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
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The Amino Acid Protein Spiking Scandal
Read and understand this before ever buying protein powder!
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Proprietary Blends
Understand the risks of encountering a “Batch-to-Batch Bait and Switch” when buying a proprietary blend!
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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
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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: The Muscle Accelerator from PLT Health
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.
- 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
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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
- 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
- NMN Supplements (Nicotinamide Mononucleotide): The NAD+ Energy Precursor
- 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!
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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
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Weight Loss Ingredients (non-stimulatory)
- Berberine: The Best Glucose Disposal Ingredient Just Got Better
Berberine is a nutrient partitioning ingredient that sends more carbs to muscle! Read about Berberine and GlucoVantage in the above guide.!
- 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
- CaloriBurn: Taking Grains of Paradise to Hot New Heights
Finally, a grains of paradise extract that actually passes lab tests for all clinical constituents!
- See also: WAT to BAT: A High-Metabolism Guide to Brown and White Fat
- 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
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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
- Vinpocetine
Rhodiola: The Adaptogen Powered by Salidroside. In this article, we dive deep into rhodiola, and take a different approach to the adaptogenic herb!
- FDA vs. Picamilon
- Rhodiola – The Salidroside-Powered Adaptogen of the Vikings
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Stimulants
- Paraxanthine (the primary caffeine metabolite, launched in the MuscleTech iQ Series)
- 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
- Caffeine and Athletic Performance – Can High Pre-Workout Doses of Caffeine be Optimal?
Nutrition21's nooLVL
is the first clinically tested focus ingredient on actual gamers – who played modern games!
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Men's Fertility Supplements
- Zinc Picolinate (ZinMax): A Highly Bioavailable Form of Zinc
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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
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Gut Supplements
- Digexin: Relieve Constipation, Stress, and Poor Sleep via the Gut-Brain Axis
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Joint Supplements
- Curcumin for Joint Pain
- MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane) Supplements
- Cissus Quadrangularis
- ParActin
- (See also Anandamide above)
- 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
Other Scams / Scandals / Potentially Unsafe Ingredients
Contact us if you have ideas / requests for new ones.
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PricePlow’s Best Fat Burner Buyer’s Guide, with 2020’s Top 5
To the casual consumer, fat burners are intimidating and confusing. With good reason, too — 99% of them are admittedly total garbage.
There’s simply way too much noise out there, from brands using ineffective ingredients, overly dangerous formulas, or just running online marketing scams. Google’s no help either — searching for best fat burner is […]
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Best Protein Powder of 2020: What’s Best of ALL Proteins?
What’s the best protein powder on the market?
Over the years, we’ve had the fortunate honor to test out over 100 different protein powders, and have brought it down to the top 5 proteins below. There’s no better way to boost your protein intake and satisfy your sweet tooth than with these!
Current VersionThis […]
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Best Pre Workout Supplement Guide for 2020: PricePlow’s Top 10
Everyone loves to talk about their favorite pre workout supplement, but everyone is different.
For simplicity, we’ve returned this page to the “Top 10 list” style, but we still have two major types of supplements for you to choose from – “mainstream” and “high-stim” / “aggressive”.
Open Labels RuleIn general, we prefer […]
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Men’s Fertility Supplements: The Ferodrox-Driven Male Fertility Stack
Men’s Fertility.
This is an interesting topic that comes up here from time to time, as it occasionally intersects with many of the supplements we discuss on this blog and our YouTube channel.
Many men don’t discuss the topic of fertility in public, but after having a child in 2017, and having covered several […]
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Muscle Building Supplements: The Next Generation (2019)
Let’s talk about muscle building supplements.
It’s 2016, and several new innovations have come out in terms of natural supplements that will help you build muscle yet aren’t too hormonal… so it’s time for an update.
Who is this document for?In two words: intermediate users.
This was written for those of you […]
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Best BCAA Supplement Buyers Guide with 2019’s Top 10
So many BCAA supplements… only so many you can try! PricePlow’s got you covered in this guide. However…
You might not want to be here… (are you looking for a full EAA?!) Amino Acid Ingredient Information Aside from taste and mixability, the biggest difference between all of these products are the extra ingredients that […]
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Supplement Facts vs Nutrition Facts and Protein Powder. NutraBio Was Right (Again).
Last week, when I was reviewing the new Strawberry Ice Cream flavor of NutraBio’s 100% Whey Protein Isolate, I stumbled on something “odd” when I was going over the label. I couldn’t find fat!
What gives? Where is the fat on the label? Was this a mistake?
I contacted NutraBio CEO Mark Glazier, asking […]
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Buying Whey Protein Isolate? Consider This Label Trick…
In our last article, we put together a quick whey protein buyer’s guide, discussing what type of whey protein you should look for (if at all!), depending on your lactose sensitivity.
For those who are quite lactose intolerant but not “devastatingly” lactose intolerant, it’s suggested that you get a pure whey protein isolate powder, or […]
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EAA is the New BCAA: Essential Amino Acids Stage a Coup
“BCAAs vs. EAAs?”
For quite a while, that was the big argument. Over the decades, branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) supplements have been some of the most popular (and profitable) products on the market. Catapulted into the spotlight by some early — and somewhat questionable — research, along with a lot of savvy marketing, BCAAs quickly […]
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Dynamine: A Neuroactivating “Stimulant” by Compound Solutions
Major Announcement! Dynamine has achieved GRAS Status with the FDA with several new safety studies! Read more in our Dynamine GRAS announcement to understand the importance of this decision.
Compound Solutions is regarded as one of the premier companies on the market, known for innovation, effectiveness, and a commitment to scientific research. Chances are, you’ve […]
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