Universal Nutrition Launches Intra-Aid
November 18, 2008
No, it’s not called Kool Aid it’s called “Intra-Aid” and it’s Universal Nutrition’s newest product launch and they’re expecting big things from it. Intra-workout nutrition represents the next supplement category for bodybuilders.
Benefits of Intra-Workout Supplementation:
- Better Rehydration
- Enhanced Muscle Liver Glycogen
- Improved Immune Function
- Decreased Catabolism
- Increased Protein Synthesis
- Faster Recovery
- Maintained Pump (For The Ladies)
Universal’s Intra-Aid consists of 5 potent components: fast-acting hydrolyzed protein, a highly specialized carbohydrate blend, critical electrolytes, an essential amino acid blend, and key ergogenic agents.
Universal Nutrition has been in the iron game since 1977 and sells their supplements in over 100 countries worldwide! Universal, Optimum, PVL, Interactive, Dymatize and Ultimate Nutrition are a few of the supplement companies that manufacturer most of their own supplements. This helps keep their prices reasonable and their quality high. Companies like Nutrex, BSN, Garbage Performance Products (yes that’s the company name) and now supplement veteran Ultimate Nutrition have all thrown guns into the “intra-workout” supplement war. Ultimate just released their intraworkout supplement called “adreNOline” which looks like a fantastic product based on the formula alone. Look for intraworkout powders, RTDs and shots to be big in 2009.
ABB Launches Speed Shot Intensity
November 10, 2008
Speed Shot Intensity is made by American Bodybuilding (ABB) which been in the sports drink drink and bar business since 1985! Yes, that’s over 20 years they’ve been delivering great tasting, on-the-go nutrition and Speed Shot Intensity should be no different. Their newest RTD is sure to be a hit as it packs a potent formula and has great distribution. ABB has a solid reputation in the industry and is even more fierce since being acquired by whey protein manufacturing giant Glanbia. With only 125 mg of Caffeine per serving don’t think for a second that this drink won’t kick your ass because there are 2 servings per container! The drink stacks Caffeine with Theobromine, Synepherine, Yohimbe and even Beta Alanine for added muscle energetics. The formula is ideal for dieting bodybuilders and contains no calories. Based on the formula, this energy drink sounds very well thought out.
Universal Nutrition Gets A Facelift
November 10, 2008
Universal Nutrition is looking to re-position their product line and are starting this with a new facelift to their packaging. As a part of this change, all products will be packaged in a new black bottle with a new label that I’m really impressed by. The design features the classic logo of the bodybuilder dude from more than a decade ago. The new look will reflect Universal’s roots as a hardcore bodybuilding company. The bottles they will also feature a new 
sealing system to ensure even greater freshness and security. Supplements featuring the new packaging will debut gradually, beginning with the popular Shock Therapy supplement. All remaining products will be switched over to the new label in the near future. Universal assures customers that while the outside of their products will change, the inside will remain the same with the emphasis on high-quality ingredients.
SOURCE: Universal Nutrition
Labrada Launches Xhilar8
November 5, 2008
Xhilar8 is a new fat burner made by Labrada Nutrition being marketed as a “Thermotropic” supplement. Cool term that means it enhances “Thermogenesis” (a.k.a fat burning) and “Tropic” (that is, it stimulates your brain and thus elevates your mood). The formula for this new supplement includes:
- L-Tyrosine
- L-Taurine
Rhodiola Rosea Extract- Caffeine Anhydrous (200mg)
- Thiamine Disulfide Diisobutyrate
- Green Tea
- Kola Nut Powder
- Guarana Seed
- Citric Acid
- Cayenne Pepper
- Glutamic Acid
- Iodine
Is Xhilar8 Low In Caffeine Like They Claim It is?
The email blast about Xhilar8 that Labrada sent out this week that describes Xhilar8 says:
“…Conventional fat burners and energy products contain large amounts of caffeine, yohimbe and other stimulants which can leave the user jittery and tired. This is commonly reffered to as “the crash”. With Xhilar8 the caffeine dose is lower and you avoid “the crash”.”
Now according to the Xhilar8 label, each 3-capsule serving of Xhilar8 delivers 200 mg of Caffeine Anhydrous per serving! This is quite a high dose of Caffeine but let’s not forget that it also contains Guarana Seed, Kola Nut Powder and Green Tea which are 3 herbs that also have caffeine in them in their natural form! I’d really like to know what the net caffeine dose is that makes this product lower in Caffeine than the competition because 200 mg is the dose used in a huge number of fat burners currently on the market.
Final Comment
I’ve always been a fan of Labrada Nutrition since owner Lee Labrada started his business after leaving MET-Rx well over 10 years ago. I think they make some of the better-tasting bars and MRPs on the market. But the diet pill market is a very different beast. With hundreds of different products to choose from and an economy in shambles, it’s hard for any company (even with a great formula) to be really competitive with the big players in the fat-loss category.
Blender Bottle® – The Rolls Royce of Shaker Cups!
November 4, 2008
This summer I was hanging out at my office with supplement researcher Don Gauvreau and we were testing out some of the new pre-workout supplements various companies have sent me. Don leaned back and saw a collection of dozens of shaker cups I had on my office shelf. He grabbed one called the “Blender Bottle” which I’ve been using for about a year now. You see, aside from being a supplement blogger, I also consult for many of the top companies in the industry. Last year I helped the folks at Blender Bottle get their innovative product into Britain and they sent me some cash and a pile of them as a thanks. I love the product so I don’t mind saying good things about it.
What Makes Blender Bottle so “Innovative”?
The secret behind the Blender Bottle is the patented Blender Ball, which is a springy wisk made from surgical stainless steel that moves freely through the Blender Bottle as you shake it. This ball pulverizes ALL the powder in the cup which mixes a shake as good as a blender would! No kidding. It also has a ultra-secure lid so that when you shake it (even upside down), your drink mix won’t fly all over your kitchen! It’s much more expensive than ordinary shaker cups but it’s well worth it.
Muscle Pharm Comes To Canada January 2009
October 27, 2008
A new supplement company that we posted about this summer called “Muscle Pharm” is making it’s debut in Canada starting with GNC this January.
“We are excited about this opportunity for the company,” said Brad Pyatt, President of Muscle Pharm. “It only makes sense to take advantage of GNC’s strong retail presence in Canada. Also, GNC’s experience with the brand will further strengthen the launch efforts in this significant neighboring market.”
Although the terms were not disclosed, GNC Canada (which has 143 stores in Canada) will be the exclusive retailer for Muscle Pharm products in all of its retail locations. I met Brad this summer at a WBFF event and he’s a very positive guy with plenty of drive and determination - all keys to being successful in the supplement industry.
SOURCE: PR Newswire
Jellyfish Protein Powder!
October 21, 2008
A dietary supplement called "Prevagen" contains jellyfish protein (ya sounds fucking disgusting I know) but has displayed an incredible ability to improve memory! I know it sounds like total bullshit and I’m not 100 percent convinced myself but check this out. Jellyfish protein contains a protein called "Apoaequorin" that is responsible for the remarkable effects. In a recent study, 56 participants took just 10 mg/day and experienced noticeable improvements in cognitive function. A biotech company called "Quincy Bioscience" has been researching the jellyfish protein for the past 12 years and their product “Prevagen” has been in the marketplace for just over one year.
Jellyfish Protein Research Highlights:
- 57% of the participants experienced overall memory improvement in 30 days.
- 66% of participants reported better word recall in conversation within 30 days and many participants showed memory improvement in as few as 8 days.
How Does Prevagen Improve Memory?
" Too much calcium within a brain cell impairs its function and Prevagen works to regulate it," says Mark Underwood, co-founder of Quincy Bioscience. "Unfortunately, we lose our ability to regulate brain cell calcium as we age. At about forty, our brains produce fewer calcium-binding proteins. This causes calcium levels to rise throughout the nervous system. Neurons are flooded with dangerous levels of calcium and our brains slow down … Apoaequorin, with its ability to bind to and lower calcium levels, can be used as a replacement for our own missing calcium-binding proteins and thereby slow age-related loss of cognitive function, memory, and alertness. Additional clinical trials are planned."
More Edible Film Strip Supplements Coming
October 7, 2008
HealthSport, Inc. is a fully integrated developer of edible film strip nutritional supplements and over-the-counter drugs through its subsidiary company Innozen, Inc. This delivery system is used with the Listerine breath strips we use to have fresh breath (for the ladies), but it’s also used for supplements and drugs to deliver the active ingredients through the buccal glands (in your mouth between the cheeks and gums). Today HealthSport announced that their company has entered into an exclusive agreement with multi-level supplement giant “T. Lynn Mitchell Companies” to develop and manufacture 4 products through their network marketing business. It’s anticipated that the products will launch in January 2009.
“Our interest in HealthSport arises from the trend in the market for new, unique, high quality consumable products with competitive pricing. HealthSport’s unique delivery system for nutraceuticals and supplements meets both the needs and desires of an enormous worldwide market. Our partnership will provide the platform to experience exponential sales growth for both companies” stated Lynn Mitchell, TLMC President.
“This marks our second major agreement … that furthers our business strategy of focusing on developing new products and performing manufacturing using our proprietary technology for the nutraceutical delivery on a thin film strip.” stated Hank Durschlag, CEO, HealthSport, Inc.
SOURCE: PR Newswire
Sustamine: Energy Boosting Miracle or Glutamine on Steroids?
September 25, 2008
Ingredients supplier Kyowa Hakko said it has completed the GRAS self-affirmation of its energy boosting dipeptide ingredient Sustamine, opening up the market for its use in foods and beverages. Sustamine, an L-Alanyl-L-Glutamine ingredient derived from the L-Alanine and L-Glutamine amino acids, is marketed as a“high-tech” amino acid that promotes muscle rehydration and recovery, and can be used as a source for energy refueling. In order to qualify for GRAS (generally recognized as safe) status in the US, an ingredient needs to be examined by a group of experts and determined as safe for human consumption when added into foods. Companies may either self-affirm their ingredients as GRAS once this process has been completed, or they can request the FDA to evaluate the documentation provided for additional backing. If FDA has no objection, a company can market its ingredient as being FDA-notified GRAS, which tends to be better accepted by industry. Stability
Sustamine is supplied in powder form, which is water soluble into a clear solution, said Kyowa. This will make it perfect for use in pre-workout powders or energy drinks. “Sustamine can be used in a powder or solid applications, but is best suited for use in liquids,” a spokesperson said. They explained that as an L-Alanyl-L-Glutamine, Sustamine more stable than L-Glutamine, which breaks down easily, especially once it’s added to liquids. The group suggests that the product can offer a number of benefits for food, beverage and healthcare manufacturers.
“The product can be used as a stable form of the amino acid L-Glutamine in ready-to-drink formulations and will assist with hydration and electrolyte replacement- critical for sports specific formulations,” the spokesperson said.
I’ve also seen research showing this dipeptide to be extremely anticatabolic. Look for this ingredient to be added to cell volumizers and pre-workout supplements and energy drinks over the next 12 months.
XP2G Legal Ephedra?
September 22, 2008
Since 2004, the FDA has prohibited the sale of supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids - the chemicals derived from the ephedra plant. Supplements containing those ingredients "supposedly" pose a health risk (according to the FDA). But champion bodybuilder Aaron Garza , who runs Pump Nutrition and a gym called Pump 24 Hour Training Mecca gym , said he isn’t breaking any laws by selling his own brand of Ephedra supplements due to its unique formula. The product, called XP2G , lists Ma Huang and Sida Cordifolia as ingredients (both of which normally contain the banned ephedrine alkaloids). Garza said because XP2G contain a special type of Ephedra that does not contain the banned alkaloids and thus it does not present the same risk of side effects as traditional ephedra products. He feels that it does not fall in any violation of the bans.
"What these people have done is realized there’s a few plant species in the ephedra family that don’t contain any of those 6 banned chemicals … Technically, they can still call it ephedra, because they’ve sidestepped that ephedra alkaloid prohibition." - Karen Tannert, Chief Pharmacist with the Texas Department of State Health Services .
It’s still a difficult area for regulators, since the only way to verify claims like Garza’s is through laboratory testing of the supplements in question. However, the newspaper I got this article from talked to a Gynocologist named Dr. Fermin Barrueto who was happy to comment on an area he had little qualifications to comment on.
The Vagina Doctor said that "legal ephedra is only a marketing gimmick " and that "the only way to remove banned chemicals from ephedra is through a complicated extraction process that manufacturers are unlikely to perform. "
I agree that it is a "marketing gimmick" Dr. Barrueto but to say that manufacturers are unlikely to perform the extraction process on Ephedra is complete bullshit. Supplement manufacturers will do almost anything to an herb if you’re willing to pay for it.
Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals also makes a fat burner called Lipodrene that uses the same form of Ephedra as XP2G and manufacturers the product themselves. I would not be surprised if Hi-Tech was the company that manufactured XP2G for Pump Nutrition.
SOURCE: The Monitor