We examine the critical active ingredients in various sports supplements. We award high marks to those with existing supportive data, real-world results and innovation in formulation. Here we put NANO VAPOR HARDCORE PRO series under the microscope.
L-ARGININE HCL
Helps increase growth hormone and insulin secretion similar to arginine ethyl ester. Some postulate that combining different forms of arginine leads to a synergistic effect where the two create a far stronger effect then a single form of arginine.
Grade: 5 STARS
Reason: Amino acid that is proven to help recovery and muscle growth.
L-ASPARTIC ACID
Is used by muscle cells to transport a coenzyme in energy production called NADH into the mitochondria portion of the cell where ATP is made. Creating and supporting ATP allows the bodybuilder to train harder without experiencing fatigue.
Grade: 5 STARS
Reason: Important nutrient that supports energy and helps offset fatigue.
CREATINE
Energises muscles and provides the fuel for the first few reps of a set. Creatine can increase strength, a muscle’s ability to contract, and has even been shown to support fat loss.
Grade: 5 STARS
Reason: Endless research proves creatine is an effective supplement that aids strength and size gains.
TAURINE
Is an amino acid that becomes depleted with training. Low levels are associated with fatigue. In addition, supplemental taurine seems to increase water retention inside muscle cells which, along with supplemental creatine, can create a stretching of water sensitive receptors in muscle fibres that, in turn, supports an anabolic state.
Grade: 4 STARS
Reason: Water hydration in cells impacts on growth and recovery.
L–LEUCINE
Is the most potent of the three amino acids classified as a branched chain amino acids (BCAAs). Leucine helps prevent muscle breakdown by increasing the secretion of insulin, a major anabolic hormone. When insulin rises before training, it exerts an anti-catabolic effect offsetting muscle breakdown while simultaneously driving nutrients into muscles. Leucine has been shown to play a very strong role in turning on mechanisms that affect protein synthesis.
Grade: 5 STARS
Reason: Research is conclusive that leucine is a driver of muscle growth and repair.
L-ISOLEUCINE
Is an amino acid that comes into play and is burned for energy when muscle glycogen reserves decline due to dieting or with longer workout sessions. The burning of supplemental isoleucine can prevent muscle breakdown.
Grade: 4 STARS
Reason: On a physiological level, it’s effective, but large amounts are required and it is not as effective as leucine.
L-VALINE
Is another branched chain amino acid that depletes during training. Valine depletion causes fatigue which, in turn, causes a rise in free radical production thus inhibiting muscle recovery.
Grade: 5 STARS
Reason: Adequate valine levels are required to keep muscles in a state of recovery and growth. FLEX
