NeoCell Collagen Sport

Good afternoon everyone!  Today we’re talking protein powder!

Back in the fall the wonderful people at NeoCell sent me a container of their Collagen Sport Ultimate Recovery Complex to try.

Collagen Sport offers more than your standard protein powder, here is a breakdown directly from their website:

The 4 in 1 Breakdown:

1 – Refuel

Whey Protein Isolate is THE preferred and superior form of protein for athletes. It’s rich in essential and branched chain amino acids (BCAAs), necessary especially after strenuous workouts. BCAAs also play a role in the body’s levels of glutathione, an important antioxidant in the immune system. NeoCell’s whey protein isolate is developed using selective ion-exchange technology, which selects the primary functional and nutritional proteins alpha- and beta- lactoglobulins and other protein fractions for a highly effective and bio-active protein.

2 – Recover

Athletes all too often do not supplement their connective tissues in tendons and ligaments until deterioration sets in, resulting in the typical aches and pains of exercise. Super Collagen® 1&3 undergoes an absorption-enhancing process that uses enzyme hydrolyzation. This process yields low molecular weight collagen peptides for maximum bioavailability. Super Collagen® 1&3 is particularly rich in the amino acids glycine, proline, hydroxyproline and hydroxylysine, and supports recovery, strength, and flexibility of muscles, ligaments, and tendons.

3 – Regenerate

L-Glutamine & Exogenous Amino Acids – Strenuous activity burns through your body’s glutamine supplies, which can push the body to rip glutamine from your muscles if it isn’t coming from your diet. L-glutamine is the most abundant free-form amino acid in skeletal muscle and is crucial in the muscle recovery process. The special chemical structure of L-glutamine makes it the primary amino acid that drives nitrogen into muscle cells for muscle synthesis. Exogenous amino acids overall are important for increase of net muscle protein synthesis.

4 – Replenish

Each serving of Collagen Sport™ provides a good source of daily vitamins and minerals as well as the antioxidant power of Pomegranate extract. Increased activity results in higher oxidation in the body, requiring active individuals to counteract with high quality antioxidants. NeoCell’s pomegranate extract is standardized to 70% ellagic acid, an extraordinary antioxidant that fights cell-damaging free radicals generated during exercise.

As you know I have Fibromyalgia, and there has been some research that indicates that increased collagen can help reduce Fibromyalgia symptoms.  This is the reason I have taken my time posting this review.  I wanted to give the product enough time in my system for me to see if I found it to make any difference in my own symptoms.

The verdict?

I think it has.  The problem is, I can’t tell for certain if it’s the collagen specifically that is helping, or a combination of everything in the protein powder combined.  Regardless of the reason, I can certainly say that I find that incorporating the Collagen Sport into my diet on a regular basis has led to a reduction in muscle and joint pain.  I know that sometimes I struggle to get enough protein in my diet so it is possible that part of the change I have felt is due to the increase in protein, but sometimes when something works you simply shouldn’t question the reason behind it.  Whether it is the collagen, the protein, or something else entirely – it is working for me, and that is all that matters.

Back to the product itself, I was also really eager to try it as it is also free of synthetic ingredents and artifical flavours.  I’ve written before about my dislike of protein powders in smoothies, and a lot of that dislike comes from the fake taste of the powders themselves.  In the past I have always purchased vanilla flavoured powders so that I could easily mix them in with my smoothies, but the vanillas have always left me sad.  They simply taste way too artificial for me.  So, when NeoCell contacted me I decided to give the chocolate a try instead, and I’m glad I did.  While I’m still not a fan of protein powder in my smoothies (even though I do drink them from time to time) I much prefer this over any other protein powder I’ve tried in the past, and as an added bonus I’ve discovered that with the Belgian Chocolate flavour I can mix it in with my coffee!

I am not a big coffee drinker, in fact I normally make 1/2 hot chocolate / 1/2 coffee so mixing chocolate protein powder in instead is the same sort of idea – but with more health benefits and less sugar!

I haven’t yet tried making chocolate protein pancakes, but as long as I up the cocoa factor with some real cocoa I can’t imagine them being anything but delightful.  And really, anytime you can eat chocolate pancakes and tell someone you are eating your protein is a good time to me. 😉

Overall I have to say I am very glad NeoCell reached out to me.  Finding anything that helps my Fibromyalgia is always a huge win so I am thrilled that I was given this opportunity to find something that works.

Disclaimer: I received this product free of charge from NeoCell in exchange for a review.  As always all of my thoughts, opinions and experiences are 100% my own.

Also, as anyone with Fibromyalgia knows, what works for one person won’t necessarily work for everyone.  While I find this product helpful, there is no way to know if others with Fibromyalgia will have the same results.  I would encourage that if you think this is something that might assist you, to try it out.