Nutrex Research VoluGro: Post-Workout Nutrition Gets Back to the Basics

Want the most insane post workout shake? Mix some Nutrex Volu-Gro with Vanilla Bean IsoFit!

In a previous Nutrex article, we hinted that they had recently released a new post-workout product that pairs perfectly with their Isofit whey protein isolate. It’s the re-release of VoluGro, a creatine/carbohydrate supplement designed to jumpstart the recovery process after intense training!

We’re excited about this one for its sheer simple-yet-research-backed ingredient selection, and the knockout flavors — the Orange-Mango flavor paired with Vanilla Bean Isofit makes for a phenomenal post-workout delight! Besides the amazing taste, you’re getting your body started on its goal to replenish and recover after those grueling gym sessions; dextrose to restore glycogen, creatine to help build muscle, and electrolytes to re-hydrate you.

We’ve already covered Isofit, so let’s take a look at VoluGro, and why you may need to add it to your supplement arsenal. But first, don’t forget to check out our VoluGro specials/coupons, and sign up for Nutrex alerts so you never miss a deal:

Simple, Yet Effective Ingredient Label

Fans of Nutrex may recall the VoluGro name, but this “relaunch” is an entirely new product. At a quick glance, the ingredient label seems short and sweet – and it is. It contains dextrose, creatine monohydrate, potassium, magnesium, and himilayan pink salt for sodium and other trace minerals.

Nutrex’s Volu-Gro Ingredients are simple, effective, and research-backed.

But that’s the beauty of it! Each of these ingredients provide exactly what the body needs after intense exercise (on top of the protein from a product such as IsoFit, of course).

• Ditching the Waxy Maize for Dextrose (35g)

  The main ingredient in VoluGro is dextrose (D-glucose), a simple sugar mainly found in fruits… yet without the fructose. It is very high on the glycemic scale, meaning it hits the bloodstream very fast, causing an insulin spike that drives nutrients into muscle cells. Let’s look deeper into why Nutrex made the change from waxy maize starch in the old VoluGro to pure dextrose in this latest release.

  For years waxy maize starch was all the rage in post workout carbohydrate supplementation. Search the web and you’ll find the claims made (from companies marketing it) such as following:

  What they say about Waxy Maize….

  “-Waxy maize starch (WMS) bypases the stomach, is absorbed by the small intestines and is assimilated at a much faster rate than dextrose/maltodextrin“

  “-WMS can assist in the absorption of other supplements (creatine, amino acids, etc.) by helping them bypass the stomach, allowing them to assimilate at a faster rate“

  “-WMS refills muscle glycogen stores faster than dextrose/maltodextrin”

  The arguments comparing waxy maize starch and dextrose could be a story on its own, but it is worth mentioning to point out why Nutrex made the switch. Fact is, dextrose can do all the things (including the list above) that WMS can, and actually do it better!^[1]

  The following chart shows that dextrose spikes blood glucose levels shortly after ingestion, while waxy maize creates hardly any difference versus the control group:

  

  For a quick post-workout insulin spike, waxy maize simply wasn’t worth the cost, texture, or total mess that it made

  Waxy Maize isn’t a “bad” carb source, it just isn’t as good as dextrose post workout. In fact, waxy maize may be better suited for pre- or intra-workout consumption… but there’s another problem: waxy maize is an annoying mess! After using it long enough, pretty much everyone gets tired of cleaning up the slippery, powdery mess. It’s just not worth any negligible benefits.

  Dextrose hits closer to home: the glycogen reloader

  Simply put, dextrose is d-glucose — the simple carbohydrate your body already uses within the bloodstream! Because of this, there’s no need for your body to convert it, and it doesn’t tax the liver like fructose or sucrose does (note that sucrose, or table sugar, is half fuctose, half glucose). In fact, a study showed that dextrose is better at reloading muscle glycogen, while fructose is better at reloading liver glycogen.^[2] Since muscle glycogen is what we’re going for post workout (and we see no need to tax the liver any more than necessary), dextrose is what we want. No need to mess around with other forms.

  

  Fructose reloads liver glycogen, but dextrose/glucose reload muscle glycogen. So why waste time with fructose or sucrose (which is half fructose)? Cut to the chase with straight up dextrose!^[2]

  Back to the comparison against waxy maize, dextrose is a simple carbohydrate, while WMS is technically a complex carbohydrate. Not only does dextrose enter the bloodstream faster, but it’s high glycemic number means it causes a larger spike in insulin. This is likely due to the fact that there’s no need to “process” it – it can get straight to work on the muscle glycogen.

  Fast insulin spike… for those who want it

  Insulin is needed in order for cells to intake nutrients like amino acids and glycogen, so the higher the insulin spike, the faster the elements needed for recovery get where they need to go! The bottom line is, dextrose is a better post-workout carb than waxy maize; it reloads muscle glycogen faster, is easy on the liver, and tastes and handles way better than WMS.

  Something to note, since dextrose is a simple sugar, it may not be for everyone! VoluGro should probably not be consumed by diabetics, obvious health complications could occur from slamming 35 grams of straight glucose. Also, those who are insulin-resistant or pre-diabetic should consult their doctor before using VoluGro.

  Best for real workouts

  We also believe that this is best used after a glycogen-depleting workout, such as heavy resistance training or HIIT (high intensity interval training). Glycogen reload is best for workouts that actually deplete it, after all.

• Ol’ Reliable, Creatine Monohydrate (5g)

  

  Can’t go wrong with creatine!

  Creatine is one of the most well-studied supplement ingredients, and the benefits of just 3-5 grams a day are well-known in the fitness community. It increases power/strength,^[3] supports lean mass gains,^[4] decreases fatigue,^[5] and increases cellular hydration.^[6]

  All about ATP regeneration

  Creatine can safely be used by ANYONE; young or old, male or female, any type of athlete! Here’s why supplemental creatine is important to any and all athletes: ATP production. During a workout, all muscle contractions are initiated by adenosine triphosphate, commonly referred to as ATP. This is what we call the true “energy currency” of your cells. You need adequate ATP to repeatedly press, squat, curl or perform all-out sprints.

  Cells, such as those in muscle tissue that are contracting, don’t care about “calories” – they use ATP molecules. If you or your diet are holding them back from efficiently generating ATP, you’re going to suffer more.

  ATP regenerates during rest between sets, and between workouts. Creatine allows the muscle cells to regenerate ATP more efficiently. So when creatine is taken post workout, the muscles get a head start on generating the ATP needed for the next workout.

  

  Creatine is safe! Measured variables of groups using Creatine and those not.

  Each serving of VoluGro includes 5 grams of quality creatine monohydrate. This means you can still get an efficacious dosage of 3g if lowering the carb intake, but many big guys like to get more creatine (and of course more carbs), and that can be done with two scoops per day as well.

• Stay Hydrated!

  The final piece of the VoluGro formula is a trio of hydrating electrolytes – magnesium, potassium and Himalayan pink salt (sodium). During vigorous exercise, these minerals are lost through sweat. Replenishing them is important not only for hydration, they’re also responsible for proper performance of numerous bodily functions.

  Magnesium helps regulate blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels, and is a key factor of energy production at a cellular level. Potassium also plays key roles in regulating blood pressure, preventing muscle cramping, and in the conduction of electrical signals in the nervous system and heart.^[7] Sodium aids in hydration by balancing fluid levels in and out of cells, and is needed for nerve signaling and muscle contractions.^[8]

  The good kind of magnesium

  Important to note that Nutrex used magnesium glycinate, which is a highly bioavailable form of mangesium. This is a form of magnesium that’s bound to the amino acid glycine. The small intestine is typically poor at absorbing straight minerals, but it’s great at absorbing amino acids!

  So you can think of this as a “trojan horse” method to get that magnesium in, as the small intestine is far more likely to absorb it when seeing that glycine attached.

  Overall for the electrolytes, the doses in VoluGro are not extreme, but are enough to help athletes reach their needed daily allowance of each, while bringing levels back from a recover from a good sweaty session.

Volu-Gro Flavors Available:

VoluGro is available in these great flavors:

We are loving the Orange-Mango so far, and with the natural sweetness of dextrose, we’re confident they’ll all taste incredible!

While Volu-Gro is marketed as a post workout supplement, and that’s what we’re using it as, some may wish to take it pre or intra workout. It really comes down to how and when you like your creatine and fast-acting carbs! Also remember that the Nutrex Outlift pre workout has 3g creatine monohydrate too.

Conclusion- Simple, Effective, and Convenient

Stack it with Vanilla IsoFit! See Nutrex IsoFit’s Benefits above

This is a great release by Nutrex! Not every supplement needs a truckload of rocket science behind it, and this is one of them. The new VoluGro is simple, and that’s the point!

The combination of basic ingredients with immense amounts of research behind them are exactly what the body needs after intense resistance or HIIT training. There is nothing exciting about the label, but sometimes simple is better (the flavors are where the most excitement is at, especially when following their water recommendations).

In a time where many companies are in a race to introduce the “next big thing”, Nutrex has fallen back on proven ingredients backed by science and years of real-world results. With the new VoluGro, you get a clean, effective, and tasty formula with a myriad of recovery benefits in a convenient single-scoop serving.

Whether it’s HIIT or heavy weights, work hard in depleting that glycogen – and let this be your reward at the end of the tunnel. If you’re not drained, then try harder next time. We see no reason why you shouldn’t give it a shot!