Sports Nutrition

What is Sinob's Juiced BCAA?

Sinob Juiced BCAA is a branched-chain amino acid drink powder, flavoured and with no added sugar. A 7 g serving provides 5 g of BCAAs in a 2:1:1 ratio, plus L-tyrosine and vitamin B6. The 500 g tub covers roughly 70 servings, from cola to iced peach tea.

BCAAs are three essential amino acids — leucine, isoleucine, valine — whose particularity is that they are branched, hence the name. They are among the nine amino acids the body cannot make and which therefore have to come from food. At a 2:1:1 ratio, a 5 g serving provides 2.5 g of leucine, 1.25 g of isoleucine and 1.25 g of valine.

This product is first and foremost a training drink. That is what explains the work put into the flavours — from cola to iced peach tea — and into solubility. A drink you finish during the session is worth more than an austere powder left at the bottom of the shaker. The rest of the German brand's range can be browsed in our Sinob aisle, and the other products in the category in our BCAA aisle.

What is in a serving of Juiced BCAA?

5 g of BCAAs per serving is a sound and honest dose for this format, in the upper range of the training drinks on the market. The 2:1:1 ratio is the most common and the most studied; the 8:1:1 or 10:1:1 ratios put forward by some brands mainly amount to loading up on leucine, which has never been shown to bring any advantage.

Two figures are missing from the manufacturer's documentation, and they are not trivial ones: the exact amounts of L-tyrosine and vitamin B6. We are not going to invent them. It also means we cannot say whether the vitamin B6 content reaches the threshold that would allow a nutrition claim to be made — so we refrain, rather than implying otherwise. The values appear on the packaging as supplied.

On the substance, one thing has to be said that few sellers in this aisle own up to: no health claim is authorised in Europe for BCAAs. None on recovery, none on performance, none on muscle protection. And the state of knowledge has moved on: in someone whose daily protein intake is sufficient, adding isolated BCAAs does not bring much, because three amino acids are not enough to build muscle — you need nine. That is precisely what brought EAAs to the fore.

So in which case does this product still make full sense? When it plays the part of a drink: drinking during a long session, hydrating with a pleasant taste and zero sugar, getting through a fasted session in the morning. That is a real use, and it does not need to be dressed up as a physiological promise.

Ingredients list

BCAA 2:1:1 blend (L-leucine, L-isoleucine, L-valine), acidifier (citric acid), maltodextrin, L-tyrosine, flavourings, emulsifier (sunflower lecithin), sweeteners (sucralose, acesulfame K), vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride). Colours according to flavour: natural food colours (hibiscus, beetroot, chlorophyll), caramel for the iced tea flavours.

May contain traces of MILK, SOYA, GLUTEN, CRUSTACEANS and EGGS.

How do you take Juiced BCAA?

Serving: 7 g, that is one heaped scoop; 10 g per hour on long efforts. Liquid: 250 ml of cold water. Timing: 30 minutes before the session, during training, straight after, or between two meals. Frequency: one serving per session; two to three in a heavy training phase. Duration: no set course.

It dissolves instantly and that is a genuine strength on this type of product: flavoured amino acid powders often tend to foam or to leave a deposit. Shake vigorously, drink it cold — the manufacturer recommends it, and that is indeed where the flavours come across best.

You can adjust the volume of water to the intensity of taste you want: 250 ml gives a bold drink, 400 to 500 ml a lighter one to sip through a long session. That is the main adjustment available to you and nobody will make it for you.

The most defensible time to take it is during training, precisely because that is where its function as a drink makes full sense. For an early-morning fasted session, taking it before the effort also has a logic to it. Taking it after the session on top of a protein shake, on the other hand, is redundant: your whey already contains the same amino acids, and the other six with them.

The product combines without difficulty with creatine monohydrate, a pre-workout or a carbohydrate source during the effort. On long sessions and in hot weather, add electrolytes: this formula provides no sodium.

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

It suits anyone looking for a pleasant training drink, with no sugar and no notable calories, and an amino acid intake into the bargain. The choice of flavours lets you switch around without tiring of it, which counts for more than people think on a product drunk four times a week.

The manufacturer advises against it for pregnant and breastfeeding women, for children and for people on medication, with prior medical advice in the last case. People with allergies should note the possible traces of milk, soya, gluten, crustaceans and eggs.

The formula contains sucralose and acesulfame K. If you avoid artificial sweeteners, this product is not for you. Also worth noting: the manufacturer asks that the tub be finished within three months of opening, which is shorter than for most powders.

What you should not expect from it, and this is the point on which we are most blunt. It does not replace a protein: three amino acids do not build muscle, you need nine. It does not “protect” muscle during the effort — that wording is not authorised and rests on nothing solid in someone who eats enough. It provides no energy and contains no stimulant. If your daily protein intake is already adequate, this product is a pleasant drink, not a lever for progress.

BCAA or EAA?

That is the question that really counts in this aisle, and the answer has changed in recent years.

BCAAs provide three essential amino acids out of nine. Leucine, the main one of the three, acts as a trigger in protein synthesis — but starting a building site without delivering the materials builds nothing. That is the most accurate image, and it explains why BCAAs on their own have lost ground.

EAAs provide all nine essential amino acids, BCAAs included. At a comparable price, they do everything BCAAs do and the rest besides. If your aim is nutritional rather than a matter of taste, our EAA aisle is where you should go, and we say so even when it means selling something other than what the customer came in for.

In which case do BCAAs remain a good choice? When you take them for what they are here: a training drink with a worked-on flavour, zero sugar, that gets you drinking during the session. That is a legitimate use. And if your priority is muscle mass, the answer is neither BCAAs nor EAAs but a complete protein, the only category in this aisle with authorised claims on muscle.

Frequently asked questions

How many BCAAs per serving?

5 g for a 7 g serving, at a 2:1:1 ratio, that is 2.5 g of leucine, 1.25 g of isoleucine and 1.25 g of valine according to the stated ratio. That is a straightforward dose for a training drink, in the upper range of the market.

Which flavours are available?

The flavours available: iced peach tea, mango, melon, green apple, iced lemon tea, cola and cherry. It is one of the product's strong points: on a drink consumed several times a week, being able to alternate avoids the weariness that leaves a tub half full.

BCAA or EAA, which should you choose?

EAAs provide all nine essential amino acids, BCAAs included, and are therefore more complete at a similar price. Choose BCAAs if what you want first of all is a pleasant, sugar-free training drink; choose EAAs if your aim is nutritional.

Is the 2:1:1 ratio the right one?

It is the most studied and the most common ratio, and it roughly matches the natural proportions of these three amino acids in dietary proteins. The 8:1:1 or 10:1:1 ratios do nothing but load up on leucine, with no demonstrated advantage. Do not pay more for a bigger number.

Should you take it after the session?

If you already take a protein after training, it is redundant: your whey contains the same amino acids and the other six. The most coherent use of this product is during the session, as a drink, or before a fasted workout.

How many servings are there in the tub?

Roughly 70 servings of 7 g in the 500 g tub. At four sessions a week, that comes to more than four months. One caveat though: the manufacturer asks that the tub be finished within three months of opening.

Are there any calories or sugar?

The formula is sweetened with sucralose and acesulfame K, with no added sugar; it contains a small amount of maltodextrin as a carrier. The calorie contribution remains marginal, which makes it a drink compatible with a cutting phase, unlike a carbohydrate drink.

Where can you buy Sinob's Juiced BCAA?

The 500 g tub can be ordered from this page, in one of the flavours available, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, the question we ask first is a simple one: are you looking for a drink for your sessions, or for an amino acid intake? Depending on the answer, we bring out this tub or a tub of EAAs, and that is not the same advice. The rest of the aisle can be browsed in our sports nutrition selection.

What is Sinob Core Creapure®?

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

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

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

What does a 5 g scoop contain?

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

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

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

How do you take Sinob Core Creapure®?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Core Creapure® or Nutriting nuCrea+?

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

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

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

Frequently asked questions

Is the scoop 3 g or 5 g?

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

What is licence number 19SN14 for?

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

Is this creatine micronised?

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

Does it contain sweeteners or flavourings?

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

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

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

What happens if I miss a serving?

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

Can it be mixed with a protein or with carbohydrates?

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

Where can you buy Sinob Core Creapure®?

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

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

What is Sinob Core L-Glutamine?

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

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

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

What does a serving of Core L-Glutamine contain?

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

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

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

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

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

Ingredient list

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

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

How should you take Core L-Glutamine?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Glutamine or protein powder?

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

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

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

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

Frequently asked questions

How much glutamine per serving?

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

Does glutamine really help you recover?

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

When should you take it?

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

What does this powder taste like?

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

Does a whey already contain some?

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

What should you do about digestive discomfort?

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

Is this powder suitable for vegans?

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

Where can you buy Sinob Core L-Glutamine?

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

What is IO Genix DAA?

IO Genix DAA is a single-ingredient supplement, supplied as capsules dosed at 1,000 mg of D-aspartic acid. The daily serving is three capsules, that is 3,000 mg, and the bottle covers 30 servings.

D-aspartic acid is an amino acid, the D-enantiomer of aspartic acid. It is sold in the commercial category of testosterone boosters, and that is why it appears in our catalogue, alongside tribulus terrestris and fenugreek.

The formula contains nothing beyond the active, a coating agent — the gelatine of the capsule shell — and magnesium stearate as an anti-caking agent. No flavouring, no filler, no proprietary blend: you know exactly what you are swallowing, and that is this product's main merit. The rest of the range is in the IO Genix section.

What does a 3-capsule serving contain?

The bottle holds 30 servings, that is one month at one serving a day. The values above are those published by the manufacturer; it gives no kilojoule equivalent, no “sugars” line and no “fibre” line, and we will not work them out on its behalf.

The 3,000 mg a day matches the dose settled on by very nearly every product in this category. It is neither a timid dose nor an extravagant one: it is the market standard, and it has the merit of being reached in a single serving rather than spread across the day.

Now comes the passage this page will not sidestep. D-aspartic acid holds no authorised health claim in Europe, and no nutrient reference value has been set for it. In very practical terms, that means we will write no promise here about testosterone, strength, muscle mass or libido. “Testosterone booster” is the trade name of a shelf, not an effect demonstrated and validated by a health authority. What we can describe is factual: an amino acid, a dose, a dosage form, a way of taking it.

We will add something you will not often read: on this molecule, the published results are contradictory, and there is no consensus that would justify a promise. If you buy this product, buy it knowing that.

How do you take DAA?

Dose: 3 capsules, that is 3,000 mg. Liquid: a large glass of water. Timing: in the morning on an empty stomach, or spread across the three meals. Frequency: 1 serving a day. Duration: a cycle of 8 to 12 weeks, followed by 2 to 4 weeks off.

The manufacturer offers two schedules. The first, and the simplest: the three capsules together, in the morning on an empty stomach, with a large glass of water. The second, if a single serving sits badly with you: one capsule at breakfast, one at lunch, one at dinner. Both are acceptable — choose the one you will stick to.

Cycling is the most important part of the directions, and it is also the part people skip most readily. 8 to 12 weeks, then 2 to 4 weeks off. Do not carry on indefinitely: the manufacturer does not provide for continuous use, and nothing justifies turning it into a permanent supplement.

One practical point to finish: do not stack this product with another so-called hormonal supplement. The manufacturer explicitly recommends against taking it at the same time as other boosters of this kind, and adding up poorly characterised products has never improved a result. Pairing it with a protein, a multivitamin or creatine, on the other hand, poses no known problem. Increase your water intake during the course.

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

It is aimed at the trained adult man whose diet, sleep and training volume are already in place. That is the only context in which trying it makes sense: a supplement whose effect is not established has no chance of making up for missing fundamentals.

The capsule shell is made of gelatine. This product is therefore suitable for neither vegetarians nor vegans. That is the first thing to check, and it often goes unnoticed on an amino acid capsule.

The manufacturer advises against it for pregnant and breastfeeding women and prohibits it for minors under 18. Traces of GLUTEN (wheat, oats), EGGS, MILK, FISH and SOYA are possible. If you are under medical treatment or in any particular situation, seek the advice of a healthcare professional before use.

What you should not expect from it, and let us say it plainly: if your testosterone level really is low, it is not a bottle of supplements that will settle the matter, it is a doctor. A blood test costs little and says what no product page can say. Nor is it a mass-gain product, or a strength product, or a substitute for a proper night's sleep — which, for its part, does have a documented effect on hormones.

DAA or creatine?

This is the most useful comparison we can make, because these two products are often bought by the same person, with the same intention: to make progress. And on that ground, the answer is clear-cut.

Creatine monohydrate is the best choice, no argument, if you are only going to take one. It is the best-documented supplement on the entire sports shelf, its effects on strength and power are solidly established, it costs little per day, and it is taken with no cycle and no set time. DAA, for its part, has no authorised claim and contradictory data. For the same budget, the comparison is not even open to debate.

DAA keeps a place, provided you are honest about what that place is. You already take creatine, your diet and your sleep are in order, and you want to try a hormonal angle without setting off with poorly identified products: in that precise case, a single active at 3,000 mg in a filler-free formula is the most transparent thing on this shelf. Zinc, moreover, remains the only mineral carrying an authorised claim on this subject — it contributes to the maintenance of normal testosterone levels in the blood — and it costs less. If you are not taking any yet, start there, possibly by way of an evening ZMA.

Frequently asked questions

Does DAA raise testosterone?

No health claim is authorised in Europe for D-aspartic acid, so we will make none. The published results on this molecule are contradictory and do not allow any conclusion. If your concern is hormonal, a blood test and a doctor's opinion are worth more than any supplement.

How many capsules a day, and when?

Three capsules, that is 3,000 mg, preferably in the morning on an empty stomach with a large glass of water. If a single serving bothers you, spread them across the three meals — the manufacturer explicitly allows it. Do not exceed three capsules a day.

Why do you have to cycle it, and for how long?

The manufacturer settles on cycles of 8 to 12 weeks followed by 2 to 4 weeks off, and does not provide for continuous use. A 30-serving bottle covers one month: count on two to three bottles for a full cycle. Observing the break is part of the protocol, it is not an optional extra.

Are the capsules suitable for vegetarians?

No. The shell is gelatine, of animal origin. That is a deal-breaker for a vegetarian or vegan diet, and there is no alternative version of this product. Check it before ordering: on an amino acid capsule, it does not spring to mind.

Can it be combined with creatine or with a booster?

With creatine, a protein or a multivitamin, there is no known problem: there is neither a shared ingredient nor any identified interaction. With another so-called hormonal product, on the other hand, the manufacturer recommends refraining. Stacking poorly characterised actives does not multiply the effects, it only multiplies the unknowns.

Does the product have a taste?

The question does not arise: these are capsules to be swallowed, not a powder to be mixed. That is in fact an advantage with this kind of active — D-aspartic acid powder has a very unpleasant sour, bitter taste, which the shell removes entirely.

What exactly does one capsule contain?

1,000 mg of D-aspartic acid, the gelatine shell and a trace of magnesium stearate as an anti-caking agent. Nothing else: no flavouring, no colouring, no bulking filler. On a shelf where proprietary blends are the rule, this transparency is the product's real argument.

Where can you buy IO Genix DAA?

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

The hormonal booster shelf is the one where the gap between the promises read on the internet and what the regulations say is widest. At our shop in Vendargues, about ten minutes from Montpellier, we prefer to lay things out plainly before the purchase: what the product contains, what no authority permits anyone to say about it, and what you need to have in place before even considering it. The rest of the shelf can be browsed in our sports nutrition section.

What is Sinob All Day Every Day?

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

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

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

What does a daily sachet contain?

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

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

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

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

Declared ingredients list

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

How do you take All Day Every Day?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A daily sachet or separate supplements?

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

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

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

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

Frequently asked questions

How long does a box last?

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

Can the sachet be split into two intakes?

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

Is the product suitable for vegetarians?

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

Why are the dosages not stated?

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

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

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

Does it contain caffeine or a stimulant?

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

What should you do if you are on anticoagulant treatment?

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

Where can you buy Sinob All Day Every Day?

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

What is IO Genix Luxury 3K Kre-Alkalyn?

It is creatine in capsules, with a daily dose of four capsules providing 3,000 mg. The bottle of 120 capsules covers 30 days.

The form chosen is Kre-Alkalyn®, a creatine monohydrate whose pH has been corrected — what is known as "buffered" creatine. This has to be said plainly, because the name may lead you to believe it is something else: the active ingredient is still creatine monohydrate, the same molecule as the one sold as a powder, with a pH adjustment supposed to improve its stability.

The rest of the composition comes down to two lines: the capsule shell, made of gelatine, coloured with calcium carbonate and starch sodium octenyl succinate, and magnesium stearate as an anti-caking agent. As the capsule is made of gelatine, the product is suitable for neither vegetarians nor vegans — information rarely put forward and yet decisive. The product joins our Kre-Alkalyn creatine and IO Genix aisles.

What does a four-capsule dose contain?

* Column calculated from the value declared for four capsules. Other components: coating agents (gelatine, colours), anti-caking agent (magnesium stearate). Traces of GLUTEN, EGGS, MILK and SOYA are possible. Pack size: 120 capsules, i.e. 30 daily doses.

The figure is pitched in exactly the right place, and that is no accident. Three grams a day is precisely the threshold that unlocks the only claim authorised in Europe for creatine: creatine increases physical performance in successive bursts of short-term, high intensity exercise. That is the exact wording, and it targets repeated explosive effort — strength sets, sprints, combat sports — not endurance.

It is also the only thing we are able to state about this product, and that deserves to be said frankly. The benefits announced for the buffered form — no water retention, better digestive tolerance, effects from the very first servings, no degradation into creatinine — are claims made by the manufacturer. We have no ANSES or EFSA source establishing that a buffered creatine does better than an ordinary creatine monohydrate, and we will therefore not write it. The European claim relates, moreover, to creatine, with no distinction of form.

Two useful benchmarks for comparison. At 750 mg per capsule, it takes four capsules for one dose, where a scoop of powder is enough. And at 3 g a day, this bottle covers the maintenance dose exactly: do not add a second source of creatine on top of it, it would serve no purpose.

How should you take Luxury 3K Kre-Alkalyn?

Dose: 4 capsules, i.e. 3 g. Liquid: a large glass of water. Timing: after training, preferably. Frequency: one serving a day, every day, including rest days. Duration: cycles of 8 to 12 weeks.

The most important point comes down to one sentence: creatine is taken every day, not only on training days. Its effect rests on the progressive saturation of the muscle, which takes several weeks of regular intake. Taking it three times a week will never saturate anything. It is the most frequent mistake on this product, and by a long way.

The manufacturer states that no loading phase is necessary. That is true, and it is true of creatine monohydrate powder as well: loading at 20 g a day for a week brings saturation forward by a few days, without changing the final result in any way. It is therefore not an advantage specific to this form.

One instruction not to be overlooked: maintain sufficient hydration throughout the period of use. Creatine draws water into the muscle cell, and an insufficient fluid intake is the leading cause of discomfort reported on this supplement.

The timing of the serving, for its part, is secondary. After the session according to the manufacturer, but what counts is consistency over several weeks, not the hour of the day. Take the four capsules at whatever moment you will remember systematically.

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

It suits adults doing intense, short efforts: weight training, sprinting, racket or combat sports. The capsule format appeals to those who hate the taste of creatine powder, those who travel often, and those who want an identical dose from one day to the next without a scoop.

The manufacturer advises against it for pregnant or breastfeeding women and rules it out in children and adolescents. In the event of a kidney disorder, it asks for medical advice before use: this precaution is standard on creatine and it must be taken seriously. Do not exceed the recommended daily dose.

It is suitable for neither vegetarians nor vegans, the capsule being made of gelatine — which is particularly unfortunate, as vegetarians are precisely the people whose dietary creatine intake is the lowest. In that case, a creatine powder is then the obvious choice.

What you should not expect from it. Creatine is not a weight-loss product, and it is not a fat burner. Nor does it act on endurance: the authorised claim targets very intense, short, repeated effort. Lastly, it replaces neither protein, nor calories, nor sleep — and it does nothing at all if your training is not progressing.

Kre-Alkalyn capsules or monohydrate powder?

It is the only comparison that counts in this aisle, and we are going to make it honestly, including where it does not play in favour of this page.

Creatine monohydrate powder is by far the best-documented form, and the European claim at 3 g a day applies to it in exactly the same way. It costs a fraction of the price per gram, is measured out with a scoop, and mixes into any drink. The Creapure aisle offers the lines whose raw material is traceable. If you have never taken creatine, start there: it is cheaper and just as well established.

This capsule version wins on three practical points, and they are real. The taste: creatine powder has a gritty texture that some people cannot stand. Transport: a bottle slips into a bag, a powder does not. And the consistency of the dose: four capsules is always 3 g, where a scoop is filled by eye. On a supplement whose effectiveness depends entirely on taking it daily for weeks on end, those three arguments are not details.

The other forms in this aisle — creatine HCL in particular — follow the same commercial logic as Kre-Alkalyn®: a variant offered as better tolerated, without the health authorities having validated any superiority. They have their place if monohydrate genuinely bothers you; otherwise, the price gap is not justified. For mass gain, creatine combines without any problem with the rest of your supplements.

Frequently asked questions

Is Kre-Alkalyn® better than creatine monohydrate?

It is creatine monohydrate with a corrected pH: the active molecule is the same. We have no ANSES or EFSA source establishing any superiority, and the European claim relates to creatine with no distinction of form. What this version brings that is verifiable is the capsule format.

Is a loading phase necessary?

No, and the manufacturer says so. It is true of creatine powder as well: loading at 20 g a day brings saturation forward by a few days without changing the final result. Three grams a day continuously is enough, and it is therefore not an advantage specific to this form.

Should it be taken on rest days?

Yes, every day, and it is the most important point. Creatine's effect rests on the progressive saturation of the muscle, which takes several weeks of regular intake. Taking it only on training days will never saturate anything: it is the most common mistake.

Why four capsules for a single dose?

Because each capsule contains 750 mg and the reference dose is 3 g. It is the constraint of the capsule format: you cannot fit 3 g of powder into a single swallowable capsule. A scoop of creatine powder settles the question in one movement, at the cost of the taste.

Are the capsules suitable for vegetarians?

No, the shell is made of gelatine of animal origin. That is all the more regrettable as vegetarians are precisely the people whose dietary creatine intake is the lowest, meat being the main source. A creatine powder is then the right choice.

How long does a bottle last?

Thirty days, at the rate of four capsules a day for 120 capsules. The manufacturer advises cycles of 8 to 12 weeks: allow two to three bottles for a full cycle. Nothing obliges you to cycle creatine, but that is the protocol it sets out.

Does creatine make you gain water?

The manufacturer announces the absence of excessive water retention for this buffered form. We have no official source that would allow us to confirm it, and we will not write it as a fact. What can be said: creatine draws water into the muscle cell, which is its mode of action, and sufficient hydration remains essential.

Where can you buy IO Genix Luxury 3K Kre-Alkalyn?

The bottle of 120 capsules can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. One month per bottle, four capsules a day: it is a format that is simple to fit into a routine.

At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, the conversation in this aisle always turns on the same question: are you really going to take it every day? If the answer depends on the taste of the powder, the capsule is worth its extra cost. If you have no problem with a scoop in a glass of water, take the monohydrate and keep the difference. The rest of the aisle can be compared in our sports nutrition section.

What is Nutrex Lipo-6 Black Ultra Concentrate?

Lipo-6 Black Ultra Concentrate is a food supplement supplied as liquid capsules, which Nutrex Research calls Liqui-Caps: the plant-based shell holds a glycerine solution rather than a compacted powder. There are 60 in the bottle. This is the most concentrated version in the Lipo-6 range, and the words "ultra concentrate" are not there for decoration.

The formula rests on five actives: anhydrous caffeine, anhydrous theobromine, AdipoSyn™ (Citrus aurantium extract standardised to 50 % p-synephrine), GBBGO® (gamma-butyrobetaine hydrochloride) and a Rauwolfia vomitoria root extract standardised to 90 % rauwolscine. The rest comes down to the capsule itself: glycerine, purified water, chlorophyllin, and a plant-based shell with no animal gelatine.

One detail matters here, and the brand does not draw attention to it: caffeine is the only active with a figure on the label, at 200 mg per capsule. The other four are declared without individual dosages. This is a proprietary blend, and you will not know how much synephrine or rauwolscine you are swallowing. We are not going to invent those numbers on the manufacturer's behalf. If that opacity bothers you — and it is a defensible position — a good share of the capsule fat burners aisle carries fully itemised formulas.

What does one Lipo-6 Black Ultra Concentrate capsule contain?

The only usable figure is therefore the caffeine: 200 mg per capsule, 400 mg if you take both of the day's servings. For context, EFSA considers that a caffeine intake of 400 mg spread across the day raises no safety concern for healthy adults, and that a single 200 mg serving raises none either. At the full dose, this product places you exactly on that ceiling — before you count your morning coffee. That is the point to take away ahead of everything else.

No health claim is authorised in Europe for synephrine, rauwolscine, theobromine or gamma-butyrobetaine. "Fat burner" is the commercial name of the category, not a promise of results, and we will leave it at that.

How should you take Lipo-6 Black Ultra Concentrate?

The manufacturer's protocol is precise, so follow it to the letter. One capsule in the morning, one capsule in the afternoon, between meals and on an empty stomach, leaving at least 6 hours between the two servings. Two capsules per day maximum. Never within the 6 hours before bedtime: at 200 mg a serving, your sleep picks up the bill.

If you are sensitive to stimulants, or if this is your first fat burner at this dosage level, start with a single capsule in the morning for the first week and only add the second one afterwards. This is not token caution: at 400 mg, palpitations and headaches give no warning.

The first serving goes 30 minutes before breakfast, the second in the middle of the afternoon, or 30 to 45 minutes before training if you train early in the day. As for the length of a course, the manufacturer states 4 to 8 weeks of use, followed by a break of at least 4 weeks. A 60-capsule bottle covers one month at the full dose.

During the course, do not stack other caffeine sources — coffee, tea, energy drinks, and certainly not a stimulant pre-workout from the pre-workouts aisle. Drink plenty of water. And bear in mind that the calorie deficit does all the work: this product replaces neither what is on your plate nor your training sessions.

Who is this fat burner for, and who is it not for?

It is aimed at adults already accustomed to stimulants, in a properly structured cutting phase, looking for a kick from unapologetic dosages. As a first purchase in the category it is too much: start lower down the range.

The list of contraindications is long and serious. Not for anyone under 18, nor for pregnant or breastfeeding women. Avoid it in cases of caffeine sensitivity, heart conditions, high blood pressure, diabetes, thyroid disorders or psychiatric disorders. Do not combine it with monoamine oxidase inhibitors, antidepressants, or medicines containing phenylephrine, ephedrine or pseudoephedrine. The manufacturer asks that you stop taking the product 2 weeks before any surgical procedure. Stop immediately in the event of rapid heartbeat, dizziness, severe headaches or shortness of breath, and speak to a doctor.

The product may contain traces of GLUTEN, MILK, EGGS, SOYA, FISH, CRUSTACEANS and NUTS. The capsules are plant-based, with no animal gelatine.

What you should not expect from it: any weight loss in its own right. A thermogenic fat burner acts on alertness and the feeling of having energy, which helps you stick to a diet — the diet itself still has to be done. If you want support without the nervous-system trade-off, look instead at caffeine-free fat burners, compared in the next section.

Lipo-6 Black Ultra Concentrate or a caffeine-free fat burner?

This is the real decision, and it turns not on potency but on your tolerance to stimulants and on the time of day you train.

A caffeine-free fat burner is the better choice in three clear-cut situations: you train in the evening and you value your sleep; you already drink three coffees a day and you do not want to stack more on top; you have high blood pressure, palpitations or simply an anxious disposition. In those cases the dosage question does not even arise, and a product built on L-carnitine, chromium or non-stimulant plant extracts will be the smarter call.

Lipo-6 Black Ultra Concentrate keeps the advantage on one point: the convenience and the transparency of its caffeine dosage. Two capsules swallowed, nothing to mix, 200 mg per serving that you can work out exactly. The powders in the powder fat burners aisle often provide more actives with stated amounts, but they require a shaker. The category as a whole can be compared in fat burners, and the wider context — protein, satiety, activity — in weight loss.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a 60-capsule bottle last?

Exactly one month, at two capsules a day. Two months if you stay on one capsule daily, which is the pace advised for the first week and often enough for people who are sensitive to stimulants.

How much caffeine is there really per day?

400 mg at the full dose, that is 200 mg per capsule. That is the equivalent of roughly four strong espressos split across two servings. Any other caffeine source during the day adds to that total: this is precisely why the manufacturer asks you to cut them out for the duration of the course.

Why are the dosages of the other actives not stated?

Because Nutrex groups them into a proprietary blend, a common practice in the United States. Caffeine is the only one with a figure. We flag that gap rather than fill it in: no figure for synephrine, rauwolscine, theobromine or GBBGO® appears on the packaging.

Can it be taken before training instead of a pre-workout?

The second serving can indeed be placed 30 to 45 minutes before the session. What you must not do is stack the two products: a standard pre-workout often adds 200 to 350 mg of caffeine, and you would go well beyond the 400 mg per day benchmark.

Does the liquid capsule make any difference?

In terms of comfort, yes: a Liqui-Cap goes down easily and leaves no aftertaste. In terms of effects, the manufacturer publishes no comparative data against a powder capsule, and we are not going to invent any. Treat it as a question of format, not of performance.

Should you take breaks?

Yes. The manufacturer states 4 to 8 weeks of use followed by a break of at least 4 weeks. Sensitivity to caffeine dulls with continuous use, and the break serves as much to restore the effect as to give your system a rest.

Is it compatible with medical treatment?

Not without medical advice. The interactions listed by the manufacturer involve monoamine oxidase inhibitors, antidepressants and decongestants in particular. If you are on any form of treatment, the answer belongs to your doctor or your pharmacist, not to a product page.

Where can you buy Lipo-6 Black Ultra Concentrate?

The 60-capsule bottle can be ordered on this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. This is a product we would rather talk through before selling: in our shop in Vendargues, about ten minutes from Montpellier, the first question we ask is always how much coffee you have already drunk that day and what time you train. Two answers are usually enough to tell whether this is the right product or whether you should be looking elsewhere.

The rest of the range can be found in the Nutrex collection.

What is IO Genix Glutamine Kyowa?

IO Genix Glutamine Kyowa is an L-glutamine powder dosed at 5 g per scoop, to which 1.4 mg of vitamin B6 is added. It comes in 300 g and 500 g, in an unflavoured or raspberry version.

Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in muscle and in plasma. The body makes it itself, which makes it a non-essential amino acid in the strict sense, but the rate at which it is used up rises during periods of sustained training, calorie restriction or physiological stress. That is where the question of an additional intake arises.

The Kyowa Quality mention refers to the raw material, produced by Japan's Kyowa Hakko from a plant-based fermentation. It is an indication of origin and process, not a particular biological property: the molecule obtained is the same as that of any other glutamine. What the label guarantees is traceability and process control, which is no small thing on an amino acid produced in very large volumes. The rest of the range appears in our IO Genix aisle.

What is in a 5 g serving?

The per-100 g values are calculated from the manufacturer's declaration for a 5 g serving. One inconsistency deserves to be flagged rather than glossed over: the data sheet states 0 g of carbohydrate while the ingredients list mentions maltodextrin, which is one. The amount is in all likelihood small, but we do not know it and will not reconstruct it. The label on the tub you receive is the authority.

5 g per serving is the reference amount, and it is the one used in most of the published work on glutamine. Few products go below it, but many sell 3 g scoops that then have to be doubled, which completely changes the real cost per serving. Always check the weight of the scoop before comparing two tubs.

The number of servings depends on the size, and there is a clarification to make here too. The manufacturer states 100 servings per container, which corresponds to the 500 g size. The 300 g size contains 60, at 5 g per serving. The larger size therefore works out cheaper per serving, but is only worth it if you keep it up.

Vitamin B6 at 1.4 mg covers the European reference value exactly. It is not there by chance: it contributes to normal protein and glycogen metabolism, to normal energy-yielding metabolism and to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. It is the only ingredient in this tub to carry authorised claims. If it is this vitamin that interests you in its own right, our vitamin B aisle offers it dosed separately.

A regulatory clarification belongs here: L-glutamine has no authorised health claim in Europe. Not on recovery, not on immunity, not on the gut lining. The former description on this page claimed that supplementation sped up recovery and maintained immune function: that wording was not compliant and has been removed.

Ingredients list

L-glutamine (Kyowa Quality), maltodextrin, acidity regulator (citric acid), flavouring, sweeteners (sucralose and acesulfame K) and vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride). The unflavoured version contains neither flavouring nor sweetener. May contain traces of GLUTEN, EGGS, FISH, SOYA and MILK.

How do you take Glutamine Kyowa?

Serving: one level scoop, or 5 g. Liquid: 300 ml of water or fruit juice. Timing: straight after training, or before bed on rest days. Frequency: one serving per training day; the manufacturer describes a more intensive protocol of three servings spread across non-training days. Duration: no set course length, use is ongoing.

One serving a day covers what the vast majority of trainees need. The three-serving protocol is aimed at high training volumes, and you should be clear about what it represents: 15 g of free amino acid a day, every day. If you are starting out, begin with one serving and see.

The powder dissolves well but stays slightly tart on the palate in the raspberry version. Fruit juice masks that tartness better than water does, with no downside. The unflavoured version, for its part, mixes into anything — into a protein shake, into porridge, into a fruit purée — and it is often the more practical choice for everyday use.

Avoid mixing it into a hot drink: glutamine is not very stable in solution when heated. A shake made up in the morning for the afternoon is no problem; a cup of boiling tea is.

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

It suits someone on a high training volume, someone in a prolonged calorie deficit, or someone stringing sessions together without a genuine rest day. Those are the situations in which the body's use of glutamine rises the most.

The manufacturer does not recommend it for pregnant and breastfeeding women and restricts it to adults over 18. It also asks that you seek the advice of a healthcare professional in cases of liver or kidney disorders, or if you are on medication: that is a sensible precaution, since amino acid metabolism runs through the liver and the kidneys.

It is not for you if your daily protein intake is already high. This is the least commercial truth on this page: a 30 g whey isolate shake already supplies roughly 1.5 to 2 g of glutamine, and a diet providing 150 g of protein a day supplies several grams. In that context, the additional intake is marginal, and the literature on the benefits of supplementation in a well-fed athlete is far from convincing.

What you should not expect from it: this is not a product that drives progress. It does not build muscle, it does not replace a protein, and you will feel nothing when you take it. It is a comfort supplement, to consider once the rest is already in place, not before. If you have any medical doubt, ask your doctor or your pharmacist.

Glutamine or EAAs after training?

Both are taken at the same moment and compete for the same budget, so we may as well put the question plainly.

An EAA supplies all nine essential amino acids, including the leucine that triggers protein synthesis. In terms of building muscle, there is no comparison: it is the better choice if you train fasted, if your protein intake is low, or if you want a single product after the session. It costs more per serving, and it has a stronger taste.

Glutamine does not play in that category. Its value lies elsewhere: it is a non-essential amino acid, heavily used during periods of heavy load, and its use has more to do with recovery comfort than with performance. It is the better choice if your diet already comfortably covers your protein needs and you are looking to top up on one specific point, or if you cope badly with complex formulas.

If your budget allows only one product, buy the protein or the essential amino acids before the glutamine. That is the logical order, and we say so over the counter just as we do here.

Frequently asked questions

How many servings are in a tub?

Sixty for the 300 g size, one hundred for the 500 g size, at 5 g per serving. The manufacturer quotes the figure of 100 servings without specifying which size it refers to: it corresponds to the 500 g. The larger size works out cheaper per serving if you keep it up.

What is the difference between the unflavoured and raspberry versions?

The active ingredient make-up is identical. The raspberry version additionally contains a flavouring, an acidity regulator and sweeteners; the unflavoured version contains none. The unflavoured one mixes into anything without disturbing the taste, the raspberry one is more pleasant drunk on its own. That is the only deciding factor.

When should you take it?

Straight after training on session days, before bed on rest days. Timing matters less than consistency: glutamine acts on a body pool that rebuilds slowly, not on a one-off peak. One serving a day at a set time is worth more than three irregular ones.

Should you take it if you already use whey?

The benefit becomes slight. A 30 g whey serving already supplies a far from negligible share of glutamine, and a protein-rich diet supplies several grams a day. Supplementation still makes sense during a period of unusual load or a marked calorie deficit, less so in an ordinary situation.

Can it be mixed into a hot drink?

Better to avoid it. Glutamine is not very stable in solution at high temperature and partly degrades. Mixing it into cold or lukewarm water, or into a juice, poses no problem at all, including when made up a few hours in advance.

Is glutamine suitable for vegans?

The Kyowa Quality raw material is obtained by fermentation of plant origin, with no animal input, as the manufacturer states. The point to watch is the declared manufacturing traces — gluten, eggs, fish, soya and milk — which come from the production environment and not from the formula.

Why is there vitamin B6 in a glutamine?

Because B6 is involved in amino acid metabolism, and because it is the only ingredient in this tub for which a claim is authorised in Europe. At 1.4 mg, it covers the daily reference value exactly. If you already take a multivitamin, be aware that stacking the two carries no risk at this level.

Where can you buy IO Genix Glutamine Kyowa?

The sizes and versions 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 deliberately place at the end of our advice: when someone comes in looking for glutamine and is not yet hitting their protein quota, we show them the other aisle first. The rest of the range can be browsed in our sports nutrition aisle.

What is Nutriting nuCollagen?

It is a hydrolysed bovine collagen powder with a single ingredient, providing 90 g of protein per 100 g. No flavourings, no sweeteners, no preservatives, no additives: the tub contains nothing but collagen peptides.

That simplicity is the product's main selling point, and it has a direct consequence: the powder is neutral in taste, which makes it undetectable in a coffee, a juice or a smoothie. The manufacturer states a composition free from gluten, lactose, soya, nanoparticles, GMOs and preservatives.

On sourcing, the French brand states pasture-raised cattle in Brazil, with testing and packing carried out in France. We report that information exactly as it was passed to us, without adding any verification we have not carried out. The rest of the range can be found in our Nutriting section.

What does a daily serving contain?

* Columns calculated from the values declared per 100 g. The net weight of the tub does not appear in the data supplied by the manufacturer: divide the weight printed on the packaging by your daily serving to work out how long it will last you.

Here is what genuinely sets this product apart from the rest of the category: the manufacturer publishes an amino acid profile. Few brands do so for a collagen, and yet it is the only way to compare two powders seriously.

* Column calculated from the ranges declared by the manufacturer per 100 g.

This table tells you exactly what collagen is, and why it does not replace a conventional protein. Glycine, proline and hydroxyproline alone account for close to half the weight: these are the amino acids characteristic of connective tissue, and they are very different from those in a whey. The flip side is that collagen is low in tryptophan and its profile does not support muscle building in the same way. Those 13.5 g of protein are not 13.5 g of whey.

One regulatory point needs stating plainly: no health claim is authorised in Europe for collagen peptides. You will therefore read no promises here about joints, tendons or skin. We describe a composition, an amino acid profile and a way of using it — that is all the framework allows, and it is already more than most competitors publish.

How should you take nuCollagen?

Dose: 10 to 15 g, or 2 to 3 teaspoons. Liquid: 200 ml. Timing: in the morning on an empty stomach, or after training. Frequency: one serving a day. Duration: the manufacturer recommends a course of at least 2 to 3 months, repeatable all year round without a break.

The flexibility in preparation is real: water, juice, smoothie, coffee or tea, hot or cold. A collagen hydrolysate does not coagulate with heat, unlike a whey, which forms lumps and froth in a scalding liquid. The morning coffee remains the most convenient vehicle, and since the powder is neutral it does not change the taste.

One tip from the manufacturer that is worth knowing: in a plant-based milk, leave it to stand for ten minutes if lumps appear. The powder finishes dissolving on its own, with no need to blend it.

On duration, let us be blunt: two to three months minimum is the real commitment. This kind of product cannot be judged in a fortnight, and there is nothing to feel straight away. If you are not prepared to keep it up for three months, buying it does not make much sense.

Finally, vitamin C is the logical companion to this powder — not as a marketing argument, but because it is the only nutrient in the category to carry an authorised claim in this area: vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of cartilage, bones and skin. This product contains none; if you are not taking any elsewhere, that is the addition to consider.

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

It suits anyone who wants a powder with nothing in it: no flavouring, no sweetener, no filler. That is the best profile for anyone mixing it into a coffee or into something already sweetened. It also suits anyone who wants to be able to compare what they are buying — the published amino acid profile makes that possible, which is rare.

It is not suitable for vegetarians or vegans: the hydrolysate is of bovine origin, and there is no such thing as plant collagen, whatever you may read elsewhere. The manufacturer states the absence of gluten, lactose and soya, which makes it an option for anyone intolerant to those three.

Nor is it suitable if you are looking for a powder that tastes pleasant drunk on its own in water: neutral does not mean nice, and a plain collagen powder has a faintly meaty aftertaste that only disappears once you mix it into something else.

The manufacturer states that it is not aware of any specific contraindication in pregnancy, while still advising that medical advice be sought first; it asks that the product be kept out of the reach of young children and that the recommended daily dose not be exceeded.

What you should not expect from it: nothing immediate, and nothing promised. No effect is felt with this kind of product, and nobody can guarantee you a result without stepping outside the regulatory framework — and we will not do that. What we can honestly say is this: the composition is clean, the amino acid profile is published, the dose is clear, and that is what separates this product from an anonymous collagen. If your joint discomfort is persistent or painful, it is a matter for your doctor, not for a tub of powder.

nuCollagen or a joint complex?

That is the real trade-off for anyone buying collagen with their knees or shoulders in mind.

A product from the glucosamine category generally combines glucosamine, chondroitin and MSM in capsules, at fixed, known doses, taken two or three times a day. It is the better choice if you would rather swallow a capsule than prepare a drink, and if you want to target that particular family of compounds precisely — capsules need neither a shaker nor preparation time, and they slip into a bag.

nuCollagen takes the other route: a powder, a 10 to 15 g serving, a published amino acid profile, and a flexibility of use that a capsule does not have — in a coffee, it asks nothing extra of you. At 90 g of protein per 100 g, it also delivers a quantity of material on a completely different scale from a few hundred milligrams of actives in a capsule.

The honest thing to say is that neither of these two categories has an authorised health claim in Europe where joints are concerned. Deciding on the basis of promises therefore makes no sense: decide on the basis of format, dose, and your ability to keep it up for three months. Some of our customers add a turmeric to one or the other; there again, with no authorised claim, that is a personal choice, not a prescription.

Frequently asked questions

What dose should you take each day?

From 10 to 15 g, or 2 to 3 teaspoons, in 200 ml of liquid. That works out at 9 to 13.5 g of protein. The manufacturer does not impose a single dose within that range: start at 10 g and go up to 15 g if you want, bearing in mind that the tub will last you less time.

Can it go in a hot coffee?

Yes, without reservation. That is one of the practical advantages of hydrolysed collagen: it does not coagulate with heat, whereas a whey poured into a scalding liquid forms lumps and froth. The taste of the coffee is unchanged, as the powder is neutral.

How long does a tub last?

The net weight of the pack does not appear in the data supplied by the manufacturer, so we cannot calculate it without risking an error. Divide the weight shown on the packaging by 10 or 15 g depending on your serving. Over a two to three-month course, reckon on between 600 g and 1.35 kg in total.

Why is the amino acid profile given as ranges?

Because this is a product of natural origin, whose composition varies slightly from batch to batch. Publishing a range rather than a single value is more honest than a round number, and it is already far more than the majority of brands in this category publish, as they give no amino acid profile at all.

Can collagen count towards my daily protein?

No, or only very marginally. Collagen is low in tryptophan and its amino acid profile does not support muscle protein synthesis the way a dairy or egg protein does. Count it as a targeted intake for connective tissue, not as part of your 1.6 to 2 g of protein per kilo of body weight.

Should it be combined with vitamin C?

It makes sense, and for a specific reason: vitamin C is the only nutrient to carry an authorised claim on normal collagen formation. This product contains none, unlike some competitors. An orange, a kiwi or a supplement will do — there is no need to buy a collagen that is already fortified if you are taking some elsewhere.

Should you take breaks between courses?

The manufacturer states that the product is compatible with year-round use without a break, and recommends a course of at least two to three months. It therefore imposes no break. That is consistent with the nature of the product: these are amino acids, not an active molecule that needs cycling.

Where can you buy Nutriting nuCollagen?

The tub can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. This is a product to be judged on its label rather than on its taste, and its label is among the most complete in the category.

At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is in fact the demonstration we give most often in this category: turn two tubs of collagen round side by side and look for the amino acid profile. On one it is printed; on the other it does not exist. Then you will know which one you are paying for. The rest of the range can be browsed in our sports nutrition section.

What is Nutriting nuCrea+ Creapure®?

Nutriting nuCrea+ is a creatine monohydrate available as a 500 g powder or a tub of 150 capsules. The raw material is Creapure®, made by the German company AlzChem and assayed at over 99.95 % creatine monohydrate.

The formula fits on one line: Creapure® creatine monohydrate, and nothing else. No sweetener, no colouring, no bulking agent, no flavouring. On a product you swallow at 3 g a day for months on end, that is exactly what you want — and it is rarer than you might think.

Nutriting is a French brand founded in 2012, known for publishing its formulas in full detail. The product is vegan, halal and kosher. You will find it in our Creapure range.

What does a 3 g serving contain?

One figure is missing for the capsule format: the dose per capsule is not disclosed in the information available to us, which makes it impossible to say how many capsules make up a 3 g serving. Please refer to the label on the tub. With the powder, on the other hand, everything is clear: 500 g divided by 3 g gives roughly 166 servings, that is more than five months at one serving a day.

The 3 g matches exactly the threshold set by European regulation for the authorised claim: creatine increases physical performance in successive bursts of short-term, high-intensity exercise. It is one of the very few sports nutrition actives with an approved wording attached to it, along with a precise dose to meet — and this product meets it to the gram.

A word about Creapure®. The name refers to the origin of the raw material, not to a different chemical form: it is creatine monohydrate, like any other, produced in Germany with a stated assay above 99.95 %. What you are paying for with that label is traceability and a purity specification, not a superior molecule. Let us be blunt: a decent creatine monohydrate does the same job. What Creapure® adds is the certainty of knowing where it comes from.

How do you take nuCrea+?

Dose: 3 g a day, that is 2 scoops with the powder format. Liquid: any liquid at all — micronised creatine disperses easily. Timing: spread across meals, or after training. Frequency: one serving daily, every day, rest days included. Duration: continuously, with no time limit.

The essential point fits in one sentence: creatine is taken every day, not only on training days. It is consistency that fills the muscle stores with phosphocreatine, and the manufacturer says as much: allow at least 4 weeks of daily intake before reaching adequate saturation. Taking it three times a week gets you nowhere.

Do not look for an effect on day one, and do not be surprised to feel nothing in the first week: that is normal, that is simply how the product works. The manufacturer also suggests, to improve dissolution, mixing the powder with a spoonful of runny honey before adding warm water. If you do, drink it straight away: creatine gradually degrades in solution.

The product mixes without difficulty into a protein or a post-workout shake. Store it dry, at room temperature, tightly closed. Shelf life: 36 months in the unopened original packaging.

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

It suits anyone taking part in an activity that involves intense, repeated efforts: weight training, sprinting, team sports, combat sports. It is probably the supplement with the best value-for-money ratio of everything we sell, and there is no reason to be coy about it.

The precautions are short. Pregnant and breastfeeding women: consult a healthcare professional before use. Anyone on medical treatment: ask your doctor for advice. Keep out of reach of young children. Do not exceed 3 g a day. The formula is gluten-free, free from major allergens, GMO-free, nanoparticle-free and non-irradiated: it is naturally free from MILK, EGGS, SOYA, FISH and NUTS.

What you should not expect from it. This is not an instant-energy product: nothing happens in the hour after you take it, and it is no substitute for a pre-workout. Nor is it a weight-loss product — creatine slightly increases intramuscular water retention, which can push the number on the scales up by one to two kilos in the first few weeks. That is water in the muscle, not fat, but it is worth knowing before you panic. Finally, it makes up neither for insufficient training nor for a protein intake that is too low.

nuCrea+ or a standard creatine monohydrate?

The question deserves a straight answer, because the price gap between a branded creatine and a generic one is real.

A standard creatine monohydrate remains a perfectly defensible choice. It is the same molecule, with the same authorised claim at 3 g a day, and often a markedly lower price per kilo. If your budget is tight or you get through a lot of supplements, that is where you should look first: a generic creatine taken every day beats a premium creatine bought once.

nuCrea+ brings two things. Traceability first: Creapure® is produced at a single site in Germany, with a stated assay above 99.95 %, which limits the presence of synthesis by-products. Then the cleanliness of the list: a single ingredient, no additives, no bulking agents. On a product swallowed daily for years, those two points have real value. The other forms available — creatine HCL, Kre-Alkalyn — cost more without any demonstrated benefit over monohydrate: we sell them because people ask for them, not because they perform better.

Frequently asked questions

How long does the 500 g tub last?

Around 166 servings of 3 g, that is more than five months at one serving a day. It is one of the few supplements where the cost per day is counted in pennies. With the 150-capsule format, since the dose per capsule is not disclosed, refer to the label to work out how long it will last.

Do you need a loading phase?

The manufacturer does not mention one and simply recommends 3 g a day for at least four weeks. A loading phase speeds up saturation by a few days, without changing the result after a month. At 3 g daily you will get to the same place, with less digestive discomfort.

Do you need to take breaks?

No. The manufacturer indicates continuous use with no time limit. Stopping brings muscle stores back down within a few weeks: there is nothing to gain from cycling, and it is a stubborn myth.

What sets Creapure® apart?

An origin and a specification, not a different molecule. Creapure® is manufactured by AlzChem in Germany and assayed at over 99.95 %. Chemically it is creatine monohydrate, just like any other creatine monohydrate.

Powder or capsules?

The powder works out cheaper and lets you dose to the gram. Capsules do away with dissolving and travel easily, which matters if you take your serving at work or on the move. Since the dose per capsule is not published in our data, check the tub to see how many you need to reach 3 g.

Does creatine make you put on weight?

It increases water retention inside the muscle, which often translates into an extra one to two kilos on the scales in the first few weeks. That is not fat mass, and it is not subcutaneous retention. If you track your weight closely, bear it in mind so you do not misread the curve.

Can you mix it with your protein?

Yes, without any problem at all. The manufacturer states compatibility with all proteins. A shake after your session is in fact the simplest way never to forget your serving — and forgetting is creatine's main enemy.

Where can you buy Nutriting nuCrea+ Creapure®?

Both formats, the 500 g powder and the tub of 150 capsules, can be ordered from this page. We ship throughout France and Europe.

It is the product we recommend most often in Vendargues, about ten minutes from Montpellier, and for a simple reason: few supplements have effects this well established at a price this low. The rest of the range can be found in the Nutriting collection.

What is the Warrior Crunch Bar?

The Warrior Crunch Bar is a 64 g protein bar, built in three layers: a soft centre based on milk proteins, a caramel layer, and a milk chocolate coating sweetened with maltitol that on its own accounts for 31 % of the bar's weight. Between the two, soy crispies provide the crunch that gives the product its name.

It is made by Warrior, a British brand whose other products you will find in our Warrior category. The positioning is clear and unapologetic: this is a confectionery bar, not an austere athlete's bar. It plays on texture and on sweetness, where many rivals make do with a dry coating and a compact centre.

The flavours we stock, from Cookies & Cream to Raspberry Lemon Cheesecake, taking in Fudge Brownie, Banoffee Pie, Peanut Butter Cup and Birthday Cake. The nutritional base is identical from one flavour to another; what changes is the flavouring and sometimes the presence of a colouring. The list of variants available on this page is the definitive one.

What does a 64 g bar contain?

Here is the label, including the per-100 g column, because that is the only one that lets you honestly compare two bars of different weights.

The per-100 g values are calculated from the manufacturer's label, which declares per whole bar. Warrior also states that the bar is high in fibre, without publishing a figure for the content: we will not reconstruct it.

20 g of protein is the top of the range for this category, and above all it really is 20 g: the blend combines milk proteins and hydrolysed collagen. That second source is worth flagging, because it is common in bars and rarely explained. Collagen is an incomplete protein, low in tryptophan, less effective than a milk protein for building muscle. If your priority is protein synthesis after a strength session, a shaker of whey isolate remains more effective gram for gram.

The most interesting point is the 20 g of polyols for only 2.3 g of sugars. Maltitol replaces sugar in the coating as well as in the centre. It provides around 2.4 kcal per gram instead of 4, and above all it does not raise blood glucose the way sucrose does. That is what explains how a bar this indulgent stays at 239 kcal.

The trade-off is on the fat side: 11 g, of which 6.1 g are saturates. That is a lot, and it comes from the chocolate and the palm fat. A single bar covers close to a third of the daily reference intake for saturates. It is not a manufacturing flaw, it is the price of that melting texture.

Ingredients list

Maltitol milk chocolate coating (31 %), sweetener maltitol, MILK proteins, hydrolysed collagen, SOYA crispies (SOYA protein isolate, rice flour, malted BARLEY extract, salt), humectants (glycerol, sorbitol), SOYA protein isolate, water, palm fat, condensed MILK, flavouring, emulsifiers (mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids), thickener (microcrystalline cellulose), salt, colours (plain caramel, beta-carotene). The flavourings and colours vary with the flavour.

How do you fit the Warrior Crunch Bar into your day?

Serving: one 64 g bar. Frequency: one a day, two at most if your fibre intake is already high and well tolerated. Timing: as an afternoon snack, or within the hour after training. Drink: a large glass of water, 250 to 300 ml, because polyols draw water into the gut. Duration: no notion of a course here, this is a food.

Its best use is the 16:00 slot or the journey home, when dinner is still a long way off and the real alternative is not a chicken breast but a pastry. Compared with a classic chocolate bar of the same weight, you gain a good twenty grams of protein and you divide the sugars by ten.

Before a session it is less suitable: the 11 g of fat and the polyols slow gastric emptying, and nobody enjoys lifting heavy on a full stomach. If you are looking for a quick intake before exercise, go for an easily digested simple carbohydrate such as cream of rice. After training, on the other hand, it does the job of a stopgap snack before the real meal very well.

A word on texture: the bar hardens in the cold. Straight out of the fridge it turns very hard and loses its appeal. Twenty minutes at room temperature, or ten seconds in the microwave, and the caramel runs again.

Who is the Warrior Crunch Bar for, and who is it not for?

It suits someone who struggles to hit their protein target over the day and has neither the time nor the inclination to make up a shaker. It also suits those keeping an eye on their sugars, since 2.3 g per bar is a very low figure for a product that tastes this sweet.

Declared allergens: milk, soya, gluten — the gluten comes from the malted barley extract in the crispies. The manufacturer also flags possible traces of nuts, eggs and peanuts. It is therefore unsuitable for people with coeliac disease, and for anyone allergic to soya or to milk proteins. Nor is it vegetarian in the strict sense, since the hydrolysed collagen is of animal origin.

The real point to watch remains digestive. 20 g of polyols in a single bar is a high dose, and the regulatory wording “excessive consumption may produce laxative effects” is not a turn of phrase. If you have never had maltitol, start with half a bar. Some people tolerate three bars a day without feeling a thing, others regret the first.

What you should not expect from it: this is not a meal replacement, and it is not a cutting product. At 239 kcal and 6.1 g of saturates, it fits into a calorie budget, it does not reduce one. Nor does it replace a complete protein source across the day. If you have any doubt related to medication, to diabetes or to a known digestive disorder, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Warrior Crunch or a protein cookie?

This is the comparison that comes up most often over the counter, because the two products occupy the same afternoon slot and cost roughly the same.

A protein cookie generally weighs 60 to 75 g, provides 15 to 20 g of protein, but keeps real sugar rather than polyols. The result: it goes higher in calories, it sits better digestively, and it can be eaten in one go without wondering whether you will regret it. It is the better choice if you have a sensitive stomach, if you are bulking and the calories are working for you, or if you dislike the aftertaste of sweeteners.

The Warrior Crunch, for its part, keeps the advantage as soon as the calorie budget is tight and sugar has to stay low. At 2.3 g of sugars and 239 kcal, it slips into a cutting day without doing any damage, which a 350 kcal cookie does not always allow. And on the enjoyment front, the triple layer clearly beats a dry compressed bar.

If neither of the two suits you, the protein snack category brings together the other formats: crisps, wafers, bake-at-home mixes.

Frequently asked questions

How much sugar does the Warrior Crunch Bar actually contain?

2.3 g per 64 g bar, or around 3.6 g per 100 g. The 20 g of polyols shown on the “carbohydrate” line are not sugars: they are bulk sweeteners, maltitol in this case, which provide less energy and do not raise blood glucose in the same way.

Do polyols cause stomach upset?

In some people, yes, especially beyond 20 g over the day. It is a well-known and harmless reaction: polyols are not completely absorbed and draw water into the gut. Start with half a bar to gauge your tolerance, and drink normally.

Does the bar contain gluten?

Yes. The soy crispies contain a malted barley extract, which makes the bar unsuitable for people with coeliac disease or gluten intolerance. The manufacturer also declares milk and soya as allergens, with possible traces of nuts, eggs and peanuts.

What is the difference between milk proteins and hydrolysed collagen?

Milk proteins provide the full set of essential amino acids. Hydrolysed collagen does not: it is very low in tryptophan and unbalanced in several others. Here it plays a role in texture as much as in content. In practical terms, the 20 g stated are not worth 20 g of protein powder for building muscle.

Can you eat one every day?

One a day poses no problem if the rest of your diet is balanced. Two start to weigh on the saturates: 12.2 g in total is more than half the daily reference intake. The limiting factor is not the protein, it is the fat.

Which flavour should you choose for a first try?

The chocolate flavours — Fudge Brownie, Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough — are the closest to classic confectionery and the least divisive. The fruity flavours, Raspberry Lemon Cheesecake above all, split opinion more: the acidity stands out more because of the sweeteners.

Does it replace a meal?

No, and it should not be used that way. One bar provides 239 kcal and no portion of vegetables, complex fibre or micronutrients in any useful amount. It replaces a snack, or a pastry. Lunch, no.

Where can you buy the Warrior Crunch Bar?

The flavours can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is the product we hand out to taste most often: with a bar, the label never tells the whole story, and two people will not have the same opinion of the same maltitol. The rest of our sweet range can be browsed in our sports nutrition category.

What is Sinob Curcumin?

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

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

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

What does one capsule of Curcumin contain?

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

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

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

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

Ingredients list

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

How should Sinob Curcumin be taken?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Standardised turmeric or a joint complex?

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

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

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

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

Frequently asked questions

Why only one capsule every three days?

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

How long does a bottle last?

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

What is the black pepper for in the formula?

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

Can it be taken with an anticoagulant?

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

Is this product suitable for vegans?

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

Should it be taken with a meal?

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

What should you do if you miss a dose?

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

Where can you buy Sinob Curcumin?

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

What is Per4M Plant Advanced Protein?

Per4M Plant Advanced Protein is an entirely plant-based protein powder, listed in 900 g and 2 kg tubs. Its base combines two isolates: pea and rice. An isolate is a protein fraction from which a large part of the carbohydrates and fats has been removed during manufacture. Hence the 21 g of protein for a 30 g serving, that is about 70 g per 100 g of powder.

The rest of the formula comes down to few ingredients: inulin, MCT oil powder, flavouring, salt, two thickeners (guar gum, xanthan gum) and one sweetener (sucralose). The finished product contains neither milk, nor soya, nor gluten. The flavours listed: Chocolat Noisette, Double Chocolate, Strawberry Cream, Vanilla Cream and Salted Caramel. The rest of the range can be found in the Per4m collection, and this powder is today the reference in our plant proteins section.

What does a 30 g serving of Per4M Plant Advanced Protein contain?

A 30 g serving, that is one level scoop, provides according to the manufacturer's declaration: 21 g of protein, less than 2 g of carbohydrate of which less than 1 g sugars, fats in trace amounts, and about 85 to 90 kcal. It is a lean profile, with no significant carbohydrate contribution. The 900 g tub contains 30 servings, the 2 kg tub contains 66: two figures consistent with the stated serving.

* Column recalculated from the per 30 g serving declaration provided by the manufacturer, the only value available to us. ** No nutrient reference value is established for these nutrients. The energy value in kilojoules is not disclosed.

The pea-rice combination is not decorative: the two sources have different amino acid profiles and complement each other. We stop there, because the manufacturer does not publish a quantified amino acid profile for this product. We cannot therefore tell you its leucine, BCAA or EAA content, and we prefer to write so rather than copy values found elsewhere.

Proteins contribute to a growth in and the maintenance of muscle mass: this is the only wording authorised in Europe, and it is the one we use. The other high-protein powders are in the protein collection.

How do you take Per4M Plant Advanced Protein?

Five parameters, without approximation:

• Serving: 30 g, that is one level scoop.
• Liquid volume: 200 to 250 ml of cold water. Stay at 200 ml for a thick texture, go up to 250 ml for a more fluid drink.
• Timing: after the session, or between two meals. The day's protein total matters more than the exact hour of the serving.
• Frequency: 1 to 2 servings per day, depending on what your diet already provides.
• Duration: the manufacturer sets no course duration. This powder is a protein food; it can be used continuously or occasionally.

Always pour the liquid before the powder: you limit lumps at the bottom of the shaker. A ball shaker or a blender is enough; our accessories cover this need. The powder can also be added to a porridge or a pancake batter, provided you count the 21 g of protein already provided.

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

It suits you if you follow a vegan or vegetarian diet, if you digest dairy products poorly, or if your diet alone does not cover your protein intake.

In case of severe food allergy, this product is not safe: the manufacturer states that it is produced in a facility handling milk, gluten (oats, wheat), soya, eggs, celery, mustard, sulphites, fish, crustaceans, peanuts and nuts, and that traces are possible. The absence of these allergens from the recipe does not amount to the absence of traces in the tub.

The formula contains inulin, a fructan-type fibre that some people tolerate poorly, and sucralose: read the ingredient list if you follow a low-FODMAP diet or if you avoid intense sweeteners. The label mentions no contraindication for pregnancy or breastfeeding, but neither does it authorise them: in case of pregnancy, breastfeeding, in a minor or under treatment, seek the advice of your doctor or your pharmacist.

What should not be expected of it: a protein powder does not make you lose weight, does not replace a meal and does not make up for missed training. It adds protein to a day that lacks it, nothing more.

Per4M Plant Advanced Protein or a whey isolate?

The answer is not always in favour of the plant-based option.

Take a whey isolate if you do not follow a plant-based diet and you digest dairy products normally. The products in our whey isolate section show published amino acid profiles, a more fluid texture and a more neutral taste: on these three points, they keep the advantage.

Take this plant protein if you exclude products of animal origin, if lactose is a problem for you, or if you deliberately alternate sources. Its composition is straightforward: two isolates, a short ingredient list, less than 1 g of sugars per serving.

A third way: keep a whey and top up the amino acids separately with EAAs. Creatine monohydrate, for its part, remains independent of the protein source chosen.

Frequently asked questions

How many servings does a tub of Per4M Plant Advanced Protein contain?

Thirty servings of 30 g in the 900 g tub, sixty-six in the 2 kg tub. At one serving a day, the 900 g covers a month; at two servings, the 2 kg format makes more sense.

Does this protein contain soya?

No. The finished product is free from soya, lactose and gluten. But the production facility handles soya and traces are possible: the distinction matters if you are allergic and not simply intolerant.

I was looking for the Sync Protein plant protein, where has it gone?

The Sync Protein page no longer exists on the site and redirects to this one: we no longer list that range. The plant protein we offer today is the Per4M Plant Advanced Protein described above.

What is the BCAA content of this powder?

We do not know and we will not invent it: the manufacturer does not publish an amino acid profile for this product. If leucine content is a decisive criterion, choose a powder whose amino acid profile is declared on the label.

Does it dissolve as well as a whey?

Less well. Plant isolates give a denser and slightly more grainy texture than a whey. Going up to 250 ml of water rather than 200 ml and letting it stand for thirty seconds clearly improves the result.

Can it be mixed with plant milk rather than water?

Yes. Almond or oat milk softens the taste and thickens the drink. Simply count the calories and carbohydrates provided by the plant-based drink, which do not appear in the product's declaration.

Is this powder suitable for mass gain?

On its own, no: 90 kcal per serving do not build a calorie surplus. It serves as a protein contribution alongside real carbohydrate sources. Our mass gain section covers that part of the work.

Where to buy Per4M Plant Advanced Protein?

Per4M Plant Advanced Protein is available on this page, in the formats and flavours listed above the add-to-basket button, and in our shop in Vendargues, about ten minutes from Montpellier. There, you read the label in hand before buying: it is quicker than an exchange of messages, especially when the question concerns allergens.

We ship throughout France and Europe. If this powder fits into a weight loss goal for you, bear in mind that it only provides protein: it is the calorie deficit that does the work.

What is IO Genix Cyclic Dextrin?

IO Genix Cyclic Dextrin is a carbohydrate powder designed to be drunk during exercise. A 25 g serving provides 24 g of carbohydrate for 95 kcal, with zero sugar. It is mixed into 400 to 500 ml of water and sipped steadily.

Highly branched cyclic dextrin, often sold under the Cluster Dextrin name, is a carbohydrate made from maize starch by an enzymatic process that yields very large, heavily branched molecules. It is not a sugar: the “of which sugars” line in the table reads 0 g, which is rare for a fast-acting carbohydrate source.

Its interesting property is a physical one. A cyclic dextrin solution has a low osmolality despite a high carbohydrate concentration, because the molecules are few in number but very large. In practice, it leaves the stomach quickly and feels less heavy than a drink loaded with simple sugars. The rest of the Spanish range is in our IO Genix aisle, and the other products in the category in our cyclic dextrin aisle.

What is in a serving of Cyclic Dextrin?

The per 100 g column is calculated from the per-serving values published by the manufacturer.

24 g of carbohydrate without a single gram of sugar is the figure that justifies the price of this kind of powder. A conventional sports drink based on simple sugars would give you the same energy with 20 g of sugars and, for a great many people, a heavy stomach after forty minutes. Here that line of the table reads zero, and that is what changes the experience on long sessions.

One point about the composition has to be flagged plainly, because the manufacturer's documentation contradicts itself. Some of its material presents the product as a single-ingredient powder; its ingredient list, however, declares two sweeteners, sucralose and acesulfame K. We go by the ingredient list, which is the reference document where composition is concerned. The powder is therefore slightly sweet to the taste, without providing sugars in the nutritional sense. If a complete absence of sweeteners matters to you, the label on the tub you receive is the authority.

Missing from the manufacturer's file: the net weight of the tub and the number of servings are not disclosed. We will not infer them. No health claim is authorised in Europe for cyclic dextrin either: we describe its physical properties and its composition, without attributing any quantified performance effect to it.

Ingredient list

Cluster Dextrin (highly branched dextrin), sweeteners (sucralose, acesulfame K).

May contain traces of GLUTEN, EGGS, MILK, FISH and SOYA.

How do you take Cyclic Dextrin?

Serving: 25 g. Liquid: 400 to 500 ml of cool water. Timing: 15 to 30 minutes before exercise, during exercise, or within the 30 minutes that follow. Frequency: one serving per hour of exercise in endurance sports. Duration: as needed, with no course to complete.

The volume of water is the parameter that decides everything here. 25 g in 500 ml gives a light drink that goes down effortlessly. The same 25 g in 250 ml gives a solution twice as concentrated, which cancels out the very advantage of the product and causes exactly the heaviness you were trying to avoid. If you take away only one instruction from this page, make it that one.

Sip small amounts every fifteen to twenty minutes rather than drinking it in one go. That holds for every sports drink, and particularly for this one, whose point is to deliver a steady supply over time.

The powder dissolves very easily, even in cold water, with no lumps and no foam. A simple shaker is enough; make your bottle up before you set off rather than attempting to mix it on the move.

It combines perfectly with an electrolyte powder in the same bottle — carbohydrate and minerals then cover both needs of a long session — and with EAAs if your last meal was a while ago. After exercise, it pairs without difficulty with a protein.

A word on the hourly amount, because the question comes up often: the manufacturer allows for one serving per hour of exercise in endurance sports, which puts the intake at around 24 g of carbohydrate per hour. That is a cautious, well-tolerated level. Experienced cyclists and trail runners often go higher, but that is built up gradually in training, never on race day: the stomach is trained like everything else.

Finally, cool water is preferable to lukewarm water, not for any physiological reason but because a lukewarm drink quickly becomes sickly after an hour of exercise. It is the kind of detail that decides whether the bottle is finished or abandoned half full.

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

It is aimed first at efforts that last: cycling, trail running, long-distance running, swimming, combat sports, back-to-back CrossFit sessions, weight training sessions running well beyond the hour. Below sixty minutes of exercise, taking carbohydrate during the session does little for someone who has eaten normally beforehand.

It suits stomachs that are sensitive during exercise particularly well, the ones that tolerate neither gels nor very sweet drinks. That is in fact its whole reason for existing, and the only argument on which it genuinely stands apart from an ordinary maltodextrin.

The manufacturer advises against it for children, adolescents and pregnant or breastfeeding women, and asks that the recommended daily dose not be exceeded. The product may contain traces of gluten, eggs, milk, fish and soya.

What not to expect from it: this is carbohydrate, nothing else. It has no stimulant effect, does not replace electrolytes in a sweaty session, and provides no amino acids. Nor does it make you lose weight — it adds 95 kcal to your day, which is its function. If you are in a calorie deficit and your session lasts forty minutes, this product is working against you.

Cyclic dextrin or maltodextrin, which should you choose?

Both are carbohydrates derived from starch, both serve the same purpose, and there is a real difference between them — a more modest one, however, than the market would have you believe.

Maltodextrin is markedly cheaper per kilo and perfectly effective at rebuilding stores after exercise. If your use is recovery, or if you are adding carbohydrate to a mass gainer, it does the job and there is no reason to pay more.

Cyclic dextrin stands out during exercise, thanks to its low osmolality: it leaves the stomach faster and sits more lightly. It is the better choice if you have already experienced heaviness or digestive discomfort with a carbohydrate drink, and on efforts lasting several hours where you have to drink regularly.

There is a third route, waxy maize, halfway between the two in price as in behaviour. And for a short session, the most honest answer is that none of the three is necessary: a decent meal two hours beforehand is enough.

One last criterion often settles the matter between them, and it has nothing technical about it: taste. Pure maltodextrin is slightly sweet and neutral; this cyclic dextrin, sweetened, goes down better for many people over the course of a long ride. Over three hours on the bike, drinking something you can stomach counts for more than the finer points of the molecule.

Frequently asked questions

How much carbohydrate is in a serving?

24 g of carbohydrate for 95 kcal, in a 25 g serving. What makes it distinctive is the “of which sugars” line, which reads 0 g: the energy comes from a complex carbohydrate rather than from simple sugars, which changes how the drink is tolerated during exercise.

Why mix it into 400 to 500 ml?

Because that is the volume that gives the drink a concentration close to that of the body's own fluids, the condition for it to leave the stomach quickly. One serving in 250 ml cancels out that advantage and brings the product back down to the level of an ordinary sugary drink.

Does it contain sweeteners?

Yes. The ingredient list declares sucralose and acesulfame K, even though other parts of the manufacturer's documentation present the powder as a single-ingredient product. We go by the ingredient list. Neither of these two sweeteners provides calories or appears in the sugars line.

Can you take it after training?

Yes, within the 30 minutes that follow, as the manufacturer allows. For that particular use, however, a far cheaper maltodextrin will do the same job: the advantage of cyclic dextrin plays out during exercise, not after it.

Is it suitable for weight training sessions?

On long, intense sessions, yes, drunk during the session. On an hour-long session for someone who ate two hours beforehand, the intake is superfluous and simply adds 95 kcal. The criterion is how long the effort actually lasts, not the discipline.

Is it suitable for vegans?

No ingredient of animal origin appears in the list: the dextrin comes from maize starch and both sweeteners are synthetic. The manufacturer does not, however, claim vegan status, and the product may contain traces of milk and eggs from the production facility.

Can it be mixed with other powders?

Without difficulty, with electrolytes or amino acids in the same bottle. Just avoid adding a protein to it if you intend to drink it during exercise: the mixture becomes thick and loses the whole digestive tolerance advantage that justifies the purchase.

Where can you buy IO Genix Cyclic Dextrin?

The powder can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, we always ask the same question before recommending it: how long does your session last? Under an hour, we point the customer back towards their plate rather than towards this tub. The rest of the aisle can be browsed in our sports nutrition section.

What is Sinob Citrulline Malate?

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

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

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

What does a dose of Citrulline Malate contain?

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

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

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

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

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

Ingredients list

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

No allergens declared in the composition by the manufacturer.

How should Citrulline Malate be taken?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Citrulline malate or arginine?

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

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

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

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

Frequently asked questions

How much citrulline per scoop?

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

Why take it an hour before the session?

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

What does this powder taste like?

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

Citrulline malate or pure citrulline?

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

Can it be combined with a caffeinated pre-workout?

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

Should it be taken on rest days?

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

Is this powder suitable for vegans?

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

Where can you buy Sinob Citrulline Malate?

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

What is IO Genix WaxyMaze?

IO Genix WaxyMaze is a carbohydrate powder for mixing with water, made from waxy maize starch. A 75 g serving provides 74 g of carbohydrate for 297 kcal, of which 0 g sugars, and 0.5 mg of vitamin B1. It dissolves in 500 to 700 ml of water and is drunk during or after exercise.

Waxy maize — waxy maize in English — is a variety of maize whose starch consists almost entirely of amylopectin, the branched fraction of starch. Ordinary starch contains around a quarter amylose, the linear fraction, which digests more slowly. It is this botanical peculiarity, and nothing else, that explains how the product behaves in the body.

In concrete terms, you are dealing with a high-glycaemic-index carbohydrate source, with no sugar in the nutritional sense of the word, and no pronounced sweet taste. It is fuel, not a drink for pleasure. The rest of the Spanish range can be browsed in our IO Genix aisle, and the other products in the category in our waxy maize aisle.

What does a serving of WaxyMaze contain?

The line to look at is the sugars: 74 g of carbohydrate, of which 0 g sugars. That is what sets a starch powder apart from a conventional energy drink, where most of the carbohydrate is sucrose or glucose. Here, it all comes from a branched starch. The energy arrives quickly, but it does not arrive as sugar, and the cloying feeling typical of very sweet drinks does not occur.

The vitamin B1 is not there for show: it is the vitamin involved in carbohydrate metabolism, and thiamine contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism — that is the authorised wording. At 0.5 mg per serving, i.e. 45% of the reference value, the amount is enough to be declared.

One point we want to state plainly, because it changes how this product should be used: it contains no sodium. The table shows 0 g of salt. So this is not a complete sports drink: on a long ride or in hot weather, you will be short of the electrolytes you lose through sweat. Plan for those separately — our electrolytes aisle exists for that. A carbohydrate powder on its own is no substitute for a properly formulated isotonic drink.

Something else that cannot be asserted is that this powder clears the stomach faster than any other: that is the classic marketing argument for waxy maize, it has not been validated at European level and we will not repeat it. What is true and verifiable is the composition: a branched starch, high glycaemic index, no sugar.

Data missing from the manufacturer's file: the net weight of the tub, and therefore the number of servings, is not disclosed, any more than the stated origin of the flavouring. We will not infer them; the net content is shown on the packaging you receive.

Ingredients list

Modified starch, flavouring, acidity regulator (citric acid), sweeteners (sucralose, acesulfame K), vitamin B1 (thiamine hydrochloride).

May contain traces of GLUTEN, MILK, EGG and SOYA.

How do you take WaxyMaze?

Serving: 75 g. Liquid: 500 to 700 ml of water. Timing: 30 minutes before exercise, sipped during exercise, or immediately afterwards. Frequency: one serving per session, depending on duration and intensity. Duration: no course to follow, it is a product used occasionally around training.

The dilution volume is the most important parameter, and it is the one people get wrong most often. A 75 g serving in 300 ml gives a very concentrated drink, hard to swallow during exercise and sometimes heavy on the stomach. The 500 to 700 ml specified by the manufacturer are not a suggestion: they correspond to a concentration the digestive tract will accept under exertion. If you have to carry less liquid, cut the powder, not the water.

Adjust the concentration to the outside temperature — an endurance habit that few people apply. In cold weather you sweat less and can go more concentrated: the manufacturer mentions 60 to 80 g per litre. In hot weather, what you mainly need is to drink: drop to 20 to 40 g per litre and increase the volume.

In weight training, the 75 g serving in 500 ml during the session makes sense on long, high-volume workouts. On an hour of strength work it is probably superfluous: over that duration your glycogen stores are enough, and another 297 kcal in the day is not neutral if you are watching your weight.

For recovery, the classic combination remains carbohydrate plus protein. A serving of WaxyMaze with a scoop of protein within the thirty minutes after the session covers both needs at once, and it is also the basis of a self-made mass gain shake, often cheaper than a ready-made gainer.

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

It suits an endurance athlete on efforts of more than an hour, a weight trainer on long sessions, and anyone looking to increase their daily calorie intake without going through bulky foods.

It is not for you if your goal is weight loss. This is the point on which we regularly turn down sales in the shop: 297 kcal in a drink is the equivalent of a light meal, and drinking your calories is the quickest way to derail a deficit. During a cutting phase, this product only makes sense on very long sessions, and even then.

It is not recommended for children, adolescents, pregnant women or breastfeeding women. People with diabetes or with a blood-sugar regulation disorder should seek their doctor's advice before using a high-glycaemic-index powder: that is not a token precaution.

The formula contains sucralose and acesulfame K. If you avoid artificial sweeteners, this product is not for you. Anyone with allergies should take account of the traces of gluten, milk, egg and soya.

What not to expect from it: this is not a performance product with an immediate effect. You will not be stronger after drinking it. It supplies fuel, which is only of interest if the effort actually consumes it. On an hour-long session for someone who eats properly, the usefulness is slight.

WaxyMaze or cyclic dextrin?

The two powders occupy the same place in the carbohydrate aisle, and the choice comes down to two simple criteria.

WaxyMaze is an amylopectin derived from waxy maize. It is the most economical option per gram of carbohydrate, it mixes properly and it suits the majority of uses: post-session refuelling, a drink for long training sessions, extra calories during mass gain.

Cyclic dextrin is a starch processed differently, whose main quality is digestive comfort at high concentration. If you have ever had a heavy stomach from a carbohydrate powder during exercise, that is the parameter that matters to you, and our cyclic dextrin aisle is the right place. The trade-off is that it costs considerably more.

That leaves maltodextrin, the oldest and cheapest of the three, perfectly valid for recovery when digestive tolerance is not an issue. To sum up: maltodextrin if budget comes first, WaxyMaze for a good compromise, cyclic dextrin if your stomach has already let you down mid-race.

Frequently asked questions

How much carbohydrate in a serving?

74 g of carbohydrate for 297 kcal, of which 0 g sugars. All of it comes from waxy maize starch, rich in amylopectin. That is the carbohydrate equivalent of roughly 100 g of dry pasta, in liquid form and with no bulk in the stomach.

Does it taste sweet?

Not very. The product contains no sugars, only sucralose and acesulfame K in small amounts, plus an acidity regulator. The resulting drink stays light in taste, which is an advantage on long efforts where very sweet drinks end up becoming sickly.

Do you need to add electrolytes?

Yes, as soon as the effort drags on and you are sweating. The nutrition table shows 0 g of salt: this powder supplies fuel, not minerals. On a long ride or in hot weather, add an electrolyte product or a pinch of salt to your bottle.

Before, during or after training?

All three are provided for, but the most worthwhile use is during efforts of more than sixty minutes and immediately after an intense session. Before exercise, taking it 30 minutes beforehand works; on a short session, by contrast, the intake is of little interest.

Can it be mixed with a protein?

Yes, and it is in fact the most common pairing for recovery: carbohydrate and protein in the same shaker after the session. It is also the basis of a home-made gainer, generally cheaper and more adjustable than a ready-made mass gain product.

How much water per serving?

500 to 700 ml for 75 g of powder. Below 500 ml, the drink becomes concentrated and sits heavily on the stomach during exercise. In hot weather, increase the volume further or cut the powder: it is digestive comfort that decides, not the theoretical serving.

Does this product make you put on weight?

It provides 297 kcal per serving, so yes, if you add it to a diet that already covers your needs. That is precisely its value during mass gain and its main drawback during a cutting phase. Use it according to your goal, not out of habit.

Where can you buy IO Genix WaxyMaze?

The tub can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, it is a product we recommend mainly to cyclists and trail runners, and one we frankly advise against for anyone trying to lose weight: drinking 300 kcal is the most discreet way of sabotaging a deficit. The full aisle can be browsed in our sports nutrition selection.

What is IO Genix CLA PRO?

It is safflower oil in soft capsules, with a daily dose of four capsules providing 4,000 mg of oil, standardised to 80% conjugated linoleic acid. The bottle covers 25 servings.

Conjugated linoleic acid, or CLA, is a fatty acid from the omega-6 family, found naturally in small amounts in dairy products and ruminant meat. Here it is extracted from safflower seeds (Carthamus tinctorius L.).

The formula fits into two lines: safflower oil and a shell made of gelatine, glycerine and water. Because the capsule is made of gelatine, the product is suitable neither for vegetarians nor for vegans. It joins our capsule fat burners and IO Genix aisles.

What does a four-capsule dose contain?

* Columns calculated from the values declared for four capsules and from the 80% standardisation stated by the manufacturer. Pack size: 25 doses, i.e. 100 capsules. The split between the two CLA isomers — c9,t11 and t10,c12 — is not published; nor is the “of which saturates” line, nor the kilojoules.

The calculation that matters, and that nobody makes: 4,000 mg of oil standardised to 80% gives 3,200 mg of CLA, not 4,000. That is the difference between the weight of the oil and the weight of the active molecule, and it is the only figure to compare from one product to another. Plenty of labels display the big number hoping you will mistake it for the other one.

The 80% standardisation is a sound level for this category; oils at 60% or 70% do exist, and a bottle that is cheaper per litre may turn out to be dearer per gram of CLA. Always do the multiplication before comparing two prices.

Now for the essential point, and we will be categorical: no health claim is authorised in Europe for conjugated linoleic acid. Not on body composition, not on fat, not on weight, not on the maintenance of muscle mass. So you will read no promise of that kind here, not even in a roundabout form. The “fat burner” label that appears on our aisles is a commercial category name, not a description of an effect, and that is a distinction we are keen to state clearly.

What we can describe: a vegetable oil, a standardisation, a daily dose, a format, a usage protocol and some precautions. That is little, and it is honest.

How do you take CLA PRO?

Dose: 4 capsules a day. Liquid: a glass of water. Timing: 2 capsules at lunch and 2 at dinner. Frequency: two split servings. Duration: 8 to 12 weeks at a minimum, taken continuously.

The “with meals” instruction is not optional, unlike with many supplements. This is an oil: its absorption depends on fat being present in the digestive tract at the same time. Four capsules swallowed on an empty stomach with a glass of water means part of the product will do nothing at all.

Splitting it into two servings follows the same logic and improves tolerance: four soft capsules in one go sit heavily on some stomachs. If you get oily repeats, take them in the middle of the meal rather than at the start.

On duration, the manufacturer settles on 8 to 12 weeks minimum, and explicitly pairs this product with a balanced reduced-calorie diet and regular training. We are happy to repeat that detail, because it says the essential thing: this bottle does nothing on its own. If the calorie deficit is not in place, the question does not even arise.

The product combines without difficulty with a protein or a multivitamin. As a bottle covers 25 days, allow three to four of them to complete the recommended duration.

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

It is aimed at adults engaged in a structured weight loss approach, with a calorie deficit and training in place. It is a stimulant-free supplement, which makes it compatible with an evening serving and with late training — that is its real advantage over most products in the aisle.

The manufacturer advises against it for pregnant and breastfeeding women and rules it out for the under-18s. It asks that you consult a healthcare professional in the event of a metabolic disorder, diabetes or drug treatment: that last precaution deserves careful reading. Traces of GLUTEN (wheat and oats), EGG, MILK, FISH and SOYA are possible.

It is suitable neither for vegetarians nor for vegans, as the capsule is made of gelatine. It is less suitable if you are looking for a noticeable effect: there is nothing to feel, no kick and no warmth, unlike a caffeinated thermogenic.

What you should not expect from it, and this is the most useful point on this page: this product does not make you lose weight. No claim exists, which means no European authority has validated any effect for this molecule. Nor does it preserve muscle mass during a diet: on that front, it is your protein intake and your resistance training that do the work. And 36 kcal per dose really are 36 kcal added to your day.

CLA or a thermogenic fat burner?

The two sit in the same aisle and the question comes up on every sale. Let us set out the common ground first: neither CLA nor the plant extracts in thermogenics hold an authorised health claim in Europe for weight loss. Deciding on the basis of promises therefore makes no sense here.

A thermogenic fat burner is generally built on caffeine, possibly combined with green tea or synephrine. It can be felt — alertness, warmth, a relative appetite curb — which explains its success. Its drawbacks are well known: it cannot be taken in the evening, tolerance builds up, and it adds to the coffee you drink during the day.

CLA does exactly the opposite: no stimulant, no sensation, no timing constraint. It is the right choice if you are sensitive to caffeine, if you train in the evening, or if you already take a caffeinated pre-workout. Our caffeine-free fat burner aisle brings together the other options of this kind.

One last frank word: if you have to choose a single supplement during a deficit, it is neither of these two. It is a protein, because it helps you hold your intake when the calories go down, and its wording on the maintenance of muscle mass is authorised. The omega 3 aisle usefully rounds out the picture on the fatty acid side.

Frequently asked questions

How much actual CLA in a dose?

3,200 mg. The four-capsule dose provides 4,000 mg of safflower oil standardised to 80%, which gives 3,200 mg of conjugated linoleic acid. That is the figure to compare from one product to another, and not the weight of oil, which tells you nothing on its own.

Does CLA make you lose weight?

No health claim is authorised in Europe for conjugated linoleic acid, not on weight, not on fat, not on body composition. We therefore cannot promise anything, and we will not do so. The manufacturer itself pairs this product with a reduced-calorie diet and regular training.

Why does it have to be taken with meals?

Because this is an oil: its absorption depends on fat being present in the digestive tract at the same time. Four capsules swallowed on an empty stomach with a glass of water means part of the product is wasted. It is the most common mistake with this type of soft capsule.

How long does a bottle last?

Twenty-five days, at four capsules a day. As the manufacturer recommends 8 to 12 weeks minimum, allow three to four bottles to complete the protocol it advises.

Are the capsules suitable for vegetarians?

No. The shell is a soft capsule made of gelatine, glycerine and water, of animal origin. The contents, on the other hand, are indeed a vegetable oil obtained from safflower seeds: it is the shell alone that is the problem, and that is a point rarely highlighted.

Can it be taken in the evening?

Yes, and that is in fact the manufacturer's protocol: two capsules at lunch and two at dinner. The formula contains no stimulant, which makes it compatible with a late serving — unlike a caffeinated fat burner. That is its main practical advantage.

Can it be combined with a caffeinated fat burner?

Nothing stands in the way as far as the formulas are concerned, as the two share no ingredient. Simply bear in mind that neither of them holds an authorised claim, and that stacking two products with no recognised effect does not create an effect. The calorie deficit remains the only documented lever.

Where to buy IO Genix CLA PRO?

The bottle can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. Over a recommended duration of 8 to 12 weeks, it is better to order several bottles in advance than to run out halfway through.

At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is an aisle where we systematically start by talking about something other than the product: what do you eat, and for how long have you been eating it? Until that answer is satisfactory, no capsule will change anything, and we would rather say so across the counter than take the money. The rest of the aisle can be compared in our sports nutrition section.

What is IO Genix Isoluxe CFM?

IO Genix Isoluxe CFM is a whey isolate sold in 500 g and 1.5 kg tubs, with a 30 g serving size. Its base is not a single isolate but a pairing of two raw materials the manufacturer names explicitly: Isolac®, a microfiltered whey isolate, and Optipep®, a hydrolysed isolate. The manufacturer states that Isolac® comes from grass-fed cows' milk; we report that claim exactly as it publishes it, without verifying it ourselves.

Three ingredients round out the formula, and each deserves a sentence. A DigeZyme® enzyme complex combining amylase, protease, lactase, lipase and cellulase. A strain of Bacillus coagulans, marketed under the name LactoSpore®. And a natural sweetener, steviol glycosides from stevia — a rare choice in this category, where sucralose dominates.

The flavours listed in 500 g, including an unflavoured Natural version: Chocolate Hazelnut, Strawberry, Bourbon Vanilla, Greek Yoghurt and Blueberry, Dark Chocolate-Coconut, Banana-Pineapple, Peanut Butter, Intense Chocolate and Natural. The 1.5 kg format carries the same list. The rest of the range sits in the IO Genix section.

What does a 30 g serving contain?

* Column calculated from the per-100 g values, as the manufacturer publishes no per-serving column.

Let us be blunt: this table is not precise enough for a product positioned this way. The manufacturer publishes thresholds and a range — "more than 85 g", "less than 5 g", "370 to 380 kcal" — where the labelling on a premium isolate ought to give exact figures. It publishes no "of which saturates" line, no "of which sugars" line and no kilojoule equivalent. And it advertises a full amino acid profile without publishing a single figure from it, which is especially unfortunate on an isolate: that is precisely the data that would justify the price gap with a concentrate. We will not fill any of those boxes with an estimate.

That said, what the threshold guarantees remains solid. More than 85 g of protein per 100 g is squarely isolate territory: a concentrate tops out at around 75 to 80 g. Translated into a serving, that works out at more than 25.5 g of protein for roughly 112 kcal, with less than a gram and a half of carbohydrate and three tenths of a gram of fat. Protein here supplies more than 90% of the product's energy, which qualifies it for the "high protein" nutrition claim, and the applicable regulatory wording is this one: protein contributes to the growth and maintenance of muscle mass.

On the two "bonus" ingredients, let us be clear. No digestive claim is authorised in Europe for an enzyme complex such as DigeZyme®, and no health claim is authorised for a culture such as Bacillus coagulans — the very term "probiotic" is regulated. So we describe their presence, not an effect. Factually: the lactase in the complex is the enzyme that breaks down lactose, which makes sense in a dairy protein. What difference that makes for you, only trying it will tell.

How do you prepare Isoluxe CFM?

Dose: 30 g, i.e. one scoop. Liquid: 200 to 250 ml, ideally very cold water. Timing: after training, on waking, between meals, or at bedtime in a reduced serving. Frequency: 1 to 3 servings a day depending on your needs. Duration: ongoing, no course is required.

Shake vigorously for 20 to 30 seconds in a shaker. The tip that makes the biggest difference to the result: use very cold water, or add two ice cubes. An isolate dissolves better cold, and the fine texture that is its whole appeal disappears in a lukewarm liquid.

The powder also blends very well into pancakes, porridge or a smoothie bowl. The Natural flavour, with no flavouring or sweetener, is the one best suited to that: it imposes nothing on your recipes and leaves you in control of the sweetening. If you are cooking with heat, add the powder at the end — poured into a boiling liquid, protein coagulates.

On format: the 500 g tub covers roughly 16 servings, the 1.5 kg one covers 50. The small format is the right choice for trying a flavour; the large one becomes worthwhile once you have made up your mind, and it brings the cost per serving down. As for when to take it, do not overthink it: what counts is your protein total across the twenty-four hours, not the quarter of an hour after your last set.

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

It targets three specific situations. A strict cutting phase, where every gram of carbohydrate and fat counts. Difficulty digesting dairy proteins, an isolate containing markedly less lactose than a concentrate. And a demand for texture: an isolate gives a thin, fluid drink, where a concentrate stays thicker.

The product contains MILK proteins, and traces of SOYA are possible — the emulsifier is sunflower or soya lecithin depending on the batch. The manufacturer declares it gluten free, advises against it for anyone allergic to milk proteins, and asks pregnant or breastfeeding women to consult a healthcare professional.

It is not for you if your budget is tight: at comparable protein quality, a whey concentrate costs appreciably less per serving, and we set out that trade-off just below. Nor is it for you if you are allergic — rather than merely intolerant — to milk proteins: filtration removes the lactose, not the proteins. Finally, if you want to know precisely what your leucine or BCAA intake is, the absence of a published amino acid profile is a real obstacle.

What not to expect from it: this is neither a weight-loss product, nor a meal replacement, nor a performance product. It is a very clean protein source, and the word "luxury" in the trade name denotes a positioning, not a nutritional property.

Isoluxe CFM or a whey concentrate?

This is the central trade-off in the protein category, and it comes down to three grams.

Here, more than 25.5 g of protein per 30 g serving, less than 1.5 g of carbohydrate, less than 0.3 g of fat. On a decent whey concentrate, reckon on 22 to 23 g of protein, 4 to 5 g of carbohydrate and roughly 1 g of fat for the same serving. The real gap is therefore two to three grams of protein per shake — the equivalent of half an egg white — for an appreciably higher price per serving.

Whey concentrate is the better choice for most people: if your aim is to hit your daily protein total and you digest lactose without trouble, it does the same job for less. We say so plainly, even though it is not the product on this page.

Isoluxe is the better choice in three cases where the gap genuinely pays off. In a strict cutting phase, where 3 g of carbohydrate saved per shake, multiplied by three servings a day, eventually adds up. In cases of digestive discomfort with a concentrate, where the reduced lactose content makes a tangible difference. And if texture matters to you — an isolate is drunk, a concentrate is almost chewed. If you want to go further still on absorption speed, look at the hydrolysed wheys, of which the Optipep® present here is precisely an example.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Isolac® and Optipep®?

They are two distinct raw materials. Isolac® is a whey isolate obtained by microfiltration; Optipep® is a hydrolysed isolate, whose protein chains have been pre-cut. The manufacturer does not publish the proportion of each in the formula, which makes any numerical conclusion impossible. We report their presence, not a ranking.

How many servings in each format?

Roughly 16 servings of 30 g in the 500 g tub, and 50 in the 1.5 kg one. The small format is the right choice for trying a flavour without committing; the large one brings the cost per serving down once you know which one suits you. Note that the 1.5 kg is not available in every flavour.

Why are the nutritional values given as thresholds?

Because the manufacturer publishes "more than 85 g of protein", "less than 5 g of carbohydrate" rather than exact figures. It is a common practice but a poor one on a product of this standing, and we would rather flag it than gloss over it. The values printed on the tub you receive are the ones that apply.

Is the sweetener stevia?

Yes, these are steviol glycosides from stevia, not sucralose or acesulfame K. It is a rare choice in this category. Be aware that stevia leaves a liquorice note on the finish, very noticeable on mild flavours such as vanilla and much less so on chocolate ones.

Is this isolate suitable for people who are lactose intolerant?

An isolate contains markedly less lactose than a concentrate, which is enough for most mild intolerances. The manufacturer does not, however, publish a figure for lactose content, and the lactase in the DigeZyme® complex allows no promises: no digestive claim is authorised for this type of ingredient. If you are allergic to milk proteins, the product should be ruled out.

What is the Natural flavour like?

It contains neither flavouring nor sweetener: it is raw isolate, with a faintly milky, neutral taste. It appeals to two profiles — those who cannot tolerate stevia, and those who cook with their protein and want to control the sweetening themselves. It is only available in the 500 g format.

What is the Bacillus coagulans in the formula for?

It is a spore-forming bacterial strain, added under the name LactoSpore®. As no health claim is authorised in Europe for this type of culture, we will not attribute one to it. If cultures interest you in their own right, our probiotic section offers dedicated products, dosed and presented for that purpose.

Where to buy IO Genix Isoluxe CFM?

Both formats and the full flavour line-up can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe.

A 1.5 kg tub of isolate is a real outlay, and it is exactly the kind of purchase where two minutes of conversation heads off a disappointment. At our Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, the question we ask is not "isolate or concentrate?" but "what brought you to isolate in the first place?". Depending on whether the answer is about digestion, about a cutting phase or about plain habit, the product we recommend is not the same. The full category can be compared in our proteins and in our sports nutrition sections.