Since the early days of N.O. Xplode and Jack3d, the preworkout market has boomed. The Supplement Database now contains over 1,000 preworkouts, making it the most populous product category. Are these supplements effective in doing anything? The answer depends on its ingredients. In this article, we’ll briefly look at the research behind the three most popular ingredients found in preworkouts: caffeine, beta-alanine, and tyrosine.

TL;DR: There is a good reason caffeine and beta-alanine are the two most popular ingredients found in preworkout supplements. There is plenty of research on both ingredients, and the research is overwhelmingly positive on their ability…

Amino Explode

Amino Explode is a pre-workout supplement manufactured by Pro Nutrition and Fitness. It ranks 982 out of 1010 pre-workout supplements and earned an overall thumbs-down recommendation based on seven factors including nutrition label transparency, ingredients, dosing, claims, research rating, and ranking.

Thumbs-down

Amino Explode earned a thumbs-down recommendation. This recommendation is based on the criteria listed below. To earn an overall thumbs-up recommendation, a product must earn a thumbs-up in at least four of the seven areas below. Click on a graded area for an in-depth analysis.

Amino Explode Simple Report

• Product Name: Amino Explode
• Manufacturer: Pro Nutrition and…

In the first part of this series, we looked at whether the three most popular ingredients found in testosterone boosters ( zinc, tongkat ali, and fenugreek) had any effect on testosterone levels. The conclusion was that most healthy individuals would not see any meaningful results from taking a product with those three ingredients. In this article, we’ll look at the research behind the next three most popular ingredients: tribulus terrestris, magnesium, and ashwagandha extract.

TL;DR: Tribulus terrestris, magnesium, and ashwagandha extract probably have a limited ability to increase testosterone levels in young, healthy, and trained individuals. Most of the increases…

Whey protein is one of the most widely used supplements. It’s cheap, easy to find, and effective in increasing strength, muscle mass, and performance. In this article, we’ll look at various sources to answer the question: is whey protein safe to consume.

TL;DR Whey protein is safe for the vast majority of people. The FDA accepts whey protein as a safe food based on both evidence and its ubiquitous use. The evidence does not suggest whey protein decreases bone mass or leads to kidney issues, at least in healthy populations.

Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS)

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for…

The simple fact that whey protein is one of the most widely used supplements means it SHOULD provide some genuine benefits. One of the most essential benefits a protein supplement should deliver is building muscle mass. Whey protein is known as the fast-digesting protein. It’s typically used as a post-workout recovery aid, in part, because of its quick delivery of nutrients to the muscle tissue.

TL;DR: Whey protein is one of the most favorably studied supplements on the market. Unlike other supplement ingredients, it consistently shows benefits for a wide variety of claims, including its ability to build muscle when…

Testosterone is the male sex hormone. It affects bone mass, fat distribution, muscle, strength, and mood. Signs of low testosterone include decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, fatigue, increased fat mass, decreased muscle, and lower bone density¹ ² ⁹.

Anabolic steroids are synthetic or human-made versions of testosterone. Due to their adverse side effects, the market for “natural” ways to increase testosterone has exploded. This article focuses on products made from over the counter ingredients such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and other supplements. …

Supplement products, such as pre-workouts, sleep aids, or immunity boosters, are simply a collection of ingredients such as creatine, vitamins, amino acids, and minerals. These ingredients make a product what it is. What’s the difference between two products made up of the same ingredients when one costs double the other? Marketing! Celebrities, social media influencers, and other tactics can increase demand and pricing for a supplement product without making it more efficient.

The truth is that many supplement products share their ingredient profiles with other products. Sometimes, a company doesn’t manufacture its own supplements. …

The ketogenic diet is a relatively new weight-loss strategy though its roots date back to the 1920s. Though it initially was created as a potential treatment for epilepsy, it has recently joined the ranks of popular diets, showing some promising results. In this series, we’ll discuss the keto diet, what the research says about its effectiveness, and who this strategy might work for.

What is the Keto Diet?

At its core, the keto diet is basically an extremely low-carbohydrate diet. People using this strategy limit their intake of carbs to 5–10% of their overall consumption. On a 2,000 calorie diet, this equates to a carb…