Sports Nutrition Guide

What is Nutriting's nuADK?

Nutriting nuADK brings together three fat-soluble vitamins in a single softgel capsule. One capsule provides 2,000 IU of vitamin D3, i.e. 50 µg and 1,000% of the reference value, 600 µg of vitamin A as palmitate, and 125 µg of vitamin K2 as menaquinone-7. The 60-capsule bottle covers two months.

These three vitamins share one characteristic that explains why they are brought together: they do not dissolve in water but in fat. That is why the capsule contains an organic olive oil base — the fatty carrier is already in the product, it does not have to come from your meal.

The three doses are shown separately, which is not that common on this type of formula. You know exactly how much of each vitamin you are taking, and you can compare it with what your other supplements already provide. The rest of the French range can be browsed in our Nutriting aisle, and the other products in the category in our vitamin D aisle.

What does one nuADK capsule contain?

The 2,000 IU of vitamin D3 is the most common dose in winter supplementation protocols, and it is a sound choice. It stays well below the upper safety limit set at European level, at 100 µg per day, i.e. 4,000 IU. The claims attached to it are wide-ranging: vitamin D contributes to the normal absorption and utilisation of calcium and phosphorus, to the maintenance of normal bones, to the maintenance of normal muscle function and to the normal function of the immune system.

Vitamin K2 in the MK-7 form is the form that stays in the blood longest, the one that makes a single daily dose enough. Vitamin K contributes to normal blood clotting and to the maintenance of normal bones. It logically complements vitamin D on the bone front: one promotes calcium absorption, the other is involved in the proteins that take part in fixing it.

Vitamin A, at 600 µg, covers 75% of the reference value. Vitamin A contributes to the maintenance of normal vision, normal skin and normal mucous membranes, to normal iron metabolism and to the normal function of the immune system. The dose is deliberately measured: vitamin A is stored in the liver and an excess of it is not harmless, which is why it is kept below the reference value here rather than above it.

There is one point of composition that rules out a proportion of buyers and therefore has to be said straight away: the shell is made of marine gelatine. This capsule therefore contains a fish-derived product, which makes it an allergen subject to mandatory declaration, and it is suitable neither for vegetarians nor for vegans. The manufacturer does, on the other hand, declare it free from gluten, lactose, soya, nanoparticles and GMOs, with an olive oil base from organic farming.

Ingredients list

Shell: MARINE GELATINE, glycerol (thickener), water (carrier). Contents: organic olive oil, vitamin K2 (menaquinone-7), vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol), vitamin A palmitate.

Contains a FISH-derived product. Free from gluten, lactose, soya, nanoparticles and GMOs.

How do you take nuADK?

Dose: 1 capsule. Liquid: a glass of water. Timing: no restriction — the capsule already contains its own oily base. Frequency: one dose a day. Duration: from October to April, extendable to the whole year if you get little sun exposure.

This is one of the few products in this aisle where the time of day makes no difference at all, and that is a genuine practical advantage. Most fat-soluble vitamins need a fatty meal to be absorbed; here, the olive oil in the capsule already supplies that carrier. You can therefore take it on an empty stomach, at the office, at any hour, without losing any benefit. On a product to be taken every day for six months, that freedom is the difference between a course you stick to and a course you abandon.

The October-to-April window matches the period when sunlight in France is no longer enough for the skin to make sufficient vitamin D. That is when supplementation makes the most sense, and the 60-capsule bottle covers two months of it: so allow three bottles for the full season. If you work indoors or rarely go out, taking it all year round is justified.

The manufacturer gives a piece of advice that few brands dare to give, and it deserves to be followed: have your blood level measured. A 25(OH)D test, four to six weeks after starting supplementation, lets you adjust the dose rather than guess it. The manufacturer mentions a target of between 30 and 40 ng/ml. It is your doctor who prescribes and who interprets, but the idea is an excellent one: it turns an assumption into a figure.

This product combines without any overlap with a magnesium, a mineral involved in vitamin D metabolism, or with an omega 3. Do take care, on the other hand, not to stack it with a multivitamin that already contains these three vitamins.

Who is nuADK suitable for, and who is it not suitable for?

It is aimed at an adult who gets little sun exposure, particularly between October and April, and who would rather have a single capsule than three separate bottles. The freedom over when to take it makes it an easy product to fit into any routine.

It is not recommended for people on anticoagulant treatment, warfarin or equivalent, without prior medical advice. The manufacturer says so clearly, and it is the main warning on this page: vitamin K2 can interact with these treatments and reduce their effectiveness. If you have a heart condition, a doctor's advice is likewise required before taking it.

It contains a fish-derived product, the gelatine in the shell being of marine origin. People with a fish allergy must rule it out, and it is suitable neither for vegetarians nor for vegans.

Pregnant or breastfeeding women should seek the advice of a healthcare professional before use. The presence of vitamin A as palmitate makes this precaution particularly important during pregnancy, a period when retinol intakes are subject to specific recommendations. This is not a formula to take as a matter of course: ask the question beforehand, not afterwards.

What not to expect from it. No sensation when you take it: these three vitamins have no perceptible effect. No effect on sporting performance, muscle mass or body fat. And above all, no dose replaces a blood test: if you want to know where you stand, what you need is a test, not an assumption.

An A, D3 and K2 complex or vitamin D on its own?

This is the question that decides the purchase in this aisle, and the answer is not the same for everyone.

Vitamin D on its own does most of the work: making up for the lack of sunshine in the cold season. It is inexpensive, available as capsules, drops or tablets, and its regulatory framework is excellent. If that is your only goal, it is more than enough, and you run no risk of an interaction with vitamin K.

This complex adds two things. Vitamin K2 complements vitamin D on the bone front, which makes sense if your concern is specifically about bone capital. Vitamin A widens the spectrum further — vision, skin, mucous membranes, immunity — at a dose deliberately kept measured at 75% of the reference value.

When is vitamin D on its own the better choice? If you take an anticoagulant, the question is settled: K2 is to be avoided without medical advice, and an isolated D3 product is the one to go for. The same applies if you are vegetarian or allergic to fish, since the marine gelatine rules this capsule out. For broader bone support, our collagen aisle and our zinc aisle provide other building blocks, and our vitamin C aisle the cofactor for collagen synthesis.

Frequently asked questions

How much vitamin D per capsule?

50 µg, i.e. 2,000 IU and 1,000% of the nutrient reference value. It is the most common dose in winter supplementation protocols, and it stays well below the European upper safety limit, set at 4,000 IU per day in adults.

Does it have to be taken with a meal?

It does not, and that is the practical strength of this formula. The capsule contains an organic olive oil base that already supplies the fatty carrier these three vitamins need. You can therefore take it at any time of day, with or without food.

Is this capsule suitable for vegetarians?

No. The shell is made of marine gelatine, so the product contains a fish derivative, an allergen subject to mandatory declaration. It is suitable neither for vegetarians, nor for vegans, nor for people with a fish allergy.

Can it be taken while on anticoagulants?

Not without prior medical advice, and that is the product's main warning. Vitamin K2 can interact with warfarin and equivalent treatments and reduce their effectiveness. If you have a heart condition, medical advice is likewise required.

Why is vitamin A dosed at only 75%?

Because vitamin A is stored in the liver and an excess of it is not harmless. Staying below the reference value rather than going above it is a cautious choice, and it is also what makes it all the more important to check your other supplements before stacking them.

Should you have a blood test?

The manufacturer recommends it, and it is good advice: a 25(OH)D test four to six weeks after starting the course lets you adjust the dose instead of guessing it. The target mentioned is between 30 and 40 ng/ml. Prescribing and interpreting are your doctor's business.

How long does one bottle last?

60 capsules at one a day: exactly two months. As the recommended period runs from October to April, allow three bottles to cover the whole season. Taking it all year round is justified if you get very little sun exposure.

Where can you buy Nutriting nuADK?

The 60-capsule bottle can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is the product we bring out for customers who were taking three separate bottles, with two questions always asked first: anticoagulants, and fish allergy. The two answers decide the advice. The rest of our selection can be browsed in the sports nutrition aisle.

What is Yam Nutrition Peanut Butter Powder?

Yam Nutrition Peanut Butter en Poudre is peanut butter from which most of the fat has been removed and which has then been dried. The bag weighs 500 g and covers roughly 16 servings of 30 g. The ingredients list runs to three words: 100% roasted peanuts. No added sugar, no palm oil, no emulsifier, no preservative.

The process is mechanical: the peanuts are roasted then pressed to extract part of the oil, and the remaining cake is ground into a powder. That is what explains the product's profile — the protein and the fibre become concentrated while the fat falls away. Per 100 g of powder, 13 g of fat remain, against around fifty in a conventional peanut butter.

The product is vegan, gluten free and lactose free. It keeps at room temperature, in a dry place, with no refrigeration. You will find it in our peanut butter section, alongside the jarred versions.

What does a 30 g serving contain?

* Nutrient reference values for a typical adult (8,400 kJ / 2,000 kcal, 70 g of fat, 20 g of saturates, 260 g of carbohydrate, 90 g of sugars, 50 g of protein). The manufacturer declares sodium rather than salt: we reproduce its figure as it stands. The 12 g of sugars per 100 g occur naturally in the peanut, no sugar is added.

Three figures sum the product up. 45 g of protein per 100 g: protein accounts for close to 45% of the powder's energy, comfortably above the regulatory threshold that allows the wording “high protein”. 13 g of fibre per 100 g: here again above the 6 g threshold that allows the wording “high fibre”. And 121 kcal per 30 g serving, against roughly 190 kcal for the same amount of jarred peanut butter. That is where the whole point lies: much the same taste, a third fewer calories, and three times more protein for the same weight.

Worth noting that peanut protein is incomplete in methionine. That is not a flaw in the product, it is the nature of the legume: paired with cereals over the course of the day, the complementation takes care of itself.

How should Peanut Butter Powder be used?

The reference serving is 30 g, once or twice a day depending on your intake. There is no course and no duration: this is a food, not a supplement.

Three uses, three dilutions. As a spread: 30 g of powder and one tablespoon of water or milk, stirred until the texture is smooth. Add the liquid gradually, which is the product's only difficulty — too much water at once and the paste turns runny with no way back. In a shaker: 30 g in 250 ml of water or milk, shaken for thirty seconds. In cooking: stirred in as it is, without reconstituting, into pancakes, porridge, a bowlcake, a smoothie or a yoghurt.

The third use is the most interesting and the least known. A spoonful of powder in a preparation based on oat flour or in a protein pancake batter brings the peanut taste without the fat that weighs the cooking down. It is handier than jarred peanut butter, which sets firm and is awkward to measure out.

When cutting, or in any period when fat is being counted, the powder lets you keep that taste on the plate without blowing the calorie budget. It is the use case we see most often at the counter.

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

It suits just about everyone: athletes in a deficit, vegetarians and vegans looking for plant protein, people who like peanut butter but not its 600 kcal per 100 g.

It is not suitable in two clear cases. First, allergy: the product contains PEANUTS and may contain traces of NUTS, SOYA and SESAME. It is made in a factory that also handles eggs, milk proteins, gluten and crustacean-based ingredients. A peanut allergy contraindicates the product, no argument. Second, sensitive guts: excessive consumption may have laxative effects because of the high fibre content. The manufacturer mentions this explicitly, and 3.9 g of fibre per serving add to everything else in your day. Stick to the stated servings.

What not to expect from it: it is not a protein powder. 13.5 g per serving, against 20 to 25 g for a serving of whey, with an incomplete plant profile and 121 kcal along with it. Use it as a food you enjoy the taste of, not as your main protein source — for that, see the protein section. Nor is it a slimming product: it simply does less damage than the jarred version.

Peanut powder or jarred peanut butter?

Both have their place, and we sell both. The choice depends on what you do with it.

Jarred peanut butter wins as soon as texture and calorie density are the issue. If you are bulking and struggling to hit your calories, a spoonful of paste at 190 kcal does the job far more efficiently than reconstituted powder. It also wins on the morning slice of toast: the texture of an oil-rich paste remains superior, rehydrated powder is a little drier and slightly grainy. Nobody should tell you otherwise.

The powder wins on three fronts: calories (121 kcal against roughly 190 per 30 g), protein content (13.5 g against 7 to 8 g), and convenience in the kitchen, where it pours like a flour. When cutting, during weight loss, or whenever precise measuring is needed, it takes the advantage. The formats can be compared side by side in the aisle, and the calculation to make is a simple one: the price per 100 g of protein, not the price of the jar.

Frequently asked questions

How many servings are there in a 500 g bag?

About 16 servings of 30 g. At one serving a day, the bag covers a little over two weeks. The powder keeps at room temperature in a dry place; reseal the bag carefully after each use, moisture is its only enemy.

How much water is needed to get a paste texture back?

One tablespoon per 30 g of powder, added in two stages. Start with three quarters of it, stir, then top up if needed. Too much liquid at once gives a runny cream that can only be rescued by adding more powder.

Is there any added sugar?

No. The 12 g of sugars per 100 g are those of the peanut itself. The only declared ingredient is “100% roasted peanuts”, with no added salt either — sodium is at 0.01 g per 100 g.

Can it be used in baking?

Yes, and that is one of its best uses. It goes in dry, like a flour, into pancakes, home-made cookies, porridge or bowlcakes. Bear in mind that it absorbs liquid: adjust the hydration of your recipe slightly.

Does it taste the same as conventional peanut butter?

The roasted peanut taste is clear and very much present, but the mouthfeel differs: without the fat, the rich coating disappears and the texture is drier. Most people get used to it in two or three uses, some do not. In a shaker or a cooked preparation, the difference is no longer noticeable.

Is it suitable for vegans?

Yes. A single ingredient of plant origin, with no lactose and no gluten, which makes it a useful top-up alongside plant proteins. One reminder though: the peanut is low in methionine, so vary your sources across the day.

Can it replace a serving of protein after training?

No, not on its own. 13.5 g of incomplete plant protein per serving is half what a serving of whey supplies, with a less favourable amino acid profile. A spoonful in the shaker does, on the other hand, make the whole thing far more pleasant to drink, and that is often what it is asked to do.

Where can you buy Yam Nutrition Peanut Butter Powder?

The 500 g bag can be ordered from this page. We ship throughout France and Europe, and the product is also on the shelf in our shop in Vendargues, about ten minutes from Montpellier — it is the kind of item that is better seen once, to grasp the format, before ordering it online.

The rest of the range can be found in the Yam Nutrition collection, and if you are looking for something to go with a snack rather than to cook with, take a look at the protein snacks.

What is Steelfit Abs of Steel?

It is a cosmetic cream for external use, in a 237 ml bottle, to be massaged into the abdominal area. It is not a food supplement: it is not swallowed, it is applied, and it falls under cosmetic product regulations.

Its formula is built around the CoAxel™ complex, which combines three cosmetic ingredients: carnitine, coenzyme A and caffeine. To these are added a Bupleurum falcatum root extract, two warming compounds — methyl nicotinate and benzyl nicotinate — and aloe vera juice powder.

One thing has to be said before anything else, and we are putting it at the top rather than at the bottom: no cream makes you lose abdominal fat. Targeted slimming of an area through the skin has not been demonstrated, and fat distribution cannot be steered locally. What this product delivers is an immediate warming sensation and a cosmetic effect on the appearance of the skin. Abdominal definition, for its part, remains the result of a calorie deficit and regular training. The brand's full range is in our SteelFit aisle.

What is in the formula?

No content levels are published for these actives: cosmetic regulations do not require a dosage on the label, only an INCI list ordered by decreasing weight. We therefore cannot tell you how much caffeine or carnitine one application contains, and we are not going to invent it.

What the INCI list does let you read, on the other hand, is instructive. The first four ingredients are water, soybean oil, propylene glycol and PEG-40 stearate: this is a classic cream base. The actives put forward — carnitine, nicotinates, bupleurum, caffeine — come after the fragrance, which tells you where their proportion sits. Aloe vera and coenzyme A appear right at the end of the list. This is neither a flaw nor a deception — it is how a cream normally works — but it is information the marketing label does not give.

The two ingredients whose effect is immediately noticeable are the nicotinates. They are the ones that produce the warmth and the slight reddening felt on application, through superficial skin vasodilation. This sensation is temporary and expected: it does not mean that fat is being melted away.

Finally, the formula contains five fragrance allergens subject to mandatory declaration under European regulations: linalool, alpha-isomethyl ionone, citronellol, benzyl salicylate and benzyl benzoate. It also contains soybean oil, in second position on the list.

How do you apply Abs of Steel?

Amount: a generous amount. Area: abdomen, obliques and serratus muscles. Action: massage in firmly until fully absorbed. Timing: 15 minutes before the session, and in the evening after showering or before going to bed. Frequency: two applications a day.

Three practical precautions really count. Let it dry completely before putting on clothing: the product stains, and that also goes for bed linen in the evening. Never apply it to the face or the neck, or near the eyes. And wash your hands after massaging it in, otherwise you will carry the nicotinates to places you do not want them.

On the warming sensation: it comes on within seconds, it is sometimes sharp, and it fades within a few minutes. Slight reddening is possible. Test the product on a small area before the first full application — it is the only way to know how your skin reacts, and it takes five minutes.

A 237 ml bottle at two applications a day lasts several weeks, the actual duration depending entirely on how much you apply. Store it away from heat and direct light.

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

It suits those who are already following a structured weight loss approach and who are looking for one more ritual, with an immediate sensation. It is also a product people appreciate before a session: the warmth on application has a motivating side that nobody disputes, even though it has no effect on fat.

It is for external use only. Avoid contact with the eyes. Do not apply to irritated or broken skin, or after recent waxing or shaving: nicotinates on weakened skin cause a distinctly more unpleasant sensation. If a skin reaction occurs, stop using it and consult a healthcare professional. Keep out of reach of children.

It is not for you if you are sensitive to fragrances — five fragrance allergens are declared — nor if you are allergic to soya, soybean oil being the second ingredient on the list. Nor is it for very reactive skin: the heat from the nicotinates is not trivial.

What you should not expect from it, and this is the most useful point on this page: it does not make you slimmer, it does not burn fat, and it does not carve out abs. No cream does, whatever the brand and whatever the price. The warmth you feel is skin vasodilation, not lipolysis. We sell this product for what it is — a pleasant cosmetic with an effect on the appearance of the skin — and not for what this aisle generally promises.

A cream or a supplement to swallow?

The question comes up in this aisle, and it deserves a clear answer. Let us start with what they have in common: neither cosmetic creams nor the supplements known as “fat burners” have an authorised claim on fat loss in Europe. Neither of the two will make you slimmer in place of a calorie deficit.

A product from our fat burners or fat burner capsules aisle works orally, with real constraints: timing, total caffeine to keep an eye on, cardiovascular contraindications. It does, on the other hand, have a noticeable systemic effect, which a cream never will.

The cream does exactly the opposite: no internal contraindications, no total to calculate, no interaction with any medication since it is not swallowed. That is its real advantage, and it is no small thing for anyone who does not want to add capsules to their day. If you are sensitive to caffeine, our caffeine-free fat burner aisle is the oral equivalent of that same logic.

And if you are only going to add one thing during a period of deficit, our answer is always the same: a protein. It is the only product in the whole shop with an authorised wording mentioning the maintenance of muscle mass, and that is precisely what is at stake when calories go down.

Frequently asked questions

Does this cream make you lose abdominal fat?

No. Targeted slimming of an area through the skin has not been demonstrated, and fat distribution cannot be steered locally. It is a cosmetic product: what it delivers is a warming sensation and an effect on the appearance of the skin. Abdominal definition comes from a calorie deficit and from training.

Why does it get so warm?

Because of methyl nicotinate and benzyl nicotinate, two compounds that cause superficial skin vasodilation. The warmth and the slight reddening are expected and temporary, and fade within a few minutes. This sensation does not mean that fat is being used up.

How much caffeine does it contain?

The content is not published: cosmetic regulations do not require a dosage on the label, only an INCI list ordered by decreasing weight. Caffeine appears there after the fragrance, which gives you its order of magnitude. We are not going to give a figure we do not have.

Can it be applied to the face or the neck?

No, the manufacturer expressly rules it out. Nicotinates on thin skin or near the eyes cause a far more intense and unpleasant sensation. The cream is intended for the abdomen, the obliques and the serratus muscles, and for nothing else.

Does it stain clothing?

Yes, if it is not completely dry. The formula contains colourants (CI 42090, CI 16035, CI 19140). Massage until fully absorbed and let it dry before getting dressed — the instruction applies to bed linen too for the evening application.

Does it contain allergens?

Yes, five fragrance allergens subject to mandatory declaration: linalool, alpha-isomethyl ionone, citronellol, benzyl salicylate and benzyl benzoate. It also contains soybean oil, the second ingredient on the list. To be avoided if you are sensitive to fragrances or allergic to soya.

Can it be used at the same time as a fat burner supplement?

Nothing stands in the way: the cream is for external use and does not count towards your stimulant intake. Simply bear in mind that neither of the two has an authorised claim on fat loss, and that adding together two products with no recognised effect does not create one.

Where can you buy Steelfit Abs of Steel?

The 237 ml bottle can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. It is a supporting product: it has its place alongside a programme, never instead of one.

At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is the aisle where we spend the most time putting things back the right way round. We are happy to sell this cream, provided the customer knows exactly what they are buying: a sensation, a ritual, a cosmetic. Nobody should find out afterwards that a pot of cream does not replace three months of deficit.

What is ESN EAA+?

It is an essential amino acid powder to be mixed with water, with a serving of 20 g, or one and a half scoops. The 400 g tub covers 20 servings. The flavours listed: Peach Iced Tea and Green Apple.

What sets this formula apart from the other EAAs on our shelves is that it does not stop at the nine essential amino acids. It adds three non-essential amino acids — L-cysteine, L-tyrosine and L-glycine — twelve in all, plus the trademarked active AstraGin® (extracts of Panax notoginseng and Astragalus membranaceus) and vitamin B6.

An important point for some buyers: the formula is vegan, gluten-free and inulin-free. The amino acids are obtained without any animal-derived raw material, the emulsifier is a sunflower lecithin, and the “inulin-free” wording is aimed at those who find this fibre troublesome. The full German range is in our ESN section.

What does a 20 g serving contain?

Net weight: 400 g, or 20 servings of 20 g.

It has to be said plainly: the manufacturer publishes only the three BCAAs. The six other essential amino acids, the three added amino acids, AstraGin® and vitamin B6 are listed on the label with no quantity. Of the 20 g of powder, only 6.4 g are quantified; the remainder also includes citric acid, flavouring, sweeteners and colouring. We will not fill those gaps with unverified figures, and we invite you to read the label on the tub you receive.

A concrete and slightly frustrating consequence: vitamin B6 is indeed present, but we cannot use the regulatory wording attached to it. Such wording may only be used if the product provides at least 15% of the reference value per portion, that is 0.21 mg. With no declared amount, that threshold cannot be verified, so we refrain. The vitamin B section offers products with declared doses if that is what you need.

What is solid is the headline figure: 3,200 mg of leucine per serving. That is a generous dose, higher than most EAAs on the market, which sit between 2 and 2.5 g. The leucine-isoleucine-valine ratio is 2:1:1, the classic pattern. And histidine really is in the ingredient list, which is not always the case: it is the essential amino acid some formulas leave out because it is expensive.

To finish on the regulatory side: no health claim is authorised in Europe for free amino acids, nor for astragalus, nor for notoginseng. So you will read nothing here about improved absorption, focus or protein synthesis. We are describing a composition, not an effect.

How do you take ESN EAA+?

Serving: 20 g, or one and a half scoops. Liquid: 500 ml of cold water. Timing: 20 to 30 minutes before the session, during training, or within the 30 minutes that follow. Frequency: one serving a day, including rest days according to the manufacturer. Duration: ongoing, as no set course is specified.

Five hundred millilitres is a markedly more generous volume than the shelf average, and that is a good thing: a free-form amino acid powder is acidic and concentrated, and a drink that is too strong becomes unpleasant to finish. The manufacturer's tip is worth trying: let it stand for two minutes after mixing, or put the shaker in the freezer for fifteen minutes. On a summer session, it makes a real difference.

The powder dissolves just as well in cold water as in lukewarm, which is handy in winter — few EAAs can claim as much.

The manufacturer recommends a daily serving, including on days without training. We will be more measured: if your protein intake is already sufficient, a serving on rest days adds nothing that has been demonstrated. Save it for the days when you are genuinely short of a protein meal, and your tub will last twice as long.

The pairing advice it gives is, on the other hand, sound: after a long session, combining this drink with a carbohydrate source from the cyclic dextrin section makes sense in terms of refuelling.

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

It is aimed at three profiles. Vegans first, as the formula contains no ingredient of animal origin. Then those who train fasted or a long way from a meal, since a milky shake sits badly in that case. And those looking for a well-dosed leucine intake without swallowing a protein powder.

The manufacturer declares it unsuitable for minors, pregnant women and breastfeeding women. It contains an emulsifier based on sunflower lecithin, and it is declared gluten-free. Do not exceed the recommended daily serving; store in a dry place, away from heat and light.

It suits you less well if you want to compare precisely what you are buying: of 20 g of powder, only 6.4 g are quantified. That is the real limitation of this product, and it weighs against competitors who publish their full profile amino acid by amino acid. It also contains sucralose, acesulfame K and a colouring: this is not a neutral powder.

What you should not expect from it: an EAA does not replace a protein intake. Twenty grams of powder, part of which is flavouring, is not 25 g of complete protein, and the cost per gram is far higher. Nor can we say anything about cysteine, tyrosine, glycine or AstraGin®: with no published amounts and no authorised claim, there is nothing honest to write about them.

EAA+ or a plant protein?

For a vegan athlete, that is the real trade-off, and it deserves to be set out clearly.

A plant protein provides 20 to 25 g of complete protein per serving, at a cost per gram that bears no comparison. It is the better choice for building a daily protein total, and it is the product to buy first if you are only buying one. Its known weak point is the amino acid profile: pea or rice on its own is limiting in certain amino acids, which blends correct.

EAA+ is not playing in that category. Its place is the training drink: clear, tart, with no heaviness, and 3.2 g of leucine. That is something no plant protein does, its texture being thick and its taste earthy. The two complement each other rather than replace each other.

If your budget forces a choice, take the protein. And if you are instead torn between this EAA and a product three times cheaper, our BCAA section offers that option — bearing in mind that you will only find three amino acids out of nine there, which is a real sacrifice.

Frequently asked questions

Why are the amounts of all the amino acids not stated?

Because the manufacturer publishes only the three BCAAs in the labelling data available to us. The six other essentials, along with cysteine, tyrosine and glycine, appear in the ingredient list with no quantity. We will not invent them: the label on the tub you receive is what counts.

What is the difference between 9 and 12 amino acids?

The nine essentials are the ones the body does not make. Cysteine, tyrosine and glycine, for their part, are produced by the body — they are formulation additions, not nutrients that must be supplied. No claim is authorised for them, and their presence does not make this formula superior to a well-dosed nine-amino-acid EAA.

How many servings are in the 400 g tub?

Twenty, at 20 g per serving, or one and a half scoops. That is a small format compared with most EAAs on the shelf: at one serving a day, it lasts three weeks. Kept for training days only, expect a month to a month and a half.

Is the formula suitable for vegans?

Yes, the manufacturer declares it vegan. The amino acids are produced without any animal-derived raw material and the emulsifier is a sunflower lecithin. It is also declared gluten-free and inulin-free, that last point being aimed at those who find this fibre uncomfortable.

Why is 500 ml of water a lot?

Because 20 g of free-form amino acids in a small volume make for a very acidic drink that is hard to finish. Five hundred millilitres make the taste pleasant and get you drinking during the session, which is a benefit in its own right. The fifteen-minute trip to the freezer is genuinely worth it in summer.

Should you take it on rest days?

The manufacturer recommends it; we are more reserved. If your protein intake already covers your needs, an extra serving on days without training brings nothing that has been demonstrated and halves how long your tub lasts. Save it for the days when a protein meal is genuinely missing.

Peach Iced Tea or Green Apple?

Peach Iced Tea is the milder of the two and the easier to drink over 500 ml; Green Apple is distinctly tarter and more refreshing, but also more marked. Both contain sucralose, acesulfame K and a colouring. If you have to finish a large shaker mid-session, the first goes down more easily.

Where can you buy ESN EAA+?

The flavours can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. The 400 g tub with 20 servings is a trial size: three weeks is enough to know whether this drink earns its place in your sessions.

At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is a product we use to show customers how to read an EAA label: look for the leucine, then check whether the other eight carry a figure. Here the leucine is generous and the rest is not — it is a trade-off, and it is for you to say whether it suits you. The rest of the amino acids can be compared in our sports nutrition section.

What is IO Genix Milk Protein Isolate 100?

It is a powdered milk protein isolate, providing 23.64 g of protein per 30 g serving for 102 kcal. The sizes listed here: 1 kg, around 33 servings, and 2 kg, around 66 servings.

A milk protein isolate is neither a whey nor a casein: it is whole milk stripped of its fat and its lactose, with its two protein fractions kept in their natural proportions — around 80% casein and 20% whey. That is what really sets it apart from the rest of the aisle: you get both digestion speeds in the same shaker, without having to buy two tubs. The raw material chosen is Solmiko HD MPI, and naming the supplier rather than writing “milk proteins” is something few brands in the proteins aisle take the trouble to do.

Added to this are the DigeZyme® enzyme complex and vitamin B6, then the ingredients that make up the formulation: fat-reduced alkalised cocoa in the chocolate flavours, potassium carbonate as an acidity regulator, flavouring, sodium chloride, sucralose and acesulfame K. The full Spanish range can be found in our IO Genix aisle.

What does a 30 g serving contain?

This is one of the most complete tables in the aisle: two columns, the kilojoules, the saturates, the sugars and the salt are all there, which many brands do not publish. Missing are the full amino acid breakdown, the fibre and the DigeZyme® content, which is not quantified.

The figure that defines this product is 102 kcal for 23.64 g of protein. Per serving, that means 93% of the calories in the shaker come from protein. It is hard to get any cleaner: 0.21 g of fat and 0.57 g of sugars per serving are amounts that count for nothing in any food diary, however strict.

The second figure is the protein content: 78.8 g per 100 g. That is the level of a good premium concentrate, below a whey isolate at 85-90 g. It is not a shortcoming, it is the nature of a milk protein isolate — and a gap of two or three grams per serving does not weigh heavily against what you get in return: a complete casein-whey profile.

Third point, the one the manufacturer does not put forward: 0.5 mg of vitamin B6 per serving, that is 35% of the NRV. That is above the 15% threshold that permits a regulatory wording, and it is therefore the only micronutrient we can say anything about: vitamin B6 contributes to normal protein and glycogen metabolism, as well as to normal energy-yielding metabolism. As for the protein itself: protein contributes to a growth in and the maintenance of muscle mass. On DigeZyme®, by contrast, nothing can be asserted — no digestive claim is authorised in Europe for an enzyme complex. We mention it because it appears on the label.

How do you prepare Milk Protein Isolate 100?

Dose: 30 g, roughly one scoop. Liquid: 200 to 250 ml of water, skimmed milk or plant drink. Timing: on waking, between meals, or in a recipe. Frequency: 1 to 2 servings a day depending on your needs. Duration: continuous, as the manufacturer sets no course length.

The detail that matters with this kind of protein: casein thickens. At 200 ml the texture is dense, almost creamy; at 250 ml it stays fluid. It is a personal preference, but if you are coming from a whey, expect something thicker — and do not read it as a failure to dissolve. Pour the liquid in before the powder and shake for twenty seconds.

The manufacturer settles on three moments, and they are well chosen. On waking, when the previous meal is a long way behind. Between two main meals, as a snack. And in a recipe that is low in protein — porridge, fromage frais, pancakes — where the thick texture becomes an advantage rather than a drawback.

On the timing of the serving, let us stay sober: the twenty-four-hour protein total weighs far more heavily than the hour at which you drink the shaker. This product simply lends itself better than others to the moments when the intake has to last, thanks to its casein share.

Keep the tub tightly closed, in a cool, dry place.

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

It suits anyone who wants a single protein for the whole day rather than a whey in the morning and a casein in the evening. It also suits anyone watching their calories closely: 102 kcal for 23.6 g of protein is one of the best ratios in the aisle. And the 2 kg size will interest those getting through two shakers a day.

The product contains MILK and SOYA — worth noting in passing that soya appears among the declared allergens without appearing in the ingredient list supplied to us; if you have an allergy, work on the most cautious assumption and check the packaging. Traces of NUTS, EGG, GLUTEN, FISH, SULPHITES and CELERY are possible. The manufacturer reserves it for healthy adults and asks that it not be given to children or to pregnant women.

It is not suitable if you are allergic to milk proteins: “isolate” does not mean “free from milk proteins”, quite the opposite — that is precisely what you are buying. Nor is it suitable for vegans. And if your digestive discomfort is pronounced, be aware that the residual lactose, though low — the carbohydrates top out at 1.26 g per serving — is not nil.

What not to expect from it: an effect tied to digestion speed. Casein's reputation as the “night-time protein” dies hard; no claim allows it to be stated, and we will not write it. What you are buying that can be verified is a complete protein profile, very little fat and very few sugars.

Milk protein isolate or casein?

This is the comparison that counts, and it is subtler than the one between a whey and a casein.

A pure casein, generally micellar, contains only the slow fraction of milk proteins. It is the better choice if you are specifically after a very thick texture that can be eaten with a spoon, or if you already round out your day with a fast whey around training. It is often denser in the mouth and more filling.

The milk protein isolate supplies both fractions in their natural proportions. It is the better choice if you want a single tub for the whole day, and that is a genuine economic argument: one product instead of two, with a profile that works on waking as well as for a snack. Its values are excellent besides — 0.7 g of fat per 100 g.

If your priority is the highest protein content per serving and fast digestion around training, a whey isolate is where you should go: 85 to 92 g per 100 g, against 78.8 here. And if your difficulty is purely digestive, the digestive enzymes aisle offers dedicated products you dose yourself, rather than an unquantified complex built into a powder.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference from a whey?

A whey contains only the fast fraction of milk proteins. A milk protein isolate keeps both fractions, casein and whey, in their natural proportions — around 80% and 20%. In practice, the texture is thicker and the intake lasts longer, for a slightly lower protein content.

How many servings per tub?

Around 33 for the 1 kg size and 66 for the 2 kg, at 30 g per serving. At one shaker a day, that comes to a month and a little over two months respectively. The 2 kg does not exist in the Meringue Milk flavour: check availability before ordering.

78.8 g of protein per 100 g, is that low?

It is the level of a good concentrate, below a whey isolate at 85-90 g. Look instead at how the calories break down: 93% of those in the shaker come from protein, with 0.21 g of fat and 0.57 g of sugars per serving. On that criterion, the formula is very clean.

Is it suitable for people who are lactose intolerant?

The carbohydrates top out at 1.26 g per serving, of which 0.57 g are sugars: the residual lactose is therefore very low, but not nil, and the manufacturer does not publish the exact figure. Most intolerant people tolerate it well. If you are allergic to milk proteins, however, this product is ruled out.

Why is the shaker so thick?

Because casein accounts for around 80% of the protein, and casein gels on contact with liquid. It is not a failure to dissolve. If the texture bothers you, go up to 250 ml rather than 200; if you like it, stay at 200 ml and eat it with a spoon.

What is the vitamin B6 in the formula for?

At 0.5 mg per serving, that is 35% of the reference value, it goes beyond the regulatory threshold of 15% and allows an authorised wording to be used: vitamin B6 contributes to normal protein and glycogen metabolism. That is consistent with a protein product, and rarely done in the aisle.

Can it be used in cooking?

Yes, and that is in fact one of its most interesting uses. The manufacturer suggests it in low-protein recipes: porridge, fromage frais, pancakes. The thick texture of casein, which can be a nuisance in a shaker, becomes an advantage here — it binds the mixture without adding any fat.

Where can you buy IO Genix Milk Protein Isolate 100?

Both sizes and the full range of flavours can be ordered from this page, and we ship anywhere in France and in Europe. If this type of protein is new to you, start with the 1 kg: the texture is frankly different from a whey, and you either like it or you do not.

At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is the product we bring out when a customer is torn between buying a whey and a casein. Nine times out of ten, a single tub is enough to cover both uses, and the saving is immediate. The rest of the aisle can be compared in our sports nutrition section, and the associated vitamins in vitamin B.

What is ESN's Crank Pump Pro 2.0?

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

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

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

What is in a 30 g serving?

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

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

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

How do you prepare Crank Pump Pro 2.0?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Crank Pump Pro 2.0 or citrulline bought on its own?

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

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

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

Frequently asked questions

Why is the serving 30 g?

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

How many servings in a tub?

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

Can you take it in the evening?

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

What is the difference between citrulline malate and pure citrulline?

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

Are the minerals enough to replace an electrolyte drink?

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

Does the product contain allergens?

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

Which flavour should you choose?

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

Where can you buy the ESN Crank Pump Pro 2.0?

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

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

What is ESN Collagen Peptides?

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

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

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

What does a 20 g serving contain?

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

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

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

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

How do you take ESN Collagen Peptides?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Collagen Peptides or glucosamine?

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

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

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

Frequently asked questions

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

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

Can it be mixed into a hot coffee?

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

Does collagen count towards my protein for the day?

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

How many servings are there in a tub?

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

Should you take extra vitamin C?

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

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

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

How long before you can judge?

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

Where can you buy ESN Collagen Peptides?

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

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

What is TBJP Hydration?

TrainedByJP Hydration is a powdered electrolyte drink, to be diluted, dosed at 10 g per serving. It combines three mineral sources — potassium citrate, magnesium citrate and Himalayan pink salt — with 3 g of taurine, an unusually high amount for this type of product.

The principle behind an electrolyte drink is simple: sweat does not just make you lose water, it also carries away sodium, potassium, magnesium and chloride. Drinking plain water after a very sweaty session restores the volume but not the composition. That is what this type of formula sets out to put right.

The flavours listed: Melon & Apple, Pineapple & Strawberry and Pink Lemonade. The number of servings per tub is not published by the manufacturer in the information available to us; the packaging carries it. The rest of the range appears in our TrainedByJP aisle.

What does a 10 g serving contain?

One important caveat has to be set out right away. The manufacturer declares the weight of the salts, not the amount of mineral they provide. 1,160 mg of potassium citrate is not 1,160 mg of potassium: the citrate accounts for most of the mass. The same goes for the magnesium and for the sodium. Yet on an electrolyte drink, it is precisely these elemental values that let you compare one product with another, and they are not published. We are not going to recalculate them in the manufacturer's place: it is a point we have raised, and the label on the tub you receive is what counts. Nor are the energy values disclosed.

That said, what is quantified is worth pausing over. 3 g of taurine per serving is a straightforward dose: that is three times what a can of energy drink contains, and more than most hydration drinks on the market, which often settle for 500 mg to 1 g. Taurine plays a part in the osmotic balance of the muscle cell, that is to say in how much water it holds — which is consistent with the product's positioning. The taurine aisle offers it on its own if you want to add some to another base.

The choice of citrate forms for the potassium and the magnesium is likewise sensible. Citrate is highly soluble, which is essential in a drink, and it is better tolerated digestively than the oxide. On a powder meant to be drunk during exercise, that is not a cosmetic detail.

The 1,000 mg of fructo-oligosaccharides are more debatable in this context: these are prebiotic fibres, which ferment in the colon. At 1 g per serving the effect stays mild, but it is an ingredient you would happily do without in a drink taken during an intense session, particularly if you have a sensitive stomach.

Lastly, no health claim is authorised for taurine, watermelon extract or FOS. Magnesium does have one, provided it is present in a significant amount — which the absence of an elemental value makes impossible to verify here.

Ingredients list

Taurine, acidity regulator (citric acid), tripotassium citrate, fructo-oligosaccharides, watermelon extract 5:1, magnesium citrate, Himalayan pink salt, acidity regulator (malic acid), flavouring, tricalcium phosphate, anti-caking agent (silicon dioxide), sweetener (sucralose). Suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Made in a factory that handles MILK, EGGS, SOYA and GLUTEN.

How do you take TBJP Hydration?

Dose: one scoop, i.e. 10 g. Liquid: 250 to 350 ml of cool water. Timing: before the session, during training, or straight afterwards. Frequency: one serving per session. Duration: there is no notion of a course here, use is tied to training.

The volume of liquid given produces a fairly concentrated, acidic drink, citric acid and malic acid being at the top of the list after taurine. If you drink it during exercise, go up to 500 ml instead: the drink goes down better, it hydrates more, and a less concentrated solution sits more lightly on the stomach when your heart is pounding.

The best slot depends on your situation. As a precaution, a diluted serving drunk in the hour before a session in a hot gym prepares you better than a glass of water downed in the changing room. During exercise, sip it across the whole session rather than swallowing it in one go. Afterwards, taking it mainly serves to restore what has been lost through sweat.

The product does not provide carbohydrate in any useful amount, which is a deliberate choice. For a long session you therefore need to add an energy source: a cream of rice beforehand, or a carbohydrate powder during. In the same way, if you are after an amino acid intake, it pairs happily with EAAs in the same shaker.

A practical point: the powder is hygroscopic, as all electrolyte salts are. Reseal the tub properly and keep it dry, otherwise it will set into a solid block within a few weeks.

Who is this formula suitable for, and who is it not suitable for?

It suits someone who sweats a lot: training in a gym without air conditioning, sessions of over an hour, endurance sports, or simply summer in the south of France. It is in these situations that mineral losses become real and that an electrolyte drink is of measurable use.

It also suits those looking for a sugar-free drink for training: the sweetness comes from sucralose, and the formula provides no carbohydrate.

It is compatible with vegetarian and vegan diets, which the manufacturer states explicitly. On the other hand, it is made in a factory that handles milk, eggs, soya and gluten: in the case of a severe allergy, that point alone rules it out.

It suits you less well if you have a sensitive stomach during exercise, because of the 1 g of fructo-oligosaccharides and the acidity of the drink. Nor is it suitable if you are on a low-potassium diet or taking a treatment that acts on blood potassium: in that case the question is one for your doctor, and the absence of published elemental values makes it all the more necessary to show him or her the label.

What not to expect from it: an electrolyte drink does not improve performance in someone who is properly hydrated. It makes up for losses, it does not create an advantage. If your sessions last forty minutes in an air-conditioned gym, a glass of water does the same job for nothing. And it does not rule out cramp in any guaranteed way: cramp has multiple causes, and putting it down to electrolytes alone is a convenient simplification that we will not be repeating.

Electrolyte drink or a course of magnesium?

Both contain magnesium and yet they are made for opposite situations.

A magnesium supplement is taken every day, at a known dose, over several weeks, to correct an insufficient intake. It is the better choice if you get night cramps, if your diet is low in magnesium, or if you are after an underlying effect. It carries an authorised claim: magnesium contributes to normal muscle function, to the normal functioning of the nervous system and to a reduction of tiredness and fatigue.

TBJP Hydration answers a different logic: a one-off serving, around the session, with sodium and potassium that the daily supplement does not provide. It is the better choice if your problem is sweat, heat or the length of your sessions. It is not a background product, and it does not replace a course.

There is nothing to stop you combining the two: magnesium in the evening, the electrolyte drink at training. They overlap only very partially. The full aisle can be compared in our sports nutrition section.

Frequently asked questions

How much sodium and potassium per serving?

The manufacturer does not publish the elemental mineral amounts, only the weight of the salts: 1,160 mg of potassium citrate, 465 mg of magnesium citrate, 450 mg of pink salt and 100 mg of sodium chloride. Yet it is the elemental values that let you compare two products. The label on the tub you receive is the only reference.

Why 3 g of taurine in a hydration drink?

Because taurine plays a part in the osmotic balance of the muscle cell, and therefore in the water it holds. That is consistent with the aim of the product. 3 g is a straightforward dose: three times what a can of energy drink contains, and well above most competing formulas.

Is there any caffeine?

No, none at all. The formula contains no stimulant and can therefore be used at any time of day, including for an evening session. Taurine has no stimulant effect in itself, contrary to a widespread idea born of its presence in energy drinks.

Does the product provide carbohydrate?

Not in any useful amount. This is an electrolyte formula, not an energy drink. For a long session you need to add a separate carbohydrate source. The sweetness comes from sucralose, with no significant calorie contribution.

Is it suitable for vegans?

Yes, the manufacturer states so explicitly, and no ingredient on the list is of animal origin. The point to watch concerns the production factory, which handles milk, eggs, soya and gluten — which is a matter of cross-contamination and not of the formula.

Does it prevent cramp?

Nobody can guarantee that, and no claim of that kind is authorised. Cramp during exercise has multiple causes: neuromuscular fatigue, dehydration, mineral losses, unsuitable training. Restoring lost electrolytes is reasonable; promising that cramp will disappear is not.

How much water should you use?

The manufacturer gives 250 to 350 ml for one scoop. In practice, 400 to 500 ml produce a less acidic drink, more pleasant to sip and more hydrating — which remains the primary aim. Adjust it to the length of the session and the ambient heat.

Where can you buy TBJP Hydration?

The flavours can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is a product with a very pronounced season: between June and September, in a region where people train at 30 degrees, it makes sense in a way nobody argues with. In January, in an air-conditioned gym, far less so. The other training drinks can be compared in our BCAA aisle.

What is Raw Nutrition Hydration?

Raw Nutrition Hydration is an electrolyte powder to be mixed with water, designed to be drunk during or straight after exercise. One scoop of roughly 6.6 g provides 500 mg of sodium, 150 mg of potassium, 50 mg of magnesium and 500 mg of coconut water powder. There is nothing else in the formula beyond those four inputs, an acidity regulator, a flavouring, a sweetener and an anti-caking agent.

So this is a hydration drink, not an energy drink: it contains no caffeine, no carbohydrates in any meaningful amount and no amino acids. It does not replace water, it replaces what you lose in the water — that is, the minerals flushed out through sweat. The distinction looks obvious written down like that; it is far less obvious on the shelf, where the two families look much alike.

Raw Nutrition is an American brand whose remaining range appears in our Raw Nutrition section. This particular product sits in our electrolytes selection, alongside formulas with more or less sodium depending on the intended use.

What does a dose of Raw Nutrition Hydration contain?

The NRV percentages are calculated from the European reference values: 2,000 mg for potassium, 375 mg for magnesium. Sodium has no reference value of that kind.

The figure that really matters in this formula is the sodium: 500 mg per scoop. It is the mineral you lose most through sweat, by a long way, and it is the one most people never think to replace. For scale, 500 mg of sodium corresponds to roughly 1.25 g of table salt. For an hour-long session in an air-conditioned gym, that is generous. For two hours of running in July in Montpellier, it is reasonable.

The other two minerals are dosed far more modestly, and it is better said plainly than glossed over: at 150 mg of potassium and 50 mg of magnesium, the product stays below the regulatory threshold that would allow it to be called a “source of” either one. They are there to accompany the sodium, not as the main contribution. If what you actually need is magnesium, our magnesium section is where to go, with dosages in an entirely different league.

The coconut water powder, at 500 mg, is a supporting and flavouring ingredient. You sometimes read that it amounts to an electrolyte source in its own right: at that quantity, no. The product's minerals come from the added salts — sodium chloride, potassium citrate, magnesium citrate — not from the coconut.

Data missing from the manufacturer's documentation: the energy value per scoop and the number of servings per tub are not disclosed. We will not invent them. The net content is shown on the packaging you receive.

Ingredients list

Coconut water powder, sodium chloride, potassium citrate, magnesium citrate, citric acid, flavourings, sweetener (sucralose), silicon dioxide.

No major allergen is declared as an ingredient. The manufacturer does, however, state that production takes place on equipment that also handles MILK, SOYA, EGGS, GLUTEN and TREE NUTS.

How should Raw Nutrition Hydration be taken?

Dose: 1 scoop, roughly 6.6 g. Liquid: 300 to 450 ml of water. Timing: during training, or immediately after exercise. Frequency: depending on the session, one dose per workout. Duration: the manufacturer sets no course length — this is not a product used as a course, but session by session.

Shake vigorously until fully dissolved: the salts settle at the bottom of the shaker if you merely stir. The amount of water is a matter of taste, and it changes the result a great deal. At 300 ml, the drink is decidedly salty; at 450 ml, it passes almost for flavoured water. If you are starting out, begin at 450 ml and tighten it up afterwards.

The best way to use it is regular sips through the session rather than a glass downed in one at the end. A bottle prepared in advance and drunk in small amounts does the job better — a shaker or a bottle within reach makes more difference than a dose measured to the tenth of a gram.

A common-sense remark, because we are often asked: in cool weather, for an hour of weight training without much sweating, this product is of little use. It comes into its own as soon as the session runs past the hour, the weather is hot, or you come out with a soaked T-shirt and white marks on your skin. Those marks are your 500 mg of sodium.

Who is Raw Nutrition Hydration for, and who is it not for?

It suits the endurance runner, the CrossFit athlete, the team-sport player in summer, the cyclist, and anyone who sweats heavily and complains of flat ends to their sessions even though their diet is in order. It also works very well for long fasted sessions, where you want nothing calorific added.

It is not for you if you follow a low-salt diet for medical reasons: 500 mg of sodium per dose is not a neutral amount, and that question is one for your doctor before you buy, not after. The same applies with treated high blood pressure or known kidney failure. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should seek the advice of a healthcare professional before taking any supplement.

Nor is it for you if what you are after is energy: there are no carbohydrates and no caffeine here. To sustain a long session energetically, carbohydrates are what you need, over on the side of cyclic dextrin or maltodextrin, and both mix with this powder in the same shaker without any trouble.

What not to expect from it: this product will not make you progress, will not burn fat and does not replace the act of drinking. It complements water, it is not a substitute for it. And it will not fix cramps whose cause lies elsewhere — short sleep, a badly judged session, insufficient overall fluid intake across the day. Mineral supplementation is only one of the factors in play.

Electrolyte powder or EAAs during exercise?

This is the real decision in this category, and it depends entirely on how long the session is and on what you ate beforehand.

An electrolyte powder like this one supplies only minerals and water. It is the better choice when the session is short to medium, when it is hot, when you have eaten within the previous three hours, and when you do not want to add any calories. It is also the simpler choice: one scoop, water, done.

EAAs provide the essential amino acids and, in many formulas, a little electrolyte content alongside. They are the better choice for a long fasted session, early in the morning, or when your last meal was five or six hours ago. Some formulas in fact combine both functions, and they save you stacking two powders.

If you are torn, the question to ask yourself is not “which is better” but “what am I short of during this particular session”. You are sweating and you are well fed: electrolytes. You have been training fasted for a long stretch: EAAs, or both together. And for very long efforts, neither one removes the need for carbohydrates, which are to be found over on the side of energy drinks and carbohydrate powders.

Frequently asked questions

How much sodium per dose, and is that a lot?

500 mg of sodium per 6.6 g scoop, the equivalent of roughly 1.25 g of salt. It is a solid dose, matched to genuine sweating. For a short session with little sweat, it is more than you need; for two hours in high summer, it is consistent with the losses.

Can you drink it outside of sessions?

The manufacturer positions the product during or after exercise. Nothing stops you drinking it in very hot weather outside of sport, but that is not its intended use, and your sodium intake still bears watching if you already get plenty of it from food.

Does it replace water?

No, and that is the most common confusion. The powder is diluted in water: it adds minerals to your hydration, it does not replace it. Your requirements in terms of volume of water stay exactly the same.

Are there any carbohydrates or caffeine?

Neither one. The formula consists of mineral salts, coconut water powder, an acidity regulator, a flavouring, sucralose and an anti-caking agent. No stimulant, which makes it usable in the evening with no consequences for sleep.

Is 50 mg of magnesium enough?

Not if your aim is a magnesium intake. At 50 mg, you are at about 13% of the nutrient reference value, below the threshold that would qualify the product as a source of magnesium. This magnesium accompanies the sodium, it does not replace it as a selling point.

Can it be mixed with other powders?

Yes, with no particular difficulty alongside carbohydrates or amino acids in the same shaker. Just avoid adding a protein to it: the mix turns thick and unpleasant to drink during exercise, and that is not the moment of the day for it.

Is it suitable for vegetarians and vegans?

No ingredient of animal origin appears in the list. The manufacturer does not, however, explicitly claim vegan status, and manufacturing takes place on equipment that handles milk and eggs among other things. If the requirement is strict, the label on the tub you receive is what counts.

Where can you buy Raw Nutrition Hydration?

The product can be ordered from this page, and we ship anywhere in France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, around ten minutes from Montpellier, this is the powder we bring out as soon as the thermometer passes thirty degrees and a customer describes flat ends to their sessions for no apparent reason: nine times out of ten, the answer lies in sodium, not in another booster. The rest of the range can be browsed in our sports nutrition section.

What is IO Genix Hydra Train?

IO Genix Hydra Train is a powder for dilution that combines two approaches rarely brought together: an electrolyte drink and an amino acid supply. A 6.5 g serving provides 2 g of alanyl-glutamine blend, 1 g of taurine, 1 g of D-ribose and 1 g of coconut water powder, with zinc, magnesium, sodium and chloride to round it off.

The daily amount set by the manufacturer is two servings, that is 13 g per day. This is worth noting straight away, because every figure on the label exists in two versions depending on whether you are talking about one serving or the full day.

The flavours listed: Mango and Cherry-Cola. The number of servings per tub is not published by the manufacturer in the information available to us. The rest of the Spanish range can be found in our IO Genix section.

What does a 6.5 g serving contain?

The manufacturer does not publish the energy values or the macronutrients of its product in the information available to us.

The most important figure in this table is not an amino acid, it is the zinc. At two servings a day you reach 15 mg, which is 150% of the reference value — and that is exactly the daily ceiling set in France for food supplements. The direct and very practical consequence: if you already take a zinc supplement, a ZMA or a multivitamin, you will go over that ceiling without noticing. This is not a detail, and nobody flags it on this kind of product.

The alanyl-glutamine blend is where the formula is genuinely original. Free glutamine is not very stable in solution; combined with alanine, it forms a dipeptide that holds up better in a liquid and therefore lends itself to a drink prepared in advance. It is a technical choice consistent with the intended use — a bottle you sip over an hour — rather than a marketing argument. Our glutamine section offers the free form for those who prefer it.

The 100 mg of magnesium per day covers a quarter of the reference value, which allows an authorised claim: magnesium contributes to normal muscle function, to electrolyte balance and to a reduction of tiredness and fatigue. Zinc, at 15 mg, contributes to normal protein synthesis and to the normal function of the immune system. These are the only two ingredients in the formula that carry claims: neither taurine, nor glutamine, nor D-ribose, nor coconut water has any.

One point of composition to know before buying: the formula contains the colours E110 and E122, for which a regulatory statement applies — “may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children”. The manufacturer displays it, and that is to its credit. If azo dyes bother you, that is a legitimate reason to choose otherwise.

Ingredients list

Taurine, D-RIBOSE® powder, coconut water powder (Cocos nucifera L.), alanyl-glutamine blend (L-alanine and L-glutamine KYOWA QUALITY®), anti-caking agent (silicon dioxide), sodium chloride, flavouring, acidity regulator (citric acid), zinc picolinate, magnesium DL-malate PAUL LOHMANN®, sweeteners (sucralose and acesulfame K) and colours (E110, E122). May contain traces of GLUTEN (WHEAT, OATS), NUTS, PEANUTS, EGGS, MILK, FISH and SOYA.

How do you take Hydra Train?

Serving: one scoop, that is 6.5 g. Liquid: around 400 ml of water. Timing: one serving in the morning, one during training. Frequency: two servings a day, without exceeding 13 g. Duration: the manufacturer explicitly limits consumption to a few weeks or a few months.

The stated 400 ml is not a suggestion: at that volume the drink stays light and is easy to sip without sitting heavily, which is exactly the use intended during a session. More concentrated, it turns acidic and becomes less pleasant to drink over time.

The two slots, morning and training, follow a logic. In the morning, the serving acts as a baseline intake; during the session, it makes up for sweat losses as they occur. If you are not training that day, a single serving is more than enough — and it halves your zinc intake, which is rather a good thing.

Never exceed 13 g per day. The manufacturer states this, and the reason is the zinc: at three servings you would be at 22.5 mg a day, well above the French ceiling for a food supplement. This is not a commercial constraint, it is a safety marker.

The drink can be prepared well in advance, which is precisely the point of the alanyl-glutamine dipeptide: a bottle filled in the morning will keep until the evening session without the glutamine degrading the way the free form would.

Who is Hydra Train for, and who is it not for?

It suits someone who trains for a long time or in the heat, and who wants a single drink rather than two: electrolytes and amino acids in the same shaker. That is a real gain in simplicity for anyone already stacking three products around a session.

The product is for adults only. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should consult a healthcare professional before any use. The manufacturer also specifies that consumption should be limited to a few weeks or a few months — a rare and honest statement, consistent with the daily zinc load.

It is not for you if you already take zinc elsewhere, for the reason explained above. Nor is it for you if you avoid azo dyes: E110 and E122 are present, along with the regulatory statement that goes with them. Finally, it is made in a facility handling gluten, nuts, peanuts, eggs, milk, fish and soya: in the case of a severe allergy, that alone rules it out.

What not to expect from it: this is not an energy drink. It does not provide carbohydrates in any useful amount, and over a long session you need to add a source of energy alongside it. Nor is it a substitute for EAA: 2 g of glutamine and 2 g of alanine a day do not cover the spectrum of essential amino acids and do not have the same effect on protein synthesis.

Hydra Train or a plain electrolyte drink?

The question comes up because the product costs more than a standard electrolyte formula.

A plain electrolyte drink focuses on sodium, potassium and magnesium. It is the better choice if your problem is strictly sweat: sessions in a hot gym, endurance sports, summer. It costs less per serving, it can be taken without any limit on duration, and it provides neither zinc nor amino acids that you may not need.

Hydra Train adds a layer: amino acids, D-ribose, zinc at a proper dose. It is the better choice if you are looking to consolidate several products into one, and if you accept the constraint of the zinc ceiling. Its other strength is the alanyl-glutamine dipeptide, more stable in solution than free glutamine — which genuinely matters for a drink prepared in advance.

If it is taurine alone that interests you, our taurine section offers it dosed separately, and pairing it with magnesium as a course often works out cheaper for a comparable result.

Frequently asked questions

How many servings per day?

Two, that is 13 g in total, and the manufacturer asks that you do not exceed this amount. The reason is the zinc: two servings provide 15 mg, which is the French daily ceiling for a food supplement. A third serving would take you above it.

Can it be taken alongside another zinc supplement?

No, not without doing the arithmetic. Two servings already take up all the available room. If you take a ZMA, a multivitamin or a standalone zinc, cut down to one serving a day or space the intakes out. Excess zinc over a long period ends up degrading copper status.

What is the alanyl-glutamine blend?

It is a dipeptide, that is two amino acids bonded together: L-alanine and L-glutamine. That bond makes glutamine far more stable in solution than its free form, which degrades in a liquid. It is what allows the drink to be prepared in advance without losing the ingredient.

Does the product contain carbohydrates?

The manufacturer does not publish energy values or macronutrients. Given the composition, the carbohydrate content is very low: this is not an energy drink. For a long session, you need to add a separate source of carbohydrates.

Why are there colours in the formula?

For the colour of the flavours. These are E110 and E122, two azo dyes authorised in Europe but subject to a mandatory statement regarding activity and attention in children. The manufacturer displays it. If these additives bother you, that is an entirely reasonable basis for choosing otherwise.

Can it be taken continuously all year round?

No, the manufacturer explicitly limits consumption to a few weeks or a few months. That is a rare and coherent statement: at 15 mg of zinc a day without a break, a regular pause is more sensible than permanent use.

Is it suitable for vegetarians?

No ingredient on the list is of animal origin, glutamine and alanine being obtained by fermentation. The manufacturer does not, however, explicitly claim vegetarian status, and the production facility handles milk, eggs and fish. The label on the tub you receive is what counts.

Where can you buy IO Genix Hydra Train?

The flavours can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is a product in front of which we always ask what else the customer is taking: with a formula providing 15 mg of zinc a day, the question is far from trivial, and it sometimes changes the answer. The rest of the range can be browsed in our sports nutrition section.

What is ESN Designer Rice Pudding?

ESN Designer Rice Pudding is an instant rice semolina, to be prepared as a porridge with hot water. Per 100 g of powder it provides 1,582 kJ / 373 kcal, 83 g of carbohydrate of which 0 g sugars, and 7.7 g of protein. The ingredients list fits on one line: 100% instant rice semolina.

ESN — Elite Sports Nutrients — is a German brand founded in 2005, known in France for its Designer Whey range. This product belongs to its family of carbohydrate bases: simple foods, with no flavouring or additive, meant to be assembled with the rest of what you take.

What makes it distinctive is that there is nothing in it but rice. No sweetener, no flavouring, no thickener. You add whatever you like: a scoop of protein, a flavouring powder, some cinnamon, a mashed piece of fruit. That is what explains the “0 g sugars” line — there is simply nothing sweet in it. The rest of the brand can be browsed in our ESN France aisle, and the other bases of this type in our cream of rice aisle.

What does Designer Rice Pudding contain?

83 g of carbohydrate per 100 g and not a single gram of sugars: that is exactly what you ask of a carbohydrate base. All the energy comes from rice starch, that is to say from complex carbohydrates, and not from a sugar added to improve the taste. In this aisle, plenty of flavoured preparations show 10 to 20 g of sugars per 100 g without it being obvious at first glance.

The 7.7 g of protein per 100 g are the rice's own, and they replace nothing. This is not a protein source: at 50 g of powder you are at 3.9 g, less than half an egg. This product is a carbohydrate contribution, full stop. That is precisely why it is almost always prepared with a scoop of protein added after cooking.

What the manufacturer does not publish has to be flagged: fat, fibre and salt do not appear in the data available to us, nor does the weight of the pack. We will not fill those boxes in with approximate values. Since rice is naturally very low in fat, a low content can be expected, but expecting is not knowing: refer to the table printed on the packaging you receive.

On the regulatory side there is nothing to claim, and that is just as well: there is no authorised health claim for rice semolina. This is not a food supplement, it is a food. Carbohydrates serve as fuel for exercise, which is a matter of basic physiology and not of a commercial promise. Be wary of product pages that talk about “optimised glycogen reloading” or “anabolism”: they describe an intention, not a demonstrated effect of the product.

Ingredients list

100% instant rice semolina. Single ingredient.

No allergen in the recipe. The manufacturer states that it is made in a factory handling GLUTEN, MILK, SOYA and EGGS: traces of these allergens may be present. This point is decisive in the case of coeliac disease or a severe allergy.

How do you prepare Designer Rice Pudding?

Serving: refer to the amount stated on the packaging; reckon on 50 to 100 g depending on your needs. Liquid: about four times the volume of powder, in hot water. Preparation: pour the liquid in while stirring with a whisk, then leave to stand for two minutes. Timing: 1 to 2 hours before exercise, or straight after the session. Duration: no notion of a course, it is a food.

The whisk is not an affectation. Poured all at once onto the powder without stirring, rice semolina forms lumps that are impossible to rescue. Pour the hot liquid in gradually while whisking, then let it swell for two minutes: the texture turns creamy on its own. That is the difference between a pleasant porridge and plaster.

Add the protein afterwards, never before. A whey poured into a hot liquid coagulates and gives an unpleasant grainy texture. Make the porridge first, let it cool for a minute, then stir in your scoop of protein. It is the most common mistake with this type of product, and it is easy to avoid.

Before a session, allow one to two hours. This is a carbohydrate-dense food, and heading off to train with a stomach full of thick porridge is the surest way to have a bad session. After training, on the other hand, there is no delay to observe: eat when you are hungry.

On taste, the neutral version calls for seasoning. A little cinnamon, unsweetened cocoa, a mashed piece of fruit, or a powder from our flavourings and sweeteners aisle completely transforms the result for a negligible calorie contribution.

Who is Designer Rice Pudding for, and who is it not for?

It suits someone who needs to add carbohydrate to their day without resorting to fast sugars or to cooking: mass gain, endurance sport, or simply an appetite that does not keep up with requirements. The porridge format has a real advantage: it goes down more easily than a plate of rice when you struggle to eat.

The main point to watch is the traces. The recipe contains no allergen, but the factory handles gluten, milk, soya and eggs. In the case of coeliac disease or a severe allergy, this product is not safe, despite the single ingredient. It is a point many product pages keep quiet about because it spoils the “100% rice” story.

It is not for you if your goal is to cut calories. 373 kcal per 100 g is dense, and it is meant to be. During a period of weight loss, adding this porridge without taking something else away will do you no favours. Our weight loss aisle answers an entirely different need.

What not to expect from it. This is not a performance product: it is ground rice. It does not build muscle, does not replace a structured diet and has no effect of its own. What it does provide is a simple, easily digested way to eat carbohydrate when you need it — and that is already exactly why people buy it.

Cream of rice or maltodextrin?

Both serve to add carbohydrate, but they do not behave in the same way and the confusion is common.

Maltodextrin is a soluble powder, with no texture, that goes into a shaker. It is drunk, digests very quickly, and that is what makes it useful during a long effort or straight afterwards. On the other hand, it is not filling at all: you are not “eating” anything. Our maltodextrin aisle covers these powders, and cyclic dextrin is the more modern version, better tolerated by the stomach during exercise.

Rice semolina, by contrast, is eaten with a spoon and replaces a carbohydrate meal. That is the essential difference. For a breakfast, a snack or a post-session meal, it is far more satisfying than a sweet drink. For drinking during training, it is unusable.

A third base is worth knowing about: oat flour provides more fibre and slower digestion, which suits the morning better than the run-up to a session. Plenty of people alternate the two depending on the time of day, and that is probably the best way to use them.

Frequently asked questions

How much carbohydrate per 100 g?

83 g, of which 0 g sugars, for 373 kcal. All the energy comes from rice starch. That is a high carbohydrate density, very useful when appetite does not keep up with requirements, and far less relevant if you are looking to cut your intake.

Does the product contain gluten?

Not in the recipe: the single ingredient is rice semolina. But the manufacturer states that it is made in a factory handling gluten, milk, soya and eggs, with possible traces. In the case of coeliac disease, this product therefore does not offer the necessary safety.

How do you avoid lumps?

Pour the hot water gradually onto the powder while stirring with a whisk, never all at once. Reckon on about four times the volume of powder in liquid, then leave it to stand for two minutes. The texture turns creamy as it swells, without needing further stirring.

Can whey be mixed into it?

Yes, but after preparation and not during. A whey protein poured into a hot liquid coagulates and makes the texture grainy. Let the porridge cool for a minute, then stir the scoop in. That is the usual way of putting together a complete meal with this product.

How long before training?

One to two hours. This is a dense food, and a thick porridge swallowed twenty minutes before the session sits heavily on the stomach. After training, no delay needs to be observed: the famous thirty-minute window does not have the importance it is credited with, the day's total counts for more.

Is the product flavoured?

No, it is neutral: the ingredients list contains nothing but rice semolina. That is an advantage — you control what you add — but it does mean seasoning it. Cinnamon, unsweetened cocoa, mashed fruit or a flavouring powder do the job perfectly.

What is the weight of the pack?

The manufacturer does not disclose it in the data available to us, any more than the fat, fibre or salt content. We would rather flag that than put forward a figure. The net weight is on the packaging you receive.

Where can you buy ESN Designer Rice Pudding?

The product 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 base we recommend to customers who struggle to eat enough: a porridge gets finished when a plate of rice is left half-eaten, and during mass gain that detail is what makes the difference. The rest of our selection can be browsed in the mass gain aisle.

What is IO Genix Coenzyme Q10 Ubiquinone?

IO Genix Coenzyme Q10 Ubiquinone is a supplement in softgel pearls. Each pearl provides 100 mg of coenzyme Q10 in the ubiquinone form, combined with 130 mg of linseed oil. The box contains 60 pearls, that is a two-month course at one intake a day.

Coenzyme Q10 is a molecule the body makes itself and which is found in high concentration in the most active tissues, notably the heart and the muscles. It is involved in the mitochondrial respiratory chain, that is at the very heart of the process by which the cell produces its energy. Its natural production declines with age, which explains the interest it attracts after fifty.

Three words circulate for the same family: coenzyme Q10, ubiquinone, ubiquinol. Ubiquinone is the oxidised form, ubiquinol the reduced form; the body moves from one to the other continuously. This product contains ubiquinone, the most common and the most stable form. The rest of the Spanish range can be found in our IO Genix section, and the other references in the category in our CoQ-10 section.

What does one Coenzyme Q10 pearl contain?

100 mg per pearl is the reference dose for this molecule, the one found on the vast majority of serious products. You come across 30 mg formulas, which force you to swallow three of them, and 200 mg formulas, which have not been shown to do better. At 100 mg in a single pearl a day, there is nothing to calculate and nothing to split.

The linseed oil is not there by chance. Coenzyme Q10 dissolves in fat, not in water: without a fatty carrier, it crosses the digestive barrier very poorly. Encapsulating the molecule in an oily base is therefore a useful formulation decision, not a selling point. It is also what explains the instruction to take it with a meal: a meal containing fat does the same job as the oil in the pearl, only better.

One point of honesty about this linseed oil, however. Its 58.5 mg of alpha-linolenic acid is a marginal contribution: the amounts that matter for this fatty acid are counted in grams per day, not in tens of milligrams. So do not count this pearl as your omega-3 intake — for that, it is our omega 3 section you need to look at. The linseed oil here is a carrier, not a second active ingredient.

On the regulatory side, we have to be direct: no health claim is authorised in Europe for coenzyme Q10. Not on energy, not on oxidative stress, not on the heart, not on fatigue. The old version of this page claimed the opposite and also announced a manufacturing certification that we cannot verify, along with a mention of limited quantities intended to rush the purchase. All three have been removed.

Ingredients list

Pearl (bovine GELATINE, humectant: glycerine, colours: iron oxides and hydroxides E-172), linseed oil (Linum usitatissimum), ubiquinone (coenzyme Q10), emulsifier (sunflower lecithin E-322), thickeners (polyglycerol esters of fatty acids, white and yellow beeswax E-901).

May contain traces of NUTS, PEANUTS, EGGS, MILK, SULPHITES, FISH and SOYA.

How do you take IO Genix Coenzyme Q10?

Serving: 1 pearl. Liquid: a large glass of water. Timing: during a meal containing fat. Frequency: one intake a day, with no exceeding it. Duration: one box corresponds to a 60-day course.

The instruction about a fatty meal is not a formality, it is the condition that determines how effective the intake will be. Swallowed on an empty stomach with a glass of water, coenzyme Q10 is very poorly absorbed. Taken in the middle of a lunch that includes olive oil, fish, eggs or cheese, it is absorbed far better. Midday is generally the most convenient meal for this.

Regularity matters far more than the exact hour. Two months is what a box covers, and it is also a reasonable period over which to judge an active ingredient of this type. An irregular intake allows no conclusion, in either direction.

The manufacturer asks that you avoid taking it at the same time as an anticoagulant treatment, unless medical advice says otherwise. This precaution is a serious one and we come back to it below. It is not specific to this brand: it applies to every product based on coenzyme Q10.

For broader support, the pearl combines without redundancy with a multivitamin, a vitamin E or a standardised turmeric. If you introduce several products at the same time, space them out by a fortnight: it is the only way to know what is actually making a difference for you.

Who is coenzyme Q10 for, and who is it not for?

It is mainly of interest to adults over forty or fifty, in whom natural production is declining, and to the endurance athlete looking to add a baseline active ingredient to a routine already in place. It is a product with a very short formula — two active ingredients, one pearl a day — and that is a good criterion in a category where fifteen-component formulas are the norm.

It is not suitable for vegetarians or vegans: the shell is made of bovine gelatine. This is the most frequently overlooked piece of information on this type of product, and it settles the purchase for a share of customers. No plant-based version exists for this particular reference.

Nor is it suitable, without medical advice, for people on anticoagulant treatment. The reason deserves explaining rather than simply copying out: coenzyme Q10 is structurally close to vitamin K, and an interaction with vitamin K antagonists is documented. If you take an anticoagulant, the question is one for your doctor or your pharmacist before buying. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should also seek professional advice. The product is to be kept out of the reach of children.

What not to expect from it: this is not a stimulant, you will feel nothing when you take it, and that is perfectly normal for this type of molecule. It is not a product for immediate performance, it is not a fat burner, and it is not a treatment. Any question relating to the heart, to persistent fatigue or to ongoing medication is a matter for your doctor, never for a supplement bought on its own.

Coenzyme Q10 or omega 3, which should come first?

The two often end up in the same basket, and one of them is almost always more urgent than the other.

Omega 3 at a real dose — that is a fish oil providing several hundred milligrams of EPA and DHA per capsule — addresses a dietary shortfall that is common in France, in anyone who eats little oily fish. It has claims authorised in Europe and defined daily intake thresholds. If you take nothing today, that is where to start.

Coenzyme Q10 follows a different logic: it is not a nutrient that the diet supplies in significant amounts, and there is no deficiency in the classic sense. It has its place in someone whose dietary base is already sound and who wants to add a targeted active ingredient, particularly with age. It is no substitute for omega 3, and the 58.5 mg of ALA in this pearl in no way replaces them.

The two go together very well, at the same meal, one even acting as the fatty carrier for the other. And if your need is more about general vitamin and mineral coverage, a multivitamin will answer it better and for less. For a short-formula antioxidant from another family, the NAC section offers an alternative.

Frequently asked questions

Ubiquinone or ubiquinol, what is the difference?

They are the two states of the same molecule: ubiquinone is the oxidised form, ubiquinol the reduced form, and the body converts one into the other continuously. This product contains ubiquinone, the most stable and the most widespread form. Ubiquinol is generally more expensive, without its superiority being established for a healthy adult.

Why does it have to be taken with a meal?

Because coenzyme Q10 dissolves in fat and not in water. Taken on an empty stomach, it is very poorly absorbed. The linseed oil in the pearl helps, but a meal genuinely containing fat does far better. Lunch is the easiest moment to stick to.

Is this pearl suitable for vegetarians?

No. The shell is made of bovine gelatine, of animal origin. That is the point which rules this reference out for a vegetarian or vegan diet, regardless of the linseed oil, which for its part is of plant origin.

How long does a box last?

Two months, at one pearl a day for 60 pearls. That length matches what can reasonably be assessed with a baseline active ingredient: two weeks allow no conclusion at all, two months make for an honest first trial.

Can it be combined with omega 3?

Yes, and it is even a practical pairing: both are taken with a meal, the fish oil serving as additional fatty carrier. There is neither duplication nor competition between the two, since the 58.5 mg of ALA in the pearl does not constitute a significant omega 3 intake.

Is it compatible with heart medication?

This question is not settled on a product page. The manufacturer advises against taking it at the same time as an anticoagulant unless medical advice says otherwise, because of a structural kinship with vitamin K. If you are on cardiovascular medication of any kind, discuss it with your doctor or your pharmacist before buying.

Do you feel anything when you take it?

No, and you should not expect to. It is a molecule that acts at the cellular level, with no associated sensation. A product in this category that produced a noticeable effect within the hour ought in fact to arouse suspicion rather than satisfaction.

Where can you buy IO Genix Coenzyme Q10?

The box of 60 pearls can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is a product in front of which we ask two questions before selling: “are you taking an anticoagulant?” and “are you vegetarian?”. Both answers change the conversation, and it is better to ask them over the counter than after the box has been opened. The rest of the range can be browsed in our sports nutrition section.

What is Swanson's Lion's Mane Mushroom?

Swanson Lion's Mane Mushroom is a lion's mane supplement in capsule form. Each capsule provides 500 mg of Hericium erinaceus mycelium biomass, i.e. 1,000 mg a day when taken twice daily. The 60-capsule bottle covers exactly one month.

Lion's mane is an edible mushroom, recognisable by its cascade of white filaments, long eaten in China and Japan. It belongs to the so-called functional mushrooms, a family that attracts a great deal of interest and a great many promises — we will look at what can legally be said about it.

One point of composition deserves to be made straight away, because it genuinely separates two families of product: what we have here is mycelium biomass, not fruiting body. The mycelium is the filamentous part that develops in the substrate; the fruiting body is the visible mushroom, the one you pick. The two do not have the same composition, and the Swanson label does state mycelium biomass. The rest of the brand can be browsed in our Swanson range, and the other products in the category in our Lions Mane range.

What does one Lion's Mane capsule contain?

1,000 mg a day is an entry-level dose in this category, and that needs saying. Many functional mushroom products work between 1 and 3 g a day. This one sits at the lower end of the range, which is nothing scandalous: the formula is simple, honest about what it contains, and the price follows suit. But if you are comparing it with another brand, compare the milligrams per day, not per capsule.

On the regulatory side, we have to be blunt and not dance around it: no health claim is authorised in the European Union for Hericium erinaceus. None on memory, none on concentration, none on the nervous system, none on mood, none on immunity. Nothing. Everything you will read elsewhere about this mushroom — and you will read a great deal — is extrapolation from preliminary work, not an accepted dossier. What we describe is a plant, a dose and a way of using it.

What can be stated as fact: lion's mane is a source of erinacines, a family of molecules unique to it and the subject of ongoing research. The manufacturer publishes no erinacine standardisation for this product, and that is a figure we do not have. We would rather flag that than repeat a number found elsewhere — in a category where standardisation is precisely the only serious basis for comparison.

One decisive practical point: the capsule shell is made of gelatine. This product is therefore not suitable for vegetarian or vegan diets — which is particularly counter-intuitive for a mushroom-based supplement, and that is exactly why it needs writing down.

Ingredients list

Lion's Mane Mushroom (Hericium erinaceus), mycelium biomass: 500 mg. Other ingredients: gelatine, microcrystalline cellulose (plant fibre).

No allergens declared by the manufacturer. As the shell is made of gelatine, the formula is suitable for neither vegetarians nor vegans. For adults only.

How do you take Swanson's Lion's Mane?

Dose: 1 capsule, twice a day. Liquid: a glass of water. Timing: the manufacturer gives no set time; most users split the doses between morning and evening. Frequency: two doses a day. Duration: continuously, over several weeks.

Two doses rather than one is the manufacturer's recommendation and it makes sense. Spreading 1,000 mg across the day rather than swallowing it all at once is the usual way to use this kind of product. Morning and evening, or morning and midday: the manufacturer leaves the choice open, and there is no evidence pointing to one time of day being better than another.

Duration matters more than timing. This is a baseline product, to be taken for several weeks in a row. Judging it after five days makes no sense whatsoever, and yet that is what most people do in this category. The 60-capsule bottle covers a month: allow at least that month before forming an opinion.

Take them with a meal if your stomach is sensitive. The manufacturer does not require it, but it is the habit we recommend as a matter of course with plant and fungal extracts: it settles most of the digestive discomfort people get at the start of a course.

This supplement combines without overlap with products built on other foundations: a magnesium, which for its part contributes to normal functioning of the nervous system and to normal psychological function, or a multivitamin if your approach is a broader one.

Who is Lion's Mane for, and who is it not for?

It is aimed at an adult who is curious about this mushroom and wants to try it in a simple, unblended form. The ingredients list runs to three lines, with no catch-all complex and no secondary active added to pad out the label: it is a straightforward product.

It is not suitable for vegetarians or vegans, as the capsule shell is made of gelatine. It is for adults only. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should consult a healthcare professional before use, as should anyone on medication or with an ongoing medical condition.

One common-sense precaution the manufacturer does not mention: if you are allergic to mushrooms, this product is not for you. It is obvious, but it deserves writing down — an allergy to edible mushrooms does exist, rare though it is.

What you should not expect from it. No claim exists for this mushroom in Europe: it does not improve memory, concentration or mood, and it replaces no treatment. Cognitive problems, entrenched difficulty concentrating or persistent mental fatigue are matters for a doctor, not for a food supplement. If you buy it, buy it for what it is: a mushroom from the Asian tradition, in a measured capsule.

Lion's Mane or a vitamin B complex?

This is the most useful comparison in the category, and on the regulatory side it goes the way of the latter.

The B group vitamins have authorised claims behind them, and significant ones at that. Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, B8, B9 and B12 contribute to the normal function of the nervous system; several contribute to normal psychological function and to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. These are official wordings, backed by accepted dossiers. Our vitamin B range is therefore the place to start if that is genuinely your concern, and it costs less.

Lion's Mane belongs to a different logic: that of a traditional food taken in full knowledge of the facts, with no promise attached. Its value lies in what it is and in the quality of the raw material, not in an effect demonstrated in the regulatory sense. It is a legitimate choice, provided you know what you are buying.

And if your concern lies elsewhere: for sleep, melatonin is the only molecule in this catalogue with a claim on the time it takes to fall asleep; for day-to-day support with stress, our ashwagandha range offers another traditional plant — which, likewise, has no authorised claim of its own.

Frequently asked questions

How much Lion's Mane a day?

1,000 mg, i.e. two 500 mg capsules spread across the day. That is an entry-level dose in this category, where you will find products going up to 3 g a day. Always compare the daily milligrams, never the content per capsule on its own.

Mycelium or fruiting body — what is the difference?

The mycelium is the filamentous part that develops in the substrate, the fruiting body is the visible mushroom. Their composition differs. This product contains mycelium biomass, as the label clearly states — a point of comparison that many product pages quietly leave out.

Is the product standardised for erinacines?

The manufacturer publishes no standardisation for this product, and we are not going to invent one. That is a figure we do not have. In this category, standardisation is nevertheless the only criterion that allows two products to be seriously compared.

Are the capsules suitable for vegetarians?

No. The shell is made of gelatine, which is of animal origin. That is counter-intuitive for a mushroom-based supplement, and yet it is the case. If this point is decisive for you, look for a product in a vegetable capsule.

Does this mushroom improve memory?

We cannot say so, and legally nobody can: no health claim is authorised in the European Union for Hericium erinaceus, whether on memory, on concentration or on the nervous system. For any cognitive concern, speak to your doctor.

How long should it be taken for?

Several weeks continuously, according to the manufacturer. The 60-capsule bottle covers a month at two capsules a day: allow at least that long before forming an opinion. Judging it after a few days makes no sense with this kind of product.

Can it be taken with other supplements?

Nothing stands in the way in principle, and it duplicates no other family in the catalogue. If you are on medication or have an ongoing medical condition, however, seek your doctor's advice before starting — that is the manufacturer's recommendation, and it holds for any supplement.

Where can you buy Swanson's Lion's Mane?

The 60-capsule bottle can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is a product we sell while being very clear: no claim exists for this mushroom in Europe, so we promise nothing. We also check two things beforehand: the gelatine in the capsule, which rules out vegetarians, and that no treatment is under way. The rest of our selection can be browsed in the sports nutrition range.

What is Nutriting nuADK Drops?

Nutriting nuADK Drops is a liquid food supplement combining three fat-soluble vitamins — A, D3 and K2 — in a 20 ml dropper bottle, roughly 500 drops. It comes from Nutriting, a French brand, and the manufacturer states French production.

The ingredients list runs to four lines: organic olive oil, vitamin K2 as menaquinone-7 (MK-7), vitamin D3 as cholecalciferol, and vitamin A palmitate. Nothing else — no colouring, no titanium dioxide, no tablet excipient. The manufacturer declares a formula free from gluten, free from allergens subject to mandatory labelling, free from nanoparticles, free from heavy metals, free from GMOs and not irradiated.

The olive oil is not a presentational detail: these three vitamins are fat-soluble, they dissolve in a fatty medium and not in water. The drop format also lets you adjust the dose one unit at a time, which a tablet does not. One point of origin worth knowing: vitamin D3 is extracted from lanolin, the grease from sheep's wool. The formula is therefore suitable for vegetarians, but not for vegans. The whole section is presented in our vitamin D collection, which sets out the French intake benchmarks and the difference between D2 and D3.

What does one dose of nuADK contain?

The label is written for 8 drops, i.e. 0.32 ml, which is the adult dose. That dose provides 50 µg of vitamin D3 (2,000 IU), 600 µg of vitamin A (2,000 IU) and 125 µg of vitamin K2 MK-7. One drop therefore provides 6.25 µg of vitamin D3, i.e. 250 IU.

The conversion to remember when reading any label: 1 µg of vitamin D is worth 40 IU. The 2,000 IU stated therefore does indeed correspond to 50 µg.

* The 4-drop column is calculated: the manufacturer publishes only the 2-drop and 8-drop columns. The nutrient reference values used are those of the European regulation: 800 µg for vitamin A, 5 µg for vitamin D, 75 µg for vitamin K. The high percentage on vitamin D comes from that NRV of 5 µg, well below the nutritional reference of 15 µg a day adopted by ANSES for adults — it is an artefact of how the label is read, not a sign of overdosing.

All these levels exceed the 15% NRV threshold that governs the use of European claims. The authorised wordings, to the word, are as follows. Vitamin D contributes to the normal absorption and utilisation of calcium and phosphorus, to normal blood calcium levels, to the maintenance of normal bones, to the maintenance of normal muscle function, to the maintenance of normal teeth, to the normal function of the immune system, and has a role in the process of cell division. Vitamin K contributes to the maintenance of normal bones and to normal blood clotting. Vitamin A contributes to the maintenance of normal vision, to the normal function of the immune system, to the maintenance of normal mucous membranes, to the maintenance of normal skin, to normal iron metabolism, and has a role in the process of cell specialisation.

These formulations speak of maintenance and of normal function: they do not say that the product treats anything at all. And the widespread idea that K2 "directs" calcium towards the bones rather than the arteries remains a research hypothesis, not an authorised claim.

How do you take nuADK Drops?

The manufacturer gives a dose by age bracket, as a single daily serving: 2 drops a day from 3 to 10 years, 4 drops a day from 10 to 18 years, 8 drops a day from 18 years. The frequency is therefore one serving a day, and the volume of liquid does not come into it: the drops go onto a spoon, into a food or straight into the mouth.

On duration, the manufacturer recommends daily use at the very least from October to April, the period when skin synthesis is low at our latitudes. Continuous use all year round is open to discussion depending on lifestyle, and that decision is taken with a healthcare professional.

One practical tip the label does not give: take the drops during a meal containing fat. The olive oil in the bottle already supplies a lipid context, but the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins is still better when the stomach holds a proper meal. Finally, add up your sources: many multivitamins already contain vitamin D and vitamin A.

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

It is aimed at adults, and the manufacturer allows it from 3 years at the reduced doses given above. Any supplementation of a child or an adolescent is nonetheless decided with the doctor who follows them.

Three situations call for caution, and the first is firm. The product is not advised for people on anticoagulant treatment: vitamin K interferes directly with vitamin K antagonists. If this applies to you, set this formula aside and talk to your doctor about it. Next, pregnant and breastfeeding women must seek the advice of a healthcare professional before any supplementation — preformed vitamin A intake is subject to particular monitoring during pregnancy. Finally, medical advice is essential in cases of kidney failure, kidney stones, known hypercalcaemia or sarcoidosis, or while taking thiazide diuretics, corticosteroids or digitalis drugs.

One safety figure to keep in mind, because it is useful: the European upper limit for vitamin D is 100 µg a day (4,000 IU) in adults, from all sources combined. The 8 drops provide 50 µg of it, half that ceiling. There is room to spare, then, provided you count what your other products already contribute.

What you should not expect from this page: a list of deficiency signs. The symptoms mentioned all over the place are too commonplace and too widely shared with other situations to let anyone at all draw a conclusion. Deciding on a blood test, interpreting it and choosing a corrective dose are medical acts. A supplement secures an intake in a healthy person; it diagnoses nothing.

nuADK or vitamin D on its own?

There is a case for both, and the choice depends on what you already take.

Vitamin D on its own is the better choice in three clear cases. On vitamin K antagonist anticoagulants, it is the only possible option, since K2 has to be ruled out. If you already take a multivitamin containing vitamin A, it avoids stacking two retinol intakes without meaning to. And if you want to fine-tune the vitamin D dose without moving the other two, a single-nutrient formula is simpler to adjust. Our vitamin D section brings these products together.

There is a case for nuADK when you are starting from scratch and looking for a single daily serving covering all three vitamins at once, when several age groups are supplementing in the same household at different doses — the drop format handles that, a tablet does not — or when you prefer an oil base to a dry excipient. Let us note what it does not do: it provides no magnesium, the cofactor of the enzymes that convert vitamin D, no omega 3, no vitamin C and no vitamin E, the fourth fat-soluble vitamin missing from this formula.

Frequently asked questions

How many drops of nuADK a day by age?

Two drops from 3 to 10 years, four from 10 to 18 years, eight from 18 years, as a single daily serving. These three doses come from the manufacturer. For a child or an adolescent, have the decision and the dose confirmed by the doctor who follows them before starting.

How long does a 20 ml bottle last?

The bottle holds roughly 500 drops. At the adult dose of 8 drops a day, that comes to about sixty days; at 4 drops, around 125 days; at 2 drops, around 250 days. A course from October to April at the adult dose therefore takes about three bottles.

What do 8 drops represent in international units?

2,000 IU of vitamin D3 and 2,000 IU of vitamin A. The conversion is 1 µg to 40 IU for vitamin D, which does indeed give 50 µg. For vitamin A the conversion differs, since it is retinol: 600 µg corresponds to 2,000 IU. One drop provides 250 IU of vitamin D3.

Why is there vitamin A in a D3 and K2 formula?

Because all three are fat-soluble and lend themselves to the same oil base, and because vitamin A has authorised claims of its own, notably on vision and the immune system. Take care, though, if you already take a multivitamin: retinol intakes add up, and it is the only one of the three for which that addition deserves real vigilance.

Can nuADK be taken while on anticoagulants?

No. The manufacturer explicitly advises against it, and the reason is well documented: vitamin K interferes with vitamin K antagonist anticoagulants and upsets the balance of the treatment. That holds for every formula containing K2, not only this one. If you are on treatment, talk to your doctor before considering any supplementation.

What is vitamin K2 for and where is it found in food?

Menaquinone-7 activates vitamin K-dependent proteins, among them osteocalcin, which is involved in bone mineralisation. The claims adopted are normal bones and normal blood clotting. On the plate, K2 comes mainly from fermented foods — Japanese natto is the richest source — and from certain matured cheeses and animal products.

Is nuADK suitable for vegans?

No. Vitamin D3 is extracted from lanolin, the wool grease recovered at shearing: the animal is not slaughtered, but the product remains of animal origin. The manufacturer states that the formula is suitable for a vegetarian diet. If you follow a vegan diet, look for a D3 derived from lichen, chemically identical but of plant origin.

Should it be taken during a meal?

Yes, preferably, and preferably a meal containing fat. The olive oil in the bottle already provides a lipid base, which is a real advantage over a dry tablet, but absorption is still better when the serving accompanies a proper meal. The time of day, morning or evening, makes no demonstrated difference.

Where can you buy Nutriting nuADK Drops?

This page lets you order the 20 ml bottle, and we ship throughout France and Europe. In our Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, we take the time to do the sums with you: if you already take a multivitamin, you need to know how much vitamin D and how much retinol it contains before adding this bottle. We will gladly tell you what a product contains and how to take it; we will not tell you whether you are short of it, that question belonging to your doctor. The rest of our micronutrition is listed in the sports nutrition section.

Sources: ANSES for the French nutritional references, EFSA for the opinions underpinning the authorised claims and the upper safety limit.

What is IO Genix Vitamin E 400 IU?

IO Genix Vitamin E 400 IU is a vitamin E in softgel capsules. One softgel provides 400 IU of vitamin E as DL-alpha-tocopheryl acetate, equal to 274.7 mg using the conversion adopted by the manufacturer, and 2,289% of the nutrient reference value. The box holds 60 softgels for a net weight of 36 g, which is two months at one capsule a day.

Vitamin E is not a single molecule but a family of eight related compounds, four tocopherols and four tocotrienols. Alpha-tocopherol is the one the body retains and transports as a priority, and it is also the only one covered by the European nutrient reference value. It is therefore the form found in very nearly every supplement.

The softgel format is not an aesthetic choice: vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin, it keeps poorly as a powder and oxidises in air. The soft capsule shields it from light and oxygen until the moment it is opened. The rest of the Spanish range can be browsed in our IO Genix section, and the full category in our vitamin E section.

What does one softgel of Vitamin E 400 IU contain?

This is a high dose, and it deserves to be said plainly rather than presented as an advantage. The upper safe limit set at European level for alpha-tocopherol in adults is 300 mg a day. At 274.7 mg, this softgel sits just below it. That is not a problem in itself — a limit is there so as not to be crossed, not so as never to be approached — but it has two practical consequences. The first: never take two capsules a day. The second: if you already take a multivitamin containing vitamin E, add the two together before stacking them.

Only one claim is authorised in Europe for this vitamin, and it is a simple one: vitamin E contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress. That is all, and it is already the essence of what can honestly be said about it. Elsewhere you will read promises about skin, hair, fertility or the heart: not one of them has been validated at European level for vitamin E.

A point of vocabulary that is worth money when you are comparing two bottles. The letters “DL” in front of alpha-tocopherol denote the form obtained by synthesis, also called all-rac. The naturally sourced form is written “D” alone, or RRR-alpha-tocopherol. They are not equivalent weight for weight: the body retains the natural form better, and that is why the two can only be compared in international units, never in milligrams. So hold on to the figure in IU when you compare two vitamin E products.

Food supplies vitamin E through vegetable oils — sunflower, rapeseed, wheat germ — nuts and seeds, avocado and green leafy vegetables. A diet already rich in these foods covers requirements without difficulty; this supplement makes sense when that is not the case.

Ingredients list

DL-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E). Capsule shell: GELATINE and glycerine.

May contain traces of NUTS, PEANUT, EGGS, MILK, SULPHITES, FISH and SOYA.

How do you take Vitamin E 400 IU?

Dose: 1 softgel. Liquid: a glass of water. Timing: during a meal that contains fat. Frequency: one serving a day, never two. Duration: one box covers two months; the manufacturer sets no maximum course length.

Taking it with a meal is the instruction that does most to change what this product returns, and it is also the one the manufacturer states least clearly. Vitamin E is only absorbed in the presence of dietary fat: taken on an empty stomach with a glass of water, part of the dose will simply not be taken up. A normal meal containing a drizzle of oil, a piece of cheese or a handful of almonds is amply sufficient.

The time of day matters little — lunch or dinner do the job equally well. What counts is regularity: fat-soluble vitamins are stored, their level in the body builds over several weeks, and a steady daily serving is worth more than an irregular one at double the dose.

Do not open the capsule and do not pierce it: the oil it contains oxidises rapidly on contact with air, which degrades precisely the molecule you are trying to supply. If the softgels are hard to swallow, thirty minutes in the fridge firms them slightly and helps them go down.

It is taken at the same meal as an omega 3 or a vitamin D, which call for the same fatty carrier. A vitamin C usefully complements it: the two nutrients work on different compartments of the cell, one in the fats, the other in the water.

Who is Vitamin E 400 IU for, and who is it not for?

The manufacturer restricts it to people over 18. It is intended for an adult whose diet supplies little in the way of vegetable oils, nuts and seeds, or who wants a targeted antioxidant intake.

Two situations call for medical advice before the box is opened. The first: if you are taking anticoagulant or antiplatelet treatment. At high doses, vitamin E is known to interfere with these treatments, and 274.7 mg is a high dose. The second: if surgery is scheduled. In both cases the question is one for your doctor, not for a supplement retailer, and the answer cannot be guessed.

The capsule shell is made of gelatine: the product is suitable neither for vegetarians nor for vegans. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should seek medical advice, as with any high-dose vitamin intake. Anyone with allergies should take account of the traces mentioned above.

What not to expect from it. You will feel nothing when you take it, and that is normal: vitamin E has no perceptible effect. It does not improve sporting performance, it does not make hair grow back and it does not smooth the skin — none of those promises is authorised, and for good reasons. It does not replace a diet that includes vegetable oils and nuts. And at this dose, “more” is not “better”: the European threshold of 300 mg a day exists precisely because generosity is not a virtue with this particular vitamin.

Vitamin E or coenzyme Q10?

The two sit in the same part of the shelf and are sold on the same word, “antioxidant”. They do not, however, do the same job.

Vitamin E lodges in cell membranes, where fats are exposed to oxidation. That is its ground, and it is what its single claim recognises. It is inexpensive, very stable in capsule form, and it has a clear regulatory framework behind it — which is rare in this aisle.

Coenzyme Q10 sits elsewhere: it is a molecule the body makes itself and which acts in the mitochondria, the energy factories of the cell. No claim is authorised for it in Europe, which is a considerable difference. It is also markedly more expensive. Our coenzyme Q10 section sets out this logic in detail.

When is coenzyme Q10 the better choice? When you are looking for that molecule specifically, generally on the advice of a healthcare professional, and budget is not the main criterion. For a simple, regular and clearly regulated antioxidant intake, vitamin E remains the most direct choice. And if you would rather have a plant extract, our curcumin section answers a third logic again.

Frequently asked questions

How many milligrams is 400 IU?

274.7 mg according to the conversion given by the manufacturer. Above all, remember that natural and synthetic forms of vitamin E are not compared in milligrams but in international units: it is the figure in IU that has to be set side by side when you compare two products.

Is this dose too high?

It is high without being excessive. The upper safe limit set at European level for alpha-tocopherol in adults is 300 mg a day, and this softgel supplies 274.7. One capsule a day, never two, and check that your multivitamin is not already supplying some.

Should it be taken with a meal?

Yes, and that is the most useful instruction on this page. Vitamin E is only absorbed in the presence of dietary fat. Taken on an empty stomach with a plain glass of water, part of the dose is lost. A meal containing a drizzle of oil or a few almonds is enough.

DL-alpha-tocopherol or D-alpha-tocopherol?

The “DL” denotes the synthetic form, “D” alone the naturally sourced one. The body retains the latter better, which explains why the two are compared in international units and not in milligrams. This product uses the synthetic form, the most widespread and the most stable.

Are these capsules suitable for vegetarians?

No. The capsule shell is made of gelatine, which is of animal origin. The glycerine that goes with it poses no problem, but the gelatine does. There is no plant-based version of this product.

Can it be taken with an anticoagulant?

Not without medical advice. At high doses, vitamin E can interfere with anticoagulant and antiplatelet treatments, and 274.7 mg is a high dose. The same caution applies before scheduled surgery. Put the question to your doctor or your pharmacist.

How long does one box last?

60 softgels at one a day: two months exactly, for a net weight of 36 g. The manufacturer sets no maximum course length, but at this dose level it is sensible to take stock with a healthcare professional if you are considering prolonged use over several years.

Where can you buy IO Genix Vitamin E 400 IU?

The box of 60 softgels can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is a product we sell while always asking two questions: are you taking an anticoagulant, and are you already taking a multivitamin. Those two answers decide the advice far more than anything else. The full range can be browsed in our sports nutrition selection, and broader intakes in our multivitamins.

What is IO Genix R-ALA 250 mg?

IO Genix R-ALA is a single-ingredient supplement: one capsule provides 250 mg of alpha-lipoic acid in the R form. The box holds 60 capsules for a net weight of 25 g, that is, a two-month course at one dose a day. The rest of the Spanish range can be found in our IO Genix section.

Alpha-lipoic acid is a molecule the body makes in small amounts and which acts as a cofactor in several reactions of cellular energy metabolism, within the mitochondria. Diet supplies very little of it: traces are found in offal, spinach and broccoli, but nothing comparable to a supplement.

Its chemical peculiarity is real and rarely explained properly: it is one of the only antioxidant molecules that is soluble in both water and fat. Most of the others are confined to one medium or the other. The “R” designation, for its part, refers to the form naturally present in the body, as opposed to the racemic mixture, which also contains the inactive S form.

What does one R-ALA capsule contain?

250 mg per capsule is a measured dose, and that is rather good news. Alpha-lipoic acid supplements are sold at doses ranging from 100 to 600 mg per serving, and the highest are not the most advisable — we come to that in the next section. At 250 mg in a single daily dose, this product stays within a reasonable range.

One point of composition needs to be flagged clearly, because it contradicts a widely held assumption about this range: the shell is made of gelatine, not plant cellulose. This product is therefore suitable for neither a vegetarian nor a vegan diet, unlike other products from the same brand. It is a piece of information that is not always given and that settles the purchase for some customers.

On the regulatory side: no health claim is authorised in Europe for alpha-lipoic acid. Not on oxidative stress, not on energy, not on blood sugar, not on the regeneration of other antioxidants. Its role as a mitochondrial cofactor is described in the literature; the effect of oral supplementation, on the other hand, has no approved dossier. So we describe the molecule and its dose, and promise nothing.

Two statements from the old description have also been removed. The first announced a GMP certification issued by a third-party body: we cannot verify it, and we do not pass on certifications that cannot be verified. The second urged customers to “secure your course” because of “limited quantities”: that is a false commercial urgency, and it has no place on a product page.

Ingredients list

Alpha-lipoic acid (R-ALA), capsule (GELATINE), anti-caking agents (magnesium salts of fatty acids and magnesium carbonate) and rice flour. May contain traces of NUTS, PEANUTS, EGGS, MILK, SULPHITES, FISH and SOYA.

How do you take R-ALA 250 mg?

Dose: 1 capsule. Liquid: a large glass of water, 250 ml. Timing: in the morning, preferably. Frequency: one dose a day, no more. Duration: one box corresponds to a two-month course.

The manufacturer advises taking it in the morning. Many sources also recommend taking alpha-lipoic acid away from meals, since a full stomach slows its absorption. The manufacturer does not say so here: we therefore stick to its recommendation, in the morning with a large glass of water.

Do not exceed the recommended daily dose. This instruction, routine on most products, is a genuine one on this one. Alpha-lipoic acid lowers blood sugar, and that is precisely why you should neither double the dose nor improvise a protocol found on a forum.

Consistency matters more than anything else. Two months is the period one box covers, and it is also the sort of timescale on which an active of this type is judged. Taking it erratically supports no conclusion at all.

The product combines without difficulty with vitamin C, vitamin E or coenzyme Q10, which belong to the same family of ingredients without duplicating one another. If you are introducing several products at once, space them a fortnight apart: it is the only way to know what actually changes anything for you.

Who is R-ALA for, and who is it not for?

It is aimed at a healthy adult who wants to try a single active, properly dosed, in one daily serving. It is a short-formula product, which remains a good selection criterion in this aisle.

The contraindications, on the other hand, are specific, and the manufacturer states them plainly: lipoic acid is not recommended for people with diabetes, for pregnant women or for women who are breastfeeding. The first deserves explaining rather than simply copying out: this molecule lowers blood sugar, and combined with an antidiabetic treatment it can bring on hypoglycaemia. This is not a token precaution.

One further point must be added, one the manufacturer does not mention and a French buyer is entitled to know: ANSES has reported cases of severe hypoglycaemia associated with the consumption of food supplements containing alpha-lipoic acid, and recommends caution, particularly in people who are predisposed. That is not a reason to give up if you are in good health; it is a reason to stick strictly to the dose and to seek advice at the first unexplained episode of feeling unwell.

The product contains gelatine and is therefore not suitable for vegetarian or vegan diets. It may also contain traces of nuts, peanuts, eggs, milk, sulphites, fish and soya.

What not to expect from it: it is not a treatment, it is not a weight-loss product, and it is not a stimulant. You will feel nothing when you take it, which is normal for an antioxidant. Any question about blood sugar, neuropathy or an ongoing treatment is a matter for your doctor or your pharmacist, never for a supplement bought on its own.

R-ALA or coenzyme Q10?

These are the two molecules in the aisle that act closest to cellular energy metabolism, and we are often asked to choose between them.

Coenzyme Q10 is a fat-soluble compound, present in high concentrations in the heart and the muscles, which takes part in the mitochondrial respiratory chain. It is very well tolerated, with no contraindications comparable to those listed above, and it is taken with a meal because it needs fat in order to be absorbed. It is the better choice if you are looking for an antioxidant with no grey areas, particularly after the age of fifty, when the body's own production declines.

R-ALA has its dual solubility going for it, which lets it act in environments coenzyme Q10 cannot reach. It is the better choice if it is precisely that property that interests you and if none of the contraindications applies to you. It generally costs less per dose.

Neither has an authorised claim in Europe for this use: on that score they are level, and the choice comes down to tolerance and profile, not to a promise. If you are instead looking for a short-formula antioxidant with no particular contraindications, our NAC section offers a third route, and standardised turmeric a fourth.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between R-ALA and standard alpha-lipoic acid?

Alpha-lipoic acid exists in two mirror forms, R and S. Only the R form is the one the body produces and uses; the S form is inactive. A product sold as R-ALA contains nothing but the active form, whereas a standard alpha-lipoic acid contains roughly half of it. At an equal stated dose, then, the amount of active ingredient is not the same.

How long does one box last?

Two months, at one capsule a day for 60 capsules. That is a duration consistent with what can be expected of an active of this type: nothing is judged in a fortnight, and two months make for a reasonable first trial.

Is this product suitable for vegetarians?

No. The capsule shell is made of gelatine, which is of animal origin. That is a notable difference from several other products in the same range, which use vegetable capsules. For a vegetarian or vegan diet, you will need to turn to a different product.

Why is it not recommended for people with diabetes?

Because alpha-lipoic acid lowers blood sugar. Combined with an antidiabetic treatment, it carries a risk of hypoglycaemia. The manufacturer advises against it explicitly, and ANSES has also reported cases of severe hypoglycaemia linked to supplements containing this molecule. If this applies to you, the question is one for your doctor before any purchase.

What time of day should it be taken?

In the morning, with a large glass of water, as the manufacturer indicates. Consistency counts for more than the exact hour: a daily dose at a set time makes it possible to assess a two-month course honestly, which taking it at random never does.

Can it be combined with other antioxidants?

Nothing stands in the way as far as the ingredients go: vitamin C, vitamin E and coenzyme Q10 do not compete with it. The practical advice remains to introduce one product at a time, a fortnight apart, rather than starting everything on the same morning.

Is there a noticeable effect?

No, and none should be expected. It is an antioxidant that works at cell level, with no associated sensation. A product in this category that produced a perceptible effect on being taken ought to worry you rather than excite you.

Where can you buy IO Genix R-ALA?

The box of 60 capsules can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is a product in front of which we always ask one question before selling: “are you diabetic or on medication?”. With a molecule that lowers blood sugar, that is the only serious way to go about it. The rest of the range can be browsed in our sports nutrition section.

What is Sinob Flasty?

Sinob Flasty is a sugar-free flavouring powder, sold in a 250 g tub, meant to give taste to a neutral food rather than to bring nutrients. One 3 g scoop is enough to transform a plain fromage blanc, a skyr, a porridge or a shaker. The tub covers roughly 83 servings.

The base is neither sugar nor maltodextrin, but inulin, a fibre extracted from chicory root. That choice is what sets Flasty apart from ordinary liquid flavour drops: inulin brings body and a creamy texture, and it stands up to heat. A preparation flavoured with Flasty can therefore go in the oven or in the pan without the taste evaporating, which is not the case for most flavour drops. The rest of the German range is in our Sinob aisle.

The flavours listed on this page run from Chunky Chocolate to Salted Caramel Chunks, by way of Tiramisu, Speculoos, Banana Split and Hazelnut Spread. Several contain real pieces — biscuit, chocolate, coconut — which stay crunchy in a cold preparation. The flavour list shown on this page is the only up-to-date one.

What does a 3 g serving contain?

The composition varies from one flavour to the next. Below are the values published by Sinob for the Cookies & Cream flavour, in its vegan version, used here as a reference.

The per-serving values are calculated from the per-100 g column published by the manufacturer, who states that its data is entered manually and rounded. The label on the tub you receive is what counts, all the more so as the flavours with pieces run slightly higher in fat.

7 kcal per serving is the figure that explains the whole product. You add a dessert flavour to 250 g of fromage blanc without adding the equivalent of a spoonful of jam. For comparison, two teaspoons of sugar bring about forty, and a classic flavoured syrup a good deal more.

The second figure to look at is the 67.7 g of fibre per 100 g. A 3 g serving therefore brings about 2 g, close to a tenth of the recommended daily intake for an adult. That is useful if you are short on fibre. It is less useful if you already eat plenty: inulin ferments in the colon, and two or three servings in the same day eventually make themselves felt.

Note finally the presence of lactase in most flavours. This enzyme breaks down the lactose in the dairy product you mix the powder into. It is not a selling point, it is a practical detail: a fromage blanc prepared the night before with Flasty goes down better for people who digest lactose poorly.

Ingredients list — Cookies & Cream flavour (vegan)

Inulin, flavouring, heavily defatted lean cocoa powder, sweeteners (sucralose, steviol glycosides from stevia), lactase. The manufacturer declares no allergen for this flavour and reports possible traces of gluten, soya, milk, eggs, crustaceans, fish, nuts and lupin. The composition changes from one flavour to another: read the label of the variant you choose.

How do you use Flasty day to day?

With a dairy product: one level scoop, about 3 g, for 250 to 300 g of fromage blanc or skyr, plus 30 ml of water, mineral water or milk to loosen the texture. With a protein powder: about 4 g of Flasty for 30 g of whey concentrate in 300 ml of water or milk. Frequency: one or two servings a day is plenty. Duration: there is no notion of a course here, it is a cooking ingredient.

The tip that saves you from disappointment: start under-dosed. The product is very sweet, and a heaped scoop on a fromage blanc gives a sickly result that nobody wants to finish. Better to start with half a scoop, taste, then adjust. It is also how you make a tub last.

Let it rest for ten minutes in the fridge if you can. Inulin needs a little time to hydrate; that is when the texture turns creamy rather than grainy. In cooking it holds up without trouble: pancakes, muffins, yoghurt cakes, all of it works. It blends particularly well into a protein pancake mix or an oat flour porridge.

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

It suits anyone who eats fromage blanc every day and has had enough of the plain taste, anyone trying to cut added sugar without giving up dessert, and anyone who cooks their own snacks.

It does not suit you if you have irritable bowel syndrome or follow a low-FODMAP diet: inulin is a fructan, and that is precisely the family of fibres least well tolerated in those situations. This is not a medical contraindication, it is a practical reality we would rather state before the purchase than after.

Watch out too for one flavour in particular: Iced Coffee contains caffeine, at 1 g per 100 g, which is about 30 mg per 3 g serving. That is little, the equivalent of a third of an espresso, but it is worth knowing if you prepare your fromage blanc in the evening or if you already stack other sources of caffeine.

Allergens vary from flavour to flavour and Sinob does not declare them uniformly. If you have a serious allergy, check the label of the tub you receive and do not rely on a generic list. Finally, what not to expect from the product: it is not a protein source, it is not a fat burner, and it will not make anyone lose weight. It is a sugar-free flavour enhancer. Nothing more — but that is already a lot when you have to stick to a diet over the long run.

Flasty or a flavoured whey?

The question comes up often, because on the face of it both do the same job: make a shaker drinkable.

A flavoured whey does both at once, taste and protein, in a single product. It is simpler, and it is the better choice if you drink only one shaker a day, always the same one. Its drawback is monotony: you are locked into the tub's flavour for two months, and you cannot flavour anything other than a liquid.

Flasty separates the two functions. You buy an unflavoured or lightly flavoured protein powder, and you decide on the taste at the moment you take it, serving by serving. You can also flavour what no whey can flavour: a skyr, a porridge, a cake batter. The extra cost per shaker is real, but it buys variety and flexibility.

If your problem is more about sweetening a drink or topping a dessert, look instead at zero sauces or zero jam, which work on liquid texture where Flasty works as a powder.

Frequently asked questions

How many servings in a 250 g tub?

About 83, at 3 g per serving. In practice most users end up around 4 to 5 g per go and empty the tub in some fifty uses. The dose is up to you, but starting low remains the best way not to waste it.

Does Flasty survive cooking?

Yes, and that is one of its main advantages. The inulin base does not break down at home cooking temperatures, unlike many liquid flavourings that lose their intensity in the oven. Pancakes, muffins, cakes, hot porridge: the taste holds.

Is there sugar in Flasty?

Very little. The Cookies & Cream flavour shows 6.8 g of sugars per 100 g, which works out at 0.2 g per 3 g serving. The sweetness comes from sucralose and steviol glycosides, not from sugar. Those residual sugars come from the ingredients themselves, not from an addition.

Are all the flavours vegan?

No. Some references are formulated without any ingredient of animal origin, such as the Cookies & Cream marked "vegan" by the manufacturer, others are not. Sinob does not publish a consolidated vegan list: you have to check the label of the flavour you choose, flavour by flavour.

Why does my fromage blanc turn runny?

Because inulin takes up water and loosens the mixture a little at first. That is normal and temporary. Let it rest ten to fifteen minutes in the fridge: the preparation firms up again and becomes creamier than before you added it.

Does Flasty contain caffeine?

The Iced Coffee flavour does, at 1 g per 100 g of powder, which is about 30 mg per 3 g serving. All the other flavours are free of it. It is a mandatory statement on that variant, and it is worth reading before an evening serving.

Can it be used in hot coffee or tea?

Yes, as long as you stir well: the powder disperses more slowly in a hot liquid than in a cold dairy product. The result is close to a sweetened flavoured coffee. For a drink that is ready as it is, look instead at liquid flavourings and sweeteners.

Where to buy Sinob Flasty

The flavours can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. In the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is the product where we spend the most time advising on a dose rather than on a flavour: most negative feedback comes from too generous a scoop, never from the powder itself. The rest of our sugar-free cooking aids is in the sports nutrition aisle.

What is Applied Nutrition's ABE Energy Performance?

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

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

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

What does a can of ABE Energy contain?

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

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

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

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

Ingredients list

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

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

How do you take ABE Energy Performance?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ABE can or powdered pre-workout?

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

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

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

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

Frequently asked questions

How much caffeine is in a can?

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

Which flavours are available?

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

Why do I get tingling after drinking it?

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

Zero calories, is that really possible?

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

Can you drink it on non-training days?

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

Is it suitable for a vegan diet?

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

Does it need to be drunk cold?

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

Where to buy ABE Energy Performance

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