At Muscle Insider, we get countless products sent to us to test out and give our feedback on. Of course, with free product comes an expectation for us to say good things about their product, which we simply won’t do. But when XPN sent us new product, there was no expectation to say good things, no requirement to say this or that, and no company review on our review! Simply put, we’re free to tell them what we really think about them. This is how a supplement review should be. So they sent us Burn-X. Read on to find out how it went.
Who Is XPN?
XPN is a Quebec-based brand that we’ve been tracking for many years, but lately it’s been on fire, dropping new product after new product, and Burn-X is no exception! XPN is first and foremost a manufacturer of supplements for many other companies, which gives it a huge advantage in the market. To start, this allows it to master the craft of “building” supplements in different categories. This includes perfecting quality control, mixability, and traceability of every ingredient in a formula, ensuring there are no banned substances and no clumping of formulas.
And being a manufacturer allows it to ensure that the raw materials coming into its facility are 100 percent pure, which is critical for its business because these “raws” will be used for its own products and for the other supplement companies for whom it makes products. Obviously, there are cost savings when you manufacture your own products, which allows XPN to put out great quality at an affordable price.
XPN Burn-X
Burn-X comes in an RTD and a powder form and is part of the Classic Series, under which XPN’s Iso Xtrem whey isolate also falls. It’s somewhat of a hybrid product, combining ingredients to perk you up mentally and physically, while other ingredients work to boost your body’s fat-burning potential.
You could call it a pre-workout as it’s something you could definitely take before lifting weights or doing cardio, but it’s not your typical pre. We would classify Burn-X as simply a fat-loss powder, but a delicious one at that!
Burn-X for Fat Mobilization and Energy
Unlike most pre-workouts, Burn-X includes ingredients to help improve body composition, and even electrolytes to help prevent dehydration while you sweat. The standout ingredient for your fat-burning goals is one full gram of L-carnitine tartrate. Carnitine is known for its ability to aid the body in mobilizing free fatty acids’ fat into energy by transporting them to the cells’ mitochondria. Providing carnitine in tartrate form supports a rapid uptake by the body as this is absorbed faster than other forms of carnitine. The rapid absorption influx makes it well suited for time-critical situations such as before or after training. L-carnitine L-tartrate interacts with hormones such as testosterone as it modulates the availability of the androgen receptor.
Coenzyme Q10
Speaking of the mitochondria, coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is an antioxidant predominantly found in the mitochondria. CoQ10 is involved in the production of energy, which will obviously boost athletic performance, especially in combination with L-carnitine. An added bonus of CoQ10 is its ability to help reduce inflammation, which may speed up an athlete’s recovery after a tough workout.
Acetyl-L-Carnitine Powers Your Mental Game
You’ll also notice another form of carnitine on the label: acetyl-L-carnitine. As we mentioned previously, Burn-X works to support you both physically and mentally, which is where acetyl-l-carnitine comes into play. This form of carnitine is regarded for its impact on brain function. This may keep you more mentally alert and focused on the task at hand—whether that’s your next set, studying for an exam, or staying awake through an afternoon meeting.
L-Phenylalanine
L-phenylalanine is an amino acid that serves dual purposes in Burn-X. Not only does it support fat oxidation, but it’s also critical for the production of certain molecules, including dopamine. This neurotransmitter is commonly known as the feel-good hormone. Increasing levels of this acts as a motivator in a way, encouraging users to keep doing the activity that made them feel good. Exercise can naturally raise levels of dopamine, and further increasing them makes working out even more enjoyable, yielding more effort at the activity that’s going to create your ideal physique.
Added Electrolytes
Rounding out the medicinal ingredients is a variety of minerals. Calcium, magnesium, and potassium all play vital roles in keeping the body balanced to perform optimally. That includes regulating muscle contraction and nervous system function. These electrolytes work to help keep the body’s hydration levels balanced, ensuring key ingredients are delivered where they’re needed as you train.
Weight-Loss Support with Burn-X
Burn-X targets not only energy but also body composition improvements. One ingredient that can target this action directly is Garcinia cambogia, a fruit whose extract has gained popularity for its proposed ability to help support weight loss as well as boost athletic performance. Primarily, the chemical hydroxycitric acid (HCA) found in the rind of the fruit has been found to help suppress appetite in some users. Although higher doses of straight Garcinia cambogia are generally discouraged, the 100 milligrams contained in a scoop of Burn-X is approved for safe consumption.
Remember, these are all supportive ingredients to your fat-loss grind, but there are no magic powders for losing fat. You must also be eating right, training hard and doing this consistently for long enough to see the results you want. It won’t happen overnight, but if you’re doing this and taking Burn-X, you’re losing fat as quickly as your physiology will allow, which is all you can and should expect. Products such as Burn-X can also improve your mental focus and physical energy, which are always drained from dieting and exercising like a savage! The combination of ingredients work synergistically to support your body through training sessions, allowing you to work hard and stay focused, which is what will get you to your goal.
Feeling Energized with Burn-X
Burn-X has a moderate dose of caffeine, with 170 milligrams of caffeine and 200 milligrams of green tea extract (with 5 percent caffeine). This combo yields a total of 180 milligrams of caffeine, definitely enough to perk you up while still allowing you to enjoy your daily cup of coffee without going way overboard with your intake. The inclusion of caffeine with the other ingredients meant to mentally stimulate you work well together, leaving you alert without a hard crash later in the day. If your tolerance for caffeine is high, double dose Burn-X for a 360-milligram caffeine fix!
Energy That Tastes Great
XPN’s Burn-X is available in a wide array of flavours, ensuring there’s something for everyone. From sweet to tart, Burn-X covers all taste buds. Take your pick from Dragon Fruit, Grape Juice, Peach Cocktail, Sour Cherry Candies, Blue Raspberry, Pink Lemonade, or Strawberry & Kiwi. XPN also releases limited-edition flavors in all of its products, so keep an eye out for options such as Burn-X in Winter Frost. The best bonus? They’re all sugar free and zero calorie, using natural and artificial flavours along with sucralose to get their great taste.
XPN Burn-X Taste Test
We managed to get our hands on the newly released Sour Cherry Candies flavour. It lives up to its name for sure, delivering a distinct candy flavour that’s not too sour (for those who shy away from tart flavours). It’s enjoyable to drink, and it won’t make your mouth pucker. The ingredients blend well, leaving no residue in the cup after mixing with 10 ounces of water. We enjoyed just drinking it for the taste alone. It’s light and refreshing, and you don’t taste the ingredients, which is a plus as many supplements can have that chemical taste this one doesn’t.
Whether you’re looking for something to wake you up for work or before you head to the gym, Burn-X is a solid choice. A tub of Burn-X contains 210 grams of powder, and with a 7-gram serving size, each tub should last you about one month. Ours lasted a couple of weeks as we were dry scooping it, double dosing it and even tried throwing it at each other, which didn’t turn out well! Not only does it deliver on fat-loss support, it boosts your mental and physical performance and you’ll actually look forward to drinking it. It’s great to see Canadian companies creating great products such as this one. We think that as more people try this one, it will become very popular.
To have a new supplement reviewed, email info@muscleinsider.com.