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And The Winners Are...Bodybuilding's Top 10 Diet Products (2007)

Posted in: Articles by ProSource, Superfeature Articles, Supplement Articles, BioQuest: Tetrazene, ProSource: Provadex
By Alan Lewis | Feb 22, 2007

This comprehensive product review was conducted by Alan Lewis, a long-time veteran researcher and leading author in the field of dietary supplementation. ProSource called upon Alan to spearhead an exhaustive investigation of more than 100 diet products currently available on the marketplace. The goal, of course, was to determine the Top 10 supplements in this crowded category. His unrelenting analysis of every critical detail of every product literally took him months to complete. All ten of the following reviews are based on the best research and information available, including independent clinical studies, product labels and literature, web site info and customer feedback. Each of the winners is listed in descending order of preference for your convenience. It is our hope that Alan's focus and attention to detail has helped take the guesswork out of your decision-making process, while at the same time, ensuring that you get the results you're looking for.

#1 Tetrazene ES-50 from BioQuest
The highest-rated product from this entire review is BioQuest's Tetrazene ES-50. This dynamic formulation combines a highly-effective green tea extract, standardized for EGCG, in combination with premium energy factors to make for a high powered thermogenic stack. And a powerful boost of energy. But ES-50 goes the extra mile by including a potent level of the pathway-nutrient, L-tyrosine. This is critical for enhancing the effect of the thermogenic base, the "pathway drivers". The result is better metabolic stimulation without a let-down. L-tyrosine has also been shown to enhance mood, energy and mental performance. You should consider a thermogenic stack product that does not contain a high level of tyrosine to be fundamentally crippled and not capable of delivering the full potential of the stack.

Tetrazene ES-50 is also fortified with vinpocetine--the potent new norepinephrine-releaser (thermogenic enhancer) that also helps to improve circulation, boost oxygen uptake, and improve concentration and mental energy--for more focused and productive workouts. This is great stuff that is not used often because it is so expensive. But it really works and is worth every nickel. BioQuest should be commended for not cheaping-out here.

ES-50 teams all that up with the super-class polysaccharide KGM-90. This ultra-high-molecular-weight glucomannan is manufactured in Japan and is the most potent source of its kind available worldwide. KGM-90 has been shown to help reduce appetite and blood sugar levels (already in the normal range) and to cause significant weight loss in a number of clinical trials. With KGM-90, you effectively reduce the glycemic index of every mouthful of food, and with that, you reduce your insulin levels, enhance insulin sensitivity, all of which sets the stage for weight-loss results. In sum, Tetrazene ES-50 is a superbly-engineered thermogenic, energizing formula with the added benefit of an ultra-potent KGM compound. When it comes to state of the art technologies, no other product in this category even comes close. But perhaps the most compelling evidence of Tetrazene's superiority in the diet category is the feedback from actual users. Customer surveys have consistently ranked Tetrazene as the #1 rated product in the category, since its introduction.

Editor's Note: Tetrazene ES-50 is a rich source of high EGCG standardized green tea extract, which has gained enormous popularity among people everywhere, including celebrities such as Hollywood actress Estella Warren. "I'm a big fan of green tea," she admits. "It's one of my favorite supplements. It boosts your immune system and it's full of antioxidants--I love the numerous health benefits I get from it." With the year round fitness level she maintains, there's no disputing the benefits of this remarkable compound.

#2 Provadex from ProSource
In a very close race, second place goes to ProSource's Provadex. This high-intensity energizer offers serious thermogenic action, while emphasizing performance- boosting activity as well. The Provadex formulation is simply packed with the most powerful, best- documented active ingredients possible.

Provadex achieves all of its objectives: to boost thermogenic norepinephrine levels, boost cellular cAMP, boost mental and physical performance-enhancing neurotransmitters--and keep them all boosted, for hours. And these effects are achieved without the "jitters" and other side effects that were common with earlier beta-agonists like clenbuterol and ephedrine. Provadex has a synergistic impact that far exceeds that of the anemic, half-baked "energy" and "performance" formulations that clutter the market today. This impressive formula provides the fuel for a dramatic energy and performance boost, increased mental clarity, metabolic and thermogenic upregulation, and a positive, high-spirited mood--just the state you need for the most amped-up and productive workouts you can imagine. And while Provadex utilizes some caffeine, it is not loaded over the top like many of the other hardcore energy products out there. Instead, Provadex is powered by a high-tech compound called 5-Dexetriamine, which is designed to work through a sophisticated mechanism called neuroamine synthesis. This unique action results in increased energy levels, without the jitters or crash associated with mega high levels of caffeine.

And I should point out, that while ProSource markets Provadex primarily as an energy booster, the research I've reviewed indicates that some of its active ingredients represent the most potent natural metabolic boosters known to science. As a result, I consider this to be an extremely promising muscle-sparing weight loss agent as well. This seems to be echoed by feedback from many competitive bodybuilders who are calling it a powerful tool for leaning out. This a serious bodybuilding supplement specifically designed to stimulate rapid and dramatic increases in energy and focus, and there's not much more you could ask for in a single product!

#3 Ultra GTX from ProSource
A strong third-place showing goes to ProSource's Ultra GTX. This new entry in the category delivers a powerhouse blast of the most effective thermogenic in our arsenal: green tea extract, standardized for an ultra-potent level of EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate).

EGCG is the green tea polyphenol with the documented effects on calorie-burning, insulin action, metabolism boosting and weight loss. It is also responsible for the many long-term antioxidant health benefits of green tea.

Ultra GTX is unique in that it packs a whopping 500 milligrams of an industry-leading 45% EGCG green tea extract into every capsule, which is equal to 225 mg of EGCG--far more than competing products, which yield little as 5% of this critical metabolic-boosting agent.

Not only that, but Ultra GTX contains a total of 95% total polyphenols (including the EGCG). And that means Ultra GTX may have as much as 475 milligrams of active polyphenols per one capsule! Okay, enough said. This amazing new super-supplement is simply the king of green tea formulas. For real energizing, metabolism-boosting benefits, you can't go wrong with Ultra GTX from ProSource. The bottom line is that I scoured the market and can tell you for certain that to experience the true weight-loss power of green tea, there simply is not a better source of this natural wonder nutrient available. Ultra-GTX is truly the real deal when it comes to green tea weight-loss supplements.

#4 Xenadrine-EFX from Cytodyne LLC
Fourth place is held by Cytodyne's excellent Xenadrine-EFX probably the most recognized of all these products. Extra Strength Xenadrine-EFX is similar to the immensely popular original formula but now includes the key addition of Norambrolide.

Extra Strength Xenadrine-EFX helps reduce appetite, decrease fatigue and increase peak metabolic rate.

In conclusion, Xenadrine-EFX is jam-packed with active metabolic goodies and more than deserves this ranking.

#6 LeanFire from InStone
Finishing at number six, and the leader among the 7-keto DHEA-based products, is InStone's LeanFire.

The nice thing about LeanFire is that it supplies efficacious levels of this key compound, along with powerful thermogenics and energy/performance enhancers. This is an excellent one-pill choice for supporting your regimen.

LeanFire features the DHEA derivative 7-keto DHEA--a superior form of DHEA, or dehydroepiandrosterone. 7-keto DHEA activates thermogenic enzymes to a much greater extent than plain DHEA. Plus it may help balance-out elevated cortisol levels (one big culprit in abdominal fat accumulation). LeanFire combines 7-keto with a green tea and caffeine stack, further enhanced with L-tyrosine--the precursor to norepinephrine. This provides the key nutritional precursor that complements the action of the "pathway drivers" caffeine and green tea extract. Excellent!

InStone goes even further, pumping-up the formula with 255 mg of the "Evolean" proprietary blend. This consists of E and Z guggulsterones, evodiamine, and Rhodiola rosea extract. The guggulsterones are potential thyroid boosters--among the best natural products for this purpose. Evodiamine is mildly thermogenic, and Rhodiola rosea is a phenomenal Siberian adaptogenic tonic that mildly boosts energy, heightens mental and physical performance, and improves general health.

InStone claims that LeanFire "helps to support stamina and endurance" during dieting--quite believable, just looking at all the active ingredients.

One warning: Keep in mind that LeanFire contains 300 mg of caffeine per serving--the highest amount of any product in this review. This is not a dangerous amount for healthy people, but it may cause jitteryness in sensitive people. Take it easy, and lower the dose if need be.

#7 Cytodyne AAC from Cytodyne LLC
Number seven in my review is the venerable Cytodyne AAC, the original flagship product from Cytodyne. This is a really great product that has not only the science behind it, but a loyal following of hardcore bodybuilders for more than seven years now. Cytodyne AAC is a body repartitioning formula that helps to transform your physique without losing those hard-won gains in lean muscle weight.

Cytodyne AAC features a full 1100 mg per serving of the incredible acetyl l-carnitine. The main benefits provided by this powerful amino acid, is it helps promote fat breakdown and subsequently enhance energy while boosting exercise performance, r educing muscle soreness after hard workouts, sparing glycogen, and promoting protein synthesis. How could you reasonably ask for more? The tragedy is that it is only used, in significant amounts, in a very few products. And Cytodyne AAC is one of them.

Along with the acetyl l-carnitine, Cytodyne supplies 175 mg of phosphatidylserine. A cousin of lecithin, phosphatidylserine reduces circulating cortisol levels. This is great for athletes with overtraining syndrome, and with signs of high cortisol levels such as stubborn abdominal fat and mood problems. It is also an outstanding anti-stress nutrient that specifically targets the abdominal area, where cortisol does its worst (fat-retaining). Last but not least, Cytodyne provides two full grams of glutamine (the exact amount shown in research to stimulate GH release), a gram of taurine (a great insulin potentiator), alpha ketoglutaric acid (AKG), ketoisocaproate, and inositol.

Simply stated, Cytodyne AAC is one of the all-time best repartitioning-type agents we've ever seen and truly deserves its legendary status among bodybuilders.

#8 Hydroxycut from MuscleTech
MuscleTech's Ephedra-Free Hydroxycut, a unique dual-action product, takes eighth place in this ultra-competitive review.

HydroxyCut's two proprietary blends--Hydroxagen and HydroxyTea--target both thermogenesis and appetite/insulin control, and the results are very good.

The HydroxyTea blend gives us a nice amount of green tea with EGCG, along with plenty of caffeine (200 mg) and willow bark extract. Hydroxycut also includes the Hydroxagen blend, based on hydroxycitric acid (HCA). HCA is the garcinia fruit extract, which may help boost CNS serotonin levels, and thus reduce the desire for carbs (and food, generally). It may also help normalize insulin--which is a critical part to any diet regimen. HCA may be useful when given in sufficient amounts, which fortunately, Hydroxagen provides. This is unusual: most products contain only "window dressing" amounts of HCA, and thus the results are poor.

Hydroxagen is fortified with glucomannan and chromium, for further help with insulin control. Lastly, Hydroxagen contains alpha-lipoic acid and L-carnitine, both of which are important. The lipoic works by enhancing insulin action, and the carnitine helps support fat- mobilization. This is a solid combination that should be used in many formulations.

Altogether, MuscleTech's Ephedra-Free Hydroxycut appears to be a quality thermogenic formula designed to work through several different angles.

#9 LeanBalance from Iovate
Number nine is Iovate's LeanBalance, one of the best (with #8, Hydroxycut) of the Garcinia-based products. This product contains, like Hydroxycut, an high amount of hydroxycitric acid (HCA)--the fruit acid that can potentially cut appetite and insulin levels (see Hydroxycut, above, for details). But the special advantage with LeanBalance is in the other ingredients.

LeanBalance includes a generous amount of calcium--an old-fashioned nutrient with, surprisingly, some very important actions. There is now a great amount of scientific literature on the role of dietary calcium, especially milk-source calcium, in body-fat control. Give LeanBalance credit for being one of the very few formulations out there that is "calcium aware".

Iovate has enhanced the product with Gymnema sylvestre, another effective herb for helping to suppress sugar absorption and for helping to control blood glucose, plus chromium for improvement of insulin action. LeanBalance even includes American ginseng (a tonic), policosanol and a caffeine-free green tea extract with 90 mg of EGCG. This is particularly useful if you are avoiding caffeine.

Altogether, LeanBalance offers several key ingredients that work on complementary mechanisms to help cut appetite and assist in weight control. Iovate did a very good job with this formulation.

#10 HoodiaTech from Prosource
ProSource's HoodiaTech -- one of the many new Hoodia-based formulas -- takes the number 10 position. With this product, ProSource has kept things very simple, and very effective, by limiting it to a single ingredient: an authentic, high-P57 extract of Hoodia gordonii. This was no easy feat, as the demand for hoodia has far outstripped supply, and the market is clogged with preparations of unknown quality.

The story, in case you missed it, goes like this: Hoodia gordonii is a remarkable African cactus, discovered millennia ago by natives of the Kalahari desert, that quells appetite at the hypothalamic level. It does this by virtue of its content of a steroidal glycoside ("P57") that shuts off the hypothalamic mechanism that stimulates the desire for food. The result is that the body is biochemically tricked into thinking it is full. It's a beautiful story, and the stuff works great.

In fact, hoodia is proving to be more effective than HCA (above) and the other common appetite suppressants.

Hoodia is clearly on the leading edge of appetite-control technology, and ProSource's HoodiaTech delivers the goods better than any other product of its kind.

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Disclaimer: All rights reserved. Healthy weight management and substantial weight loss are best achieved by making lifestyle changes, such as lowering caloric intake and increasing exercise activity. Clinical evidence indicates that when used in combination with a sensible diet and exercise, the key ingredients in this product can support your weight loss program. Consult a health care professional before beginning any weight-loss program. Read and follow all label instructions before using. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.