When it comes to choosing a sports nutritional supplement, the choices are almost endless and can also be quite confusing. It’s important before taking any supplement to know the ingredients and their intended uses. It’s also wise to check with a doctor before embarking on any diet or exercise program.
Before shopping online or heading to the neighborhood nutritional store, consumers should know exactly what results they are wanting to achieve. Weight-loss? Bulking up or cutting mass? A sports nutritional supplement is quite different from vitamin and food supplements. If there is still uncertainty about what the goals and objectives are, any neighborhood gym or personal trainer will be happy to explain how these supplements are best utilized.
We are going to take a look at one of these supplements that is designed specifically for bodybuilders. Animal Cuts is just one of many products that Universal Nutrition offers to those serious about stripping away fat and excess water while retaining lean muscle mass.
How Does Animal Cuts Work?
According to Universal Nutrition’s website, Animal Cuts is the complete vitamin stack for dieting bodybuilders. A stack is a combination of supplements taken to enhance performance. Most diet supplements contain a combination of thermogenics which will raise the metabolism and encourage weight loss.
The website also states that Animal Cuts contains not only the usual thermogenics, but also has ingredients that oxidize fat and get rid of unwanted water weight under the skin that can make a bodybuilder look soft. They claim that this supplement will help bodybuilders get lean, striated muscles for an extraordinary physique.
The recommended dosage is two packs per day for three weeks. Universal Nutrition states that what sets Animal Cuts apart from other nutritional supplements are the eight combinations of ingredients that each dose contains. They are:
- Thermogenic Complex
- Appetite Suppression Complex
- Metabolic Complex
- Cortisol Inhibiting Complex
- Thyroid Complex
- Nootropic Complex
- Diuretic Complex
- Bioavailability Complex
What Are The Animal Cuts Ingredients
There are 69 listed ingredients in the Animal Cuts recommended dosage, and as with any supplement, it’s important to know exactly what you are ingesting. Caffeine Anhydrous, Kola Nut and Guarana are listed as the first three ingredients. All of them contain caffeine in powdered form and are used to increase energy and alertness.
Inside each Animal Cuts pack is an assortment of tea extracts, including, Oolong, Green Tea and White Tea. Other ingredients that stand out are: Ashwaganda root extract, Eleuthero, Cha-de-bugre and Hydrangea Root. There are too many to list them all, but it’s obvious that with that many ingredients, research is required.
Though the ingredients in each Animal Cuts supplement pack is listed, the exact amount in each ingredient is mysteriously absent. That could present a problem because many of the ingredients need a minimum level in order to be effective. For example, Coleus Forskohlii, listed as an ingredient in this sports supplement, should be at least 50 milligrams per dose, in order to have any benefits.
The People Behind Animal Cuts
Universal Nutrition has been manufacturing and promoting sports nutritional supplements since 1977. They are based out of Linden, New Jersey and are a family owned and operated company. They introduced their first “Animal” product in 1983 and now have more than forty products featured on their web-site.
Their top sellers appear to be Animal Cuts, Animal Pak, Animal Whey, Animal Flex and Animal Stak. Each supplement comes in either a powder or pill form and the dosing it quite different for each formula.
This company also states that the brand, Animal, is more than just a brand name for their supplements, it’s also about a state of mind. They believe that it’s about the attitude, the spirit, and the dedication it takes to be a top performing bodybuilder. They believe that Animal is about a way of life; a life of lifting iron and being the best you can possibly be. On their website, they mention that they are part of a brotherhood who are passionate about sharing their knowledge of power and strength.
Ready For The Supplement? Read This First
As with any product, there are a multitude of reviews to read before any purchase is made. Animal Cuts is no different. In researching this product, I went to numerous websites looking for reviews and what I found was a mixed bag of both good and bad.
First, the good: Many people report losing body fat while maintaining lean muscle mass with little to no side effects. There are glowing reviews that claim that the product does exactly what it says it will do. Many swear by not only Animal Cuts, but the other Animal products offered by Universal Nutrition.
Now, for the bad: Many reviews mentioned side effects that were anywhere from mild to severe and included, nausea, gas, heartburn, flushing and rapid heart beat. In addition to the adverse effects, many reviewers stated that the product simply did not work for them. There were other reviews that stated that they did see some results, but not the dramatic results that they had hoped for. The cost of the product was also listed as a reason for dissatisfaction amongst users.
The Good News According To The Manufacture
In promoting Animal Cuts, Universal Nutrition points boldly out the following benefits:
- Attacks fat
- Curbs appetite
- Addresses water retention
- Helps retain lean muscle mass
- Increased focus
- Energy boost
These benefits are the fountain of youth and stamina for aspiring bodybuilders or athletes engaging in strenuous workouts. The company also proudly manufactures Animal Cuts in the United States and each order comes with an industry leading guarantee.
Their mission statement says that they want to educate, inspire and motivate their customers with a belief that through hard work and dedication, everyone can be better tomorrow than they were today.
Animal Cuts is targeted at dieting bodybuilders who want to maximize weight loss while retaining lean muscle. With over 25,000,000 orders shipped world-wide, it would appear that they are a leader in the world of sports nutritional supplements.