Aiden Heke
As a keen endurance athlete — cycling, running and the occasional team sport filling most of my training week — I’m always interested in products that promise a useful boost before a hard session.
Recently I reviewed BODIE*Z Protein Water, but I also tested another of the Sydney company’s products at the same time – its Energy + Protein drink.
Unlike the Protein water, which contains 20g of 100% whey protein isolate, the Energy + Protein mix contains half that, packing in 10g of whey protein isolate, while also adding 160mg caffeine to the mix, a bit under double a standard cup of coffee.
In case you’re wondering, guidelines suggest most people shouldn’t exceed more than 400mg of caffeine a day, so there’s not a whopping amount in here, but enough to wake you up.
A 6-pack of the Energy + Protein drink will set you back $30, so it’s also fairly priced. I tested the Blue Raspberry flavour which comes in a 500ml can, but there’s also a Lemon Lime flavour and ‘Tropical Storm.’
First impressions are good. The flavour strikes a nice balance: sweet enough to be appealing without becoming cloying, and importantly it sits easily on the stomach before training. That’s not always the case with energy drinks, particularly when caffeine levels start creeping up.
On the road, the energy hit was noticeable. Whether it was the double dose of caffeine doing the heavy lifting or a bit of placebo effect is hard to say, but it certainly felt like it helped lift the intensity. I wasn’t quite tearing my riding group’s legs off, but it felt close enough to make the ride a little more fun.
The addition of 10g of protein is an interesting twist. While it’s not a full recovery drink by any stretch, it does add a small nutritional bonus for athletes who are often looking for ways to sneak in a bit more protein during busy training blocks.
It’s worth mentioning that BODIE*Z recommends you consume a maximum of one can per day, which is probably down to the large volume of caffeine inside each serve.
Overall, BODIE*Z Energy + Protein works well as a pre-session pick-me-up, particularly before demanding rides or long training days.
It’s probably not something you’d reach for every day — the formula is quite potent — but used strategically it’s a solid option when you want a bit of extra spark before getting stuck into the work.
You can find out more about BODIE*Z here.
