NOW® Sports Review - BCAA Blast, Effer-Energy and B-12 Energy Boost Sticks
Disclaimer: I received NOW® Sports BCAA Blast, Effer-Hydrate and B-12 Energy Boost Sticks to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro ambassador and check out BibRave.com to review, find and write race reviews!
I received multiple products to test out - the BCAA Blast Powder in the Natural Raspberry flavor, the Effer-Hydrate Effervescent tablets in Lemon Lime, Orange Strawberry and Mixed Berry and the B-12 Energy Boost Sticks in Tart Berry. I jumped at this opportunity because I am always looking for ways to get a little caffeine boost as well as ways to increase my water intake. NOW® Sports offers natural products certified by Informed-Sport for banned substances. Their products are conscious of all types of dietary needs which made me confident in using their products.
The BCAA Blast was the first product I tried. The product contains 30 calories, 100 mg caffeine, and 5 g of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA's) per scoop and comes with a recommendation of 1-3 scoops per day. The product can be used as either a pre, during or post workout supplement in order to get the muscle repairing benefits of BCAA's. I tried the different timing of the BCAA's and found it most beneficial to me as a pre-workout supplement.
The natural raspberry flavor was tasty and light enough to use about 20 minutes before a workout. I used it before workouts of varying intensity levels and liked the extra boost from the caffeine with no stomach irritation as you might find in supplements with higher levels of sugar. Erythritol is used as the sweetener which does have a distinct taste but nothing that I found to be off-putting as I have found in other sugar substitutes. I found the BCAA Blast did not mix very well when I shook it but dissolved very nicely when I stirred it into the water bottle. Between the product being completely dissolved, the flavor being nice and refreshing and no sugars to upset my stomach the BCAA Blast was the perfect combination for a pre or post workout supplement. The caffeine level in 1 scoop worked for me however I would find it difficult to consume 3 scoops per day just based off of the caffeine level.
The next product I tried was the Effer-Hydrate tablets. I used 1 tablet for 16 oz of water and was surprised by the flavor packed into 1 tablet. Normally if I try similar products I find the flavor to be very subtle but the flavor really came through in these without being overwhelming. The flavors were refreshing but not sugary. Each tablet contains 10 calories, less than 1 gram of sugar, and electrolytes (Potassium, Magnesium, Sodium and Calcium) to help replenish and rehydrate post workout. Although the electrolytes give the tablets a slightly salty flavor, I found that to be refreshing following a hard workout where I lost a lot of fluids. I preferred the fruit flavor tablets (orange strawberry and mixed berry) over the lemon-lime tablets as they were a tad sweeter. All flavors were true to flavor.
The last product I tested was the B-12 Energy Boost Sticks in tart berry. I was very skeptical of a tart berry flavor but this ended up being my favorite of all of the products. I used 1 packet in about 16-20 oz of water. The flavor was very refreshing and the caffeine content was a little toned down from the BCAA Blast (50 mg instead of 100 mg). On the directions the packet said, "Best if consumed directly. Can also be mixed in water or your favorite drink" which made me think the recommendation was to just eat the powder directly. I tried a little bit of the powder without mixing it in water which I did not particularly like the flavor of and left an aftertaste, so I continued to mix it in water for a much more pleasing experience. During a regular work day I usually hit a wall around 1:30 PM and reach for a cup of coffee, soda or energy drink. None of those are very healthy or hydrating options so the B-12 Energy Sticks are the perfect healthier alternative for that time of day. Each stick contains 10,000 mcg B-12, 50 mg caffeine and 10 calories and cost less than a soda. Although my work routine is a little off with the COVID-19 quarantine, this will be my go to afternoon pick-me-up product once things go back to normal.
Overall, the products I tested from NOW® Sports were a great addition to my daily routine and really helped me increase my overall intake of water. It felt easier to transition into my runs each day with the caffeine boost from the BCAA Blast, easier to keep going through the day with the B-12 Energy Boost Sticks and I looked forward to having an extra glass of water with the Effer-Hydrate tablets to replenish the lost electrolytes from a tough workout. Each product offered a performance enhancement, a delightful flavor and a wide variety of product certifications to ensure consumer quality.
Here what other BRP's have to say about the products:
Girls Got Sole
Running for Beers
Ten Minute Miles
Running With Attitude
Code: NOWSPORTS20 gets you 20% off your order!
*Offer valid 2/1/20 through 11:59 PM Central Standard Time 4/30/20. Offer valid only on prodcts found at http://www.nowfoods.com/sports-nutrition/sports-nutrition-all-products. Prices are shown. Some exclusions apply. Must use coupon code NOWSPORTS20 in the Promotion Code filed at checkout while supplies last at nowfoods.com. This offer does not apply to applicable taxes or shipping & handling. Offer cannot be used on previous purchases. NOW Health Group Inc. has the right to end any promotion at any time.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
I received multiple products to test out - the BCAA Blast Powder in the Natural Raspberry flavor, the Effer-Hydrate Effervescent tablets in Lemon Lime, Orange Strawberry and Mixed Berry and the B-12 Energy Boost Sticks in Tart Berry. I jumped at this opportunity because I am always looking for ways to get a little caffeine boost as well as ways to increase my water intake. NOW® Sports offers natural products certified by Informed-Sport for banned substances. Their products are conscious of all types of dietary needs which made me confident in using their products.
The BCAA Blast was the first product I tried. The product contains 30 calories, 100 mg caffeine, and 5 g of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA's) per scoop and comes with a recommendation of 1-3 scoops per day. The product can be used as either a pre, during or post workout supplement in order to get the muscle repairing benefits of BCAA's. I tried the different timing of the BCAA's and found it most beneficial to me as a pre-workout supplement.
The natural raspberry flavor was tasty and light enough to use about 20 minutes before a workout. I used it before workouts of varying intensity levels and liked the extra boost from the caffeine with no stomach irritation as you might find in supplements with higher levels of sugar. Erythritol is used as the sweetener which does have a distinct taste but nothing that I found to be off-putting as I have found in other sugar substitutes. I found the BCAA Blast did not mix very well when I shook it but dissolved very nicely when I stirred it into the water bottle. Between the product being completely dissolved, the flavor being nice and refreshing and no sugars to upset my stomach the BCAA Blast was the perfect combination for a pre or post workout supplement. The caffeine level in 1 scoop worked for me however I would find it difficult to consume 3 scoops per day just based off of the caffeine level.
The next product I tried was the Effer-Hydrate tablets. I used 1 tablet for 16 oz of water and was surprised by the flavor packed into 1 tablet. Normally if I try similar products I find the flavor to be very subtle but the flavor really came through in these without being overwhelming. The flavors were refreshing but not sugary. Each tablet contains 10 calories, less than 1 gram of sugar, and electrolytes (Potassium, Magnesium, Sodium and Calcium) to help replenish and rehydrate post workout. Although the electrolytes give the tablets a slightly salty flavor, I found that to be refreshing following a hard workout where I lost a lot of fluids. I preferred the fruit flavor tablets (orange strawberry and mixed berry) over the lemon-lime tablets as they were a tad sweeter. All flavors were true to flavor.
The last product I tested was the B-12 Energy Boost Sticks in tart berry. I was very skeptical of a tart berry flavor but this ended up being my favorite of all of the products. I used 1 packet in about 16-20 oz of water. The flavor was very refreshing and the caffeine content was a little toned down from the BCAA Blast (50 mg instead of 100 mg). On the directions the packet said, "Best if consumed directly. Can also be mixed in water or your favorite drink" which made me think the recommendation was to just eat the powder directly. I tried a little bit of the powder without mixing it in water which I did not particularly like the flavor of and left an aftertaste, so I continued to mix it in water for a much more pleasing experience. During a regular work day I usually hit a wall around 1:30 PM and reach for a cup of coffee, soda or energy drink. None of those are very healthy or hydrating options so the B-12 Energy Sticks are the perfect healthier alternative for that time of day. Each stick contains 10,000 mcg B-12, 50 mg caffeine and 10 calories and cost less than a soda. Although my work routine is a little off with the COVID-19 quarantine, this will be my go to afternoon pick-me-up product once things go back to normal.
Overall, the products I tested from NOW® Sports were a great addition to my daily routine and really helped me increase my overall intake of water. It felt easier to transition into my runs each day with the caffeine boost from the BCAA Blast, easier to keep going through the day with the B-12 Energy Boost Sticks and I looked forward to having an extra glass of water with the Effer-Hydrate tablets to replenish the lost electrolytes from a tough workout. Each product offered a performance enhancement, a delightful flavor and a wide variety of product certifications to ensure consumer quality.
Here what other BRP's have to say about the products:
Girls Got Sole
Running for Beers
Ten Minute Miles
Running With Attitude
Code: NOWSPORTS20 gets you 20% off your order!
*Offer valid 2/1/20 through 11:59 PM Central Standard Time 4/30/20. Offer valid only on prodcts found at http://www.nowfoods.com/sports-nutrition/sports-nutrition-all-products. Prices are shown. Some exclusions apply. Must use coupon code NOWSPORTS20 in the Promotion Code filed at checkout while supplies last at nowfoods.com. This offer does not apply to applicable taxes or shipping & handling. Offer cannot be used on previous purchases. NOW Health Group Inc. has the right to end any promotion at any time.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
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