review | nuun podium series – prime + caffeine
I’m not excellent at pre-workout fueling. Up until I started mingling in the tri sports, I almost never ate before a session unless I planned a run longer than 90 minutes, and even that was a crapshoot at best. When I upped the ante on cycling, swimming, and strength training, however, I quickly found that I could not sustain a respectable energy level unless I put something other than water, or even electrolyte-infused water, in my body.
Don’t get me wrong, electrolytes are of massive importance for endurance training, especially here in Florida where it’s often 80+ degrees before 5 am with full-on humidity. Reality is, I needed more, though I struggled with a sensitive stomach and usually don’t like waiting for hours to digest a bagel. Cue Nuun Prime. Hallelujah.
Nuun released its Podium series of workout supplements in late May. The collection includes Prime, the pre-workout (which I will cover here), Endurance, for during a workout, and Recover, for after.
DISCLAIMER: Nuun is NOT compensating me for this review. All opinions are solely my own, and all products mentioned bought with my own money.
Description
According to the Nuun blog, Prime is meant to be consumed 45-60 minutes before a sweat session. The formula is certified vegan, kosher, gluten-free, informed sport approved (does not contain a banned substance), and non-GMO, so to fit neatly with a variety of lifestyles and consumption preferences. One serving contains 35 calories and 4g of sugar.
Active ingredients:
1. BCAAs: Branched Chain Amino Acids provide support to muscles during intense exercise, reduce fatigue, enhance endurance and power, and help delay and mitigate muscular damage. Nuun Prime contains 1.5 grams of BCAAs per serving.
2. Electrolytes: Nuun Prime contains four main electrolytes: Sodium (500 mg), Potassium (175 mg), Chloride (154 mg), and Magnesium (40mg). In combination, electrolytes support hydration, lessen cramping especially in higher temperatures and in those with higher sweat rates, and regulate blood pressure.
3. Panax Ginseng: Ginseng is thought by some studies to be an effective adaptogenic herb that reduces stress, heightens immunity, and improves cognition and attention. Adaptogens, in general, work with an individual’s body to in some ways customize their beneficial impacts on the person’s inflammation levels.
4. Caffeine: Orange, the flavor I use, contains 150 mg of caffeine, which is slightly more than an average 12 oz cup of black coffee. Prime derives its caffeine from green tea and green coffee extracts. Caffeine is a known stimulant that lessens perceived effort and delays fatigue.
How I Use +
My Experience
Background: my morning training sessions are typically at least an hour, but usually span up to 2-3 hours depending on the day. Much of my training is aerobic in nature between running, swimming, and cycling, though two or three times per week I engage in strength sessions as well. I have only used Prime before morning workouts, since I have not fueled at all beforehand – I start my sessions 30-40 minutes after I wake up, so the supplement has about that amount of time to circulate into my system. I dissolve one scoop of powder into about 20 oz of water. Nuun recommends 16 oz, but as I said, I’m extra thirsty in the AM!
Note: This review is for Orange flavor. I have not yet tried Fresh Berry, their noncaffeinated formula.
Taste: I at first felt skeptical about how Orange would taste, since it smells rather bizarre in the first puff of aroma I got when I cracked the protective covering off the top. Once dissolved in water, though, I can’t get enough. I usually have to stop myself from guzzling since a) I’m dehydrated in the morning as is, and b) it has a refreshing, not-artificial flavor.
Ease of dissolving: I use a pretty standard cup to drink Prime, and probably would be best off with a shaker. Often I have to scrape sediment off the floor of the vessel with my straw, but I’m also not terribly attentive to how well I stir it around. A blender bottle is likely your best bet. I’d image it dissolves like a dream then.
Does it tingle like some pre-workouts? No, not for me. I’m also pretty caffeine tolerant so the 150mg doesn’t bother me. Prime does not contain niacin, which is usually the catalyst of such complaints.
How hydrating is it? I do not notice an energy plunge resulting from electrolyte imbalance until 90+ minutes into a workout, sometimes more. The effects wear off somewhat sooner if I’m running outside, since our humidity levels are insane and I usually take plain water with me until I feel the need to add a regular electrolyte tablet to a refill. Such may happen around 8 miles into a run (80-85 minutes). On days past where I drank just water, I’d crumple around mile 6.
Muscle recovery: There comes a point in any long workout, if I don’t generally fuel or if its hot, that I feel like genuine crap. The impact of long runs and bike rides appears delayed, however, when I use Prime. My muscles sustain power for a good amount of time until my tanks beg for further fueling. I notice less fatigue after a session, excepting lower body strength days, since implications of muscle activity during those movements move beyond the usual damage inflicted by endurance sport.
Mental clarity: My brain usually waits until 10 miles, or 100-110 minutes, until it waves its protest flag. Symptoms there fall in the range of wavering energy, fog, and difficulty concentrating. This I can mend by taking in a gel or some other form of nutrition. I do think I’m steadier during speed workouts since I incorporated Prime. That could also be smarter pacing in general, or a combination thereof.
Overall impression: I’m a huge fan of Prime and will continue using it indefinitely. Being prone to extremely early workouts (think 3:30-4 am!) and long ones at that, Prime provides a huge boost in energy and a modest caloric level without punching my digestive system where it hurts. I will probably sample Fresh Berry at some point, but I like the caffeine element in Orange and don’t foresee myself dolling out for a big cannister of Fresh Berry.
