5% Nutrition Kill It RELOADED Upgraded and Does Rich Piana Proud

Legendary bodybuilder Rich Piana began 5% Nutrition with one mission — to provide high-quality sports supplements for “the 5% of us who are willing to give whatever it takes to reach their goals.” This motivating, relentless determination is what made Rich so popular throughout the worlds of bodybuilding and sports nutrition, and also helped turn 5% Nutrition into an industry powerhouse.

You know it’s crazy times when 325mg caffeine is now considered “middle-ground”. But wait til you see the upgraded pump blend here!

Rich’s original vision was put to the test in late 2017 after his unfortunate passing. Instead of standing by idly, those at 5% Nutrition decided to push through the pain of losing their leader and honor him by creating new products and improving upon their existing portfolio. Each new supplement and formula improvement has been made in honor of Rich’s legacy and to keep 5% Nutrition in the upper tier of hardcore brands.

KILL IT Reloaded… reloads again!

In May 2018, we covered a revamp of Kill It RELOADED, 5%’s comprehensive pre workout suplement that serves as one of the brand’s foundational products. The changes in the formula were welcomed with open arms — a larger serving size, more caffeine, more nootropics, all within a fully transparent label — and would’ve made Rich proud. But 5% Nutrition prides itself on continuing to improve, to make progress, to be better, and thus, it was only a matter of time before Kill It RELOADED was reloaded… again!

Kill it RELOADED has been further refined yet again, and though the changes aren’t as massive as they were a few years ago, they’re significant nonetheless. A few ingredient swaps, a couple of dosage boosts, and an added ingredient have all been packed into an even larger serving size. Kill It RELOADED has gotten even better and we’re here to tell you how.

In this post, we’re going to go into detail on this new iteration of Kill It RELOADED, touching on its entire formula while highlighting what’s new. Before we get to that, make sure you’re subscribed to PricePlow for news and deal alerts — we can help you 5%’ers find great deals on some of your favorite supplements from the iconic Piana brand!

Kill It RELOADED delivers a packed pre-workout experience

Prior to discussing the ingredients, let’s first talk about the overall purpose of Kill It RELOADED. 5% Nutrition offers three different pre-workout products, each of which are designed to deliver a different experience in the gym:

• Kill It is Rich Piana’s original pre workout, with 250mg caffeine in a two-scoop serving.
• Kill It RELOADED (you are here) supplies a solid dose of stimulants, nootropics, and nitric oxide boosters without pushing things towards “stim-junkie” territory. That’s because…
• 5150 is 5%’s stimulant-heavy pre-workout product, loaded with 400 milligrams of caffeine in addition to some more exotic stimulants. Though it provides a few pump ingredients, the name of the game with 5150 is intense energy.
• Full As F*ck swings the other direction, putting nitric oxide production at the forefront while foregoing any stims. This formula is here for pumps and pumps only.

A “Stim Guide” for Rich Piana’s Pre Workouts

As you can see, 5% Nutrition has a menu of pre-workout formulas to choose from based on what you’re looking for. While 5150 and Full As F*ck exists on two different ends of the spectrum (heavy-stim vs non-stim), Kill It RELOADED fits nicely in the middle. This formula is meant to hit multiple needs and make a full-fledged, comprehensive impact on your training session. It was made for caffeine-tolerant gym-goers looking to push their training efforts up a level.

With that in mind, let’s dive into the formula!

Kill It Reloaded Ingredients – 2021 Edition

So, what’s new?

While the previous iteration of Kill It RELOADED proved to be a powerful pre-workout, 5% Nutrition has made a few changes that make it even better. A lot of what’s going on in the new label is consistent with its predecessor, but here are the main differences:

Upgraded in 2021, Kill It Reloaded now has more pumps and more focus!

• An additional 3.4 grams of total ingredients!
• GlycerSize comes in 500 milligrams higher
• Double the amount of choline
• Rebalancing of three different creatine sources, subbing in creatine monohydrate to replace magnesium creatine chelate
• Removal of L-norvaline
• Two new additions — betaine and Nitrosigine — bring better pumps and more power!

These changes aren’t necessarily ground-breaking by any means, but they still improve the formula nonetheless. Never one to settle or accept the status quo, 5% Nutrition as a brand embodies the innate desire to improve, and by introducing more ingredients and making a few swaps, they’ve applied that notion in this new version of Kill It RELOADED.

Kill It RELOADED is broken up into four main sections that satisfy a specific need and use multiple ingredients to do so. To cover the total formula, we’ll work piece-by-piece. Here’s what’s in each 20.5 gram serving:

• N.O. Blend – 12,750mg

  • L-Citrulline – 4,000mg

    Kill It RELOADED keeps it consistent with its first ingredient, delivering the same 4 grams of L-citrulline it previously had. This non-essential amino acid is a staple in pre-workout formulas due to its impressive performance-boosting and pump-inducing abilities. Citrulline operates within two key pathways — the urea cycle and the nitric oxide cycle — by allowing the kidneys to produce L-arginine. This key amino acid interacts with two different enzymes, arginase and nitric oxide synthase (NOS), that yield two outcomes:

    • The reaction in the urea cycle helps remove ammonia from the body. Ammonia is a natural byproduct of the metabolic process that is generated in large amounts during high-intensity exercise and is a key indicator of muscular fatigue.^[1]
    • 

      Schematic overview of the NO synthesis pathway, involving both enzymatic (via NOS; major pathway) and non-enzymatic pathways. L-arginine is converted to NO and citrulline in the presence of NADPH and oxygen.^[2]

      Interacting with NOS yields nitric oxide (NO), a vasodilating compound that improves blood flow and nutrient delivery throughout the body.^[3] This rise in blood flow facilitates the “pump” for which NO-boosting compounds are often used.

    These results have been tested in terms of athletic performance, too. A meta-analysis from a 2020 edition of the Journal of Sport and Health Science found that taking 3 to 6 grams of L-citrulline prior to exercise can significantly reduce perceived exhaustion and muscle soreness.^[3] By working to rid the body of ammonia build-up while also leveraging improved circulation for higher oxygen and nutrient delivery,^[4] L-citrulline is able to both boost performance and accelerate recovery.

  • GlycerSize (65% Glycerol Powder) – 3,000mg

    The real pump-inducer in this label is GlycerSize, the standardized glycerol powder from Pinnacle Ingredients. This ingredient is 65% glycerol by weight and is a holdover from the previous label. Note that the ingredient has undergone a name change. It was formerly known as GlycerPump.

    

    When it comes to hydration, endurance, cell volumization, and heat tolerance, water is king. And this simple ingredient — glycerol — enables you to hold more water for better performance!

    Glycerol is a sugar alcohol that helps draw, absorb, and hold water in the body, inducing a state of hyperhydration. Getting to this state requires getting water to different muscles in the body, a process that yields a solid “water-based pump”.

    Hyperhydration also has performance benefits. In a 2004 study published in the Journal of Athletic Training, researchers found that cyclists who consumed glycerol prior to a 30-mile mountain bike race displayed signs of superior hydration and less fatigue post-race.^[5] An earlier study, published in the International Journal of Sports Medicine, puts these effects in more practical terms. Individuals who consumed glycerol prior to a cycling regimen prolonged time to exhaustion by roughly 30 minutes, on average.^[6] Glycerol carries water to the muscles to help keep them fresh, delaying fatigue while bringing a little pump along with it.

    In 2018, we asked 5% Nutrition about using this ingredient, and they responded:

    For the pump we added 2.5 grams of GlycerPump [now upgraded to 3g in 2021], industry on stable glycerol powder. Glycerol powder is a great ingredient for pump and endurance since it forces water into your muscles. We’ve usually see 1-2 grams of glycerol powder in pre-workouts, however, the biggest problem with those is they turn into a brick. It’s been a huge issue that we have seen for years.

    We’ve been lucky enough to get a hold of GlycerPump and push the limits with putting 2.5 grams [now 3g] per serving in Kill It Reloaded, while not worrying if we will lose our whole batch in 3 months because they all clumped up. Additionally we added 4 grams of pure citrulline, which has given us the ability to attack the pump from 2 directions, water pump via GlycerPump and nitric oxide pump via pure citrulline. Those two combined gives you an AMAZING pump and a ton of endurance!

    — 5% Nutrition

    Kill It RELOADED bumped the dose of GlycerSize from 2,500 milligrams to 3,000 milligrams in 2021, packing even more water-based pumps into the formula. They’ve also chosen to use one of the better glycerol variants available, as GlycerSize is bonded with silicon dioxide to improve its stability and keep it from clumping.

  • Beta-Alanine – 2,000mg

    Beta-alanine is a non-essential amino acid that raises carnosine levels in the body. Carnosine is a dipeptide built of beta-alanine and L-histidine that holds a crucial role in relation to skeletal muscle — it helps reduce lactic acid build-up that occurs when we use our muscles.^[7] Of course, muscles are working at incredible rates during intense exercise, generating large amounts of lactic acid as they fatigue. In lowering lactic acid levels, beta-alanine is able to stabilize the body’s pH levels and maintain consistent energy production.

    

    The man’s legendary status would have persevered regardless, but 5% Nutrition has put together some incredible upgrades to keep Rich Piana’s legacy going strong!

    A meta-analysis published in Amino Acids in 2012 found that these effects can have a significant benefit in training. Specifically, beta-alanine has been shown to improve endurance in exercise lasting between 60 to 240 seconds by 2.9%, on average.^[8] By cleaning out lactic acid, beta-alanine helps restore consistent energy production at the cellular level, allowing muscles to function at a higher level longer.

    At 2,000 milligrams, Kill It RELOADED comes in a tad under the 3,200 gram dose typically tested in research. However, beta-alanine is an ingredient that works via saturation —it’s not about how much is taken in any one instance, but rather how much is available to the muscles. At 2,000 milligrams, this dose goes a long way toward reaching such a point. Another potential benefit? This amount of beta-alanine may be the sweet spot for those of you who aren’t fans of the tingling sensation that higher doses of beta-alanine tend to bring about.

  • L-Taurine – 2,000mg

    Taurine is a conditionally essential amino acid found in animal products, such as meat, fish, and dairy, that holds extensive responsibilities in the body. It helps regulate hydration, digestion, organ function, free radical scavenging, and inflammation.^[9] With such a widespread effect, it’s not too far-fetched to wonder whether or not taurine could come into play when looking to enhance physiological function, such as during exercise.

    

    Taurine’s Benefits (endurance-wise) can be seen after a single use!^[10]

    A meta-analysis published in a 2018 edition of Sports Medicine analyzed 10 peer-reviewed studies in an effort to assess what benefits taurine could have on exercise performance, specifically in terms of endurance. The researchers found that doses anywhere between 1,000 milligrams to 6,000 milligrams, taken acutely or long-term, are capable of improving time to exhaustion.^[10] Another study, published in Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology in 2013, found that taurine supplementation may even be able to reduce delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and muscle damage induced by intense training.^[11]

    Taurine may also contribute to NO production, too. In a 2020 edition of Nitric Oxide, researchers found that taurine mediates NOS activity, thus raising available NO in the body.^[12] This amino acid may also have some nootropic benefit as well, capable of improving synaptic function and mitochondrial biogenesis in the brain.^[13] Covering multiple avenues that pre-workouts often take, it’s no wonder taurine is one of the most common pre-workout ingredients.

  • Betaine – 1,000mg

    One of the two new additions in Kill It RELOADED, betaine is another ingredient frequently seen in sports supplements. Also known as trimethylglycine, betaine is a methyl donor that acts as an osmolyte, as it helps balance cellular hydration.^[14] As shown in a 2011 study from researchers at the University of Memphis, betaine is also capable of balancing oxygen saturation in muscle tissue, increasing oxygen stores prior to activity and decreasing them thereafter.^[15] This has relevance in the gym because subjects taking betaine were able to increase total repetitions and volume load by 6.5% compared to baseline.^[15]

    

    From the MEN’s study: The arms don’t lie! Here’s one place where placebo doesn’t rule: arm size! Betaine built bigger arms… in trained subjects!^[16]

    In a 2013 study published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, researchers tested the effects of betaine on exercise performance and body composition. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled experiment, subjects following a six-week resistance training program were given either 2,500 milligrams of betaine or a placebo daily. At the conclusion of the study, the researchers found that the betaine group saw significant increases in training volume on the squat and bench press, in addition to a larger arm cross-sectional area and improved body composition.^[16] Though this study did not find any significant differences in terms of power output, betaine has some potential there. A 2010 study also published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition saw increases in power and force in the squat, bench press, and vertical jump.^[17]

    A training aid that raises performance, perhaps even helping you yield better results from your training, and induces a bit of a pump, betaine is a welcome addition to this label. Though coming in at only 1,000 milligrams, which is a little shy of the clinical 2,500 milligram dose, it certainly adds to the overall effect 5% Nutrition is going for here.

  • Nitrosigine (Inositol-Stabilized Arginine Silicate)

    

    A new study found that 1.5g of Nitrosigine was just as effective at boosting nitric oxide levels as 8g of citrulline malate!^[18]

    Nitrosigine is a patented ingredient from Nutrition 21 that bonds arginine with inositol, effectively raising arginine’s bioavailability when consumed. As we touched on when discussing citrulline, arginine is used to remove ammonia from the body and create NO, however, dietary arginine metabolizes too quickly and makes its ingestion futile. Citrulline presents one way to circumvent this issue, as does Nitrosigine, as both ingredients are capable of improving both of these functions.^[19]

    In 2015, a study published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition found that daily consumption of Nitrosigine for four days increased perceived energy, blood flow, and biological markers of muscle recovery, in addition to lowering perceived fatigue.^[20] Additional research has found that these performance-improving and vasodilating effects are on par with citrulline, making it an excellent addition to Kill It RELOADED.

    This label delivers half of the 1,500 milligram clinical dose we typically see. However, because it’s working in conjunction with 4 grams of citrulline, the 750 milligrams of Nitrosigine doesn’t have to work alone.

• Nootropic Blend – 600mg

  • Choline Bitartrate – 500mg

    

    Focus so strong, you can feel it in your bones!!

    Choline bitartrate is a form of choline that, when ingested, is converted into the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Crucial to a variety of bodily processes, such as motor control and cognitive acuity, increased levels of acetylcholine has tangible benefits in the gym. Having more acetylcholine available to the brain increases focus and alertness,^[21] which allows you to zone in on the task at hand and maximize your time spent training.

    Though choline bitartrate may not be the premier acetylcholine-boosting ingredient available, its still entirely effective in its own right. Plus, Kill It RELOADED now includes double its previous dose. We liked its inclusion before, but now at 500 milligrams, we like it a bit more.

  • L-Theanine – 100mg

    

    Consistency is key.

    An amino acid typically found in tea leaves, theanine is renowned for its nootropic capabilities, most notably the ability to reduce anxiety and increase levels of calm.^[22] What’s it doing in a pre-workout formula, you ask?

    We haven’t reached the stimulants yet, but Kill It RELOADED delivers a solid hit of caffeine — an ingredient that theanine has displayed a synergistic relationship with. Research has shown that when taken together, caffeine and theanine can improve cognition and focus,^[23] with the amino acid capable of taking the edge off higher caffeine doses. The 100 milligrams here comes in well-under the total caffeine content, providing just enough to smooth out the energy jolt without subduing it.

  • Huperzia serrata (herb) Extract (std. 1% Huperzine A.) – 100mcg

    Huperzine A differs from many other ingredients in that it doesn’t activate anything, but rather, it plays a defensive role that allows other ingredients to shine. Specifically, huperzine A inhibits acetylcholinesterase, which is the enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine in the body.^[24] In doing so, huperzine A helps keep acetylcholine pools full and its effects available. Research has shown that huperzine A supplementation can enhance cognitive function and learning,^[25] two benefits tied directly to increases in available acetylcholine.

    With 100 micrograms of a standardized extract, there’s enough huperzine A here to keep acetylcholine levels elevated and your focus engaged.

• Creatine Blend – 2,500mg (from 2,300mg Creatine Anhydrous, 100mg Creatine Monohydrate, and 100mg Creatine Pyruvate)

  

  Need more creatine? Then why not try TEN forms of creatine! Rich wasn’t kidding around when he launched this incredible Crea-Ten formula!

  Creatine is one of the most studied ingredients in sports supplements, with research showing time and time again how beneficial it can be in regards to training. Facilitating the creation of adenosine triphosphate (ATP),^[25] the body’s primary energy source at the cellular level, creatine helps improve athletic performance. Multiple studies have confirmed such gains, ranging from improved strength to enhanced endurance to more muscle mass gained.^[26-28]

  Though using just creatine monohydrate is usually sufficient, 5% Nutrition prioritizes creatine anhydrous here, which is essentially just creatine monohydrate with one less water molecule attached. In theory, this means that it holds more creatine by weight, though it’s unlikely to be any better than creatine monohydrate. Similarly, creatine pyruvate, which is creatine bonded to pyruvic acid, doesn’t seem to be any better or worse, either.^[29]

  Why 2.5g?

  The question comes down to dose. Most studies are at 3-5g per day, so this is just shy of that and we can’t make “claims”, but we know we’ll be close.

  5% Nutrition explained:

  For a standalone creatine product 5 grams per serving is the proper dose. With this being a pre-workout and not a creatine product we believe 2.5 grams was sufficient for a preworkout product. In Kill It Reloaded we really wanted to emphasize the BIG 3; ENERGY, PUMP and FOCUS!

  — 5% Nutrition

  So while 3-5 grams of creatine daily is what’s generally recommended, and Kill It RELOADED delivers “only” 2,500 milligrams in total, that’s sufficient in context with its goals. This formula wants to help contribute to that daily total of creatine consumption, not necessarily satisfy it. Be like Rich and eat your steak and you’ll get the rest in easy fashion.

• Stim Blend – 325mg (from 267mg Caffeine Anhydrous, 50mg Caffeine Citrate [~50% caffeine], and 50mg Infinergy Dicaffeine Malate [~74% caffeine])

  What’s a comprehensive pre-workout without some butt-kicking energy? Kill It RELOADED keeps things relatively simple, relying on three forms of caffeine to deliver just that. Stimulating the central nervous system and catecholamine production, caffeine has the ability to improve physical and mental performance.^[30] This well-studied ingredient has displayed potency in terms of improving endurance and strength, as well as reducing perceived fatigue.^[31]

  

  You are here. Rich Piana has options for everyone!

  Kill It RELOADED delivers its caffeine in three different forms, each operating on a different wavelength that allows for a prolonged boost in energy:
  • Caffeine anhydrous, an extremely fast-hitting form of caffeine, dominates the overall blend in order to get you going early and hard.
  • Caffeine citrate is only half-caffeine by weight,^[32] but is actually faster acting than anhydrous. It serves as the kickstarter of the stimulant blend.
  • Infinergy, the trademarked version of dicaffeine malate, is caffeine bonded to malic acid that takes a bit longer to break down in the body. It’ll start to kick in as the other two forms of caffeine begin to taper off.

  In all, Kill It RELOADED contains approximately 325mg — not too crazy in this day and age — but certainly enough to be reckoned with (5% Nutrition’s 5150 is the higher one at 400mg total). Make sure you assess your own caffeine tolerance before giving a full serving a try.

  Back in 2018, we asked about the move from 250mg to 325, and they said:

  We increased the caffeine from 250mg to 325mg. We feel these days that 300mg is the new middle ground and wanted to bump it up a little bit from there.

  — 5% Nutrition

• Raw Coconut (Cocos nucifera) (fruit) Water Concentrate – 100mg

  With the core performance ingredients all addressed, Kill It RELOADED adds one more thing to the formula in raw coconut water concentrate. This powder is included for one reason: electrolytes. Bringing both sodium and potassium into the fold, this ingredient delivers valuable hydration support that can help keep you hydrated during your training session.

The new 2021 flavors, with hopefully more to come!

Available flavors

At the time of press, 5% Nutrition offers Kill It RELOADED in four flavors, two of which are brand new to the product line. Here’s the updated list with all available flavors and our best coupon-based prices:

Load Up Before Training with Kill It RELOADED

See our 5PercentNutrition Discount Code

With so many great pre-workout formulas available these days, it can sometimes be a bit of a challenge to find the formula that works best for you. The beauty of this saturation, however, is that you’ll likely find something that fits the bill of what you desire. Whether you’re looking for some crazy stimulants, a pump-inducer without any energy-boosting ingredients, or something in between, odds are there’s something out there that might be worth a shot.

Faced with so many options, many of us often turn to a brand that we’ve put our faith in to make effective, efficacious products. Consumers back a brand because of their product quality, surely, but the culture that brand is built on and the message it aims to send means a great deal, as well. In 5% Nutrition, you’ll find a brand that produces a variety of great supplements for people who are driven to improve, set goals, and blow past them. Every 5% Nutrition offering follows this frame of mind, with reformulations perhaps representing the “desire to improve” most.

For those who are willing to do whatever it takes.

Three years after a massive revamp of their comprehensive, multi-faceted pre-workout Kill It RELOADED, 5% Nutrition has “reloaded”…again. They’ve revisited the formula, tweaking it even further in an effort to make it better. Kill It RELOADED now uses a few higher doses and adds two new ingredients that amplify the overall experience of the potent pre-workout, surpassing that of its predecessor.

If you’re on the prowl for a well-rounded pre-workout supplement that brings energy, focus, and pumps, Kill It RELOADED may just be the shoe that fits. If you’re a loyal 5%’er that has backed Piana and his brand due to their track record of great products…well, you probably are already jumping at the bit to take a scoop of this one before your next training session!