Top 10 Anabolic Supplements Reviewed and Rated
Your body is either in a catabolic or an anabolic state. When it is in a catabolic state, you are losing muscle tissue. When you’re in an anabolic state, however, your body is surging with testosterone and amino acids and is primed for muscle building. Clearly, you want to be anabolic as often as possible. In this article, we discover the 10 best anabolic supplements in the 2019 market.
In a Hurry? The test winner after 11 hours of research:
Cell Volumizer
Increases Glycogen Levels
60 Servings Per Container
Science-Based
10 Best Anabolic Supplements
1. Legion Athletics Recharge
Cell Volumizer
Increases Glycogen Levels
60 Servings Per Container
Science-Based
Low Protein Levels
Legion Athletics Recharge is a pre-workout formula that is built around creatine. Creatine is the most studied workout supplement, having a proven ability to replenish ATP energy to allow you to train harder for longer. It includes carnitine to help you to receive maximum workout recovery.
Read moreRecharge comes in powder form and mixes easily in water to deliver a great tasting drink that is clump-free. Corosolic acid is added to help replenish your post-workout carbohydrate levels. Recharge will allow you to lift heavier, have more focus, be more energized and recover faster from your workouts.
2. KaPow Pre Workout
Two-stage Caffeine Blast
Powerful Testosterone Booster
Great Energy Boost
Quick-Release Technology
Not A Strong Enough Pump
Kapow Pre Workout is a pre-workout formulation that combines energy, power, focus and pumps to allow you to train with maximum intensity.
Read moreIt includes such power testosterone boosters as Bulbine Natalensis, as well as Tribulus Terrestris, D-Aspartic Acid, Fenugreek Root and Long Jack. A dual wave energy release system is provided with the inclusion of L-Tyrosine and Taurine along with a two-stage blast of caffeine delivers a powerful energy boost.
3. MuscleTech Nitro Tech
30 Grams Of Protein
5.5 Grams Of Creatine
4 Grams Of Glutamine
Cold-Filtered Micronization
Unpleasant Taste
MuscleTech Nitro-Tech delivers a multi-phase protein and carbohydrate boost to the body to create the ideal post-workout anabolic environment. It features a huge 30 grams of multi-phase protein that fast tracks its way into the muscle cell for building and repair.
Read moreWithin that quantity are 5 grams of branch chain amino acids. You also get 4 grams of clinically dosed creatine to restock ATP supplies in the muscle cell.
Each serving of MuscleTech Nitro-Tech includes 5 grams of an advanced glutamine and glutamic acid blend to replace glutamine levels that have been used up during weight training. You also get a range of essential electrolytes.
4. Universal Nutrition Animal M-Stak
BCAAs
Retains Nitrogen
Stimulates Muscle Recovery
21 Packets
Slight Jittery Reaction
Universal Nutrition Animal M-Stack is a blend of all-natural pro-hormonal ingredients designed to put and keep you in an anabolic state all day long. It promotes protein synthesis by the use of a natural flavone and sterone complex.
Read moreThe anabolic complex includes such proven ingredients as Eleutherococcus Senticosus, Muira Puama, and isoflavones from Kudzu. This product also helps to retain nitrogen, which also promotes anabolism.
Universal Nutrition Animal M-Stack features the branch chain amino acids in the ideal 2:1:1 leucine to valine and isoleucine ratio. This blend will stimulate muscle recovery and building in those vital minutes after your workout.
5. Platinum Hydro Whey
Advanced Hydrolysed Whey
Very Fast Absorbing
Best Protein Uptake
No Fillers
Doesn’t Taste Great
Hydro Whey 100 is the first and only protein powder that is made out of advanced hydrolyzed whey protein powder. The enzymatic hydrolyzation process goes beyond isolates to break down the amino acid molecules into minute fractions, making them immensely more absorbable and digestible. You get 30 grams of protein, but its utilization is almost 100%! There are no fillers, flavorings or preservatives in the product.
Read moreIn addition to it 24 grams of pure hydrolyzed whey protein you also get a massive 15.5 grams of essential amino acids, which includes 8.8 grams of the Branch Chain Amino Acids. The taste isn’t fantastic as a result of the refusal to out any harmful additives into the mix. But, if you are after a protein powder that will get the maximum amount of protein being fed to your muscles cells as quickly as possible, then this one is hard to go past.
6. Universal Nutrition Natural Sterol Complex
Tryptophan To Enhance Sleep
Testosterone Booster
Electrolytes
Contains Tribulus Terrestris
May Cause Stomach Upset
Universal Nutrition Natural Sterol Complex is an anabolic enhancer that is designed to boost lean muscle mass and density. It is composed of a synergistic blend of clinically proven ingredients, including glandular balance agents, anabolic sterols, lipotropics, and electrolytes.
Read moreIt also includes the natural sleep enhancer L-Tryptophan. Tribulus Terrestris and milk thistle are added in order to enhance testosterone levels. Universal Nutrition Natural Sterol Complex includes such extra anabolic ingredients as egg whites for extra protein, B12 coenzyme, L-carnosine, silver and a lot more ingredients that make this supplement worth your while!
7. BSN Amino X BCAA
10 Grams Of BCAAs
Caffeine Free
5 Great Flavors
Non-Clumping
Quite Expensive
BSN Amino X BCAA is a powdered anabolic booster that combines a powerful amino acid complex into a refreshing drink. Each serving delivers a huge 10 gram of branch chain amino acids, in the favored 2:1:1 ratio of leucine, to valine to isoleucine.
Read moreYou also get such powerful anabolic amino acids such as L-Alanine, L-Citrulline, and Taurine. This is a caffeine-free product, that comes in 5 tasty flavors, is able to be easily mixed and delivers a very smooth, pleasant taste.
Confused about which supplement will help increase your lifts? Find the best out there with our Best Supplements for Weightlifting Review 2019 article feature.
8. Vintage Burst
B Complex Vitamins
Boosts Energy
Argentine Beef Liver
Veggie-Caps
Expensive
Old School Vintage Burst is an anabolic enhancer and energy booster in one. It is built around a powerful B Complex formulation, supplemented with guarana. Additional ingredients are desiccated beef liver powder, leucine, and guarana seed extract.
Read moreThe product comes in capsule form, providing for fast delivery to your muscle cells. It is non-GMO and gluten-free. Old School Vintage Burst includes Argentine beef liver. It has been third-party tested and is made in the USA in a cGMP authorized facility. There are no harmful ingredients in this product.
9. Muscle Pharm Z-Core PM Capsules
Fenugreek Root Extract
Melatonin
Boosts Testosterone
Night Time Recovery
May Make You Oversleep
Muscle Pharm Z-Core PM Capsules boosts your anabolic environment by enhancing your body’s natural testosterone production. Simultaneously, it delivers vital mineral support for anabolic enhancement, while also ensuring a great night’s sleep. This is the time when maximum growth hormone and testosterone are released. It is also the time when your body recovers and grows.
Read moreThe potent blend of fenugreek root extract and melatonin work together synergistically to promote anabolism and better sleep. It will also boost the libido, and help with erectile dysfunction. This product is completely natural and is GMO-free.
To find the best supplement across all categories, check out our Top Workout supplements Review 2019 mega feature.
10. Beast Protein
Blend Of 5 Protein Types
Digestive Enzymes
Retains Nitrogen
Full Amino Acid Profile
Slight Artificial Taste
Beast is a muscle-building powder that delivers protein through 5 different sources: whey protein concentrate, whey hydrolysate, casein, micellar, albumin and egg-white. These are fortified with digestive enzymes to aid absorption and allow the amino acid to get into your bloodstream faster.
Read moreThis product mixes easily, without any clumping or gritty residue. You’ll get a constant release of protein throughout the day to keep you in an anabolic state.
Beast is an effective protein-containing milk, egg, and soy. It has a nitrogen sparing effect, allowing you to enhance protein synthesis for more efficient muscle building.
Criteria Used for Evaluation
Use
If you never used any kind of anabolic supplements before, you might be confused about using these pills and powders properly. Even if you did take them, or are taking them right now, there's still a chance that you're doing it wrong, so we will share some basic tips for taking supplements so you get all the benefits of them!
Supplements are often used to boost natural processes in our bodies without endangering us as steroids do. They fill in the gaps that we are not able to do normally, or they simply replace the ingredients we are supposed to get out of food. You shouldn't replace food with these supplements though, you should just use them to enrich your diet even more. The very first thing to do when it comes to supplements is to watch the recommended dosage.
Usually, the producers of the supplement write out the directions on their labels, or your doctor instructs you on the dosage. Also, if you take more than the recommended dose, you might end up with some pesky side effects, like abdominal troubles, shaking, tremors, plus if you exceeded the amount you need daily the benefits won't be doubled, your body will just process the excess as waste.
You also have to make sure that none of the ingredients in your supplement interact with any medicine you may be taking. Although these ingredients are natural, or not that harmful, they can still amplify or lower the effectiveness of some drugs, and you should avoid that at all costs. Some ingredients can even interact with the food you eat! Some supplements you should take before you exercise, on an empty stomach, like pre-workouts, while others can be taken at any time, no matter what you ate.
And lastly, check the ingredient list. Read the labels thoroughly, and if you don't recognize some ingredients, research them until you do. It's absolutely important to know just what you're putting into your body! Proprietary blends are usually the worst offenders here, simply because you don't know the ratio of the ingredients they used. If the label has claims that are simply too good to be true, they probably are. None of these supplements will give you miracle results in just a few days, nor will they cure any illness that modern medicine can't. Even if the supplement is completely organic and natural, you can still suffer from side effects, so be extra careful when ordering your next supplement!
Effectiveness
As you probably already know, muscle building is a long and strenuous task, with a very satisfying reward. But a lot of people give up on the quest just because they do not have the patience to wait for their muscles to show. Luckily, anabolic supplements can boost the creation of muscles, and you can see them pop up sooner than you expected. These supplements give your body just what it needs to build muscles, and cause almost no side effects.
Anabolic supplements will definitely improve your strength. You will be able to rep more, and with heavier loads, but do not expect to feel this after just one dose, since your body needs time to let the ingredients cycle through your body. You will start to feel it after 6 to 12 weeks of use, while muscle gains will be visible after around 3 weeks. These supplements also lower muscle fatigue. The ingredients help your body produce more carnosine. Carnosine is a molecule found in the tissues of your muscles and in the brain, and they improve your performance and decrease fatigue at the same time. You may start to feel this in a very short period of time!
The most important effect of anabolic supplements is the boost of nitric oxide production. Nitric oxide helps you build muscles even faster, and produces muscle pumps so you can enjoy the gym even more. These supplements reduce the breakdown of muscles by aiding anabolic processes. This way, your muscles recover even faster without being sore. If your sore muscles are not affecting your exercises, you will workout longer and better, and you will be motivated to go back to the gym! And of course, your body size will increase as a result of everything we listed before.
Materials
What makes up your anabolic supplements is definitely one important criterion. There are a lot of things that can make up the final blend, but no supplement goes without some of the most basic ingredients that are simply excellent for boosting your performance and muscle growth.
The very first ingredient found in most pills and powders is caffeine. If you ever drank coffee or a good black or green tea, you know the effects of caffeine. It will boost your energy, make you more motivated, and sometimes it will make you euphoric. The primary purpose of caffeine is to give you energy, and you really do need more than the normal amount of energy when you head to the gym.
The dosage you need to experience the good side of caffeine without feeling jittery and drained afterward is around 200-500 mg, which amounts to about 2g per kg of body weight. If you already drink coffee on the regular, you might need a bigger dose to truly feel the benefits of caffeine in the gym. Essentially, you will need to experiment with the doses until you find what works best for you.
Branched-Chain Amino Acids, or BCAAs, are what gets your body in the anabolic state. You need about 20 grams of these marvels to help you feel the effects. The amino acids that foster the anabolic state are leucine, isoleucine, and valine.
They are major role players in protein metabolism - they increase the number of proteins synthesized while lowering the amount of protein that breaks down.
But you need the correct ratio of these three acids, and that ratio is 2:1:1, the first number being leucine, followed by isoleucine and valine. Leucine takes up most of the proportion because it's simply the best at boosting muscle protein synthesis.
Beta-Alanine will make your muscles endure the most demanding gym sessions. By being able to survive all of that, you will see an increase in muscle mass, simply because you can do much more. A larger dose of beta-alanine causes tingles. It's very likely that you will feel this at one point in time, and the important thing is not to worry over this. It might feel weird, or you might feel like your skin will melt, but it's just a benign reaction to beta-alanine called paresthesia. If you cannot handle this, you can just lower the dose of beta-alanine and hope for the best. Or simply split the dose into a bunch of smaller doses to take throughout the day.
And of course, the one thing you can't live without - creatine. Creatine promotes your strength and endurance, giving you an impressive amount of power. You can safely take up to 20 grams a day, divided into 5 doses, granted that you have no diseases that can be worsened by an increased creatine intake, like kidney disease.
Creatine gives your muscles the energy they need to better your lower-rep exercises. The dosage can vary a lot though, simply because some people do a bulking phase, which requires a bigger amount of creatine, and then fall back down to about 5 grams per day, which is the maintenance phase. If you want to simply take creatine for the benefits without bulking, stick to the smaller dosage.
Side Effects
Let's first preface this section by talking about anabolic steroids, which are illegal and can cause a lot of side effects natural supplements simply do not. Anabolic steroids are used to treat some medical conditions, but without the guidance of a doctor, long-term use can cause a lot of potential problems.
Fitness enthusiasts still seek them out because they do lead to an increase in muscle mass and size, and that happens in a very short period of time. The side effects happen because people take doses that are ten to hundreds of times higher than what people would take normally! Anabolic steroids are just the man-made version of testosterone. Your body produces testosterone naturally, no matter your gender, although females experience a smaller production of it. Once puberty is over, the natural production of testosterone slows down, which happens when we're about 25 years old. This is when people will most commonly begin to seek out steroids, although it can happen earlier if we're not satisfied with what our bodies gave us. If you use anabolic steroids continuously, your body can get used to the dose, and it may even stop producing testosterone by itself - this leads to an increase of the dose, which brings a world of trouble with it. Even legally prescribed steroids can cause a myriad of side effects - acne, difficulty, and pain when urinating, fluid retention, gynecomastia, a change in cholesterol levels, hair growth or even hair loss, infertility, and drastic changes in libido. Now imagine amplifying this by 10 or 100! This is what recreational users do, and it is very dangerous if you do not know what you're doing. Your heart can suffer greatly as a result, and so can your liver and bones. Your tendons may rupture because collagen starts to break down. Your mood may change as well - you can become more aggressive, reckless, and addicted to the chemical. Some side effects will stay even after you stop using them! This is why you should rely on supplements to boost your natural production of testosterone instead.
Anabolic supplements will help your body achieve the same thing as anabolic steroids will, albeit much slowlier. It's better to wait for the good effects than rush in though! There are still some side effects you can experience from natural supplements too, especially if you do not follow the recommended daily dosage.
You can experience abdominal discomfort, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, jittery sensations and tingling sensations, headaches, and if you suffer from liver or kidney disease, they can become even more damaged if you start taking supplements with more creatine or protein than they can handle! The most important thing is to read the label carefully, consult your physician, or simply adjust the dose until you stop feeling discomfort!
Release Date
Technology advances fast, and so does the technology used to create these supplements. The ingredients become purer, more effective, and with much more benefits while the side effects are minimal. This is why it's better to look out for supplements that were made with the best technology out there, and that has a recent release date.
But newer additions to the market can be untested, and you can still suffer from side effects, or you can feel no effects at all, so make sure to get a supplement that has scientific backing. Look for the best possible formula out there, presented to you in the optimal shape and type, and you will definitely feel all the benefits we mentioned earlier!
Expert Interviews & Opinions
How long your supplement lasts is something to think about. It is possible to forget about using the supplement or to simply do not use all of it before the expiry date. But that doesn't mean that you should stop using the supplements as soon as they reach that particular date. That date tells you when the supplement will start losing its potency, so the longer you have it the less effective it will be. You will probably feel a shortage of good effects. The supplements that are powder shaped might start to clump or become super hard. You can break these clumps apart to use them normally again, just make sure to not accidentally ingest more than what you're supposed to thanks to a clump!
Anabolic supplements and supplements, in general, come to us in two shapes - pills and powders. Both of these shapes have their own set of pros and cons. Pills already have a predetermined dose, and it's hard to make a mistake and take more than you're supposed to. They do not taste well though, and you cannot mix them in a drink. Powdery supplements usually taste great, and you change the dose to see what works best for you. This can lead to making a mistake though, and you can take more or less than what you're supposed to. Powders can also clump, but you can break those clumps apart and just continue using the powder like nothing ever happened. Whatever you end up choosing, the benefits will be the same, and it's just a matter of preference!
Other Factors to Consider
Bottom Line
Our favorite anabolic supplement of the 2019 market is KaPow Pre-workout, with its testosterone boosting ingredients, along with massive energy-boosting ability. We also loved MuscleTech Nitro Tech, which delivers 40 grams of protein and 5 grams each of BCAAs and glutamine.
Rounding out our top 3 anabolic supplements is Universal Nutrition Animal M-Stack, with its premium branch chain amino acids energy rush, and nitrogen retaining ability.
Frequently Asked Questions
q: Do I need anabolic supplements?
Well, truth be told, you don't really need any kind of supplement, because you can get everything they give you naturally, through food. But a lot of people fail to ingest enough ingredients to help them have a better time at the gym, so instead, they supplement their diets with these powders and pills, hence the name.
If you do not feel like experimenting with a lot of different anabolic supplements to find just what works for you, without thinking about taking a pill or a drink every few hours or so, no one is stopping you. But the truth is that they exist for a reason - they will make your experience in the gym much better, and you will feel the good effects much faster and they will be more potent!
q: Can beginners take anabolic supplements?
It's easy to get confused by the huge variety of supplements available today, especially if you've never taken any before. It's important to recognize false marketing and claims that are way too good to be true before you decide to make a purchase! Make sure that you've bought your supplement from a reputable source, before everything else.
Generally, beginners should start out with just a protein powder, and then slowly introduce creatine, and supplements that combine these two ingredients with much more. But you can go hard right at the beginning, just make sure that you do not have any diseases that can be worsened or any pills that will be more or less effective!
q: Can these anabolic supplements affect my health?
Unlike anabolic steroids, anabolic supplements do not have such adverse side effects, and are generally much, much safer, but they still have some side effects. You can experience some stomach issues, headaches, general issues associated with a bigger intake of caffeine and much more. If your liver or kidneys do not work well, they can be damaged by the increase of protein or creatine levels, so tread carefully if you have these diseases!
q: Do these anabolic supplements work?
Although it's hard to believe that just a few measly pills a day can improve so many things at once, the truth is simply that they do just what is advertised. After all, people wouldn't take them if they did absolutely nothing! You will have to wait a few weeks before you start to feel the benefits though, so do not give up so soon. Keep at it and we're sure that you will feel every benefit associated with anabolic supplements!
q: Why domy anabolic supplements make me feel itchy and tingly?
This can happen if your supplement has Beta-alanine added to it. Beta-alanine is a great ingredient that has many positive effects, but one negative is that very same itchy and tingly feeling. Some people even report feeling like their skin is melting off! This is nothing you should worry about though, it can't truly harm you.
It is very annoying and unpleasant though, and you can avoid it by lowering the dose of beta-alanine you take at once, or simply break the bigger dose into smaller doses, and you won't have any tingly sensations anymore!