Welcome to my blog. This topic is on product reviews. I don’t recall doing a product review in a while, so I thought it was time. The product review today is on the ZMA-5 from SNAC. I bought it off Amazon for around $17.00 or so. If you have ever wanted to know or try ZMA well you’re in luck because I’m going to explain what it is, and what it does. I will also tell you how it affects me and when and why I take it. So, let’s just get to it and dive right in.
SNAC ZMA-5 Sleep Aid Supplement, Promote Muscle Recovery & Growth, Immune Support, & Restorative Sleep with Zinc, Magnesium & 5-HTP, Post Workout, Before Bed ZMA Supplements 90 Veggie Capsules.
Normally I buy just the ZMA which is Zinc, Magnesium, and Vitamin B6, but I thought I would give this a try since it has the 5-HTP included in it. They are all roughly the same price, but I think the quality of the product is where you need to look. SNAC stands for Scientific Nutrition for Advanced Conditioning. It was started by Victor Conte a sports nutritionist that was dedicated to helping elite athletes get that extra edge they needed to win. According to their website all products are never released to the public without being tested by a stable list of elite athletes.
How it Works –
The Zinc, magnesium, and vitamin B6 work together with the 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) helps to increase the duration of a deep sleep for greater anabolic hormone release, tissue repair, and muscle growth. This also regulates mood and sleep. So it may help to elevate your mood upon waking.
How Do I take It?
For men take 3 capsules 30-60 minutes prior to bedtime. For women it’s 2 capsules. For somebody who does shift work like me, this supplement is a game changer. I definitely sleep better. I feel like I get a deeper sleep and don’t wake up a few times in the night (or day) like I used too. Even on your off days from lifting or exercise, still take it and see what you think.
Why I take it
I take it for the sleep aid and recovery from weight training. I also take it to make sure I’m not deficient in these vitamins and minerals. According to SNAC.com
“the nutrients, Zn and Mg, may not be at optimal status in physically active individuals to facilitate function of these anabolic factors. Zn losses may be exacerbated through exercise (6), both long duration and high intensity, sweating (7), and inadequate intake (8). Additionally, exogenous testosterone administration results in significant reductions of Zn (9). Also, Mg has a putative effect on muscle strength in clinical applications and previously untrained individuals (10). Mg may be reduced due to intense and/or long-term exercise (10). These diminutions in Zn and Mg may lead to a situation of latent fatigue with decreased endurance” …………”Both of these minerals have been reported by the USDA to be low in typical diets: 68% of diets have less than two-thirds of the RDA for Zn and 39% contain less than two-thirds of the RDA for Mg. Some dietary surveys of athletes have demonstrated that these nutrients may meet the RDAs (2,14). It may be necessary for athletes to supplement these nutrients in order to get dietary adequacy through meeting the RDA, or beyond, for physical performance effects”
As you can tell by the research these vitamins and minerals are healthy and it’s what your body needs. You may be deficient in these and not know it. I believe as far as a sleep and recovery aid goes, this is a whole lot better than taking melatonin. If you take too much melatonin your body will stop producing it and you will have to keep taking it. With the above-mentioned supplements, your body will not stop making them. It’s something your body needs anyway.
Until next time.
Take care,
Darren
Harmony Shift 