It seems like everyone is talking about carbohydrates lately. Both good and bad.
While low-carb diets have been around for decades, the ketogenic diet has exploded in popularity over the last year or two, renewing much of the debate.
I have been following a ketogenic diet for the last year and have had excellent results. It’s the easiest diet to follow that I’ve ever tried.
With the popularity of these diets however, comes the tendency to overlook the importance of carbohydrates when it comes to performance and building muscle.
While I found great results when it came to shredding fat with the ketogenic diet, I found/find building muscle without any carbohydrates difficult.
As I continued to try to train while following a ketogenic diet, I was finding that I was having a difficult time achieving a quality pump in the gym.
No matter what I did, I just wasn’t getting one.
Without getting a good pump, my results were suffering. Nothing too drastic but it was noticeable, which bothered me.
After some research online, I found that a lot of people on a low-carb diet were able to get the best of both worlds by taking in some carbohydrates just before their workout.
They then continue with their normal diet the remainder of the day.
This made a lot of sense to me and started my search for a carbohydrate supplement.
I like to train on an empty stomach whenever possible, so I thought that a carbohydrate powder would work well for my routine, as I could drink it right before I lifted.
Although there are surprisingly not many on the market, I was luckily enough to stumble on Karbolyn Fuel immediately.
Karbolyn Fuel by EFX sports is a cutting-edge carbohydrate supplement designed to rapidly fill your glycogen stores without spiking your insulin levels.
In this EFX Sports Karbolyn Fuel Review, I am going to tell you everything you need to know before you buy and answer the big question of whether it actually works or not!
About EFX sports
EFX sports is an American supplement company that looks to be very science and researched based, which I like.
From what I can tell from their story, it sounds like it was started by three guys fed up with the usual deceitful methods of the supplement industry.
One thing that is immediately noticeable with EFX is their standard and commitment to quality.
They created something called a “dock-to dock initiative“, which is an in depth rigorous testing process that all their supplements go through.
According to EFX sports, they test every single barrel of ingredients that come into their warehouse for a variety of different things that go above and beyond what the FDA requires.
The company that produces their supplements has a mind-numbing number of certifications and accreditations.
One thing that is certain with EFX sports is that they are dedicated to upholding extremely high standards for the production of their supplements.
I’ve yet to see another company out there on their level as far as that goes.
Karbolyn
According to EFX sports, “Karbolyn represents the dawn of a new era of carbohydrate supplementation. Derived from potato, rice and corn, this fast-acting, long-lasting, high-performance compound offers the best of both simple and complex carbohydrates”.
There are two kinds of carbohydrates. Simple and complex.
Simple carbohydrates like pasta, white rice and sugar digest very quickly. The issue is that they spike your insulin levels and usually cause an energy crash down the road.
When working out, the last thing that you want is an energy crash.
Complex carbohydrates like oatmeal, sweet potatoes and yams provide sustained energy overtime however, they are slow to digest.
Karbolyn bridges the gap because it’s absorbed into the bloodstream with the rapidity of a simple sugar however, it provides sustained energy like a complex carbohydrate.
Karbolyn also does not cause the dreaded sugar crash that we’ve all become so familiar with, which they proved in a clinical study.
Karbolyn allows you to carb load quickly, without experiencing the bloating and fullness you get from physically eating the carbohydrates by themselves.
This is a huge deal if you’re a bodybuilder because it allows for rapid glycogen loading before your workout.
Without an adequate amount of glycogen, you are going to look flat and have a very difficult time getting a good pump, like I did.
Ingredients and supplement facts
Karbolyn comes in a lot of different flavors however, they all appear to contain sucralose and artificial colors. For me, that’s a huge no and was disappointing to see.
Luckily, they make a neutral flavor that only contains the Karbolyn itself, which is what I purchased.
The only ingredient is Karbolyn which is described as a homopolysaccharide derived from potato, rice and corn.
Karbolyn is also gluten free which is great.
Karbolyn has 200 calories and contains 50 grams of carbohydrates per serving.
Does it actually work?
The answer to that is a definite YES.
Right before I ordered Karbolyn, I began taking the Pulse pre workout by Legion Athletics. While I love Pulse, I wasn’t getting a great pump with it alone.
The blame solely is on my shoulders as I wasn’t eating any carbohydrates. Stupid me.
I had a hunch that mixing Karbolyn and Pulse was going to be a great idea.
The neutral flavor of Karbolyn obviously has no taste so it can be mixed with any pre-workout or shake.
From the first day I used Karbolyn, I noticed a shocking difference. It takes about a half hour to really get into your system, but after that it’s on.
Just like old times when I used to be a carb addict, I got a killer pump from day one with Karbolyn. My muscles and skin felt like they were about to explode.
The best way I can describe it is that it feels like you ate a large carbohydrate meal however, you don’t feel bloated and sluggish.
You just feel pumped up and it lasts during the whole workout as long as you keep pushing it.
My energy with Karbolyn is also great. While a lot of it is from Pulse, Karbolyn definitely contributes to increased stamina.
As far as the insulin crash, it’s nonexistent in my experience. Even hours later, I don’t feel like my energy suddenly drops off in any way.
When I read over the reviews of Karbolyn, I saw a few people complaining that it sat in their stomach and didn’t digest. I didn’t experience that at all.
I feel like it digests extremely well. I could easily go and run a few miles right after taking it without any issues. That’s definitely not the case that after physically eating 50 grams of carbohydrates.
I also like that it gives my muscles that full feel and look for the rest of the day after taking it even without eating any other carbohydrates.
Karbolyn Fuel
Pros
- Digests rapidly
- Provides sustained energy
- No energy crash
Cons
- Might cause stomach issues for some
- Flavored options contain artificial ingredients
- Does not specify the carb source
Who is it for?
Due to the unique nature of Karbolyn, I think it’s for all athletes that utilize carbohydrates as a fuel source, which is most. How I wish I had this when I played football and wrestled.
I think that this would be a great addition for someone that is into endurance sports specifically, due to the sustained energy it provides.
When it comes to bodybuilders, this could be a game changer for you. If you already consume a fair amount of carbohydrates, you may not need this.
I would say that it’s still worth trying for the fact that it digests so quickly and easily.
When you eat foods like sweet potatoes and oatmeal before you work out, you need at least an hour before it digests enough to go and work out.
This isn’t like that. I start drinking it about 30 minutes before I work out and usually finish it in my car as I’m driving to the gym.
You just can’t do that with foods like oatmeal and rice.
I personally hate sitting around waiting for a meal to digest before I can work out.
When I want to lift, I want to go that second. With Karbolyn, I can wake up, take it and go right to the gym.
No sitting around and eating or waiting.
Price
Karbolyn Fuel (neutral flavor) comes in 2 sizes which are 2.2 pounds (18 servings) and 4.4 pounds (35 servings).
The 2.2-pound tub usually costs around $32.00, which is about $1.70 per servings. The 4.4-pound tub usually costs around $ 50.00, which is about $1.50 per serving.
The bigger you go with supplements the more money you generally save.
I suggest getting the smaller size the first time you get it to make sure that you like it. There’s nothing worse than getting stuck with tub of some supplement you hate.
Karbolyn is available in a few different places however, I suggest getting it through Amazon or the Vitamin Shoppe.
Final thoughts
I’m a big fan of Karbolyn so far. It’s provided me with a way of taking in enough carbohydrates to fuel my workout and get a great pump without sabotaging my low-carb diet.
It definitely works in my experience and I highly recommend it if you are looking for a carbohydrate supplement.
EFX sports is second to none as far as their production standards. I am definitely looking forward to trying more of their supplements in the future.
Stay pumped,
Dan
P.S. Have you ever tried or heard of Karbolyn Fuel? I’d love to hear your thoughts, comments or questions below!
I like the fact Karbolyn brings a nice little blend of both simple and complex carbohydrates. For me, I always take in both an hour or so before I workout; the simple carbs within the hour and complex within 2-3 hours.
This gives me a nice supply of fast and slow carbs, which the fast will give me the energy spike, but the slow will help sustain it. The results so far, have been amazing. Karbolyn would be great for those looking for a nice blend of each as well as those who prefer to go liquid before or during a workout, in interest of time and other matters.
Hi Todd,
It’s definitely convenient for it to have both. The biggest thing for me with Karbolyn, is the convenience that you mention. It’s super helpful to just take it and go. I also love how easily it digests for me. I usually prefer oatmeal as my carb, but it just hangs around in my stomach a lot of the time and slows me down. Thanks for your comment and thanks for stopping by!
Hi Dan,
Karbolyn seems like something my nephew would try. He is always looking for these energy products. He is a track athlete (in his early 20’s). Specifically, he likes the 400 meters, so this would be ideal to help boost his energy level. My question is: Are there any ingredients in this product that may show a negative in his blood test? Athletes have to be so careful with what they put in their diet these days.
Hi Carol,
This would probably be very helpful for someone that runs track. No, nothing at all that should ever show something negative on a blood test as far as banned substances go. If you look at the ingredient, the only one is the Karbolyn itself which is a mix of potato, rice and corn. Nothing to be worried about! Thanks for stopping by and thanks for your comment!
Hi Dan,
I have heard of the Keto diet, but haven’t really looked in to it that much. My exercise consists of lots of mountain biking, circuit training and running. I too like to exercise on an empty stomach, would this stuff benefit me, or is it primarily for gym work? I don’t necessarily want to bulk up or lose weight, just have useable lean muscle.
Hey Tom,
No it’s definitely not just for lifters and bodybuilders. In fact, I think it’s probably better suited for endurance exercises like the ones you do, as it has the ability to keep your energy levels up for hours. I haven’t personally used it for those yet, but I think that it will work equally well if not better than it does in the gym. Let me know if you have any other questions. Thanks for your comment!
Hi; is there any health risk-taking Karbolyn? What if I trouble with high blood pressure? Liver or heart disease, such as high cholesterol? Karbolyn seems to be a perfect weight loss and body shaper for those who are obese.
I figure that it is a supplement safe enough for someone like me. I can add some carbohydrates to keep my body in perfect shape.
DorcasW
Hello,
There are no risks listed on the bottle or on the website that I can find. As Karbolyn is a derivative of potato, rice and corn, there shouldn’t be any issues unless you have an allergy to one of those. Although it’s a supplement technically, it’s based on real food sources so there are far less issues that should arise when compared to other supplements. I have not seen anyone complain of side effects aside from some stomach discomfort due to it not digesting well. If you do end up trying it, I’d love for you to let me know what you think about it. Thanks for your comment!
Hello Dan! I was into bodybuilding under the supervision of amateur competitors who owned their own gym back in the 1970s and continued until after I had abdominal surgery in 1998 and my return to my weightlifting opened up a huge incisional hernia which is currently inoperable. As it turns out, the problem I was working on and could never quite conquer is caused by an inherited rare disease (Cushing’s Disease) which sabotaged my efforts. Who knew that too much anabolic steroids produced by a tumor in the body don’t have the same effects when combined with a bodybuilding routine as pumping them in with a syringe, Ha!?
I am basically skeptical of nutritional supplementation and know of people back in the day who achieved fantastic results without them. But you didn’t see them in the big competitions because they were quite outspoken about how they did it, and how they did it was not in lockstep with Mr. Wieder. So, I do have a question. Your recommendation of Karbolyn seems to be based on the convenience of the EFX Sports product over, say, eating some oatmeal and waiting the recommended hour for it to digest and get into the system. Would you recommend that those who prefer to eat more naturally and don’t mind waiting to do that? Also, is it possible that putting some honey in that oatmeal might have a similar effect as Karbolyn with the monosaccharides from the honey entering the system early on and the complex polysaccharides from the oatmeal entering as they digest and preventing the crash?
Hi Stanley,
Ouch, I’m sorry to hear about your injury. I can understand you being skeptical with all the garbage out there, but the truth is that they’ve been heavily used by most bodybuilders since the 1970s. It’s definitely possible of course, but were at a point in time right now that I think almost everyone needs a supplement of some kind. Whether it’s just vitamins and minerals or something else depends on the person and situation. Yes of course the oatmeal would be fine if that’s what you prefer. I would always recommend real food over supplements, even though Karbolyn is food. I’ve never tried the honey with the oatmeal so I don’t know for sure, but there is a lot of sugar in honey and I don’t think that it would necessarily digest the same way Karbolyn does as it has zero sugar. I don’t think it would be a huge crash and I’m sure it would be fine. Thanks for stopping by and thanks for your comment!
This sounds like a great product and something worth trying if you stick to a low-carb diet but still want to feel a good pump when lifting. It’s a shame to see that the flavored products contain sucralose… have you found other similar products that sweeten with stevia or monk fruit?
Hi Angela,
Unfortunately I have not come across any that are naturally sweetened. When I went searching for one, I figured I would find one easily, but that wasn’t the case. If you know any I’d love to hear them! I am going to keep looking for one though and will let you know if I find one. Thanks for stopping by!