NOW ZMA Zinc Magnesium Vitamin B-6 Capsules

ZMA is a pretty standardized product. So long as you buy from a reputable company you don’t have a whole lot of guesswork involved with the purchasing.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with ZMA, it’s a mineral supplement which provides zinc, magnesium, and vitamin B-6 in a very specific ratio to optimize absorption. Intensely training athletes tend to be deficient in one or more of these nutrients, which in turn inhibits proper anabolic hormone production. If you work out hard and your diet perhaps isn’t the best, it’s a good chance you will benefit from ZMA. You will fall asleep quicker, sleep deeper, and wake up feeling a little more refreshed than you would without it. All other things being equal, this will help you recover faster and grow stronger from your workouts. The effect is not dramatic, but it’s generally worth the price of the supplement for most people.

I’ve been using this brand of ZMA for a couple weeks now and it’s worked just as well as other brands in the past. I sleep well and wake up feeling great. NOW is a very reputable brand that offers great value with their supplements. This is one of the best deals you will find on legit ZMA.

First off, let it be known that how this product affects you will depend completely on your body’s chemistry and nutritional needs. Also it’s my strong opinion that to get the most of ZMA, you’ll want to use it during a hard training cycle. You may not be an athlete, per se, but your body will have a greater need for zinc and magnesium if you’re placing greater demands upon it… and therefore you will reap the recovery benefits of the product, whereas someone who doesn’t train very hard likely won’t get the best result because their body simply doesn’t require it nearly as much. Simple concept. Simple principles of physical training adaptation and differing nutritional needs.

I’ve taken several ZMA products in the past. They usually helped my recovery noticeably, and improved the quality of my sleep. This product certainly gets me into a deep sleep, but I have noticed extreme grogginess in the mornings. As some other reviewers have mentioned, I have actually missed my alarms in the mornings when I’ve taken this. Am I complaining about it? No. To be fair, you might expect that with ANY ZMA product… it is important to know that this may happen, but you’re still getting the beneficial results from the product. If you don’t like these effects, don’t take it.

I take the recommended 3 capsules about 30-minutes before sleep on a relatively empty stomach, with a few ounces of water, as directed. I would take this product daily during a hard training cycle of up to 8-weeks, but that’s just my personal preference. After 8-weeks, I’d stop using the product because of the concept of ‘down-regulation’ whereby your body adapts to almost anything you give it for a prolonged period of time (i.e. caffeine, aspirin, tribulus, etc.)

I like this product, but I am not certain that it is the best ZMA product on the market. And to be honest I am not completely sure why, because milligram for milligram, it should be very similar to other ZMA products, if not the same (as long as the types and doses of zinc and magnesium are the same). I’m no scientist, but I know that this stuff gets me into a deep sleep, so I do like it.

All that said, I will probably buy a different brand next time to see if I find one better. But then you have to wonder… if I’m NOT that groggy in the morning taking another brand, is the other brand under-dosed or lying about the milligrams listed on the label? That’s the problem with nutritional supplements folks. You gotta rely on these public reviews to find reputable brands. I think NOW is a reputable brand… for now.

I have used this product for several years and it really delivers. I sleep better and recover from working out faster. I strongly recommend this for anyone who is active.