We take an in depth look at StarLabs BM4 Big Muscle to find out more.
At first glance BM4 Big Muscle looked like one of the better protein powders on the market. If you were looking to gain muscle and use as a meal replacement to lose fat, we could see that it may be effective. We liked the combination of the slow and fast release proteins, the amino acid profile and the oat flour – the overall impression was that this may be a healthier alternative to other products.
However we do have concerns. Where is this supplement made and why is it not on sale in the USA? We are not told the answer to these questions. In addition there is hardly any customer feedback and in fact it does not look at all popular. This may be largely down to the price and in our opinion spending in excess of £45 for a week’s supply is a rip off. There are better deals elsewhere.
StarLabs BM4 should be safe for most people. It obviously will not suit you if you have issues with dairy products or are lactose intolerant.
It is on sale via Amazon UK from various sellers. Prices vary. One seller is offering 1 x 1990 g tub of Caffe Latte flavour (approximately 30 servings) for £52.99.
We feel that BM4 Big Muscle has the right sort of look and makes all the right claims but we have the impression it is style over substance. All those typos on the flashy looking website don’t create a good impression and the fact that you cannot even buy this easily in the USA is troubling.
The amino acid profile looks impressive but the amino acid profile of an egg for example is actually impressive. Natural foodstuffs such as oats and eggs are fantastic for health, weight loss and muscle building – you don’t necessarily need to use an overpriced supplement like this.
The bottom line is that we think this product is over priced and we just don’t trust that it is quite as good as it looks. In our opinion you could find more reputable brands elsewhere so we have no other option but to reject Starlabs BM4 Big Muscle.
StarLabs BM4 Big Muscle is a protein shake that you add to water and drink in order to build muscle. It comes in a choice of three flavours – Banana Cream, Caffe Latte or Vanilla Cookies and the idea is that you drink it whenever you want it – the product information advises between 2 and 4 times every 24 hour period.
According to the product information, this Mass and Muscle Gainer supplement is very versatile. It works as a pre work out supplement because it gives you energy to power your workout (for best results take 1- 3 hours before exercise).
It is also effective as a recovery supplement that you take after training to feed your muscles.
M4 Big Muscle contains four different types of protein delivering a blend of slow and fast release proteins plus oats, a slow burning complex carbohydrate.
The principle ingredient is whey protein concentrate. Whey is derived from milk production and is the liquid protein that remains after the milk has been strained. Most if not all protein powders are based on whey protein.
The other two proteins are egg albumen – showing up as whole egg powder on the ingredients list and Micellar casein which like Whey protein is also derived from dairy and cheese production.
The ingredient that sets this supplement apart from most others on the market, is the oat flour. Oats are a slow release carbohydrate and are rich in protein, vitamins and minerals calcium and magnesium. Oats are ideal for building muscle and preventing hunger pangs so are good for weight loss too.
Together the ingredients provide high levels of essential amino acids, importantly the three branched chains amino acids (BCAAS which are crucial for muscle tissue.
Take 1-3 hours before training or after training for recovery. Add 2 scoops (approx. 66g) to 12-14 oz (350-400 ml) of cold water or your favourite beverage shake for 20 sec and drink immediately.
Change the amount of liquid to achieve your desired flavor and consistency. Drink 2-4 servings daily, or as needed to satisfy your protein or muscle enhancing requirements. To increase the protein intake per serving use low-fat milk.
BM4 Big Muscle would make a good meal replacement and would help you avoid hunger pangs in between meals. These days’ protein shakes like this one are becoming popular with dieters as well as body builders.
BM4 Big Muscle comes from StarLabs Nutrition Inc. a US supplements company based in Houston Texas. There are three product ranges; the Evo Series with all these supplements containing protein , including this one, the Pro Limited series which includes similar supplements to Evo series but which look stronger and the Natural Essentials range which is more about everyday weight loss and general health.
StarLabs Nutrition Inc. specialise in sports supplements and the glossy website creates a good impression. This is slightly spoilt by the high number of typos on the page such as
“We have spent years of research in reckognized laboratorios”.
This confusing statement is not proven either. There is no information about the years of research, the location of the laboratories or even where the supplements are made. Are StarLabs supplements made in the USA? The product information does not say, so our guess is no!
Most of the product information is taken up with explaining the benefits of oats.
The advertising states:
A number of health benefits are attributed to regular intake of oats:
- Lower blood cholesterol
- Reduced risk of heart disease
- Healthier metabolism
- Stabilized blood glucose levels
- Healthy weight control
- Normalized blood pressure”
That’s all good but it is important to remember that oats are not the principle ingredient in this supplement.
The benefits to weight loss are explained,
For those wanting to lose or maintain weight, BM4 is the perfect meal replacement. It is high in protein to feed your muscles and the low glycaemic carbs mean that the nutrients are slowly released into your blood stream and will therefore sustain your energy levels and help prevent those 11 o’clock and 4 o’clock cravings.
According to the product information this supplement “gives your body the necessary building blocks to produce amino acids which are essential for building and maintaining muscle tissue”.
Looking at the ingredients profile, it will probably help you build muscle if you use it correctly. Protein shakes can be effective for weight gain and many body builders use them. That said a protein powder is not essential for health. The amino acid profile looks impressive but it is important to remember that dairy products (whey actually used to be a waste product until it was taken up by the supplements industry), oats and eggs are good sources of protein in natural form. Eggs contain all the essential amino acids so including more eggs into your diet will have a similar effect.
StarLabs BM4 looks very similar to others on the market but we like the addition of the oat powder; it makes this powder healthier than most and the combination of slow and fast release proteins and carbs should help you avoid hunger cravings.
However there is nothing slimming about this supplement so if you add to your normal diet without replacing a meal or you are not working out, you could very easily put on a lot of weight.
The idea is that this supplement helps you bulk up and gain muscle and although it may help you lose fat too, you will have to be careful to use it correctly.
BM4 Big Muscle is a protein powder that may help you gain muscle mass. Each serving is equal to 2 scoops (66g) and contains 288 calories. This calorie count will be more if you add the powder to milk or any other drinks.
The Amino acid profile is confusingly provided per 100g serving.
There are also non essential amino acids that the body manufactures so do not have to be ingested by diet.
The third category is the conditional amino acids group. Usually not essential but important for health, especially in times of sickness or stress.
StarLabs BM4 should be safe for most people. It obviously will not suit you if you have issues with dairy products or are lactose intolerant.
Caution:
Not suitable for individuals under 18. Avoid if pregnant or breast feeding. Speak to your doctor before using if you have any health issues or are taking medication.
There is very little feedback available so we cannot bring real life customer experiences. Although StarLabs Nutrition Inc. is a US company, it is not easily available in the USA and we could find no customer reviews.
StarLabs BM4 Big Muscle does not come with a customer guarantee. You cannot get your money back if this supplement fails to work for you.
Although StarLabs Nutrition is a Texas based company, this supplement does not seem to be easily available in the USA. It is not on sale direct from the official website and a so called map of US distributers and outlets does not show up a single retailer.
It is on sale via Amazon UK from various sellers. Prices vary.
One seller is offering 1 x 1990 g tub of Caffe Latte flavour (approximately 30 servings) for £52.99. Expensive, because the serving instructions advise you take between 2 –4 servings a day which only adds up to 7 days to 15 days supply.
Another seller is offering 1990g of Banana Cream flavour (30 servings) for £44.99 Again, if you use as recommended this will only last between 7 – 15 days supply.
Nobody appears to have bought either of these supplements.
BM4 Big Muscle is also on sale across Europe from a wide range of retailers and is advertised in numerous languages including Portuguese, Greek, Danish and French. There is very little feedback in any language.
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Disclaimer: Our reviews and investigations are based on extensive research from the information publicly available to us and consumers at the time of first publishing the post. Information is based on our personal opinion and whilst we endeavour to ensure information is up-to-date, manufacturers do from time to time change their products and future research may disagree with our findings. If you feel any of the information is inaccurate, please contact us and we will review the information provided.
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