Tag Archives: Optimum Nutrition

A clean formulation, likely appealing to anyone not out for a super-high-stim pre-workout. But with just 20 serves per jar, this one isn’t cheap.

Quick Facts:

• Considered one of the pioneers of what we now know as the supplement industry, Optimum Nutrition began in 1986. For more than 30 years, they have been providing elite quality fitness supplement products. Whether you need a premium whey protein or a way to boost your testosterone levels, Optimum Nutrition has you covered.
• Optimum Nutrition offers a wide range of products available in powder, tablet, and ready-to-eat form. These product categories include Whey Protein, Casein Protein, Protein Bars, Mass Gainers, Pre-Workouts, Post-Workouts, Amino Acids, Creatine, Glutamine, Multi-Vitamins, Fat Burners, and Fitness Accessories.

Top Products:

1. Gold Standard 100% Whey

• This combination of whey protein isolate, whey protein concentrate, and whey peptides has become the shining example of what real, high quality protein should be across the industry.

2. Gold Standard Pre-Workout

• Featuring a unique high-energy blend of ginseng, caffeine, and l-citrulline malate, this product sets the bar high for other pre-workouts.

3. Serious Mass

• When you want to gain size and strength, nothing comes close to the power of Serious Mass. This product is one of the best mass gainers for those in need of size in the entire industry.

4. Micronized Creatine Powder

• The use of creatine for athletic performance and fitness results has become commonplace thanks to O.N. This pure, pharmaceutical grade creatine helps support recovery and gains.

5. Opti-Men

• Not all multi-vitamins are created equal. Opti-Men was specifically formulated and designed to help a man achieve optimal health.

Who Uses Optimum Nutrition?

• Optimum Nutrition is a brand that is accessible and available to all types of fitness enthusiasts. Whether you only see the gym once in a while or you practically live there, Optimum Nutrition has a product for you. In particular, Optimum Nutrition is very popular with those looking to build muscle, burn fat, boost recovery, and improve strength levels. It has a unique line of supplements that apply to every type of fitness goal.

• Bodybuilders
• Weight lifters
• Athletes
• Power lifters
• Wanting to lose weight
• Looking to improve overall health

Fitness Goals & Which Supplement to Use?

3. Muscle Building

When you want to increase lean muscle mass or if you simply want to maintain your current levels, two of the best products in the entire industry come from Optimum Nutrition. Using an elite quality whey will provide you with muscle building amino acids. Using a creatine product before and after your workout will help supply energy to muscle tissue.

• Gold Standard 100% Whey
• Micronized Creatine Powder

2. Fat Loss

Nutrition and exercise are key when you want to burn fat; however, everyone can benefit from extra help. Thermogenic supplements help to promote weight loss by triggering a metabolic response and directly supporting fat burning. O.N. has one of the most user-friendly thermogenic fat burners in the industry.

• Platinum Pre-

1. Energy

We all know the feeling of coming home from a long day and STILL needing to get to the gym on top of everything else. When you're in need of a serious pick-me-up that won't leave you with a crash, O.N. has you covered. O.N. produces an industry-shattering pre-workout that contains scientifically proven ingredients. Best of all, there's no crash! Get your energy with O.N.

• Gold Standard Pre-Workout

For anyone who has a hard time putting on weight, there's nothing like an elite quality mass gainer. Loaded with the protein for muscle building and excess calories for mass, these supplements can make a huge difference for hard gainers.

Let's take a look at two of the best mass gainers in the industry, Optimum Nutrition Pro Complex Gainer and Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Gainer to see which one is worth the buy.

Optimum Nutrition Pro Gainer

Where can I buy it?

• Here's where you can buy Optimum Nutrition Pro Gainer

Pros of Optimum Nutrition Pro Gainer

Pro Gainer has been a fan favourite for years and it's not hard to see why. At 650 calories per serving, this is one supplement that is serious about helping you gain the mass you want.

Every serving of Pro Gainer delivers 60 grams of protein along with 85 grams of carbohydrates, making it ideal as a muscle building supplement post-workout. We were really impressed by the protein blend that Optimum Nutrition uses which includes Whey Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Concentrate, Calcium Caseinate, Egg Albumin, Hydrolyzed Whey Peptides, and Glutamine Peptides. With the varying rates of digestion for each type of protein, you can rest assured you'll have plenty of muscle building amino acids for hours.

When used as directed, Pro Gainer may support muscle recovery, promote muscle growth, and trigger protein synthesis. (1-6)

Cons of Optimum Nutrition Pro Gainer

Two concerns we have with Pro Gainer:

First is with the vitamin and mineral blend. If you are taking a multi-vitamin, then you may want to take half of the dose since Pro Gainer delivers up to 50% of what you'll need on a daily basis.

Second is with the maltodextrin as the front and centre ingredient. Maltodextrin is a simple carbohydrate source used in many mass gainers. Since it's a simple carbohydrate, it may spike insulin levels like a quick carb food would. With that said, it's best to use this product first thing in the morning or immediately following a workout.

Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Gainer

Where can I buy it?

• Here's where you can buy Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Gainer

Pros of Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Gainer

The Gold Standard series of supplements from Optimum Nutrition has been one of the best in the industry. From the pre-workout to the protein, Gold Standard has set itself high above other supplement brands. The Gold Standard Gainer is no different. Packed with 760 calories from quality ingredients per serving, Gold Standard Gainer is ready to help you accomplish your size goals.

Gold Standard Gainer gives you 55 grams of protein and 110 grams of carbohydrates. The amazing thing about the carbohydrate blend is that it is primarily from oat, pea and potato. Yes, you'll find maltodextrin in there as well but the bulk is coming from a complex carb source.

The one area where Gold Standard surpasses its ON relative is with its unique fat blend including 11 grams of healthy fats from flaxseed, chia, and MCTs. Healthy fats are extremely important for overall health. When it comes to bulking up, healthy fats like MCT oil can actually keep the amount of fat you gain in check. This is critical when your goal is muscle, not fat mass. (7)

Cons of Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Gainer

Aside from the usual use of artificial sweeteners and flavouring, there isn't much you can argue against when it comes to Gold Standard Gainer. The only 'issue' is that the protein blend is primarily made of Whey Isolate, which means fast digesting amino acids. You can use it during any point in the day but especially following a workout.

Which One Should You Buy?

What you have here is two great mass gaining products. There is no denying that Gold Standard Gainer has the superior quality of the two products; however, it also has the bigger price tag. We would say that the extra money is well worth it but if you need to watch your spending this month, Pro Gainer is an excellent mass gaining choice.

References

1. Tsutsumi R, Tsutsumi YM. Peptides and proteins in whey and their benefits for human health. Austin J Nutri Food Sci 2014;1(1): 1002

2. Blomstrand E, Eliasson J, Karlsson HK, Köhnke R. Branched-chain amino acids activate key enzymes in protein synthesis after physical exercise. J Nutr. 2006 Jan;136(1 Suppl):269S-73S.

3. Norton, Layne, Layman, Donald. Leucine Regulates Translation Initiation of Protein Synthesis in Skeletal Muscle after Exercise. J. Nutr. February 2006 vol. 136 no. 2 533S-537S.

4. Negro M, Giardina S, Marzani B, Marzatico F. Branched-chain amino acid supplementation does not enhance athletic performance but affects muscle recovery and the immune system. J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2008 Sep;48(3):347-51.

5. Mourier A, Bigard AX, de Kerviler E, Roger B, Legrand H, Guezennec CY. Combined effects of caloric restriction and branched-chain amino acid supplementation on body composition and exercise performance in elite wrestlers. Int J Sports Med. 1997 Jan;18(1):47-55.

6. De Lorenzo A, Petroni ML, Masala S, Melchiorri G, Pietrantuono M, Perriello G, Andreoli A. Effect of acute and chronic branched-chain amino acids on energy metabolism and muscle performance. Diabetes Nutr Metab. 2003 Oct-Dec;16(5-6):291-7.

7. St-Onge MP, Bosarge A. Weight-loss diet that includes consumption of medium-chain triacylglycerol oil leads to a greater rate of weight and fat mass loss than does olive oil. Am J Clin Nutr. 2008 Mar;87(3):621-6.

Pre-workouts are the staple of the fitness world, right alongside protein, and the best companies understand that means more than just throwing some caffeine in a brightly coloured powder. Let's take a look at two of the biggest names in the pre-workout world, Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre-Workout and Cellucor C4, to see which one should be sitting on your shelf.

Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre-Workout

Where can I buy it?

• Click here to buy Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre-Workout.

Pros of Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre-Workout

Optimum Nutrition rarely disappoints and their Gold Standard Pre-Workout is no exception. Gold Standard is a perfect blend of energy boosters and nootropics to help get you in the zone before a workout.

Sure, it contains caffeine but it doesn't overdo it like some of those over-the-top pre-workouts. At 175 mg per serving, that's a nice and steady kick that's backed up by a number of other ingredients including Beta Alanine, Gingseng, and N-Acetyl-L-Tyrosine. Gold Standard is free of controversial stimulants like Yohimbe and instead focuses on a level-headed way to boost your energy levels. (1)

Cons of Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre-Workout

Gold Standard's pros may be its cons, depending on who you are. For the supplement newbie or those sensitive to energy boosters, Gold Standard is going to be the perfect pre-workout. For those who have taxed and maxed out their adrenal systems, Gold Standard may not even get you to baseline.

Cellucor C4

Where can I buy it?

• Click here to buy Cellucor C4.

Pros of Cellucor C4

Cellucor C4: Is there anyone who doesn't know the name of this pre-workout? C4 has been around the block time and again. In fact, Cellucor has released a series of C4 spin-off products including C4 Ripped and C4 Extreme. Today, let's focus on the classic formula.

As far as energy goes, C4 can't be beat. We love the combination of Velvet Bean with Caffeine and Theacrine. Studies show that when you mix Caffeine with Theacrine, you can avoid the classic jitters and instead focus on the energy boosting. What's a workout without a pump? C4 has long been one of the best nitric oxide blends featuring Creatine Nitrate and AAK (Arginine Alpha Ketoglutarate), which are two of the most used N.O. boosters on the market. (1-3)

Cons of Cellucor C4

We love C4; however, what we don't like is mystery. That's what you get with C4's proprietary blend, which makes it impossible to know exactly how much of each ingredient you are getting in the energy blend. With that said, seeing as how C4 is still a fan favourite, it's a safe bet that you are getting a high enough dose of the energy boosting formula to crush your workout.

Conclusion

Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre-Workout and Cellucor C4 are both amazing products and they are giants in the industry for a reason. Both offers formulas that kickstart energy levels, support performance, and enhance any workout. The deal breaker is going to be how much of a caffeine tolerance you have. If you need several cups of coffee just to get you started in the morning, we would recommend C4. If you've never experimented with pre-workouts before, go with Gold Standard.

References

1. Westerterp-Plantenga MS, Lejeune MP, Kovacs EM. Body weight loss and weight maintenance in relation to habitual caffeine intake and green tea supplementation. Obes Res. 2005 Jul;13(7):1195-204.

2. Daniel J. Kuhman, Keanan J. Joyner, and Richard J. Bloomer. Cognitive Performance and Mood Following Ingestion of a Theacrine-Containing Dietary Supplement, Caffeine, or Placebo by Young Men and Women. Nutrients. 2015 Nov; 7(11): 9618–9632.

3. Elfego Galvan, Dillon K. Walker, Sunday Y. Smbo, Ryan Dalton, Kyle Levers, Abigail O'Connor, Chelsea Goodenough, Nicholas D. Barringer, Mike Greenwood, Christopher Rasmussen, Stephen B. Smith, Steven E. Riechman, James D. Fluckey, Peter S. Murano, Conrad P. Earnest and Richard B. Kreider. Acute and chronic safety and efficacy of dose dependent creatine nitrate supplementation and exercise performance. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition201613:12. DOI: 10.1186/s12970-016-0124-0.

When muscle building is your primary goal, it goes without saying that protein plays a critical factor in your results. Protein contains the very building blocks of lean muscle tissue. That means you need a supplement that works fast and effectively for you to maximize your results. We're pitting the two industry giants against one another again in this protein showdown: Optimum Nutrition Hydrowhey vs Dymatize ISO 100. Let's take a look at the pros and cons of both brands to see which is worth picking up for your collection.

Optimum Nutrition Hydrowhey

Where can I buy it?

• Here is where you can buy Optimum Nutrition Hydrowhey

Pros:

• 30 grams of hydrolysed protein per serving
• Highly bioavailable protein
• Provides almost 9 grams BCAAs
• Contains digestive enzymes for better absorption

Cons:

• Possible nitrogen spiking
• Artificial flavouring
• Artificial sweeteners

Optimum Nutrition is no stranger to the protein supplement scene. It offers a variety of different proteins, all of which are best sellers. It's no different with its Hydrowhey. Hydrolysed whey is a very unique type of protein as it pre-broken down. That means it will get into your muscle tissue faster than ordinary whey concentrate. That's great news for your muscles post-workout.

The only downside to Hydrowhey is the possibility of nitrogen spiking. This is where amino acids are added to the formula to cause a higher protein count. While it's not that big of a deal, this means the real protein count may be lower and closer to 25 grams as opposed to 30.

Dymatize ISO 100

Where can I buy it?

• Here is where you can buy Dymatize ISO 100

Pros:

• Hydrolysed and isolate protein
• 25 grams of protein per serving
• Minimal ingredients, which means less junk that you don't need
• Rapid digestion of protein into muscle tissue
• No fat and low cholesterol

Cons:

• Artificial flavouring
• Artificial sweeteners

When you want a superior post-workout protein, few supplements will come close to Dymatize ISO 100. This is one of the most straight forward protein isolate supplements on the market. You're getting hydrolysed protein along with a protein isolate. Both of which are extremely bioavailable. There's artificial flavouring and sweeteners and that's it. At 25 grams of protein per serving, you can rest assured that your muscles are going to love ISO 100.

Which One Should You Buy?

Both of these protein supplements have been designed to give your muscles the amino acids they need. Amino acids are going to help boost recovery, promote growth, and even support fat burning. So which one of these brands does it better?

If you look at the labels, you're going to see that it's an even draw. Both are incredible brands. Both have high quality protein sources. Both are going to be an amazing addition to any post-workout supplement line-up.

If we had to choose then we'd go with Dymatize ISO 100. The fact that Hydrowhey may be adding in additional amino acids to help boost its protein count almost feels like a violation of trust (although it's quite common in the industry). ISO 100 is giving you 25 grams of completely usable protein with no tricks or gimmicks. Again, both are great so if the deciding factor for you is price then go with the one on sale. You can't go wrong either way.

References

1. Tsutsumi R, Tsutsumi YM. Peptides and proteins in whey and their benefits for human health. Austin J Nutri Food Sci 2014;1(1): 1002

2. Blomstrand E, Eliasson J, Karlsson HK, Köhnke R. Branched-chain amino acids activate key enzymes in protein synthesis after physical exercise. J Nutr. 2006 Jan;136(1 Suppl):269S-73S.

3. Norton, Layne, Layman, Donald. Leucine Regulates Translation Initiation of Protein Synthesis in Skeletal Muscle after Exercise. J. Nutr. February 2006 vol. 136 no. 2 533S-537S.

4. Negro M, Giardina S, Marzani B, Marzatico F. Branched-chain amino acid supplementation does not enhance athletic performance but affects muscle recovery and the immune system. J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2008 Sep;48(3):347-51.

5. Mourier A, Bigard AX, de Kerviler E, Roger B, Legrand H, Guezennec CY. Combined effects of caloric restriction and branched-chain amino acid supplementation on body composition and exercise performance in elite wrestlers. Int J Sports Med. 1997 Jan;18(1):47-55.

6. De Lorenzo A, Petroni ML, Masala S, Melchiorri G, Pietrantuono M, Perriello G, Andreoli A. Effect of acute and chronic branched-chain amino acids on energy metabolism and muscle performance. Diabetes Nutr Metab. 2003 Oct-Dec;16(5-6):291-7.