CATALYST Review

What You Should Know

CATALYST is an amino acid dietary supplement produced by AdvoCare. The product appears to be marketed toward athletic men and women looking to preserve and repair muscle tissue. Catalyst promises to maintain muscle mass during exercise and weight management, and preserve energy during times of low caloric intake. This supplement is recommended to be taken along with another weight loss formula because of its potential ability to preserve “lean body mass”.

List of Ingredients

L-Glutamine, L-Leucine, L-Isoleucine, L-Valine, L-Arginine, Betaine, Taurine, Gelatin, Rice Flour, Magnesium, and Stearate.

Product Features

Lean body mass is the mass of the body minus the fat (storage lipid). When caloric intake is reduced the body can lose lean body mass especially if the body is deprived of protein. Since body weight and overall health rely on the condition of our muscles it is important to keep up a steady intake of protein during a weight loss program that involves exercise. The importance of protein found in food and supplements comes from amino acids. However, protein rich foods like meat, fish, and eggs can contain too many calories and too much cholesterol. In order to maintain and repair muscles, essential and non-essential amino acids not found in these foods are needed. Non-essential amino acids (despite the name, they are necessary) cannot be produced without essential amino acids. The Leucine, Valine, and Isoleucine found in Catalyst are essential to the restoration of muscle and produce Arginine and Glutamine. Some clinical studies suggest that consumption of Leucine, Isoleucine, and Valine (Branched Chain Amino Acids) during and after exercise can result in a reduction of muscle loss.

Advantages

• Betaine is suggested as a reducer of a potentially toxic amino acid (Hcy).

Disadvantages

• Contains small amounts of its amino acids compared to other supplements.
• Taurine has not been proven to boost energy levels.
• Expensive compared to other products containing amino acids.
• Only contains 3 of the 9 essential amino acids.
• Must be combined with other weight loss programs in order to show results.
• Produces no thermogenic effects.
• No customer testimonials are available on the website.

Conclusion

The website for Catalyst suggests taking it along with an AdvoCare Spark Energy drink and one of their Metabolic Nutrition Systems (MNS). The combination of these three elements could possibly be beneficial through protein synthesis, an energy boost, and a complete supply of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. However, this combination would be expensive (approximately $100 a month) and lacks a thermogenic (fat burning) effect. Some of the most efficient weight loss supplements trigger thermogenesis and/or suppress the appetite. This product does neither and would only be effective when combined with exercise and a proper diet.