CytoSport Muscle Milk Review

There are many whey protein powder supplements on the market, and most are quite "similar" - and users buy them depending on their own preferences of taste, price, brand name, etc... At the same time, there are different types of protein powders aimed for different needs and purposes. For example, pure whey protein for post workout, and protein blends for other times during the day, or a bed time protein shake. Then there are different quality protein powders mainly whey concentrate, whey isolate, or a mix of both. Whey concentrate powders are quit a bit cheaper, typically cost around $30 for a 5lb tub online, where an isolate can cost around $30 or more for just a 2lb tub - big difference.

Cytosport Muscle Milk fall in the category of protein blends, most fit for use throughout the day, and also as a bed time protein. Although on the tub, it suggests you can (should) use Muscle Milk post workout, I would not necessarily recommend this. Mainly because Muscle Milk is a protein blend of whey and casein proteins - in what Cytosport calls their EVOPRO formula - "evolution based protein".

Muscle Milk - Evopro - What is it?

Muscle Milk includes alpha and beta micellar caseins, Alpha-Lactalbumin, Purified Bovine Colostrum Extract (rich in Secrotory IgA and IGF-1), lactoferrin, glutamine peptides and more. So just what are some of these ingredients?

Alpha-lactalbumin has a protein efficiency ratio of 4.0 compared to 3.6 for whey and 2.9 for casein protein. Alpha lactalbumin also has higher biological value than both whey and casein proteins. It contains large amounts of essential and conditionally essential amino acids.

Bovine colostrum - Colostrum is produced by female mammals during first 24 to 48 hours after birth, and it contains immune factors along with antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, amino acids, and other growth factors. Bovine colostrum is identical to that found in human colostrum but at higher levels. In short bovine colostrum plays an important role in immunity to diseases among other important functions.

There are various claims that bovine colostrum boosts IGF-1, however, after doing some research on this at pubmed, it does not appears so. While I found that many studies found bovine colostrum to provide significant benefits for athletes, but it did not boost IGF-1 like what many claim. Below are just a few of the many studies available.

Study 1, Study 2, Study 3, Study 4

If you're lazy to read (and try to understand these studies), the gist of it, is that bovine colostrum provides many benefits for athletes, but non of the studies I viewed could confirm that it boosted IGF-1.

Anyways, let's chat a bit on the protein blend of Muscle Milk, which is made up of whey and casein (Micellar Alpha and Beta Caseins and Caseinates, Whey Concentrates, Whey Isolates, Whey Peptides). If you've read my Met-rx meal replacement review, you may find some similarities in this protein blend. (where Met-rx calls their blend the Metamyosyn blend).

The main reason why the whey & casein blend is so popular (effective) as a night time protein is because of their different rates of digestion and absorption.

This is where casein protein comes in. Casein proteins have slower rate of digestion and absorption, this then gives it more time to fuel protein synthesis, and less into energy production. So in a nut shell, whey protein provides aminos almost immediately, and once the whey is all "used" up, the casein kicks in and continues to provide your system with amino acids - like a time release formula.

Muscle Milk Protein Nutrition Facts:
Serving Size (scoop) 2
Servings Per 15
Calories 348
Fat Calories 162
Total Fat (g) 18
Sat. Fat (g) 8
Cholesterol (mg) 3
Sodium (mg) 200
Potassium (mg) 595
Total Carbs (g) 12
Dietary Fiber (g) 2
Sugars (g) 6
Proteins (g) 32

Muscle Milk Ingredient Details:
EVOPRO™ Our custom evolution-based protein, peptide and amino acid matrix designed to closely reflect the nitrogen components and ratios found in human mother's milk (Micellar Alpha and Beta Caseins and Caseinates, Whey Concentrates rich in Alpha-Lactalbumin, Whey Isolates, Whey Peptides, Purified Bovine Colostrum Extract rich in Secrotory IgA and IGF-1, Glutamine Peptides, L-Taurine, Lactoferrin). See label for more ingredients.

Cytosport Muscle Milk Taste

Muscle Milk comes in a variety of flavors: chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, mocha joe, root beer, and banana cream. I've tried banana cream and strawberry.

First of all, Muscle milk is pleasant to smell. ;-) The banana cream smells just like fresh bananas, and the taste is fantastic, even with just water. But I would recommend using milk, or if you're lactose intolerant like me, use soy milk. I give it a 9.9/10 on taste.

The strawberry flavor was very good as well. I'm usually not big on strawberry flavors, but I got a single packet sample, and I have to say that this was probably the best strawberry flavor I've tasted compared to any others. Overall, Muscle Milk is just a fantastic tasting protein supplement.

Muscle Milk costs $40 retail for a 2.48lb tub, but you can find muscle milk at a discount at our partner site. Just follow the link below:

>> Click here for Cytosport Muscle Milk

Back to Bodybuilding Supplements Reviews Home Page

If you found this article informative and helpful please forward it to someone you know who can benefit from this information.

Pete Sisco is the developer of Power Factor Training and Static Contraction Training - over 200,000 people worldwide have trained using Pete's methods.

In just 10 weeks of Static Contraction training, trainees (hardcore bodybuilders who had been lifting "heavy" for a long time and averaged 38years old) achieved the following average gains:

• 51.3% increase static strength
• 27.6% increase in one-rep max in full range of motion! (without doing full range lifts for 10 weeks!)