REVIEW - DYMATIZE FLUD REVIEW

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RECOMMENDED RETAIL PRICE AUD$39.95

SUMMARY

OUR REVIEW

Post workout nutrition is considered one of the key components for all bodybuilders. Following a high intensity based workout or resistance training your muscles are low in nutrients and have been shown to benefit both from protein to assist in muscle rebuilding and repair and a fast absorbing carbohydrate source which restocks muscle glycogen and assists in nutrient transport to muscle tissues. Enter Dymatize’s Flud: a Waxy Maize Starch (WMS) based supplement which claims to be the new frontier in post workout nutrition, offering faster muscle rehydration and greater absorption than provided by either dextrose or maltodextrin. Is Dymatize’s Flud really better than any of the other carbohydrate staples, or should you simply abide by the tried and tested dextrose or maltodextrin based formulas?

Taste

Dymatize’s Flud comes in two forms: fruit punch and unflavoured, the flavoured option is a relatively new thing in WMS supplements which normally just offer the standard unflavoured version. I wasn’t privy enough myself to have sampled the flavoured version, although I know Ash who conducts similar reviews on the training blog has and gave it a good rap taste wise. The regular unflavoured version and as you can guess tasted pretty much similar to the other versions of WMS on the market. For the uniformed as WMS is essentially derived from a starch sources such as rice, barley, and commonly corn (i.e. maize), therefore it carries the same type of characteristics you can associate with this, being a chalk like texture and taste. By any means it’s not unpalatable just well....rather bland. My tip, get yourself a high quality tasting protein such as Dymatize’s ISO 100 or Optimum Nutrition’s 100% Gold Standard Whey, both of which can be found in our supplement store and you won’t notice the chalkiness nearly as much.

Ease of Mixing
One great thing I found about Dymatize’s Flud is the starch powder seemed to be little finer and smoother that other WMS products, which I believe really contributed to the excellent mixability of Flud especially in water. Never once did I experience any issues of clumping or insolubility or remnants stuck to the wall of the shaker.

Effectiveness

Dymatize suggests Flud can be used any time of the day, ideally you’ll want to consume it immediately post workout to replenish muscle glycogen and help shuttle protein into muscle cells to start the rebuilding process.  Although there is much debate surrounding the use of WMS and its effectiveness and efficiency in comparison with other simple carbohydrates such as dextrose or maltodextrin in all honesty I didn’t really notice any difference switching from using dextrose or maltodextrin based product post-workout to Dymatize’s Flud. That being said, I think Flud essentially does the job its sets out to do, that is helping transporting post work-out nutrients into muscle tissues and replenishing muscle glycogen.

Nutritional Analysis

According to Dymatize, Flud’s key is due to the unique properties of Dymamlopectin, which is a long-chain complex carbohydrate derived from ‘ultra high-density’ WMS. Being a pure carbohydrate each (31g) serve provides 120 calories, 30g of which are obviously derived from carbohydrate, although I’m a little confused where the extra gram comes from seeing all other nutrients are marked ‘Nil’.  One advantage I might consider Flud could have over dextrose is a lack of sugar, with Flud being a sugar free carbohydrate which might be better for those who really have a concern of sugar in their diet or want to try avoid exposing their teeth to sugars such as dextrose on a regular basis. Another nice addition is the added enzyme blend of Vanadyl Sulfate and Alpha Lipoic Acid, designed to improve digestion and maximize glycogen transport and storage. 

Value for Money

Dymatize’s Flud is available in our supplement store for $39.95 and although you get 60+ (31g) serves per 1.878 kg tub, I think Dymatize is a little off in their ratios. Generally post-workout I try to consume a protein to carbohydrate ratio of 1:2 which puts a general serving of Flud at about 50-60g. Working off these numbers you’re looking at about 37 serves which equates to just over $1 a serve.  Its certainty not expensive, but in comparison to straight out dextrose (which you should be able to pick up at a lower cost), Dymatize’s Flud does have a little bit more of a sting on the hip pocket.

Conclusion

Overall Dymatize’s Flud is a worthwhile carbohydrate supplement but in my opinion nothing really revolution contrary to what Dymatize might have you believe. As far as Waxy Maize goes, besides the powder appearing a touch finer that some competitors there wasn’t really any difference between Flud or other WMS products, where Flud might have the edge however, could be in the flavoured version which according to our other reviewer Ash is an improvement on general unflavoured WMS formulas.

In the end, what it simply boils down to is personal preference. In terms of its overall effectiveness, I couldn’t really detect any difference when compared with dextrose and/or maltodextrin, and you could certainty pick up either of these cheaper the Dymatize’s Flud. Then again with Flud, you’ve got the benefit of a non-sugar carbohydrate supplement which might save you a trip to the dentist down the tracks. However, as it stands as a post workout carbohydrate formula to assist in recovery and nutrient transport I can’t really fault Dymatize’s Flud either.