My Supplement Store

I have another product review post today for you guys. It is not coming from me this time, however, and that is because many of the products that I was sent to sample had some trace of milk product in them, so just to be safe, I asked a friend to try them out and give me a review of them. These products came from My Supplement Store, which has supplements ranging from vitamins to diet and energy pills to protein bars. In other words, there is something for everyone, and my friend was lucky enough to get to give a few of their most popular products a try.

First on the list was Allmax Nutrition Hexapro Whey Protein. It is a product containing five amino acids and six protein products that improve immune function and increase the recovery process. As per the suggestion on the back of the package, Hannah created a "cookies and cream milkshake," and though it is not going to compare to a real cookies and cream milkshake, she assured me that it tasted pretty good. She also said she would recommend mixing it with milk when you take it, as opposed to just mixing it with water, because the milk helps create more of a milkshake-like consistency that helps to mask some of the taste.

Next up was the Empyrean Nutrition Insu-Pro post-workout supplement. This product, which contains fast-absorbing carbohydrates and fast-absorbing protein is actually lactose-free, but since Hannah was sampling the rest of the products, I decided to be consistent and have her sample this one as well. Hannah is a big-time runner, but she also knows the importance of cross-training. She takes exercise very seriously, and she appreciates not feeling sore the day after a tough workout. Hannah admitted that this is probably one of the best post-workout supplements available, and she really loved the taste of the watermelon flavor. Intense training sessions deplete your glycogen storage, and this product has the perfect 2:1 ratio of fast-absorbing carbohydrates and protein for optimized recovery. This product gets two thumbs up!

The third product I was sent was the USPLabs OxyElite Pro, which is a fat-burning diet supplement. Hannah and I are both typically anti-diet supplements, but this product did get good overall reviews, and she so kindly agreed to give it a try. She took the one capsule on an empty stomach first thing in the morning, and though she only took it the one day, she remarked upon her feelings of increased energy throughout the day. Other reviewers have raved that it has truly helped them to lose those stubborn few pounds, experience boosts of energy at the gym, and the best part is that there is no crash later. This supplement is meant to be taken alongside a well-balanced diet and regular exercise program, and Hannah said she would definitely take it again, though she did admit that she did not care much for the taste of it.

The penultimate product Hannah sampled were the Promax Promax Bars in the Chocolate Fudge flavor. When I was training for the BPMS150 my senior year of high school, I ate copious amounts of bars very similar to these. Obviously, I loved them. These Promax energy bars can be used as a meal replacement or as a snack, and they contain 20 grams of protein per bar. It wasn't hard to convince Hannah to try this product, as she is also an avid protein bar lover. You have to be careful, because there are so many protein bars out there that do more harm than good, but this one was a hit. Hannah said that it tasted great, and the fact that they are high in protein and low in fat is a huge plus, and the only concern is the high sugar content. Hannah recommends eating this after a workout, and I would have to agree. I would eat bars similar to these after riding about 20 miles or so on the bike, and I was immediately (okay, maybe not immediately) ready to go again. This was her favorite product of the five.

Last on the list was the Optimum Nutrition 100% Whey Protein Gold Standard. This product has 24 grams of protein per serving, a limited amount of sugar, fat, and carbs, and it jump-starts the recovery process. This is another product Hannah recommends mixing with milk instead of water because it gives it a more milkshake- or smoothie-like consistency. She sampled the Cinnamon Graham Cracker flavor, and remarked that it was an interesting flavor, but that it tasted very good, and it made a great "milkshake." If you have been searching for a good whey protein product, look no further, because this one seems to get the job done.

Overall, these products were met with very positive reviews by Hannah, and I can't thank her enogh for being my taste-tester, as well as My Supplement Store for sending me these products to be sampled. They were a hit!

*All photos courtesy of the My Supplement Store website.

Best Price Nutrition

In case you have been wondering what I've been up to these past few days, the answer is not much. I have been doing a lot of working and reading. I told myself I was going to read all new books this summer, but then I got started on the first Harry Potter book, and once you get started, you just can't stop. And when I start reading the Harry Potter series, I often find that I have no interest in doing anything else. That being said, I am currently in Austin, and books four through seven are on my bookshelf in Houston, so if you are in Austin and have a physical copy of the fourth book you wouldn't mind lending to me, let me know, because I'm getting a little bit desperate over here.

On another note, a few weeks ago, a company called Best Price Nutrition reached out to me about doing a product review on my blog. They so kindly sent me a few free samples, and though it took me a little while to get around to trying them, I am finally ready to review them. If you are not familiar with Best Price Nutrition, it is a company dedicated to "debunking the myths and junk science that pollutes" the health and fitness industry. They have  a plethora of products available, for all health and fitness needs, so you are sure to find the perfect product for you. But first, let me tell you a little bit more about the products I sampled.

First up on the list - NovaForme CytoGreens, which is "an innovative post-recovery product," that contains plenty of vitamins, antioxidants, and enzymes that help with stamina, providing energy, and help repair muscle tissue, among other benefits. I am usually hesitant about trying this sort of thing, but it ended up being my favorite product that I sampled. I followed the directions and scooped it into a glass of water, and I found that I actually enjoyed it. I probably should have had it before heading off for a workout instead of before heading off to work, but I did find myself feeling a bit more energized, and satisfied that I had snuck in some extra greens so early in the day.

Next up was the Nature's Way Alive! Once Daily Women's Multivitamin that provides the perfect blend of nutrients to support a balanced diet and "optimal health for women." I am not going to lie, when I first took a whiff of the vitamin, I was instantly turned off from it. However, I snuck it into a morning bowl of yogurt so that swallowing it would be a surprise. Yes, I am evidently still a child, but it worked! Because I did not take them over a very long period of time, I did not notice any real effects, either good or bad, but I would assume that if I were to continue taking them, I would probably feel more energy. But since I am a pretty bad pill-taker, I probably won't continue taking them, but that is my own flaw, and it is nothing against the vitamin itself.

The third product I tried was the Garden of Life Raw Protein Packet. It is another protein powder, and I usually turn my head to these sorts of products, but I obviously couldn't do that this time. The packet promised me that it would increase the protein content of my meals, and that it has a very "neutral taste." The taste was what I worried most about, but I mixed it into a raspberry smoothie and I honestly couldn't even taste it, but I knew I was secretly getting a ton of added protein. These packets are especially good for vegetarians and vegans who worry about maybe not getting enough protein in their diets, and I would definitely recommend it. It mixes well and it really does have a neutral taste - a win in my book!

And the last product I tried was the Garden of Life Raw Meal. I am usually very against meal replacements, so I had to suck it up in order to give this product a taste test. It contains 26 superfoods, 34 grams of protein, and 9-15 grams of dietary fiber, among many other health benefits. I only mixed it with water, but I would recommend mixing it with something that provides a little more flavor. I will admit that it did not taste the best, but it is a very complete meal replacement that actually kept me full for hours. If you can look past the taste, and just know that you are getting tons of nutrients with each swallow, this is the product for you.

I am very grateful for the people at Best Price Nutrition for allowing me to try and review their products. They are a great company, and they are very passionate about health and making sure that everyone, no matter their dietary needs and restrictions, get all of the necessary vitamins and minerals. I would absolutely recommend their products, so be sure to check out the ones I reviewed as well as the many other products available on their website. These particular products really helped alter my negative views on many of these health products, and I am sure to be a bit more open and accepting of others. 

Have a great Wednesday!

*All images courtesy of the Best Price Nutrition website.