Supplement Guides on PricePlow

Welcome to PricePlow, the sports supplement industry's premier thought leaders!

This page links to our “best of” lists and “mega posts” – extremely well-researched articles ranging from scams to avoid to buyer's guides to in-depth ingredient analyses.

Critical Information

• The Amino Acid Protein Spiking Scandal

  Read and understand this before ever buying protein powder!

• Proprietary Blends

  Understand the risks of encountering a “Batch-to-Batch Bait and Switch” when buying a proprietary blend!

• Nutrition Facts Label Rounding Scams

  Learn about a scam where brands take advantage of the FDA's labeling laws and use rounding to their advantage with ultra-small serving sizes.

Ingredient Analyses

• • Muscle Building Supplements:

    • HMB (β-hydroxy β-methylbutyrate): Performance-Driven Muscle Supplement
    • GG-Gold (Geranylgeraniol): The Most Important Essential Nutrient You’ve Never Heard Of
    • 

      RipFACTOR is a powerful ingredient standardized from Mangifera indica and Sphaeranthus indicus that the industry shouldn’t overlook. It offers numerous benefits for optimizing physical performance, with two clinically-published human studies.

      RipFACTOR: The Muscle Accelerator from PLT Health

    • PeptiStrong: Natural Anabolic Ingredient from Fava Beans
    • Turkesterone
    • Rhaponticum Carthamoides: The MAX Phytoecdysteroid Source
    • EAA vs. BCAA
    • Betaine
    • Beta Alanine
    • Ingredient Optimized (io) Protein (ioWhey and ioPea): Protein-Enhancing Technology for Greater Gains
    • Velositol: Enhancing Muscle Protein Synthesis for Protein Powders and Aminos
    • Pumpkin Seed Protein: Upending the Plant Protein Market
    • Phosphatidic Acid
    • Epicatechin
    • Arachidonic Acid
    • Tongkat Ali
    • Tomatidine
    • Spilanthes Acmella
    • Laxogenin
    • Dextrose

  • Non-Stimulatory Performance Enhancers

    

    Hydration: The Ultimate Guide. How do you stay hydrated? This article covers the best approach to fluid and electrolyte intake, also cautioning against what may harm your hydration status

    • EndoFlo: Enhancing Vascular Health, Pumps, and Workout Performance
      • See also: Black Ginger (Kaempferia parviflora): The Energetic Extract in EndoFlo
    • Hydration: The Ultimate Guide to Electrolyte and Fluid Balance
    • Nucleotides
      • NMN Supplements (Nicotinamide Mononucleotide): The NAD+ Energy Precursor
        • BioNMN: A Reliable NMN Supplement Ingredient
        • The FDA vs. NMN (will be updated regularly)
      • NucleoPrime: Step Up Your Immune and Recovery Stack
    • Peak ATP: The Ultimate Guide to Disodium ATP Supplements
    • PurpleForce: AMPK-Boosting Purple Tea Extract with GHG
    • Senactiv: Regenerate Senescent Cells and Perform Better
    • Taurine: An effective endurance-booster in just one use!

    • Glycerol: The Ultimate Guide for Hydration, Heat Protection, and Pumps

      • HydroPrime: Glycerol With More Pumps and Less Clumps
    • Cordyceps
    • Beta-Glucans: Mother Nature's Immunity Agents

  • Weight Loss Ingredients (non-stimulatory)

    • 

      Berberine is a nutrient partitioning ingredient that sends more carbs to muscle! Read about Berberine and GlucoVantage in the above guide.!

      Berberine: The Best Glucose Disposal Ingredient Just Got Better

      • GlucoVantage: NNB Nutrition's Dihydroberberine
    • BAIBA: New Ingredient Generates Exercise in a Pill?!
      • MitoBurn: L-BAIBA (“The Exercise Molecule”) is finally on the market!
    • Grains of Paradise
      • 

        Finally, a grains of paradise extract that actually passes lab tests for all clinical constituents!

        CaloriBurn: Taking Grains of Paradise to Hot New Heights

      • See also: WAT to BAT: A High-Metabolism Guide to Brown and White Fat
    • CapsiBurn: Aura Scientific’s Advanced Thermogenic Fat Burning Ingredient
    • Ecklonia Cava: The Super Seaweed with Metabolism and Brain-Boosting Benefits from Nootropics Depot
    • MCT Oil: The Dietary Fat Source Built for Efficient Energy
      • C8Vantage: C8 MCT Powder for Maximum Energy, Clarity, and Performance
    • Chromium Picolinate: The Ultimate Trace Mineral For Insulin Sensitivity
      • Chromax: 25+ Years of Insulin Sensitivity Improvement
      • Chromax and Hunger Regulation: The Chromium / Appetite Connection
    • aXivite Phenylcapsaicin: Performance-Enhancing Spice with Less Burn
    • Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA): The Cognitive-Boosting Antioxidant
    • InnoSlim: NuLivScience’s Potent Stimulant-Free Fat Burning Ingredient
    • Bergamot: Natural Cardiovascular / Lipid Support
    • Ephedra
    • Forskolin
    • Dehydrozingerone (Anti-inflammatory adipose tissue blocker from ginger)
      • ZinjaBurn: “The Adipose Tissue Assassin”
    • Gamma Butyrobetaine (GBB) – Super Carnitine That Makes You Sweat?!
    • Ecklonia Cava
    • Sinetrol

  • Nootropics (cognitive focus and brain enhancers)

    • Rhodiola – The Salidroside-Powered Adaptogen of the Vikings
      • RhodioPrime 6X – The Strongest Rhodiola Extract (6% Salidroside)
    • Zynamite: Next-Generation Brain and Body Support using Mangiferin
    • Zembrin: The Best-Studied Kanna Extract on the Market
    • Choline
      • Cognizin® Citicoline: The Brain Choline
    • Bacopa Monnieri
    • L-Tyrosine vs N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine
    • nooLVL – Clinically-Validated Focus for Gamers
    • SAMe (S-Adenosyl Methionine)
    • Gotu Kola
    • 

      Rhodiola: The Adaptogen Powered by Salidroside. In this article, we dive deep into rhodiola, and take a different approach to the adaptogenic herb!

      Vinpocetine

    • FDA vs. Picamilon

  • Stimulants

    • Paraxanthine
    • Yohimbe
    • zümXR: Extended and Delayed Released Caffeine from PLT Health
    • Ephedra (hint: the ephedrine alkaloids have been removed and replaced with other ingredients)
    • Higenamine: The Underrated Appetite Supressant Stimulant
    • Dynamine
    • Eria Jarensis Extract / N-phenethyl-dimethylamine
    • Theacrine
    • 

      Nutrition21's nooLVL is the first clinically tested focus ingredient on actual gamers – who played modern games!

      Caffeine and Athletic Performance – Can High Pre-Workout Doses of Caffeine be Optimal?

  • Men's Fertility Supplements

    • Zinc Picolinate (ZinMax): A Highly Bioavailable Form of Zinc

  • Sleep Ingredients

    • Magnesium Glycinate: A Master Class in Magnesium & Glycine
    • Anandamide: The Body’s Blissful Endocannabinoid Molecule
    • Venetron: A Synergistic Extract for Mood, Stress, and Sleep
    • ETAS: Boost Heat Shock Protein Production

  • Gut Supplements

    • Digexin: Relieve Constipation, Stress, and Poor Sleep via the Gut-Brain Axis

  • Joint Supplements

    • Curcumin for Joint Pain
    • MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane) Supplements
    • Cissus Quadrangularis
    • ParActin
    • (See also Anandamide above)

  • Anti-Aging

    • Fisetin: The Black Belt Senolytic Anti-Aging Fisetein Ingredient (ProFisetin)
    • Spermidine

Other Scams / Scandals / Potentially Unsafe Ingredients

• • • Arecoline (Potentially carcinogenic ingredient in new pre workouts and fat burners)
    • AMP Citrate (banned)
    • Isomaltooligosaccharide (IMO Fiber): A Fraudulent “Fiber”?
    • Maximum Shred (Scam: $87 Product with $4 of Ingredients)
    • Instant Knockout (Is this questionably-dosed fat burner worth $59?!)
    • Labz Supplement Brands
    • Soylent (see also the Soylent Lawsuit)
    • Beware: Ion Exchange Whey — An Inferior type of protein processing

Contact us if you have ideas / requests for new ones.

Want to Die Sooner? Then Don't Eat Your Vegetables

We've always "known", but now we know. In lieu of the "Standard American Diet", eating your fruits and vegetables makes you live longer.

Or, to put it in a way that will hit closer to home, not eating vegetables in this food environment generally makes one die sooner.

Nearly every health enthusiast, doctor, […]
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Published on June 28, 2016 by Mike Roberto in Diet Research, Food, Supplement Guides | 1 Comment

Laxogenin: Can a Plant Sterol Safely Boost Strength?

5-Alpha-Hydroxy-Laxogenin (Laxogenin) is a natural anabolic supplement derived from plants that's been sold for years with mixed success by supplement companies, yet only recently by any that we trust with third-party lab tests. Despite the incredible potential, Laxogenin hasn't gained popularity for reasons we'll address and try to solve later in this […]
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Published on January 3, 2016 by Mike Roberto in Supplement Guides, Supplement Ingredients, Supplement News, Supplement Research | 12 Comments

Ephedra Fat Burners in the 2020s: How are they still around?

It's [year], and something interesting's happening at several reputable online nutrition stores: an ephedra-based fat burner named Lipodrene remains high on the lists of best-sellers -- over a decade after ephedra was apparently banned by the FDA.

What's going on here? How is ephedra still out there after so many sites say that it's […]
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Published on December 30, 2015 by Mike Roberto in Supplement Guides, Supplement Ingredients, Supplement News | 7 Comments

Betaine: A Safe, Natural Muscle Builder

Over the past couple of years, we've seen an ingredient added to all kinds of muscle-builders, creatine powders, and pre workouts: betaine.

Is this the "next creatine"? Is it worth taking?

TL;DR Yes, take it. Betaine works similarly to creatine, but differently enough that we suggest taking both for size and strength gains.[…]
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Published on December 16, 2015 by Mike Roberto in Supplement Guides, Supplement Ingredients, Supplement Research | No Comments

Best Sleep Aid Guide: Supplements, Ingredients, & Herbs

Insomnia is a wretched beast, affecting anywhere from ¼[1] to nearly ⅓[2] of the US Population.

Everyone has their tips on for behaviorally combating insomnia. We don't -- you can read that anywhere else.

In this guide, we're going to get to what you want: supplements to help you sleep.

Note that we're talking […]
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Published on November 4, 2015 by Mike Roberto in Supplement Guides, Top 10 Lists | No Comments

What's the Best Form of Magnesium?

TL;DR: Magnesium Citrate is the best in terms of cost/effectiveness, while Magnesium Glycinate is the best overall but costs a bit more.

So you know you want to take a magnesium supplement, but you're not sure which one is best for you? That's what we're here for - we break it down below.

For us, […]
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Published on August 6, 2015 by Mike Roberto in Supplement Guides | 2 Comments

STOP Underdosing Creatine in Pre-Workouts!

At this stage in the game, we don't need to tell you that creatine is an incredible supplement. It's one of the most well-researched compounds on the market, it's safe, it's simple, and it's cheap.

But right now, the state of creatine is a mess... and the big brand pre workouts are to blame[…]
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Published on January 23, 2015 by Mike Roberto in Scams, Supplement Guides, Supplement Ingredients, Supplement News | 4 Comments

Amino Acid Spiking Scam: Is Your Protein Really PROTEIN?

If you've been dieting or using supplements over the past few years, then there's no way you've missed this aggravating situation:

Protein prices are constantly rising.

Things got especially bad when Gatorade started adding whey protein to their recovery sports drinks -- a decision that threw massive ripples into the entire market.[1,2,3]

To combat these […]
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Published on June 4, 2014 by Mike Roberto in Scams, Supplement Guides, Supplement News | 64 Comments

The Top 5 Anxiety Supplements

Looking to relax?

Here are the top five supplements for relaxation: L-Theanine

If you’re a Type A individual and you’ve ever wanted to know what it feels like to be a relaxed, carefree “Type Bro” without using recreational drugs, 200mg of L-theanine will do you good. This might be especially beneficial because L-theanine can take […]
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Published on January 20, 2014 by Mike Roberto in Supplement Guides, Supplement Research, Top 10 Lists | No Comments

An Introduction to Strongman Training - 3 Part Video Series

Big Tex Gym in Austin, TX recently hosted an introductory strongman training seminar by Texas Strongman Nick Klugiewicz.

In this seminar, Nick covers the following events:

Continental Clean Log Press Thomas Inch Dumbbell Press Farmer's Walk

...as well as an equipment Q&A at the end and a brief introduction in the beginning.

Throughout the seminar, […]
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Published on July 16, 2013 by Mike Roberto in Strongman, Supplement Guides, Workout Videos | No Comments