When I got the opportunity to test Performance Protein from BrainMax, I didn't hesitate for a moment. I had been interested in trying it for a while, but never got around to it because of the high price. But the time has finally come and I really took the time to review Performance Protein.
The manufacturer states on their official website that this is no ordinary protein. It writes about how the protein can help us improve digestion, how it can strengthen our gut and ourgut microbiome, how it can noticeably boost our immunity or even strengthen the condition of our ligaments and tendons.
But are all these claims true? Can the product help us with all these problems or is it just a marketing ploy? Can the protein compete with other brands? We will tell you all this in today's review.
Content of the review
BrainMax is a Czech, young, dynamic brand that brings various unique products to the market that are definitely worth trying. In the past we have done a review on BrainMax 3.0 Anabolic Dagger a BrainMax 2.1 Neurohacker. You can see how these reviews turned out on our website, but now let's get down to testing a non-traditional Performance protein.
A thoughtful formula that the average exerciser will appreciate
The most important thing about any product is of course its composition, and it's no different here. At first glance, the composition of the protein is very different from the usual competing proteins.
We can find here a native whey concentrate, which is represented here in 62%. The manufacturer does not indicate how the whey was processed, which gives the wrong impression. But according to the amino acid spectrum of the protein that the manufacturer publishes, we can conclude that it is a knownmy CFM method, which preserves all the protein fractions important for human health.
The second largest representation is hydrolysed collagen type I and III, which is added to the product The product is formulated to strengthen connective tissues, tendons, joints, cartilage, tendons, skin or hair. Hydrolyzed collagen is a more controversial ingredient that may not appeal to everyone. In order for collagen to be able to be used sufficiently in the human body, it must be of the highest possible quality, which translates into a very high price. The manufacturer states that the highest quality of collagen was used here, which would also correspond to the overall price of the protein.
For ordinary exercisers, the addition of hydrolyzed collagen is a very positive thing, becausethe protein with collagen can subsequently help them with joint, cartilage and other tendon pain, which I'm sure many of you will appreciate. On the other hand, for more advanced exercisers, I think it's a rather unnecessary added extra ingredient that shouldn't be there at all. Personally, I'd rather supplement it separately so I can adjust the amount I take.
Furthermore, the protein contains added colostrum, which is standardized to 40% immunoglobin. Colostrum is originally found in breast milk and is added to the product to boost immunity and strengthen gut microflora. Again, this raises the question of to what extent our bodies can use colostrum so that we feel all of its benefits. Strengthening immunity is indeed a real confirmed benefit that colostrum has, but as far as strengthening the intestinal microflora is concerned, I would again be more cautious here. This fact is not confirmed in any way so I would rather not rely on it. However, some studies point out that colostrum could have a significant effect on the growth of lean muscle mass, which is a big plus that the manufacturer does not even mention.
The last non-standard ingredient added to the protein is coconut oil, which is a source of MCT fats. These fats are very easy and fast for our body to digest, so they do not slow down the rapid absorption of whey protein. Another important benefit is that coconut oil has been shown to strengthen the gut flora, which helps our digestion and immunity.
Finally, in the protein we find the natural fiber guar gum, which is a prebiotic that again supports our digestion by providing food for our gut bacteria (probiotics).
There is also real cocoa added (in the chocolate flavour) which is purely there to enhance the taste.
The product is sweetened with steviol glycosides. This method is considered the healthiest for the human body, and as a big plus we consider it to be completely natural. Stevia even acts as an antioxidant and can help us with digestion.
Nutritional values
Looking at the nutritional values of the protein here, you can see that it is a classic whey concentrate supplemented with with hydrolyzed collagen for a total protein content of 75%, which is a pretty high protein value that we were very pleased with.
Nowadays, it is becoming more and more common to find proteins that contain a lot of protein content of around 70% and sometimes even less, which is definitely wrong and should not be the case. Compared to these products, Performance Protein stands up very well and we take that as a big plus.
The manufacturer also fully discloses the amino acid spectrum of the protein, which we appreciate. On the official website we can even read the exact proportions of whey protein, hydrolyzedcollagen, coconut oil, or even the exact amount of trace minerals found in the product.
Not many manufacturers give such detailed information about their products, this is exactly how it should look like. We commend.
Protein is only available in two flavours
If you like very sweet, bold products, you'll be a little disappointed here.The two flavours tested tend to be less pronounced and not as sweet, which might bother some people, but we welcome it.
When testing the protein I followed the manufacturer's instructions, I mixed 35g of the product in 200ml of water. Let's review both flavours individually:
- Chocolate (8/10) is the obvious choice for chocolate flavour lovers. The protein is not over-sweetened, quite the opposite. I found a pleasant cocoa aroma and taste that reminded me of granola. The chocolate flavor was definitely my favorite and you definitely won't go wrong with it.
- The vanilla (8/10) is not too sweet, but you can definitely detect the vanilla flavor here. I liked that the flavor was really reminiscent of natural vanilla and I didn't detect any hint of chemistry. The flavour here was beautifully balanced. If you love vanilla, you'll be pleased too.
Poor solubility and high foaminess of the protein
First, let's recap the digestibility of the protein. The latter is, in a word, perfect. I didn't notice any problems with digestion, with bloating or any stomach pains. Since I have a bit more sensitive digestion, I can say that everything here is really at the best level.
The consistency was very watery when I mixed 35g of protein in 200ml of water . There was no hint of creaminess, on the contrary, the protein foamed a lot and I had to wait a few minutes before the foam subsided. The same problems were with the solubility of the protein, where I had to stir the protein for a much longer time than is usual with competing proteins.
However, if you add the protein to porridge, yogurt or cottage cheese, for example, you don't have to deal with these problems. The solubility will be without any problems and the protein will not foam you up in any way.
Extremely high price, which gave us pause
On the manufacturer's official website, the protein costs in a 1 kg pack. In our opinion, this is really an extremely high price. The manufacturer argues that he used the highest quality ingredients, which we confirmed ourselves while using the protein. From our point of view, however, this is really a premium product that will find only a few customers.
The price of one dose is around a whopping , which is much more expensive than the best quality rawwhey isolate or hydrolysate, which are considered to be the highest quality whey protein on the market.
When did I use the product?
Performance Protein contains easily and quickly absorbed whey protein, so it is most suitable for use after a workout or other physical activity.
You can also use it at any time of the day for protein replenishment. You can use the protein in a variety of recipes, however, I would be careful here to heat process the protein, which could disrupt the structure of the native protein and could destroy all the mentioned benefits that the product offers.
Alternative products?
There's a good chance that Performance Protein will put you off with its price, which we certainly don't blame you for. That's why I'm going to give you some tips on similar proteins that will also help with digestion, gut flora, recovery and clean muscle growth.
The first high-quality alternative is Pure Elite CFM from Czech Virus, which has a similar formula without the presence of coconut oil or hydrolyzed collagen, which may be an advantage for some. The protein has 77% protein content, this is even higher than Performance Protein. The quality of the product is also of paramount importance here and we can only recommend this protein from personal experience.
Czech Virus Pure Elite CFM - Protein with the best composition on the market?
The second alternative I would see in a protein CFM Probiotics from the proven brand Prom-IN, which also has a very similar composition. It doesn't contain coconut oil or hydrolyzed collagen, but it will also help with digestion and gut flora thanks to the addition of probiotics and prebiotics. The quality of this protein ranks among the absolute top and we will definitely recommend it to you.
Prom-IN CFM Probiotics. (Review)
Final review
Is it worth investing in Performance Protein from BrainMax? Honestly, I think for most exercisers, rather not. I'm not at all saying that the protein is bad or low quality. On the contrary, the quality is top notch and overall it is a great product, but the price is really extremeand I think that for most recreational exercisers this protein is not.However, if you have money to spare, like to invest in your body, and care about the highest quality possible, then Performance Protein is an excellent choice.
However, it is still possible to invest in a quality protein at half the price and use the money you save to get a quality multivitamin, omega 3 and other essential supplements. However, if you decide to give Performance Protein a try, you won't be disappointed. The only thing that spoils the overall impression of the protein is the high price, but otherwise it is a very high quality protein that will meet all your demanding requirements.
Other expert reviews
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- Nutrend Protein [review]: just another lure for money?
- Vilgain Grass Fed Whey Protein: Can it compete with the best isolates? [review]