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To live a true Vitalized lifestyle, you NEED to be carrying a decent amount of lean muscle tissue.
Studies across multiple populations have shown low muscle mass is a predictor of poor morbidity and mortality.
On the other hand, having a good amount of muscle mass has endless benefits, including:
- Better quality of life
- More self confidence
- Improved body composition
- Improved Insulin sensitivity
- Lower risk of many chronic diseases
(Believe it or not, packing on muscle isn’t all about impressing chicks.)
There is some truth to the old saying “you are what you eat”, so eating enough protein, the building block of muscle, is paramount for gaining muscle mass.
And whilst we advise getting the majority of your protein sources from food, a great way to add protein into your diet is by supplementing with protein powder.
What I love about protein powder is it’s fast-absorbed by the body, cost-effective and versatile.
This makes it the perfect option right after an intense workout when your muscles need protein fast.
(And let’s be honest, who can really stomach a heavy meal straight after a brutal leg workout?)
This article features our original, in-depth review of MuscleTech’s Nitro Tech protein powder.
Let’s go!
What is MuscleTech Nitro Tech?
If you come from a bodybuilding background, then chances are you’ll already know who MuscleTech are.
(Hint: they’re the #1 best-selling bodybuilding supplement brand in the United States.)
Nitro Tech (Amazon) is their flagship product; a whey protein blend used by those wanting to pack on lean muscle mass.

It’s different from most other whey protein powders as it contains more muscle-building amino acids as well as Creatine and digestive enzymes.
Basically, it’s an all-in-one protein powder.
The good
Unlike most mass-market protein powders out there, Nitro Tech (Amazon) contains more whey isolate than it does whey concentrate.
Whey isolate has been filtered further than whey concentrate, meaning it’s had more fat and carbohydrates (in the form of lactose) removed.
Fat slows down the absorption of nutrients, so if you want a fast-absorbing protein after a workout (hint: you do), then whey isolate makes an excellent choice since it’s extremely low in fat.
By having more lactose removed as well, whey isolate is a much better option for those sensitive to lactose.
Additionally, Nitro Tech has a solid amino acid profile, with 6.8g of BCAAs and 5g of Glutamine per serving.
BCAAs have been shown to build muscle and decrease muscle fatigue, whilst Glutamine is great at reducing muscle soreness (DOMS) and improving gut health.
A serving of Nitro Tech contains 3g of Creatine too, which has been clinically shown to boost more muscle when used in conjunction with whey protein, compared to whey protein on its own!
To put it simply – this stuff is effective and it works.
I also like the addition of digestive enzymes (Papain and Amylases) to this protein powder, which helps the body digest the powder.
This is super helpful for me personally, as I often experience digestion issues (bloating, etc.) when using other brands of whey protein, but not with Nitro Tech.
As for the powder itself, it mixes really well with water which is always a nice bonus.
(It’s shocking how many protein powders out there still don’t mix very well in 2019!)
The bad
At Vitalized Future, we generally believe that the less ingredients a supplement has, the better for your health it is.
A perfect example of this is Banyan Botanicals Holy Basil which contains only 3 ingredients; all of which are organic.
Nitro Tech, however, contains 16 ingredients.
(Gasp!)
And whilst yes, many of these ingredients contribute to the effectiveness of the product, others include:
- Cellulose Gum
- Xantham Gum
- Artificial Flavors
- Acesulfame-Potassium
All of these ingredients are unnatural, hence are most likely not great for your health.
Another issue I have with Nitro Tech is that it tastes sweet.
Like really, really sweet.
MuscleTech have definitely went overboard with the sweeteners in my opinion.
(Those with a sweet tooth may love this even more!)
Perhaps this is a bit harsh.
As I don’t really eat sweet food, my taste buds are more sensitive to a sweet taste so that could be the reasoning.
Ah well, don’t say I didn’t warn ya!
My final complaint is with the over-the-top marketing practices MuscleTech use on their packaging.
They claim Nitro Tech is 70% better than regular whey protein based on the following:
Research conducted and published in a scientific journal shows that subjects using the core ingredients in Nitro Tech gained 8.8 lbs. of lean muscle in 6 weeks, compared to subjects who used regular whey protein and gained 5.1 lbs.
St. Francis Xavier University
This suggests the subjects didn’t actually use Nitro Tech in the study.
(The study doesn’t mention the dosage of the core ingredients, which could have a huge impact on the results.)
Quite misleading if you ask me!
They also boast about the product having “NO Hype” despite labeling it as “The Most Powerful Protein Formula Ever Developed”.
A superlative even Donald Trump would be proud of.
How I use MuscleTech Nitro Tech
As Nitro Tech is primarily made of whey isolate, it makes the perfect post workout shake since it’s rapidly absorbed by the muscles.
So after my workout, I have a scoop mixed with some high-quality Glutamine powder and filtered water.
This combination seems to be excellent at boosting my recovery.
Where to find MuscleTech Nitro Tech
I bought my MuscleTech Nitro Tech from my local supplement store.
Due to it’s popularity, I’d assume most supplement stores will sell this powder, so if you live close to one they should be able to help you out.
Alternatively, if you prefer the conveniences of shopping online, you can get yourself a tub at Amazon.com.
Is Nitro Tech good for skinny guys?
Absolutely!
Nitro Tech is great for skinny guys as it contains Creatine and Digestive Enzymes.
Both of which are excellent supplements for hard gainers.
It has decent levels of BCAAs and Glutamine too which also help.
Is Nitro Tech good for weight loss?
Yep.
The beauty of Nitro Tech is that the additional ingredients (Creatine, Digestive Enzymes, etc.) are all very low in calories.
This makes it a great protein powder for those cutting.
Conclusion
Overall, Nitro Tech (Amazon) is a solid protein powder.
It has a good blend of whey isolate, amino acids, Creatine and digestive enzymes, making it an excellent option for those who want a convenient “all-in-one” protein powder.
If you only care about results, then yes, it works.
However, if like me you care about the finer details, then it certainly has its flaws:
- It’s so, so sweet
- It has too many ingredients
- MuscleTech could use more honest marketing practices
Bare in mind these are all in my opinion – you may disagree with me completely.
Well that’s it for today folks.
Please let me know what you think of this article by the way.
Am I being too critical?
Did Donald Trump write the packaging copy?
Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
Sources
Annals of Medicine (Implications of Low Muscle Mass)
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07853890.2018.1511918
Paleo Leap (The Benefits of Muscle Mass)
https://paleoleap.com/the-importance-of-muscle
PNAS (The Fast Absorption of Whey Protein)
https://www.pnas.org/content/94/26/14930.short
PubMed (The Effect of Whey Protein With and Without Creatine)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11591884
I’ve been in the fitness and strength training industry for nearly a decade. In that time, I’ve gained 30 pounds of muscle, written hundreds of articles, and reviewed dozens of fitness supplements. As for my educational background, I’m a currently studying for my Active IQ Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training.
Tom
Monday 15th of February 2021
Just took my first swig of the stuff and like you say, it is so, so sweet. Going to take some getting used to.....
Cg
Tuesday 1st of September 2020
Yep, i agree with the sweetness. It's like you're drinking too much sugar.
steve
Tuesday 29th of September 2020
Or you could say the company lies worse than Barack Obama when telling you about his universal health care flop. Since you feel the need to get political while talking about protein powder.