Natural Workout Supplements for Men

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30 of 34 people found the following review helpful.
The naysayers overstate the 'problems', and the bottom line is, this stuff WORKS. No sugar, no crash. It's true.
By R. A. McDowell
Alright folks, so I'm just gonna lay all my cards on the table, because that's what you're supposed to do in an honest review right? I'm terminally ill, and I mean REALLY sick. I'm fighting hard, but it's a rough time. Part of that includes loss of muscle control, which includes the bladder, etc... Sheesh! LOL I was watching a review one morning on Fox News, after having been using this stuff for awhile, where the doctor they had on just TORE the energy drink business apart. He talked about how dangerous all of them were, and untested and how they basically don't work... Well I'm here to tell you otherwise. I went and got the EXACT bottle of 5 Hour Energy, Extra Strength, that I always buy, and which he was talking about. He was going on and on about how it was loaded with caffeine and was therefore bad for your heart. PLEASE! I've got the bottle IN MY HANDS right now folks. It states right on it, and this is the extra strength mind you, that it contains caffeine comprable to 12 oz. cup of coffee. That's not much! And yes, he was right that most of them work by being LOADED with sugar to go with the caffeine, and come with a REALLY bad crash afterwards. I experimented with some of the other products, and they taste delicious, but come with an AWFUL crash. This stuff doesn't taste so great because it has NO SUGAR, but it's just a tiny shot, and it works dammit. And then the doctor told the audience that it stimulates the nerves, and has been shown to cause nerve damage. I literally did a spit take. I was HORRIFIED. But low and behold, I talked to my own team of FIVE Neurologists that work on my case, and they disagreed. They said that a lot of the other drinks are unhealthy, diet-wise. This stuff causes what is called a Niacin Flush, and most of the energetic affects are from megadoses of vitamins. My Neurologists said that this stuff wasn't going to be hurting me, and at worst just might not work. But it DOES WORK! As I mentioned, I'm very sick. And that includes days when I am so weak I can't get out of bed or my chair. When I'm having nerve spasms, and can't control my muscles, I will sometimes have accidents when I fall asleep. I know the feeling well enough now to know, without doubt, when it will happen. Come on folks, I just admitted something really personal, and you can't get much more down in the dirt than that. LOL So when I feel that feeling, but am also really tired, I will drink one of these. It will keep me up and focused, and most importantly accident free, for between 3 and 5 hours while my nerve medications can kick in. And as those of us who have these problems can attest, that peace of mind, that time that is bought for us, ANYTHING to not make us incontinent if we can help it, is worth a LOT. Certainly the price of these little gems. The drink wakes me up, and it does NOT give me the jitters or make me edgy. I do not feel overwhelmed or hyper. It simply gives me the energy to get through my rough patch without falling asleep and waking up in a mess. LOL If there is one downside to this, it's the price. But I ask you this... How many of us are Starbuck's or expensive coffee fanatics? I was for YEARS. And we buy those mostly to help us to stay alert and awake through our day, and also because they are delicious. LOL These cost, per bottle, less than a Venti coffee. And seriously, they work. And that's what they are advertised to do, and that's JUST what they do. And that's all I NEED them to do. Not every product out there does what it says it will do. So that's a boost in my book right off the bat. I thank you for your time folks. Give these a try if you were needing a safe and least minimally harmful boost to your day during the more tired moments that we ALL have. I don't think you'll be disappointed. Sincerely, R.A. McDowell

21 of 24 people found the following review helpful.
5-hour ENERGY - WOW!
By 2-wheels
As I get older I have noticed that my mental process is a bit slower than when I was younger. I have tried various energy drinks and dietary supplements to see if I can recover my mental acuity.The problem for me is caffiene is not good for me. Unlike most folks it actually disrupts my mental process rather than improving it. I get more confused, not less. It makes me very jittery and disrupts my sleep patterns. It is like some kind of amphetamine. So, I tried the decaf 5-hour ENERGY and it gives me a great boost from the B vitamins etc. I like the benefits I get without the caffeine. I feel better, short term memory is improved and none of the side effects I suffer with other caffeine laden supplements.I like this stuff and will keep using it.

43 of 56 people found the following review helpful.
Great energy drink but too expensive to drink everyday
By Dawn Ritter
I've always been a huge fan of 5-hour energy drinks, but it's just too expensive for me to take on a regular basis, I know I tried! I've always preferred not to drink coffee, the only way I can stand it is if I overload it with sugar so that's kind of a bust. My co-worker who is a crazy health nut introduced me to this energy stack, Energy Booster Stack - 90 Day Servings! which I've been taking in the morning and really liking it. If you ever taken raspberry ketones or yohimbine extract then you know what I mean when I talk about an energy high that feels different from caffeine.I also like the cost, very affordable. I'll always be a 5-hour energy drinker here and there but if you need a consistent source of energy and are concerned with price, this is the most effective and cost effective energy booster I've found. Hope this helps someone!

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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful.
Great
By Jake LeBlanc
Great product by a company with a long history of great products. I will definentley be ordering more of this.

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful.
great though terrible taste
By Diego Arámbulo
helped me define muscles though it was hard to blend it a spoon, you have to have a blender, tasted like metal! Anyway it works great

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43 of 44 people found the following review helpful.
So much better than gels
By Christina
Every endurance athlete knows about gels and you either hate them or love them. For the haters, insert GU Chomps into the mix and you may just find a happy middle ground. Personally, I don't like the syrupy consistency of gels but I absolutely LOVE gummy fruit snacks. SCORE!I used these during marathon training. They're easy to carry - you can pin them to your shorts & tuck them in. You don't have to eat them all at once like a gel. I recommend having a sip of water or a sports drink to wash it down but it's not a necessity.Keep an eye out for caffeinated Chomps (and gels). This (strawberry) is caffeinated but there are other flavors that aren't. ;)Here is a list of the caffeinated chomps (amount per 4 pieces):-Cranberry Apple (20 mg)-Strawberry (20 mg)-Orange (20 mg)-Peach Tea (40 mg)*There are 8 pieces in each packet so double the above numbers if you're eating the entire packet at once, which I believe most people do anyway.And the ones without caffeine:-Watermelon-Blueberry PomegranateEach packet contains 180 calories.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful.
Gu Chomps Vs. Cliff Shot Bloks Vs. Honey Stinger
By Todd P
I enjoy a good run or a long session on the rowing machine and I've noticed that having a product like this can really make a noticeable difference in my energy during the workout. I've tried Honey Stinger, Cliff Shot Bloks, and Gu Chomps, here's my take on all 3.Gu Chomps - This is a good product that I really do like, I give it 4 stars and it's easily my second favorite. I've tried strawberry (standard dose of caffeine) and peach tea (double shot of caffeine) and the strawberry tastes much better. The peach tea isn't bad, and the kick is nice, but the taste does leave a little something to be desired. Still, it's pretty good and I like the product (both flavors) quite a bit. They are also packaged in a bag (similar to Honey Stinger) but its smaller and is a little nicer to carry on a run.Cliff Shot Bloks - I first had these during the Tough Mudder and I liked them right away, they're my go to and I give them 5 stars all the way. I've had strawberry and black cherry and black cherry is the flavor that has the bigger dose of caffeine. Oddly enough, it also is the single best tasting flavor of any energy chew that I've found. The packaging is more of a stick of stacked, large gummies versus a bag of loose gummies like Gu Chomps and Honey Stingers. It has the best flavor, the best kick, and the best packaging of all 3 I've tried. I love them.Honey Stinger - There's really nothing wrong with this product, I just don't like it quite as much as the others. The limeade flavor has a pretty noticeable honey flavor to it and I feel like it clashes with the other flavors. Pink lemonade is a much better flavor but does not contain caffeine, I was bummed about this as it's pretty amazing just how much a little caffeine can help out with cardio.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful.
Great for long runs
By Thomas M.
Used the GU CHOMPS for a 20-mile run yesterday. Outstanding. I assume they work as well as the GU gels (I sure didn't notice any difference in endurance, but I'm not a hard core athlete). They taste pretty good and after too much GU gel, they are a welcome change. Great product. Five stars.

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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful.
Wow
By David G
One scoop of this is comparable to the 5 or more scoops of other crap I take. Little grainy/gritty at the bottom but it works and thats what matters!

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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful.
Great natural product
By E. H.
If you are looking for a natural supplement to help with depression and anxiety issues, and prescription drugs put you off, this is a good one to try. Really seems to help me, I can tell when I am not taking it regularly.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful.
Great product for depression & anxiety
By Judy
My son has suffered from depression and social anxiety for years. He has lost jobs and left college because he couldn't handle the anxiety of new situations. He has tried prozac and other prescriptions with no improvement and terrible side effects. We finally went to a Naturopath who put him on Deproloft-HF and we have noticed huge improvements. He is no longer sleeping all day, is taking two classes at a local college and is actually pleasant to have around. As a mom I am just grateful that he is able to participate in his own life. The anxiety and depression are still present, but he is able to function in society.I also need to mention that after a month on Deproloft he was also put on 5000iu of Vitamin D3 which has only helped his mood and energy level even more. If you live in a region where you don't have warm weather year round get your vitamin D level checked.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful.
Great product
By J. L. Gray
I have struggled with anxiety and depression since my teen years, and don't respond well to prescription medications. It's helped me get through a rough patch emotionally--didn't cure things, just helped me even out. This is a great product but as always, if you're feeling anxious/depressed, PLEASE see a doctor if possible, or at least confide in somebody you trust, and heed the warnings about drug interactions.

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127 of 129 people found the following review helpful.
A very specialized protein powder
By J. Howell
To start off with, this is an excellent product, though most folks probably don't need it. This whey protein is made up almost entirely of hydrolysated protein - which basically means it has been pre-digested into peptides and small chain proteins. A few years back, pure amino acid mixes were all the rage amongst strength training athletes. Then scientists figured out that single amino acids were not absorbed very efficiently by the body. Basically the receptors in the intestines can only accept one unit of protein at a time. This one "unit" can be a singular amino acid, or it can be a di or tri-peptide bonded amino acid. Effectively, by consuming these peptides you can absorb protein 2-3 times faster than you could by consuming straight amino acids. You also absorb this product much faster than a whole protein since the body has to break down whole protein with enzymes in the stomach. This process can take hours with whole food proteins (meat). Whole whey protein is broken down much quicker and whey hydrolysate (this product) is almost instantaneous.Platinum Hydro whey contains a very high percentage of these small, low molecular weight peptides which are absorbed with a very high degree of efficiency into the body. What sugar is to carbohydrates, this product is to protein. It basically gets protein into your blood stream as quickly and efficiently as possible.This effect is good for two types of people:- Intensely training athletes (especially strength training athletes) immediately following a hard workout session.- People who have trouble digesting protein for various reasons, which can include illness or old age.So yes, this is a highly purified, easily digested, extremely high quality protein. However unless you have an immediate need for rapid protein delivery, or have some sort of digestive issue, there are more affordable options for protein. All of these folks here complaining about the price of this product are doing so because they likely don't understand it's usage and they would probably be served just as well with a standard whey protein powder. A high grade hydrolysate protein is and always has been an expensive, specialized supplement.I have used this product before myself. I went through a 2-lb jug of the strawberry late last year. The taste is just "ok" and the texture and consistency is very thin. Consider this a functional product, not a tasty treat. I found that this product cleared my system VERY quickly and left me hungry again very shortly after my workout - which is to be expected. I did not notice any significant improvements in recovery or strength over regular whey protein. Because of this, I have moved to another, more cost effective product since then (Gaspari Myofusion), as I feel it's slower digesting properties are a better fit for me.So overall this is an outstanding product, just understand its usage and benefits before you buy it.

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful.
Best Protein Shake for People with Lactose Intolerance
By T. C.
I am extremely lactose intolerant and have been looking for a protein shake that does not make me sick for a long time. After purchasing this shake, I can gladly say I've found it!Being extremely lactose intolerant, I often tend to get sick from things that taste like milk, even though the lactose content is minimal. This shake has a strong milk taste, which is the only negative thing about it. But, I decided not to mark it down as all protein shakes have a strong milk taste, and because you can easily go around the milk taste by mixing it with Gatorade powder or crystal light on the go packs (sugar-free). Without mixing it with something else, however, I can't drink it. If you do not like a milk taste, then I'd recommend you get the Strawberry flavor as you can easily mix it with out flavors... not so much with the Chocolate or Vanilla flavor.The best thing about this shake is that it really doesn't contain any lactose (other's say they contain zero grams, but still contain milligrams), and it does not upset my stomach. I sometimes feel a bit bloated, but it doesn't last very long as the hydro whey is quickly digested.As far as the results go, I am already starting to see result after just a few days. As far as the preparing goes, you really don't need to blend it, you can simply stir your shake and it'll be fine as well.My ratings:Taste: 2/5 (This is obviously subjective, others who love milkshakes will love it)Mixing: 5/5 (Stirring or blending works fine)Digestion: 5/5 (Quickly digested, perfect for people with lactose intolerance)Results: 5/5 (You'll notice results after a few days)Price: 4/5 (It's a bit more expensive than other shakes, but it's definitely worth the money)

127 of 159 people found the following review helpful.
Good stuff, but the value is poor vs. Whey Gold
By Rick
I've been using the Whey Gold product for many years. A little under 1 scoop 2x/day helps me keep my hard earned muscle mass. This Platinum appears to be marketed as higher quality/more effective protein, so I thought I'd try it out, even though the smaller 3.5 lb tub immediately made me suspicious of its value.First of all, the chocolate that I bought tastes fantastic and mixes great. But in comparison to the Whey Gold product, I feel the Platinum is a marketing gimmick and a product that mostly just increases profits for this company without really adding value to the consumer. Why is that?The most obvious trick that I didn't catch when comparing the two before buying: Scoop size/protein in grams. Andy Rooney always complains about this type of thing, so I guess he is my mentor in this case...Whey Gold: 1 scoop = 24 grams protein.Platinum: 1 scoop = 30 grams protein.So you figure you are getting more protein for your buck, right? More protein per scoop? Wrong. The Platinum scoop is bigger! What I missed was the serving size:Whey Gold: Serving size 30gPlatinum: Serving size 39gSure enough. The scoop they give you with the Platinum is bigger than the Whey Gold. Compare the two. I did once I got the Platinum shipment.So is the protein in the Platinum any more concentrated than the Whey Gold? It doesn't appear to be, at least in grams per comparable serving.The other differences...I see they put some "creamer" in the Platinum which is not in the Whey Gold. I also think the Platinum might be a little sweeter. My point here is that these 2 features improve the taste/texture of the Platinum vs. the Whey Gold and make you think the Platinum is better. I actually like these changes and wish they'd incorporate them into the Whey Gold - but don't be fooled into thinking the Platinum is somehow more effective because of this (unless taste is more important to you than getting high quality protein at the best price).Yeah, I could be missing something else here. Like maybe the Platinum quality - gram for gram - is technically a little better. But I'm not going to worry about that since I'll never be able to figure it out. I really don't think trying one for a while and then the other is going to prove that - they probably aren't THAT much different. Someone else can do the math, but I bet you could use close to twice as much Whey Gold as Platinum for the same price per gram of protein. So use a little less than twice as much, and you'll be saving money and getting more protein.If money is no object, the Platinum could be the superior product. MAYBE you can take less or the same amount and get better results. It definitely tastes good. But I'll just stick with the Whey Gold which I know works and I'm SURE is the better value.

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful.
Just Too Sweet for Me
By T. McKenzie
I have tried MANY protein powders over the years. And before I found out I cannot eat dairy, I favored ON Gold Standard Whey. But alas, I cannot drink that now. So I have been experimenting with plant-based protein powders. I first tried Life's Way (I think thats it, or Life Balance) plant protein. Because of the chia, it definitely had a texture - not one I minded, but some might. I got a packet of this stuff with a vitamin order I placed and figure I would give it a try. Unfortunately, I didnt try it before I just opted to buy a big tub of this stuff because it is FAR TOO SWEET for me. I have tried twice now - thinking maybe it was a smoothie ingredient combo that made it too sweet, but I am now convinced on this second try that it is the powder.It mixes well, dont get me wrong. In a smoothie you cannot tell - texture wise - that its even in the smoothie. But it has this artificially sweet taste. I am probably oversensitive because I dont drink sugared drinks anymore. So sweet - unless its eating a piece of fruit sweet - stands out to me. It does mix well in like protein pancakes. Because then the sweetness works.Overall, I will give it 3 stars. Its good, but not great. It has purposes but not the one I wanted it for.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful.
Good nutrients, not so sure on taste
By Kate
Like the nutrient content. Like that there isn't any "junk" in this powder, and love that it's gluten, dairy, and soy free!Just not sold on the taste, and it seems to be a little chalky when I mix it, (which is in a vitamix). On the other hand, my son, who hasn't liked any gluten/dairy free protein powders we've tried actually really likes this one! So, I think we will give it one more shot. I'll at least buy it for him. It may be back to the drawing board for me if I can't get past the taste.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful.
decent texture, pretty good flavor, extremely sweet
By Mari Morgan
Most of the vegan* protein powders out there are, in a word, revolting. Gritty and bitter are descriptions that come to mind most frequently when I look at my depressingly-large stack of protein-powder failures. San's Raw Fusion is a nice exception. The powder is very fine, almost talcum-like (and it behaves like talcum, floating everywhere!), and there is hardly any bitterness at all. Nor does it have that, um, "earthy" - to be polite - flavor one often associates with pea protein isolates. It contains both fructose and stevia, and it is very sweet, right on the edge of too sweet, which did cost the product one star. I dislike the stevia aftertaste that some people don't even notice and some people actually like, but I didn't notice much of that in Raw Fusion. I did initially experience some bloating, which may have been from the fructose. The vanilla flavor is quite strong but not bad for most sweet uses; thankfully it doesn't have that cloying "cheap fake vanilla" taste that is so common in protein powders, vegan or not. It would be really great if San made an unflavored/unsweetened version for savory uses, or even sweets when you just don't want the vanilla flavor. This does do quite well in sweet items in which a vanilla flavor is either welcome or overpowered with something else, like chocolate. When added to a generic grocery-store brownie mix with baby-food prunes substituted for half of the oil - seriously, you don't taste "prunes", and they taste much better with chocolate than applesauce - the result was a thin, pleasantly dense, chewy bar closer in texture to the old Little Debbie brownies (but better) than the dry commercial brownie-style protein bars. (In December 2012 San announced that a chocolate flavor would be "coming soon" but no specific release date was given.)I have mixed it using both a blender bottle (the sort with the spherical wire whisk inside, not the chintzy thing with the plastic grid) and a plain cheapo discount-store electric blender, and I recommend using the latter when possible. It mixes acceptably but not wonderfully in the blender bottle, with minimal lumps and gunk stuck to the inside of the bottle and lid, but I don't think the texture is as nice as when it's gone through the blender - not gritty, but what I'd call "powdery" or perhaps starchy on the tongue. Still, miles better than almost all the other vegan protein powders I've had. Buzzed in a blender with fruit, ice, almond (or whatever you like) milk, nut butters and other tasty things like that, much of that powderiness disappears especially when a creamy ingredient is present like nut butter, yogurt, or frozen banana, and it makes a tasty, fairly stable beverage; some of these things separate at a nasty look! Although plain cold water is suggested on the package as a mixer, _I_ really don't recommend it unless you just want something to chug down fast after a workout - while it's not disgusting, and it's certainly less unpleasant than most of the other proteins I've tried in the same unadulterated fashion, it's not what I'd call a real taste sensation either. It has great potential, though.*Note: I cannot include soy protein powders in that assessment, because soy protein and I do not get along very well. I am not vegan, or even vegetarian, but whey bloats me up something fierce (I am not lactose-intolerant though) and the one egg-white protein I've tried so far caused some room-clearing aftereffects!Edit: The above review was based on using single-serving packets. Someone - not San - gave me a jar and it's somewhat different from the packets. (I wonder why this happens - this is the third product that's done it. The only thing I can think of is some ingredients might settle out of the mixture in a jar, while they can't in a packet?) The most noticeable difference is in the texture. While it is still less gritty than the vast majority of its competitors in the veggie-protein arena, it is significantly coarser on the tongue in a beverage even when combined with a creamy substance like nut butter. Smoothies separate more quickly than before, too. I'll still keep it in my selection of protein powders - probably primarily for baking and homemade protein bars/balls/candy - and I still look forward to trying the chocolate version when it hits the shelves, and it IS most definitely well above average.

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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful.
Much cheaper than tiny energy drinks
By John W. Leggett
The substances included, along with caffieine, do increase the energy effect from this product. Two of these will motivate anybody.