To have breakfast or not to have breakfast? Among athletes, in most cases, the prevailing opinion is that they eattaxes should in no way be absent from the diet. Still, there are some people who simply do not enjoy eating early after waking up or do not have time for it in the morning rush. How to solve such a situation? In today's review, we will take a look at the Day Starter from the Czech Virus brand, which offers itself as one of the possible solutions.
Day Starter is a product containing a rather interesting combination of different substances that are supposed to help kick-start the body and replenish all the necessary nutrients. To prepare it, all you have to do is pour water over the mixture and shake it just like you would when making a protein. How satisfied were we with it and does it really serve as a substitute for a classic breakfast?
Content of the review
At the outset, it should be noted that the manufacturer itself states on its website that Day Starter is not a substitute for a full meal. When I talk in the review about whether or not Day Starter is suitable as a breakfast substitute, it is not meant as a replacement for a normal meal. In our article Breakfast or no breakfast? Which is better for weight loss? we pointed out that breakfast, in the sense of eating almost immediately after waking up, doesn't reallyand that it is enough to eat during the morning. The Day Starter can therefore serve as an alternative for people who do not want to eat solid food early in the morning, but still need to eatbut still need to take in some energy (whether for training or for normal functioning at work). Nevertheless, it is expected that they will also include adequate normal food in their diet during the morning.
Comprehensive and well thought-out composition
The basis of Day Starter is pea protein (specifically pea isolate) with the protected Pisane® label. In general, pea protein is easily digestible and contains a relatively high amount of valuable amino acids. It should be noted, however, that vegetable proteins do not have a complete spectrum of amino acids and therefore fall far short in this respect compared to whey protein. Another important ingredient is wholemeal oat flour, which serves as a source of the necessary complex carbohydrates. It has the advantage of being high in antioxidants as well as protein. In the composition we also find green tea and guarana as a natural source of caffeine with a gradual onset. A big advantage is also the relatively high fiber content, which is very beneficial in the morning. This slows down the absorption of glucose, thus lowering the glycaemic index of the foods in which it is contained. As a result, the person feels fuller for longer after eating it.
We must not forget the other beneficial substances. We can find here a mixture for blood circulation (l-citrulline and beetroot extract), a combination of spirulina and chlorella, a mixture of antioxidants, digestive enzymes and medicinal mushrooms. As is probably already well evident, the composition of Day Starter is very rich and complex. We can find here valuable sources of protein and carbohydrates, while not omitting other valuable substances. In terms of composition, therefore, there is basically nothing to complain about and in this respect Day Starter earns a very good rating from us.
Pre-workout digestibility is not ideal
Digestibility is an important criterion for any similar product. Especially if it is to be the first food (or drink) that a personperson includes in his/her diet during the day, digestibility is very important. In this respect, one very important thing should be pointed out. The manufacturer states. Day Starter is especially suitable for athletes who like to train in the morning but do not want to eat anything heavy before training. In this case, of course, it makes sense to reach for a similar drink instead. However, as mentioned in the previous paragraph, Day Starter also contains fibre, which, although it helps to induce a feeling of fullness for a longer period of time, is not very suitable before training. This is because it slows down the digestion of other substances, which is undesirable before sports performance. The body needs more time to absorb all the carbohydrates and proteins in the drink. For this reason, I would be somewhat cautious with taking Day Starter before a workout. However, if you give yourself a decent amount of time off, it won't be a problem and feel free to indulge in the Day Starter.
Taste and solubility
As far as the preparation of this product is concerned, it is absolutely hassle-free and the product doesn't foam or clump up significantly during preparation. In case you are not going to exercise, it is possible to mix Day Starter in milk, which gives it a really great taste. We were very impressed by the pistachio cheesecake variant, which tastes much better in milk than in water.
Good price compared to the competition
Compared to the plant-based proteins in our comparison of the best vegan proteins, Day Starter performs very well in terms of price. What's more, it contains many other health benefits you won't find in regular proteins. Therefore, we definitely can't criticize anything in terms of price. One packet contains about 30 standard doses, so if you stick to the recommended dosage, it will last you for a whole month. In this respect, therefore, we must evaluate very positively.
Is Day Starter worth investing in? What are the alternatives?
Finally, we should answer the question of whether Day Starter is actually worth investing in. From my point of view, this is a product that is definitely worth a try for people who don't want to lose money in the morning.but rather just have a quick shake and eat later at work. But if you need energy before your morning workout, I'd opt for a classic pre-workout combined with some really light food. That way you take in more fast sugars and avoid fiber, which generally isn't really good before a workout.
However, due to its complex and quite well thought out composition, you really won't find a product on the market that combines all the ingredients (protein, carbohydrates, antioxidants, chlorella with spirulina, vitamin C, medicinal mushrooms, caffeine, etc.). There is of course the option of buying the individual substances separately, but this is not worth it either in terms of price or in terms of any practicality.
For today's review, that's all from us. Do you have any questions about the product or perhaps an experience you'd like to share? Let us know in the comments below the article!
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