Innovapharm Novalean Review
It seems like we rave about InnovaPharm nearly every time we review one of their products. A few weeks ago, it was their RecoverEAA, before that their Stim Free Enduralean, Novamino, and a handful of other products we were fortunate enough to get our hands on over the years here at Modern Athletic Health. From fat burners to amino acids to pre workouts, InnovaPharm continues to impress us with their innovation and use of quality ingredients, flavoring, and effective approach to formulating their products. We loved their stim free endurance enhancing fat-loss product Enduralean, so when we heard they were creating another stim free fat burner with a completely new ingredient label, we knew we had to try it out. Enter NovaLean, a stimulant free fat burner packed with ingredients to reduce fat storage, boost lipolysis, improve glucose absorption, increase energy expenditure, and more!
NovaLean is one of the first stim-free fat burning products on the market that also includes nootropics, making it extremely stackable with other fat burners, coffee, or pre-workouts. This 11-ingredient powerhouse also contains a unique ingredient we have yet to see ANY other companies use in their fat burners; 13-PPAR (Rhizoma Coptidis Extract).
Keep reading below to learn more about NovaLean as well as our full review and thoughts it!
Flavors: We were able to sample their OMG! (Orange Mango Grapefruit) NovaLean which is the same flavor as our recent review of RecoverEAA. Usually with the types of ingredient found in fat burners and pre workouts, the flavor differs than that of amino acid products; even if they are the same flavor. OMG! Was a rare exception. The flavor was identical to the RecoverEAA in that it had a strong tropical flavor with an initial sweet taste followed by light sour aftertaste. What surprised us most was that there was no overpowering sour taste you sometimes find with supplements containing carnitine! Aside from the OMG! (which we love) NovaLean also comes in Juicy Pineapple; another flavor you are sure to love for its crisp, sweet pineapple heavy attributes.
Mixability: We followed the directions on the label, mixing one whole scoop with about 12 oz of water. As always, InnovaPharm’s development team hits a home run in the mixability department. We tested it with the tried and true spoon stir, a coffee frother, and in a shaker cup, all with the same results; a smooth solution. The powder mixes almost instantly and there is minimal flakes/grittiness left over after you mix. The tiny particles that do remain settle to the bottom so if you do have a little residue left over, a quick swirl of your glass or shaker bottle will take care of it. Count this as another InnovaPharm product scoring a 10 on mixability
Ingredient Profile: NovaLean has a total of 11 ingredients, 9 of which are clinically dosed, with 2 additional minerals — Chromium and Iodine. Before we get into the really good stuff, lets take a look at some key trace minerals that InnovaPharm added to NovaLean. The first is Chromium, in a hefty dose of 200mcg. Chromium is commonly thought to show improvements of insulin sensitivity and lowering blood sugar as well as reducing cravings and suppressing appetite. The second mineral, Iodine, is dosed even smaller at only 100mcg but may play an even larger role in weight loss! Iodine is key in proper thyroid health and function. You may have noticed the recent recommendations of increased salt in your diet; but not just any kind of salt, iodized salt, specifically. By increasing iodine in your diet, your thyroid can function properly, improving your metabolism, heart health, digestion and so much more! This is one of the first fat burners we have seen to include iodine into its formula!
Now that we've covered the minerals, lets get to the rest of the ingredients. Our breakdown of the ingredients is going to be for the “1 scoop” serving size reported on the label.
L-Carnitine-L-Tartrate- 2,000mg: We’ve done many reviews on LCLT because its one of the most popular additions to fat burners! Carnitine itself is an ingredient commonly found in pre workouts and fat burners alike because of its ability to improve lipid oxidation and its ability to move it into the mitochondria to burn fat. Not only that, studies also suggest that LCLT has the ability to improve recovery, improve physical performance and power output, and reduce muscle tissue damage during long bouts of exercise! Not only can LCLT improve your body’s ability to burn fat, but it also has the ability to improve recovery, which can be a huge benefit if you’re already dieting and in a caloric deficit.
Acetyl-L-Carnitine-1,000mg: Also known as ALCAR, Acetyl-L-Carnitine is another form of carnitine that, while it does have some fat oxidizing properties, is known more for its cognition benefits. Studies suggest this form of carnitine can promote increased focus, concentration, mental clarity, and other neuroprotective effects. Many users also report that ALCAR gives them a heightened sense of well-being and improvement of mood.
Choline Bitartrate-1,500mg: Choline, especially choline bitartrate is a staple in many fat burners and nootropic products because of its ability to increase acetylcholine in the body. Increased levels of acetylcholine improve muscle contraction, improves mind to muscle connection, and help to improve memory, focus, and attention.
Olive Leaf extract (Oleuropein)-150mg: Oleuropein is one of our favorite stimulant free fat loss and health ingredients! Olive Leaf Extract has the ability to improve our body’s insulin sensitivity, and prevent the addition and formation of new fat cells in the body. On top of that, it has powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, as well as offering a reduction in blood pressure! Oleuropein can also support healthy thyroid function which, as we know, can increase weight loss through healthy metabolism function and digestion improvement.
Coleus Forskohlii-150mg: Although the popularity surrounding Coleus Forskohli has blown up over only the last 10 years, its been used for 100’s of years in Ayurvedic medicine. Studies have suggested that Coleus Forskohli can not only be beneficial to weight loss through its ability to activate cAMP pathways in the body to increase fat loss as well as synergize and improve the benefits of other fat burning compounds. While those effects seem good enough, it has also been thought to increase testosterone levels, reduce inflammation, and has been linked to increases in lean body tissue in those who are weight training. Talk about your all-in-one performance enhancing supplement!
AfraLean (Grains of Paradise)-50mg: We’ve really been digging grains of paradise in all of our fat burning supplements lately. AfraLean is a patented form of Grains of Paradise which has been shown to have multiple benefits in the fat burning realm. First off, it’s been shown to increase thermogenesis by browning white adipose tissue. As we’ve mentioned before white adipose tissue (WAT) is stored by the body and is commonly found around the midsection and organs; not good fat. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is used in thermogenesis and is burned as energy; essentially good fat! By its ability to turn WAT into BAT, AfraLean helps your body to prepare more fat to be burned and utilized by other ingredients such as the Coleus Forskohli and Carnitine blends in NovaLean! Of course, our review wouldn’t be complete without also mentioning Grains of Paradise has been shown to increase your basic metabolic rate and can increase your daily energy expenditure by almost 100 calories! It’s a match made in fat burning heaven!
GBB-35mg: Gamma-Butyrobetaine Ethyl Ester Chloride or GBB for short, is possibly more commonly known as “Super Carnitine”. You’re probably asking yourself, “more carnitine ingredients, really?” In short, yes, but it’s really GBB that is synthesized into L-Carnitine in the body through biological pathways. Increased GBB in the body will produce more L-Carnitine but at the same time, increased L-Carnitine and lack of GBB causes breakdown of L-Carnitine into GBB again. Are you lost yet? Essentially, by supplementing with GBB, your body won’t breakdown L-Carnitine to balance the two; thus, increasing L-carnitine levels in the body and ramping up your fat burning efforts to new levels. GBB is also known for increasing nitric oxide levels and increasing thermogenesis. If you start to feel a little sweatier than normal, don’t worry, that’s just the GBB kicking in..!
13-PPAR (Rhizoma Coptidis)- 10mg: This ingredient is what posts InnovaPharm at the top of the supplement industry when it comes to innovation. NovaLean is the first supplement that has featured 13-PPAR on the market. 13-PPAR is an extract from Rhizoma Coptidis, which like most plant compounds, contains numerous beneficially alkaloids. The one we want to focus on is the compound 13-methyleberberine. Berberine may sound familiar as it is one of the top GDA (glucose disposal agent) ingredients on the market to reduce hyperglycemia. What makes PPAR’s, specifically 13 PPAR so special is its ability to utilize lipids as its energy source rather than burning through glucose or proteins. Essentially 13-PPAR is a beefed-up version of berberine designed to regulate high resting glucose levels and improve metabolism of lipids in the body. At a tiny dose of just 10mg, studies suggest 13-PPAR can provide serious glucose regulation, even to those with type-2 diabetes!
Fucoxanthin-8mg: At just 8mg per servings, you’re probably wondering what Fucoxanthin could possibly provide to NovaLean. Well, this carotenoid found in brown seaweed has numerous benefits at even doses as small as 3mgs. Studies suggest that fucoxanthin can help to burn fat by storing itself in fat cells and inhibiting fat cell creation. Studies have also suggested fucoxanthin can regulate glucose metabolism as well as reduce blood pressure in human studies. The only caveat is that it takes some time to build up in your system. Studies suggest that fucoxanthin is most beneficial between 5-16 weeks when it has time to build up in the body. Although the build up phase does seem long, the overall health and fat burning benefits outweigh the time it takes to integrate into the body, and you can safely use Fucoxanthin year round!
Price Point: Due to NovaLean’s versatile dosing protocol, you can get anywhere from 25-50 servings out of a single tub! If you’re using a full scoop, the $49.99 price tag may seem like a bit much as you’ll be paying about $2 per serving in contrast to just $1 per serving if you use the half scoop. That is, until you use code MODERN30 at checkout to get 30% off your entire cart, bringing your total for NovaLean down to $35 per tub, or $1.40 per scoop or just $0.70 per half scoop! With a formula this powerful, you can definitely get over a month use out of a tub of NovaLean and still have profound effects!
