Nutura Formulas BCAA Capsules

Poor hubby. He’s back again with a workout supplement review, and as so many of these before, there’s some serious questions asked, including that I take a sabbatical from workout supplements after this next batch has been reviewed. So, off to the races, dear readers! Here’s Hubby:

There’s an accepted holy trinity of workout supplements, and they are Protein, Creatine, BCAA’s. Today I’m going over one of that trinity, and that’s Natura’s BCCA Capsules. I’ve taken amino acid supplements in one form or another for almost 20 years, off and on. We’ve covered a BCAA supplement here before, with Diet Standard’s version, I’m afraid for very simple reasons I can’t recommend these capsules from Natura as highly.

To start, BCAA’s are three essential amino acids: l-leucine, l-isoleucine, and l-valine. Usually taken in a 2:1:1 (2 parts of one to one and one of the others) stack to help promote lean muscle growth and retain lean muscle mass during a calorie deficient diet and workout routine, these are some of the most researched and proven workout supplements on the market. They are plentiful and inexpensive, and used the world over safely.

 

My problem is fairly simple: I’m currently using a very popular and well known brand of BCAA caspsules from Optimum Nutrition.

They are considered in many circles the industry standard, trusted and tested to be exactly what they say they are, and their serving size is shown as 1000mg for 2 capsules. I only mention this because Natura’s capsules are purported to be 1600mg’s, and they’re smaller. That’s a huge red flag to me. Aside from the sheer physics of it, it makes me cast a very critical eye at the product. For $17.77, they are almost triple the cost of the same count from Optimum Nutrition. For what should be the exact same supplement. The supplement market is completely saturated with products and companies, so for the life of me I can’t see why one would pay 3 times as much for the same thing, and that’s not even considering that there are less expensive brands than ON on the market. Let me stress again that the capsules are smaller to boot. Both are made in the USA, too. Natura has a guarantee that reads: “GET RESULTS OR YOUR MONEY BACK – You are protected by our 100% Money Back Guarantee. If, for whatever reason, you are not satisfied with your purchase from Natura Formulas, just return the empty bottles for a full refund! WE STAND BEHIND OUR PRODUCTS WITH A RISK FREE GUARANTEE. That’s the Natura Formulas Guarantee”. That’s bold, but really, results from a workout supplement are dependent on the work you put in, not the boasts of being the “most potent on Amazon”, which are laughable. Same with the  questionable boasts of “building muscle faster” “alter your bodies metabolism”, “instantaneous results” and “burn fat faster”. Again, you get from a workout what you put into it, so you can pop a million pills but if you don’t put in the sweat equity, you’re wasting your time and money. I didn’t notice any difference, results wise, from my current BCAA capsules, either. I can’t make a very high recommendation for these, because A) the price, and B) the size problem. Sorry, Natura.

Okay, so you can see why he’s asked for a break on supplements after we finish this next batch. Once again, disappointment. There’s talk of the FDA finally getting serious about supplement (and cosmetics) regulation, and it con’t really come quick enough in this girl’s opinion. I absolutely hate being down on products that I try fro free from companies that are trying to get their foot in the door, but I would also hate to be up on a product I had serious reservations about and make it seem like I just love something because it’s free. Like Hubby said: Sorry, Natura, but we can’t recommend this product.

Connect with Natura Formulas:

• On the web
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• On Amazon

I received the above product(s) free of charge from Natura Formulas.  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

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Smiley360: Accuflora ProBiotic Supplement Review #Accuflora

I have tried several brands of ProBiotics and PreBiotics that I can count. I know they aid with digestive health and even though I do not suffer from regular problems, there are days that I don’t eat how I would want to and wanted something natural to correct what I was missing. I eat Greek yogurt on a daily basis in the morning and sometimes even add a little Coconut or Almond milk to my fruit, nut, seeds and granola bowl. Then comes the days where I am rushing and grab a bagel……not the best choice even if I tell myself Almond Butter is better than butter.

Accuflora, is that filler I need when I don’t behave or noticed my Husband left literally one small spoonful of yogurt, so he would not be the one that had the last bite! Love that 🙂 Accuflora, has five types of active cultures that you find in yogurt but convinently in one pill-

Active Probiotic Blend:

• Lactobacillus Acidophilus
• Lactobacillus Rhamnosus
• Bifidobacterium Bifidum
• Lactobacillus Salivarius
• Streptococcus Thermophilus

 

Each pill has a lasting or what I call “working” effect of 12 hours and you can take up to 2 pills a day, which means one bottle lasts 30 days. Pretty simple!

Retail Price Point: $6.99 via Amazon was the cheapest price I could locate. Then came Target at the non-sale price of $9.49, which with the coupon link below of $1.00 off makes it $8.49 and don’t forget to make your savings stretch by using the RedCard for 5% more off.

Ingredients:
Probiotic Blend: Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Lactobacillus Rhamnosus, Bifidobacterium Bifidum, Lactobacillus Salivarius, Streptococcus Thermophilus. Other Ingredients- Microcrystalline Cellulose, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Pectin, Guar Gum, Silica Dioxide, Stearic Acid and Turmeric.

Results:
I have had problems with these supplements in over-working my system and this is why I take them more as a reboot versus a daily dose. I eat well and have a balanced diet, plus I make sure to make my protein and calories count. A clean diet means that you only need to clean so much via supplements (in my case), so this is perfect for my bagel or only had time for an energy bar days. I get zero cramping and bloating like I would with other Probiotics and this is where I learned that if you eat yogurt with the aforementioned ingredients, supplementing can have adverse effects (too much of a good thing). Accuflora, also was perfect for taking after doing a round of antibiotics where they tend to kill everything, even the good bacteria. I found many instances where this filled that void and I don’t have to commit to taking it everyday and can control the intake by 12 hour intervals, as the dosage is nicely divided. I like pills that work with how I eat and diet, so Accuflora is that Probiotic pill I have been looking for.

Connect with Accuflora and see what it can do for you at:

• On-line
• Facebook
• Amazon
• Target
• Coupon Link 
• #Accuflora

 

I received the above product(s) free of charge from Accuflora.  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

GreenForce Labs No2 PreWorkout Supplement Review #GreenForce

I’ve passed off workout supplements to hubby before, and this one is no different, but thankfully for him, this one was much better than the last. I don’t think he could take another horrible product to be my crash test dummy for. So, without further adieu, here’s hubby:

I’ve been using pre-workout supplements for years now. Some tasted good and did bupkis for me. Some tasted horrible, and did bupkis for me. Some tasted tolerable and worked out well. I have yet to find one that wasn’t overly sweet, loaded with sugars, artificial colors and flavors, or ingredients that I’d rather not ingest. I think, however, I’ve found one in Greenforce Labs No2 Preworkout that hits every metric I want.

Some background on what I consider essential preworkout primers. One is a bit of caffeine. It really helps get my butt up and moving. Next are some B-vitamins to keep it moving. A little arginine to keep the blood vessels wide open. Everything else for me is gravy. Greenforce No2 Preworkout ups the ante by adding l-ornithine and l-citrulline to combat muscle fatigue, and a new one for me, beet root extract, which aids in greater output, lowers fatigue, and possibly greater strength. Hey now, I’m in. And for me, this product worked. I matched my exercise output and results from my powdered product, at half the cost. I’m happy to alternate between this and my usual.

After making sure I cleared my system of my previous preworkout powder, which I consider seriously flawed due to being obnoxiously sweet. I can happily report that Greenforce No2 Preworkout has no added sugars, natural OR artificial, a major failing of almost every single preworkout on the market. You can easily tailor your intake to your needs or workout. With a 4 capsule serving, that’s simple to say “Okay, it’s late, I’m only taking half tonight”. Also, this is an all-natural product made in the USA, NFW and GMP certified. You get a month’s worth for $21.95 with 120 capsules per bottle.

Now for the best part. This product is 100% satisfaction guaranteed. From the first capsule to the last. Greenforce Labs stands behind this product, no questions, full stop. I had a minor issue with shipping and Greenforce Labs bent over backwards to make sure I was a satisfied customer. Above and beyond. Show me a supplement company that does that. I’ve had dealings with some of the biggest, and it’s all finger-pointing and no guarantees. I’m happy to report there none of that nonsense with Greenforce Labs. I’m happy to support them and look forward to see what they bring to market next.

Connect with Greenforce Labs:

• On Facebook
• Buy from Amazon
• #GreenForce

I received the above product(s) free of charge from Greenforce Labs.  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

Diet Standards: AMINOHD 1000 Branch Chain Amino Acids (BCAA’s) #AminoHD1000AmazonReview

I received from Poliquin Group, the opportunity to try Branch Chain Amino Acids and quickly knew it was something my Husband would like.  Below is his review of the product and the details. .

I’ve been using supplements now for almost 2 decades. I know what works for me and what doesn’t. I use very few because, honestly, most of them are junk and don’t do squat. Of the few I’ve taken with regularity, BCAAs are some that I feel work for me. So when Diet Standards offered to let me try their product in exchange for an honest review, I jumped at the chance. There’s some good stuff, and a little bad here, so let me explain.

Ingredients (as listed on the site):
AminoHD 1000 BCAA contains only Branch Chain Amino Acids and Vegetable Capsules. Nothing else deserves to be in your BCAA supplement. – Ingredients: L-Leucine (250mg per capsule), L-Isoleucine (125mg per capsule), and Valine (125mg per capsule) in Vegetable Capsules (Vegetable Cellulose).

-The Good-

These BCAA’s are very competitively priced in this market. You get 450 500mg capsules for $29.99. That’s a fantastic value. They advertise no fillers or artificial ingredients, and as near as I can tell, there aren’t any. I’ve opened the capsules to mix with my post-workout shake, and mixed some in with my pre-workout drink as well. No horrid taste that I can detect. As far as results, I exercise to maintain my health, strength, and fitness level, not to get fitter, bigger or stronger. So in that regard, I give the product high marks, now two weeks in, for being not all the different than the “optimum” branded product I was using before. No better, and no worse. So that should be high praise indeed.

-The Bad-

The recommended servings are INSANE. 2 capsules between meals, before workouts, and after workouts That’s a LOT of damn pills, people. Unless you’re looking to get jacked up like, say, a Ronnie Coleman, that’s massive overkill. And that many BCAA’s without an extremely intense, long workout are a total waste. Also, the capsules are kind of flimsy, which leads to the powder “leaking” out, or getting crushed easily, or popping open. No bueno. But if that’s the price I pay for a more natural gel capsule, I’ll live with it. Just keep a zip-top baggie handy if you need to transport them.

Overall, these are a tremendous value for the quality, and I’m glad I got to try them. I can say that when this bottle is done, I’ll probably be ordering another. Thanks again, Diet Standards!

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• Amazon

I received the above product(s) free of charge from Diet Standards.  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Klout: FernDale’s HelioCare Daily Antioxidant Capsules #Review #Klout

I had received a sample of HelioCare in the past but not sufficient enough to provide a detailed review. Not only did this perk provide enough capsules for me to fairly test out but also enough to share. Having a spa and pool is great minus the upkeep and of course the sun tends to tax our skin. I have a large amount of sunscreen scattered around the house to bottles in the garage (in varies SPF amounts), so no excuse to not wear it and be protected. Even the mutt has her own bottle because she seems to be a California dog and even has what I call “fur freckles”. She was snow white until she started sun bathing and you bet I yell at her too!

In comes HelioCare’s capsules that are simple to take. Many supplements want you to take several pills through out the day but this one is easy. You simply take one capsule, once a day! This means a 60 capsule bottle fulfills a 60-Day supply. Each capsule has 240 milligrams, plus secondary ingredients like Corn Starch, Gelatin, Magnesium Stearate, Titanium Dioxide for color and also FD&C Yellow.

Indications:

1 capsule 30 minutes before sun exposure. If remaining in the sun longer than 2 to 3 hours, take a second capsule after the initial “protected period” period passes (2 to 3 hours of sun exposure).

What is “FernBlock PLE ” Technology:

The capsules from HelioCare are filled with Polypodium Leucotomos, also known as Calaguala leaf extract. The leaf has anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which can benefit the skin. The pill does not replace topical sunscreen but look at it as an extra layer of protection. The PL extract also aids with free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS), and could help with UV photo-aging process.

Benefits:

• Increases tolerance to exposure to the sun
• Reduces skin changes after chronic exposure to the sun
• Helps maintain the skin’s elasticity (skin’s health)
• Provides cell protection in the epidermis
• Protects skin cell DNA

Results:
I took HelioCare as indicated and also noticed the product’s packaging recommended a second dose, if I am going to be out in the sun for longer than 2 to 3 hours. On the third hour, I did take a second pill but this was a rarity for me because I do limit my sun exposure to about 2 hours in the pool. Having a light skin’s complexion means I just have to watch it! I used sunscreen with a 50 SPF at all times too. I did notice on week two that I did NOT get the “lobster effect” when I was in the pool. The pool’s water just reflects like a mirror and the sun’s intensity tends to magnify. To give you an example when it comes to my skin, my legs will tan even when I am in the water. Yup, that means just swimming, floating or exercising and not sunbathing. If I happen to hop on to a floaty, I can only lounge on it for 10 minutes top and then I hear usually from someone that I need to flip like a pancake because I’m overcooking on my topside. With Heliocare I still followed my “sun rules” but I did not get the red effect. It was kind of nice not to look like a crustacean and just get a little nice glow from the sun. This alone made me want to continue use. It may seem vain not to want to look red but I don’t want people to think “ouch” when they see me outside near water!

Price Point: MSRP is $50, however I found the bottle on several sites that ranged from $29.99 to $32.00, but Amazon beat all by listing a $21.99 price point. Shop wisely!

My only Con: The dyes/color additives serve no purpose other than making the product look yellow and eye appealing.  I prefer a natural appearance (as-is) versus taking anything with this additives, but the benefits outweigh the negative when it comes to HelioCare.

To get more information on HelioCare, please visit:

• On-line 
• FernDale (HelioCare) Coupons
• Amazon to purchase 
• Twitter
• Facebook
• Pinterest
• #TryHeliocare #Klout
• Become a Klout member bu visiting Klout on-line at http://www.klout.com

I received the above product(s) free of charge from HelioCare and Klout.  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.