on falling asleep, which makes it one of the few products in this category you can use at 21:00. As an add-on, a scoop goes into your usual pre-workout to reinforce the pump side without adding a single milligram to the total caffeine. That is the most common use among our customers who train in the morning.

Who is Rule One PUMP for, and who is it not for?

It suits anyone who trains in the evening and does not want to sacrifice their sleep, anyone already at saturation point with caffeine during the day, and anyone looking for the sensation of a pump rather than a kick. It also suits those who build their own pre-workout by stacking separately dosed components.

The product is for adults only. It is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women, and calls for advice from a healthcare professional if you have a condition or are on medication — the question is worth asking if you take anything acting on blood pressure, since the mechanisms involved concern vascular tone.

It is not for you if you are looking for energy: with no caffeine, it wakes nobody up. A lot of disappointed feedback comes from that, from a purchase made without reading the label. Nor is it for people allergic to the major allergens, since production is shared with milk, egg, soya, wheat, peanuts, nuts, fish and crustaceans.

What you should not expect from it: the pump is a transient phenomenon, not progress. It makes the session more enjoyable and the mirror more flattering for an hour; it does not build muscle by itself. If your training and your diet do not follow, no product in this category will make up for it. And if you feel nothing, that is not abnormal: the response to citrulline varies a great deal from one person to another.

Rule One PUMP or a pre-workout with caffeine?

That is the real trade-off, and it depends on what time you train.

A conventional pre-workout combines caffeine, beta-alanine and often citrulline. It acts on alertness, perceived pain and aggression under the bar. It is the better choice for a morning session, for heavy training where focus is the limiting factor, or when you are tired and the session risks being rushed. Its downside is mechanical: caffeine has a half-life of five to six hours, which writes off part of your sleep when you train after 18:00.

Rule One PUMP does not do that job and does not claim to. Its ground is the end-of-day session, the volume session where you are chasing sensation rather than heavy loads, and the period when you want a break from stimulants without losing the habit of the pre-session ritual. It also has the advantage of stacking: nothing stops you adding it to a pre-workout on days when you want both.

If you are still hesitating, there is a third family: creatine-free pre-workouts, for those who already take their creatine separately and do not want to see it come back in the pre-workout.

Frequently asked questions

Does Rule One PUMP contain caffeine?

No, none at all. That is the whole point of it: the entire formula is built without stimulants, which means you can use it in the evening with no consequences for falling asleep. It is also why you do not “feel” anything come on within ten minutes, unlike a caffeinated pre-workout.

Can you mix it with your usual pre-workout?

Yes, and it is a common use. A scoop added to your pre-workout reinforces the pump side without adding caffeine. Just check that your pre-workout does not already contain 6 g of citrulline, in which case the total would go beyond what is of any use.

How long before training should you take it?

15 to 20 minutes. That is shorter than for a caffeinated pre-workout, which needs more like 30 to 45 minutes. Citrulline acts quickly, and waiting an hour tends to lose the benefit rather than reinforce it.

What is the difference between citrulline and citrulline malate?

Citrulline malate is citrulline bound to malic acid. In a 2:1 ratio, around 60% of the stated weight is citrulline and the rest is malate. The 3 g of pure citrulline in this product therefore equates to around 5 g of citrulline malate. That is the calculation to do before comparing two labels.

Does the product cause water retention?

It draws water into the muscle cell, which is the desired effect, and not under the skin, which would be the unwanted one. The difference comes down to sodium and not to the actives in this formula. In practice, you should not see your weight climb or your face puff up.

Can you take it on rest days?

There is no point. Unlike creatine, whose benefit depends on muscle saturation built up over time, the actives in this product act when you take them and no further. A tub therefore lasts longer than you might think.

Does S7 really do anything?

There is no way to say so. 50 mg of a blend of seven plant extracts amounts to a few milligrams of each, and the manufacturer does not publish the breakdown. It is a patented ingredient with a proprietary dossier, not an active dosed at the level you would find in a study. The two ingredients that genuinely carry this formula remain citrulline and taurine.

Where can you buy Rule One PUMP?

It can be ordered from this page, 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 comes in and tells us they have not been sleeping since they went back to the gym in the evening: nine times out of ten the cause is in their pre-workout, and switching to a stimulant-free formula sorts it out within a week. The rest of the pre-workout section can be browsed in our sports nutrition range.

What is Rule One Whey Blend?

It is a whey protein powder that combines three forms of whey — concentrate, isolate and hydrolysate — in a single formula. The reference serving is 32 g for 24 g of protein and 130 kcal.

The sizes listed: the 900 g tub, around 28 servings, and the 2.2 kg tub, around 68 servings. Not every flavour is offered in each size: Cookies & Creme and Chocolate Peanut Butter come only in 2.2 kg, while Strawberry Banana, Toasted Cinnamon Cereal, Lightly Salted Caramel and Fruity Cereal come only in 900 g.

The idea behind a blend is simple: concentrate costs less and gives body to the texture, isolate lifts the protein content, hydrolysate brings peptides that are already broken down. The manufacturer does not publish the split between the three, which is the limit of the exercise: you know all three are in there, but not in what proportions. We flag that rather than ignore it. The full American brand can be found in our Rule One section, and the complete range under proteins.

What does a 32 g serving contain?

* Column calculated from the values declared for 32 g. ** Salt equivalent obtained by multiplying sodium by 2.5, following the conversion in Regulation 1169/2011 — the manufacturer, being American, declares sodium where a European label shows salt. Missing from the data supplied: kilojoules, the “of which saturates”, “of which sugars” and “fibre” lines, and the detailed amino acid profile.

The figure to hold on to is 75 g of protein per 100 g of powder. That is a good level for a blend, higher than a whey concentrate on its own, which often tops out at 70-72 g, and logically below a pure isolate at 85-90 g. Put on a plate: 24 g of protein is the equivalent of about four eggs, for 130 kcal.

The second figure is the 5 g of BCAAs. It is not an addition at all: those BCAAs occur naturally in whey, and 5 g per 24 g of protein is exactly what you expect from a decent whey. Be wary of labels that present this figure as fortification: it is ordinary whey.

Two things to watch, because they are not put forward. First, 0.31 g of salt per serving: nothing alarming, but at three shakers a day that comes to nearly a gram, and it counts if you track your intake. Second, the formula contains sucralose and acesulfame potassium, along with natural and artificial flavourings: this is not a plain powder. The manufacturer also states that third-party laboratory testing is carried out; we report that statement as they publish it, without having verified it ourselves.

The applicable regulatory wording is the only one authorised for this type of product: protein contributes to a growth in and the maintenance of muscle mass.

How do you prepare Rule One Whey Blend?

Dose: 32 g, one scoop. Liquid: 200 to 250 ml of cold water or plant-based drink. Timing: after training, on waking or between meals. Frequency: 1 to 3 servings a day depending on your protein needs. Duration: continuous, as no course is intended.

Thirty seconds of vigorous shaking is enough, pouring the liquid in before the powder. Two hundred and fifty millilitres gives a lighter texture than two hundred; that is a matter of taste, and the flavours in this range are frankly dessert-like — Birthday Cake and Campfire S’mores are names that deliver on their promise.

The tip the manufacturer gives, and it is worth the detour: put the mix through a blender with ice cubes. The texture turns creamy, close to a milkshake, and that completely transforms a shake you have been drinking every day for six months.

On timing, let us be honest: there is no thirty-minute window to hit after training. What determines the result is your total protein across the day. Take this shake at the point where your intake is genuinely falling short — often breakfast or the afternoon, rarely the changing rooms.

The powder combines well with fruit, a nut butter or oats, which turns a shake into a full snack. It also stands up to baking.

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

It suits most situations: it is an everyday whey, at a decent protein content, with a choice of flavours few brands offer. The 2.2 kg size appeals to those taking two or three shakes a day who would rather not reorder every month.

It contains MILK and SOYA (lecithin, sometimes replaced by sunflower lecithin depending on the batch). Traces of EGG, PEANUTS and NUTS are possible depending on the production line. The manufacturer advises against it for people allergic to milk proteins and for under-15s without medical advice. In cases of kidney or liver failure, consult a healthcare professional before use.

A word on gluten: the manufacturer writes that the formula is free of it “for most flavours”. That wording does not settle the question flavour by flavour. If you have coeliac disease, check the label on the tub you receive rather than relying on this page.

It suits you less well if you digest lactose poorly: a blend containing a share of concentrate retains more of it than a pure isolate, and the manufacturer does not publish the content. In that case, look instead at our whey isolate section. Nor is it for you if you want a powder without sweeteners: sucralose and acesulfame K are present in every flavour.

What you should not expect from it: anything a good protein source does not do. A whey does not build muscle on its own, it tops up an intake. If your diet does not already supply the bulk of your protein, no 2.2 kg tub will make up for it.

Whey Blend or pure isolate?

That is the choice facing you at every purchase, and it comes down to three lines.

An isolate supplies 85 to 92 g of protein per 100 g, against 75 g here, with far less lactose and fat. It is the better choice in two specific cases: if milky shakes bother you, and if you are in a strict cutting phase where every gram counts. Its drawback is the price, appreciably higher per kilo, and a texture that is often thinner, which some find less pleasant.

The blend wins on balance. At 24 g of protein per serving, you are within a gram or two of an isolate at a lower cost, with a rounder texture and a far wider choice of flavours. On a product you will take every day for months, those last two points carry real weight — a tub you no longer want to open is no use to anyone.

The hydrolysate share, for its part, should not swing the decision: pure hydrolysed whey exists in our range if that is what you are after, with a markedly more bitter taste and a much higher price. Here it is present in an undisclosed proportion, which rules out making an argument of it. If your goal is strength rather than protein intake, the creatine monohydrate section delivers more for far less money, and the two combine without any problem.

Frequently asked questions

What is the split between concentrate, isolate and hydrolysate?

The manufacturer does not publish it in the data available to us, and we are not going to invent it. That is the genuine limitation of every blend on the market: you know what is in there, not in what proportions. The only verifiable figure remains the 24 g of protein per 32 g serving.

How many servings per tub?

Around 28 for the 900 g size and 68 for the 2.2 kg, at 32 g per serving. At one shake a day, that comes to one month and a little over two months respectively; at two shakes, halve it.

Is every flavour available in each size?

No, and it is a common source of disappointment. Cookies & Creme and Chocolate Peanut Butter are offered only in 2.2 kg; Strawberry Banana, Toasted Cinnamon Cereal, Lightly Salted Caramel and Fruity Cereal only in 900 g. Check that your flavour is available in the size you want before ordering.

Does the powder contain gluten?

The manufacturer states that the formula is free of it “for most flavours”, without specifying which ones are the exception. If you have coeliac disease, that wording is not enough: read the label on the tub you receive, as it alone is authoritative.

Why sodium and not salt on the label?

Because the manufacturer is American and follows the convention of its market. To convert, multiply sodium by 2.5: 125 mg of sodium corresponds to 0.31 g of salt per serving. It is the calculation to make every time you compare an American label with a European one.

Can you make it with milk?

Yes, even though the manufacturer specifies water or a plant-based drink. Milk thickens the texture and adds 100 to 130 kcal depending on the volume: useful when gaining weight, and to be worked into your total if you are counting calories. A run through the blender with ice cubes gives the best result.

Which flavour should you choose for a first tub?

Vanilla Ice Cream and Chocolate Fudge are the two safe bets: neutral in the sense that you do not tire of them and they go with oats or fruit. Birthday Cake, Fruity Cereal and Campfire S’mores are far more pronounced — enjoyable on the first shake, harder to stay with over a 2.2 kg tub.

Where can you buy Rule One Whey Blend?

The sizes and the full set of flavours can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. If this is your first tub of this brand, take the 900 g: three weeks will tell you whether the flavour suits you.

At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is the sum we work through with the customer, pen and paper on the counter: price of the tub divided by the weight, divided by the protein content per 100 g. On a whey at 75 g per 100 g, the comparison with an isolate at 90 g sometimes gives an unexpected result — and often one that favours the blend. The full range can be browsed in our sports nutrition section.

RYSE Hydration Sticks are 16 electrolyte sticks to dilute, designed to be slipped into a gym bag and emptied into a bottle. One 6.4 g stick brings 320 mg of sodium, 173 mg of potassium, 74 mg of magnesium and 97 mg of calcium, with no sugar and no caffeine.

What a stick actually contains

The formula does not stop at sodium. RYSE adds chloride (228 mg) and phosphorus (47 mg), which gives a more complete mineral profile than most sticks on the market, often reduced to salt and potassium.

To that are added 1,000 mg of taurine, 500 mg of choline bitartrate, 250 mg of CocOganic® coconut water powder and 25 mg of AstraGin®, a patented extract of astragalus and Panax notoginseng. On the vitamin side: C, B3, B6, B12 and pantothenic acid.

A useful clarification, because it is rarely made: on that list, only some elements carry an authorised claim in Europe. Magnesium contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism, to normal muscle function, to the reduction of tiredness and to electrolyte balance. Potassium and calcium contribute to normal muscle function. Vitamins B3, B6, B12, C and pantothenic acid contribute to normal energy-yielding metabolism and to the reduction of tiredness. Taurine, choline, coconut water and AstraGin® carry no authorised claim: they are there, we list them, we ascribe no effect to them.

When this format is worth it

A stick makes sense when you sweat a lot and for a long time: an intense session, heat, outdoor training in summer, endurance sport. In our region, between May and September, that is far from theoretical.

For a short session in an air-conditioned gym, water is enough in the vast majority of cases, and we will say the same thing at the counter. A stick taken after an hour of lifting in a cool gym will bring you nothing your next meal does not already bring.

The advantage of the stick over a tub of powder is simple: it doses itself and it travels. That is exactly what you are paying for, and it is a real service when you set off on a long outing. In return, the cost per serving is higher than a classic tub of electrolytes.

Three flavours

Pink Splash, Blue Raspberry and Kool-Aid™ Grape. All three dissolve in 500 to 750 ml of water; less water gives a very concentrated taste that few people enjoy while training.

Frequently asked questions

What exactly is an electrolyte drink?

It is a drink that supplies the minerals lost in sweat, in a form dissolved in water. In chemistry, an electrolyte is a substance that dissociates into ions and conducts current; in the body, those ions — sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, chloride — take part in fluid balance and muscle contraction. An electrolyte drink is therefore neither a stimulant nor a source of energy: it does not necessarily contain carbohydrate and has no effect on alertness.

What are the main electrolytes?

Five above all: sodium and chloride, the most abundant in sweat, potassium, magnesium and calcium. Phosphorus and bicarbonate complete the list physiologically. Sodium is the one lost in the greatest quantity during exercise — hence its place at the top of every serious formula, this one included.

When should electrolytes be taken?

During exercise, or just after, when the session has been long and sweaty. The practical marker: beyond an hour of sustained activity, in strong heat, or if your t-shirt dries leaving white salt marks. Before exercise is only useful if you set off already poorly hydrated. The rest of the time, food covers these intakes amply: this is not a supplement to take every day on principle.

What do electrolytes actually do?

They replace what sweat carries away. Drinking only water during a long, very sweaty effort dilutes the remaining minerals, which shows up as thirst that is never quenched and heavy legs. In regulatory terms, it is the magnesium, potassium and calcium in the formula that carry the claims relating to muscle function and tiredness — not the concept of an "electrolyte drink" in itself.

Do electrolytes prevent cramp?

Nothing allows us to say so, and we will not. The idea is widespread, but the available work on exercise cramp points more towards neuromuscular fatigue than towards a lack of minerals. An electrolyte drink can help you cope better with a long, hot effort; presenting it as a treatment for cramp would be dishonest. If cramps are frequent or painful, that is a matter for a doctor.

Can you make your own electrolyte drink?

Yes, and it is very simple: water, a pinch of salt, a little lemon juice and a source of carbohydrate if the effort is long. The result costs a few cents and fulfils the main function. What you lose: precise dosing, magnesium and calcium, the vitamins, and portability. What you gain: the price. We would rather tell you that than let you believe a stick is essential.

Is it the same as an ORS from the pharmacy?

No, and the confusion is common. An oral rehydration solution is intended to make up for dehydration of medical origin — diarrhoea, vomiting, particularly in children. Its sodium and glucose composition follows a precise protocol. A sports electrolyte drink answers a comfort need during exercise, not a medical situation. In case of real dehydration, the person to talk to is your pharmacist or your doctor.

How many sticks a day?

One stick is enough in the vast majority of cases, diluted in 500 to 750 ml of water. On a very long effort in strong heat, a second stick can be justified, drunk gradually rather than all at once. Do not exceed the dose stated on the packaging, which is what counts, and take account of the sodium already supplied by your meals if you follow a low-salt diet.

Is there sugar or caffeine in it?

Neither. That is a point that sets this product apart from a classic sports drink: it brings no carbohydrate and therefore does not replace an energy intake on a long outing. If you are looking for fuel as well as hydration, you need to pair it with a carbohydrate source such as maltodextrin or cyclic dextrin. The absence of caffeine, on the other hand, means it can be drunk in the evening without affecting sleep.

Are electrolytes needed on a ketogenic diet?

This is one of the few situations where the question arises outside sport. The first days of a very low-carbohydrate diet come with a greater than usual loss of water and sodium. Many people concerned increase their salt and magnesium intake for that reason. That said, a dietary change of that scale is something to discuss with a health professional, not with a supplement retailer.

Where do you find electrolytes?

In food first: mineral waters rich in magnesium, dried fruit, bananas, pulses, nuts and seeds, and quite simply table salt for sodium. As a supplement, from retailers specialising in sports nutrition — that is our aisle — and from pharmacies for medically-oriented solutions, which answer a different need. We stock this product in store and online.

Is it suitable for everyone?

This product is intended for adults. It is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women or for children without medical advice. In case of high blood pressure, kidney or heart failure, a sodium- or potassium-controlled diet, or diuretic treatment, ask your doctor before taking it: an additional mineral intake is not trivial in those situations.

At KISS NUTRITION

On the shelf in Vendargues, near Montpellier, and shipped throughout France. Browse the full electrolytes aisle and the RYSE range.

Food supplement. Does not replace a varied, balanced diet or a healthy lifestyle. Keep out of reach of young children. Do not exceed the recommended daily dose.

What is Sinob All Day Every Day?

Sinob All Day Every Day is a multivitamin packaged in daily sachets. Each sachet contains eight units — tablets, capsules and softgels — to be taken all at once. The box holds 30 of them, a full month.

The format is what really sets this product apart. Rather than a bottle you dip into, Sinob has prepared the doses in advance: you open a sachet, you swallow the contents, and that is that. For someone taking five different supplements and ending up forgetting two out of three, that detail changes more than any formulation argument. It is also the easiest format to take away with you. The rest of the German range can be found in our Sinob section.

The contents, for their part, go beyond the standard multivitamin: on top of the vitamin and mineral base, Sinob adds omega-3 in softgels, coenzyme Q10 and a joint complex built on glucosamine, chondroitin and MSM. In a single intake, it is the equivalent of three or four separate bottles.

What does a daily sachet contain?

We have to be clear here on a point that shapes how the whole of this page should be read: Sinob does not publish the quantities of its active ingredients in the information available to us. So we list what is declared present, and we write “not disclosed” wherever the figure is missing, rather than borrowing values found elsewhere.

This absence of figures has a direct consequence and it needs to be understood: without a declared quantity, no health claim can be made. A claim authorised in Europe is only valid from a significant quantity of the nutrient concerned. As long as Sinob does not publish its dosages, nobody — neither the brand nor us — can write that this product contributes to anything at all. That is the real weakness of this reference, and it has nothing to do with the quality of what is in the sachet.

A second inconsistency deserves flagging. The old description announced “12 vitamins” and then listed thirteen: A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B8, B9, B12, C, D, E and K. We do not know which one is surplus, and we will not decide in the manufacturer's place. Likewise, of the eight minerals announced, only calcium, magnesium and zinc are named.

What is certain, on the other hand, are the allergens, because they are declared: the sachet contains CRUSTACEANS, glucosamine being of marine origin, and GELATINE, which makes up the shell of at least one of the capsules. Those two statements rule the product out immediately for a share of buyers, and it is better to read them here than after delivery.

Declared ingredients list

Maltodextrose, glucosamine sulphate (from CRUSTACEANS), chondroitin sulphate, capsule (GELATINE), methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C), chelated minerals, vitamins, omega-3, coenzyme Q10. The manufacturer specifies that the detailed composition should be checked on the product's official labelling. Traces of other allergens are not ruled out depending on the formulation.

How do you take All Day Every Day?

Serving: one full sachet, that is eight units. Liquid: a large glass of water, 300 ml. Timing: in the morning, with breakfast. Frequency: one intake a day, never two. Duration: a box covers 30 days; use can be continuous or in repeated courses.

The meal is not optional here. The sachet contains omega-3 in softgels, coenzyme Q10 and several vitamins that are only absorbed properly in the presence of fat. A breakfast with eggs, a full-fat yoghurt or a handful of almonds makes a real difference compared with a black coffee downed standing up.

Eight units in one go can be a problem for some stomachs, especially if breakfast is light. Nothing stops you splitting the sachet in two, half at breakfast and half at lunch: the composition does not change, only the digestive load is spread out. That is what we systematically advise anyone who is not used to swallowing tablets.

Do not stack it with other supplements containing the same elements. That is the most important rule with a product this broad: if you already take vitamin D, omega 3 or zinc alongside it, you are adding up without knowing it, and the absence of published dosages makes the sum impossible to work out. A product of this kind is taken on its own, or with supplements whose contents you know precisely.

Who is All Day Every Day for, and who is it not for?

It suits someone who wants to simplify a routine that has become unmanageable, who travels often, or who has never managed to keep to a regular intake with separate bottles. On that ground, the sachet format is genuinely superior, and that is reason enough to choose it.

It is not for people who are allergic to crustaceans: the glucosamine comes from them, and that is a firm contraindication, not a precaution. Nor is it for vegetarians or vegans, because of the gelatine and the omega-3.

Three situations call for medical advice before any intake, and the manufacturer cites them explicitly: anticoagulant treatment, because of the chondroitin and the omega-3, which both interfere with clotting; kidney failure; pregnancy or breastfeeding. These are not decorative statements: the first, in particular, concerns a great many people and is settled in one sentence with your doctor.

What not to expect from it: this is not insurance against a poor diet. No sachet replaces vegetables, fish and sleep. Nor is it a product whose effect you feel — if you feel something within the week, it is probably not this. And without published dosages, there is no way to know whether a given element is present in a useful or a token amount. For an identified need, a targeted product with figures on the label remains more rational.

A daily sachet or separate supplements?

This is the underlying choice, and it sets two equally defensible approaches against each other.

The sachet wins on adherence, and adherence is the single biggest factor in how well any supplement works. A product taken every day for three months does more than a very well dosed product taken three times a week. It also wins on overall price: buying a multivitamin, omega-3, a coenzyme Q10 and a joint complex separately costs more than the box.

Separate supplements win on everything else. You know each dosage, you adjust what needs adjusting, you drop what you do not need, and you do not pay for a joint complex if your joints are fine. It is the better choice if you know precisely what you are looking for: in that case, a glucosamine dosed at 1,500 mg will do more than an unknown quantity buried in a sachet, and a vitamin C at 500 mg is a figure you can check.

Our position over the counter is simple: the sachet is the right product for someone who takes nothing and wants to start without complicating their life. Separate bottles are the right choice for someone who can read a label and wants to steer their intakes.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a box last?

Thirty days, at one sachet a day. Each sachet contains eight units between tablets, capsules and softgels. The format is calibrated for a one-month course, which matches the most common buying rhythm for this kind of product.

Can the sachet be split into two intakes?

Yes, with no drawback. Eight units in one go sit heavily on a stomach that is not used to it, especially if breakfast is light. Half in the morning and half at lunch changes nothing about the composition and clearly improves digestive comfort.

Is the product suitable for vegetarians?

No. Two ingredients rule it out: the gelatine in the shell of at least one capsule, and the omega-3, which is of marine origin. Glucosamine, sourced from crustaceans, adds to the list. For a vegetarian or vegan profile, you need to turn to references formulated specifically for that.

Why are the dosages not stated?

Because the manufacturer does not publish them in the information available to us. We would rather write that than borrow unsourced figures. The consequence is real: without a declared quantity, no health claim can be made for the vitamins and minerals in this formula, even though they are indeed present. The label on the box you receive is what counts.

Can it be combined with a whey or a pre-workout?

Without any difficulty, these are categories that do not overlap. What you should avoid, though, is stacking it with another product containing vitamins or minerals: the sum becomes impossible to calculate, and some elements such as zinc or vitamin A have daily limits that are best not crossed blindly.

Does it contain caffeine or a stimulant?

No, none at all. It is a baseline supplement, taken in the morning for the day, with no perceptible effect and no impact on sleep. There is nothing to stop you taking it at breakfast even if you train in the evening.

What should you do if you are on anticoagulant treatment?

Ask your doctor's advice before buying. Chondroitin and omega-3 both influence clotting, and the manufacturer explicitly flags this interaction. It is not an automatic contraindication, but it is a question for the doctor, not the retailer.

Where can you buy Sinob All Day Every Day?

The box of 30 sachets can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is the product we suggest to those who admit to having three half-used bottles in a cupboard since last winter: the best supplement is still the one you actually take. The rest of the range can be browsed in our sports nutrition section.

What is Sinob Citrulline Malate?

Sinob Citrulline Malate is a powdered L-citrulline malate for mixing, with no flavouring, no sweetener and no bulking agent. One 5 g scoop provides 3 g of citrulline malate as declared by the manufacturer, of which 1.875 g is L-citrulline, at a 2:1 ratio. It is taken one hour before training.

Citrulline is an amino acid the body makes itself and which is found above all in watermelon — Citrullus, hence the name. It serves as the raw material for arginine, which is itself the precursor of nitric oxide. That chain explains why citrulline has taken over from directly ingested arginine in pre-workout formulas.

The malate it comes paired with is not merely a manufacturing salt. It is malic acid, the molecule that gives a green apple its sharpness, and it is part of the cycle by which the cell produces energy. The 2:1 ratio means two parts citrulline to one part malate. The full German range can be browsed in our Sinob section, and the other products in the category in our citrulline section.

What does a dose of Citrulline Malate contain?

A point of honesty before going any further: the manufacturer's documentation contradicts itself on one detail. It states both an additive-free powder and 3 g of citrulline malate per 5 g scoop. We are reproducing the declared figures as they stand, without recalculating or correcting them. The official table appears on the packaging you will receive, and that is what counts.

What you need to know about dosages in this category, on the other hand, is perfectly clear. Published work on citrulline malate in strength training generally uses 6 to 8 g per serving. With one scoop, you are at 3 g. That is half a dose, and it is better to know it before buying: if you are aiming for the amounts used in the protocols, count on two scoops. The manufacturer allows for this itself, in fact, mentioning 6 to 8 g for sessions where the pump is the main objective.

On the regulatory side, let us be blunt: no health claim is authorised in Europe for citrulline. Not on performance, not on circulation, not on the muscle pump. So what we describe is an amino acid, its dosage and how to use it — not a promised result. The sensation of a pump during training is something many people report; it is not a claim, and we will not present it as one.

The manufacturer declares a powder with no allergens in the composition, suitable for vegan diets, gluten-free and lactose-free, and states that it is made in Germany.

Data missing from the manufacturer's documentation: the net weight of the tub, and therefore the number of servings, is not disclosed. We will not infer it; the net content is shown on the packaging.

Ingredients list

L-citrulline malate (2:1 ratio). No additives, no flavouring, no sweetener, no colouring.

No allergens declared in the composition by the manufacturer.

How should Citrulline Malate be taken?

Dose: 5 g, i.e. one scoop, up to 6 to 8 g for long sessions. Liquid: 200 to 300 ml of cold water. Timing: 60 minutes before training. Frequency: one serving on training days; 3 g spread through the day for maintenance. Duration: no fixed course, occasional use around sessions.

Timing genuinely matters with this product, unlike many others. Sixty minutes is not a comfort margin: it is the time needed for citrulline to be absorbed, pass through the kidney and be converted into arginine. Taking it ten minutes before starting your session amounts to drinking it for nothing. If you are setting off from home, take it as you close the front door, not when you reach the changing room.

Dissolving it takes a little effort: citrulline malate is an acidic powder that settles at the bottom of the glass if you leave it standing. Shake it hard, drink it straight away, and rinse the glass — the acidity leaves a sticky residue if you wait.

The taste is decidedly sour and bitter, with no flavouring to mask it. That is the price of a pure powder. Two solutions: mix it into an already flavoured training drink, or add it to your usual pre-workout, where it will go unnoticed. Do not sweeten it at the last minute with fruit juice for a fasted session, as you would be adding carbohydrates without meaning to.

It combines without overlap with beta-alanine, which works through an entirely different mechanism, and with creatine monohydrate, whose value for strength is far better documented than that of citrulline.

Who is Citrulline Malate for, and who is it not for?

It is aimed at an adult training for resistance or endurance who wants to put together their own pre-workout rather than buy a ready-made formula. That is where its real value lies: a bare powder, dosable to the gram, with no caffeine or flavouring imposed on you.

It calls for caution if your blood pressure is low. The manufacturer mentions this explicitly, because of the vasodilatory effect expected from the arginine-nitric oxide pathway. Likewise, if you are on cardiovascular medication, an interaction is possible: that question is one for your doctor before you buy, and the answer cannot be guessed.

It is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women without the advice of a healthcare professional. The manufacturer recommends starting at 3 g to assess your tolerance: that is sensible advice, digestive discomfort being the side effect most frequently reported with this kind of powder at high doses.

What not to expect from it. It does not replace a complete pre-workout: there is no caffeine here, no stimulant, no electrolyte. You will not feel a kick. It does not build muscle and it does not burn fat. And at 3 g per scoop, it is below the amounts used in the published protocols — that is the most important point on this page, and it is why we are repeating it.

Citrulline malate or arginine?

This is the most useful comparison in the category, and it settles fairly clearly.

Arginine taken orally undergoes substantial breakdown in the gut and the liver before it reaches the bloodstream. A sizeable share of what you swallow never arrives where it is supposed to act. That is a documented fact, and it is the reason citrulline has taken its place in most modern formulas.

Citrulline bypasses that stage: it is converted into arginine in the kidney, downstream of the digestive filter. At an equivalent dose, it therefore raises circulating arginine more than arginine itself does. That is the reasoning behind its commercial success, and it stands up.

When does arginine remain the right choice? When you are specifically after that molecule for a use documented elsewhere, or when you can find it at a solid dose for a lower budget. Our L-arginine section offers it in isolated form. And if you would rather have a complete stimulant-free formula, our pre workout without creatine section brings together ready-made products, generally dosed at 6 g of citrulline or more.

Frequently asked questions

How much citrulline per scoop?

3 g of citrulline malate as declared by the manufacturer per 5 g scoop, of which 1.875 g is L-citrulline at a 2:1 ratio. Published strength-training protocols tend to use 6 to 8 g of citrulline malate: count on two scoops if you want to get close to that.

Why take it an hour before the session?

Because citrulline has to be absorbed and then converted into arginine by the kidney before it has any effect at all. That journey takes time. A serving ten minutes before the warm-up arrives too late: sixty minutes is the interval the manufacturer settles on, and it is a coherent one.

What does this powder taste like?

Sour and bitter, with no flavouring to soften it. That is the trade-off of a pure powder, free of sweeteners and colourings. Most users mix it into an already flavoured training drink or into their usual pre-workout.

Citrulline malate or pure citrulline?

Malate is malic acid, a molecule from the cell's energy cycle, not merely a manufacturing salt. Weight for weight, a pure citrulline provides more citrulline; at an equal citrulline dose, the two are equivalent. Always compare the “of which L-citrulline” line, not the total weight.

Can it be combined with a caffeinated pre-workout?

Yes, without any overlap: citrulline is not a stimulant and provides no caffeine. That is in fact the most common way of using it, all the more so as its taste then goes unnoticed. Simply check that your pre-workout does not already contain some, otherwise you would be doubling the dose without knowing it.

Should it be taken on rest days?

It is not necessary. Unlike creatine or beta-alanine, which load into the muscle over several weeks, citrulline acts when you take it. The manufacturer does, however, mention 3 g spread through the day for maintenance, which remains optional.

Is this powder suitable for vegans?

The manufacturer declares a vegan product, gluten-free, lactose-free and with no allergens in the composition. It is a synthetically produced amino acid, with no raw material of animal origin.

Where can you buy Sinob Citrulline Malate?

The tub can be ordered from this page, and we ship anywhere in France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, around ten minutes from Montpellier, this is the product we bring out for customers who want to put together their own pre-workout: a bare powder costs less than a ready-made formula and you decide on the dose. The rest of the range can be browsed in our sports nutrition selection.

What is Sinob Collagen Flex & Glow?

Sinob Collagen Flex & Glow is a neutral-tasting collagen peptide powder, dosed at 12 g of peptides per 15 g serving. The 300 g tub contains 20 servings.

Its distinctive feature lies in how those 12 g are split between three different patented peptides: 40% Tendoforte®, 40% Fortigel® and 20% Verisol®, i.e. 4.8 g, 4.8 g and 2.4 g per serving respectively. These three names do not denote three collagens of different kinds: they are bovine hydrolysates cut to distinct peptide profiles, each produced by a process specific to the raw-material manufacturer. It is the only product in the category to state a split by figures across three patents, and that is what sets it apart.

Around these peptides, the formula adds hyaluronic acid, silicon-rich bamboo leaf extract, zinc bisglycinate, biotin and copper gluconate. The rest of the German range is listed in our Sinob category.

What does a 15 g serving contain?

The manufacturer publishes neither the energy values nor the macronutrients of its product in the information available to us. We will not recalculate them.

12 g of peptides per serving is a serious dose and it is the first thing to check on a collagen. The published protocols use amounts between 2.5 g and 10 g depending on the type of peptide targeted, and many products on the market stop at 5 g per serving, banking on the name of the patent rather than on the quantity. Here the dose is straightforward and the split is stated, which lets you know exactly what you are taking.

We do, however, need to be clear about what the law allows us to write. No health claim is authorised in Europe for collagen, in any form whatsoever: not for joints, not for tendons, not for skin, not for hair. That is true of Tendoforte®, Fortigel® and Verisol® just as it is of any generic hydrolysate. The dossiers submitted were not approved by EFSA. So we can tell you what the powder contains and at what dose; we cannot promise you anything, and a seller who does so is operating outside the legal framework.

Claims do exist, on the other hand, for three of the micronutrients in the formula. Zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal skin, hair and nails, copper contributes to the maintenance of normal connective tissues, and biotin contributes to the maintenance of normal hair and normal skin. The problem is that those three are not quantified in the published information: with no declared amount, none of these claims can be made for this particular product. That is the genuine weak point of this reference, and it is easy to put right — the manufacturer would simply have to publish its figures.

The same applies to the hyaluronic acid and the bamboo extract, whose amounts are not disclosed and for which no claim exists in any case.

List of ingredients

Bovine collagen hydrolysate (patented blend: Tendoforte® 40%, Fortigel® 40%, Verisol® 20%), hyaluronic acid (sodium hyaluronate), silicon-rich bamboo leaf extract, zinc bisglycinate, D-biotin, copper gluconate. Gluten-free, lactose-free, no artificial colouring, no preservatives. The manufacturer notes that traces are possible depending on the origin of the collagen.

How should Collagen Flex & Glow be taken?

Dose: 15 g, roughly one scoop. Liquid: 300 ml of water, juice, smoothie or a hot drink. Timing: in the morning on an empty stomach, or after training. Frequency: one serving a day. Duration: the manufacturer recommends 8 to 12 weeks minimum, with continued use thereafter.

Solubility is the product's strong point: the collagen peptides dissolve in hot and cold liquids alike, without lumps and without taste. You can therefore add it to a coffee, a soup, a yoghurt or a cake batter without changing the recipe at all. That is a real advantage over a three-month course, because it is what stops you forgetting.

Duration is by far the most important parameter. With this type of product, the published protocols run over 8 to 12 weeks minimum, and nothing can be judged in two weeks. The 20-serving tub only covers twenty days: you need three to four tubs to see a first course through, and that is worth knowing before you buy the first one.

The manufacturer advises pairing each serving with a source of vitamin C. The reason is a real one: vitamin C is the essential cofactor for the body's own collagen synthesis, and it is the only ingredient in this story to have an authorised claim — it contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of skin, bones and cartilage. A glass of orange juice or a tablet at the same time costs little and makes sense.

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

It suits an adult ready to commit over several months, who prefers a neutral powder to multiple capsules, and who wants to know the exact split of what they are buying rather than a single overall total.

It is not suitable for vegetarians or vegans: the hydrolysate is of bovine origin, and plant-based collagen does not exist — the products that claim to be so provide synthesis cofactors, not collagen. Nor is it suitable for people allergic to bovine products, and the manufacturer notes that traces are possible depending on the origin of the raw material.

The manufacturer advises against it for pregnant and breastfeeding women, asks for medical advice in the case of clotting disorders, and notes possible interactions with certain medicines. These warnings should be taken seriously, particularly the second if you are on anticoagulant treatment.

What you should not expect from it: it is not a treatment for osteoarthritis, it is not a skincare product, and it will have no visible effect in three weeks. Nor is it a useful protein source for building muscle — collagen is an incomplete protein, very low in tryptophan, and the 12 g it provides are not worth 12 g of protein powder for that purpose. Any question about established joint pain is a matter for your doctor, not for a tub of powder.

Collagen or a glucosamine joint complex?

This is the most common trade-off in this category, and the two products are not aiming at the same thing.

A complex based on glucosamine, chondroitin and MSM provides components of the cartilage itself, at doses of the order of a gram, in tablets to be taken daily. It is the better choice if your concern is strictly about joints, if you prefer tablets to a powder, and if you are not allergic to shellfish — glucosamine is most often derived from it. It requires medical advice in the case of diabetes or anticoagulant treatment.

Collagen has a broader reach: tendons, ligaments, skin, nails. It is the better choice if what you are looking for goes beyond joints alone, if you are allergic to shellfish, or if you prefer a neutral powder to add to your morning coffee. Its drawback is bulk: 15 g a day is a dose no tablet can deliver, and it means a daily routine.

On the regulatory side, neither of the two has an authorised claim in Europe. On that basis, the only objective selection criteria left are the stated dosage, the published split and your ability to see the course through. The full category can be compared in our sports nutrition section.

Frequently asked questions

How many servings are there in a tub?

Twenty, at 15 g per serving for 300 g of powder. That is not much given the recommended length of the course: three to four tubs are needed to cover the 8 to 12 weeks indicated by the manufacturer. Better to know that before the first purchase than during the third.

What is the difference between Tendoforte, Fortigel and Verisol?

They are three bovine collagen hydrolysates cut to different peptide profiles, produced by processes specific to the raw-material manufacturer. They differ neither in origin nor in nature, but in the size and sequence of the fragments obtained. Here the split is 40%, 40% and 20%, which gives 4.8 g, 4.8 g and 2.4 g per serving.

Does the product have a taste?

No, it is neutral, and that is one of its genuine strengths. It dissolves in hot and cold liquids alike without forming lumps, which means you can add it to a coffee, a soup, a yoghurt or a cooked dish. Over a long course, that absence of taste counts for more than people think.

How long before you can judge?

Not before eight weeks, and twelve is more realistic. That is the length of the published protocols on this type of peptide, and it is what the manufacturer recommends. A two-week trial allows no conclusion, one way or the other.

Is this collagen suitable for vegetarians?

No. The hydrolysate is of bovine origin, and there is no such thing as collagen of plant origin: the products sold as such provide synthesis cofactors — vitamin C, silicon, zinc — but no collagen. For a vegetarian diet, it is those cofactors you should turn to.

Should it be taken with vitamin C?

That is the most useful piece of advice on this page. Vitamin C is the cofactor for the body's own collagen synthesis, and it is the only ingredient in this family to have an authorised claim in Europe. A glass of orange juice at the time of the serving is enough, and so is a tablet.

Why are the zinc and biotin dosages not stated?

Because the manufacturer does not publish them in the information available to us. The consequence is concrete: with no declared amount, no claim can be made for these micronutrients, even though they are indeed present. If zinc is your main requirement, a product with a stated dose is more sensible.

Where can you buy Sinob Collagen Flex & Glow?

The 300 g tub can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At our Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is the product in front of which we talk about the calendar first: one tub is never enough with a collagen, and it is better to say so at the first purchase than to discover it at the third. The other joint formulas can be compared in our curcumin category and in the neighbouring ones.

What is Sinob Complete Mobility Forte?

Sinob Complete Mobility Forte is a powdered joint formula to be mixed with water, in an orange flavour. The daily dose of 22.6 g brings together 5 g of glycine, 500 mg of glucosamine sulphate, 400 mg of chondroitin sulphate, 300 mg of MSM, 250 mg of boswellia, 200 mg of cissus, 150 mg of curcumin, 80 mg of vitamin C and 10 mg of zinc. The 474 g tub covers 20 days.

What sets this product apart is its format as much as its formula. Joint complexes are almost always sold as capsules, at two to four a day. Here everything goes through a powder you drink, split into three servings of 7.5 g. That takes more effort to prepare, but it makes room for a glycine dose no capsule could ever hold.

The 5 g of glycine is in fact the real marker of this formula. It is the most abundant amino acid in collagen, where it accounts for roughly one residue in three, and that is what explains why it heads the ingredient list. The rest of the German range can be browsed in our Sinob aisle, and the other products in the category in our glucosamine aisle.

What does a daily dose of Complete Mobility Forte contain?

Of the nine quantified actives, only two carry claims authorised in Europe, and that has to be said up front. Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of cartilage and bones, and zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal bones. Those are the official wordings, and the 80 mg of vitamin C and the 10 mg of zinc each cover 100% of the nutrient reference value, which is amply enough to qualify.

For everything else — glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, boswellia, cissus, curcumin, glycine — no health claim is authorised at European level. These are ingredients cleared for sale, described here for what they are, but nothing can be promised for them. A seller who tells you that glucosamine rebuilds cartilage has stepped outside the rules.

Now let us look at the doses without flinching, because that is where this product sits. The published protocols on glucosamine use 1,500 mg a day, and 1,200 mg for chondroitin. Here you are at 500 mg and 400 mg, roughly a third in both cases. MSM, at 300 mg, is also well below the amounts usually studied. These three actives are therefore present at supporting doses, not at reference doses.

Conversely, the 5 g of glycine is a straightforward dose, and curcumin at 150 mg is respectable for an extract. The logic of the formula is therefore clear: build around glycine and vitamin C, then fill out with a broad spread rather than with two or three heavily dosed actives. It is a defensible choice, provided you know what you are buying.

Data missing from the manufacturer's file: the amounts of devil's claw, nettle extract, pine bark extract and bromelain are not disclosed, even though these ingredients do appear on the list. We will not estimate them.

Ingredients list

Glycine, Asthisamharaka extract 5:1 (Cissus quadrangularis), glucosamine sulphate, MSM, flavouring, acidity regulator (citric acid), frankincense powder (Boswellia serrata), chondroitin sulphate, L-ascorbic acid, powdered orange juice, devil's claw powder, nettle extract 10:1, pine bark extract, bromelain, sweetener (sucralose).

May contain traces of GLUTEN, EGGS, MILK, FISH and SOYA. Not recommended in cases of allergy to CRUSTACEANS, since glucosamine is generally derived from them.

How do you take Complete Mobility Forte?

Dose: 22.6 g a day, i.e. three servings of 7.5 g, one scoop per serving. Liquid: 200 to 250 ml of water per serving. Timing: morning, midday and early evening. Frequency: three servings daily. Duration: a course of three months minimum; the manufacturer puts the first noticeable effects at between four and six weeks.

Splitting the dose into three is not gratuitous complication, but it is demanding and we should be honest about that: it is the main obstacle to sticking with this product. Drinking a glass at a set time three times a day, every day for three months, takes real organisation. If you know in advance that you will not manage it, a joint complex in capsule form will do more for you — not because it is a better product, but because you will actually take it.

The powder is orange-flavoured, with a spicy note coming from the turmeric and the frankincense. It mixes into water without difficulty, but shake it properly: plant extracts have a tendency to settle. Drink immediately after preparing.

The three-month duration is the most important parameter in these instructions. On a joint product, two weeks prove nothing at all, and many buyers give up after one tub, concluding that "it does not work". One tub covers 20 days; a full course therefore takes four to five. That is a budget, and it is better to have it in mind at the first purchase than at the third.

The product combines without overlap with an omega 3, with an additional intake of L-glycine if you are aiming higher, or with a more heavily dosed turmeric extract if that is the active you are interested in.

Who is Complete Mobility Forte for, and who is it not for?

It is aimed at an adult who puts demands on their joints: contact sports, running, heavy loads, or simply years of practice. The powder format suits people who already drink shakes and for whom one more glass changes very little.

It is not suitable in cases of allergy to crustaceans. Glucosamine is almost always extracted from crustacean shells, and the manufacturer flags this explicitly. It is the most concrete contraindication on this page, and it is absolute.

It is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women, or for children. The French national food safety agency also calls for caution over glucosamine for people who are diabetic or pre-diabetic and for those on vitamin K antagonist anticoagulant treatment: in these situations, medical advice is essential before buying. The formula also contains sucralose, to be ruled out if you avoid artificial sweeteners.

What you should not expect from it, and this is the part nobody writes. This product does not treat osteoarthritis, does not repair damaged cartilage and does not replace any treatment. Joint pain that persists, that wakes you at night or that comes with swelling is a matter for a doctor, not for a powder you drink. Nor does it excuse you from the work that really counts on painful joints: progressive strength training, load management, and rest when rest is needed.

Joint powder or collagen?

The two products sit side by side on the shelf and many customers hesitate, often for the wrong reasons.

A collagen, particularly in peptide form, supplies protein raw material in large quantity — generally 10 g per serving — of which glycine alone makes up close to a third. It is simple to take, mixes into anything, costs less per dose and pairs very well with vitamin C. If your aim is a broad, regular intake over the long term, our collagen aisle is the right starting point.

This complex does something else: it stacks nine different actives around a glycine base. That is choosing breadth rather than quantity. It makes sense if you want to try glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, boswellia and curcumin without buying five tubs — bearing in mind that none of them is present at the dose used in the published protocols.

When is neither of them the answer? If you are after one specific active at a full dose. Glucosamine at 1,500 mg, MSM at 3 g or a heavily dosed curcumin can be found as standalone products and will cost less than the same active buried in a complex. Our vitamin C aisle also lets you top up the intake that normal collagen formation depends on.

Frequently asked questions

How long does one tub last?

474 g for a daily dose of 22.6 g: 20 days, so a little under a month. Since the recommended course is three months minimum, count on four to five tubs for a full course. That is budget information you are better off having at the first purchase.

Why three servings a day?

The manufacturer splits the 22.6 g into three servings of 7.5 g, in the morning, at midday and in the early evening. That is the intended protocol and it is also the product's main constraint: if you know you will not keep up three glasses a day for three months, a capsule complex will fit your daily life better.

Are the glucosamine and chondroitin doses high enough?

They are around three times lower than the amounts in the published protocols, which use 1,500 mg of glucosamine and 1,200 mg of chondroitin a day. Here it is 500 and 400 mg. These are supporting doses within a broad formula, not reference doses, and that is important to know before buying.

Is this product suitable in cases of allergy to crustaceans?

No. Glucosamine is generally derived from crustacean shells and the manufacturer formally advises against the product in that case. There is no glucosamine-free version of this reference: turn instead to a collagen or to a complex that contains none.

How long before you notice anything?

The manufacturer puts the first noticeable effects at between four and six weeks, and recommends a course of three months minimum. In this category, judging a product after two weeks makes no sense. Note that the sensation remains subjective: no effect is guaranteed, and none may be promised.

What does this powder taste like?

Orange, with a spicy note coming from the turmeric and the frankincense. The manufacturer uses powdered orange juice and a flavouring, with sucralose as the sweetener. Shake it properly before drinking: plant extracts settle at the bottom of the glass.

Can it be combined with a collagen?

Yes, without problematic overlap. The collagen will supply more glycine and proline, this complex supplies the plant extracts and the minerals. Simply check the vitamin C content of both products, which can add up without causing any difficulty at these levels.

Where can you buy Sinob Complete Mobility Forte?

The 474 g tub can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, we systematically ask two questions before selling it: are you allergic to crustaceans, and are you prepared to drink three glasses a day for three months. The second makes more people back out than the first, and that is a good thing: a tub bought and then abandoned serves nobody. The rest of the aisle can be browsed in our sports nutrition selection.

What is Sinob Core L-Arginine AAKG?

Sinob Core AAKG is a powdered amino acid for mixing with liquid, sold in a 300 g tub, which works out at 30 servings of 10 g. Its only ingredient is L-arginine alpha-ketoglutarate, a salt in which arginine is bound to alpha-ketoglutarate, an intermediate of the Krebs cycle. No sweeteners, no flavourings, no colourings, no preservatives: the powder is unadulterated and so is its taste.

The product belongs to our L-arginine range. Sinob is a German brand whose line-up we stock in the Sinob range. The formulation contains no ingredients of animal origin and the manufacturer declares no allergens.

What does a serving of Core AAKG contain?

A 10 g serving provides 10 g of L-arginine alpha-ketoglutarate, of which 6.567 g is L-arginine and 3.433 g is alpha-ketoglutarate. Expressed per 100 g, that comes to 65.67 g of arginine.

This is the only figure that matters when comparing two products, and it is rarely put front and centre. “10 g of AAKG” is not “10 g of arginine”: a third of the powder's weight is alpha-ketoglutarate. Set against an arginine HCl, whose arginine share is higher, the comparison has to be made gram of arginine against gram of arginine, price included.

One clarification is called for here: other contents are quoted for this product, notably a figure of 53.5%. We stand by the 65.67% given in our labelling data, and we are flagging the discrepancy rather than quietly passing over it. If in doubt, the value printed on the tub you receive is the one that counts.

A final point of context: arginine carries no authorised health claim in Europe. What we are describing, then, is a formulation, a dose and a format, not an expected effect. The full nutritional breakdown is set out in the tabs on this page.

How do you take Sinob Core AAKG?

The recommended dose is 10 g per day, that is one level scoop, mixed into 200 ml of water or juice and shaken for around thirty seconds in a shaker. Drink immediately after preparing.

The manufacturer settles on one serving a day, in the morning on an empty stomach, or 30 minutes before training on session days. Do not exceed 10 g per day: that is the limit stated on the label. As for duration, it advises cycling 8 weeks of use followed by 2 weeks off. The 30-serving tub therefore covers a month of daily use, or roughly two and a half months if you take it only on training days.

Two practical remarks. The taste is frankly sour and bitter — that is the trade-off of an unflavoured powder; citrus juice makes it far more drinkable than a plain glass of water. And 10 g of an amino acid on an empty stomach does not suit every stomach: nausea, bloating or loose stools should prompt you to cut back or stop. A decent shaker is not a luxury, since the powder dissolves poorly when stirred with a spoon.

Who is Core AAKG for, and who is it not for?

The product is intended for adults. It is suitable for vegetarian and vegan diets, as its formulation contains no ingredients of animal origin, and the manufacturer declares no gluten, no lactose and no soya.

It is not suitable for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. The manufacturer contraindicates it in people who have had a myocardial infarction: this statement appears explicitly on the label and should be taken seriously. It also advises against using it in cases of recurrent herpes, as arginine may encourage outbreaks — this is the most frequently asked question about this amino acid, and the answer here is no. Keep out of reach of children under 3. If you are undergoing medical treatment, seek advice from a healthcare professional before use.

What you should not expect from it: since no health claim is authorised for arginine, this product promises nothing regarding circulation, performance or recovery, and we are not going to write otherwise. Nor is it a strength product: on that front, creatine monohydrate is better established and costs less per day.

Core AAKG or citrulline?

This is the decisive comparison, and it starts with this product's own billing, which highlights superior absorption. The implicit comparison is with L-arginine hydrochloride, the most widespread form. It is not documented by any health authority, and we will not be repeating the multipliers — “three times more”, “ten times more” — commonly read about this type of formula: those figures have no verifiable source.

More importantly, the fundamental issue lies elsewhere. The limiting factor for orally taken arginine is not the salt chosen but a substantial first-pass effect: a significant share is broken down by arginase in the gut and the liver before it reaches the circulation. Switching salts does not remove that mechanism. L-citrulline, by contrast, largely escapes it and is then converted into arginine in the kidney: taken orally, citrulline raises plasma arginine more effectively than arginine itself, whatever its form. That is established, and it does not work in AAKG's favour.

Citrulline is therefore the better choice in the most common use case: a serving before the session. It is generally better tolerated digestively at an equivalent dose, and its taste, though sour, remains more palatable. It is also what you will find in most of the complete pre-workouts in the range, which have largely swapped it in for arginine.

Core AAKG keeps two situations for itself. The first: you want a single-ingredient product, with no sweetener or flavouring, so you can build your own pre-workout and set each dose yourself. The second: you are specifically after the alpha-ketoglutarate intake, which citrulline does not provide. Outside those two cases, citrulline is the more rational choice, and we would rather say so than sell at all costs the very product page you are reading.

Frequently asked questions

How much arginine is there really in a 10 g serving?

6.567 g of arginine and 3.433 g of alpha-ketoglutarate, which is 65.67% arginine. That is the figure to remember when comparing with another product: a label stating “10 g of AAKG” is not stating 10 g of arginine, and the real price difference is worked out per gram of arginine, not per gram of powder.

Can you take it if you have herpes?

The manufacturer advises against it in cases of recurrent herpes, as arginine may encourage outbreaks. This is the precaution most often looked up about this amino acid, and it appears explicitly on the label. If it applies to you, this product is not for you; speak to your doctor or your pharmacist about it.

What does the powder taste like, and how do you make it drinkable?

Sour and bitter, with nothing to mask it since the formula contains neither flavouring nor sweetener. A 200 ml citrus juice goes down far better than still water, and the acidity of the juice works with that of the powder. Shake for thirty seconds in a shaker: stirred with a spoon, it dissolves badly.

How long does the 300 g tub last?

Thirty days with daily use, or roughly two and a half months if you keep it for training days at three sessions a week. With the 8-week cycling the manufacturer advises, one tub does not cover a full cycle under daily use.

Should it be taken on an empty stomach or with a meal?

The manufacturer settles on the morning on an empty stomach or 30 minutes before the session. A protein-rich meal eaten just before puts other amino acids in competition for intestinal transport. If 10 g on an empty stomach makes you feel nauseous, taking it becomes uncomfortable: better then to reduce the dose than to press on.

Can it be combined with citrulline or with a pre-workout?

There is nothing against it, but the benefit is limited: both target the same pathway, and citrulline does it better orally. If you are already taking a complete pre-workout, check its formulation before adding this product, as most already contain several grams of citrulline. Stacking is no substitute for dosing.

Does the product contain additives or allergens?

No. The only ingredient is L-arginine alpha-ketoglutarate, with no sweetener, flavouring, colouring or preservative, and the manufacturer declares no allergens. That is this line's main selling point: a single-component powder whose dosing is entirely under your control.

Where can you buy Sinob Core L-Arginine AAKG?

You can order it on this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is typically the product on which we take the time to ask the question before selling: for most pre-session uses, citrulline remains the best value for money, and it is better to hear that over the counter than after buying. All our amino acids can be found in our sports nutrition range.

What is Sinob Core Beta-Alanine?

Sinob Core Beta-Alanine is a pure beta-alanine powder, with no flavouring, no sweetener and no bulking agent. The daily dose is 4 g, i.e. 4,000 mg of beta-alanine, to be split into four one-gram servings. The powder is unflavoured and mixes just as well into water as into a shaker.

Beta-alanine is a non-essential amino acid, meaning the body is able to make it itself. What sets it apart is that it is not used to build proteins: it combines with histidine to form carnosine, a dipeptide that accumulates in skeletal muscle. And it is the availability of beta-alanine, never that of histidine, that limits how much is produced.

That is the whole logic behind the product: you supply the limiting link. This mechanism also explains why beta-alanine is not taken like a pre-workout — it does nothing at the moment you take it, it loads into the muscle over several weeks. The rest of the German range can be browsed in our Sinob section, and the other products in the category in our beta-alanine section.

What does a dose of Core Beta-Alanine contain?

4 g a day is the benchmark dose for this category, not a token amount put on the label. Published protocols generally use 3.2 to 6.4 g a day, with most sitting around 4 to 5 g. So you are at the upper end of common practice, with a powder that contains nothing else. The manufacturer allows for up to 5 g a day for athletes who tolerate it well, and 0.8 g per serving taken five times a day for those who are more sensitive.

Unusable data in the manufacturer's file: the energy values and macronutrients given per 100 g are inconsistent with each other and with the serving. We are not reproducing them rather than publishing figures that do not add up. On a powder declared 100% pure, those lines carry no useful information anyway: what matters is the grams of beta-alanine.

On the regulatory side, let us be clear: no health claim is authorised in Europe for beta-alanine. Not for endurance, not for performance, not for muscular fatigue. What we are describing here is an amino acid, its biochemical role in producing carnosine and how to use it. We promise no results, and you should be wary of any seller who does.

The manufacturer declares a powder with no allergens in the composition, suitable for vegan, halal, gluten-free and lactose-free diets. It is a free-form amino acid powder, obtained by synthesis, with no raw material of animal origin.

Data missing from the manufacturer's file: the net weight of the tub, and therefore the number of doses, is not disclosed. The net content is shown on the packaging you receive.

Ingredients list

Beta-alanine (100%). No additives, no flavouring, no sweetener, no colouring, no bulking agent.

No allergens declared in the composition by the manufacturer.

How do you take Core Beta-Alanine?

Dose: 4 g a day in total. Liquid: 200 ml of cold water per serving. Timing: whenever you like — the time of day makes no difference at all with this product. Frequency: 4 servings of 1 g, spaced 3 to 4 hours apart. Duration: continuous use, with a 2 to 4 week loading phase before muscle stores are replenished.

Splitting the dose into four servings is the only thing that really matters here, and it has nothing to do with absorption. Its purpose is to limit paraesthesia: the tingling on the face, scalp, back of the neck or forearms that beta-alanine causes from roughly 800 mg to 1 g taken in one go. Spreading the dose out makes the phenomenon disappear for most people. Taking it with a meal also reduces it.

That tingling is harmless and short-lived — it appears fifteen to twenty minutes after taking the powder and lasts around half an hour. It tells you absolutely nothing about how well the product is working, however: someone who does not feel it is not loading their carnosine any less well than someone who does. Do not go looking to trigger it.

A second counter-intuitive point: the time of day is irrelevant. Contrary to what you read everywhere, taking your beta-alanine before training achieves nothing. It does nothing at the moment you take it. What counts is the total amount built up day after day, rest days included, competition days included. Missing the odd serving has no consequences; stopping for three weeks does.

It combines without overlap with creatine monohydrate, which acts on a different energy system, and with citrulline in a pre-session drink you put together yourself. You can also simply add it to your pre-workout, provided you check that it does not already contain some.

Who is Core Beta-Alanine for, and who is it not for?

It is of interest first and foremost to athletes whose efforts last between one and a few minutes at high intensity: long sets in the gym, CrossFit, swimming, track cycling, middle-distance running. That is the effort format in which muscle carnosine plays its buffering role.

It is of no interest whatsoever for very short efforts or for very long ones. A powerlifter doing sets of three reps will get nothing from it: over that duration, acidity does not have time to build up. Nor will a marathon runner, for the opposite reason. This is the kind of detail that stops you buying a product that does not match your training, and few sellers take the trouble to spell it out.

It is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women without advice from a healthcare professional. Sensitive individuals should start at 0.8 g per serving, as the manufacturer provides for, before increasing.

What you should not expect from it. It does not give you energy, it does not wake you up and it contains no stimulants. It is not a substitute for a pre-workout. It will neither build muscle nor burn fat. And above all, it produces nothing in the first week: if you are expecting an immediate effect, you will be disappointed and you will stop before loading is complete. That is the most common mistake made with this product.

Beta-alanine or creatine?

The two powders are very similar in the way they are used — loading over several weeks, a daily serving, no immediate effect — and yet they do not serve the same kind of effort.

Creatine fuels the energy system used for very short, very intense efforts: a set of five heavy reps, a ten-second sprint. It is the best-documented supplement in the whole of sports nutrition, and if you were only ever to take one, it would be that one. Our Creapure section offers the most widely used patented form of it.

Beta-alanine takes over further along: it applies to efforts lasting from one to a few minutes, the ones where the burning sensation in the muscle sets in. That is different ground, and the two do not replace one another.

When is creatine clearly the better choice? If you are just starting out, if your budget is limited, or if your training is geared towards pure strength. Start with that, then add beta-alanine if your sessions involve plenty of long sets. And if you are after a product with an immediate effect for training, neither of the two fits the bill: look instead at our caffeine-free boosters or our EAAs.

Frequently asked questions

Why the tingling after taking it?

It is paraesthesia, caused by beta-alanine from roughly 800 mg to 1 g taken in a single go. It affects the face, the back of the neck or the forearms, appears after fifteen to twenty minutes and lasts half an hour. It is harmless and has no consequences. Splitting the dose or taking it with a meal makes it disappear.

Should it be taken before training?

No, and that is the main misconception about this product. Beta-alanine does nothing at the moment you take it: it loads into the muscle over several weeks. The time of day therefore matters little, only consistency counts. Take it on rest days too.

How long does it take to be fully loaded?

The manufacturer works on two to four weeks of continuous use to replenish muscle carnosine stores. That is the period to allow before judging anything at all. Stopping after ten days and concluding that the product is useless is the classic mistake in this category.

Can it be mixed with a protein or a pre-workout?

Yes, the powder is unflavoured and additive-free: it mixes into water, into a protein shake or into a training drink. Just check that your pre-workout does not already contain some, otherwise you would be doubling up without meaning to.

What dose for someone who is sensitive?

The manufacturer provides for 0.8 g per serving taken five times a day rather than 1 g four times. That brings the individual serving below the threshold that triggers the tingling in most people, while keeping the daily intake equivalent.

Is it useful for long-distance running?

Not really. Carnosine's buffering role applies to intense efforts lasting from one to a few minutes, not to prolonged efforts at moderate intensity. A marathon runner will get little out of it; a middle-distance runner or a CrossFit athlete, rather more. Choose according to the format of your efforts.

Is this powder suitable for vegans?

The manufacturer declares a vegan, halal, gluten-free and lactose-free product, with no allergens in the composition. It is an amino acid obtained by synthesis, with no raw material of animal origin.

Where can you buy Sinob Core Beta-Alanine?

The tub can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, we always warn people about two things before selling it: the tingling in the first few days, which takes a lot of people by surprise, and the fact that nothing will happen for two or three weeks. Customers who have been warned finish their tub; the others give up after a week. The rest of the range can be browsed in our sports nutrition selection.

What is Sinob Core Cluster Dextrine 1 kg?

Sinob Core Cluster Dextrine is a carbohydrate powder to be mixed with liquid, with no flavouring, no sweetener and no colouring. Per 100 g it provides 97.5 g of carbohydrate and 390 kcal; a 50 g serving represents 48.75 g of carbohydrate for 195 kcal. The one-kilogram tub covers 20 servings.

The raw material is a highly branched cyclic dextrin, sold under the name Cluster Dextrin®. It is obtained by an enzymatic cyclisation reaction applied to maize starch, a process that preserves the branched structure of amylopectin while producing very large molecules.

The figure that really sets this product apart from an ordinary maltodextrin is its molecular weight: around 400,000 g/mol, against 400 to 2,000 g/mol for a standard maltodextrin. That sounds abstract, but the consequence is very concrete and we come back to it below. The rest of the German range can be browsed in our Sinob aisle, and the other products in the category in our cyclic dextrin aisle.

What is in a serving of Cluster Dextrine?

Let us come back to the molecular weight, because it is the central argument for this product and it is rarely explained well. A very large molecule takes up little “osmotic space” in the stomach: the osmotic pressure of this powder is stated at between 59 and 160 mOsm, which is very low. In practice, that means a concentrated drink leaves the stomach without drawing water into it or causing the bloated feeling that very sweet drinks produce. That is the real benefit of this raw material, and it is a digestive one.

The trade-off is the price: cyclic dextrin is markedly more expensive per kilo than a maltodextrin or a waxy maize. You are paying for digestive comfort, not for extra fuel. A gram of carbohydrate is still a gram of carbohydrate, wherever it comes from.

The powder is neutral in taste and dissolves completely, cold or warm, in fifteen to twenty seconds. That is a real advantage on long efforts, where a drink that is too sweet ends up becoming sickly and stops being drunk — and a drink you do not drink is of no use at all.

Worth knowing: this powder provides no sodium, the salt line being under 0.01 g per 100 g. It is therefore not a complete sports drink. On a long ride or in hot weather, plan for separate electrolytes.

Missing from the manufacturer's file: the “of which sugars” line, although mandatory in a nutrition table, is not disclosed. We will not estimate it; it appears on the packaging you receive.

Ingredient list

Maltodextrin (100%), from the patented Cluster Dextrin® raw material — a highly branched cyclic dextrin obtained by enzymatic processing of maize starch.

No allergen declared in the formulation. Naturally gluten free. Suitable for vegetarian and vegan diets. The manufacturer does not specify any possible traces from the production facility.

How do you take Cluster Dextrine?

Serving: 50 g, that is about four tablespoons. Liquid: 300 ml of cold or lukewarm water. Timing: 30 to 60 minutes before exercise, during efforts lasting more than 90 minutes, or immediately after the session. Frequency: according to your sessions, with no daily intake required. Duration: no course to complete, this is a product for occasional use.

Shake vigorously for fifteen to twenty seconds: the solution becomes perfectly clear, with no sediment at the bottom of the shaker. That is a good indicator of complete dissolution, and one of the rare cases where you can see with the naked eye that the product has mixed.

We have to be straight about one point in the manufacturer's protocol. For endurance sports, it mentions 100 to 150 g of carbohydrate per hour of exercise. That is a lot, and we will not endorse it. Beyond roughly 60 g per hour from a single carbohydrate source, the body no longer oxidises the surplus and the excess stays in the digestive tract: that is the recipe for gastric trouble in a race. The protocols that go higher combine several sugars using different transporters, which is not the case here. Stay in the 40 to 60 g per hour range and you will already be well served.

For a weight training session, 50 g before or after is more than enough. For an effort of more than 90 minutes, the manufacturer suggests 15 to 30 g every 45 minutes, which is sensible. In recovery, the classic carbohydrate plus protein combination applies here as elsewhere: one serving with a scoop of protein, within the hour after the session.

Since the powder is neutral, it mixes without difficulty with EAAs, with a flavoured drink or with a pre-workout.

Who is Cluster Dextrine for, and who is it not for?

It is aimed first at endurance athletes and at those who have already run into digestive problems with a carbohydrate drink. That is exactly the profile this raw material was developed for, and it is the only case in which the extra cost is clearly justified.

It is not suitable if your goal is weight loss. One serving represents 195 kcal, the equivalent of a generous slice of bread with a little butter, in liquid form and with no satiating effect. In a period of deficit, that is exactly the sort of thing you should avoid adding out of habit.

Nor is it of much interest in an hour-long weight training session for someone who eats normally: your glycogen stores comfortably cover that effort. People with diabetes or with a blood sugar regulation disorder should seek their doctor's advice before using a carbohydrate powder.

What not to expect from it. This is not a performance product with an immediate effect: you will not be stronger after drinking it. Nor is it a complete isotonic drink, for want of sodium. And the digestive comfort it delivers, real though it is, does not replace sensible dosing: drinking 120 g of any carbohydrate in an hour of racing will end badly, whatever the molecule.

Cluster dextrin or maltodextrin?

This is the comparison that decides the purchase, and it comes down to a question of budget against comfort.

Conventional maltodextrin does the same job in energy terms: it is a glucose polymer, with a high glycaemic index, that reloads glycogen just as effectively. It costs two to three times less per kilo. If you use it in recovery, after the session, at home, with no particular digestive constraint, there is no objective reason to pay more: our maltodextrin aisle is the rational choice.

Cyclic dextrin makes sense when digestion is the limiting factor: during exercise, at high concentration, on long rides, or simply when your stomach has already let you down once in a race. There, the difference in molecular weight and osmotic pressure translates into something you can feel, and the extra cost becomes an investment rather than an expense.

That leaves a third route, in between on price as on comfort: waxy maize, a waxy maize amylopectin. To sum up plainly: maltodextrin for recovery at home, waxy maize for a good compromise, cluster dextrin if you drink during exercise and your stomach is difficult. If your goal is extra calories, our mass gainer aisle offers formulas that are already complete.

Frequently asked questions

How much carbohydrate is in a serving?

48.75 g of carbohydrate for 195 kcal, in a 50 g serving. The powder contains 97.5 g of carbohydrate per 100 g, which makes it an almost pure source: less than 0.1 g of protein, of fat and of fibre, and practically no salt.

What does the high molecular weight bring?

Around 400,000 g/mol against 400 to 2,000 for a standard maltodextrin, with a very low osmotic pressure stated at between 59 and 160 mOsm. In practice: a concentrated drink that leaves the stomach without causing the heaviness of sugary drinks. That is a digestive benefit, not an energy one.

How much carbohydrate per hour on a long effort?

The manufacturer mentions 100 to 150 g per hour in endurance. We do not endorse that figure: beyond roughly 60 g per hour from a single source, the excess is no longer oxidised and stays in the digestive tract. Keep to between 40 and 60 g per hour.

Should you add electrolytes?

Yes, as soon as the effort lasts and you are sweating. The salt line in the table is under 0.01 g per 100 g: this powder provides fuel, not minerals. Add an electrolyte product or a pinch of salt to the bottle.

Does it really dissolve without lumps?

Yes, cold or warm, in fifteen to twenty seconds of shaking. The solution turns clear, which is a useful visual marker. It is one of the points most consistently praised about this raw material, and you can check it from the very first shaker.

How many servings are in the one-kilo tub?

20 servings of 50 g. If you use it only during long efforts, at a rate of two rides a week, one tub therefore covers about two months. In weight training with one serving before and one after the session, it goes much faster.

Is this powder suitable for vegans?

Yes. It comes from maize starch processed enzymatically, with no raw material of animal origin, and the manufacturer states that it is suitable for vegetarian and vegan diets. It is also naturally gluten free.

Where can you buy Sinob Core Cluster Dextrine?

The one-kilogram tub can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is the product we keep for cyclists and trail runners: for a simple top-up after a weight training session, we steer people towards a maltodextrin, which does the same job for far less. The rest of the aisle can be browsed in our sports nutrition selection.

What is Sinob Core Creapure®?

Core Creapure® is the creatine from the German brand Sinob: a 500 g tub of creatine monohydrate carrying the Creapure® label, whose raw material is produced by AlzChem at its site in Trostberg, Bavaria. No flavouring, no additives, a single ingredient.

What the label guarantees — origin, dedicated production line, batch-by-batch control of synthesis by-products — is explained on our Creapure page, and it is the same for every product that carries it. No need to repeat it here: what sets this one apart comes down to three details on the label.

The first is a Creapure® licence number, no. 19SN14, printed on the packaging: a verifiable identifier that no other labelled creatine in our range displays. The second is a stated purity figure, with the manufacturer declaring more than 99.9% creatine monohydrate and production in a closed system. The third is the claimed absence of additives: no sweetener, no flavouring, no colouring, no preservative.

What does a 5 g scoop contain?

This is the point that most clearly separates this product from other labelled creatines: the label is written for 5 g, not for 3 g. A full scoop provides 5,000 mg of creatine monohydrate and 10 kcal, along with 0.1 g of fat, 0.1 g of carbohydrate, 0.1 g of protein and 0.1 g of salt.

Five grams is the top of the usual maintenance range of 3 to 5 g a day, or roughly 0.03 g per kilo of body weight: 3 g for 65 kg, 5 g for 90 kg. The claim authorised in the European Union, for its part, is based on 3 g a day — creatine increases physical performance in successive bursts of short-term, high-intensity exercise. Beyond that, the excess is passed in the urine.

The tub states 100 servings: 100 days if you follow the label at 5 g, roughly 166 days if you drop to 3 g as most people under 80 kg do. The difference in annual cost between these two ways of dosing the same tub does not depend on the brand, but on you.

How do you take Sinob Core Creapure®?

The manufacturer states 3 to 5 g a day, that is one scoop, in 300 ml of water, as a single daily serving, at any time. It sets no course duration and specifies that no loading phase is necessary — we agree, and that is rare enough to be worth pointing out.

On this point, our position does not change: 20 g a day for a week only brings saturation forward by two to three weeks, without changing the final level in any way. It is the period in which digestive discomfort is most likely to appear, and it quadruples consumption.

Timing hardly matters at all: creatine works through gradual saturation, not through a blood spike. What counts is consistency, rest days included. Allow three to four weeks before the stores are full.

One clarification: our labelling data does not mention micronisation. If you notice a deposit, it is a matter of preparation — lukewarm rather than ice-cold water, brisk shaking in a shaker, and drinking without letting it stand.

Who is Core Creapure® for, and who is it not for?

For adults doing resistance training or a sport involving short, repeated efforts, and particularly for those weighing more than 85 kg: at that weight, the full scoop corresponds exactly to the target dose, with no fraction to estimate.

The manufacturer advises against it for pregnant and breastfeeding women as well as for those under 18, and flags possible traces of gluten, egg, crustaceans, soya and milk linked to the manufacturing environment: this statement rules the product out in cases of coeliac disease or severe allergy, even though none of these ingredients is part of the formulation. ANSES also advises against these supplements for people with impaired kidney or liver function, and supplementation raises serum creatinine: mention it to your doctor before a blood test.

What you should not expect from it: no sensation, no immediate effect, and no greater gain than an unlabelled monohydrate taken at the same dose. Nor is the label an anti-doping certification, which falls under separate programmes covering the finished product. Any medical question is a matter for your doctor or your pharmacist.

Core Creapure® or Nutriting nuCrea+?

Both carry the same label and come as a 500 g tub. The comparison is therefore not about purity or origin, but about how you dose and about the format.

Nutriting nuCrea+ also comes in capsules, which Sinob does not offer: that is the decisive argument if you travel, if you would rather not measure out a powder every morning, or if the neutral but slightly harsh taste of monohydrate puts you off. Its powder is also dosed at 3 g, which suits anyone under 80 kg better.

Core Creapure® is the better choice if you are aiming for 5 g a day from the outset, and if you want a verifiable licence number and a stated purity figure on the packaging. One point that is anything but secondary: at 5 g a day, this tub lasts 100 days against 166 for a tub of the same size dosed at 3 g. Work out the monthly cost before comparing the listed prices.

Frequently asked questions

Is the scoop 3 g or 5 g?

Five grams, filled level: that is the figure used for the labelling and for the count of 100 servings. If you are aiming for 3 g because you weigh less than 70 kg, weigh it once to identify the level — the tub will go from 100 to roughly 166 days.

What is licence number 19SN14 for?

It identifies the holder of the Creapure® licence with the producer of the raw material. It lets you check that the wording on the packaging corresponds to a real licence, rather than relying on a free-form phrase along the lines of "German creatine", which anyone can write.

Is this creatine micronised?

Our labelling data does not specify. Micronisation changes neither the molecule, nor the amount absorbed, nor the result in training: only the speed at which it disperses in a glass. If a deposit bothers you, lukewarm water and brisk shaking almost always settle the matter.

Does it contain sweeteners or flavourings?

No. The manufacturer declares a single ingredient, Creapure® creatine monohydrate, with no sweetener, flavouring, colouring or preservative. The taste is therefore that of plain monohydrate, neutral and slightly harsh. If that bothers you, mix it into a juice or a shake rather than plain water.

Should you drink two litres of water a day as the packaging indicates?

The manufacturer recommends increasing your fluid intake. Drink normally and according to your thirst: creatine draws water into the muscle cell, which explains the slight weight gain of the first few weeks, but no particular hydration protocol has been demonstrated.

What happens if I miss a serving?

Nothing. Muscle saturation builds up and falls away over several weeks, not from one day to the next: an isolated missed dose has no consequence, and you should not double up the following day. On the other hand, irregular use over several months never fully saturates the muscle.

Can it be mixed with a protein or with carbohydrates?

Yes, with no known problematic interaction. Many people add it to their post-workout protein shake, or to a carbohydrate source such as maltodextrin, which often improves digestive tolerance. Just avoid leaving it dissolved for several hours.

Where can you buy Sinob Core Creapure®?

You can order it from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. In our shop in Vendargues, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this tub can be compared in hand with the other labelled products: the licence number takes three seconds to read, and the price per serving can be worked out on the spot. The full range is in our sports nutrition section.

Sources: EFSA for authorised claims, ANSES for the opinion on food supplements intended for athletes. This information is not a substitute for medical advice.

What is Sinob Core L-Glutamine?

Sinob Core L-Glutamine is a pure L-glutamine powder produced by plant-based fermentation. A 10 g serving delivers 10 g of L-glutamine in free amino acid form, for 30 kcal. There is nothing else in the tub: no flavouring, no sweetener, no colouring, no bulking agent.

Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in blood plasma and in muscle tissue. The body can manufacture it, which places it among the non-essential amino acids, and an ordinary diet already supplies appreciable amounts: dairy products, meat, fish, eggs and pulses all contain it.

The term “free” form means that the amino acid is not bound to any other: it is ready to be absorbed as it is, which explains why it dissolves instantly in water. The rest of the German range can be browsed in our Sinob section, and the other products in the category in our glutamine section.

What does a serving of Core L-Glutamine contain?

Inconsistent figure in the manufacturer's file: the carbohydrate, fat and fibre lines are all declared at 1 g per 100 g on a powder stated to be 100 % pure. These values cannot all be correct at once; we would rather not reproduce them than publish figures that do not add up. The official table appears on the packaging as supplied.

Let us come to what really matters, and to what is written nowhere else in this category: no health claim is authorised in Europe for glutamine. Not for recovery, not for immunity, not for muscle mass, not for digestion. The dossiers submitted did not succeed. So we describe an amino acid, its dosage and how to use it, without promising any result.

We need to go further, because that is our job as a retailer. In a healthy athlete who eats enough protein, the available research shows no notable effect of glutamine supplementation on muscle mass or performance. An adequate protein intake already supplies glutamine in quantity — a whey provides several grams per serving without it having to be stated on the label. The uses where glutamine has a documented benefit belong to the clinical field, under medical supervision, and not to sports nutrition.

What does remain true: this is a pure powder, dosable to the gram, additive-free, reasonably priced and perfectly well tolerated by most people. If you want to try it knowing exactly what it is, it is a clean product. If you are looking for the supplement that will make the difference to your results, look elsewhere in the range — and we will tell you where.

Data missing from the manufacturer's file: the net weight of the tub, and therefore the number of servings, are not disclosed. The net content appears on the packaging.

Ingredient list

L-glutamine (100 %), free amino acid from plant-based fermentation. No colourings, no preservatives, no sweeteners, no bulking agents.

No allergen declared in the composition by the manufacturer. Product declared gluten-free, lactose-free and soya-free, suitable for vegan and halal diets.

How should you take Core L-Glutamine?

Serving: 10 g, i.e. one scoop; 15 g for intensive use, split into 5 g before and 10 g after the session. Liquid: 200 to 300 ml of cold or lukewarm water. Timing: within the fifteen minutes following training, between two meals, or before bed. Frequency: one to two servings per day. Duration: cycles of 4 to 6 weeks, with a one- to two-week break.

Solubility is this powder's practical strong point. Free L-glutamine dissolves instantly in cold water, with no lumps and no sediment, which is not the case with every amino acid. Shake for five seconds and drink: it has no pronounced taste, barely a slight bitterness. It therefore mixes without difficulty into a protein shake, a juice or a training drink.

The manufacturer recommends taking it away from meals to aid absorption, as glutamine shares its intestinal transporters with other amino acids. In practice, taking it straight after the session or between two meals meets that condition effortlessly.

If you have a sensitive stomach, start at 5 g per serving before moving up to 10 g. That is the manufacturer's advice, and it is justified: free amino acids at high doses sometimes cause temporary digestive discomfort in the first few days. Do not exceed the stated amounts in the belief that more is better, as it would achieve nothing.

It combines without redundancy with a protein, with EAAs or with creatine monohydrate. Simply note that a whey already supplies you with glutamine, which makes the addition less decisive than is often claimed.

Who is Core L-Glutamine for, and who is it not for?

It suits an adult who wants a pure, additive-free powder and who knows the limits of the product. The format is perfectly clean: a single ingredient, precisely dosable, suitable for vegan diets.

The manufacturer recommends medical advice in the event of liver or kidney disease. This is not a token precaution: both organs are directly involved in amino acid metabolism, and the question cannot be settled over the counter. The manufacturer also flags possible drug interactions: if you are on any medication, discuss it with your doctor or pharmacist.

It is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women without the advice of a healthcare professional.

What you should not expect from it, and we say so bluntly because it is the most useful information on this page. It does not build muscle. It does not speed up recovery in any demonstrated way in a healthy athlete. It does not boost immunity — no claim of that kind is authorised. If your daily protein intake is adequate, you are already consuming glutamine in quantity without knowing it. This product makes up for neither poorly designed training, nor insufficient sleep, nor a diet that is too sparse.

Glutamine or protein powder?

This is the honest comparison to make before buying, and it comes down fairly clearly in favour of the latter.

A serving of whey supplies 20 to 25 g of complete protein, including several grams of naturally occurring glutamine, plus the full set of essential amino acids the body cannot manufacture. And protein does have authorised claims: protein contributes to a growth in and the maintenance of muscle mass. On cost per serving, there is no comparison. Our whey isolate section is the first place to look if your goal is muscle mass.

Isolated glutamine does something else: it supplies a single amino acid, in large amounts, without the others. That is useful when you are specifically after this molecule, for a use documented elsewhere or on the advice of a healthcare professional.

When is glutamine the better choice? When you know why you are taking it and are not counting on it to progress in training. If your aim is to cover your amino acid needs around the session, BCAAs and above all EAAs make more sense, and a complete protein makes more sense still.

Frequently asked questions

How much glutamine per serving?

10 g of pure L-glutamine per scoop, for 30 kcal. The powder analyses at 100 g of protein per 100 g: there is nothing else in it. For intensive use, the manufacturer provides for 15 g split into 5 g before and 10 g after the session.

Does glutamine really help you recover?

No recovery claim is authorised in Europe for glutamine, and in a healthy athlete who eats enough protein, the available research shows no notable effect. It is a clean product, but we will not promise you what has not been demonstrated.

When should you take it?

The manufacturer settles on the fifteen minutes following training, or a serving between two meals, or else before bed. The common thinking is to take it away from a meal, as glutamine shares its intestinal transporters with other amino acids.

What does this powder taste like?

Almost nothing, barely a slight bitterness. It is neither flavoured nor sweetened. It dissolves instantly in cold water, with no lumps or sediment, which makes it easy to add to a protein shake or a juice.

Does a whey already contain some?

Yes, several grams per serving, without this always appearing on the label. It is a point few retailers mention: if you already take a protein powder every day, your glutamine intake is far from nil.

What should you do about digestive discomfort?

Drop to 5 g per serving, as the manufacturer provides for, and build back up gradually. The discomfort mainly concerns the first few days and high doses of free amino acids. Taking the powder with a little more water also helps.

Is this powder suitable for vegans?

Yes. The L-glutamine is obtained by plant-based fermentation, with no raw material of animal origin, and the manufacturer declares the product vegan, halal, gluten-free, lactose-free and soya-free.

Where can you buy Sinob Core L-Glutamine?

The tub can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, it is a product we are happy to sell but rarely recommend first: when a customer comes in looking for glutamine to make progress, we start by looking at what they eat and what protein they already take. Nine times out of ten, the answer is there. The rest of the range can be browsed in our sports nutrition selection.

What is Sinob Curcumin?

Sinob Curcumin is a turmeric extract in vegetable capsules, dosed at 250 mg of rhizome extract standardised to 95% curcuminoids, to which are added 3 mg of black pepper extract standardised to 95% piperine. The bottle holds 60 capsules.

What strikes you first is the dosage schedule: one capsule every three days, and not one a day. This is not a way of cutting corners, it is a direct consequence of the dose, and we explain why below. It also means that one bottle covers six months, which is unusual in this aisle.

Culinary turmeric contains roughly 2 to 5% curcuminoids. An extract standardised to 95% therefore concentrates the active fraction massively: the manufacturer states that one capsule is equivalent to around 94.8 g of turmeric powder. It is this concentration that makes all the difference between sprinkling a dish and taking a supplement — and it is also what calls for precautions that kitchen turmeric does not require. The rest of the German range appears in our Sinob aisle.

What does one capsule of Curcumin contain?

No nutrient reference value exists for curcuminoids or for piperine: a percentage column would make no sense here.

The decisive figure on this page is the following. EFSA has set an acceptable daily intake of 3 mg of curcumin per kilo of body weight, i.e. 180 mg a day for a person weighing 60 kg. One capsule provides around 237.5 mg. In other words, a single capsule already exceeds the acceptable daily intake on the day you take it, which the manufacturer acknowledges by citing that 180 mg benchmark itself. That is precisely the reason for the spaced-out dosage: by spreading it over three days, the average intake comes back down to around 79 mg a day. This rule is therefore not a comfort tip, it is the product's actual instructions for use, and there is nothing to be gained from exceeding it.

The piperine at 2.85 mg is not a token ingredient. Curcumin on its own is very poorly absorbed by the intestine and quickly eliminated; piperine slows its breakdown by the liver, which markedly increases the amounts that actually circulate in the body. That is what makes the extract useful — and it is also what explains some of the precautions listed below, since piperine alters the metabolism of certain medicines in the same way.

Two clarifications to finish. First, no health claim is authorised in Europe for turmeric or curcumin: not for the joints, not for digestion, not for inflammation. We can describe the plant, the standardisation and the dose; we cannot attribute any effect to them. Second, the previous description on this page mentioned a “marketing authorisation in all German pharmacies” together with a PZN number. A PZN is simply an article number used by German pharmacies for their orders: it is neither a marketing authorisation nor a certification. We have removed that statement.

Ingredients list

Turmeric rhizome extract (Curcuma longa) standardised to 95% curcuminoids, black pepper fruit extract (Piper nigrum) standardised to 95% piperine, capsule shell (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose), bulking agent: microcrystalline cellulose, anti-caking agent: magnesium salts of fatty acids. No major allergen declared. Vegan formula, made in Germany.

How should Sinob Curcumin be taken?

Dose: 1 capsule. Liquid: a large glass of water, 250 ml. Timing: during a meal containing fat. Frequency: one capsule every three days, never more. Duration: the manufacturer recommends 8 weeks of use followed by 2 weeks off.

The fatty meal is not a refinement. Curcuminoids are not water-soluble and are absorbed far better in the presence of fat: a drizzle of olive oil, an avocado, a handful of nuts or a normally cooked dish are enough. A capsule swallowed on an empty stomach with a glass of water loses a large part of its point.

That is also why pairing it with omega 3 makes sense, not through some mysterious synergy but because fish oil capsules supply the fat at the exact moment of the intake.

Do not make up for a missed dose by doubling up. This is the most common mistake with this product, and the only one that really matters: two capsules on the same day take the intake to 475 mg of curcuminoids, well above the safety benchmark. If you have forgotten, simply pick the rhythm back up.

Note finally the course interval: eight weeks of use, two weeks off. At one capsule every three days, a course represents about twenty capsules, and one bottle covers three complete courses.

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

It suits an adult who wants a standardised, readable extract rather than a rhizome powder whose actual content nobody knows. The capsule is vegetable and the formula declares no major allergen, which makes it an option open to most diets.

The contraindications, on the other hand, are serious and the manufacturer states them clearly. The product is contraindicated in the event of obstruction of the bile ducts, gallstones included, since turmeric stimulates bile secretion. It is not recommended for people on anticoagulants, curcumin and piperine both interfering with coagulation and with the metabolism of medicines. It calls for medical advice in the event of liver or biliary disease. Finally, it is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women and must be kept out of reach of children under three.

One further element has to be added that the manufacturer does not mention and that a French buyer has a right to know: ANSES has published an opinion on turmeric-based food supplements and reported cases of liver damage, stressing that forms intended to improve absorption — such as the combination with piperine — increase the body's exposure. That is not a reason to give up, it is a reason to follow the dosage to the letter and to seek advice at the slightest unusual sign.

What you should not expect from it: it is not a painkiller, it is not a treatment, and no improvement should be hoped for on a diagnosed condition. Any question of that order is a matter for your doctor or your pharmacist, not for a food supplement.

Standardised turmeric or a joint complex?

The two often cross paths in the same basket, so the difference is worth setting out.

A joint complex based on glucosamine, chondroitin and MSM is taken daily, at doses of around a gram, and aims at maintaining cartilage over time. It is the better choice if your concern is mechanical and long-standing — runner's knees, weightlifter's shoulders — and if you accept taking it every day for several months. Its drawback is bulk: these are large tablets, and glucosamine is most often derived from shellfish.

Standardised turmeric follows a different logic: a spaced-out intake, a concentrated plant active, a tiny capsule and no major allergen. It is the better choice if you are looking for a readable plant extract, if you are allergic to shellfish, or if the idea of a daily tablet puts you off from the start. The trade-off is the contraindications listed above, which are real.

There is nothing to stop you combining the two, provided you check that neither product duplicates an ingredient of the other. The whole aisle can be compared in our sports nutrition selection.

Frequently asked questions

Why only one capsule every three days?

Because one capsule provides around 237.5 mg of curcuminoids, whereas the acceptable daily intake set by EFSA is 3 mg per kilo, i.e. 180 mg for a person weighing 60 kg. Spacing them three days apart brings the average intake back below that benchmark. It is the product's instructions for use, not a suggestion.

How long does a bottle last?

Six months, at one capsule every three days for 60 capsules. It is the longest duration in our entire supplements aisle, and it completely changes the calculation of the real cost compared with a turmeric to be taken daily.

What is the black pepper for in the formula?

Its piperine slows the breakdown of curcumin by the liver, which markedly increases the amount that circulates in the body. Without it, most of the curcumin swallowed would be eliminated without having served any purpose. It is also this mechanism that explains the precautions to be taken with certain medicines.

Can it be taken with an anticoagulant?

No, the manufacturer explicitly advises against it. Curcumin, like piperine, interferes with coagulation and with the metabolism of several treatments. If you are on an anticoagulant, the question is one for your doctor before any purchase, and the answer is generally no.

Is this product suitable for vegans?

Yes. The shell is made of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, of vegetable origin, and all the ingredients in the formula are too. The manufacturer also declares no major allergen, which makes this line accessible to most exclusion diets.

Should it be taken with a meal?

Yes, and preferably a meal containing fat. Curcuminoids are not water-soluble: on an empty stomach, a large part of the dose will not be absorbed. An ordinary cooked dish is enough, there is no need to add anything.

What should you do if you miss a dose?

Simply pick the rhythm back up at the next due date. You should not double the dose to catch up: two capsules on the same day would take the intake to around 475 mg of curcuminoids, far above the safety benchmark. With a product on a spaced-out schedule, a missed dose is of no consequence.

Where can you buy Sinob Curcumin?

The 60-capsule bottle can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is the one product in the aisle where we insist as much on the dosage as on the contents: an extract standardised to 95% is not taken like a spice, and the three-day rule is not negotiable. The other plant extracts can be compared in our superfood ingredients aisle.