The Best Intra-workout Supplement for Bodybuilding – Cluster Dextrin (Dextrose)

March 20, 2024
Sam Andreas

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Top Pick

If you’re struggling to maintain muscle fullness in the gym and are looking for a new way to help your muscles not look flat after after a few working sets and recover fast, then you’ll benefit from a glucose supplement that allows you to “carb-load” properly.

In this article, we’ll be looking at how a cluster dextrin supplement can help you to properly recover your muscles intra and post-workout. We’ll then share with you our top five products for the job.

The Best Intra-workout Cluster Dextrin Supplements

Below you will know the importance of maintaining blood sugar levels during and immediately after intense workouts. But now, here are our five favorite cluster dextrin products for your intra-workout to browse:

1. Now Sports Dextrose Powder

We love Now Foods, for a number of fantastic reasons. The first thing we love is the fact that they clinically test their products on humans. This means that you can be safe in knowing that not only will the products be safe, but they’ll also actually work.

We also love that Now Foods support everyone, expert or not, on their gym journey. By helping the masses retrieve safe products that work, they help everyone to achieve their aims.

What’s more, although they aren’t supported by the FDA, they make every effort to keep up with the FDA’s strict guidelines. This just goes to show the importance they give to safety.

What makes it stand out even more is the huge amount of servings per container. Indeed, one pot contains a whopping 227 servings! Now that’s what we’d call value for money.

Calories: 70.
Carbohydrates: 18 grams (7 percent of daily allowance).
Of which sugars: 18 grams (38 percent of daily allowance).

Safe.
Great value for money.
Loads of servings per container.
Tried and tested.
Trustworthy.
Good sugar levels.
Low in calories.

Made using a proprietary blend where we don’t know the ingredient quantities.

2. Intra-Workout Powder by Granite Supplements

Granite Supplements are known for their products that are endorsed by fitness fanatics and influencers. For example, Holly Mitchell, Luke Carroll, and Jamie Pinder, plus a number of others, all use Granite to support their muscle gains.

What makes this option stand out over the others is the inclusion of BCAAs. This makes a really good addition to the sugary carbs, which will also improve your muscle recovery.

Not only this, but this product also contains many of the essential amino acids, or EAAs, which are also ideal for aiding recovery. All-in-all, this is just a great option for muscle recovery and support, post-workout.

Calories: 125.
Carbohydrates: 19.6 grams (7 percent of daily allowance).
Of which sugars: 19.4 grams (40 percent of daily allowance).
Cluster Dextrin: 15 grams.
BCAAs: 6 grams (in a 2:1:1 ratio).

Comes in a couple of tasty flavors.
Supported by fitness experts and influencers.
Includes BCAAs and EAAs.
Relatively high in sugars.
Mixes easily.
Money-back guarantee.

Not many servings per container.
High in calories.

3. Metabolic Nutrition - GlycoLoad

Metabolic Nutrition’s GlycoLoad has been specifically designed to aid fitness enthusiasts on their muscle gaining journey through providing proper “carb-loading”.

Its formula provides your body with the sugar it requires post-workout, without the negative side effects that sugar usually entails. This means your muscles will be able to absorb all the sugar it requires without it being converted to fat elsewhere.

One of the great things about this product is the array of delicious flavors you can choose from. These include green apple, fruit punch, watermelon, and grape.

This supplement is very low in calories, making it ideal for anyone looking to lose weight and simply gain lean muscle mass.

Calories: 60.
Carbohydrates: 15 grams (7 percent of daily allowance).
GlycoLoad Muscle Glycogen Loading Carbohydrate Matrix: 18,370 mg.

Low in calories.
A number of interesting, tasty flavors.
Special formula to avoid the negative impact of sugars.

A proprietary blend is used, so quantities uncertain.

4. Jym Supplement Science - Post Jym Post-Workout Powder

One thing we love about this product is the array of tasty flavors it comes in, including fruit punch, lemonade, and watermelon.

What we really need to stress with this product, though, is the huge amount of sugar in each serving.

One serving of this Post Jym supplement will get you through over 60 percent of your daily allowance of sugars—ideal for replenishing blood sugar.

That said, you still do need to watch out for products containing too much sugar, as this may be converted into fat.

Calories: 120.
Carbohydrates: 30 grams (10 percent of daily allowance).
Of which sugars: 29 grams (60 percent of daily allowance).

Comes in a number of tasty flavors.
High in sugars.
Made by Jim Stoppani, a known inventor of fantastic gym supplements.

Quantities of ingredients unknown.

5. Xwerks Motion - Cluster Dextrin

Our final option for the best cluster dextrin/dextrose supplements is the Xwerks Motion supplement. This is another option that includes those BCAAs, ideal for optimum muscle recovery post-workout.

With a high level of cluster dextrin and a generous number of servings per container, this may be your new best friend. The company prides itself on its easily-digestible formula, which cuts the bloating you may normally feel from a gym supplement.

Calories: 110.
Carbohydrates: 28 grams (10 percent of daily allowance).
Of which sugars: 18 grams (38 percent of daily allowance).
Cluster Dextrin: 25 grams.
BCAA 2:1:1 Instantized Blend AminoBlast: 3 grams.

50 servings per container.
Reduces bloating.
Includes BCAAs, which is great for muscle recovery.

Not a huge amount of BCAAs, so may not make a huge difference.

Informational guide to Cluster Dextrin/Dextrose Supplements

What Is Cluster Dextrin/Dextrose?

Dextrin is a group of carbohydrates with a low molecular weight. Often, they’re produced in the body during digestion through enzymes. Dextrin will come in the form of a white, brown or yellow powder, which is water soluble.

It’s fairly common to supplement dextrin into the diet through the use of cluster dextrin/dextrose. Cluster dextrin is similar to natural dextrin but is manufactured through the application of a branching enzyme onto cornstarch. It’s been on the market since 2002, and can often be found in sports drinks.

What Does Cluster Dextrin Do?

Are you aware that, after working out, your body loses a lot of blood sugar? This is because carbohydrates, mainly glycogen, are used by your muscles as their main source of energy when you exercise.

Even after exercising for just 30 minutes, your body’s carbohydrate resources must be replenished in order to avoid hypoglycemia. What’s more, low glycogen levels in the body will not only affect your strength but also your ability to make any gains in the gym.

This is where cluster dextrin/dextrose comes in, as it’s important to consume a decent amount of carbs two hours after training. Simply consume a cluster dextrin supplement intra-workout or post-workout for the best results.

Here’s a great video that explains more:

The Benefits of a Cluster Dextrin

So, what exactly do these cluster dextrin products achieve?

Replenish blood sugar levels after working out.
Help maintain strength during workouts.
Help build muscle.
Boost energy.
Aid muscle recovery.
Boost performance in the gym.
Decrease stress hormones.
Increase time to exhaustion.

If you have any pre-existing medical conditions, such as diabetes or anxiety, or are pregnant or breastfeeding, please don’t consume these types of products. Otherwise, please do consult a doctor. Safety is always key!

What to Look for in the Best Cluster Dextrin

So, how do we know what to look for in the best supplements for the job? Let’s see…

Sugar Levels

Before working out, your blood sugar levels should be between 100 and 250 mg/dL. If you feel shaky, weak or confused during your workout, your blood sugar levels may be too low, and a boost of around 15 grams of sugar should help. Any products with this amount, or a little more, are ideal for a post-workout supplement to replenish your blood sugar levels.

Includes BCAAs

BCAAs, or branched-chain amino acids, are often found in gym supplements. They include the amino acids leucine, isoleucine and valine, usually in a 2:1:1 formula for the best results, and are known for their aid in muscle recovery. They’re usually found in the food you eat, but sometimes this isn’t enough if you work out regularly.

Proteins are essential in the recovery and growth of your muscles. When BCAAs enter your body, they break apart and piece together again, forming new chains of amino acids to create the proteins needed to aid this recovery. This helps to not only build muscle but also reduce muscle soreness.

Some of the supplements we’ve featured do include BCAAs.

Conclusion

Although many of these cluster dextrin products impress us with their unique ingredients, we have to choose a favorite. We love the Now Sports Dextrose Powder most of all, for a number of reasons.

Firstly, you get good value for money with this product, as there are 227 servings per container. This is almost five times higher than our next highest product, servings-wise.

Otherwise, we love the Now Foods’ ethos in terms of helping everyone achieve their gains. Its fantastic clinical trials on humans mean the products are trustworthy, safe and actually work!