NOW Sports, Carbo Gain Powder, Rapid Absorption, Energy Production, 12 lbs

As someone with hepatic porphyria, this stuff is a life saver. I can get carbs in quickly and easily and it mixes really well with whatever I put it in. I break up the serving and slowly put it into my shakes to avoid any clumping, and I literally don’t taste a thing, don’t feel a thing as far as texture goes, and I’m so glad I bought some.

I have been neglecting carbs for a good while, mostly because I’m single and I cook for myself and there’s plenty of times I don’t want to cook anything. It’s had a negative impact on my health and I have lost energy and more. 60grams of carbs mixes really well with powdered protein for a shake. This powder will mix well using a shaker cup. There’s zero taste as well. Don’t neglect carbs. You’ll burn out. Even Stallone said that he was having energy problems while filming “Rambo 3” because he neglected carbs.

I was on the hunt to find a product that would act as a post long run and hard track session recovery drink for middle/long distance running. I purchased this product because I was tired of all the other “Recovery Drinks”, “Mass Gainers”, etc. that included artificial sweeteners (ACE K, Sucralose, etc.) or substances like Creatine. This product fulfills the carbohydrate need of a recovery drink perfectly (you’ll have to find another source for your protein if you want a good recovery drink). There is essentially no taste with maybe a small hint of sweet as an aftertaste (like sugar, not that awful artificial sweetener aftertaste). I have tried it in milk, orange juice, and grape juice with and without the whey protein I purchased and it works well. It does get clumpy so a blender is probably a necessity or at least highly recommended. Pros: Good “lack of flavor” Reasonable serving size Just carbohydrate and nothing funky (no artificial sweetener or Creatine) Cons: Clumpy, so a blender is really important The sealing strip on the bag version isn’t that great I highly recommend this product

I subsist on a liquid diet (search "soylent" on the web - seriously) and this is my primary source of carbohydrates. I like that I can measure precisely how many calories I will consume from carbohydrates. While not the most nutritious source of energy, it does not need to be -- it is pure energy, derived from corn. Essentially, this is pre-digested raw energy. I could see this being really useful before a really hard workout to help kick-start one's metabolism and provide a little extra energy (although I would not use this if your goal is to burn fat and lose weight). My only gripes are honestly unavoidable. The product is very dusty. It gets everywhere -- good luck resealing the bag. I put this in multiple 3 gallon containers and scoop it out with a measuring cup. Even scooping it out causes a cloud of carbs in my kitchen. Not much can be done about that, it is what I get for using powder that is one step above what my cells use for energy. It is also a bit sticky, similar to powdered sugar. Again, I really cannot blame the manufacturer for that, it would be like buying a dog and complaining that it barks.

My favorite aspect of this maltodextrin is that it contains NO additives. I use this to make my own nutrition/sports drink for long bike rides, and I like that I am not consuming anything that I don't need during my activity. "Dissolves instantly" is not really true - but no pure maltodextrin will dissolve instantly. Any product that does has been adulterated with surfactants or other weird chemicals that make it dissolve faster but have no place in a natural, healthy diet. Some things that have worked for me: use warmer water - even just room temp water will speed things up quite a bit. If you HAVE to have your drink cold, just put it back in your refrigerator after mixing. If you plan ahead just a little, the maltodextrin will eventually dissolve by itself. I can leave a drink bottle with many large, undissolved clumps on my counter for an hour, and afterwards the clumps will be gone.

Getting this many quality carbs so easily is great for us hard-gainers. I plan on using this before, during, and after workouts. As well as for the occasional meal replacement, when I need to bump my calorie count up. That being said, this stuff is the messiest, stickiest, and most frustrating supplement I have ever dealt with, which is saying something considering I've been using supplements over 10 years. It barely even mixed in hot water. My ratio was probably off though, because I was working with a 45 oz shaker. It's still early days with this supplement. I had a little diarrhea at first but it subsides. But I do want to learn how to prepare and mix this stuff without being sticky and frustrated. I'm scared I'll need a blender which I hate, because they are loud and hard to clean. Taste wise, there is a taste unlike what some others are saying. It is very very mildly sweet and that's it. It would actually be easier to drink, if it was flavorless. That being said, when I mixed it with gatorade, it was pretty fantastic and the drink covered so many bases (electrolytes and complex carbs). I love this product despite the negatives and will definitely stick with it, but I would much rather pay extra for a ready to drink version. Anyways, if I figure out how to prepare it better I will update my review!

best product with best results

Enough for 5 gallons aquarium for betta