Product Overview
7g BCAAs PER SERVING
ZERO SUGAR
DEFEND AGAINST MUSCLE BREAKDOWN*
Defend is an anabolic and anti-catabolic supplement, containing powerful levels of 2:1:1 BCAAs, other essential amino acids, peptides, hydrating nutrients and electrolytes.*
KEY FACTS:
- • Defend Against Muscle Breakdown*
- • hydration profile
- • awesome taste!
DEFEND YOUR MUSCLE
The most important structural units of muscle tissue are amino acids - and from the standpoint of driving muscle growth, Leucine is the most important of all and is one of the 3 BCAAs, which are the only amino acids metabolized within muscle.*
With 7 grams of BCAAs and 3.5 grams of L-leucine and PepForm Leucine peptides, Defend delivers research-backed dosages of Leucine suggested in scientific studies to increase muscular power and endurance to amplify the strength response to weight training.* Don’t be fooled by low-dosed BCAA formulas that don’t contain higher concentrations of Leucine. Research suggests that the full 3.5 gram dosage of Leucine - as found in Defend - has a significantly more powerful effect on muscle-building activity versus less than 2 grams.*
Additionally, Defend contains patent-pending, PepForm, high-yield leucine peptides, specifically manufactured to support solubility and absorption.* These are "peptide bound", so they are bonded together, giving them unique absorption and bioavailability characteristics.
Leucine really is the key to triggering muscle protein synthesis within the body. This PepForm technology makes it possible to deliver leucine in a more soluble, highly absorbable form.*
Defend against dehydration
In addition to its substantial dosages of crucial amino acids, Defend also supports an essential aspect for any performance athlete - optimum hydration! It has been shown that as little as 2% dehydration begins to decrease performance in exercising humans and more severe dehydration can have more substantial effects, including on health, especially in hot conditions.
Knowing the importance of maintaining body water levels in the optimum range, the Grenade R&D team combined coconut water powder along with added electrolytes into the Defend formula. This is vital because during exercise, when the body sweats, it loses several minerals in addition to water - primarily sodium and potassium but also magnesium. These minerals (aka "electrolytes") are required by the body to maintain proper water balance throughout the body. So if you just replenish with water, the body won’t be getting all it needs to optimally rehydrate and thus perform.
Coconut water is high in potassium and contains moderate dosages of sodium and is considered the ideal hydrating beverage in some cultures.
Defend is formulated with added potassium and sodium to suit the needs of hard-training athletes and it contains an additional 150mg of Magnesium Citrate - a superior form of magnesium versus the lesser bioavailable Magnesium Oxide. Magnesium is not only lost in sweat but is often deficient in athletes and has been shown to benefit exercise performance.
COMPARISON CHART:
No leading competitor product contains more Leucine or BCAAs than Defend, the only one that does contains the same amount, but doesn’t include Leucine peptides or coconut water...
| Ingredients | Defend | Brand 1 | Brand 2 | Brand 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BCAAs | 7g | < 5g* | 3g | 7g |
| LEUCINE | 3.5g | < 3g* | 1.5g | 3g |
| LEUCINE PREP | YES | YES BUT* | NO | NO |
| COCNUT WATER | YES | NO | YES | NO |
| GLUTAMINE | YES | ZERO | ZERO | YES |
| GLUTAMINE PEPTIDES | YES | NO | NO | NO |
*Brand 1 uses a strange mixture of peptide bonded amino acids with an undisclosed amount of leucine and BCAAs but which also contains other amino acids, including non-essential amino acids (which do not increase protein synthesis beyond that of giving essential amino acids).
DEFEND UNDER
THE MICROSCOPE
DEFEND AMINO PROFILE (8g)
Micronized L-Leucine: 3400mg
L-leucine is the most important amino acid for increasing protein synthesis, it increases upper body power and muscular endurance and increases the strength response to weight training. Higher L-leucine ratios (for instance 2:1:1 BCAA ratio) yield a better muscle-building response post exercise, which is likely to contribute to superior recovery.* L-leucine enhances performance in repeated, intense bouts of exercise.
PepForm Leucine Peptides: 100mg
PepForm, high-yield leucine peptides, is a patent-pending technology designed to improve solubility and absorption. Free-form (single) amino acids like L-Leucine are not soluble and stable in liquid. PepForm amino acids are "peptide bound", meaning they are bonded together, allowing for significantly increased bioavailability and superior efficiency and absorption.*
Micronized L-Isoleucine: 1750mg
L-Isoleucine is one of the three branched chain amino acids and is one of the eight essential amino acids which must be provided in the diet for growth, maintenance and recovery of muscle tissue. As a BCAA, isoleucine is metabolized in the muscle and is used as fuel during exercise and therefore, providing additional isoleucine is a logical strategy to avoid excess muscle breakdown.*
Micronized L-Valine: 1750mg
L-Valine is one of the three branched chain amino acids and is one of the eight essential amino acids which must be provided in the diet for growth, maintenance and recovery of muscle tissue. As a BCAA, valine is metabolized in the muscle and is used as fuel during exercise and therefore, providing additional valine is a logical strategy to avoid excess muscle breakdown.*
Micronized L-Glutamine: 900mg
Glutamine may help support growth hormone levels.*
PepForm L-Glutamine Peptides: 100mg
PepForm, glutamine peptides, is a patent-pending technology designed to improve solubility and absorption. Free-form (single) amino acids like L-Glutamine are not soluble and stable in liquid. PepForm amino acids are "peptide bound", meaning they are bonded together, allowing for significantly increased bioavailability and superior efficiency and absorption.*
DEFEND HYDRATION PROFILE
(850mg)
Dehydration of just 2% begins to reduce exercise performance!
Freeze Dried Coconut Water Powder: 500mg
Coconut water powder is high in potassium and contains sodium, chloride, and carbohydrate. In many cultures, coconut water is considered the ideal hydrating beverage.
ELECTROYTLE BLEND (Sodium Citrate 2H2O, Magnesium Citrate, Monopotassium Phosphate): 350mg
Sweating causes loss of sodium, potassium, magnesium & calcium. Besides water, sweat is composed of electrolytes - mainly sodium chloride but also a significant amount of potassium, with lesser amounts of calcium and magnesium.
Niacin (as Niacinamide): 5mg
Niacin may help support blood flow.
Magnesium (as Magnesium Citrate): 150mg
Magnesium consumed in the diet or via supplementation has been suggested to increase performance in humans.* Evidence suggests that citrate and other organic forms of magnesium are better absorbed than cheaper, inorganic forms.
Ratings & Reviews
BCAA defend not only tastes divine (i have to admit that I ended up using it throughout the day just as a way to drink more water....instead of drinking sodas). It also gives you a nice pick me up in the gym and by far my favourite intra training supplement .... ever. The only con would be the not so tasty price, but then again you do pay for quality
they taste great accept for the blue candy. my cardio session have shown more endurance and i have been making cleaner gains while taking this wonderful stuff.
Great Taste; i prefer to drink this throughout the day to keep energy levels up
I have finished two full Grenade Green Apple BCAA containers in the last two months. I should have stuck with Green Apple. Personally, I feel like BCAA supplements are something that I look forward to drinking because of the benefits, but also the flavor. With that said, the Blue Candy flavor just doesn't cut it. I expected some kind of smooth blue raspberry or blue jolly rancher type of flavor, but I was disappointed with this flavor. I should have known not to try the flavor that has yet to be rated, but at least you can say you heard it here first... stick with the Green Apple or the Strawberry Mango, there's a reason they are rated over 9/10. P.s. The Green Apple has worked well for me recovery wise, so I expect the blue candy to still do the job. Grenade is a very helpful company, I hate to bash them in any way... I just think they're blue needs work. Bodybuilding & Grenade two very helpful companies. I always look forward to giving them my business. Thanks!
I only had a small sample of this, the green apple tastes awesome. Can't say whether or not it's an effective BCAA to be honest though.
This is my first time trying this product and I have to say that the Green Apple Flavor is DEAD ON! It is easy to mix and taste GREAT. I have tried a few of the other compeitors and this one seems to be on target. Way to go GRENADE. Looking forward to trying other prodcuts by this company.
Great flavor, mixes well and gives this old man its recovery to its old aching muscles. This is one of my favorite BCAA formulars. I have tried many.
Fantastic-tasting BCAAs. Mixes easily. I like to drink it during my workout. Great energy and keeps me hydrated throughout.
I have tried a lot of BCAAs in my time, and this is by far the tastiest one. With a solid nutritional profile and a flavor that keeps me coming back for more, Grenade Defend BCAA is my new favorite. Oh, and the funnel is comes with is definitely a nice touch.
Absolutely loved this product. The flavors are great, surprisingly enough the Green apple wasn't bitter like most Green Apple flavors are. Mixed very good with out any chalky residue within it. Overall very happy with the product.
Mixes easily, better than most. Green apple tastes like jolly rancher but not too sweet. Profile is on par with most other bcaa products. Works as well as other bcaa's i have taken. Price brings it down for me, there are alot of products in this category for less than $1 serving
I think this is a very good BCAA product. I really didn't care for the green apple flavor that much.
Not much else to say other than there's a solid dose of BCAA's (a category most BCAA's are sadly lacking in) and the flavors are on point. Strawberry Mango was quite enjoyable and something I would drink just to drink. The hydration blend sets it all off to make a pretty well-rounded BCAA product.
I got samples of both the Strawberry Mango and Green Apple. Both mixed great and zero flakes on bottom or top. Taste is very good and not too strong. Its something you can sip on all day and not get a nasty aftertaste in you mouth. There is 7 g of BCAA. The coconut water powder, and electrolytes keep you nicely hydrated thought out the workout. This is a solid BCAA and has become one of my favorites.
What's in Grenade Defend BCAA
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Directions For Defend BCAA:
Mix 1 serving of Defend® (2 heaping scoops) into 8-16oz of ice cold water during (intra-workout), or after high intensity exercise.
Alternatively, Defend® can be added to your water bottle using the funnel provided and consumed throughout the day.
Number of scoops and/or water levels can be adjusted to boost flavor and/or amino acid profile.
Warnings: Consult your physician prior to using this product if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or have a medical condition. This product is not to be used by those under the age of 18. Immediately discontinue use and contact your healthcare professional if you experience any adverse reactions to this product. DO NOT exceed 3 servings (6 level Scoops) per day. Keep out of reach of children. DO NOT use if safety seal is broken or has been tampered with. Store in a cool dry place. Funnel and scoop included. Contains silica gel sachet. DO NOT consume. NOTE FOR TESTED ATHLETES: Please consult your specific federation before use.
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Grenade Defend BCAA