Sports Nutrition

What is IO Genix's Chromium Picolinate?

IO Genix Chromium Picolinate is a single-ingredient supplement. One capsule provides 200 µg of elemental chromium, in picolinate form. The bottle contains 100 capsules, i.e. more than three months of daily use.

Chromium is a trace element, that is to say a mineral the body needs only in minute quantities — a few tens of micrograms a day. Food provides it, chiefly through meat, wholegrain cereals, tree nuts and green vegetables, but the levels vary a great deal from one food to another and from one soil to another.

The picolinate form refers to chromium bound to picolinic acid. It is the most widespread form in food supplements, chosen for its stability. The rest of the Spanish range appears in our IO Genix section. The catalogue's other trace elements can be found in our zinc and iron sections.

What does a capsule of Chromium Picolinate contain?

The nutrient reference value for chromium is set at 40 µg per day at European level. One capsule provides 200 µg: five times the daily reference, and that is a figure to face squarely rather than turn into a selling point. A high dose is not automatically a better product, particularly for a trace element whose requirements are counted in tens of micrograms.

Two claims are authorised in Europe for this trace element, and they are worded exactly like this: chromium contributes to normal macronutrient metabolism, and chromium contributes to the maintenance of normal blood glucose levels. The threshold for being allowed to state them is comfortably met here. Note the word “normal”, which is not decorative: it refers to the workings of a healthy body, not to the correction of a disorder.

A nuance few product pages give, and one that nonetheless decides the purchase: chromium deficiency is rare on an ordinary Western diet. A supplement makes sense if your diet is heavily processed, very low in wholegrain cereals, or if a healthcare professional has advised it. It makes a good deal less sense if you already take a complete multivitamin, which almost always contains chromium — check your label before stacking.

The manufacturer also asks you to consult a doctor before use and states that the product is not suitable for pregnant and breastfeeding women, children or people on medical treatment. Requiring medical advice is unusual for a simple trace element: it is explained by the dose level, and it deserves to be followed.

Ingredients list

Bulking agent (microcrystalline cellulose), GELATINE (capsule shell), anti-caking agents (magnesium stearate, silicon dioxide), chromium picolinate. The exact composition of the shell appears on the label of the bottle you receive.

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

How do you take Chromium Picolinate?

Dose: 1 capsule. Liquid: a glass of water. Timing: with a meal, never on an empty stomach. Frequency: one dose a day, never exceeded. Duration: a review after three months, with a one-month break possible before resuming.

Taking it with a meal serves two distinct purposes. The first is comfort: on an empty stomach, a concentrated trace element can cause stomach discomfort. The second is consistency: since chromium is involved in macronutrient metabolism, taking it at the moment those macronutrients arrive is logical.

The manufacturer recommends avoiding taking it at the same time as coffee or tea and leaving an hour between the two. Tannins and caffeine can interfere with the absorption of several minerals. If your breakfast is a strong coffee, move the capsule to lunch: it is simpler than clock-watching.

One capsule a day, at a set time, never exceeded. The 100-capsule bottle covers more than three months, which corresponds exactly to the period after which the manufacturer suggests taking stock. A one-month break is then possible before resuming.

This product combines without redundancy with an omega 3 or a magnesium. It does, on the other hand, duplicate most multivitamins and the berberine formulas that already include chromium in their composition: read the labels before stacking.

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

It is aimed at a healthy adult whose diet is low in chromium sources, or someone a healthcare professional has advised to take a targeted supply. It is a product with a very short formula, which remains a good criterion: one ingredient, one dose, one capsule.

The manufacturer is explicit about the exclusions and its list is stricter than average: the product is for adults only, and it is not suitable for pregnant or breastfeeding women, for children, or for people on medical treatment. It asks you to seek a doctor's advice before use and to stop immediately and consult a doctor if any adverse effect occurs.

One situation calls for particular care: if you are being monitored for disturbed blood glucose or are on antidiabetic treatment, this product is not something to improvise with. The fact that a claim mentions the maintenance of normal blood glucose levels does not mean a supplement has a place alongside a course of treatment — quite the opposite, and the question belongs to your doctor.

The capsule contains gelatine: it is suitable for neither vegetarians nor vegans. The product may also contain traces of gluten, milk, eggs, fish and soya.

What not to expect from it: it is not an appetite suppressant, it is not a fat burner, and it is not a weight-loss product, whatever you may read. No weight-control claim is authorised for chromium in Europe. If that is your goal, our weight loss section and, above all, your everyday diet will do the work.

Chromium on its own or a multivitamin, which should you choose?

This is the only real question to ask yourself before buying this product, and the answer depends on what you already take.

A complete multivitamin almost always contains chromium, often at a level close to the reference value, alongside twenty other micronutrients. If you are simply looking to cover your overall intake, that is more rational, cheaper overall, and it saves you adding one more capsule to your morning routine.

Chromium on its own, at 200 µg, answers a different logic: a targeted and deliberately high supply of a single element. That only makes sense if you know precisely why you are taking it — professional advice, a diet identified as low in chromium — and not simply because the words blood glucose appear somewhere on the label.

Watch out for stacking, which is the most frequent mistake in this category: multivitamins, capsule fat burners and metabolic complexes each contain chromium. Three products taken together can add up intakes without anyone noticing. If you already take a caffeine-free fat burner or a complex, read its composition again before adding this one.

Frequently asked questions

Is 200 µg a lot?

It is five times the European nutrient reference value, which is set at 40 µg per day. It is a deliberately high dose. The manufacturer does in fact ask for medical advice before use and forbids exceeding the daily dose, which is consistent with that level of intake.

Should you take it with a meal or on an empty stomach?

With a meal. On an empty stomach, a concentrated trace element can cause stomach discomfort, and the manufacturer explicitly recommends avoiding that situation. Taking it during a meal is also more consistent with chromium's role in macronutrient metabolism.

Why avoid coffee when you take it?

Because caffeine and the tannins in tea can interfere with the absorption of several minerals. The manufacturer recommends leaving an hour between the two. In practice, the simplest thing is to move the capsule to lunch rather than slotting it between two morning coffees.

Does chromium make you lose weight?

No, and no weight-control claim is authorised for chromium in Europe. The only two permitted wordings concern normal macronutrient metabolism and the maintenance of normal blood glucose levels, in a healthy person. This is not a slimming product.

How long does a bottle last?

More than three months: 100 capsules, one a day. That is also the period after which the manufacturer suggests taking stock, before a possible one-month break. A bottle therefore corresponds exactly to one review period.

Are these capsules suitable for vegetarians?

No. The shell is gelatine, of animal origin. It is a common limitation across this range, and it is all the more regrettable given that vegetarian diets are sometimes listed among those that provide less chromium.

Can you take it alongside a multivitamin?

You can, but it is rarely useful, and it requires doing the sums. Most complete multivitamins already contain chromium. Adding two sources together without looking at the labels is the surest way to exceed, without knowing it, an intake the manufacturer specifically asks you not to exceed.

Where can you buy IO Genix's Chromium Picolinate?

The 100-capsule bottle 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 to see what the customer is already taking before selling this one: nine times out of ten a multivitamin is already in use and the question of stacking comes before the question of buying. The rest of the category can be browsed in our sports nutrition section.

What is Mutant Mass?

Mutant Mass is a gainer, that is to say a powder whose main purpose is not protein but calories. One 280 g dose, i.e. four scoops, provides 1,100 kcal. The formula is predominantly carbohydrate: the first ingredient on the list is a blend of waxy maize starch, maltodextrin, barley starch, sweet potato and rolled oats.

Next comes the brand's protein matrix, which brings together six dairy fractions: whey protein concentrate, hydrolysate and isolate, micellar casein, milk protein concentrate and isolate. A lipid blend completes the whole (fractionated MCT coconut oil, avocado, flaxseed, pumpkin seed, sunflower oil), along with cocoa, flavourings, a caramel colour, salt, sucralose, sunflower lecithin, enzymes and a Cinnulin PF® cinnamon extract. The flavours listed: Vanille Ice Cream, Cookies & Cream, Banana n Strawberry, Triple Chocolat and Fudge Brownie. The rest of the range is in the Mutant Nutrition collection, and the competing formulas in our hard gainer aisle.

What does a 280 g dose of Mutant Mass contain?

The manufacturer's declaration, brought back to the useful references: the 280 g dose and the regulatory 100 g.

* Values recalculated from the declaration per 280 g dose, the only reference published by the manufacturer. Salt is obtained by the regulatory conversion salt = sodium x 2.5. ** No nutrient reference value is established for these nutrients. Three pieces of data are missing from the declaration in our possession and we will not invent them: saturates, fibre, and the full amino acid profile beyond the BCAAs and glutamine. The weight of the tub and the number of doses it contains are not in our data either: refer to the packaging to work out how long it will last you.

Two ingredients call for clarification. The enzymes (lactase, protease) appear on the list; we attribute no digestive effect to them, as no claim of that kind is authorised in Europe. Cinnulin PF® is a cinnamon extract: present, quantity not declared, no property ascribed to it. Protein, for its part, contributes to a growth in muscle mass and to the maintenance of muscle mass, and 56 g per dose is a substantial intake.

How should you take Mutant Mass?

• Dose: 280 g, i.e. 4 scoops, for the full dose. The half dose is 2 scoops.
• Volume of liquid: 500 to 700 ml of cold water or skimmed milk. Below 500 ml, the mixture becomes hard to swallow.
• Timing: full dose within the 30 minutes following the session, half dose as a snack between two meals. Avoid the two hours before a meal, or you will no longer be hungry when it is time to eat.
• Frequency: 2 servings a day at most, never exceeding 2 full doses.
• Duration: the manufacturer sets no length of course. A gainer is used for the time a weight-gain phase lasts, not permanently.

Build up gradually: it is the most important instruction on this page. The manufacturer recommends 2 scoops a day in the first week, 3 in the second, and the full dose only from the third onwards. Going straight in at 280 g and 192 g of carbohydrate is the surest way to give up on the tub. A 700 ml shaker or a blender is necessary; a 500 ml shaker is not enough, and our accessories cover that size.

The dosage, the timing and the composition are covered in detail in our dedicated article: Mutant Mass: dosage, timing and composition. This page describes the product, the article describes the method.

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

It is aimed at people who cannot manage to eat enough to gain weight and who have already tried increasing their meals. Drinking 1,100 kcal is easier than chewing them: that is the whole point of the product, and its only justification.

It is not for you if you gain weight easily. At 1,100 kcal a dose, a poorly controlled surplus turns into fat mass, not muscle. In that case, a whey and carbohydrates measured out separately will give you far better control.

Nor is it suitable in the event of an allergy to milk or soya, both declared as allergens. One point deserves your attention: the ingredient list includes barley starch and rolled oats, two cereals affected by gluten, and the label mentions gluten among the possible traces. If you have coeliac disease, this product is not for you. The manufacturer advises against it for the under-18s and for pregnant or breastfeeding women. If you are on any treatment, if you are diabetic or if you have any doubt, speak to your doctor or your pharmacist: 192 g of carbohydrate in a single serving is not trivial.

What you should not expect from it: a gainer does not build muscle in place of training and does not make up for food being absent for the rest of the day.

Mutant Mass or whey and carbohydrates separately?

The comparison does not systematically go in the gainer's favour.

Mutant Mass wins on simplicity. A single powder, a single shaker, a carbohydrate-to-protein ratio already settled at 192 to 56. When the problem is not managing to eat, reducing the number of decisions is a real advantage.

The formula you put together yourself wins on control and on cost. A whey concentrate combined with maltodextrin lets you adjust the protein share and the carbohydrate share independently, week after week, according to what the scales say. It is the right option if you are putting on fat too fast, or if you want to bring the calories down without touching the protein.

Between the two, a lean gainer offers a less carbohydrate-heavy ratio, for a more measured surplus. Whatever the choice, creatine monohydrate is managed separately.

Frequently asked questions

Do you really have to take 4 scoops at once?

No, and it is not advised at the start. The manufacturer's protocol begins at 2 scoops a day in the first week and only reaches the full dose in the third. Staying at 2 or 3 scoops for the long run is still a considerable calorie intake.

Can it be mixed with milk rather than water?

Yes, the manufacturer mentions skimmed milk. You are then adding the calories and carbohydrates of the milk to those of the product, which pushes a full dose well beyond 1,100 kcal. With water, you know exactly what you are drinking.

How many doses does a tub contain?

We cannot tell you: the weight of the tub is not in the data available to us. Divide the weight shown on the packaging by 280 g to get the number of full doses.

Does Mutant Mass contain gluten?

The recipe contains barley starch and rolled oats, and the label flags gluten among the possible traces. It is not a gluten-free product and it is not suitable in the event of coeliac disease.

Which flavour should you choose for everyday use?

Over two servings a day for several weeks, the less sweet profiles such as Vanille Ice Cream generally become tiresome less quickly than the intense chocolates. The flavours listed are set out at the top of this page.

Do the 11 g of BCAAs replace a BCAA supplement?

They are naturally present in the dairy proteins of the formula, they are not added. If your daily protein intake is covered, a BCAA supplement on top has no demonstrated usefulness.

Can it be taken on days without training?

Yes. The calorie surplus is played out over the whole week, not only on session days. Many people then split the product into two half doses between meals rather than a single serving.

Where can you buy Mutant Mass?

Mutant Mass is available on this page in the flavours listed above the add-to-basket button, and in our Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier. It is a product that is better discussed before buying: the question is almost never "which flavour" but "do you really need a gainer", and that conversation takes three minutes at the counter.

We ship throughout France and Europe. The rest of the mass gain aisle lets you compare the ratios before making up your mind.

What is Sinob Complete Mobility Forte?

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

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

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

What does a daily dose of Complete Mobility Forte contain?

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

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

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

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

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

Ingredients list

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

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

How do you take Complete Mobility Forte?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Joint powder or collagen?

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

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

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

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

Frequently asked questions

How long does one tub last?

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

Why three servings a day?

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

Are the glucosamine and chondroitin doses high enough?

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

Is this product suitable in cases of allergy to crustaceans?

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

How long before you notice anything?

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

What does this powder taste like?

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

Can it be combined with a collagen?

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

Where can you buy Sinob Complete Mobility Forte?

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

What is Sinob’s Greens & Reds?

Sinob Greens & Reds is a fruit, vegetable and fibre powder for mixing with liquid, dosed at 10 g per serving. The 300 g tub holds 30 servings, or one month. It belongs to the superfood ingredients family, the blends sold to top up a diet that is short on plant foods.

The name describes how the product is built: a “green” half — barley grass, spirulina, spinach, chlorella — and a “red” half — beetroot, açaí, blueberry, rosehip. Around them sits a fibre base of pectin, psyllium and wheat fibre, then a handful of extracts: green tea, matcha, black pepper. The sweetener is a stevia extract. The rest of the German range can be found in our Sinob section.

A word straight away about what to expect from this category: it is not a vegetable substitute, and we explain further down why the quantities involved do not allow it to be presented as one.

What does a 10 g serving contain?

The per 100 g values are calculated from the manufacturer’s declaration for a 10 g serving. Here now is the breakdown of the dosed ingredients, in descending order.

The real selling point of this product is the 3.15 g of fibre per serving. That is a solid figure: roughly a tenth of the recommended daily intake for an adult, supplied by pectin and psyllium, two well-tolerated soluble fibres. For someone whose diet is short on plant foods, that is a genuine, measurable contribution, and it is by far the best thing this powder does.

The “superfoods”, on the other hand, need putting back in proportion, because nobody else does it. 500 mg of spirulina is half a gram, when properly dosed spirulina products offer 3 to 5 g a day. 800 mg of beetroot is the equivalent of a single slice. And rosehip, an ingredient traditionally rich in vitamin C, supplies only 1.2 mg per serving here, or 1.5% of the reference value — which is to say nothing at all. These are not criticisms of the formula, they are the actual quantities, and what they tell you is that this product is a fibre source with a plant profile, not a source of micronutrients.

It is also why no health claim can be made for this product. The vitamins and minerals it contains are not present in significant amounts, and none of the plant extracts in the formula holds an authorised claim in Europe. The one thing that is true and can be said is the fibre figure.

One point of composition deserves flagging before we move on: the ingredients list mentions wheat fibre. Wheat is a source of gluten and an allergen subject to mandatory declaration. The manufacturer does not highlight it in the information available to us: if you are coeliac or intolerant, you must read the label on the tub you receive before using it.

Ingredients list

Pectin, psyllium, WHEAT fibre, barley grass, spirulina, spinach, chlorella, beetroot, açaí (30:1 extract), blueberry, rosehip, carrot, pineapple, tomato, green tea extract (of which EGCG), matcha, black pepper (of which piperine), sweetener: stevia extract. Contains WHEAT. Refer to the labelling on the tub for the full allergen declaration.

How do you take Greens & Reds?

Dose: 10 g, one serving. Liquid: 200 ml of cold water minimum. Timing: in the morning, or mid-afternoon. Frequency: one serving a day. Duration: there is no course to follow, use is continuous.

The volume of water is not negotiable. Psyllium and pectin are fibres that swell on contact with water: given too little liquid, they thicken in the throat and become unpleasant to swallow. 200 ml is a minimum, 300 ml is more comfortable, and you should drink normally in the hours that follow.

The powder also mixes very well into a smoothie, fromage frais or yoghurt, which masks the vegetal taste — sharp, grassy, slightly earthy — that not everyone enjoys. That is often the best way to keep taking it over the long run.

If you are not used to fibre, start with half a serving for a week. Jumping from 15 to 18 g of fibre a day in one go causes bloating and discomfort in a lot of people. Building up gradually solves the problem and costs nothing.

Finally, leave at least two hours between this and any medicine or mineral supplement. Soluble fibres slow the absorption of whatever they are taken with, and that applies just as much to an iron tablet or a multivitamin.

Who is Greens & Reds for, and who is it not for?

It suits someone whose diet genuinely lacks fibre and plant foods: meals eaten out, busy weeks, a dislike of vegetables. In that specific case, 3 g of soluble fibre a day added with no effort has concrete value.

It is not suitable for people who are coeliac or gluten intolerant, as the formula contains wheat fibre. That is the single most important point on this page and it bears repeating.

Nor is it suitable if you have unstabilised irritable bowel syndrome: a sudden load of soluble fibre can make symptoms worse before it makes them better. In that case, introduction must be very gradual, and ideally discussed with a healthcare professional.

The formula contains green tea extract, a source of EGCG and of a small amount of caffeine. It is not a problem at this dose, but it is worth knowing if you take your serving in the evening or if you are stacking several sources of green tea extract.

What you should not expect from it, and this is the honest paragraph on this page: it is not a substitute for fruit and vegetables. 10 g of powder does not replace 400 g of fresh plant food, nor its water, nor its volume, nor its variety. Nor does it “detoxify” anything — the liver and kidneys do that job on their own. It is a fibre supplement with a plant profile, which is useful in itself, but it excuses nothing.

Greens & Reds or a multivitamin?

That is the trade-off most buyers weigh up, and the two products do not cover the same need at all.

A multivitamin supplies vitamins and minerals at declared amounts, often close to or above the reference values, which allows precise claims and comparison between products. It is the better choice if your concern is micronutritional: winter, a restrictive diet, irregular dietary intake. Its shortcoming is that it supplies no fibre and no plant compounds.

Greens & Reds does the opposite: plenty of fibre, a varied plant profile, but no micronutrient in a significant amount. It is the better choice if the problem is transit or a lack of plant foods, not if the problem is a deficiency. Nothing stops you taking both: they barely overlap.

If your concern is more specifically digestive, two other families are worth a look: probiotics, which supply live strains rather than fibre, and digestive enzymes, which act on the digestion of the meals themselves. The full range can be browsed in our sports nutrition section.

Frequently asked questions

How much fibre per serving?

3.15 g per 10 g of powder, or roughly a tenth of the recommended daily intake for an adult. It comes mainly from pectin and psyllium, two well-tolerated soluble fibres. It is the most solid figure on the whole label.

Does this product contain gluten?

The ingredients list mentions wheat fibre, which is a source of gluten. The product is therefore not suitable for people who are coeliac or intolerant. You must check the allergen declaration on the tub you receive before using it.

Does it replace vegetables?

No, and that needs saying plainly. 10 g of powder supplies neither the volume, nor the water, nor the variety of 400 g of fresh plant food. The amounts of spirulina, beetroot or rosehip are counted in hundreds of milligrams, a fraction of a real portion. It is a supplement, not a replacement.

What does the powder taste like?

Vegetal and grassy, slightly earthy, with the mild bitterness of barley grass and spirulina. The stevia extract softens it without masking it. Mixed into a fruit smoothie or fromage frais, it goes down far better than in water alone.

Can you take it in the evening?

There is nothing against it, but the formula contains green tea extract, which brings a little caffeine. If you are sensitive, the morning remains the best slot. It also fits better with the effect of fibre on transit, which is appreciated more at the start of the day.

How much vitamin C does the rosehip supply?

1.2 mg per serving, or 1.5% of the nutrient reference value. That is negligible, and it explains why no claim can be made for this product. If vitamin C is what you need, you want a product dosed for it.

How many servings in a tub?

Thirty, at 10 g per serving for 300 g of powder. A tub therefore covers exactly one month at one serving a day. That is the most common purchase rhythm for this type of product.

Where can you buy Sinob’s Greens & Reds?

The 300 g tub can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is a product we sell by presenting it for what it is: a fibre intake with a garden taste, not health insurance in powder form. The people who buy it on that basis use it for a long time.

What is IO Genix BCAA 8.1.1?

IO Genix BCAA 8.1.1 is a branched-chain amino acid supplement in tablet form, available in a tub of 150 or 300 tablets. It belongs to the BCAA section and to the IO Genix range, a Spanish sports nutrition brand.

The formula combines two things only: the three branched-chain amino acids — L-leucine, L-valine, L-isoleucine — in a stated ratio of 8 to 1 to 1, and vitamin B6 in the form of pyridoxine hydrochloride. The rest is there to make the tablet: microcrystalline cellulose, magnesium stearate, silicon dioxide. No flavouring, no sweetener, no colouring.

The format is the first reason to buy this one rather than another: you swallow it, you do not mix it. No shaker to wash, no bitterness to mask — leucine is markedly bitter, and that is what forces high-ratio powders to load up on sweeteners.

What does one serving of BCAA 8.1.1 contain?

The label is worded for a serving of 5 tablets, which supplies 3,000 mg of BCAAs in total, 1.4 mg of vitamin B6 — that is 100% of the nutrient reference value — for 12 kcal and 3 g of protein. No carbohydrates, no fat.

At the stated 8:1:1 ratio, those 3,000 mg break down into 2,400 mg of L-leucine, 300 mg of L-isoleucine and 300 mg of L-valine — a calculation based on the ratio and the total declared, not on lines read off the label: the manufacturer does not detail the breakdown. Per unit, one tablet supplies 600 mg of BCAAs including 480 mg of leucine. That is the figure that matters when comparing two tubs, well ahead of the ratio printed on the front: the ratio does not create leucine, it redistributes the same grams.

* Breakdown calculated from the 8:1:1 ratio and the total of 3,000 mg declared by the manufacturer. ** No NRV is established for amino acids. The energy value is given by the manufacturer in kilocalories only: the kilojoule equivalent does not appear there and we are not adding it.

Vitamin B6 is the only ingredient for which European claims exist, and dosing it at 100% of the NRV makes them usable: vitamin B6 contributes to normal protein and glycogen metabolism, to normal energy-yielding metabolism, to the normal functioning of the nervous system and to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. Branched-chain amino acids, for their part, have no authorised health claim. Our vitamin B section brings together the other formulas that contain some.

How should IO Genix BCAA 8.1.1 be taken?

The manufacturer recommends 5 tablets a day, swallowed with a large glass of water, roughly 250 ml. It suggests splitting the dose around the session: 2 to 3 tablets 30 minutes before training, 2 to 3 immediately after, or 2 between meals on non-training days. The frequency is therefore one to two servings a day.

On duration, the manufacturer specifies neither a course nor a time limit, and we are not inventing one on its behalf. What can safely be said: free amino acids are absorbed in fifteen to thirty minutes and no loading effect builds up from one day to the next, unlike creatine. A tub of 150 tablets covers 30 servings, the 300-tablet tub covers 60. Taking them in the middle of a meal rather than on an empty stomach reduces the digestive discomfort some people feel with free amino acids.

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

It is aimed at adults who train with resistance work and whose daily protein intake is already adequate. The tablet format makes it practical at the office, while travelling or in the gym without a bottle.

The manufacturer states that the product may contain traces of gluten, egg, milk, fish and soya. It is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women or for anyone under 18, and calls for medical advice in the event of liver or kidney disorders, or of any ongoing treatment. Maple syrup urine disease, a rare metabolic condition, contraindicates any intake of branched-chain amino acids. Those questions are for your doctor or your pharmacist.

What not to expect from it: it does not replace a protein source. Three amino acids out of the nine essential ones do not build a muscle protein — lysine, methionine, threonine and three others are missing. If your diet is tight on protein, a serving of whey isolate will do more than this tub, and cost less per gram of amino acids. And to hold up better through a long session in the heat, it is electrolytes that answer the need.

BCAA 8.1.1 or EAAs?

It has to be said even when selling the product: BCAAs have been overtaken by EAAs, which supply all nine essential amino acids instead of three. The protein synthesis signal is sent in both cases; only EAAs also supply the building blocks. And the 8:1:1 ratio has no demonstrated superiority over a 2:1:1 at an equal total amount: beyond the quantity of leucine that triggers the signal, adding more pushes nothing higher.

EAAs are therefore the better choice in three situations: training on an empty stomach, a marked calorie deficit, an insufficient protein intake. Those are the cases where amino acids are missing, not just a signal.

This BCAA keeps two concrete advantages. The format: nothing to mix, nothing to wash, no taste to put up with — EAA powders are considerably harder to drink. And the price per serving, consistently lower. If your diet already covers your protein, those two criteria may be enough to settle it. Otherwise, go for EAAs.

Frequently asked questions

When should BCAA 8.1.1 tablets be taken?

The manufacturer suggests 2 to 3 tablets 30 minutes before the session and 2 to 3 afterwards, five a day in total. A tablet cannot be sipped during exercise the way a powder can: the logic is that of two servings bracketing the workout. Over the course of a day, it is total protein that weighs, not this timing.

Which BCAA should you take, an 8:1:1 or a 2:1:1?

Compare the grams of leucine per serving, not the ratio. This product supplies 2,400 mg per serving according to the stated ratio; a 2:1:1 dosed at 5 g supplies 2,500. No solid data places a high ratio above a 2:1:1 at an equal total amount, and the 2:1:1 reproduces the proportion found in muscle protein.

How long does a tub of 150 tablets last?

Thirty days at the full serving of five tablets a day, sixty for the 300-tablet tub. If you take it only on training days, reckon on roughly twice as long. The manufacturer sets neither a course length nor a compulsory break.

Tablets or powder: what difference does it make in practice?

Taste: leucine is very bitter, and an 8:1:1 powder needs a lot of sweetener to be drinkable — here the question does not arise. Convenience: nothing to measure out, nothing to rinse. And volume, finally: five tablets to swallow against half a litre to drink, which deprives you of the drink if you were counting on it during the session.

Does this BCAA contain allergens?

No allergen goes into the formula, but the manufacturer flags possible traces of gluten, egg, milk, fish and soya linked to the production site. If you have a diagnosed allergy to any of them, this product is not indicated. The formula contains neither flavouring nor sweetener.

Can it be taken at the same time as a whey protein?

Yes, with no interaction, but there is little point: a whey already contains around a quarter of its protein as BCAAs, leucine included. Stacking the two at the same hour amounts to paying twice for the same amino acids. Keep these tablets instead for the moments when a powder is not practical.

Why is there vitamin B6 in a BCAA?

Because it is a cofactor for the enzymes that metabolise amino acids, and because at 1.4 mg per serving, that is 100% of the NRV, it allows the product to carry claims that BCAAs on their own do not have. It does not increase their absorption: the idea circulates, no official source supports it.

Where can you buy IO Genix BCAA 8.1.1?

This page lets you order the 150 and 300 tablet tubs, and we ship throughout France and Europe. In our shop in Vendargues, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this product is recommended by comparison: we set the tub next to a tub of powdered amino acids and work out the leucine per serving and the price per serving in front of you. The conclusion is not always the one you would expect. The rest of the family is in our protein range, and our sports nutrition section puts every product back in its place.

What is IO Genix's Caffeine 200 mg?

It is anhydrous caffeine in capsules, dosed at 200 mg per unit, in a bottle of 100. A single active ingredient, no flavouring, no sweetener, no blend: it is the simplest product in the whole stimulant aisle.

Two hundred milligrams is the equivalent of two to three espressos. The difference with coffee comes down to three things: the dose is identical from one capsule to the next, it travels in a pocket, and it requires neither finding a machine nor drinking anything. For a session at 6:00 in the morning or a competition in a car park, those are three real advantages.

The rest of the composition takes three lines: magnesium carbonate as a bulking agent, magnesium stearate as an anti-caking agent, and a gelatine capsule coloured with calcium carbonate and sodium starch octenyl succinate. As the shell is made of gelatine, the product is not suitable for vegetarians. The rest of the Spanish range can be found in our IO Genix aisle.

What does one capsule contain?

* No NRV is established for caffeine. Other components: bulking agent (magnesium carbonate), capsule (gelatine, colours: calcium carbonate and sodium starch octenyl succinate), anti-caking agent (magnesium stearate). Pack size: 100 capsules. Traces of GLUTEN, MILK, EGG, SOYA, SULPHITES, FISH, MOLLUSCS and CRUSTACEANS are possible depending on manufacturing conditions.

The framework needs setting out straight away, because it is what determines how the product is used. EFSA considers that a single intake of 200 mg of caffeine raises no safety concern in healthy adults, and takes 400 mg as the benchmark for the whole day, from all sources combined. One capsule therefore puts you exactly on the single-intake limit — and if you drink coffee alongside it, the total climbs fast.

A concrete calculation, because it often changes the advice: one capsule in the morning, two coffees during the day and a 200 mg pre-workout already adds up to 550 to 600 mg. You are above the daily benchmark without having given it a single thought.

On the effects, let us be precise: caffeine has no authorised health claim in Europe. Not on alertness, not on endurance, not on weight loss. We can therefore promise you nothing, and we will not. What we can describe: a molecule, a dose, an equivalent in cups of coffee, and a protocol for use. The rest you already know from experience — you have all drunk a coffee.

How should Caffeine 200 mg be taken?

Dose: 1 capsule, i.e. 200 mg. Liquid: a large glass of water. Timing: 30 to 45 minutes before physical or mental effort, in the morning or in the early afternoon. Frequency: one intake a day, never after 15:00. Duration: cycling advised, 5 days on for 2 days off, or 3 weeks for 1 week off.

If you have never taken caffeine in this form, start with half a capsule. The manufacturer recommends it, and it is good advice: the capsule opens, the powder can be divided, and one session will tell you whether 100 mg is enough for you. Two hundred milligrams at once, on an empty stomach, does not go the same way for everybody.

The 15:00 rule is the one that matters most, and it is stricter here than on many products: the manufacturer asks that no caffeine be taken in the 6 hours before bedtime. The half-life of the molecule is around five hours in an average adult, more in some people. A capsule at 18:00 still means a hundred milligrams or so in circulation at midnight.

Cycling is not a whim either. Tolerance to caffeine sets in within a few weeks, and the doses then have to go up to recover the same sensation — which is neither desirable nor sustainable. Five days on for two days off is enough to maintain sensitivity.

Two practical remarks. The manufacturer advises increasing water intake to 2 or 3 litres a day during use, caffeine having a mild diuretic effect. And it advises against taking it at the same time as other stimulants — tea, coffee, guarana — which amounts to repeating the daily total calculation.

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

It is for adults only, and suits those who tolerate caffeine well and want a precise, portable dose with no taste and no preparation. It is also the most economical format in the category: 100 capsules, i.e. more than three months at one intake a day, for the price of a few energy drinks.

The manufacturer is categorical about the contraindications, and we repeat them as they stand. This product is not advised for children or for pregnant and breastfeeding women, and is ruled out in the case of a heart condition, high blood pressure, an anxiety disorder, insomnia or hypersensitivity to caffeine. If any of those apply to you, this product is not for you, and that is not negotiable.

It is not suitable for vegetarians or vegans: the shell is made of gelatine. Nor is it suitable if you train in the evening, for the sleep reasons set out above.

The possible side effects are well known and the manufacturer lists them: nervousness, irritability, palpitations, headaches, digestive upset. They appear mainly in people who are not used to it or at cumulative doses. That is precisely why the trial half-capsule makes sense.

What not to expect from it: nothing more than a well-measured coffee. Caffeine does not make up for a short night, it masks it — and the sleep debt itself remains entirely. Nor does it make you lose weight, whatever the label on half of the fat burners aisle may say. What it does do is make a session easier to get started, which is already something.

Caffeine on its own or a complete pre-workout?

That is the real choice, and the answer depends on what you are trying to achieve.

A complete pre-workout provides, on top of the caffeine, pump and endurance ingredients: citrulline at 4 or 6 g, beta-alanine at 3.2 g, often tyrosine or betaine. It is the better choice if you want the complete formula without having to put anything together yourself, and if the sensation of a pump is part of what you are looking for. Its drawback: you pay for the whole thing, including the ingredients you have no interest in, and you do not choose the caffeine dose.

Caffeine on its own does exactly the opposite. You know what you are taking to the milligram, you adjust in half-capsules, and you can combine it with whatever you want — citrulline on its own, beta-alanine on its own, or nothing at all. At 100 capsules a bottle, it is also by far the cheapest option per session. It is the rational choice if you already know what works for you.

And if you train in the evening, neither suits: a caffeine-free pre-workout is what to turn to, even if it means losing that kick. On this point, a night's sleep is worth more than a good session.

Frequently asked questions

How many coffees does 200 mg correspond to?

Two to three espressos, according to the manufacturer. It is an average equivalent: the content of a coffee varies a great deal with the grind, the machine and the volume. The useful benchmark is EFSA's — 200 mg in a single intake, 400 mg over the day from all sources combined.

Can the capsule be opened to take half a dose?

Yes, and it is even what the manufacturer advises for a first trial. The capsule opens, the powder can be divided. The taste of pure caffeine is extremely bitter: better to close the half back inside the capsule and swallow it than to put it on your tongue.

How late in the day can it be taken?

The manufacturer asks that none be consumed in the 6 hours before bedtime, and in practice that you stay before 15:00. That is consistent with the half-life of the molecule, around five hours in an average adult — and a good deal more in some people. An evening intake costs a night.

Why take breaks?

Because tolerance sets in quickly: after two to three weeks of daily use, the same dose no longer produces the same effect. The manufacturer advises 5 days on for 2 days off, or 3 weeks for 1 week. That is what allows you to keep one capsule effective without raising the doses.

Are the capsules suitable for vegetarians?

No. The shell is made of gelatine, of animal origin. The manufacturer also reports possible traces of gluten, milk, egg, soya, sulphites, fish, molluscs and crustaceans depending on manufacturing conditions.

Can it be combined with a pre-workout?

Technically yes, but you have to do the arithmetic. Most pre-workouts contain 150 to 350 mg of caffeine per serving: added to the 200 mg of a capsule, you exceed EFSA's daily benchmark in a single intake. The manufacturer does in fact explicitly advise against combining it with other stimulants.

How long does a bottle last?

More than three months at one capsule a day, the bottle holding 100. With the advised cycling — five days out of seven — reckon on four to five months. It is one of the most favourable dose-to-price ratios in the whole shop.

Where can you buy IO Genix Caffeine 200 mg?

The bottle of 100 capsules can be ordered from this page, and we ship anywhere in France and Europe. It is a product that covers a whole quarter of a year with a single bottle: few items in the catalogue can say as much.

At the counter in Vendargues, about ten minutes from Montpellier, it is the product we suggest to those who come in looking for a complete pre-workout without realising that what they like in it is essentially the caffeine. The test is simple: try a capsule on its own for two weeks, and you will know. The rest of the stimulants and pre-training formulas can be compared in our sports nutrition selection.

What is TrainedByJP's Estro Control?

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

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

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

What does a capsule of Estro Control contain?

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

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

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

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

How do you take Estro Control?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Estro Control or a ZMA?

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

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

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

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between DIM and I3C?

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

How long does a bottle last?

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

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

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

Can it be taken alongside the contraceptive pill?

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

Are the doses shown on the packaging?

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

Is this product suitable for women as well as men?

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

Can it be combined with other supplements?

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

Where can you buy TrainedByJP Estro Control?

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

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

What is TrainedByJP EAA + Hydration?

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

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

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

What does a serving of EAA + Hydration contain?

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

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

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

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

Ingredients list

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

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

How do you take EAA + Hydration?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

EAAs on their own, or EAAs with electrolytes?

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

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

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

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

Frequently asked questions

What are the exact amounts per serving?

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

What is the difference from BCAAs?

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

Which flavours are available?

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

When should you drink it?

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

Is magnesium in the oxide form a good choice?

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

How many servings are in the tub?

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

Does it replace an isotonic drink?

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

Where can you buy TrainedByJP EAA + Hydration?

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

What is Mutant Mass 6800 g?

Mutant Mass is a gainer, that is to say a powder designed to add a lot of calories to your day without having to eat more. One 280 g serving — four scoops — provides 1 100 kcal, 56 g of protein, 192 g of carbohydrate and 12 g of fat. The 6.8 kg bag covers 24 full servings.

Mutant is a Canadian brand, and this product is one of its long-standing formats. What sets it apart is the sheer number of sources: six different proteins and five carbohydrate sources, where many gainers make do with a whey concentrate and maltodextrin.

The flavours in the range: Cookies & Cream, Chocolate Fudge Brownie, Triple Chocolate, Vanilla Ice Cream and Strawberry Banana. The rest of the brand can be browsed in our Mutant Nutrition section, and other formulas of the same type in our hard gainer section.

What does a serving of Mutant Mass contain?

1 100 kcal in a shaker is the equivalent of three light meals. That is the reference point that matters, and it should be taken seriously: this is not a protein powder, it is a massive calorie load that you drink. For someone who cannot get past 2 500 kcal a day at the table, it is a formidably effective tool; for someone who already eats properly, it is the fastest way to put on fat.

The 26.1 g of essential amino acids, of which 12.2 g are BCAAs, are not added: they occur naturally in the 56 g of protein. That is an honest clarification the manufacturer makes itself, and it bears repeating, because many brands let you believe they have been added separately. Every milk protein contains these amino acids in these proportions.

The protein blend combines six sources: whey concentrate, isolate and hydrolysate, micellar casein, milk protein concentrate and milk protein isolate. The first three digest quickly, the next three more slowly. It is a coherent build for a product meant to replace a snack, less relevant if you are after a fast post-workout shake — a whey concentrate then does the job better.

On the carbohydrate side, the five sources are waxy maize starch, maltodextrin, barley starch, sweet potato and oat flakes. The first two are fast, the other three slower. A patented cinnamon extract also appears in the formula, along with two enzymes, lactase and protease. Let us note it without crediting it with any effect: no health claim is authorised in Europe for cinnamon extract or for these enzymes. The authorised claim on protein, on the other hand, applies fully here: protein contributes to the maintenance and growth of muscle mass.

Ingredients list

Carbohydrate blend (waxy maize starch, maltodextrin, BARLEY starch, sweet potato, OAT flakes), Mutant Mass Pro-Matrix [whey protein concentrate (MILK), hydrolysed whey protein (MILK), whey protein isolate (MILK), micellar casein protein (MILK), MILK protein concentrate, MILK protein isolate], lipid food blend (fractionated coconut oil, avocado, flaxseed, pumpkin seed, sunflower seed oil), thickeners (defatted SOYA beans, pea, guar gum), natural and artificial flavourings, sweetener (sucralose), emulsifier (sunflower lecithin), enzymes (lactase, protease), cinnamon extract (Cinnulin PF®), sour cherry.

Allergens: MILK, SOYA, GLUTEN (barley, oats). Made on equipment that also handles products containing egg, crustaceans, fish, nuts and peanuts.

How do you take Mutant Mass?

Serving: 4 scoops, that is 280 g. Liquid: 750 ml to 1 litre of cold water. Preparation: shake for 20 to 30 seconds in a shaker, or use a blender. Timing: after your session, or as a snack between two meals. Duration: there is no notion of a course here, it is a food intake.

Start with two scoops, not four. That is the most important piece of advice on this page, and the manufacturer gives it itself. 280 g of powder in one go, for someone who has never taken a gainer, almost always means a heavy stomach, difficult digestion and a skipped next meal — which cancels out the whole point of the product. Two scoops already gives you 550 kcal and 28 g of protein.

The volume of liquid is not negotiable. 750 ml to 1 litre for a full serving: below that, the texture becomes thick to the point of being hard to drink. A blender gives a far better result than a shaker with this kind of powder, and skimmed milk makes the drink creamier than water does, while adding a few calories.

Do not take it just before a meal. That is the mistake that ruins bulking phases: a 1 100 kcal shake an hour before lunch kills your appetite, and you eat less at the table. A gainer should be added to meals, not replace them. Slot it in after your session, or mid-morning and in the afternoon on rest days.

The logical complement, if you are looking to increase your intake without relying entirely on powder, remains food carbohydrates: cream of rice or oat flour are eaten with a spoon and fill you up differently.

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

It is aimed at someone whose real problem is appetite: a fast metabolism, days too busy to eat five times, a long-standing difficulty in putting on weight. In that situation, a gainer is the most effective product on the shelf, quite simply because it is easier to drink 1 100 kcal than to chew them.

It is not suitable for anyone under 18, for pregnant or breastfeeding women, or for anyone on medical treatment without their doctor's advice. It contains milk, soya and gluten (barley and oats): three major allergens, which rules out a fair number of profiles straight away. Traces of egg, crustaceans, fish, nuts and peanuts are also possible.

Nor is it suitable for someone who already eats enough. Adding 1 100 kcal to a balanced diet does not build muscle: it builds fat. A gainer only makes sense if you have measured your intake and found it wanting. Otherwise, a plain whey isolate powder, at 120 kcal a serving, answers your need better.

What you should not expect from it. No gainer builds muscle mass on its own: it supplies calories, and training decides what the body does with them. Without heavy, regular sessions, weight gained on a gainer is essentially fat. And 480 mg of sucralose per serving is an amount you notice in the taste: some people do not get on with it.

Gainer, or protein and carbohydrates separately?

This is the classic trade-off in the mass-gain aisle, and there is no wrong answer — just two different logics.

Buying them separately costs less and leaves you in control. A protein on one side, maltodextrin or oat flakes on the other, and you build the ratio that suits you: more carbohydrate on training days, less on rest days. You can also step it up gradually rather than swallowing a 1 100 kcal block.

The gainer wins on simplicity and on consistency. Four scoops, a litre of water, done. And for someone who struggles to eat, the main constraint is not the price per kilo: it is managing to take in the calories every day, without thinking about it. A product you actually prepare beats a perfect protocol you abandon after ten days.

One middle-ground option is worth knowing about: a lean gainer offers a ratio more favourable to protein and less loaded with carbohydrate, which suits a controlled bulk better than a product with 192 g of carbohydrate per serving. It is often the best compromise for anyone who does not want to pick up three kilos of fat along the way.

Frequently asked questions

How many calories per serving?

1 100 kcal for a 280 g serving, that is four scoops, with 56 g of protein, 192 g of carbohydrate and 12 g of fat. The 6.8 kg bag covers 24 full servings. At a half serving, allow 550 kcal and 28 g of protein.

Do you really need to take four scoops?

No, and we even recommend starting with two. The manufacturer recommends it too. 280 g in one go, when you are not used to it, almost always causes digestive discomfort and kills your appetite for the next meal — the opposite of what you are after.

Are the BCAAs added to the formula?

No. The 26.1 g of essential amino acids and the 12.2 g of BCAAs occur naturally in the 56 g of milk protein. It is the manufacturer itself that makes this clear, and it is more honest than the way many competing brands present it.

What are the allergens?

Milk, soya and gluten, the last of these coming from the barley and oats in the carbohydrate blend. The product is also made on equipment that handles egg, crustaceans, fish, nuts and peanuts: traces are possible.

Which flavours are available?

Cookies & Cream, Chocolate Fudge Brownie, Triple Chocolate, Vanilla Ice Cream and Strawberry Banana. The composition is identical from one flavour to the next. Each contains 480 mg of sucralose per serving, which makes for a very sweet taste.

Water or milk to mix it?

Both work, with 750 ml to 1 litre for a full serving. Milk gives a creamier texture and adds calories, which works in the product's favour. Water remains easier to digest at that sort of volume. A blender gives a better result than a shaker.

Does this product build muscle?

It supplies calories and protein; it is training that determines what the body does with them. Without heavy, regular sessions, the weight you gain will be mostly fat. And if your food intake is already sufficient, adding 1 100 kcal will do you no favours.

Where can you buy Mutant Mass 6800 g?

The 6.8 kg bag can be ordered from this page in the flavours available, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, we always start with the same question before selling a gainer: how much are you actually eating at the moment? Nine times out of ten, the answer points towards two scoops rather than four, and sometimes towards a different product altogether. The rest of our selection can be browsed in the mass gain section.

What is the Per4m Protein Bar?

It is a 62 g protein bar coated in milk chocolate, supplying 20 g of protein for 200 kcal. The flavours listed, from Dubai Chocolate to Baklava by way of Salted Caramel and Cookie Dough.

It is built in three layers: a protein blend at 37%, a caramel-flavoured layer at 10% and a milk chocolate coating at 15%. Sugar is replaced by maltitol, a polyol, and by oligofructose; vegetable glycerol acts as a humectant and gives the bar its softness.

One point about the composition needs raising straight away, because it changes how you read the label: the protein blend combines milk proteins, soya isolate crispies and hydrolysed bovine collagen. We come back to it below. The full range sits in our Per4m aisle, and the category as a whole in protein bars.

What does a 62 g bar contain?

* Column calculated from the values declared for one bar. Three lines are missing from the data supplied, and they are not trivial ones: sugars, polyols and saturates. Yet maltitol appears twice in the ingredients list, as the main sweetener of both the bar and the coating. We will not publish a figure we do not have: read the label on the bar you receive, particularly if your digestion reacts to polyols.

What is solid, on the other hand, really is solid. Twenty grams of protein for 200 kcal means that 40% of the bar's energy comes from protein — double the 20% threshold that allows the “high protein” claim. It is one of the best ratios in the aisle, and it can be checked. The 5.1 g of fibre, that is 8.2 g per 100 g, also clear the “high fibre” threshold, set at 6 g per 100 g. And the 120 mg of calcium at 15% of the NRV allow the “source of calcium” claim, which is rare on a bar.

Now for the nuance that matters, and that the aisle never mentions. Hydrolysed bovine collagen is part of the protein blend. Collagen is an incomplete protein: its essential amino acid profile is very poor, in tryptophan especially. It counts in full towards the 20 g declared for labelling purposes, without bringing the same value as a milk protein. Since the manufacturer does not publish the split between the three sources, we cannot say what share of the total it represents. It is worth knowing before you compare this bar with another.

The applicable wording remains the only authorised one: protein contributes to a growth in and the maintenance of muscle mass. For calcium, at 15% of the NRV: calcium contributes to normal muscle function and is needed for the maintenance of normal bones.

How does this bar fit into the day?

Serving: 1 bar of 62 g. Liquid: 250 ml of water, as the bar is dense. Timing: after training, as a snack between two meals, or as a dessert. Frequency: one bar a day. Duration: none, it is a food.

Two hundred kilocalories is a proper snack and not a trivial nibble. For comparison, it is the energy equivalent of a large banana with a yoghurt — but with 20 g of protein instead of 5. That is exactly what makes the product worthwhile: the ratio, not the idea that it is “light”, which it is not.

The most relevant use is the one where nothing else is possible: a trip, a day with no break, a session followed by two hours of travel. That is where a bar beats a shake, because it needs no water, no shaker and no fridge. At home, a bowl of fromage blanc will do the same job for less.

On timing, let us keep it plain: there is no thirty-minute window to hit after training. The day's protein total matters more than the slot. Eat it when you are genuinely short of protein.

Store it dry, at room temperature and away from direct light. As the coating is milk chocolate, it melts in a car in summer — the only real drawback of the format in our part of the world.

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

It suits those who need a portable protein snack, and those looking for a treat that counts towards their totals rather than an ordinary chocolate bar. The flavours, squarely in dessert territory, are a genuine argument: boredom is the leading cause of people giving up in this aisle.

It contains MILK and SOYA, and may contain GLUTEN. The manufacturer declares it unsuitable for people allergic to NUTS and PEANUTS. It is aimed at adults; pregnant and breastfeeding women should seek advice before consuming it, as with any supplement.

It does not suit vegetarians: hydrolysed bovine collagen is of animal origin, which the name “protein bar” gives no hint of. It is a point we flag as a matter of course over the counter. It suits you less well if you tolerate polyols poorly: maltitol is the main sweetener, and its content is not declared. Excessive consumption of polyols may produce laxative effects; one bar is generally well tolerated, two or three much less so.

What you should not expect from it: this is not a weight-loss product. Two hundred kilocalories added to an already complete day remain 200 kcal added. A protein bar is only worthwhile if it replaces something — an afternoon snack, a pastry, a ruined meal. Stacked on top of everything else, it does nothing more than what its label says.

Per4m Protein Bar or Grenade Carb Killa?

These are the two bars most often compared over the counter, and we sell both.

The Grenade range is built on a bar that is lighter in weight, around 60 g, with a protein profile that is often entirely dairy and a crunchier texture. It is the better choice if you want to avoid collagen in the protein blend, or if you prefer a bar that crunches to one that is soft.

The Per4m wins on three measurable points: 40% of its energy supplied by protein, 5.1 g of fibre and 15% of the NRV in calcium, which few bars can show. It also offers flavours you will not find elsewhere. Its triple-layer texture — coating, caramel centre, crispies — really does come close to confectionery, which is an argument if the bar has to stand in for a dessert.

If your need is simply to add protein at the lowest cost, neither is the right choice: a shake from the protein aisle costs two to three times less for the same intake. You buy a bar for its convenience and its taste, not for its price-to-protein ratio. The other snack formats can be compared in our protein snacks and protein cookies aisles.

Frequently asked questions

Does all 20 g of protein come from milk?

No. The protein blend combines milk proteins, soya isolate and hydrolysed bovine collagen. Collagen is an incomplete protein, very poor in essential amino acids, but it counts in full towards the declared total. The manufacturer does not publish the split between the three sources.

How much sugar is in one bar?

The manufacturer does not declare that line in the labelling data available to us, any more than the polyol line, even though maltitol is the main sweetener. We will not publish an unverified figure: refer to the label on the bar you receive.

Is the bar suitable for vegetarians?

No. The hydrolysed bovine collagen in the protein blend is of animal origin. It is a piece of information that often comes as a surprise, since the name “protein bar” suggests a dairy or plant-based product only.

Can it cause digestive upset?

Maltitol is a polyol, and excessive consumption of polyols may produce laxative effects. One bar a day is generally well tolerated; two or three much less so, all the more since 5.1 g of fibre and oligofructose come with it. If you are sensitive, start with half a bar.

Is 200 kcal a lot for a snack?

It is a proper snack, the energy equivalent of a large banana with a yoghurt — but with 20 g of protein instead of 5. It is not a trivial nibble: it makes sense if it replaces something, less so if it is added to an already complete day.

Which flavour should you choose?

Chocolate Brownie and Cookie Dough are the safe bets, in a classic register. Dubai Chocolate and Baklava are the most marketed, enjoyable now and then but wearing after a few bars. Salted Caramel and Chocolate Peanut Butter are the sweetest on the palate. Note that flavour availability varies with deliveries.

Should you eat it right after training?

No. The thirty-minute window is an outdated notion: it is the protein total over twenty-four hours that counts. Eat the bar at the moment when you have no other decent option — that is where, and only where, it beats a real meal or a shake.

Where to buy the Per4m Protein Bar?

The available flavours can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. The assortment moves with deliveries: it is an aisle worth checking regularly.

At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is the aisle where people buy singles before committing to a whole box, and that is the right instinct: a bar you do not like stays in the cupboard, whatever its nutritional values. The rest of the snacks can be compared in our sports nutrition section, and dedicated collagen sources in their own aisle.

What is IO Genix TestoLuxe?

IO Genix TestoLuxe is a capsule complex from the Luxury range, sold in a box of 120 capsules — that is 30 days at 4 capsules a day. It brings together thirteen components, every one of them quantified to the milligram, which is rare in a category so often filled with proprietary blends.

The formula combines patented extracts — KSM-66® Ashwagandha, Primavie® Shilajit, Testofen® Fenugreek, AstraGin® and BioPerine® — with D-aspartic acid, saw palmetto, cordyceps, dimethylglycine, and four micronutrients: vitamins B3, B5, D and zinc.

One thing has to be said straight away, because it shapes this entire page: of those thirteen components, only one carries an authorised claim in Europe — zinc. We come back to this in detail below. The product sits in our IO Genix range.

What do four capsules contain?

Everything is quantified, which allows an honest comparison with any competitor. One reservation all the same: the form of vitamin B3 is not specified. At 54 mg the difference matters — at that level nicotinic acid causes the well-known facial flush, nicotinamide does not. We flag the missing detail rather than guess at it.

Here now is the central point, and we put it plainly. Zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal testosterone levels in the blood: that is a wording approved by European Regulation 432/2012, applicable from 15% of the NRV, and the 10 mg in this formula cover 100% of it. Zinc also contributes to the normal function of the immune system, to normal protein synthesis and to normal fertility. Vitamin D contributes to the maintenance of normal muscle function and normal bones, and vitamins B3 and B5 contribute to normal energy-yielding metabolism, with B3 also contributing to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.

By contrast, no claim is authorised in Europe for D-aspartic acid, ashwagandha, shilajit, fenugreek, saw palmetto, cordyceps, dimethylglycine or the AstraGin® and BioPerine® extracts. The 1,500 mg of DAA make up the highest dose in the formula; we list it because it appears on the label, without attributing any effect to it. “Testosterone booster” is a commercial category name, not a promise — and you now know where the only statement we can stand behind comes from.

How should TestoLuxe be taken?

Dose: 4 capsules a day, never more. Fluid: a large glass of water with each serving. Timing: 2 capsules in the morning and 2 at midday, with meals — ideally 30 minutes before breakfast and 30 minutes before lunch. Frequency: two servings a day. Duration: a course of at least 30 days, with possible cycles of 8 to 12 weeks and a 2 to 4 week break between courses.

Splitting the dose in two is not fussiness: four capsules at once, on an empty stomach, sit badly with a good many people. Two in the morning and two at midday spread the load and make it easier to stick with over thirty days.

The manufacturer explicitly advises against combining it with another hormonal product. That instruction is worth following: stacking two formulas of this kind multiplies the extracts without multiplying anything else. On the other hand, if a blood test shows a deficiency in vitamin D or zinc, a dedicated supplement can make sense — but do the arithmetic, the formula already provides 100% of the NRV for each.

One last point, and it is the most honest on this page: the manufacturer itself is a reminder that sleep (7 to 8 hours), regular strength training, stress management and diet all count. Those four levers weigh infinitely more than any capsule, and no supplement replaces them.

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

The manufacturer restricts it explicitly to adult men over 18. That is the first criterion, and it is not negotiable.

The contraindications are numerous. Not for pregnant or breastfeeding women. Not recommended for people with hormonal disorders or on medical treatment. Consult a doctor before use in case of cardiovascular, liver or kidney problems. Do not exceed 4 capsules a day. And one specific point: the product is not recommended in case of allergy to plants of the Fabaceae family, fenugreek being one of them — that family also includes peanut, pea and soya.

Let us add a note of caution of our own: the presence of BioPerine® at 10 mg, a black pepper extract standardised in piperine, alters the liver metabolism of many medicines. If you are on any treatment at all, the question is one to put to your doctor or pharmacist before opening the box.

What not to expect from it: a transformation. No claim allows anyone to announce a rise in testosterone beyond the maintenance of normal levels by zinc, and that wording describes precisely a maintenance, not an increase. If you are experiencing symptoms of hormonal deficiency — persistent fatigue, reduced libido, unexplained loss of strength — the useful step is a blood test prescribed by a doctor. Not a box of capsules.

TestoLuxe or zinc on its own?

This is the most useful comparison we can make here, and it is an uncomfortable one for the product. Better to own it.

A zinc sold on its own, or a ZMA complex combining zinc, magnesium and vitamin B6, costs a fraction of the price of this product. And it carries exactly the same authorised claim: zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal testosterone levels in the blood. If that wording is what convinced you, be aware that a bottle of zinc costing a few euros holds it just as well. That is the truth, and we would rather give it to you before the purchase.

What TestoLuxe adds on top is an assembly of patented extracts — KSM-66®, Primavie®, Testofen® — that would be long and expensive to put together separately, with every dose published and a single daily routine to manage. If you were going to try ashwagandha, shilajit and fenugreek anyway, buying them together makes a case for itself. If you were only after the effect of zinc, it does not. Plants of this kind are also available separately under ashwagandha, shilajit and fenugreek.

Frequently asked questions

How long does one box last?

Thirty days. The box holds 120 capsules and the dose is 4 a day. For a cycle of 8 to 12 weeks as the manufacturer recommends, count on two to three boxes, followed by a 2 to 4 week break.

What is the only effect that can be claimed?

The one from zinc: it contributes to the maintenance of normal testosterone levels in the blood, and the 10 mg in the formula cover 100% of the NRV. No other component holds an authorised claim in Europe. We would rather say so clearly than keep things vague.

Is the product suitable for women?

No. The manufacturer restricts it explicitly to adult men over 18, and rules it out for pregnant or breastfeeding women. That restriction appears on the label and we repeat it as it stands.

Can it be taken alongside medical treatment?

Not without medical advice. The product is not recommended for people on treatment, and the presence of BioPerine® — a black pepper extract standardised in piperine — alters the metabolism of many medicines. Put the question to your doctor or pharmacist.

Can the 54 mg of vitamin B3 cause flushing?

That depends on the form used, which the manufacturer does not specify. As nicotinic acid, a flush is possible at that dose; as nicotinamide, it is not. If you notice facial redness after taking it, it is harmless and passes within half an hour.

Should breaks be taken?

Yes, the manufacturer recommends cycles of 8 to 12 weeks followed by a 2 to 4 week break. The minimum course is 30 days, that is one box: below that, there is no point.

Can it be combined with another hormonal booster?

No, the manufacturer explicitly advises against it. Stacking two formulas of this kind multiplies the extracts and the costs without guaranteeing anything, and complicates matters if an adverse effect appears. One at a time.

Where to buy IO Genix TestoLuxe?

The box of 120 capsules can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. It is a complete and fully quantified formula, which makes it comparable — and that already counts for a lot in a category dominated by proprietary blends.

In Vendargues, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is a product we talk through at length before selling it, because the expectations it raises often go beyond what the regulations allow anyone to announce. Better to know that beforehand than after.

What is IO Genix ALC1000?

IO Genix ALC1000 is a single-ingredient supplement: one vegetable capsule provides 1,000 mg of acetyl-L-carnitine, and nothing beyond the shell. The bottle holds 60 capsules, which is two months at one serving a day. The rest of the Spanish range is in our IO Genix section.

Carnitine is a molecule the body makes for itself from two amino acids, lysine and methionine, and which the diet supplies mainly through red meat. Its physiological role is well described: it carries long-chain fatty acids across the mitochondrial membrane, where they are oxidised. That is the mechanism, and it is not disputed.

Acetyl-L-carnitine is the acetylated form of that molecule. The difference is not cosmetic: adding the acetyl group changes the way it moves around the body, and this is the form that crosses the blood-brain barrier most readily. That is why it is usually the one chosen when the aim is something other than fat metabolism alone.

What does one ALC1000 capsule contain?

The manufacturer does not publish energy values for this product, and the question makes little sense for a capsule of this size.

1,000 mg per capsule is a generous dose and it is a single serving. That is what sets this product apart from most of its category: many carnitine supplements require three or four capsules a day to reach the gram, which multiplies the chances of forgetting. Here, one capsule in the morning and it is done.

The second notable point is the brevity of the formula: one active, one vegetable shell, nothing else. No bulking agent, no colouring, no declared anti-caking agent. In a category where you find fifteen-line lists, this is a label you can read in three seconds, and that is a genuine deciding factor.

We must, however, say what the law allows us to write, because it is essential with this family of products. No health claim is authorised in Europe for carnitine, in any form whatsoever. Not on fat burning, not on energy, not on performance, not on cognitive function. The mechanism of fatty acid transport is real and taught; the effect of oral supplementation in someone who is not deficient, however, has not convinced the European assessors. So we can describe the molecule and its dose; we cannot promise you anything.

One last point on wording: the manufacturer presents the product as “100% natural”. The acetyl-L-carnitine sold commercially is obtained by synthesis or by fermentation, and that phrasing strikes us as questionable. We are not repeating it. What is true and verifiable is that there is no additive in the capsule.

Ingredient list

Acetyl-L-carnitine 1,000 mg, vegetable capsule (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose). Gluten-free, lactose-free. Suitable for vegetarian and vegan diets, as synthetic carnitine is not of animal origin.

How do you take ALC1000?

Serving: 1 capsule. Liquid: a glass of water, 200 ml is enough. Timing: in the morning on an empty stomach, or before physical activity. Frequency: one serving a day. Duration: the manufacturer describes cycles of two to three months, with the option of continuous use.

Avoid taking it in the evening. The manufacturer points this out and it is the most useful piece of advice on this page: acetyl-L-carnitine can interfere with falling asleep in some users. The morning is the default slot; before training works too, provided you are not training at 21:00.

Taking it on an empty stomach is recommended in order to limit competition with the amino acids from a meal, as carnitine uses comparable transporters. It is not an absolute requirement: if an empty stomach bothers you, taking it after a light breakfast is still better than giving up.

Consistency matters more than the exact timing. The manufacturer states that the first noticeable effects, if there are any, appear after two to four weeks of continuous use. A trial of a few days allows no conclusion, in either direction.

Drink normally through the day. And be aware that this product combines without difficulty with coenzyme Q10 or with omega 3, which act on neighbouring steps of energy metabolism — with none of the three duplicating another.

Who is ALC1000 for, and who is it not for?

It suits an adult who wants to try a single active, properly dosed, without going through a combined formula in which they will never know which ingredient is doing the work. It suits vegetarians and vegans particularly well: their diet supplies very little carnitine, red meat being the main source, and that is the profile for which an extra intake makes the most sense.

The manufacturer asks that you seek the advice of a healthcare professional in the event of pregnancy, breastfeeding or ongoing medical treatment, and rules the product out in the event of hypersensitivity to any of its components. It must be kept out of reach of children.

It is not for you if you are looking for a product with an immediate effect: there is nothing to feel when you take it, and that is normal. Nor is it for you if your goal is weight loss — we come to that in the next paragraph, and it is the subject on which this category tells the most stories.

What you should not expect from it: carnitine does not melt fat away. The fact that a molecule carries fatty acids to the mitochondria does not mean that adding more speeds anything up: in someone eating a normal diet, that transport is not the limiting factor. That is precisely why no claim has been validated. Fat loss comes from a calorie deficit, and nothing else. If you buy this product thinking it will replace a deficit, you will be disappointed, and we would rather say so beforehand.

Acetyl-L-carnitine or L-carnitine tartrate?

These are the two forms found on the shelves, and they are not interchangeable.

L-carnitine tartrate is the most common form in fat burner capsules and in training drinks. It is cheaper, it dissolves well, and it is the one most often used in protocols dealing with exercise and recovery. It is the better choice if your use is strictly sporting and if you take it around your sessions.

Acetyl-L-carnitine crosses the blood-brain barrier more readily thanks to its acetyl group. It is the form chosen when the interest lies somewhere other than muscle. It costs more per gram, and it is taken as a capsule rather than a powder. It is the better choice if you want a single active, additive-free, in one daily serving.

Neither of the two has an authorised claim in Europe: on that score, they are level. The choice therefore comes down to form, dose and use, not to a promise. If your goal is to structure a calorie deficit, the weight loss section brings together all the products in that family, and the caffeine-free formulas avoid adding a stimulant to an already busy day.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference from standard L-carnitine?

Acetyl-L-carnitine carries an additional acetyl group, which changes how it moves around the body and lets it cross the blood-brain barrier more readily. L-carnitine tartrate, more common and cheaper, is the one found in fat burners and training drinks. These are two different uses for the same family of molecules.

When should you take it?

In the morning on an empty stomach, or before physical activity. Avoid taking it in the evening: the manufacturer points out that it can affect sleep in some people. As with any active with a gradual effect, the hour matters less than the consistency.

How long does a bottle last?

Two months, at one capsule a day for 60 capsules. That matches exactly the cycles of two to three months described by the manufacturer. One bottle therefore covers a full course, with nothing left over and nothing missing.

Does it make you lose weight?

No, and no claim of that kind is authorised in Europe. Carnitine carries fatty acids to the mitochondria, but that transport is not the limiting factor in someone who is properly fed. Fat loss results from a calorie deficit. This product is no substitute for it.

Is this product suitable for vegetarians?

Yes, and it is in fact the profile for which it holds the most interest. The shell is made from hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, of plant origin, and the carnitine sold commercially is not of animal origin. And a vegetarian diet supplies very little carnitine, red meat being the main dietary source.

Can it be taken continuously?

The manufacturer indicates that it can, while also describing cycles of two to three months. In practice, one bottle corresponds to one cycle, and taking a break between two lets you check whether stopping changes anything — which remains the only honest way to assess a product with no authorised claim.

Are there any additives in the capsule?

None in the published information: one active and one vegetable shell, that is the whole list. The product is also declared gluten-free and lactose-free. In a category where the excipients often take up more room than the active, that is a concrete argument.

Where can you buy IO Genix ALC1000?

The bottle of 60 capsules can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is a product we sell mainly to vegetarian customers, and rarely to those who come in looking for a fat burner: it is not one, and saying so avoids a disappointment. The rest of the category can be browsed in our sports nutrition section.

What is Nutriting's nuAshwagandha KSM-66?

Nutriting nuAshwagandha is an organic ashwagandha root extract in vegetable capsules. One capsule provides 300 mg of KSM-66® extract, standardised to 5% withanolides, i.e. 15 mg per capsule. The 60-capsule bottle covers one to two months depending on the dose you settle on.

Ashwagandha, Withania somnifera, is a plant from the Ayurvedic tradition, grown mainly in India. It is its withanolides, a family of molecules specific to the plant, that supplement manufacturers are interested in — and it is their content, never the gross weight of the extract, that lets you compare two products.

Two features set this product apart in a very crowded category: it uses the root only, and extraction is done with water, without any chemical solvent. Many extracts on the market blend root and leaves, which is not equivalent. The rest of the French range can be browsed in our Nutriting section, and the other products in the category in our ashwagandha section.

What does one nuAshwagandha capsule contain?

The figure to remember is not 300 mg but 15 mg: that is the amount of withanolides, and it is the only line that can be compared from one product to another. An extract standardised to 1.5% — common on the market — would have to weigh 1,000 mg to provide as much. So when you compare two ashwagandhas, set the milligrams of withanolides side by side, never the weight of the extract.

Second point, and it determines the dose to go for: the published work on this patented extract most often uses 600 mg a day. That corresponds to two capsules, not one. If you want to place yourself under the conditions of those protocols, two capsules are what you need to take, and the bottle then covers one month. The manufacturer leaves the choice between one and two, which is honest, but you may as well know what each option represents.

On the regulatory side, we should be clear: no health claim is authorised in Europe for ashwagandha. Not on stress, not on sleep, not on fatigue, not on performance. The dossiers submitted came to nothing. So we describe a plant, a standardised extract and directions for use, without announcing any result — which is very different from what you will read on most sites in this category.

The process deserves to be spelled out because it is genuinely distinctive. Extraction is entirely water-based: water, and nothing else. Many plant extracts go through organic solvents, traces of which can remain. The root, moreover, comes from organic farming, hand-harvested in Rajasthan, naturally dried, then extracted and packed in France. The bulking agent is an organic acacia fibre, and the capsule is vegetable: the formula is therefore suitable for vegetarian and vegan diets.

List of ingredients

Organic KSM-66® ashwagandha root extract (Withania somnifera L.) standardised to 5% withanolides, vegetable capsule (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose), bulking agent: organic acacia fibre.

No declared allergens. GMO-free, gluten-free, free from artificial additives. Traces are possible depending on manufacturing conditions.

How should you take nuAshwagandha?

Dose: 1 capsule in the first week, then 1 to 2 depending on your tolerance. Liquid: a glass of water. Timing: with a meal; morning or evening depending on the use you have in mind. Frequency: one to two servings a day. Duration: one to two months minimum, repeatable.

Start with one capsule for a week before moving to two. The manufacturer recommends it, and it is good advice: it lets you gauge your digestive tolerance, as ashwagandha causes passing discomfort in some people during the first few days. Taking it with a meal, incidentally, settles most of those inconveniences.

The time of day depends on what you are looking for. The morning, if you are after support across the day; the evening, if your concern is rather the end of the day. There is no absolute rule, and many users split one capsule in the morning and one in the evening when they are on two a day.

Duration matters more than timing. One to two months minimum: that is the period the manufacturer settles on, and it is consistent with this type of plant. Judging after a week makes no sense, and yet it is the most common mistake in this category. The 60-capsule bottle covers exactly one month at two capsules, or two months at just one.

Nothing replaces, alongside this, regular sleep and moderate physical activity — the manufacturer points it out himself, and that is more honest than most of the talk in this category. This plant combines without overlap with a maca or a spirulina, which rest on other foundations.

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

It is aimed at an adult who wants to try this plant with a standardised, organic and traceable extract, rather than a root powder whose active content nobody knows. It is a clean product, and the transparency about origin and process is real.

The contraindications are serious and you need to read them before buying, not after. The product is not recommended for people suffering from hyperthyroidism or with a family history of thyroid disease. It is not recommended if you are on antidepressant or thyroid medication without the advice of a healthcare professional. It is not recommended for pregnant and breastfeeding women without medical advice, and is for adults only.

The French national food safety agency has, moreover, published an opinion calling for vigilance over ashwagandha, flagging in particular cases of liver damage and thyroid interactions. It recommends caution for pregnant and breastfeeding women, minors, and people with a liver or thyroid condition. That is not a reason not to sell the product, it is a reason to sell it while saying so.

What you should not expect from it. No claim exists in Europe for this plant, neither on stress nor on sleep. It does not build muscle, does not make you lose weight and does not improve performance. Above all, it replaces no treatment: anxiety that persists, established insomnia or lasting exhaustion are matters for a doctor, and a food supplement will not answer them.

Ashwagandha or magnesium?

This is the most useful comparison in the category, and it goes in favour of the second more often than people think.

Magnesium has a decisive advantage: it has authorised claims. Magnesium contributes to the normal functioning of the nervous system, to normal psychological function and to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. Those are the official wordings, and no plant in this category has any. It costs less, it is taken without major contraindications, and shortfalls in intake are common in everyday diets. Our magnesium section is therefore the place to start.

Ashwagandha follows a different logic: it is a plant of traditional use, with a patented and standardised extract, taken in full awareness of that. Its appeal lies in the quality of the raw material — here, root only, water extraction, organic, 5% withanolides — not in efficacy demonstrated in the regulatory sense.

In which case is neither the answer? If your problem is falling asleep, melatonin is the only molecule in this catalogue with a claim on the time it takes to fall asleep, which puts it in a class of its own. And if you are already taking a ZMA in the evening, check its composition before stacking: these products often overlap, and our GABA section offers yet another route.

Frequently asked questions

How many withanolides per capsule?

15 mg, for 300 mg of extract standardised to 5%. It is the only line that can be compared from one product to another: an extract standardised to 1.5% would have to weigh 1,000 mg to provide as much. Never compare the gross weight of the extract, compare the withanolides.

One or two capsules a day?

The published work on this patented extract most often uses 600 mg a day, which corresponds to two capsules. Even so, start with one for a week, as the manufacturer recommends, to gauge your tolerance before increasing.

Morning or evening?

Both are possible and the manufacturer leaves the choice open. The morning for support across the day, the evening for the end of the day. On two capsules, many users take one in the morning and one in the evening. In every case, take it with a meal.

Are there any contraindications?

Yes, and they are serious. The product is not recommended in cases of hyperthyroidism or a family history of thyroid disease, on antidepressant or thyroid medication, and for pregnant or breastfeeding women without medical advice. The national food safety agency also calls for vigilance where the liver is concerned.

What does water extraction bring?

It avoids any chemical solvent, traces of which can remain in some plant extracts. It is a more costly choice of process, combined here with an organic root hand-harvested in Rajasthan and naturally dried, with extraction and packing taking place in France.

Root only, or root and leaves?

This extract is obtained from the root alone. Many products on the market blend root and leaves, which gives a different composition profile for a sometimes identical stated standardisation. It is a point of comparison that few product pages mention.

Are the capsules suitable for vegans?

Yes. The shell is a vegetable capsule made of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and the bulking agent is an organic acacia fibre. The manufacturer declares the absence of GMOs, gluten and artificial additives, as well as no allergens in the composition.

Where can you buy Nutriting's nuAshwagandha?

The 60-capsule bottle can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, it is a product we are glad to sell for the quality of its raw material, but never without asking one question: do you have a thyroid problem, in your family or yourself? With this plant, the answer changes everything. The rest of our selection can be browsed in the sports nutrition section.

What is the IO Genix Protein Doughnut?

IO Genix Protein Doughnut is a ready-to-eat filled doughnut, sold singly. One 70 g doughnut provides 9 g of protein for 277 kcal, with 25 g of carbohydrate and 13 g of fat. There are four recipes, with different fillings — praline, speculoos, white chocolate — and the composition varies from one version to another.

What sets this product apart from a bakery doughnut comes down to the first ingredient on its list: egg white comes top, ahead of the flours. That is highly unusual for a pastry, and it is what explains the product's protein-to-calorie ratio. A whey protein concentrate rounds out the contribution.

Two other formulation choices are worth flagging: the absence of palm oil, replaced by sunflower and soya oils, and the use of maltitol as a sweetener in place of part of the sugar. The rest of the Spanish range appears in our IO Genix aisle, and the other snacks of this kind in our protein snacks aisle.

What does a Protein Doughnut contain?

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

9 g of protein for 277 kcal works out at around 13% of the product's energy: the European threshold of 12% is cleared, so the “source of protein” claim applies. For a doughnut, that is remarkable. The comparison with a bakery pastry of the same weight speaks for itself: that one generally provides 4 to 5 g, for a calorie total that is often higher.

Several rows in the table are still empty, and we are not going to fill them in. The manufacturer publishes neither the sugars content, nor the saturates content, nor the salt content, and simply states the presence of fibre without giving the amount. These are figures that must appear on the packaging: the label on the product you receive is what counts, and it is the one to read if you are counting precisely.

An honest word on what these numbers say. This doughnut is still a pastry: 277 kcal, 25 g of carbohydrate and 13 g of fat is not a light food. Its added value is real but limited to one specific point: it provides twice as much protein as a standard doughnut, without palm oil, and with part of the sugar replaced by maltitol. It is an improvement, not a transformation.

Maltitol, for its part, deserves a word of explanation. It is a polyol, that is to say a bulk sweetener. It provides fewer calories than sugar and does not raise blood glucose in the same way, but it is not calorie-free and how well it is tolerated digestively varies from person to person.

Ingredients list (white chocolate version)

EGG white, vegetable oils (sunflower, SOYA), humectant (glycerine), white chocolate cream 15% [inulin fibre, sunflower vegetable oil, MILK proteins, maize starch, rice flour, HAZELNUT paste 9%, sunflower vegetable fat, emulsifier (sunflower lecithin), natural vanilla flavouring], WHEAT flour, wholegrain oat flour, whey protein concentrate (MILK), sweetener (maltitol), raising agents (sodium bicarbonate, sodium pyrophosphate).

Contains EGGS, MILK, GLUTEN, SOYA and NUTS (hazelnut).

Careful — one allergen point to state clearly: the filling of the white chocolate version contains 9% hazelnut paste, which makes nuts a full ingredient and not a mere trace, contrary to what the manufacturer's generic wording suggests. If you are allergic to nuts, this version is strictly not recommended for you, and the label on the unit you receive is the only reference for the other recipes.

How should you eat the Protein Doughnut?

Serving: 1 doughnut of 70 g. Preparation: none, the product is ready to eat. Timing: within 30 minutes after training, or as a snack during the day. Frequency: one unit per serving, according to your eating plan. Storage: in a dry place, away from light, tightly resealed after opening.

There is nothing to prepare, and that is the whole point of the format. A doughnut in a gym bag settles the question of the post-session snack with no shaker, no water and no washing-up.

The slot where this product makes the most sense is after training. The 25 g of carbohydrate and 9 g of protein find their place there in a training day, whereas the same doughnut eaten at ten at night in front of the television is simply a pastry. It is not a question of composition, it is a question of timing.

It goes very well with a coffee or a tea, as the manufacturer suggests. Do avoid, however, stacking it with a protein shake within the same half hour: 9 g of protein plus 25 g of whey is a high protein total in a single serving, and it brings nothing extra.

On the calorie side, count it as a substantial snack: 277 kcal is more than a standard protein bar. On a day when you are watching the total, you need to make room for it rather than adding it on top.

Lastly, reseal the wrapper carefully if you do not finish the unit: this type of product dries out quickly in the open air, and its soft texture is precisely what sets it apart from a bar.

Who is the Protein Doughnut suitable for, and who is it not suitable for?

It suits anyone looking for an indulgent snack after a session, anyone who struggles to eat enough protein during the day, and those who have grown tired of protein bars. It also works very well during a bulking phase, where the 277 kcal become an asset rather than a constraint.

It is not suitable for people allergic to eggs, milk proteins, gluten, soya or nuts. These are main ingredients here and not traces: egg white at the top of the list, wheat flour, whey protein, soya oil, and hazelnut paste in the filling of the white chocolate version. It is the product in this range with the heaviest allergen list.

Nor is it suitable for vegans, or for people sensitive to polyols because of the maltitol. And if you are strictly watching your carbohydrates, 25 g per unit is a figure that counts: a drier protein snack will suit you better, over in our protein bars.

The manufacturer points out that this product is not a substitute for a balanced meal and should form part of a varied diet. It also states that it contains sugar in addition to maltitol.

What not to expect from it: it is not a slimming product, and it is not “sugar-free”. It is a pastry that is better built than average, with twice as much protein and no palm oil. If your goal is a high protein intake for a minimum of calories, a protein powder or a high-content bar is what you should turn to.

Protein doughnut or protein cookie?

Both play in the same register — the baked treat that provides protein — and they are separated not by composition but by use.

A protein cookie is generally denser, drier, and keeps better in a bag. It often provides more protein per unit. It is the better choice for the snack that spends three days in a rucksack pocket.

The doughnut is banking on the soft texture and the filling, which no cookie can offer. It is the choice of enjoyment, the one that genuinely replaces a bakery pastry rather than offering a diet version of one. It does, on the other hand, keep less well once opened.

Two other options exist depending on your constraint. If it is carbohydrate you are watching, a brownie made with almond flour comes in a great deal lower. And if you want total control over the ingredients, making your own pancakes from oat flour works out considerably cheaper — at the cost of the pan and the ten minutes that go with it.

Frequently asked questions

How much protein is there in one doughnut?

9 g in a 70 g unit, which is around 13% of the product's energy. That level clears the European threshold of 12% that allows the “source of protein” claim. A bakery pastry of the same weight generally provides half as much.

Does it contain palm oil?

No. The fat comes from sunflower and soya oils, and the manufacturer makes an explicit selling point of it in its formulation. It is a real difference from most industrially made pastries.

Does it contain nuts?

Yes in the white chocolate version, whose filling contains 9% hazelnut paste: that is an ingredient, not a trace. The other versions have different fillings. If you are allergic to nuts, you must read the label on the unit you receive.

How much sugar is there per doughnut?

The manufacturer does not publish this value, and we are not going to invent it. It does state, however, that the recipe contains sugar in addition to maltitol, a bulk sweetener. The exact content must appear on the product packaging.

What is maltitol?

It is a polyol, a bulk sweetener that replaces part of the sugar. It provides fewer calories and raises blood glucose less than sugar does, but it is not calorie-free, and how well it is tolerated digestively varies from person to person. Eating a lot of it can upset sensitive guts.

When should you eat it?

The manufacturer recommends the 30 minutes following training, and that is indeed the moment when its 25 g of carbohydrate and 9 g of protein make the most sense. As an ordinary snack during the day, it works too, bearing its 277 kcal in mind.

Is it suitable for vegetarians?

Yes for vegetarians, the protein coming from egg and milk. It is not suitable for vegans. Nor is it suitable for coeliacs: wheat flour is a main ingredient in the recipe.

Where can you buy the IO Genix Protein Doughnut?

The various 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 the product in front of which we always run through the allergen list: four recipes, four fillings, and hazelnut paste in one of them — checking is better done at the counter than at the first bite. The rest of the aisle can be browsed in our sports nutrition section.

What is IO Genix NAC600?

IO Genix NAC600 is a single-ingredient supplement. Each capsule provides 600 mg of N-acetylcysteine, and the rest of the formula comes down to the shell and an anti-caking agent. The bottle holds 60 capsules, which is two months of daily use.

N-acetylcysteine, abbreviated to NAC, is an acetylated derivative of L-cysteine, a sulphur-containing amino acid. Food supplies cysteine through animal protein, eggs, garlic and pulses. The acetylated form is more stable, which is why it is the one favoured in supplements.

Its biochemical interest rests on one precise point: cysteine is the rate-limiting amino acid in glutathione synthesis, glutathione being a tripeptide the body makes itself and one that takes part in the cellular mechanisms handling oxidative stress. Put another way, the availability of cysteine determines what the cell is able to produce. The rest of the Spanish range is in our IO Genix section, and the other products in the category in our NAC section.

What does one NAC600 capsule contain?

600 mg per capsule is the benchmark dose for this molecule, and it fits into a single serving. That is a practical detail which matters more than it seems: many products in this category require you to swallow two or three capsules to reach the same amount. Here, one capsule in the morning and the day is taken care of.

The formula is about as short as you could imagine: the active, the shell, the anti-caking agent. No colouring, no flavouring, no added sugar, no additional complex. That is a sound selection criterion, and it lets you know exactly what you are taking and at what dose.

On the regulatory side, we should be blunt: no health claim is authorised in Europe for N-acetylcysteine or for cysteine. Not on oxidative stress, not on the body's defences, not on the airways, not on the liver. Cysteine's role as a precursor of glutathione is an established and documented fact of biochemistry; what oral supplementation actually produces in a healthy adult is another question, and one with no validated dossier at European level. So we describe the molecule and its dose, and promise nothing.

A final word on a statement we have removed from the previous version of this page: the manufacturer referred to a pharmaceutical grade raw material. That is a phrase we cannot verify and one that has no precise definition in the food supplement framework. We are not passing it on.

Ingredients list

N-acetylcysteine (600 mg per capsule), GELATINE (capsule shell), magnesium stearate (anti-caking agent). GMO-free, no artificial colouring, no added preservative.

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

How do you take NAC600?

Serving: 1 capsule. Liquid: a large glass of water. Timing: in the morning on an empty stomach, 30 minutes before breakfast, or two hours after a meal. Frequency: one serving a day, not to be exceeded. Duration: a 2 to 3 month cycle, followed by a one-month break.

The instruction to avoid protein-rich meals around the time you take it is not a whim, and it deserves an explanation. N-acetylcysteine is an amino acid derivative: it uses the same intestinal transporters as the amino acids in a protein meal, and so ends up in direct competition with them. Taken with a protein shake or a plate of meat, it is absorbed far less efficiently. First thing in the morning on an empty stomach is the window that solves the problem.

If your mornings do not lend themselves to it, the two-hours-after-a-meal rule works just as well. What matters is not taking it right alongside a protein intake.

The manufacturer also recommends drinking at least two litres of water a day during the course. That is a standard instruction with sulphur compounds, and it costs nothing to follow.

Two to three months on, one month off: a bottle of 60 capsules covers two months, so one complete short cycle. This is not a product to take all year round without a break, and the manufacturer does not intend it that way.

It combines without redundancy with a vitamin C, a coenzyme Q10 or a standardised turmeric — three products from the same family of uses that do not act on the same pathways. Introduce them one at a time, a fortnight apart. A multivitamin complex can sit alongside it too, provided you check that it does not already supply cysteine.

Who is NAC600 right for, and who is it not right for?

It is aimed at a healthy adult, athletic or not, who wants a single active properly dosed rather than a twelve-line complex. That is the main appeal of this format: one ingredient, one dose, one capsule, no ambiguity.

It is not suitable for vegetarians or vegans: the shell is gelatine. That is the most frequent limitation across this range, and for some customers it decides the purchase.

The product is for adults only and must be kept out of reach of children. The manufacturer asks you to consult a healthcare professional before use if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or on medical treatment. That last situation deserves to be taken seriously: N-acetylcysteine is a molecule also used in a medical setting, and adding it to ongoing treatment is not a decision to take on your own.

It logically fits into a routine where the diet is already solid: no single active makes up for a shaky plate, and our protein section answers a far more fundamental need. A note on tolerance: at 600 mg and on an empty stomach, mild digestive discomfort is possible in the first few days for some people. It usually settles; if it persists, the two-hours-after-a-meal rule is a comfortable alternative.

The product may contain traces of gluten, egg, milk, fish and soya.

What not to expect from it: this is not a treatment, it is not a stimulant, and you will feel nothing when you take it — which is entirely normal for this type of molecule. Nor is it a performance or a weight-loss product. Any question relating to the airways, the liver or ongoing treatment is one for your doctor or your pharmacist, never for a capsule bought on its own.

NAC or glutathione as a supplement?

The question comes up constantly, and it has a clear answer that often comes as a surprise.

Glutathione sold directly as a supplement has a known problem: it is a tripeptide, and a swallowed tripeptide is largely cut apart by digestion before it reaches the circulation. It is a little like tipping an already-built brick into a wall: it will be knocked down at the door.

N-acetylcysteine takes the opposite route: it supplies the rate-limiting material the cell uses to make its own glutathione. That is what explains why it is widely preferred at doses which, for the same amount, cost less. That is the reasoning behind this product.

If what you need is instead a short-formula antioxidant from another family, three routes exist with us: vitamin C, the simplest and the best regulated; coenzyme Q10, which acts at mitochondrial level; and standardised turmeric. None is interchangeable with the others, and it is better to try one at a time than to stack three.

Frequently asked questions

Why take it on an empty stomach?

Because N-acetylcysteine uses the same intestinal transporters as the amino acids in a protein meal and ends up competing with them. Taken with a shake or a plate of meat, it is noticeably less well absorbed. First thing in the morning, or two hours after a meal, settles the matter.

How long does a bottle last?

Two months, at one capsule a day for 60 capsules. The manufacturer recommends cycles of two to three months followed by a one-month break: a bottle therefore covers one complete short cycle, which keeps the maths simple.

Are these capsules suitable for vegetarians?

No. The shell is gelatine, of animal origin. It is the most common limitation across this range and there is no plant-based version of this particular product.

Do you need to take breaks?

The manufacturer explicitly builds them in: one month off after two to three months of use. This is not a product for permanent use, and that alternation is part of the instructions rather than an optional precaution.

Do you feel anything?

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

Can it be taken alongside medication?

Not without medical advice. The manufacturer explicitly asks for it, and the reason is a serious one: N-acetylcysteine is also a molecule used in a medical setting. If you are on treatment, the question is one for your doctor or your pharmacist before you buy.

Is there a taste or a smell?

The capsule masks most of it, which is welcome: N-acetylcysteine is a sulphur compound with a pronounced smell in powder form. That is in fact one of the arguments for the capsule format over powder versions of the same active.

Where can you buy IO Genix NAC600?

The 60-capsule bottle can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues store, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is a product we are happy to sell, on one condition: that the customer accepts they will feel nothing. It is a background active, and saying so upfront heads off a good deal of disappointment ten days later. The rest of the category can be browsed in our sports nutrition section.

What is TrainedByJP Vital Support?

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

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

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

What does a serving of 8 capsules contain?

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

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

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

How should you take Vital Support?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Vital Support or NAC bought on its own?

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

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

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

Frequently asked questions

How long does a bottle last?

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

Do you really have to take 8 capsules a day?

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

What is TUDCA?

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

Can it be taken alongside medical treatment?

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

Why do you have to drink so much water?

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

Are the capsules suitable for vegetarians?

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

Can it be combined with other supplements?

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

Where can you buy TrainedByJP Vital Support?

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

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

What is a Callowfit sauce?

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

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

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

What is in a 15 ml serving?

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

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

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

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

How do you use Callowfit sauces?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A zero sauce or a sugar-free flavouring?

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

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

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

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

Frequently asked questions

Is a serving really 1 kcal?

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

What does the sucralose taste like in these sauces?

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

Can they be heated?

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

How many servings in a bottle?

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

Do they contain mustard?

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

How long do they keep once opened?

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

Do all the flavours have the same composition?

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

Where to buy Callowfit sauces?

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

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

What is TrainedByJP EAA 1000 g?

TrainedByJP EAA is an essential amino acid powder to be mixed with water, sold in a 1 kg tub, i.e. 66 servings of 15 g. The flavours listed: Cherry Lime, Berry Burst, Orange & Mango, Tropical and Strawberry & Kiwi.

The essential amino acids are the nine the body cannot make and which must come from food. This formula provides all nine in free form, that is to say not bound together within a protein: that is what sets an EAA apart from a protein powder. The manufacturer states that they are derived from plant fermentation, which makes the formula suitable for a vegan diet.

Added to these are two electrolytes — magnesium oxide and potassium chloride — then the formulation ingredients: flavouring, citric acid, trisodium citrate, sucralose as a sweetener, and a colour that varies with the flavour. The British brand is stocked here in our TrainedByJP section.

What does a 15 g serving contain?

* Column calculated from the values declared for 15 g. Three reservations, and we would rather put them in writing. The manufacturer does not publish the amounts of magnesium oxide and potassium chloride: without figures, no NRV percentage can be shown for these two electrolytes, and no regulatory wording can be used. Nor does it publish any macronutrient breakdown. Finally, it declares 3 kcal per serving, a value hard to reconcile with 12.5 g of amino acids: we reproduce it exactly as it is given to us, flagging the inconsistency rather than correcting it ourselves.

The figure that shapes this formula is 4 g of leucine per serving. Leucine alone accounts for a third of the blend, and that is a straightforward dose: many EAAs on the market stop at 2 or 2.5 g. The ratio between leucine, isoleucine and valine is 2:1:1, the classic BCAA pattern, but here built into a complete nine-amino-acid profile.

The second figure to look at is the tryptophan: 80 mg. That is little in absolute terms, and that is normal — it is the essential amino acid with the lowest requirement. But it is precisely its presence that sets an EAA apart from a BCAA, and that explains one of this product's contraindications.

A word of framing, and it is a necessary one: no health claim is authorised in Europe for free amino acids. The wording "protein contributes to a growth in muscle mass" applies to protein, not to a powdered blend of amino acids. So you will read here no promise of protein synthesis, no accelerated recovery, no protection against catabolism. What we are describing is a composition, a dose and a use.

How should TrainedByJP EAA be taken?

Dose: 15 g, i.e. one scoop. Liquid: 300 to 400 ml of cold water. Timing: during the session, sipped, or within the 30 minutes that follow; on rest days, between two meals. Frequency: one serving per day. Duration: ongoing, as the manufacturer gives no course length.

The volume of liquid is not a suggestion: 300 to 400 ml for 15 g is a minimum. A free amino acid powder is acidic and very concentrated in taste; short on water, it becomes frankly harsh, and the flavours in this range are already pronounced. If the first attempt puts you off, add 100 ml before concluding anything at all.

The most sensible use is during the session, sip by sip, with the added benefit of getting you to drink. That is the real argument for this kind of product against a protein shake: nobody downs a whey from a bottle between two sets, whereas a clear, fruity drink goes down without difficulty.

A practical note on the size: a one-kilo tub lasts a long time. Close it carefully and keep it dry — free amino acid powders are hygroscopic and clump into a solid block at the slightest damp. The formula is otherwise compatible with taking another product before or after training, with no particular interaction.

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

It is aimed first at people who train fasted or a long way from a meal, those who cannot tolerate a milky shake during exercise, and vegans — since the amino acids come from plant fermentation, the formula contains no ingredient of animal origin.

The manufacturer does not advise it for children, or for pregnant and breastfeeding women. Two contraindications deserve careful reading: it is not recommended for people on antidepressant treatment — the presence of tryptophan and phenylalanine, two neurotransmitter precursors, explains this caution — nor for people with kidney failure. Antidepressant treatment is never altered on one's own initiative: if this concerns you, the question is one for your doctor or your pharmacist, not for a product page.

It is less suitable if you are trying to raise your daily protein total. Twelve and a half grams of amino acids do not replace 25 g of complete protein, and generally cost more per gram.

What you should not expect from it, and this is the most useful thing to say: if your protein intake across the day is already sufficient, this product will add nothing. An EAA makes sense when a meal is missing, not stacked on top of three shakes and 180 g of protein a day. Nobody in this category will tell you so, and yet it is the first question to ask.

EAA or a whey?

This is the comparison that decides the purchase, and it turns on use rather than on quality.

A protein powder provides 22 to 27 g of complete protein per serving, including roughly 2 to 2.7 g of leucine, at a far lower price per gram of protein. It is the better choice in the great majority of cases: to make up for a meal, for an inadequate breakfast, for the post-session snack. If you are only going to buy one product, buy that one, and our whey isolate section covers the cases where digestion is a problem.

The EAA wins in three specific situations. During exercise, because it drinks clear and light where a whey sits heavily on the stomach. On a vegan diet, where it provides a complete profile with no dairy. And at 4 g of leucine per serving, it exceeds what a standard whey shake supplies on that one amino acid. If your need is limited to the leucine-isoleucine-valine trio, our BCAA section works out cheaper — but an incomplete profile remains an incomplete profile, and that is precisely what an EAA corrects. Finally, if what you are mainly after is making up for losses through sweat, it is our electrolytes you should be looking at, since the amounts present here are not quantified.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between an EAA and a BCAA?

A BCAA provides only three amino acids: leucine, isoleucine and valine. An EAA provides all nine essentials, including lysine, threonine, methionine, histidine, phenylalanine and tryptophan. Here, the 4 g of leucine are built into a complete profile of 12.5 g, which is not comparable to a three-component product.

How many servings does the one-kilo tub contain?

66 servings of 15 g, a figure given by the manufacturer and consistent with the net weight. At one serving per training day, on four sessions a week, that comes to around four months. Close the tub properly: these powders take up moisture and harden.

Why only 3 kcal per serving?

That is the value declared by the manufacturer, and we have not changed it. Set against 12.5 g of amino acids, it seems to us hard to explain: we publish it as it stands and would rather flag the doubt. If the actual energy value matters for your tracking, go by the label on the tub you receive.

Is the formula suitable for vegans?

Yes. The manufacturer states that the amino acids come from plant fermentation, and no ingredient of animal origin goes into the composition. That is one of the genuine advantages of this kind of product on a dairy-free diet.

Can it be taken alongside antidepressant treatment?

The manufacturer does not recommend it in that case. The formula contains tryptophan and phenylalanine, two neurotransmitter precursors, which justifies the caution. This question is one for your doctor or your pharmacist, and ongoing treatment must never be stopped or altered on your own initiative.

Which flavour should I choose?

All are in a fruity, tangy register: Cherry Lime and Berry Burst are the sharpest, Orange & Mango and Tropical the mildest, Strawberry & Kiwi in between. All are sweetened with sucralose and coloured according to the flavour. The real adjustment is not the flavour but the volume of water: at 400 ml, they all become distinctly more drinkable.

Should it be taken during or after the session?

The manufacturer suggests both, and between meals on rest days. In practice, taking it during exercise is what makes the most sense: it gets you drinking, and a clear drink goes down where a milky shake would not. After the session, a complete protein will do the same job for less.

Where can I buy TrainedByJP EAA 1000 g?

The flavours can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. The one-kilo tub is a regular user's size: if this is your first EAA, be aware that it will last you several months.

At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, the conversation about this product always starts with the same question, and it is not a sales one: how much protein do you eat per day? Until the answer is satisfactory, an EAA is of no use, and we would rather say so at the counter. The rest of the amino acids can be compared in our sports nutrition section.