Here is my final review of the new Citrus Ice flavor of 2007-2008 bodybuilding/performance enhancing Product of the Year!
IntrAbolic by Athletic Edge Nutrition http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/ae/intrabolic.html
It is a steal for what you get at $35.99. Only need to take this every workout and you are guaranteed to get complete workout nutrition. It is very potent compared to other like-minded products that you can dose 1/2 serving to last you 40 servings and still get results.
10/10 Formula: - Absolutely nothing has changed even though the taste has been improved from the old fresh green apple. The same high quality Intra-Peptides from Whey Hydrolysate: Some info from AEN's Sebastian Balcombe on just one of the many effective ingredients in IA.
IntrAbolic's-Whey protein Hydrolysate (WPH)
One of the most exciting new areas in intra-workout supplementation is the use of an advanced whey processing technique called enzymatic hydrolysis. When whey protein is processed in this fashion, it is referred to as whey protein hydrolysate (WPH). Regular whey protein becomes WPH by going through a process that partially pre-digests the proteins, breaking them down into shorter chain amino acids called peptides. This is achieved by treating the protein with enzymes and various purification procedures. These advanced processing techniques closely resembles the human digestive process so these peptides do not have to undergo the typical slow digestive process of intact proteins.
However, not all whey protein hydrolysates (WPH) are created equal. There are varying degrees(%) of how much hydrolysis (breakdown of proteins into short chain peptides) the whey protein has undergone. A low degree of hydrolysis will leave you with a high amount of inferior polypeptides and little to NO di-and tripeptides.
The custom WPH we use in IntrAbolic (over 30% of hydrolyzed) is THE optimal intra-workout WPH, as the high degree of hydrolysis they have undergone, supply's 70-80% rapidly absorbed, low-molecular weight di-and tripeptides(IntraBolic-Peptides).
Why do we care so much about these short chain di-and tripeptides you may ask? Unlike standard intact proteins and long chain peptides, di-and tripeptides do not have to undergo the typical slow digestive process and can be absorbed intact. Their unique properties also allow them to utilize a highly efficient system in the GI tract, specifically designed to rapidly transport di-and tripeptides. Due to the digestive process, standard intact proteins are slow to be absorbed and enter the bloodstream. As previously stated, di-and tripeptides are rapidly absorbed and released into the blood. This causes a large spike in the concentration of extracellular amino acids. Research has shown, it is extracellular amino acid concentrations that stimulate and signal our cells to increase protein synthesis, maximizing the anabolic response. This is a HUGE advantage when using di-and tripeptides when comparing them to intact proteins from a typical protein supplement. Not only do di-and tripeptides spike amino acid concentrations quickly in the blood, they also take advantage of the intra-workout window of opportunity by delivering large amounts of amino acids into the blood intra-workout, feeding and fueling working muscles.
The advantages of di-and tripeptides taken intra-workout don?t end there. Due to their ability to cause this large amino acid spike in the blood, research has shown they can increase the levels of the hormone insulin. Insulin fights against muscle breakdown occurring DURING your workout and makes amino acids even more anabolic.
From a practical standpoint, rapid and efficient absorption also makes these short chain peptides ideal during your workouts as they will not cause bloating or stomach discomfort like other intact proteins.
Check the panels of products that contain WPH and look for the percentage of hydrolysis the whey has undergone. If they do not disclose the degree (%) of hydrolysis on the label, be warned as it may be VERY low. Do not mistake the percentage of how much of the product protein is coming from WPH for the degree (%)of hydrolysis the WPH has undergone as they are not the same or even related. For example, a protein powder could contain all of its protein from WPH (100% WPH) but the degree of hydrolysis the whey has undergone is only 5-10%, which is very low and much less costly to make than a high WPH (25-30%). On the contrary, IntrAbolic, which also contains 100% of it's protein from WPH, utilizes an OVER 30% WPH, that supplies 70-80% low molecular rapid absorbing di-and tripeptides.
In summary: The perfect intra-workout protein source is WPH, such as that used by IntrAbolic, suppling primarily low-molecular weight, di-and tripeptides. These are the most efficient and effective way to supply amino acids into your blood during your workouts to maximize the anabolic response, fight against muscle breakdown, improve exercise performance and
prime your body for recovery. They are also the best from a practicality standpoint.
The superiority of Whey Hydro over casein was recenty shown in a study I believe... Seb or anyone have that on hand??
9.5/10 Taste: Considering the high quality hydro which naturally is one of the worst tasting ingredients to use, AEN has done an amazing job to disguise them... Citrus Ice is VERY NICE! I was getting tired of the old apple as I use this EVERY workout and needed a change up.
I would like to try the new apple though.
I have tried this with ice cubes in my BPA FREE Blender Bottle and it goes perfect real cold. I have tried it with added orange flav. from my Nestea tea powder which adds polyphenols from tea and they make a great combo for even more enhanced flav.
Having this taste improved so much and the flav. options really excites me because I need this IA every workout to get out of my workouts what I put in.
Bottom line this is a great tasting, thirst quenching muscle drink. Ice cubes in 16oz water or so goes down great in the gym.
Only a couple products have rated higher in taste for me and that is rare.
It is IntrAbolicous! 10/10 Mixibility: This mixes as great as my old apple did. Perfect! Best whey, EAA, Leucine, BA, etc... ingredient product I have ever used and I have used quite a few... I don't know why it mixes so well, but it does and NOT one drop of sweet EAA + WHEY HYDRO + LEUCINE + BA is wasted. Many popular similar minded products on bb.com mix horribly compared to this IA. Many people have no idea!
It mixes like a 7/10 in the first minute, but let it sit a few more minutes and you have a pure orange drink with just a little froth on top, but no unmixed ingredients remain on the bottom or sides.
10/10 NEW LOOK!! WOW this is looking sharp. Pictures don't lie so I included a couple pics of the new IntrAbolic as well as one of the new
IntraXCell labels. Seb and AEN are constantly looking to improve and perfection is being invented each time.
I included a pic that compared the new IA with the older IA labels as well as the leaner, taller container... I guess the IA is leaning up the containers as well?
The pic could of came out a little clearer so it doesn't do it complete justice in the super zoom mode. See it in person and you will understand.
IntrAbolic produces results! 9.9999 OVERALL My favorite workout product just got better!
So much better I ordered 9 jugs of this Citrus Ice IntrAbolic That shows how much I believe in and stand by this product having used it since Oct. 2007. As a non-rep and consumer like you, I put my money into products that deliver and this does it and more. I wouldn't lead you astray!
As always AEN is one of the companies I truely trust to have inside their products, what they say is on the inside... From the beginning IntrAbolic was stamped with the GMP seal of approval. Helping to raise the bar on production standards.
http://www.crnusa.org/PR07_CRN_GMPs062207.html
Kudos AEN!
P
06-26-2008, 08:44 PM
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