As most of us already know, ON is a top notch company. I had tried ZMA in the past from another company no results. One of the sites I order from had this on sale last summer so I thought I’d give it a try since it was ON. Let’s just say that it was successful so here it is 7 months later and I’ve finished three bottles!

Price: Even after the sale, the price isn’t bad for this. Around $20 for 180 caps, pretty good! I think Sci-Fit may be a little less though.

You are supposed to dose this on an empty stomach. There are a lot of times that I can’t take it right on an empty stomach due to my crazy schedule, I eat too late sometimes. Even when I take it 45 minutes after eating, the effects seem to be about the same.

As far as the muscle building aspect of this supplement, I really can’t notice that much of a difference. I can not directly attribute any specific Muscle Gains to this product. However, the deep sleep that I get with it is awesome! Taking three of these about an hour before bed on at least a semi-empty stomach is great! When I go to sleep, I sleep the whole night and usually have some very vivid dreams. Even though I can’t point to any muscle growth from this product, we all know that a better sleep is great for our muscle growth. I know it is helping at least just because of that.

I did notice a huge difference in the quality of my sleep between 2 and three caps. I tried 2 for about a week and noticed that I woke up a couple times more during the night.

I have not developed a tolerance or dependence on this. Three caps works just as well today as it did when I started taking it. I personally only take it on workout days. On non-workout days, I sleep just like I did before I started taking it; restless and lots of tossing and turning. I tried taking it on days that I didn’t workout and it didn’t seem to have the same effect on my sleep pattern.

Even though I can not point this to any specific size or strength gains, I know that the sleep quality is much better. I feel like a champ on 6 hours of sleep but it takes at least 8 without it to feel as good. The price is reasonable. I would highly suggest this to someone who lifts and needs a better rest cycle. You get the sleep you need without the unneeded drugs in Tylenol PM or other sleep pills. Give it a shot!

As my supplement knowledge grew, I began to want to learn more about natural testosterone boosters. ZMA kept popping up during my search as being a natural and affordable option to supporting and optimizing test levels, as well as aiding in muscle recovery. For those unaware, ZMA is a blend of zinc, vitamin B6, and magnesium (most often in aspartate form). It is often found in some capacity in most natural testosterone boosters.

I decided to go ahead and go with ON’s brand of ZMA. I purchased 90 caps for $12.99 from BB.com and started off dosing just 1 cap just before bed. After a few days I had upped my dosing to the recommended 3 caps. I’ll note that I didn’t start feeling the immediate effects of the product until I was taking the maximum recommended dose. Additionally, I did not consume any form of calcium within an hour of dosing ZMA as supposedly doing so can inhibit the body’s absorption of the zinc.

TASTE & MIXABILITY: N/A
Obviously since this is a capsule supplement neither of these categories apply. I will say that the caps are small and VERY manageable, even for someone who dislikes swallowing pills.

EFFECTIVENESS: 9/10
Once I upped my dosing to 3 pills I immediately noticed an increase in the quality and deepness of my sleep. I am a very solid sleeper – I get at least 6 to 8 hours every single night. I rarely wake up during the night and I do not have any issues falling asleep. Even so, I still found that my sleep improved while taking ZMA. It’s hard to describe the sensation, but about 20 minutes or so after dosing I would feel very relaxed and not want to move my limbs at all. It was a comfortable sensation and not at all unpleasant.

Generally two side effects are common when taking ZMA. The first is vivid and “extreme” dreaming. I certainly experienced this, although I was not in any way bothered by the effects. Ever since I was a little kid I’ve often had very graphic and disturbing dreams – I am not sure exactly why. Although I did have vivid dreams for nearly two weeks straight, I would consider the dreams more “normal”. The dreaming effects diminished after about three weeks of using the product.

The second side that many people discuss is lethargy upon waking. Fortunately I did not experience this problem. If anything I awoke more refreshed than normal. I had no issues getting out of bed and no lasting feelings of lethargy throughout my day. My sleep schedule is quite strict however and I do work your standard 9-5 office job. I would caution anyone with an irregular sleeping schedule or job that requires them to be “on call” to be careful when taking ZMA, as it very well might interfere in a negative manner.

As for raising or optimizing my natural test levels – this is something I found difficult to discern. I didn’t notice any difference in my workouts or my mood while taking this product. I wasn’t more prone to anger or anything along those lines. I will say that I did experience a solid boost in my sex Drive, which was a very big plus for this product as I take anti-anxiety medication that can put a serious damper on my love life. As a side note – I was also taking Animal Stak for most of the time that I was dosing ZMA, and it’s likely that it was a combination of both products that caused the sex Drive boost.

VALUE: 10/10
The bottle of 90 caps lasted me about a month. Considering that most test boosters cost upwards of $50 and last around the same time period, I feel that ZMA is a much more affordable option for those looking to optimize their natural testosterone levels. Additionally, ZMA has the benefit of aiding in sleep and recovery, which in my opinion is far more valuable than slightly increased test levels.

At .40 cents per serving (.32 for the 180 cap bottle), ON’s ZMA is certainly an extremely affordable option. Although there are a few brands out there with cheaper ZMA, with ON you can rest assured that you are getting a quality product.

OVERALL: 9.5/10
ZMA is an excellent and affordable supplement with multiple benefits. It does not need to be cycled and can be stacked on a bulk or cut. In all honesty, there aren’t that many products out there with the same nutritional, hormonal, and recovery benefits then plain ZMA. I highly recommend trying this product, regardless of brand. Furthermore, I think this is an excellent option for those younger lifters who probably wouldn’t benefit much from a natural t-booster due to already high test levels. ZMA can help optimize those already high levels and will save you wallet from an unnecessary beating.

Personally ZMA has become a steady staple in my stack. Although I am currently taking PowerFULL and have put the ZMA aside for the moment, I already have two bottles of SciFit’s ZMA (BOGO deal on BB.com) lined up and ready to go. If you haven’t already done so, give this product a shot. You won’t be sorry.

Finally got a chance to sit down and write this review of ZMA.

Like with any training split you are on, sleep is critcal to the overall growth, recovery and general well being. Like they say, "You don't build muscle while in the gym". A solid 8 hours of deep sleep is critical and should never be overlooked.

Usage: Ran this product about 30 minutes before bedtime with my night-time shake (typically ON Casein or Nitro Core 24). 2-3 pills daily.

Overall Effectiveness 9: I typically sleep very well during the night, but do wake up 1-2 times to answer natures call due to the amounts of fluids running through my system. This helps ensure that the sleep I is Maximized. Also, going back to sleep when you wake up in the middle of the night is much easier. The sleep is very deep and you feel very refreshed and energized. Recovery and overall performance definitely increased as opposed to not running this product.

Value 9: Like anything, this is roughly $20 for a 3 month supply. Cheap and worth the investment. Your body will thank you.

Conclusion: This product, like most Optimum products is very solid. Not many complaints and is priced nicely. I can't stress enough how important sleep is and if you do serious training, including HIIT. Your entire body will be thanking you.

No need for a long review on this stuff since the effects of ZMA are very simple. It will help you get much more restful sleep and even help with natural testosterone production. I pop three of these on an empty stomach an hour before my bedtime casein shake and it makes a big difference in the quality of my nights sleep. I have always had difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep through the night and ZMA helps with that immensely. At 20 bucks for a two month supply there is not a person on earth who shouldn't be using this supplement. I just wake up feeling a lot better and ready to tackle the rest of the day. Do yourself a favor and add this to your arsenal if you don't already take it.

Value: 9/10
I got 180 capsules ( recommended use is 3 capsules a day) so this is a two month supply for $24. This comes out to .40 cents a day which is a great value.

Effectiveness: 7/10
The product claims to help increase testosterone levels and improve sleep. There really isn’t much conclusive evidence out there that states that this product directly can increase testosterone. Although having low zinc levels which most people who are carnivores don’t have will decrease testosterone production. I noticed no changes in sleep quality or feeling fresher in the morning. The one thing that I noticed was CRAZY dreams while taking this product. I am giving this a 7 because I didn’t notice substantial changes in how I feel (probably because I regularly eat red meat which is high in zinc) but I felt pretty good while taking ZMA. The magnesium is supposed to help relax the body and mind but I always sleep pretty good so it made no difference.

Overall: 8/10
Optimum is always reliable in my book. I can always trust them as a company and they always come through with great products and prices. I recommend taking ZMA during hard training cycles because intense exercise can definitely deplete your body of crucial vitamins and minerals especially zinc and magnesium. If your diet is not perfectly on point or you are a vegetarian, this product is a must for athletes and intense lifters.

Fair and Honest,
GodofSerbia1

Optimum Nutrition is one of the top three companies out there right now...hands down. With that being said, when I want supplements with very simple ingredient profiles I look to Optimum, and have done so for the past year on the advice of Olympic trainers and nutritionists.

Taste: 10, I say 10 because it's a pill..you swallow it and it has no aftertaste. This should not be an issue for anyone.

Value: Wow..$15 for a supplement that works as advertised? Sold

Timing: I think the timing of supplements is extremely overlooked and can be the most difficult part of supplementing properly so that maximum bioavailability of the substance can be obtained. I was informed to take three pills on an empty stomach before going to bed. I personally refuse to go to bed on an empty stomach and usually have a casein shake before I sleep. I take my ZMA before I drink the shake.

Effects: Give this product a week to feel enhanced recovery time. The difference in recovery time is very noticeable and helpful, this may be due to the deep sleep that it can induce. Also very vivid dreams, this will take effect immediately, often with first dosage.

Testosterone booster: I couldn't tell you if this worked or not. I think it is very very difficult to gauge this without having blood work done which I did not.

Unwanted Side effects: IF YOU ARE PRONE TO ECZEMA, the magnesium in this product WILL dry your skin out. I manage mine really well with medication and lotion, however, it's still there. so figure out if this product is worth it to you. I had a great time on it, but I can not use it again because my eczema gets unbearable. When I stopped taking ZMA my skin issues went away within three days.

Overall: For 99% of the population this product is absolutely wonderful and helpful, and at a price like this should be tried at least once.

Thanks for your time and consideration, good luck on reaching your goals.

Hi everyone, this worked as well as any other ZMA product for me, that means it helped me drop off, sleep longer and feel more refreshed in the morning. Not sure about real test-boosting properties, but it is a surely safe, cheap and effective relaxation and recovery aid.

I had the more vivid dreams as well, sometimes it got to the point where I found them really annoying, very intense, at times almost nightmare-like and it took me a while until I could shake that feeling in the morning. I don't know where this comes from, but I am obviously not the only one.

Whatsoever, sometimes I woke up at night because of the intense dreaming and then couldn't get back to sleep which is of course not very beneficial. Now I take straight magnesium citrate and still dream more and more vividly but not as extremely as with ZMA.

So, the ingredients are obviously high-class, many of us lifters need additional zinc, magnesium and b6 and ZMA works as a sleep aid, but sometimes more than I want to. That, and the price (compared to straight magnesium) is the reason why I gave it a slightly lower rating. It might still be a great product for you and is well worth a try.

ZINC, Magnesium and Vit B6... in large dose basically.

I was gifted 90caps for free with an Optimum stack I purchased on-line so my value of this project is swayed by this being a freebie.

I had heard of this before, but as I already have whey, casein, creatine as my basic stack I have never really bothered too much about additional vitamins and minerals.. like most natural body-builders, I feel I eat enough whole foods and veggies to get what I need.

ZMA is supposed to aid sleep, increase recovery, improve mood and also the amount of free testosterone in your system to grow muscle and improve libido.

So I started taking these just to see... and guess what, they actually work!
I've had better sleep than at any time of my life, I am always in a good mood everyone tells me, which when you carb cycle is rare as you are always irritable.

Sleep is deep and I do have trouble waking up sometimes, I also do have very vivid dreams which is both a good and bad thing I am afraid.
But overall this last month I have enjoyed a very consistent sleep pattern and can actually look forward to going to bed, as sometimes diet can leave you stressed and anxious.

A placebo perhaps?, based on some studies, but a good nights sleep is a good nights sleep. Just read the bottle, take 30 mins before your last whey/casein shake otherwise the calcium in that will blunt the effects up to 90% some studies have shown.

Give them a try.

Honestly this product worked great for me and if I had the money I'd still be taking it. I used to get a better sleep and it worked great. I didn't have any crazy nightmares or anything and I had such deep sleeps it was crazy. I could go to bed at 12 and wake up at five in the morning literally jumping out of bed ready to go. It really helped with recovery as well in terms of getting rid of soreness.
Overall great product for sleep and recovery, and i def recommend it.

Well, I said I would start getting more involved and why not start off with a supplement that's blowing up big right now. Move over Compound 20. Get out of the way D-pol. Yes ladies & gents. Im talkin about Optimum ZMA. Lol...ok maybe I blew that outta proportion but this is a top notch supp right here. A couple of years ago on my quest to learn more about natural test booster ZMA kept popping up. After reading up on the benefits of ZMA (zinc, vitammin B6, and magnesium) which include helping you get a better quality of sleep and "possibly" helping sustain test levels at a good level I pulled the trigger on ZMA. Unfortunately GNC's version did nothing for me. (As always tho, thats just me; I was a non responder to that brand of ZMA and im not tryna knock it at all). On to The review tho:

-Value
I got this for 12.99 from bb.com. I know the price has risen by a dollar as of today but still that is not bad for 90 caps. I also stacked this bad boy with Powerfull before I went to bed. Do to this I took one less cap than recommended so it lasted longer.

-Taste
The only reason I am putting this part up here is because GNC's ZMA tasted and smelled horrible. If I were to compare it to another capsule i would put it right behind C-bol in the race for worst tasting/smelling capsule. Optimum's ZMA had none of that however. I would just pop it with my Powerfull and go.

-Effectiveness
It usually takes me a while to go to sleep. I herniated a couple of disks in my back prior to my senior yr of high school and I could no longer sleep on my stomach without hurting my lowerbck, or waking up stiff...uh lower back stiff that is ;) lol. I always fell asleep faster that way but I to sleep on my back and I found myself staying awake longer trying to fall asleep that way. Im tellin ya, (maybe it was the placebo effect), these things had me out. I dont know if my dreams were anymore vivid than normal but I would't view having vivid dreams as a bad thing. I did find myself feeling a little more lethargic than normal, but once I left for class or practice that felling was going. Im not sure it helped boost my natural testosterone levels, as a matter of fact im sure it didn't cuz I was too young for it to do so when I took it, but it did put me in a relaxed mood. And like I said once i passed that lethargic feeling, do to the quality of sleep I was getting I felt freshed throughout the day.

-Overall
I would not say that you need this to be apart of your staple of supplements. There might not be a need for some guys to ever take ZMA...and thats fine. But I will say that if you have a problem sleeping and want to take something other than meds to help then go with this. Its cheap, effective and will have you out. Also if you want to possibly boost your natural testorone levels and are older than 25 then once again this is a cheap supplement that will help. You won't blow up off of it, but under the right circumstances, its worth the buy.