Sports Nutrition Guide

What is Now Foods Biotin 5000 mcg?

It is a biotin supplement in vegetable capsules, dosed at 5,000 µg per capsule. The formats listed: 60 and 120 capsules, that is two or four months at one capsule a day.

Biotin, also known as vitamin B8 or vitamin H, is a water-soluble B-group vitamin. The formula is about as simple as a supplement can be: biotin, rice flour as a carrier, a hypromellose capsule, stearic acid of vegetable origin and silicon dioxide.

As the capsule is plant-based, the product is suitable for vegetarians. The manufacturer declares it free from wheat, gluten, soya, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, nuts, sesame and GMOs. The rest of the American range is in our Now Foods section, and the whole category in vitamin B.

What does one capsule contain?

Other ingredients: rice flour, hypromellose (vegetable capsule), stearic acid of vegetable origin, silicon dioxide. NRV within the meaning of Regulation 1169/2011: 50 µg. Pack sizes: 60 or 120 vegetable capsules.

One hundred times the reference value deserves a frank explanation. Biotin is water-soluble: whatever the body does not use leaves in the urine, and EFSA has set no upper limit for this vitamin. The 5,000 µg dose is the American market standard on hair products; it is not dangerous, but nothing shows that it does better than a 50 or 150 µg dose in a person whose status is normal. We would rather say so.

Let us come to what the regulations authorise, because it is the most useful point on this page. Biotin contributes to the maintenance of normal hair, normal skin and normal mucous membranes, to normal energy-yielding metabolism, to normal macronutrient metabolism, to the normal functioning of the nervous system and to normal psychological function. Those are the exact wordings, and they are broad.

On the other hand, and this is a distinction the whole aisle glosses over: there is no authorised claim concerning nails for biotin. European regulation recognises hair, skin and mucous membranes — not nails. You will read the opposite just about everywhere; that is nonetheless how it stands. A second distinction, just as important: “contributing to the maintenance of normal hair” means avoiding the consequences of a shortfall, not growing the hair of someone whose status is already fine. Biotin deficiency is rare on an ordinary diet.

How should you take biotin?

Dose: 1 capsule. Liquid: a glass of water. When: with a meal, preferably breakfast or lunch. Frequency: one intake a day. Duration: at least 3 months without a break; the manufacturer indicates that the effects generally show after 6 to 8 weeks.

The timescale is the most important thing to take on board here, and it is in no way a sales argument: hair grows about one centimetre a month. Whatever you take, no visible change is possible before several weeks, and judging after a fortnight makes no sense. That is precisely why the 120-capsule format makes more sense than the 60.

Taking it with a meal is advised for digestive comfort more than for absorption, biotin being water-soluble. The real challenge is consistency: pair the capsule with a fixed daily habit, it is the only way to keep going for three months without forgetting.

One pairing that makes sense: zinc also has an authorised wording on the maintenance of normal hair, and vitamin C one on normal collagen formation. If your concern is hair, those three complement one another better than biotin alone pushed to a hundred times the NRV.

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

It is for adults only and suitable for vegetarians, the capsule being plant-based and the excipients of vegetable origin. Its “free from” list is one of the shortest in the aisle, which makes it a simple option for allergy-prone profiles.

One warning deserves reading twice, because it can have real consequences. High-dose biotin interferes with certain blood tests — thyroid and troponin assays are the most affected — and can skew a result in either direction. Always tell your doctor or the laboratory that you are taking biotin before any blood test. This is not a token precaution: it is the no. 1 reason why this dose has to be flagged.

The manufacturer also asks you to consult a healthcare professional in case of pregnancy, breastfeeding, medical treatment or a health problem. The product is made in a facility that handles other allergenic ingredients.

It is less suitable if you already take a multivitamin or a hair complex: most already contain some, and stacking achieves nothing while making the blood test problem worse.

What you should not expect of it, and we will be direct: biotin does not regrow hair. If your hair loss is recent, heavy or localised, it is a matter for a doctor — iron deficiency, a thyroid disorder or androgenetic alopecia are not treated with a vitamin. Nor is there any claim concerning nails.

Biotin or collagen?

These are the two products most often compared in this aisle, and they do not play the same role at all.

A collagen supplies peptides in bulk quantities — 5 to 20 g per dose — and is taken as a powder. It should be said that, just like biotin on nails, collagen has no authorised health claim in Europe. What can be said about it rests on its composition, not on an effect. It is the choice of those who prefer a massive protein intake to a dosed vitamin, and who accept a powder to mix rather than a capsule.

Biotin wins on a point that is not a small one: it, for its part, does have an authorised wording on the maintenance of normal hair and normal skin. It is the only one of the two whose role the regulations recognise. It is also simpler: one capsule a day, no taste, no preparation, and a bottle of 120 lasts four months.

The advice we give most often: if you are to take only one thing, take the biotin — provided you expect no miracle from it — and add zinc if your diet is short of it. If you want broad cover without multiplying bottles, a multivitamin already contains both, at more moderate and amply sufficient doses.

Frequently asked questions

5,000 µg, isn't that excessive?

It is one hundred times the reference value of 50 µg. Biotin being water-soluble, the excess is eliminated in the urine, and EFSA has set no upper limit. So it is not dangerous, but nothing shows that such a dose does better than a moderate intake in a person whose status is normal.

Does biotin act on the nails?

No claim concerning nails is authorised in Europe for biotin. The permitted wordings cover hair, skin and mucous membranes. You will read the opposite on many packs and websites: that changes nothing about the regulatory framework, and we will not write what is not authorised.

Should you tell your doctor before a blood test?

Yes, every time, and it is the most important point on this page. High-dose biotin interferes with certain blood assays, particularly those for thyroid and troponin, and can skew a result. Always report this supplementation to the laboratory or to your doctor.

How long before you see anything?

The manufacturer speaks of 6 to 8 weeks and advises at least three months without a break. That fits the biology: hair grows about one centimetre a month, and nothing visible can appear sooner. A judgement made after a fortnight is worth nothing.

Are the capsules suitable for vegans?

The shell is hypromellose, of vegetable origin, and the stearic acid is likewise vegetable. The manufacturer describes the product as vegetarian; the biotin in supplements being generally produced synthetically, the formula contains no animal ingredient identified in the data supplied.

Can it be combined with a multivitamin?

Technically yes, but there is little point: most multivitamins already contain 50 to 200 µg of biotin, and stacking adds nothing more. It does, however, make the interference with blood tests worse. Check the label of what you already take before adding this bottle.

How long does a bottle last?

Two months for the 60-capsule format, four months for the 120, at one capsule a day. As the manufacturer recommends at least three months without a break, the 120 format is the most coherent: it covers the advised duration without a gap.

Where to buy Now Foods Biotin 5000 mcg?

The formats can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. If you are starting out, go straight for the 120 capsules: three months is the minimum for judging anything at all.

At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is the aisle where we most often put a product back on its shelf. When hair loss is recent or marked, our answer has always been the same: go and see a doctor before buying a vitamin. And if you are taking biotin, remember to say so at the laboratory before your next blood test.

What is Bucked Up Pre-Workout?

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

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

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

What does a 15 g dose contain?

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

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

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

How should Bucked Up Pre-Workout be dosed?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bucked Up or a stimulant-free formula?

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

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

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

Frequently asked questions

How many doses are in a tub?

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

Is the citrulline pure or in malate form?

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

What is deer antler velvet?

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

Is 200 mg of caffeine enough?

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

Can it be taken every day?

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

Is it suitable for a ketogenic diet?

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

Why are some dosages not published?

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

Where to buy Bucked Up Pre-Workout?

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

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

What is Dorian Yates' Blood & Guts?

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

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

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

What is in a serving of Blood & Guts?

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

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

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

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

How should you dose Blood & Guts?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Blood & Guts or a caffeine-free booster?

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

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

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

Frequently asked questions

How much caffeine is there in one scoop?

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

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

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

Is the tingling normal?

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

Can you take it in the evening?

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

How many servings per tub?

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

Should you take breaks?

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

Which flavour should you choose?

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

Where can you buy Dorian Yates' Blood & Guts?

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

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

What is Applied Nutrition Shred X?

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

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

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

What does a serving of Shred X contain?

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

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

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

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

Ingredients list

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

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

How do you take Shred X?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Shred X in powder or a fat burner in capsules?

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

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

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

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

Frequently asked questions

How much caffeine is in one serving?

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

Which doses does the manufacturer disclose?

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

Does this product make you lose weight?

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

Which flavours are available?

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

Can it be taken on non-training days?

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

How many servings does a tub contain?

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

Can it be combined with a pre-workout?

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

Where can you buy Applied Nutrition Shred X?

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

What is Nutriting nuVitamineC?

Nutriting nuVitamineC is a vitamin C supplement in orange-flavoured chewable tablets, providing 500 mg per two tablets. The bottle holds 60 of them, that is, one to two months depending on the dose you settle on.

The raw material is Quali®-C vitamin C, produced in Dalry, Scotland. This point deserves explaining rather than brandishing: the overwhelming majority of the world's vitamin C is produced in China, and Quali®-C is one of the few European supply chains still operating. The molecule obtained is exactly the same — L-ascorbic acid — but the production chain and its traceability are different. It is a legitimate selection criterion, not a biological property. The tablet itself is made in France. The rest of the range can be found in our Nutriting section.

The chewable format also sets this product apart from most vitamin C on the market, which is sold in capsules or as effervescent powder. The tablet is chewed, it has an orange taste given by a natural flavouring, and it is sweetened with xylitol.

What does a two-tablet serving contain?

The manufacturer does not publish the net weight of the bottle in the information available to us; the packaging carries it.

500 mg is six times the European reference value, which stands at 80 mg. That figure calls for an honest explanation rather than a sales pitch. The intestinal absorption of vitamin C saturates progressively: at 80 mg, virtually all of it gets through; at 500 mg, a significant share is eliminated in the urine. Put another way, taking 500 mg in one go does not multiply by six what your body gets out of it.

This does not strip the high dose of all interest, but it does steer how you use it: one 250 mg tablet morning and evening is better than two tablets in one go, because splitting the dose limits saturation. It is also why the manufacturer allows one to two tablets a day depending on your needs.

The authorised claims for vitamin C are numerous and worth quoting as they stand: it contributes to the normal function of the immune system, to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue, to normal collagen formation for the normal function of blood vessels, bones, cartilage and skin, to the protection of cells from oxidative stress, to normal energy-yielding metabolism, and to increasing iron absorption. The last of these is the most concrete day to day: if you take an iron supplement, swallowing it with a vitamin C tablet is the most useful thing you will do all day.

The formula is finally notable for what it does not contain: no gluten, no gelatine, no titanium dioxide, no artificial colouring, no nanoparticles, no GMOs, and the product is not irradiated. In an aisle where a great many questionable excipients are still to be found, that is a real argument.

Ingredients list

Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid, Quali®-C), bulking agent: microcrystalline cellulose, natural orange flavouring, sweetener: xylitol, anti-caking agent: magnesium salts of fatty acids. Gluten-free, free from major allergens, free from bovine and porcine gelatine, free from nanoparticles, free from heavy metals, GMO-free, non-irradiated, free from titanium dioxide and artificial colouring. Raw material produced in Dalry, Scotland; tablet manufactured in France.

How do you take nuVitamineC?

Dose: 1 to 2 tablets, that is, 250 to 500 mg. Liquid: none is needed, the tablet is chewed. Timing: during a meal, preferably breakfast or lunch. Frequency: one to two servings a day. Duration: the manufacturer recommends a course of at least two to three months, with the option of continuous use.

Chew the tablet completely before swallowing. This is not a matter of comfort: a chewable tablet does not have the same coating as one meant to be swallowed, and swallowing it whole needlessly delays its dissolution. The orange taste is pronounced, the acidity moderate.

Taking it with a meal improves digestive tolerance. Vitamin C at a high dose is acidic, and on an empty stomach it gives some users heartburn. That single point accounts for most of the negative feedback on this family of products.

Avoid taking it late if you are sensitive. Some people describe difficulty falling asleep after a high dose of vitamin C in the evening. The morning or midday slot settles the question and coincides with the moment you take your multivitamin.

A word on xylitol: it is a polyol, very well tolerated in the amounts present in a tablet, but one that can have a laxative effect if you multiply the sources across the day. At two tablets, it poses no problem at all.

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

It suits someone looking for a vitamin C with a short, readable formula, free of questionable additives, with an identified origin for the raw material. It suits particularly well those who dislike swallowing capsules — the chewable format solves that problem better than any capsule can.

The manufacturer restricts it to adults and states that it is not to be used by pregnant or breastfeeding women. This restriction is stricter than what is usually seen on a vitamin C; we reproduce it as the manufacturer words it, without softening it. In the event of pregnancy, the question goes to your doctor, not to the retailer.

Two situations call for genuine caution, and the manufacturer names them: a history of kidney stones or kidney problems, since vitamin C at a high dose is partly metabolised into oxalate, and persistent digestive disorders, in which case the dose should be reduced or stopped. These are warnings to be taken seriously, especially at 500 mg a day over several months.

What not to expect from it: a vitamin C tablet acts neither on whether you catch a cold nor on how long it lasts. The only authorised wording is that it contributes to the normal function of the immune system, which means it helps a system to work normally when intake is insufficient. In someone who eats fruit and vegetables every day, the additional benefit of a tablet is small. It is during periods of low plant intake, in winter, or in smokers — whose requirements are higher — that supplementation makes sense.

Chewable tablet or vitamin C powder?

Both formats sit side by side on our shelves and answer different habits.

Powder lets you dose freely, from 100 mg to several grams, and works out markedly cheaper per gram. It is the better choice if you take high doses, if you mix it into a drink, or if you want to fine-tune. Its drawbacks are the acidity in the mouth, the need for a scale to be accurate, and the chore of preparing it every day.

The chewable tablet wins on simplicity and on sticking with it. You have one in your pocket, you chew it, and it is done — and over a three-month course, that is what makes the difference between a bottle finished and a bottle forgotten. The 250 mg dose per unit is also good granularity: enough to count, fine enough to split.

If your aim is winter immune support, be aware that vitamin C is not the only lever: zinc and vitamin D carry comparable claims and answer needs vitamin C does not cover. And if it is your skin and joints you are concerned about, vitamin C is the natural cofactor for collagen synthesis: the two go together very happily.

Frequently asked questions

One or two tablets a day?

Both are possible. One tablet provides 250 mg, two provide 500. If you go for the higher dose, split it into two separate servings instead: the absorption of vitamin C saturates, and 250 mg morning and evening are put to better use than 500 mg in one go.

Should it be taken with a meal?

Yes, preferably. Vitamin C at a high dose is acidic and causes heartburn in some users when taken on an empty stomach. A meal settles the problem without noticeably reducing absorption.

Why Scottish vitamin C?

Because Quali®-C is produced in Dalry, Scotland, whereas virtually all the world's vitamin C comes from China. The molecule is identical; what changes is the origin and traceability of the production. It is a selection criterion for some buyers, not a difference in effectiveness.

Is 500 mg a day too much?

It is six times the reference value, and part of it is eliminated in the urine rather than used. It is not dangerous in a healthy adult, but it is not very efficient. The real point to watch is a history of kidney stones, for which the manufacturer asks you to seek professional advice.

Does the tablet contain sugar?

No. The sweet taste comes from xylitol, a polyol that provides less energy than sugar and does not raise blood sugar in the same way. In the amounts present in one or two tablets, it poses no digestive tolerance problem.

Can it be taken all year round?

The manufacturer states that it can and recommends at least two to three months for a lasting effect. In practice, the period when supplementation makes the most sense runs from autumn to spring, when the intake of fresh fruit and vegetables drops. In summer, a varied diet is often enough.

Should it be combined with iron?

It is in fact the most useful combination in the whole aisle. Vitamin C contributes to increasing iron absorption, and that is an authorised claim. In concrete terms: take your tablet at the same time as your iron supplement, and you will get more out of it without changing the dose.

Where can you buy Nutriting nuVitamineC?

The bottle of 60 tablets 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 hand to customers who tell us they cannot manage to swallow capsules: over a three-month course, the format counts for more than the dose. The rest of the vitamin range can be browsed in our sports nutrition section.

What is IO Genix AMINO 10?

IO Genix AMINO 10 is an essential amino acid powder to be mixed with liquid, whose 20 g serving — two scoops — provides 10 g of EAAs. All nine essential amino acids are present, each with its exact dose. That is the difference between an EAA product and a plain BCAA: BCAAs provide only three of them.

The list is short: instant EAA blend, maltodextrin, citric acid, flavouring, silicon dioxide, sucralose and acesulfame K as sweeteners, and pyridoxine hydrochloride for the vitamin B6. The word “instant” is not decorative — raw amino acids have a reputation for being hard to dissolve, and instantising genuinely changes how comfortable the product is to use.

The flavours available: Cranberry, Lime and Raspberry. The product joins our EAA and IO Genix sections.

What does a 20 g serving contain?

The manufacturer publishes no energy value, no macronutrient breakdown and no net weight for the tub: we therefore cannot state the number of servings per pack, and we will not estimate it. The information is on the packaging.

What makes this table interesting is that it is complete — all nine amino acids are quantified individually, and the sum comes to exactly 10,000 mg. Many products in this category simply announce a total. Two figures deserve attention. The three BCAAs total 6,260 mg (leucine, valine, isoleucine), close to two thirds of the blend. And leucine alone accounts for 3,060 mg: it is the most studied amino acid for protein synthesis, and 3 g matches the amount found in the reference protocols.

As for claims, only one is authorised here, and it concerns the vitamin: vitamin B6 contributes to normal protein and glycogen metabolism, as well as to normal energy-yielding metabolism and to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. For the amino acids themselves, no claim exists in European regulation — neither on muscle building nor on recovery. So what we describe is a composition and a use, not an effect.

How do you prepare AMINO 10?

Dose: 20 g, that is 2 scoops of roughly 20 cc. Liquid: 200 to 250 ml of water or juice. Timing: 30 minutes before training, or during the session; on rest days, in the morning on an empty stomach. Frequency: once a day. Duration: the manufacturer sets out neither a course nor a break — there is no reason to impose one on an amino acid product.

Shake vigorously: the powder is instantised and dissolves without lumps, but free amino acids need a little mechanical energy to get going. Made up with juice rather than water, the drink goes down better — EAAs are naturally bitter, and acidity helps mask it.

A word on timing. Drinking amino acids during a session makes sense in one specific situation: a fasted session, or a very long one, with no meal in the preceding hours. If you ate two hours beforehand and your daily protein intake is covered, an extra 10 g of EAAs does not add much. Better to say so plainly than to sell you one more shaker.

The product is compatible with creatine or a glutamine in the same shaker, if you want to simplify your routine.

Who is AMINO 10 for, and who is it not for?

It is aimed at those who train fasted in the morning, at those who do long sessions with no meal in between, and at those who want something to sip during training rather than plain water. It also suits people who struggle to digest protein powder during a session.

Two specific contraindications appear on the label, and they are more serious than average. This supplement must not be taken by people on antidepressant treatment — the presence of L-tryptophan, a serotonin precursor, is the reason. It must also not be taken in cases of kidney failure: an intake of free amino acids increases the nitrogen load to be cleared. It is not recommended for children or pregnant women. If you are on any medical treatment whatsoever, seek the advice of a healthcare professional before use.

On allergens, the product may contain traces of GLUTEN (wheat and oats), NUTS, PEANUT, EGGS, MILK, FISH and SOYA. Keep it tightly closed, in a cool, dry place.

What not to expect from it: a substitute for protein. 10 g of EAAs does not replace 25 g of whey, and it does not count the same way towards a daily protein total. Nor is it an energy product: no stimulant, no carbohydrate in any useful quantity. And if your diet already supplies enough protein, adding EAAs will make no measurable difference — that is the least saleable truth in this category.

AMINO 10 or BCAAs?

The question comes up constantly at the counter, and it deserves a clear answer.

BCAAs remain a defensible choice in two cases: price, generally lower per kilo, and habit — if you have been taking them for years and the product suits you, nothing obliges you to switch. They provide three amino acids, leucine, valine and isoleucine, often in a 2:1:1 or 8:1:1 ratio.

AMINO 10 provides all nine essential amino acids, including the three BCAAs at a level of 6,260 mg. The difference is not cosmetic: the other six — lysine, threonine, phenylalanine, histidine, methionine, tryptophan — cannot be made by the body either, and complete protein synthesis requires them all. A product that provides only three leaves the rest to your diet. In practice, if you eat enough protein it makes little difference; if you train fasted or in a substantial deficit, a complete EAA has the edge. To cover your basic needs it is, in any case, the protein section you should turn to first.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between EAAs and BCAAs?

BCAAs cover three branched-chain amino acids; EAAs cover nine, the BCAAs included. In this formula, the BCAAs account for 6,260 mg of the 10,000 mg total. The other six essentials complete the profile, which a BCAA on its own does not do.

How many servings are in a tub?

The net weight does not appear in the data supplied by the manufacturer, so we cannot work it out. Divide the weight shown on the packaging by 20 g to get the number of servings.

Can you take it on rest days?

The manufacturer suggests you can, in the morning on an empty stomach, to keep intake regular. Our view is more nuanced: if your diet covers your protein needs, a serving on rest days brings nothing measurable. Save the product for your sessions, that is where it earns its place.

Why is it contraindicated with antidepressants?

Because of the 280 mg of L-tryptophan per serving. Tryptophan is the precursor of serotonin, and supplementing may interact with treatments acting on that pathway. The manufacturer states it explicitly: if you are on that kind of treatment, this product is not for you.

Does the powder dissolve well?

Yes, the blend is instantised. Untreated free amino acids have a reputation for floating and forming lumps; here, a vigorously shaken shaker is enough. A slight deposit at the bottom of the glass is still possible, with no consequence.

Can it be mixed with creatine?

Yes, without difficulty. The manufacturer states it is compatible with creatine, glutamine or a protein in the same shaker. Just watch the taste: an unflavoured creatine goes down very well, a chocolate protein with a cranberry flavour, far less so.

Which flavour should you choose?

The three available are Cranberry, Lime and Raspberry, all in a tart register. That is a coherent choice: acidity covers the natural bitterness of amino acids. Lime is the most refreshing in very cold water, Cranberry the most widely liked.

Where can you buy IO Genix AMINO 10?

The flavours can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. This is a product on which we readily ask one question before selling: when do you plan to drink it. The answer determines whether it will be useful to you or merely pleasant.

In our shop in Vendargues, about ten minutes from Montpellier, the IO Genix range is fully on the shelf, and comparing an EAA label with a BCAA label takes two minutes. The whole section can be browsed from sports nutrition.

What is Per4m Egg White Protein?

It is an egg white protein powder, with a reference serving of 30 g providing 21 g of protein and 116 to 118 kcal. The 900 g tub covers 30 servings. The flavours listed: Double Chocolate, Cookies and Cream and White Chocolate-Hazelnut.

The main ingredient is egg albumin, in other words dehydrated egg white. It is the only genuine alternative to dairy proteins that remains of animal origin: no milk, no lactose, no curd. The manufacturer states that the albumin comes from free-range hens' eggs; we report that statement as it publishes it, without having verified it.

The formula adds coconut oil powder and medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) powder, a flavouring, a thickener (sodium carboxymethylcellulose) and sucralose. The product joins our egg protein and Per4m ranges.

What does a 30 g serving contain?

* Column calculated from the values declared for 30 g.

A remark is called for on the two missing lines, and it is not a trivial one. The manufacturer does not declare the fat content, even though the formula contains coconut oil powder and MCT powder — two fatty ingredients. A quick calculation confirms it: 21 g of protein and less than 2 g of carbohydrate cannot on their own account for 116 kcal, so there is necessarily fat in that serving. We cannot give the amount, and we will not invent it: read the label on the tub you receive, particularly if you are cutting and counting your fats. Salt is not declared either, even though egg white naturally contains some.

The solid figure is 70 g of protein per 100 g of powder. That is the level of a good whey concentrate, below an isolate, and it is normal for an egg albumin. Brought back to the plate: 21 g of protein per serving is the equivalent of six to seven egg whites, without having to crack or cook them.

The second point is the product's real argument: no trace of milk or lactose in the composition. This is not a claim, it is a reading of the ingredients list. If dairy shakes bother you and plant proteins do not appeal to you, this is more or less the only option left.

Egg white supplies the nine essential amino acids, BCAAs included. The manufacturer does not publish a detailed amino acid profile, so we cannot give a leucine content. The applicable regulatory wording is the only one authorised for a protein: protein contributes to a growth in and the maintenance of muscle mass.

How do you prepare this egg white protein?

Serving: 30 g. Liquid: 200 ml of water, plant milk or dairy milk. Timing: after training, as a snack or in the evening. Frequency: 1 to 2 servings a day depending on your needs. Duration: ongoing, as no course is prescribed.

The directions come with a quirk no whey has, and it is the leading cause of disappointment with this type of product: egg white foams. That is normal, it is exactly what it does in a mixing bowl. The method that works: pour the liquid in first, then the powder, shake gently for a few seconds and then more vigorously, and let it stand for a minute or two before drinking. Twenty to thirty seconds of shaking is enough.

Second practical point: the powder can clump slightly if it is poorly mixed, again just like fresh egg white. This is not a manufacturing fault. A blender gives a noticeably smoother result than a shaker if texture matters to you.

It is in the kitchen that this product pulls ahead of a whey: albumin behaves like fresh egg white when cooked. It makes things rise, it adds softness, and it does not curdle the way a dairy protein does. In pancakes, muffins or a protein bread, it is easier to work with than a whey.

On timing, let us stay sober: your total protein over the day counts for more than the slot. Take this shake wherever you are genuinely short of protein.

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

It is aimed precisely at those who are bothered by milk: lactose intolerance, milk protein allergy, or simply digestive discomfort after a dairy shake. It also appeals to those who cook with their protein, for the reason explained above.

It contains EGG, which is self-evident, and it is made in a factory handling MILK, GLUTEN (oats and wheat), SOYA, CELERY, MUSTARD, SULPHITES, FISH, CRUSTACEANS, PEANUTS and NUTS. The list of possible traces is one of the longest in the range: if you are allergic to any of these ingredients, this product is not for you. The manufacturer naturally rules it out in case of egg allergy.

So it is not suitable for vegans — albumin is of animal origin — nor, despite the absence of milk in the composition, for people whose allergy involves one of the allergens listed as traces. It suits you less well if you count your fats precisely: the manufacturer does not declare them, and the formula contains some.

What you should not expect from it. This is not a weight-loss product, and it is not an appetite suppressant: no satiety or appetite control claim is authorised, whatever the category may suggest. Nor is it a “slow-release” protein in the sense used for a casein: no claim allows an effect linked to digestion speed to be asserted, and we will not write one. What you are buying is 21 g of complete protein without milk.

Egg white protein or whey isolate?

Both answer the same need — protein without digestive trouble — by two different routes.

A whey isolate supplies 25 to 27 g of protein per 30 g of powder, with residual lactose generally below 0.5 g. It is the better choice if your problem is lactose intolerance: the amount left is so small that most intolerant people cope with it, and the protein content is higher. It generally costs less per gram of protein.

Egg white protein becomes the right choice in two cases where an isolate is not enough: a milk protein allergy, where even an isolate is ruled out, and a severe intolerance that resists any dairy product. It also wins in the kitchen, for the reasons already given. If you want the same thing in unprocessed form, our liquid egg white range offers the raw product, cheaper per gram of protein but far less convenient.

And if your aim is simply to avoid animal products, this is not where to look: only the plant proteins range answers that demand.

Frequently asked questions

Why does the shake foam so much?

Because it is egg white, and egg white whips up: that is a natural property of albumin, not a fault. Pour the liquid in before the powder, shake gently then harder, and let it stand for a minute or two. The foam partly subsides, and the taste is not affected.

Is it suitable in case of lactose intolerance?

Yes, the composition contains neither milk nor lactose. One caveat, though: the product is made in a factory handling milk, and traces are possible. For simple intolerance this is not a problem; for a confirmed milk protein allergy, the question is worth putting to your doctor.

How much fat is there in a serving?

The manufacturer does not declare it in the labelling data available to us, and we will not invent it. The formula does however contain coconut oil powder and MCT powder, two fatty ingredients. If you track your fats closely, read the label on the tub you receive.

How many servings are there in the 900 g tub?

Thirty, at 30 g per serving. At one shake a day that is a month; at two, a fortnight. Reseal tightly after use and store in a dry place: an albumin powder picks up moisture.

Can it be used in baking?

That is precisely where it stands apart from a whey. Albumin behaves like fresh egg white: it makes things rise, adds softness and does not curdle when cooked. Stir it straight into a pancake, muffin or protein bread batter.

What does an egg white protein taste like?

Less rounded than a whey, with a lighter texture and a slight foam on the surface. The flavours on offer — Double Chocolate, Cookies and Cream and White Chocolate-Hazelnut — are frankly indulgent, which makes up for it. With plant milk rather than water, the result is much more pleasant.

Is it more filling than a whey?

We cannot state that: no satiety claim is authorised in Europe for a protein, whatever its origin. What we can say is that the nutritional profile is close to that of a whey concentrate, at 70 g of protein per 100 g of powder.

Where to buy Per4m Egg White Protein?

The flavours can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. It is an unashamedly niche product: you buy it for one precise reason, almost always digestive.

At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, the first question we ask in front of this tub is whether the problem lies with lactose or with milk proteins. In the first case an isolate is often enough and costs less; in the second, this is where you need to come. The rest of the proteins can be compared in our sports nutrition range.

What is Life Pro Tasty Rice?

Life Pro Tasty Rice is an instant rice cream, sold in a 1 kg tub by LifePro Nutrition. Behind that trade name is a steam pre-cooked rice flour: the grain is cooked before being milled, which gelatinises the starch and lets the powder thicken in a liquid without ever seeing a saucepan.

That is the only real difference from the rice flour on the supermarket shelf, and it is the one that matters in use. A raw flour has to cook for several minutes with stirring; this one takes on the consistency of porridge in one to two minutes, in a bowl or a shaker.

The ingredients list is short: steam pre-cooked rice flour, flavouring, sweetener sucralose. The flavours stocked here — Nature, Cookies, Chocolat-Peanut, White Chocolate, Strawberry Cheesecake, Procao, Choco Good Cookies and Choco-Monky. The last of these is the exception: it contains 6% chopped speculoos biscuit, and therefore GLUTEN and SOYA.

What does a serving of Tasty Rice contain?

The reference serving is 50 g, roughly one and a half scoops. The 1 kg tub holds 20 of them. Each serving provides around 190 kcal, 39 g of carbohydrate of which less than 0.5 g is sugars, 3.5 g of protein, less than 0.5 g of fat of which less than 0.1 g is saturates, 0.9 g of fibre and less than 0.01 g of salt. The full table appears in the nutritional values tab.

Two figures should be read together. The 39 g of carbohydrate against less than 0.5 g of sugars: the intake is almost entirely starch, not sucrose. And the 190 kcal, a high density for a volume that stays easy to get down — which explains the product's main use, hitting a calorie total when your appetite no longer keeps up.

One clarification is called for on vitamins and minerals. Rice contains them naturally, but the manufacturer publishes no quantities. Without a stated content, there is no way to check the 15% of the nutrient reference value per portion that European regulation requires before anything can be said about them. So we repeat no vitamin claim here. On the carbohydrate itself, no nutrition claim exists: neither “high in carbohydrate” nor “source of carbohydrate”. What remains true is what the serving contains.

How do you prepare Tasty Rice?

Pour 50 g of powder into 200 to 250 ml of hot water, milk or plant drink, and mix. The texture thickens in one to two minutes; adjust the liquid depending on whether you want it as a cream or as a porridge. To avoid lumps, first slake the powder in a little cold liquid, then top up with the hot liquid while stirring.

Three moments of use. 45 to 60 minutes before a session, so you arrive with full stores and no heavy stomach. Within the 30 minutes afterwards, often paired with a serving of protein, which gives you a dessert cream that is complete in macronutrients. Or at breakfast, in place of a bowl of cereal.

One to two servings a day cover almost every use. The manufacturer states no course length, and there is no reason to set one: this is a carbohydrate food, not an active ingredient. You eat it on the days your needs justify it and stop on the others, with no tapering.

Who is Tasty Rice for, and who is it not for?

The product is aimed first at those who need to raise their calorie intake: lean builds bulking, athletes with a high training volume, difficult appetites on waking. It is also useful when a solid meal will not go down before training.

The allergens deserve careful reading. The Choco-Monky flavour contains GLUTEN and SOYA: it is ruled out in cases of coeliac disease or soya allergy. The other seven are gluten-free by composition, but the facility also handles milk proteins, soya, eggs, gluten, fish, celery, sulphites, peanuts and crustaceans; cross-contamination remains possible, which makes them unsuitable for a severe allergy. The manufacturer advises against it for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding without prior medical advice, and it is not intended for children.

What you should not expect from it: this is not a slimming product, and nothing makes it more filling than any other starch. Nor is it a protein source, at 3.5 g per serving. And it makes no digestion easier: no digestive claim is authorised for rice flour. Any question about an intolerance is one for your doctor or your pharmacist.

Tasty Rice or oat flour?

These are the two carbohydrate powders that end up in the same cupboards, and they are not for the same moment.

Oat flour is the better choice in three cases. At breakfast on an ordinary day, because its fibre — several grams per 100 g, against 1.8 g here — stays with you longer. During a cutting phase, for the same reason. And when you are after a genuine plant protein contribution in the same bowl, which rice cream does not give you.

Tasty Rice wins when digestion has to be quick and unobtrusive: before a session, or just after, where oat fibre becomes a drawback. It also wins on texture and on neutrality in cooking. For a powder that is faster still and tasteless, to drink during training, it is neither of these two you should be looking at but maltodextrin. To compare two tubs, divide the price by the weight then look at the carbohydrate per 100 g: that is where the real gap lies.

Frequently asked questions

How many servings does a 1 kg tub contain?

Twenty servings of 50 g. At one serving a day, a little under three weeks; on training days only, comfortably more than a month. Keep the tub closed, in a dry place away from light, and observe the date shown on the packaging.

Which flavour should you choose for cooking?

The Nature flavour. With no pronounced flavouring and no colour, it works in pancakes, in a cake or in a savoury preparation without the taste getting in the way. The flavoured versions are made to be eaten as they are, as a cream or a porridge, and lend themselves poorly to use as an ingredient.

Is rice cream gluten-free?

They are by composition, with one exception. The Choco-Monky flavour is not: it contains speculoos biscuit, and therefore wheat. And none of the eight is suitable for coeliac disease, since the manufacturing facility handles gluten. Check the packaging of the flavour you buy.

What can you use instead of rice cream?

Oat flour for a breakfast equivalent, maltodextrin or cyclic dextrin for carbohydrate to drink during training, or ordinary rice flour if you are happy to cook it. That cooking is what steam pre-cooking saves you, and nothing else.

Can it be mixed with whey?

Yes, and that is the most common use. A 50 g serving with a serving of protein gives you a bowl of around 39 g of carbohydrate and 25 to 30 g of protein depending on the powder. Prepare the rice cream first, let it cool to lukewarm, then stir in the protein: poured into a scalding liquid, it goes lumpy.

Is there sugar in Tasty Rice?

Less than 0.5 g per 50 g serving. The sweet taste of the flavoured versions comes from sucralose, an intense sweetener, and not from added sugar. The 39 g of carbohydrate is rice starch.

What recipes can you make with it?

Porridge, dessert cream, pancakes, a cake base. We have gathered the preparations that genuinely work in a dedicated article on rice cream recipes, rather than making them half of this page.

Where can you buy Life Pro Tasty Rice?

The flavours can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. The question that comes up most in store is not the brand but the flavour: this is a product you eat every day, and a flavour that is too pronounced soon palls. In our Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, we often advise starting with Nature when the use is culinary, and keeping a chocolate flavour for morning bowls.

The rest of the carbohydrate range can be found in our sports nutrition section.

What is ESN Designer Whey 908 g?

ESN Designer Whey is a protein powder in a 908 g tub, built not on a single raw material but on a blend: an ultrafiltered whey concentrate and a cross-flow microfiltered whey isolate. The manufacturer states a protein blend accounting for 94% of the formula; the remainder is the flavouring, the emulsifier, the salt and the sweeteners.

It is the German brand ESN's longest-standing product, and its whole reason for existing is that trade-off: the concentrate brings the price and the texture, the isolate brings the protein density and strips out part of the lactose and the fat. Neither one taken alone gives that result. The flavours listed here run from Vanilla Milk to Cinnamon Cereal: the register is that of a milky dessert, not a fruit drink.

What does a 30 g serving of ESN Designer Whey contain?

The reference serving is 30 g, roughly one level scoop. According to the values declared by the manufacturer, it provides 23 to 25 g of protein for around 115 kcal, 2 g of carbohydrate and 1.5 g of fat, of which 0.9 g saturates. The 908 g tub therefore covers around 30 servings.

The 23 to 25 g spread is not marketing vagueness: it comes from the flavours. The ones containing biscuit or cereal pieces dilute the protein share of the blend. The label on the tub you receive takes precedence over the one on this page.

The manufacturer further states that the protein fraction contains 48% essential amino acids and 23% BCAAs, naturally present in whey. We report those figures as theirs: we have no detailed amino acid profile for this reference, and we will not publish an invented one. The “per 100 g”, “of which sugars”, “fibre” and “salt” columns are likewise absent from the data supplied to us. In regulatory terms, the only thing that can be written about a protein is this: protein contributes to a growth in and the maintenance of muscle mass. There is no recovery claim for protein, and you will not read one here.

How do you prepare ESN Designer Whey?

The manufacturer indicates 30 g of powder in 200 ml of cold water or milk, shaken for 20 seconds. One to three servings a day according to your needs, with no set course length: a protein powder is a food, and it is taken continuously for as long as it serves to close a gap in your intake.

Timing matters less than it is said to. After the session, at breakfast or between two meals: what determines the outcome is the 24-hour protein total, not the slot.

The 200 ml volume gives a thick texture, close to a milkshake. Go up to 250 or 300 ml if you prefer it thinner. It is also a powder that cooks without difficulty: add it off the heat rather than in the middle of cooking. With oat flakes and oat flours, it makes a complete breakfast.

Who is ESN Designer Whey for, and who is it not for?

It suits the most common situation: you train regularly, you do not reach your protein intake from meals alone, and you want a powder that works in the shaker as well as in the kitchen without paying the premium for a pure isolate.

The product contains MILK and SOYA lecithins. Some flavours with pieces contain GLUTEN, and traces of nuts, egg or fish are possible depending on the flavour: the label on your tub is the only valid reference. In the event of a diagnosed cow's milk protein allergy, the product is contraindicated, isolate or no isolate.

Nor does it suit you if you digest lactose poorly: the presence of isolate reduces the lactose content, it does not cancel it out. In that case, a whey isolate on its own is a better fit. The manufacturer advises against the product for young children and asks pregnant or breastfeeding women and people on medication to seek medical advice. What not to expect from it: it does not build muscle on its own and it does not make you lose weight. It provides protein, nothing more.

ESN Designer Whey or ESN Clear Whey Isolate?

Both come from the same brand and answer two different questions. The Designer Whey is a milky drink, thick, in 200 ml. ESN's clear whey is a translucent, tart drink, diluted in 500 ml of iced water and based on isolate alone.

The Designer Whey wins as soon as the powder has to be cooked with, as soon as you want a texture with some substance to it between two meals, and on the price per kilo of protein — that is the mechanical effect of the concentrate. It also wins on choice: the milky range is better stocked than the clear one.

The clear wins in one precise and frequent case: when the milky shaker no longer goes down. Heaviness after the effort, weariness with the taste of vanilla, a summer session after which nothing creamy will go down. A protein you do not drink is of no use, and that is the only argument that counts then. It also wins on lactose content, which is virtually nil. If your budget is the deciding criterion, look instead at whey concentrate: for most people it is enough, and an isolate is only justified in identified cases.

Frequently asked questions

How many servings are there in the 908 g tub?

Around 30 servings of 30 g. At one serving a day, that covers a month. If you take two on training days and one on the others, reckon on three weeks instead. Keep the tub in a dry place, away from light and carefully resealed.

Do the nutritional values change from one flavour to another?

Yes, and that is the question to ask before buying. The manufacturer states 23 to 25 g of protein per serving depending on the flavour. The versions with biscuit or cereal pieces sit at the bottom of that range and may bring gluten with them.

What is the difference between whey concentrate and whey isolate?

The degree of filtration. Concentrate generally runs between 70 and 80% protein and retains lactose and fat. Isolate takes the filtration further, goes beyond 85% and removes the bulk of both. The Designer Whey contains both, which explains its intermediate position on price as much as on density.

Can it be used in baking?

Yes. Unlike a clear whey, which coagulates with acidity and heat, this powder stands up to cooking and behaves well in pancakes, muffins or porridge. Fold it in at the end of the preparation: the final texture is less dry.

Can it be combined with creatine?

Nothing stands in the way: these are two separate ingredients, with no known interaction, and mixing them in the same shaker poses no problem. Creatine monohydrate is dosed separately, generally 3 to 5 g a day, independently of your protein servings.

Does it contain sugar?

No added sugar: the sweetening is provided by sucralose and steviol glycosides. Around 2 g of carbohydrate remain per 30 g serving, essentially the residual lactose from the whey. The “of which sugars” line is not published by the manufacturer and we do not reconstruct it.

Where can you buy ESN Designer Whey 908 g?

The flavours can be ordered on this page and we ship throughout France and Europe. On a milky whey, the flavour is the one criterion that no product page can settle in your place: in our shop in Vendargues, about ten minutes from Montpellier, we talk them over with people who have drunk them, and we compare the price per kilo of protein in front of you.

The other formats of protein to take away are found in our protein bars, and the aisle as a whole in our sports nutrition section.

What is the More Nutrition 2 Kcals Oil Spray?

It is a cooking spray in a 200 ml bottle, and the idea behind it fits into one sentence: replacing the trickle of oil poured by eye into a pan with a measured spray. A quarter-second press delivers 0.25 ml of oil, that is 2 kcal.

The composition is short and easy to read: 97.5% refined rapeseed oil and one emulsifier, rapeseed lecithins. Nothing else. The manufacturer states there is no palm oil, no preservative, no flavouring and no colouring, and declares the product vegan.

Two technical details are worth explaining, because they are rarely understood. The propellant is compressed air, in what is known as a Bag-On-Valve system: the oil is sealed inside a flexible pouch and never comes into contact with the gas. And the stated smoke point is 210 °C, which allows cooking over a high heat. We stock the brand in our More aisle.

A useful clarification: only the standard vegan version is offered here. The manufacturer makes other variants, notably a butter version, but they contain flavourings of animal origin and we do not list them.

What does one spray contain, and what does the bottle contain?

* Column calculated from the 800 sprays per bottle stated by the manufacturer. The manufacturer publishes no table per 100 ml and puts no figure on the split between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids: it says only that the unsaturates are in the majority, which is consistent with rapeseed oil but remains a qualitative statement. We will not turn it into a percentage, and we will make no health claim about this fat profile.

Now for an honest reading of the figure that gives the product its name. 2 kcal per spray is true, but this is not a light oil: it is a measured oil. The bottle holds around 160 g of fat, roughly what a bottle of oil of the same volume holds. The difference is not in the product, it is in the quantity you put down.

And that is precisely where the gain is real. A tablespoon of oil poured into a pan is around 15 ml and more than 130 kcal. One or two sprays is 2 to 4 kcal. Over daily cooking, the gap runs into tens of thousands of kilocalories a year. The corollary is just as true: press for ten seconds without stopping and you have poured the equivalent of a spoonful, and the benefit has gone. The product does nothing on its own — the saving comes from how you use it.

How do you use the cooking spray?

Dose: 1 to 2 sprays for a pan, 2 to 3 for a cake tin. Distance: 20 to 30 cm from the surface. Timing: on a cold or lukewarm utensil, never on a hot surface. Frequency: as often as needed, this is a cooking ingredient. Life: around 800 sprays per bottle.

Shake vigorously before each use, hold the bottle 20-30 cm away and press briefly — a quarter of a second is enough. For a large surface, use two or three separate presses rather than one continuous spray: you will get a more even film for less oil.

The uses, as the manufacturer gives them: 1 to 2 sprays for a frying pan or a wok; a spray on a griddle or grill before preheating; 2 to 3 sprays in a cake, muffin or brownie tin to turn the bake out cleanly; a light application between each batch on a waffle iron or a crêpe pan; and one spray over vegetables or a salad for measured dressing.

Always apply to a cold or lukewarm utensil. This is not a theoretical precaution: spraying an aerosol onto a hot surface or near a flame carries a risk of ignition. Finally, if the valve becomes blocked, rinse it briefly under warm water and dry it before using the bottle again.

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

It suits anyone tracking their calories closely who wants to stop pouring oil by eye, anyone who does a lot of pan cooking, and anyone who bakes and wants a clean turn-out without buttering. It also suits vegetarian and vegan diets, the formula containing no ingredient of animal origin.

One point that will help some people: the emulsifier is a rapeseed lecithin, not a soya one. That is rare enough to be worth flagging, and it may suit people who avoid soya. The manufacturer does state, however, that traces of other allergens remain possible depending on manufacturing conditions.

The precautions are those of an aerosol, and they are serious: pressurised container, which may burst if heated. Do not pierce it, do not burn it, even when empty. Keep it away from hot surfaces, sparks and naked flames, do not spray towards an ignition source, do not smoke nearby, and protect it from direct sunlight. Store it in a dry place, below 25 °C, somewhere ventilated, without refrigerating it, and out of the reach of children.

What you should not expect from it: it is not a weight loss product, and it is not a “calorie free” oil. It is rapeseed oil sprayed in a small quantity. Nor does it suit you if you cook for five people in a large sauté pan — at that volume the bottle will empty quickly and a weighed bottle of oil remains more economical. Finally, do not swallow it directly: this is a product intended for cooking.

Cooking spray or zero sauce?

Both serve the same intention — cooking and seasoning without pushing up the calorie total — but they come in at different points in the meal, and it is better to know that before choosing.

The spray acts at the cooking stage. Its job is mechanical: stopping food from sticking, letting you sear a piece of meat or turn a cake out of its tin. It is a replacement for the cooking fat, and nothing else — it brings neither taste nor sauce.

A zero sauce acts on the plate. It replaces a vinaigrette, a mayonnaise or a ketchup, and its point is taste. Ranges such as Callowfit play on exactly that ground: making a plate of chicken and rice enjoyable without the 90 kcal of a spoonful of shop-bought sauce.

In other words, these are not two competing options but two complementary steps. If you had to take only one: the spray if your problem is the pan and oil poured without measuring, the sauce if your problem is that your cutting meals are bland and that is what makes you crack. Most people who track their calories end up with both. The rest of the lighter products can be compared in our weight loss aisle.

Frequently asked questions

At 2 kcal per spray, is it really a light oil?

No, and it is important to understand that. It is 97.5% rapeseed oil, as calorific as any other oil. What you are buying is a dose: 0.25 ml instead of the 15 ml of a tablespoon. The 200 ml bottle holds around 1,600 kcal in total. The saving comes from how you use it, not from the formula.

How many sprays are there in a bottle?

Around 800, that is 200 ml delivered in 0.25 ml presses. At two sprays per cooking session and two sessions a day, that works out at around six months of use. The Bag-On-Valve system keeps the product good until its use-by date even once opened.

Can you use it at high temperature?

Yes, the manufacturer states a smoke point of 210 °C, which covers a pan over a high heat, the grill and the oven. Just one rule: spray the utensil while it is cold or lukewarm, before heating it. Never spray towards a hot pan or a flame.

Does it contain soya?

No. The emulsifier is a rapeseed lecithin, not a soya one — a rare and useful point if you avoid soya. The manufacturer does flag, however, that traces of other allergens remain possible depending on manufacturing conditions.

Is the propellant a chemical gas?

No, it is compressed air. The Bag-On-Valve system seals the oil inside a flexible pouch: the gas presses on the pouch but never comes into contact with the food product. It is also what gives an even spray whatever angle the bottle is held at.

Should it be kept in the fridge?

No, definitely not. Store it in a dry place, below 25 °C, somewhere ventilated and away from direct sunlight. It is a pressurised container: it must not be heated, pierced or burned, even when empty, and must be kept out of the reach of children.

Does one spray really replace a spoonful of oil?

For stopping food sticking, yes, in a non-stick pan. For frying or confit cooking, no: those methods call for a volume of oil the spray is not designed to deliver. It excels at quick cooking, the grill, tins and light dressing, not at cooking in deep oil.

Where can you buy the More Nutrition 2 Kcals Oil Spray?

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

It is one of the few products in the aisle whose usefulness can be demonstrated in ten seconds: just compare the weight of a pan oiled with the spray and one oiled from the bottle. At our Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, it is often the purchase people add without thinking and then buy again every time. The other lighter kitchen products, sprays and sauces, are in the Rabeko aisle and in our sports nutrition section.

What is ESN Clear Whey Isolate?

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

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

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

What does a serving of ESN Clear Whey Isolate contain?

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

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

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

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

How do you prepare ESN Clear Whey Isolate?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ESN Clear Whey Isolate or Rule One Clear Isolate?

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

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

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

Frequently asked questions

What exactly is a clear whey?

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

Why 500 ml of water and not 250?

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

Which flavours are available?

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

How many servings does the tub contain?

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

Can it be mixed with milk?

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

Is it suitable in cases of lactose intolerance?

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

What is the difference from ESN Designer Whey?

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

Where can you buy ESN Clear Whey Isolate?

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

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

What is IO Genix Synephrine?

It is a single-ingredient supplement, in capsules, containing 330 mg of bitter orange dry extract (Citrus aurantium L.) standardised to 6%, that is 19.8 mg of p-synephrine per capsule. The bottle of 100 capsules, 58 g net, covers more than three months at one capsule a day.

P-synephrine is a molecule found naturally in the bitter orange fruit. To give a sense of scale: the manufacturer states that one litre of bitter orange juice contains between 15 and 27 mg of it, where a capsule delivers 19.8 mg in standardised form. That is the most useful comparison for understanding what you are buying.

The rest of the composition fits in three lines: a gelatine capsule shell, microcrystalline cellulose as a bulking agent and magnesium stearate as an anti-caking agent. As the capsule shell is made of gelatine, the product is suitable for neither vegetarians nor vegans. It joins our fat burners in capsules and IO Genix sections.

What is in one capsule?

Other ingredients: capsule shell (gelatine), bulking agent (microcrystalline cellulose), anti-caking agent (magnesium stearate). Pack size: 100 capsules, 58 g net. No energy value is declared and, at this scale, it is negligible.

A point of vocabulary first, because it accounts for half the comparison mistakes made in this category: 330 mg is the weight of the extract, 19.8 mg the weight of the active molecule. A label that advertises “500 mg of bitter orange” without giving a standardisation figure tells you nothing at all. It is the second number you should look for, every time.

That figure of 19.8 mg is anything but arbitrary, and it is the most important point on this page. ANSES has published an opinion on food supplements intended for athletes containing synephrine and recommends not exceeding 20 mg of synephrine per day, avoiding combination with caffeine and not consuming it during intense physical exercise. This product sits just under that limit, which is to its credit — but it also means there is no margin at all: one capsule only, never two, and nothing else alongside it.

On effects, the framework is unambiguous: no health claim is authorised in Europe for synephrine or for bitter orange. Not on weight, not on fat, not on energy, not on appetite. So you will read no promise here, not even one phrased indirectly. The “fat burner” label used in our sections is a commercial category name, not a description of an effect.

How do you take Synephrine?

Dose: 1 capsule a day, never more. Liquid: a large glass of water. When: in the morning on waking. How often: one intake a day. Duration: the manufacturer sets no precise duration but recommends a periodic break.

One discrepancy has to be flagged, and we will not pass over it in silence. The manufacturer suggests taking it “before training”; the ANSES opinion, on the contrary, recommends avoiding the consumption of synephrine during intense physical exercise. Between the two, we follow ANSES: take the capsule in the morning, well away from your session. That is the advice we give over the counter, and it deliberately differs from the leaflet.

Second instruction, and this one is absolute: never combine this product with another source of caffeine or stimulant without medical advice. That includes coffee, tea, energy drinks and above all pre-workouts, which commonly contain 200 to 350 mg of caffeine. The manufacturer says so, and so does ANSES: on this point there is no debate.

The manufacturer also advises against taking it late in the day, so as not to disturb sleep. With 100 capsules in the bottle, it covers more than three months — so plan the breaks it recommends rather than running through it without interruption.

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

It is aimed at healthy adults engaged in a structured weight loss approach who want a single active ingredient with its standardisation stated. On that last point, the label is exemplary: one extract, one standardisation figure, one active molecule content.

The list of contraindications is one of the longest in the catalogue, and it needs to be read in full. The product is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women, children and adolescents, people on medical treatment, or people suffering from cardiovascular disorders, hypertension, glaucoma, diabetes, prostate adenoma, depression or thyroid disorders. If any one of these applies to you, this product is not for you, and that is not negotiable.

It is suitable for neither vegetarians nor vegans, as the shell is made of gelatine. Traces of GLUTEN (wheat and oats), NUTS, PEANUT, EGG, MILK, FISH and SOYA are possible. Nor is it for you if you drink coffee during the day or already take a caffeinated pre-workout booster: stacking stimulants is precisely what the health authorities ask you to avoid.

What not to expect from it, and we will be blunt: this product does not make you lose weight. No claim exists, which means no European authority has validated any effect. Nor is it a pre-workout, or an appetite suppressant. If your calorie deficit is not in place, this bottle will change absolutely nothing.

Synephrine or a stimulant-free fat burner?

That is the real choice in this category, and it does not come down to effectiveness — neither family has an authorised claim — but to the balance between constraints and sensations.

A caffeine-free fat burner cannot be felt and imposes no constraints: no timing to respect, no stacking to watch, no cardiovascular contraindication. It is the better choice for the vast majority of people, and by far the safest. You will feel nothing at all, which is precisely the point.

Synephrine belongs to the other family, the actives with a stimulant effect, like the thermogenics in the fat burners section. It is only of interest in one specific case: you want a single active, dosed below the threshold recommended by ANSES, with no caffeine added to the formula — which leaves you in full control of your other intakes. That is a genuine advantage over a complete thermogenic in which caffeine is imposed on you.

The advice we actually give over the counter: if you drink coffee, walk on by. And if you are going to add a single supplement during a deficit, take a protein rather than a fat burner — protein contributes to the maintenance of muscle mass is an authorised claim, and that is what a diet really hinges on.

Frequently asked questions

Is 19.8 mg of p-synephrine a lot?

It is just under the threshold of 20 mg a day recommended by ANSES for synephrine in supplements intended for athletes. In other words: the dose is set at the maximum of what is advised, and there is no margin. One capsule a day, never two, and nothing else alongside it.

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

No. The manufacturer advises against it and ANSES recommends avoiding the combination of synephrine with caffeine. A pre-workout commonly delivers 200 to 350 mg of caffeine: stacking is exactly what should be avoided. On this specific point, there is no room for compromise.

Should it be taken before training?

The manufacturer suggests it, but ANSES recommends avoiding the consumption of synephrine during intense physical exercise. We follow ANSES: take the capsule in the morning, well away from your session. It is a deliberate departure from the leaflet, and we would rather explain it than keep quiet about it.

What is the difference between 330 mg and 19.8 mg?

The first figure is the weight of the plant extract, the second the weight of the p-synephrine it contains, at a standardisation of 6%. It is the second one you should compare from one product to another. A label that gives an extract weight without a standardisation figure allows no comparison at all.

How long does a bottle last?

More than three months, at one capsule a day for 100 capsules. The manufacturer recommends periodic breaks rather than uninterrupted use: plan them from the outset rather than running straight through to the last tablet.

Are the capsules suitable for vegetarians?

No, the shell is made of gelatine of animal origin. The contents, on the other hand, are indeed a plant extract of bitter orange. The manufacturer also reports possible traces of gluten, nuts, peanut, egg, milk, fish and soya.

Why are there so many contraindications?

Because synephrine is an active with a stimulant effect, structurally close to molecules that act on the cardiovascular system. The manufacturer rules out in particular cardiovascular disorders, hypertension, glaucoma, diabetes, prostate adenoma, depression and thyroid disorders. That list is not decorative: read it before buying.

Where to buy IO Genix Synephrine?

The bottle of 100 capsules can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. Three months per bottle: this is a purchase that belongs to the long run, not to a moment of impulse.

At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is the product in front of which we ask three questions before selling: do you drink coffee, are you on any medication, and what time do you train? A single wrong answer is enough to put it back on the shelf, and that happens often. The rest of the range can be compared in our sports nutrition section.

Source: ANSES.

What is a Callowfit sauce?

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

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

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

What is in a 15 ml serving?

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

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

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

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

How do you use Callowfit sauces?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A zero sauce or a sugar-free flavouring?

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

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

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

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

Frequently asked questions

Is a serving really 1 kcal?

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

What does the sucralose taste like in these sauces?

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

Can they be heated?

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

How many servings in a bottle?

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

Do they contain mustard?

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

How long do they keep once opened?

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

Do all the flavours have the same composition?

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

Where to buy Callowfit sauces?

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

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

What is TrainedByJP EAA + Hydration?

TrainedByJP EAA + Hydration is a powdered training drink that brings together two things usually sold separately: the nine essential amino acids and an electrolyte complex made up of magnesium, potassium and sodium. A 10 g serving is mixed into 300 to 400 ml of cold water. The 300 g tub covers 30 servings.

The thinking behind this combination is simple, and rarely put into practice properly. During exercise, two things are lost: water and mineral salts through sweat, and amino acids that the muscle draws on. Most drinks on the market address one or the other; this one takes both in the same scoop.

Sodium is the most frequently overlooked component of training drinks, and yet it is the first mineral lost in sweat. Here it is present in two forms, sodium bicarbonate and salt, alongside potassium and magnesium. The rest of the British range can be browsed in our TrainedByJP section, and the other products in this category in our EAA section.

What does a serving of EAA + Hydration contain?

We have to be blunt: the manufacturer's documentation discloses no figures at all, neither for the amino acids nor for the electrolytes. We will not invent them, and we will not estimate them from a comparable product. On a drink of this type, the figures are precisely what allows a comparison to be made — the sodium per serving in particular, which determines how genuinely useful the product is on a long session. The values appear on the packaging you will receive, and this page will be updated as soon as the manufacturer sends them to us.

What we can state is the qualitative composition, and it holds up. All nine essential amino acids are indeed present: leucine, isoleucine, valine, lysine, threonine, phenylalanine, methionine, histidine and tryptophan. That is what sets an EAA formula apart from a BCAA product, which supplies only three of them.

On the electrolyte side, the three minerals that genuinely matter during exercise are there. Magnesium contributes to electrolyte balance, to normal muscle function and to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue; potassium contributes to the normal function of the nervous system and to normal muscle function. These are the authorised wordings, provided the amounts reach the required thresholds — which we cannot verify in the absence of figures.

One formulation caveat is worth flagging: the magnesium is supplied as the oxide, the least well absorbed form on the market. It is a common choice in exercise drinks, where magnesium is not the main active ingredient, but do not count on this product to cover a magnesium requirement. A dedicated magnesium, as citrate or bisglycinate, does an altogether different job.

Ingredients list

Essential amino acid blend (leucine, isoleucine, valine, lysine, threonine, phenylalanine, methionine, histidine, tryptophan), acidity regulator (citric acid), sodium bicarbonate, flavouring, magnesium oxide, potassium chloride, sweetener (sucralose), salt, colour. List given for the Fizzy Blue Bottles flavour; flavourings and colours vary slightly from one flavour to another.

Made in a facility that handles MILK, SOYA, EGG and GLUTEN. Colours may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.

How do you take EAA + Hydration?

Serving: 1 to 2 scoops, i.e. 10 to 20 g. Liquid: 300 to 400 ml of cold water. Timing: 15 to 20 minutes before the session, sipped during exercise, or immediately afterwards. Frequency: one serving per session; can be taken between meals on rest days. Duration: no set course required.

The use that gets the most out of this formula is taking it during exercise, in small sips. That is the only moment when both components are working at once: the amino acids and the minerals you are losing through sweat. On a session longer than sixty minutes, or in hot conditions, that is where this product sets itself apart from a plain tub of EAAs.

Start with one scoop. The manufacturer allows for two scoops during intense training, calorie-restricted diets or endurance sports, but there is no reason to start at that dose: assess tolerance and taste first. Then adjust the volume of water to suit how strong you like the flavour — 300 ml gives a bold drink, 400 ml a lighter version for sipping.

Shake vigorously until fully dissolved, and drink straight away. The sodium bicarbonate in the formula produces a slight fizz as it dissolves, which is normal.

A reminder that matters more than the product itself: an electrolyte drink is no substitute for drinking. Minerals are of no use without an adequate fluid intake across the day. This powder combines without any overlap with creatine monohydrate or, on very long efforts, with a carbohydrate source such as a cyclic dextrin.

Who is EAA + Hydration for, and who is it not for?

It is aimed at athletes who sweat heavily: long sessions, overheated gyms, summer training, endurance sports. It is also a good choice for anyone training fasted, since free amino acids require no digestive work.

The manufacturer advises against it for pregnant and breastfeeding women, and asks that medical advice be sought first if you are on any medication. The statement about colours — which may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children — is a regulatory warning to be taken seriously: this product is not intended for children.

The formula contains sucralose and colours. If you avoid those ingredients, this is not the right product. Anyone with allergies should note that the facility handles milk, soya, egg and gluten.

What not to expect from it. It is not a pre-workout: there is no caffeine, no stimulant and no carbohydrate, and you will feel no kick from it. It is not a protein substitute: 10 g of powder does not replace 25 g of whey. Nor is it a meaningful source of magnesium, as the oxide is poorly absorbed. And it will not make up for inadequate hydration across the rest of the day.

EAAs on their own, or EAAs with electrolytes?

The two sit side by side on the shelf and the difference is not cosmetic.

A standard EAA product puts everything into the amino acids, often at higher doses — 12 to 15 g of amino acids per serving on the best-served formulas. If your goal is nutritional, if you train in an air-conditioned gym on hour-long sessions, and you sweat little, that route gives better value per gram of amino acid. Our BCAA section also lets you compare with the previous generation of these drinks.

This formula takes a different bet: less concentrated in amino acids, but rounded out with the minerals lost in sweat. It is intended for long efforts, for the heat, for sessions where you genuinely sweat. In that case, it saves buying and mixing two products.

When is an electrolyte product on its own enough? If you already comfortably cover your protein needs and your only problem is dehydration. Our electrolytes section then offers dedicated formulas, higher in sodium and often cheaper. And if your priority remains muscle mass, the answer is neither one nor the other but a complete protein.

Frequently asked questions

What are the exact amounts per serving?

The manufacturer does not disclose them, neither for the amino acids nor for the electrolytes, and we will not invent them. That is a genuine limitation of this page. The values appear on the packaging you will receive; we will update this page as soon as they are sent to us.

What is the difference from BCAAs?

BCAAs supply only three of the nine essential amino acids: leucine, isoleucine and valine. This formula supplies all nine, plus three electrolytes. On paper as in practice, that is a difference in kind and not merely in dosage.

Which flavours are available?

Sour Peach Ring, Fizzy Blue Bottles, Sour Watermelon and Fizzy Cola Bottles. These are confectionery flavours, bold and sharp, which go down well during exercise. The official ingredients list is given for the Fizzy Blue Bottles flavour; flavourings and colours vary slightly across the others.

When should you drink it?

The most coherent use is during the session, in small sips, since that is the only moment when amino acids and electrolytes are both working at once. Taking it 15 to 20 minutes beforehand works equally well, particularly for fasted training.

Is magnesium in the oxide form a good choice?

It is the least well absorbed form on the market. It is common in exercise drinks, where magnesium is not the main active ingredient, but do not count on this product to cover a magnesium requirement. A dedicated product as citrate or bisglycinate does an altogether different job.

How many servings are in the tub?

30 servings of 10 g in the 300 g tub. At four sessions a week and one scoop per session, that comes to close to two months. If you move up to two scoops, expect logically half as long.

Does it replace an isotonic drink?

Not entirely. An isotonic drink also supplies carbohydrate, which is absent here. This formula covers hydration and amino acids, not fuel. On a long effort, you therefore need to add a separate carbohydrate source.

Where can you buy TrainedByJP EAA + Hydration?

The 300 g tub can be ordered from this page, in whichever of the available flavours you prefer, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, it is a product that mainly moves in summer: when it is thirty degrees in the gym, the question of electrolytes stops being theoretical. The rest of the range can be browsed in our sports nutrition selection.

What is TrainedByJP's Estro Control?

TrainedByJP Estro Control is a food supplement in vegetable capsules, sold in a bottle of 60 capsules for a once-daily dose — that is, two months' use. It is formulated around two compounds derived from cruciferous vegetables: indole-3-carbinol, abbreviated to I3C, and diindolylmethane, abbreviated to DIM. The second is a transformation product of the first in the stomach.

The formula is a short one: I3C, DIM, broccoli extract (Brassica oleracea) and black pepper extract (Piper nigrum) standardised for piperine. To these are added the hypromellose vegetable capsule and two anti-caking agents, magnesium stearate and silicon dioxide. Black pepper plays the same role here as it does in turmeric-based formulas: DIM and I3C are fat-soluble, and piperine is added to limit how quickly they are eliminated.

TrainedByJP is the brand of the British coach Jordan Peters. Its range leans towards foundational supplements rather than immediate performance, and can be found in the TrainedByJP collection.

What does a capsule of Estro Control contain?

We have to be frank here, and the table below is unlike any other on this site.

No dose is published for any of the four active ingredients in this formula in the data available to us. We will not invent them, and we will not repeat figures found elsewhere. This is the most serious limitation of the product: without milligrams, no comparison with another brand is possible, and you cannot know whether you are taking 100 mg or 300 mg of DIM. Check the official labelling on the bottle you receive, and if the detail matters to you before buying, ask us — we will go and look at the box on the shelf.

On the regulatory side, we also need to be clear: no health claim is authorised in Europe for DIM, indole-3-carbinol, broccoli extract or piperine. Not on hormones, not on metabolism, not on anything else. So we describe what the capsule contains, how to take it and who it is not for. Any product page that promises you a quantified effect on your hormone levels goes beyond what the regulations allow to be written.

What can be said factually: I3C and DIM occur naturally in cruciferous vegetables — broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts. They are well-known dietary compounds, not synthetic molecules.

How do you take Estro Control?

Dose: 1 capsule a day, without exceeding the recommended daily dose. Liquid: a glass of water. Timing: with a meal containing fat, at any point in the day. Frequency: one dose daily. Duration: the manufacturer recommends a course of 8 to 12 weeks; beyond 12 consecutive weeks, consult a healthcare professional.

The instruction about a fatty meal is not decorative. DIM and I3C are fat-soluble: taken on an empty stomach or with a salad, part of the capsule serves no purpose. A normally composed meal is enough — some eggs, some fish, a drizzle of olive oil.

One precaution worth repeating: if you are taking other medicines, leave several hours between doses. The manufacturer asks for this explicitly, and the presence of piperine, which alters the liver metabolism of many molecules, justifies that caution. The manufacturer also mentions that this supplement can be combined with calcium D-glucarate.

Stop taking it and seek advice if you notice joint pain, hot flushes or mood changes after starting supplementation.

Who is Estro Control for, and who is it not for?

The list of situations in which this product is not suitable is a long one, and it is the most important part of this page.

Do not use during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Consult a healthcare professional if you are trying to conceive. In cases of liver disorders, medical advice is mandatory before use, and you must stop immediately at any liver symptom: jaundice, abdominal pain, dark urine, unusual nausea. Do not use without medical advice in cases of gallstones or bile duct obstruction. In cases of stomach ulcer or excess acidity, caution is required.

Drug interactions deserve particular attention: the manufacturer cites medicines metabolised by the liver, oral contraceptives, tamoxifen and hormone treatments. That is not a trivial list — if any of them appears on your prescription, the question is one for your doctor, not for a product page.

Two further points. This supplement may interfere with iron absorption: if you are deficient or supplementing, take that into account and leave a gap between doses and your iron intake. And if you show signs of low oestrogen — joint pain, hot flushes, vaginal dryness, irregular periods — medical advice is required before any use. Finally, the manufacturer refers you to the official labelling for the full allergen list, which we have not been able to verify here.

Estro Control or a ZMA?

These two products are often bought for similar reasons. Yet they do not have remotely the same regulatory status, and that is the criterion that ought to settle it.

A ZMA combines zinc, magnesium and vitamin B6. It has one decisive advantage: zinc benefits from a claim authorised under European regulations — it contributes to the maintenance of normal testosterone levels in the blood, provided the product supplies at least 15 % of the NRV. That is a validated wording, with a quantified threshold, and you can check on the label that the product reaches it. Magnesium also contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue and to normal muscle function. If you want a product whose effect is recognised by the European framework and whose doses are verifiable, that is the one to take.

Estro Control is on different ground. It supplies no mineral, claims no authorised health claim, and its doses are not published. What it does supply is a combination of cruciferous compounds that is hard to obtain other than by eating a lot of broccoli, in a format that is simple to keep up over two months. It is a choice for an informed user, not a first purchase. Those building a foundational routine generally start from a base in our multivitamins or zinc range, and add this kind of product afterwards — never the other way round.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between DIM and I3C?

Indole-3-carbinol is the compound present in cruciferous vegetables; diindolylmethane forms from it in the stomach, under the effect of acidity. This formula supplies both, which is a common formulation choice. The respective proportions are not published by the manufacturer.

How long does a bottle last?

Two months. The bottle contains 60 capsules and the dosage is one a day. That corresponds to the lower end of the course length recommended by the manufacturer, which runs from 8 to 12 weeks.

Why does it have to be taken with a fatty meal?

Because DIM and I3C are fat-soluble. Without fat in the food you eat, absorption is markedly poorer. An ordinary meal containing some fat is enough; there is no need to add anything or to count anything.

Can it be taken alongside the contraceptive pill?

Not without medical advice. The manufacturer explicitly cites oral contraceptives among the treatments for which a consultation is necessary, in the same way as tamoxifen and hormone treatments. Put the question to your doctor or your pharmacist before opening the bottle.

Are the doses shown on the packaging?

The manufacturer refers you to its official labelling, and the data passed on to us contains no milligrams. We prefer to flag this gap rather than put forward approximate values. When it arrives, read the label on the bottle: that is the one that counts.

Is this product suitable for women as well as men?

The manufacturer does not restrict use to one audience, but the list of precautions includes several specifically female points — pregnancy, breastfeeding, plans to conceive, oral contraception, signs of low oestrogen. These precautions should be read before buying, and the question is one for a healthcare professional.

Can it be combined with other supplements?

The manufacturer mentions a possible combination with calcium D-glucarate. For the rest, the rule is to leave several hours between doses and any medicine, because of the piperine. If you are already taking a product from our NAC range or a liver complex, take stock before stacking.

Where can you buy TrainedByJP Estro Control?

The 60-capsule bottle can be ordered on this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. It is a niche line, which we stock because it is regularly asked for — not because we recommend it to everyone.

If you come by our Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, we will take the bottle off the shelf and read the label with you: on a product whose doses are not circulating online, that is still the most reliable method. The rest of the range can be browsed from sports nutrition.

What is TrainedByJP Vital Support?

TrainedByJP Vital Support is a vegetable capsule complex bringing together five actives, every one of them quantified to the milligram. The bottle contains 240 capsules, or 30 servings of 8 capsules — a full month. It is a niche product, designed by British coach Jordan Peters, and it is nothing like an entry-level supplement.

The five components are astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus), N-acetylcysteine, IP6 (inositol hexaphosphate), TUDCA (tauroursodeoxycholic acid) and a maritime pine bark extract. The rest comes down to the hypromellose vegetable capsule and two anti-caking agents.

The key thing to take away first: none of these five actives carries a health claim authorised in Europe. Not for the liver, not for the kidneys, not for anything else. So what we describe here is a composition, doses and precautions — not effects. The product appears in the TrainedByJP collection.

What does a serving of 8 capsules contain?

This is a rare table in this category: all five actives are quantified, with no proprietary blend and no "complex" to hide behind. With ingredients as expensive as TUDCA, that transparency has real value — it lets you compare against another product, which most brands in this sector make impossible.

Two doses are worth putting in context. The 4,000 mg of astragalus per serving make it the main active by weight. And the 500 mg of TUDCA: this is a bile acid, one of the most expensive ingredients on the supplement market, which goes a long way towards explaining the product's price positioning. The manufacturer does not specify whether these are standardised extracts, or to what ratio, and we are not going to invent that.

Let us say it again plainly, because it is the most useful piece of information on this page: astragalus, NAC, IP6, TUDCA and pine bark have no health claim authorised under European regulations. Any product page promising you organ protection is stepping outside the legal framework. What we can say, on the other hand, is factual: TUDCA influences bile production, which is why the precautions listed below apply.

How should you take Vital Support?

Dose: 8 capsules a day, split into two servings. Liquid: a glass of water with each serving, alongside a daily fluid intake of 2.5 to 3 litres. Timing: 4 capsules on waking, on an empty stomach or with a light breakfast, and 4 capsules before bed. Frequency: two servings a day. Duration: a course of 8 to 12 weeks, as recommended by the manufacturer.

Hydration is not a cosmetic detail here: the manufacturer explicitly puts a figure on it, 2.5 to 3 litres a day, which is well above what most people drink. If you do not intend to stick to that, this product is not for you.

Eight capsules a day is a significant amount to swallow. Splitting them morning and evening is not only a question of absorption: it is also what makes taking them manageable. The evening serving is taken before bed, with a large glass of water.

The manufacturer notes that this complex can be combined with omega 3 or with a B vitamin complex. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before any use — that is the manufacturer's own recommendation, and we pass it on exactly as it stands.

Who is Vital Support right for, and who is it not right for?

This is a product for the informed user, someone who knows exactly what they are buying and why. If you are new to supplements, this is not where to start: a foundation of multivitamins or a plain N-acetylcysteine will cover more needs for far less money.

The precautions are numerous and serious. Pregnant or breastfeeding women: seek the advice of a healthcare professional before use. Anyone on medication: consult a healthcare professional, particularly in the case of liver or kidney treatment. Diagnosed liver or kidney disorders: medical consultation is mandatory before use. And one point specific to TUDCA: it influences bile production, so you should avoid the product in the case of gallstones or bile duct obstruction without medical advice.

On allergens, the list for the manufacturing site is particularly long: CELERY and CELERIAC, CRUSTACEANS, FISH, MILK, MUSTARD, PEANUTS, SOYA, GLUTEN, EGG, LUPIN and MOLLUSCS. If you have a severe allergy, take that into account.

What you should not expect from it: organ protection. No regulatory evidence allows that to be claimed, and a food supplement makes up for neither alcohol consumption, nor heavy medication, nor a medical condition. If you are worried about your liver or your kidneys, the answer is a blood test prescribed by a doctor — not a bottle of capsules.

Vital Support or NAC bought on its own?

That is the honest comparison to make, because NAC is by far the best known and most accessible of the five actives.

A NAC sold on its own is the better choice in two very common cases. First, price: N-acetylcysteine costs a fraction of this complex, and if it is NAC you are after, there is no reason to pay for four other ingredients. Second, dosing: you adjust it freely, whereas Vital Support fixes 1,200 mg within a serving that also contains 4 g of astragalus and 500 mg of TUDCA. It should be said that NAC on its own has no authorised claim in Europe either.

Vital Support keeps the advantage if it is precisely this combination that you are after. TUDCA in particular is virtually impossible to find on its own in France, and 500 mg per serving is a serious dose. Astragalus at 4 g and IP6 at 1 g round out an assembly that would be difficult and expensive to rebuild bottle by bottle. This is the product of a deliberate plan, not a top-up purchase.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a bottle last?

One month. The bottle contains 240 capsules and the daily serving is 8, which makes 30 servings. That amounts to a third of the 8 to 12-week course recommended by the manufacturer, so reckon on two to three bottles for a full course.

Do you really have to take 8 capsules a day?

Yes, that is the serving the doses in the table are based on. Cutting down to four capsules halves every intake. Splitting it into two servings, four in the morning and four in the evening, is what the manufacturer specifies.

What is TUDCA?

Tauroursodeoxycholic acid, a bile acid present here at 500 mg per serving. It influences bile production, which is what justifies the precautions regarding gallstones and bile duct obstruction. No health claim is authorised in Europe for this molecule.

Can it be taken alongside medical treatment?

Not without medical advice, and the manufacturer is categorical on this point — particularly in the case of liver or kidney treatment. If you are on any form of treatment, put the question to your doctor or pharmacist before opening the bottle.

Why do you have to drink so much water?

The manufacturer puts fluid intake at 2.5 to 3 litres a day during the course. That is an explicit instruction, not a general wellbeing recommendation: stick to it or choose another product.

Are the capsules suitable for vegetarians?

The shell is made from hypromellose, a plant cellulose, with no animal gelatine. The manufacturer does not, however, explicitly claim vegetarian or vegan certification in the data available to us, and we will not write it on their behalf.

Can it be combined with other supplements?

The manufacturer mentions that it can be combined with omega 3 or a multivitamin containing B vitamins. Just check the totals: if your multivitamin already contains NAC, as some complexes do, the amount adds up fast.

Where can you buy TrainedByJP Vital Support?

The 240-capsule bottle can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. It is a product we stock because customers ask for it by name, and because the label puts a figure on all five of its actives — a criterion that matters more than the name on the box.

If you drop into our shop in Vendargues, about ten minutes from Montpellier, we will read the label with you and tell you straight whether a simpler product would do the same job in your situation. It often would.

What is TrainedByJP Cure Coming?

TrainedByJP Cure Coming is a turmeric extract in vegetable capsules, standardised in the patented BCM-95® form. The bottle holds 60 capsules and the intended dose is one capsule a day, taken with a meal containing fat. Two months of supplementation per bottle.

Turmeric is the rhizome of Curcuma longa, a plant from the ginger family, used for centuries as a spice and in the Ayurvedic tradition. The molecules that interest supplement manufacturers are the curcuminoids, of which curcumin is the main one — it is also what gives turmeric its orange-yellow colour.

Curcumin's long-standing problem is easy to state: taken as it is, it passes very poorly into the blood. It is barely soluble in water and rapidly eliminated. The entire industry around this category consists of getting round that obstacle, and that is precisely what a patented form like this one sets out to do. The rest of the British range can be browsed in our TrainedByJP section, and the other products in the category in our curcumin section.

What is in one Cure Coming capsule?

One figure is missing from the manufacturer's file, and it matters: the exact amount of curcumin per capsule has not been disclosed to us. We will not invent it, and we will not infer it from a comparable product. Yet it is the number that ought to decide the purchase in this category. It appears on the packaging you will receive, and that is the authoritative source. We will update this page as soon as the manufacturer sends us the value.

What we can say about the patented form, on the other hand, is verifiable. BCM-95® is an extract that combines turmeric's curcuminoids with the essential oil of the same rhizome, rich in turmerones. That combination is what sets it apart from standard extracts: where many products add piperine — the alkaloid from black pepper — to improve passage into the blood, this form relies on the volatile compounds of the plant itself. It is a difference in design, not a promise of results.

On the regulatory side, we have to be blunt, because this is one of the most talkative categories on the market. No health claim is authorised in Europe for curcumin or for turmeric. Not for joints, not for digestion, not for inflammation, not for the body's defences. The applications submitted either failed or are still pending. So we describe a plant, an extract and how to use it. Any site promising you anything else is stepping outside the rules.

The capsule is vegetable, made from hypromellose, which makes the product suitable for vegetarian and vegan diets — a real difference from the gelatine capsules that dominate this category.

Ingredients list

Turmeric extract (Curcuma longa) standardised in BCM-95® curcumin, vegetable capsule (hypromellose), anti-caking agents (magnesium stearate, silicon dioxide).

Missing from the manufacturer's file: the list of allergens handled in the production facility is not disclosed. Please refer to the packaging you receive.

How should Cure Coming be taken?

Dose: 1 capsule. Liquid: a glass of water. Timing: with a meal containing fat. Frequency: once a day, at whatever time suits you. Duration: a course of at least 2 to 3 months according to the manufacturer.

Taking it with a fatty meal is by far the most important instruction on this page. Curcumin dissolves in fat, not in water. A capsule swallowed on an empty stomach with a glass of water leaves a good part of its contents never crossing the intestinal wall. A meal with a drizzle of olive oil, half an avocado, a handful of almonds, eggs or oily fish genuinely changes things. This is not a comfort detail, it is what the product actually delivers.

The time of day, on the other hand, makes no difference: lunch or dinner work equally well. What counts is consistency — and taking the capsule with the same meal every day remains the best way not to forget it.

The minimum duration of two to three months is the second point to remember. With a plant of this kind, judging after ten days makes no sense. The 60-capsule bottle covers exactly two months: it therefore corresponds to one complete short course, while a long course calls for one and a half bottles.

Curcumin combines without overlap with an omega 3 — both are taken with the same fatty meal — or with a vitamin C. If your goal concerns joint comfort, our glucosamine section and our collagen section follow a different logic and are worth reading alongside.

Who is Cure Coming for, and who is it not for?

It is aimed at an adult who wants a standardised turmeric extract rather than ground spice, and who is willing to follow a course lasting several months. The vegetable capsule makes it accessible to vegetarian and vegan diets.

Three situations call for medical advice beforehand, and they are specified by the manufacturer. The first: anticoagulant or anti-inflammatory treatment. The second: a medicine metabolised by the liver, since curcumin may interfere with certain hepatic pathways. The third, and the most concrete: an obstruction of the bile ducts or gallstones. Curcumin stimulates bile production, and this contraindication is stated explicitly on the packaging.

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

What you should not expect from it. No noticeable effect when you take it: curcumin does not wake you up, does not send you to sleep and cannot be felt. No effect on sporting performance, muscle mass or body fat. And above all, it is not a treatment: joint pain that persists, an ongoing digestive problem or a question about a blood test are matters for your doctor. Nor does this product replace a proper diet, and the spice itself remains a good idea in the kitchen.

Patented extract or turmeric with piperine?

This is the real debate in this category, and it deserves better than a marketing line.

The most common route is to combine a standard turmeric extract with piperine, the alkaloid from black pepper, at a few milligrams. Piperine slows the elimination of curcumin by the liver, which increases its presence in the blood. It is effective and inexpensive. The downside, rarely mentioned: piperine acts on the same hepatic pathways as many medicines, which multiplies the risk of interactions.

The patented route chosen here is different: it uses the essential oils of turmeric itself rather than an outside compound. It costs more to produce, and that is what explains the price gap with an entry-level turmeric. For anyone already taking medication, that is an argument worth taking seriously — after medical advice in every case.

When is a standard turmeric enough? If you are on no treatment, if budget comes first, and if you simply want to try the plant. Our NAC section, for its part, answers a different antioxidant logic. And if your priority is a broad micronutrient intake rather than one specific plant, our multivitamins section answers another question.

Frequently asked questions

How much curcumin is there per capsule?

The manufacturer has not disclosed it to us and we will not invent it. Yet it is the number that ought to decide the purchase in this category. It appears on the packaging of the product you will receive; this page will be updated as soon as the official value is sent to us.

What is BCM-95?

It is a patented form of turmeric extract that combines the curcuminoids with the essential oils of the rhizome, rich in turmerones. It differs from extracts that add black pepper piperine to improve passage into the blood: here, it is the compounds of the plant itself that are used.

Why take it during a fatty meal?

Because curcumin dissolves in fat and not in water. Taken on an empty stomach, a good share of it does not cross the intestinal wall. A drizzle of olive oil, half an avocado, eggs or oily fish at the same meal are enough to genuinely change what the product delivers.

Does turmeric have proven effects?

No health claim is authorised in Europe for curcumin or turmeric, whether for joints, digestion or inflammation. The applications submitted did not succeed. We sell a plant of traditional use in the form of a standardised extract, without attributing any effect to it.

Are there any contraindications?

Yes, and one of them is very concrete: curcumin stimulates bile production, so it should be avoided in cases of bile duct obstruction or gallstones. Medical advice is also needed if you are on anticoagulants, anti-inflammatories, or a medicine metabolised by the liver.

How long does one bottle last?

60 capsules at one a day: exactly two months. Since the manufacturer recommends a course of at least two to three months, one bottle covers a short course and one and a half a long one. With this kind of plant, a two-week course proves nothing.

Are the capsules suitable for vegans?

Yes. The shell is a vegetable capsule made from hypromellose, and the extract comes from the turmeric rhizome. No ingredient of animal origin appears in the composition disclosed by the manufacturer.

Where can you buy TrainedByJP Cure Coming?

You can order the 60-capsule bottle on this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. In the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is a product we always start with one question: are you on anticoagulant treatment? With turmeric, the answer determines whether the sale goes ahead or whether we send you to your doctor. The rest of the category can be browsed in our sports nutrition selection.

What is TrainedByJP's D3 K2?

TrainedByJP D3 K2 combines two fat-soluble vitamins in one vegetable capsule. The vitamin D3 here is of plant origin, extracted from algae, and the vitamin K2 comes in a patented menaquinone-7 form. The bottle holds 60 capsules, at one a day: two months of use.

Pairing these two vitamins has become common in recent years, and for a precise reason. Vitamin D improves the intestinal absorption of calcium; vitamin K, for its part, is involved in the proteins that play a role in fixing it into bone. The two work on the same ground, at two different stages.

The point that really sets this product apart is the origin of the vitamin D3. In the vast majority of supplements, cholecalciferol is extracted from lanolin, the grease from sheep's wool — which rules those products out of a vegan diet. Here, the D3 comes from algae, and the capsule is made of hypromellose. The formula is therefore vegan from end to end, which remains rare. The rest of the British range can be browsed in our TrainedByJP section, and the other products in the category in our vitamin D section.

What does one D3 K2 capsule contain?

Data missing from the manufacturer's file, and it has to be said plainly: the doses of vitamin D3 and vitamin K2 per capsule have not been disclosed to us. On this type of product, those are nonetheless the only two figures that count. We will not invent them and we will not infer them from a competing product. They appear on the packaging you will receive, and this page will be updated as soon as the official values are passed on to us.

What is established, on the other hand, are the authorised claims, and they are solid for these two vitamins. For vitamin D: it contributes to the normal absorption and utilisation of calcium and phosphorus, to the maintenance of normal bones, to the maintenance of normal muscle function, to the normal function of the immune system and to the maintenance of normal blood calcium levels. For vitamin K: it contributes to normal blood clotting and to the maintenance of normal bones. These are the exact wordings of the European framework. Those claims are conditional on a minimum intake, which we cannot confirm as we do not know the doses.

A word on the form of vitamin K2 chosen: menaquinone-7, also written MK-7. It differs from MK-4 in staying present in the blood for markedly longer after being taken, which makes a single daily serving sufficient where MK-4 would call for several. It is the form most used in current supplements, and it is a coherent formulation choice.

As for algal vitamin D3, it is chemically identical to cholecalciferol from lanolin: the same molecule, obtained by another route. The difference is ethical and dietary, not biological.

List of ingredients

Plant-based vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol from algae), vitamin K2 (patented menaquinone-7), maltodextrin, vegetable capsule (hypromellose).

Data missing from the manufacturer's file: the list of allergens present in the manufacturing facility is not disclosed. Refer to the packaging you receive.

How should you take D3 K2?

Dose: 1 capsule. Liquid: a glass of water. Timing: during a meal containing fat, preferably in the morning or at midday. Frequency: one serving a day. Duration: a course of 3 months minimum, continued if needed from October to March.

Taking it with a fatty meal is not optional with this product, and it is the first thing to remember. Vitamins D and K are fat-soluble: swallowed on an empty stomach with a glass of water, a substantial part does not cross the intestinal wall. A little olive oil, half an avocado, a handful of almonds or an oily fish in the same meal is more than enough. It costs nothing, and it changes what you get out of the bottle.

The manufacturer advises the morning or midday rather than the evening. That is a preference for comfort more than a physiological constraint: some people report poorer sleep with vitamin D taken late. If that does not apply to you, the time hardly matters.

The time of year counts for more than the time of day. At our latitudes, the skin makes virtually no vitamin D between October and March, the sun being too low on the horizon. That is the window in which supplementation makes full sense, and the 60-capsule bottle covers two months of it. Even in Montpellier, where the sunshine is generous, winter is still winter.

The manufacturer suggests pairing this product with an intake of magnesium, a mineral involved in the metabolism of vitamin D. It can also be taken with the same meal as an omega 3, which provides the fatty support the two vitamins need for absorption.

Who is D3 K2 for, and who is it not for?

It is aimed first and foremost at people following a vegan or strict vegetarian diet: it is one of the few vitamin D3 products they can take, since almost the whole market comes from sheep's lanolin. It also concerns anyone with little sun exposure, working indoors, or living through the autumn-winter period in northern Europe.

It is not recommended for people on anticoagulant or vitamin K antagonist medication without prior medical advice, and that is a contraindication to take seriously. Vitamin K antagonist medicines work precisely by opposing the action of this vitamin; supplying it through a supplement can upset the balance of the treatment. If this applies to you, the question goes to your doctor before the purchase, not after.

It is not recommended for pregnant and breastfeeding women without the advice of a healthcare professional, and it is not intended for children.

What you should not expect from it. You will feel nothing when you take it, and that is normal: these two vitamins have no perceptible effect. They do not improve sporting performance, muscle mass or mood in any immediate way. And supplementation does not replace a blood test: if you are wondering about your vitamin D status, a work-up prescribed by your doctor will answer far better than a bottle bought at random. Finally, watch out for stacking: a multivitamin already contains vitamin D, and intakes add up.

D3 on its own, or D3 combined with K2?

A frequent question in the shop, and the answer depends above all on what you are looking for.

Vitamin D on its own does the main job very well: making up for the shortfall in sunshine during the cold season. It is the best-justified supplement in this whole catalogue for a European population, and it costs little. If that is your only aim, standalone vitamin D exists in a range of doses, often for a smaller budget, and a vitamin C will usefully round out the winter period.

Adding vitamin K2 answers a logic of complementarity where bone is concerned. Vitamin D promotes the absorption of calcium, vitamin K is involved in the proteins that play a role in fixing it. The combination makes sense if your concern is specifically bone capital, and it saves buying two bottles.

In which case is D3 on its own the better choice? If you are on anticoagulant medication — in which case K2 is precisely what to avoid without medical advice — or if budget is the deciding criterion. And if your aim is broader, a multivitamin already provides both, in more modest amounts. For all-round bone support, our collagen section and our zinc section rest on other mechanisms and are best read alongside.

Frequently asked questions

What are the doses of D3 and K2 per capsule?

The manufacturer has not disclosed them to us and we will not invent them. They are nonetheless the only two figures that count on this type of product. They appear on the packaging you will receive; this page will be updated as soon as the official values are passed on to us.

Is this vitamin D3 suitable for vegans?

Yes, and it is the product's main selling point. The vitamin D3 here is extracted from algae and not from sheep's lanolin, as is the case in almost every supplement on the market. The capsule is vegetable, made of hypromellose. The formula is therefore vegan from end to end.

Why take it during a fatty meal?

Because vitamins D and K are fat-soluble. Taken on an empty stomach with a glass of water, a substantial part is not absorbed. A drizzle of oil, half an avocado or a few almonds in the same meal are enough to genuinely change what you get out of the product.

Can it be taken on anticoagulants?

Not without medical advice, and the warning is categorical. Vitamin K antagonist medicines work by opposing the action of this vitamin: supplying it through a supplement can unbalance the treatment. If this applies to you, talk to your doctor before buying.

What is menaquinone-7?

It is a form of vitamin K2, written MK-7. It stays present in the blood for much longer after being taken than the MK-4 form, which makes a single daily serving sufficient. It is the form most used in current supplements.

Should it be taken all year round?

The period in which supplementation is most justified runs from October to March: at our latitudes, the skin makes virtually no vitamin D in winter, the sun being too low. The rest of the year depends on your actual exposure. If in doubt, a blood test settles it better than an assumption.

Can it be stacked with a multivitamin?

First check what your multivitamin contains: most already provide vitamin D, and intakes add up. With a fat-soluble vitamin, which is stored in the body, it is better to do the sum than to discover a build-up after several months.

Where can you buy TrainedByJP's D3 K2?

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, it is the product we bring out when a vegan customer asks us for a vitamin D: the question of origin comes up every time, and answers are rare in this category. The rest of our selection can be browsed in the sports nutrition section.