EVL Z-Matrix – An (EVL) Genius Idea: ZMA with an L-Theanine Twist!

Are you tired of counting your ceiling tiles whenever bedtime comes around? Have you tried every sleep aid available, only to experience that they haven’t helped at all? Do you find yourself not recovering sufficiently after an intense training session?

EVL’s Z-Matrix took something we love (ZMA), with something else we love (L-Theanine and Vitamin D), and made a sleep supplement that’s simply smart!

Thankfully, EVL Nutrition is here to step up your sleep cycle game with Z-Matrix, an exciting take on ZMA that tacks on some additional ingredients which you can feel working right away. Below, we review every ingredient included in the formula.

The Z-Matrix Premise: Enhanced ZMA

Z-Matrix combines two time-proven types of supplements: ZMA with additional relaxation and stress relief. To be honest, we’re surprised that a fully dosed hybrid of both ideas took so long to hit the marketplace. Regardless, there are some criteria that Z-Matrix has to fulfill to receive our good graces.

First, we expect it to help improve our deep sleep every night. Deep sleep (or slow-wave sleep) is when muscular recovery and formation occur,^[1] so we want to spend as much time there as possible. But before that, we need to get to sleep first — and that’s where the new enhancements come in.

After that, such a supplement should help us feel primed and ready for our next gym session. While there isn’t a perfect method of measuring “recovery,” muscle soreness is a decent parameter to go by.

So, does Z-Matrix make the cut? Let’s find out, but first, check out the prices and sign up for EVL news alerts because we see some great BOGOs on their other products like EVL BCAA Energy.

Ingredients

• Vitamin D3 (500IU)

  

  The Z-Matrix Ingredient Label with some great benefits listed below

  Vitamin D3 is hugely deficient in athletes and the general population. The body produces Vitamin D3 during direct contact with sunlight — you should actually think of it more as “a sun-fueled hormone generated by the skin” than a vitamin, to be honest.

  Most people are not spending enough time outside to create optimal levels of D3.^[2] Correcting a vitamin D3 deficiency normalizes testosterone levels, improves sleep quality, reduces fat mass, and improves quality of life.^[3-6] It may be prudent to take Z-Matrix with a healthy fat like avocado to maximize absorption of this fat-soluble vitamin.

  Not in most ZMA supplements, but it’s in the Z-Matrix!

  While we often supplement more than just 500IU (your multivitamin should help), this is a solid pre-bed bonus, and it’s not typically in ZMA supplements.

• Vitamin B6 (11mg)

  Vitamin B6 (or Pyridoxine), while not the most commonly deficient vitamin, is part of the classic “ZMA” formula. There is evidence that Vitamin B6 consumption may help support the body’s production of melatonin, the hormone that makes you feel sleepy. Vitamin B6 is also part of catecholamine synthesis, so supplementation may boost your mood if you lack B6.^[7,8]

  Crazy ZMA dreams?!

  

  The benefits of Z-Matrix Benefits

  Some people explain that while ZMA helps them sleep better, an added bonus isvery vibrant dreams. Turns out it’s the Vitamin B6 doing that part of it!^[9,10]

• Folic Acid (100mcg)

  Folic Acid is not the most exciting part of any supplement. But if you don’t have enough, you could be in a world of hurt.

  While folic acid is a healthy thing for people to take in certain conditions like pregnancy, it is more of a general health ingredient than anything else. Folic acid participates in methylation patterns in the body and general protein metabolism processes, so supplementation may assist in maintaining health.^[11]

  We’ll take it where we can get it, and enjoy its inclusion simply because so many other supplements we in the sports nutrition communitydon’t have it!

• Magnesium Aspartate (providing 450mg magnesium)

  EVL Nutrition hits us with the big dose – the go-to ZMA dose! While their testosterone booster, EVL TEST, provided some magnesium, Z-Matrix hits you with solid dosing. Magnesium is best known as a sleep optimizer first (thanks to a reduction of anxiety when those who are deficient take it) and a general health supplement second. It’s here to help you fall asleep, stay asleep, and wake up refreshed. It may even lead to a testosterone boost if you are correcting a magnesium deficiency.^[12-14] Since these deficiencies are common in athletes, it’s worth a shot!

  Do note that this is an excellent dose of magnesium, and higher doses of magnesium can cause GI issues if you already take enough. 450mg is just over your daily needs (although we’d argue that athletes are good to go over). Run your diet and see how much magnesium you’re getting — you may not need any other magnesium supplements thanks to this dose.

  A bit of wise magnesium supplementation will keep your head on the pillow while making sure you aren’t spending too much time on the toilet.

• Zinc as both Monomethionine and Aspartate (30mg) – 200% DV

  

  EVLTEST fans rejoice… no need for those four horse tablets anymore. Just drink this powder and you’re off to the races!

  This zinc dose is a classic execution of the standard ZMA dosage. Zinc is analogous to vitamin D3 as it can really save your hormone production if you find yourself deficient. Zinc is also commonly deficient amongst athletes, so it may be worth taking if you find yourself covered in sweat after every gym session. Lack of dietary zinc causes decreased libido, lowered immune function, and low testosterone.^[15] If you’re experiencing such symptoms, find yourself some zinc (or Z-Matrix!) fast.

  Beyond making your bodily systems run smoothly, zinc may help boost your IGF-1 levels. The IGF-1 release is one of the main reasons that sleep is so important, so you want as much as you can get.^[16]

• L-Theanine (200mg)

  This is honestly the reason why we’d suggest Z-Matrix over any other standard ZMA.

  

  EVL ENGN comes in a variety of delicious flavors to suit any taste

  L-Theanine is an (EVL) genius addition to a sleep optimizing product. It’s a well-researched ingredient with a low risk of toxicity or side effects. EVL includes it in Z-Matrix to help you calm down after a long day. If you find your mind racing the second you hit the bed, L-theanine will slow it down.^[17] While people associate it with being caffeine’s partner in crime, it is criminally underrated as an anti-anxiety supplement that could then lead into better sleep.

• BioPerine© (5mg)

  The inclusion of BioPerine© in Z-Matrix low-level blew our minds. Not because it’s complex – we see it everywhere – but because so many other ZMAs don’t have it, and we never really realized that until now!

  It’s a simple yet beautiful addition to a sleep stack. Going forward, we may dock points from products that don’t include an absorption booster like BioPerine or AstraGin. Regardless, BioPerine is here to make sure your body absorbs everything in the formula quickly and efficiently.^[18]

Dosage Recommendations

Great ready to fall fast asleeps with this enhanced “ZMA Matrix”

No doubt, this is a pre-bed formula that runs four capsules at full-strength.

The only reason you may wish to go with 3 capsules is if you know you’ve already had a ton of magnesium in the day and don’t need a full blast. That’s where macro tracking comes in — and this is why you probably don’t need any other supplemental magnesium when running Z-Matrix.

Conclusion: Z-Matrix is Smart and Simple

This is one of those “no-brainer” supplements that we’re surprised took this long to come out. L-Theanine + ZMA + Vitamin D. It’s not complex, it’s just common sense!

With Z-Matrix, EVL Nutrition has developed a ZMA product that is easily in the top 3. It contains clinically dosed ingredients with some nice extras at an affordable price. We can’t recommend it enough if you’re experiencing sleep issues and aren’t sure of your magnesium intake. The addition of L-Theanine puts it ahead of the competition, as you’ll feel it more than a typical ZMA supplement. Now you don’t need to worry if you took too much ENGN or BCAA Energy earlier in the day! Give it a shot and let us know what you think below.