Introduction
When a highly accredited supplement company brings out a new product, the bodybuilding community tends to notice, and today is no different. Scivation (the makers of “Xtend”) have just recently released their “Scivation Whey” to Australian consumers, and whilst the name is lacking enthusiasm let’s hope the quality is just the opposite.
Ease of Mixing – 5/5
To be short and sweet it’s quick, simple and an average 10-15 second shake produces no unpleasant lumps and bumps. I have tested in water, low and non-fat milk and all signs point to a quality product here.
Taste - 4/5
Here’s where things get interesting; I honestly cannot tell the difference between “Scivation Whey” Chocolate flavour, and the comparative “Optimum Nutrition 100% Whey” Chocolate flavour. This has led me to believe, after many years of hearing stories, that some companies simply “procure” other companies flavour systems. Now I’m not saying that Scivation have done this, simply that the flavours taste remarkably similar. The up side is the taste is consistent and pleasant throughout, so no holding the nose whilst trying to put away one of these shakes.
Effectiveness – 4/5
A solid if not basic whey protein blend, and if used in conjunction with a sound eating plan this will definitely aid your recovery and muscle development. I will mention that this product didn’t leave me feeling under nourished in my protein intake whilst using it; however I didn’t feel like I was consuming a ground breaking formula or something special whilst using it (more on this below).
Nutritional Analysis – 3/5
As I have stated above this is a whey protein blend, which means it contains more than one protein source to make up the formula. “Scivation Whey” contains a mixture of both:
- Whey Protein Concentrate
- Slower absorption rate compared to WPI, however some users report stomach cramping when using on its own
- Low levels of carbs and fat
- Whey Protein Isolate
- Faster absorption rate compared to WPC
- Perfect for post workout usage
- Cleaner nutrient profile for dieting (i.e. almost no carbs and fat)
I did also notice that the nutritional panel on the box didn’t include a breakdown of the Amino Acid profile of the product. I will state that I am not a fan of this, as I like to know what levels of each Amino Acid I am consuming.
I’m also going to let you in on a little bodybuilding secret; when reading the nutritional profile of a protein blend, the protein listed first is by rule of thumb what makes up the highest percentage of protein used in the formula. Hence the majority of “Scivation Whey” is WPC.
Now there is nothing wrong with WPC, in fact many users prefer it over WPI as they don’t believe there is a cost benefit in purchasing WPI. However in a protein blend I want to see the inclusion of Casein and Egg Albumen to cover the fast and slow release proteins to support muscle nourishment over both short and long periods of time.
One large plus I have to mention is the Sodium content; each 30g serve contains approx. 36mg of Sodium. This is extremely low compared to many other whey protein blends on the market. This is something to note because if you work a desk job (like me) and you do / used to eat a lot of canned flavoured tuna/chicken (like me) to meet you protein requirements, chances are you’re eating too much sodium. So I just urge you to look at the sodium content of your food and supplements more closely and not just at the protein/carbs/fat content to next time you shop.
Value for Money – 3/5
For my 10lb box (approx. 160, 30g serves) I was hit a modest price which is comparable to most other whey protein blends on the market. In fact it is directly comparable to the going price of Optimum Nutrition 100% Whey (am I beginning to see a trend here?).
Overall Conclusion – 3/5
“Scivation Whey” is a basic whey protein blend which includes the two big protein sources most people are aware of. I may be harsh in judging it because it doesn’t include Casein or Egg Albumen, but I stand by my point. The whole reason protein blends exist is to cover all the bases in protein requirements. That being said, the quality of the product is high, the taste is good and it’s well priced. You could do a lot worse in your protein powder purchase; so if you’re currently slamming a “Scivation Whey” shake down feel at ease because there’s much worse out there.
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