When it comes to choosing the right supplements to fuel your workout, you need to think about exactly what you are trying to achieve. With diet being a large part of the battle, even the slightest mistake can make all the difference in how your physique develops.
Protein powders are perhaps the most popular and important workout supplements, as they fuel your muscles, help them recover and grow, and supplement the food you eat in your diet. However, with countless protein powders available, it can be hard to know which one is the best for you.
One of the lesser-known choices that are starting to grow in popularity is Fortagen Protein. A supplement that combines the effects of a protein shake and amino acid powder, it is designed to help you hit your daily protein requirements as cleanly as possible.
The question is, can it really deliver on these incredibly lofty claims? Well, that is exactly what we plan to determine in the following, in-depth Fortagen Protein review.
About The Company Behind Fortagen Protein
Fortagen Protein is produced by Jaquish Biomedical, a company run by Dr. John Jaquish, the inventor of bioDensity. He has a Ph.D. in biomechanics, has been nicknamed “the Tony Stark of the Fitness Industry” due to his innovations, and is a spokesperson at scientific conferences around the world.
Jaquish Biomedical focuses on researching human physiology and then developing new supplements, medicine, and rehabilitation devices based on their findings.
The company was founded in 2005 when it took existing research about bones and how nutrients are absorbed by the body to produce its initial product. The system was unique as it offered the benefits of high-impact training while removing the risk of injury.
About The Product: Fortagen Protein
Fortagen Protein is a new protein powder that is designed to be easier to utilise by the human body than most other protein sources currently on the market. They claim it is about five times more efficient and you can take 10 grams of this instead of 50 grams of a rival protein supplement.
At present, there are also two slightly different forms of the Fortagen Protein supplement available; Fortagen Protein and Fortagen HP.
Fortagen Protein
The original Fortagen Protein is a vegan protein supplement that is both gluten-free and sugar-free and also contains zero carbs. It is manufactured in a US-based, FDA-registered lab to guarantee purity and quality and is produced from a by-product of natural fermentation
Its unique and precisely balanced essential amino acid formula uses perfect proportions and is up to 5 times more efficient than standard protein sources. This means its 10 grams of ratio optimised amino acids in every 13-gram scoop equates to 50 grams of a traditional protein in every serving.
It also has just 4 calories a serving, which makes it an ideal protein powder for those who aim to build muscle or cut up while doing intermittent fasting or following an extremely low-calorie diet. It’s zero grams of carbs per serving also makes it suitable for those who are following a keto diet as well.
Sold in 45 serving tubs, each purchase is made to last a fair while, while a choice of flavours that has chocolate raspberry, fruit punch, mango, and pina colada provides options for people of all tastes.
Fortagen HP
Fortagen HP combines the standard Fortagen essential amino acid supplement with glucose, which allows it to replenish muscle glycogen stores, enhance cellular hydration, and promote muscle hyperplasia all at the same time.
Fortagen HP again provides the equivalent of 50g of protein from traditional sources as well. This makes it a better choice for people looking to build mass, such as bodybuilders, while being less ideal for those with very restrictive dietary needs.
Fortagen Protein Ingredients
Fortagen Protein is made from a formula of 6 ingredients, which includes an amino acid blend, malic acid, citric acid, stevia extract, sunflower lecithin, and natural flavours.
Amino Acids
Fortagen relies on its amino acid content to achieve results and includes 8 of the 9 essential amino acids. This includes l-leucine, l-valine, l-isoleucine, l-lysine HCL, l-phenylalanine, l-threonine, l-methionine, and l-tryptophan, and makes it fabulous for muscle building.
While the missing essential amino acid, l-histidine, is usually considered to be the least important of the group, it may still be worth getting a small dose from another supplement to keep your levels up though.
Malic Acid
Malic acid improves ATP production, making it an ideal inclusion for enhancing power in short, explosive movements, such as those used in weightlifting.
Citric Acid
Citric acid is found in citrus fruits and can be used to increase the water solubility of the other ingredients in a supplement.
Stevia Extract
Stevia extract is a natural sweetener that is used as an alternative to sugar as it does not contain any calories or spike your blood glucose levels. It is also an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, and it can boost your brain, kidney, liver, and pancreas functions.
Sunflower Lecithin
Sunflower lecithin is a fatty substance extracted from sunflower seeds that are often used to improve the stability and texture of foods and supplements.
It can also offer a range of health benefits of its own, such as reducing cholesterol levels, preventing fatigue, boosting heart and brain functions and health, raising levels, and enhancing skin health.
Natural Flavors
Natural flavours are extracted from fruits, plants, and vegetables to give Fortagen Protein a sweet and pleasant taste, while still being suitable for use by people who try to avoid consuming anything artificial.
Potential Risks & Side Effects Of Fortagen Protein
There have been no reports of anyone experiencing any side effects or adverse reactions when using Fortagen Protein. That said, it is possible for some of the ingredients it contains to cause issues of their own in rare instances.
Of the amino acids, l-leucine has been shown to promote cancer growth in some studies, while there are suggestions that l-tryptophan can cause eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome (EMS).
Citric and malic acids can cause issues like confusion, fatigue, light-headedness, numbness or tingling in the extremities, chest and muscle pain, and an elevated heart rate. Stevia extract can then be toxic if you consume too much.
Our Experience With Fortagen Protein: Who Is It Best For?
Fortagen Protein is a great choice for pretty much anyone looking to build muscle, tone up, or boost their physical performance who struggle to meet their daily protein goals from real food, whether that be because they struggle to find time to prepare meals or don’t like eating that much at once.
It also comes in a range of great-tasting flavours, making it a great choice for people of all different tastes. The zero-carb and calorie content makes it perfect for people on extremely low-calorie or keto diets or doing intermittent fasting.
However, people looking to build extreme mass may find the lack of calories or carbs in the original Fortagen Protein won’t fill them up or help them bulk up as fast, so Fortagen HP is a better choice.
Fortagen Protein Customer Reviews
When looking at customer reviews of both Fortagen Protein and Fortagen HP, we found plenty of positive reviews, as well as a few negative ones.
Positive Customer Reviews
Looking first at the common themes of the positive Fortagen Protein reviews, people frequently stated that Fortagen HP has just enough glucose to help fuel you during a workout and plenty of protein to allow the body to recover effectively afterward.
Some users mentioned that their physique and physical performance actually started to improve again as they aged, rather than deteriorating, while low calorie and keto dieters loved the fact that it allowed them to easily hit their daily protein needs.
Perhaps the most notable positive review of Fortagen Protein though comes from legendary NFL quarterback Tom Brady, who said it helped him cut 10 lbs in just two weeks. The general consensus is also that both shakes taste great, regardless of which of the variety of flavours they selected.
Negative Customer Reviews
When looking at the negative reviews, most still admitted that Fortagen Protein was effective, there were just other issues they had with the product.
In contrast to what we saw in the positive customer reviews, there were a lot of people who said they couldn’t stand what they described as an “unpalatable, industrial chemical taste that was impossible to disguise and also left a nasty aftertaste in their mouth that was difficult to get rid of”.
This makes it seem that whether or not you like the taste and flavour of Fortagen Protein will come entirely down to your own personal preference. Besides the flavour, the only other complaints that people had about both versions were that they don’t come with any form of satisfaction guarantee.
Pros & Cons Of Fortagen Protein
Before we move on, let’s quickly go over all of the pros and cons of Fortagen Protein, to ensure both the highs and lows of the product are fresh in your mind when it comes to making a decision.
Pros
- Dissolves quickly and extremely easy to mix
- Contains good doses of 8 of the 9 essential amino acids
- No dairy or artificial sweeteners, colours, or flavors are used in either product
- Zero calories, carbs, or sugar, so is ideal for cutting, keto, or intermittent fasting
- Fortagen HP is a great protein supplement to rapidly replenish your muscle glycogen stores
- It can also enhance cellular hydration
- Fortagen helps to facilitate faster muscle building, healing, and recovery from injury
Cons
- A little pricey when compared to other protein powders on the market
- A lot of the claims are quite bold but they provide no research to back many of them up
- Reviews show some people find the taste “disgusting” “chemically” and “bitter”
- Can disrupt your sleep wake cycle if you take it too close to bed time
- Missing one of the 9 essential amino acids, l-histidine
- Some of the ingredients can cause side effects
Best Alternatives To Fortagen Protein
Fortagen Protein is an effective product but it won’t be right for everyone, for one reason or another. That is why we will now look at some of the best alternatives to Fortagen Protein on the market, to ensure that everyone can find the perfect protein supplement to help them achieve their goals.
XTEND Original Powder Mango Madness – Sugar Free
XTEND Original Powder Mango Madness – Sugar Free is a sugar free BCAA (branched chain amino acid) supplement that contains zero sugar, zero calories, and zero carbs in every delicious serving. Made as a post workout drink mix, it is designed to help support both muscle recovery and growth.
It will comfortably enable you to consume the recommended minimum dose of 14 grams of BCAAs each day, which should be taken before, during, and after your workout. It then also has added electrolytes to help you to stay hydrated and support your recovery.
XTEND Original BCAA Powder | Sugar Free Post Workout Muscle Recovery Drink
- The World's Number 1 BCAA Brand has been perfecting recovery since 2004 with 7 grams of BCAAs in the nature-designed and research-proven 2:1:1 ratio.
- XTEND post-workout drink mix helps support muscle recovery and growth.
- Zero sugar, zero calories, and zero carbs in every delicious serving.
To use it you simply mix each level scoop into 10 to 14 fluid ounces of water and shake well, so it is quick and convenient to use, no matter where you are. This convenience is matched by the value, which comes from it being roughly half the price of Fortagen Protein.
It is also NSF Contents Tested & Certified and Informed-Choice Certified. This third party testing symbolises the strict standards that are in place during each stage of the product’s development. It also guarantees it is safe to use for athletes and free from banned substances that are prohibited.
Beyond the original Mango Madness flavour, it is also available in Rainbow Sherbet, Blue Raspberry Ice, Glacial Grape, Freedom Ice, Watermelon Explosion, Italian Blood Orange, Lemon Lime Squeeze, Knockout Fruit Punch, and more, to ensure everyone can find a choice to match their personal taste.
Sierra Fit Instantized BCAA Powder
Sierra Fit Instantized BCAA Powder is a supplement designed to help you pack on lean muscle and push through the tough reps at the end of a set or workout. It is a great option for people who want to take an amino acid supplement but don’t want to buy one as expensive as Fortagen Protein.
It contains not only the BCAAs l-leucine, l-isoleucine and l-valine, but also electrolytes, to allow you to repair muscle damage and rehydrate the fibres at the same time. It also contains sunflower Lecithin, but no eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soy, sesame, or gluten.
Sierra Fit Instantized BCAA Powder | Unflavored, 16 oz (454 g)
- Sierra Fit offers a wide range of quality dietary supplements targeting the goals of fitness enthusiasts and serious athletes for muscle growth, endurance, and recovery.
- Zero calorie mixed berry, lemonade, and orange, as well as other low calorie delicious flavors.
A serving is again one scoop, but this time that weighs 5 grams and you mix it into 8 to 10 fluid ounces of water or a drink of your choice, making it a better option for people who don’t like to drink quite so much liquid in a single sitting.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) About Fortagen Protein
Before we conclude our in-depth Fortagen Protein review, I want to answer some of the most frequently asked questions people have about Fortagen Protein. This will ensure that everyone knows all they need to in order to decide if it is the right protein powder for them or not.
How Much Protein Is Contained In Each Serving?
The standard Fortagen Protein and Fortagen HP both contain 10 grams of essential amino acids in each serving that work out to the equivalent to 50g of protein from traditional sources.
Is Fortagen Protein Suitable For Vegetarians Or Vegans?
Yes, both Fortagen Protein and Fortagen HP are completely vegan friendly, as they contain only ingredients that are of plant based origin. It is a perfect alternative for people who follow a plant based lifestyle and don’t want to use a traditional type of vegan protein powder.
What Is The Recommended Serving Size For Fortagen Protein?
The recommended serving size of both Fortagen Protein and Fortagen HP is 1 scoop, which should be mixed into 16 ounces of water and blended thoroughly. The directions suggest you should consume it once daily, preferably either 30 mins before bedtime or 30 minutes after or before a workout.
Where Can I Buy Fortagen Protein
Fortagen Protein can be purchased from a variety of places, but the best place to buy it in the United States is direct from the Jaquish Biomedical website. European customers can buy it from the X3 Bar EU website, while it can be bought from the BNC Store in Australia.
Final Thoughts On Fortagen Protein
Fortagen Protein is a unique dietary supplement that lies somewhere between a vegan protein shake and a traditional amino acid powder. It can fuel your muscles and help them to recover, before, during, and after your workouts, while being carb, sugar, calorie, gluten and artificial additive free.
Admittedly, there are some disputes about the taste, while the science that goes into designing and producing it means it is quite pricey. However, if you want an effective protein supplement that does not interfere with a strict diet and you aren’t worried about the cost, Fortagen is a good way to go.
Steve is a retired professional wrestler with over 10 years of experience in the personal fitness industry. He is a certified personal trainer working with a wide variety of athletes as well as a fitness writer.