It's time for me to review another supplement and today I am going to examine HICA-MAX by Labrada.

HICA_MAX is sold as a "Muscle Growth Stimulator". It is a fruity flavored chewable Leucic Acid (a-hydroxy-isocaproic acid). 1 tablet contains 500 mg of the acid and it is dosed at three tablets per day. HICA-MAX contains 1.5 grams of Xylitol (a sugar alcohol) that also gives it 1.5 gms of total carbs per tablet.
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Here is what HICA-MAX proports:
HICA-MAX™ is a powerful non-hormonal, natural stimulator of ­muscle growth. HICA-MAX™ chewables contain 100% pharmaceutical grade leucic acid, also known as alpha-hydroxy-isocaproic acid (HICA), a natural metabolite of the branched chain amino acid, leucine. HICA-MAX™ works by increasing protein synthesis (anabolism), and decreasing muscle protein breakdown (catabolism.) Its mechanism of action has been suggested as an independent mTOR signal transducer, which is a "cell-signaler" for muscle protein synthesis. Leucic acid also interrupts muscle protein breakdown by activating nuclear factor kappa B and inhibiting caspase-8. It may also activate IGF-1, a growth factor that helps age-related decreases in your body's growth hormone output. As a hard training athlete, HICA-MAX™ can help you: * Create explosive gains in muscle and strength faster than ever before, without the negative side effects of non FDA approved supplements or non FDA approved supplement. * Rapidly accelerate recovery from workouts, so you can train more often. * Reduce DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) allowing you to train harder.1 Unlike non FDA approved supplement or hypertrophic non FDA approved supplements, HICA-MAX? activates ­hypertrophic and anti-catabolic pathways without directly affecting your body's hormonal balance. HICA-MAX? gives you maximum muscle growth without negative side effects! You don't have to cycle off HICA-MAX?. Just three HICA-MAX™ tablets is an efficacious daily dose of what may be the most powerful non-non FDA approved supplemental muscle growth stimulator in existence! HICA-MAX? comes in 4 delicious, sugar-free flavors. HICA-MAX™ offers the most cost-effective solution to accelerating muscle growth gains in the gym while also reducing muscle soreness from super-charged workouts!
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I am going to rate this supplement four ways:
Taste
Dose
Effectiveness
Value

Taste: 8/10. I loved the taste of these tablets which is good because it allowed me to double and triple dose them in hopes of seeing some results. They taste like off brand sweet tarts of sorts.

Dose: 8/10 again because, if indeed three tablets affect you, they are easy to take and do not require water to wash them down so dosing is easy and convenient.

Effectiveness: 4/10. I tried three after leg day to run them through the paces - no impact. I tried five the next day for triceps day - no effects. I tried every way I could to see if there was any lack of DOMS or soreness and there wasn't. I tried to gauge or note an increase in muscle mass, strength, or anything that I could remotely attribute to HICA-MAX and I denoted absolutely noting. I am being generous with a 4/10 rating because perhaps I overlooked some obscure benefit and I REALLY want it to work.

Value: 4/10. I got these on a buy one get one free so I have another complete, unopened canister (they are about the size and shaped of a PWO canister like Jack3d) that I will 'enjoy' PCT as a snack.... seriously. Heck, maybe they will work... but I digress. I am only assigning a value to these in hopes that I didn't pay $20 for some slightly awkward (but good) sweet tart like chewable. I wish I could say these work and have some value but honestly I did not notice any impact whatsoever on my health, workouts, well being, or condition whatsoever.


In summary, I was actually quite excited to try this product and was hopeful that I would see some benefit from it because they are a good tasting and easy to enjoy supplement; however, the reality is that I saw no benefit at all from taking single, double, even triple doses of this product. I take a very well balanced and plentiful supply of amino acids and perhaps the HICA-MAX was lost in the mix but I would have to say to keep your hard earned money in your pocket on this supplement and buy some D-Pol and L-Glutamine for a little muscle help and some soreness relief.

Better yet, buy some Epsom salt and some chicken breasts.

I'd say give it a shot. I take 4 or 5 throughout the day 2 or 3 at a time. It seems to reduce soreness but who knows. My diet and supplements(creatine and post workout recovery shake) are perfect right now so I'd say that's a bigger factor than this stuff but give it a whirl for sure.

I stumbled on to nice max while combing through my local gnc. The clinical online were solid so I jumped in head first. Here is what I found.

Taste: good. Not amazing but do able. Using them post workout seemed to be easiest. I would just pop them in and nibble during my cooldown foam rolling. Not the best supp I have ever tasted but by far not the worst.

Effects : a good solid 7. After the first few days the doms just started to diminish and just turn to a light little burn. More of an afterthought really. Recovery was the most noticeable effect. I can't say that it had a direct effect on mass or strength beyond that but it makes a solid addition to a post workout regiment.

Price: a wee bit high. For what labrada pays to make it they could stand to drop it to 19 or even 25. Thirty was too much but I will pay it regardless.

If you take hica max, which you should really do, make sure you take at least four tabs per day. Empty stomach is best. You can take it with a post workout like cell tech or stand. It works. Its safe and it does what it says it does. Just be realistic. Don't expect to turn into Ronnie Coleman overnight.

First off Im not a huge fan of Labrada Nutrition. Ive used a few of there products, and although theyve worked well the reps of the company are DBags. So ive never been a big fan, but im in the supplement industry and wanted to try the HICA. Ive used dozens of products over the years from protein to prohormones and steroids Now ill honestly say that the best non hormonal product ive ever used was MT Leukic. Now although I had awesome results with it (ive used the Original and Hardcore version, not the new Pro Series) with a bottle retailing at $70 & only lasting 15 days at maximum dose it was never very cost efficient, because yes MuscleTech is over priced and makes outrageous label claims, non the less Leukic was great for building muscle and helped me stay lean. So when I first read about Hica Max I was very interested due to the similarity they seem to share. Now ive read reviews saying you will get the same results with free form leucine or BCAA and I totally disagree. I would take 5 chewable tablets ( the taste is pretty bad, leaves the same after taste as most BCAA drinks) after my workout or in the morning on non workout days. Within a week a noticed a much fuller apperance and reduced DOMS. I also notice that im more anabolic around the clock and burn fat and recover much easier. I do believe the hica is one of the best natural products ive used and its fairly cost effective. I will say the results were better than taking upwards to 20G of free for leucine a day, but not as good as taking the 2 servings of Leukic a day(12 pills), but it doesnt really matter seeing as that version is discontinued. But in retrospect that is comparing 2.5G of HICA vs 15G of KICA. So I might try 2 serving a day if I can get through chewing 10 of these tablets a day. Overall though it is a very good product, especially if your wanting to cut back (not eliminate) on pfotein shakes without losing size and still make gains. 9/10. & I read that its best in chewable but I dont see the difference it would make being in a powder or capsule. Id much prefer the powder capsuled so you dont need to take in the carbs and spend time chewing them. I would also like if it was more clear about guidelines to not taking it with other protein or Aminos, when to take it, whether to take all at once or through out the day, and if its ok to take more than one serving dailys.

This stuff is easy to take and does have updated info via their Facebook page regarding dosing so be sure to check that out. The label says up to 5 but now it is only 4 for me at 225lbs.

On my second bottle in a row and i have gained weight a lot faster then without and have not had as much soreness so it does seem to be working.

Good research backed info and lots of good reviews everywhere i go except for one guy.

So i would recommend if you got an extra 20$ a month if bought online or 39.99 at GNC.