This week, we are reviewing Gaspari Nutrition’s “MyoFusion Probiotic Series” protein powder.    I have to say, I have had a blast testing Gaspari’s products.  Having used a few different protein powders over about two years, I have some sort of vague reference to compare this product to.  Admittedly I have only used the low quality one or two brands that can be found in the vitamin isle at your unnamed one stop shopping center. 

Immediately you’ll notice that Myofusion has a unique offering in that it contains probiotics to support digestive health.  If you are not familiar with probiotics, they are live bacteria culture’s that upon consumption, set up shop in your digestive tract and aid with digestive health.  Probiotics can be acquired by eating various foods such as yogurt, cheese, sauerkraut, and even wine and beer.  There are also many supplemental sources of probiotics that can be found at your local pharmacy.

Another unique aspect to Myofusion is what they refer to as their “six stage protein blend.”  Nowhere on the label is this product referred to as a whey protein concentrate, or whey protein isolate.  Gaspari simply states that this is a protein powder, and with closer investigation on the label, it is obvious that this is not a whey protein supplement.  The “six stage protein blend,” is a combination of whey protein concentrate, brown rice protein concentrate, whey protein isolate, egg albumin, milk protein isolate, and whey protein hydrolysate.  These all combine for what is 24g protein per 39g scoop.   What this means is that you are receiving multiple sources of protein, all of which absorb at varying rates. 

The solution does contain 9g carbohydrates per scoop, accompanied by 2g of fat.  This is slightly higher in carbohydrates than other protein powders I have used prior, and is something to take into consideration for those who are super strict about their carbohydrates.  For the majority of people, especially those practicing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, this should not be an issue.  It is also gluten free, meaning it is acceptable to the growing populace that support a glutenfree lifestyle.  The product is sweetened primarily with sucralose, and is aspartame free.  I would have liked to have seen stevia as the primary sweetener in this product, simply because it is a natural source, and not an artificial sweetener.  However sucralose does not seem to be as heavily scrutinized as aspartame, and it is used in almost all protein powders, so this is only a minor criticism. 

So with all the technicalities out of the way...  How does it taste?  I can say that on taste alone, I am going to have to move on from the low quality powders I have used prior.  The sample Gaspari Nutrition provided BjjWeekly was chocolate flavor.  It did indeed taste like chocolate, but not like the generic chocolate protein powder I have had prior.  The closest comparison I can relate this to, is those little round chocolate candies by the name of “Whoppers,” which are quite delicious.  The powder mixes very easily with a spoon, and does not leave the clumps of protein pulp that is reminiscent of unfiltered orange juice.  With lower quality protein powders, I had almost exclusively mixed them with plain nonfat yogurt simply because I could not stomach the lumpy texture.  It tastes quite good mixed only with water, although it is significantly better with milk,  plain yogurt, or almond milk. 

I enjoyed this product so much, that I have started to use it as a daily meal replacement for the long commute from my workplace to the dojo.  By following the recipe below, you will get a healthy preworkout shake that will keep you satisfied for hours after consumption, and best of all, it tastes like  penutbutter cup icecream.  To try it simply throw the following into a blender:

This is a question I was asking about a month ago in my preparation for the Abu Dhabi World Pro Trials in Montreal. The short answer for me is YES, I do need to supplements to compete at the next level. I need to recover faster, feel stronger and keep my body firing on all cylinders. Gaspari Nutrition gets BJJ. In this interview we chat with Dan Pierce. Dan is in charge of product development for Gaspari Nutrition and he also does bjj. Dan explained to me that when formulating new products he always has bjj in the back of his mind. What this means for you and I is a guy who speaks our language on the mat is building products that work for us. The problem is most of us are uneducated when it comes to supplements. This is the beginning of a new section (yet to be named) we will be running in BJJW. It will include both articles and videos on nutrition and strength and conditioning. Lets first chat with Dan and get you all up to speed on a few things...

I’d like to discuss breathing and its importance to improving your game. Although you hear it mentioned from time to time on the mat, you may not fully understand the implications or benefits that are available to those who learn how to breathe correctly. Let me try and clear up some of the complexity and mystery that surrounds breathing.

There aren’t a whole lot of foods that taste as good as a fresh pineapple. Succulent and juicy, with a complex flavor that alternates between sweet and tart this is a treat that’s as good for you as it tastes. Pineapple has loads of Vitamin C, as well as Thiamin, Manganese, and B6. It has a low glycemic load for something that tastes so sweet, and is mildly anti-inflammatory which can help with sore joints.

The Journal of Sports Science and Medicine published a new study that shows fish oil supplementation can reduce the inflammation and muscle soreness associated with intense exercise.

Guest Contributor Nicolas Gregoriades is the founder of the Jiu-Jitsu Brotherhood. He was the first person to be awarded the black belt by the legendary Roger Gracie. He is widely regarded as one of the outstanding jiu-jitsu instructors contributing to the art today. By combining deep conceptual and technical knowledge with a methodical, patient teaching style, Nic ensures all his students learn quickly and enjoyably. Nic has been experimenting with supplementation for many years and shares some of his experience in this article.

The most important thing you can do as a good training partner is keep yourself clean. Come to class clean, and shower as soon as you can afterwards. Wash your gi and rashguard after every session. Trim your fingernails and toenails. Make sure you wash your hair. And if you have, or even suspect you have, a skin condition like ringworm or staph stay off the mats until it’s completely healed!

I have been training in the martial arts since 1988.  Over the years, I have studied: Kenpo, Karate, Japanese Jiu Jitsu, Aikido, Kendo, and Iaido: just to name a few.  During my Christmas break in 2009, I decided to try a new school that teaches BJJ.  I was instantly hooked and realized that fighting on the ground was much different than anything else that I have tried.

Wild Maine blueberries were used by Native Americans for centuries as both food and medicine. Today Maine has over 60,000 acres of wild blueberries that are commercially harvested.

As much as I love the idea of a nice slow breakfast enjoyed while reading the morning paper, I don't actually know anyone who lives like that. We all dash out the door late for something and barely have time to eat, let alone cook up a nice healthy meal first thing.