We’re obsessed with stimulants. We pound pre-workouts that contain 400mg+ caffeine and wash it down with an energy drink that contains another 300mg caffeine. It is a problem. It really is. So much so that many respectable brands are educating consumers on the negative implications of over-stimulation. Stimulants used in moderation can be beneficial for your workout or any other activity that requires an increased sense of alertness and focus. However, we are not using them in moderation. Brands like Olympus (formally known as Olympus Labs) recognizes this and wants to help educate consumers on the benefit of lower to non-stimulant products that can provide the same type of elevated exercise performance as a stimulant-based product.
Honestly, there are not too many more innovative brands in sports nutrition than Olympus Lifestyle. Since rebranding, the brand has stayed true to their dedication to innovation for the consumer. When it comes to a non-stimulant pre-workout, Olympus formulates a product that is efficaciously dosed, and that should work well.
Before we dive into the details of No Mercy, the question out there is why should anyone take a pre-workout without caffeine and stimulants? The answer comes pretty easy. Due to the fact that we are overstimulated, our adrenal glands are fried. We need to give them a break and reset. Using a non-stimulant pre-workout doesn’t mean you’re going to have a bad workout; it is allowing your body to reset so that way you do not build up a tolerance to caffeine and stimulants. On top of that, over stimulation can constrict blood flow. Your heart continues to pump blood, and your heart race elevates during exercise, but if you’re overstimulated, the blood cannot flow as well as it should thus causing stress on your cardiovascular system. A non-stimulant pre-workout will help alleviate that and also allow you to obtain fuller pumps.
When To Take Olympus No Mercy?
Olympus No Mercy is a non-stimulant pre-workout powder that should be taken approximately 30-minutes prior to your exercise. No Mercy can be taken before weight lifting or high intensity training/cardio. You would much rather have a non-stimulant pre-workout before you participate in a high intensity exercise or sporting event. No Mercy should also be taken when you are coming down or off of stimulants.
Why Take Olympus No Mercy?
Olympus No Mercy is a non-stimulant pre-workout powder with amazing performance enhancing and pump ingredients. If you’re looking for a non-stimulant pre-workout/pump powder that is going to be dosed appropriately and effective, Olympus No Mercy will be just that. The pump portion of No Mercy will impressive you. By eliminating stimulants you are eliminating the vasoconstriction aspect of many pre-workouts allowing the pump ingredients to work hard for you.
If you’ve built up a tolerance to caffeine and stimulants, a stimulant break is needed. You do not have to give up your supplements, you just need to use an effective non-stimulant performance enhancing powder like No Mercy from Olympus.
No Mercy can also be taken on off-days to aid in muscle recovery. An increase pump, even on off days, will bring nutrient rich blood into muscles to help repair damaged muscle tissues from exercise. No Mercy may reduce oxidative stress and delayed onset muscle soreness.
Olympus No Mercy Label Breakdown
Olympus No Mercy is a non-stimulant pre-workout powder but also seconds as a non-stimulant pump powder. No Mercy packs innovative ingredients into this non-stimulant pre-workout that are dosed correctly which will lead to an increase in overall performance and exercise capacity.
No Mercy is a 40/20 serving unit. For the purpose of this ingredient breakdown, we will look at the 20-serving numbers to ensure you are getting effacacious doses.
L-Citrulline – 6g
L-Ctirulline is a common ingredient used in many pre-workout and pump supplements. Citrulline is the precursor to Arginine in the body. When Citrulline converts to Arginine, it then increases nitric oxide levels causing an increase in blood flow to your muscles.
Citrulline’s clinical dosage is 3-5g, of pure Citrulline. Do not be fooled by the 6-8g you’ve been accustomed to knowing. The 6-8g dosage pertains to a Citrulline Malate 2:1 or 1:1 ingredient.
Taurine – 3g
Taurine is a great ingredient used in pre-workouts traditionally thought to be used only for an increase in strength. The fact is, Taurine aids in regulating electrolytes, which will lead to improved endurance and strength output. The regulation of electrolytes will also aid in a fuller pump. Not only are you going to be able to potentially get in one more rep to force blood into your muscles, Taurine will ensure there is proper fluid flow in the body to achieve a fuller pump/.
We typically see Taurine dosed at 1g. The current dosage in No Mercy would put that at 3x the normal amount.
PeakO2 – 2g
PeakO2 is one of the more unique, innovative ingredients used in supplements today. PeakO2 is a blend of six different mushrooms grown in the US. These mushrooms are powder adaptogens, which allow athletes to “adapt” to and overcome physical and mental stress. PeakO2 has been shown to lead to increased power output, endurance and overall exercise performance. PeakO2 also increases oxygen uptake.
The clinically studied and accepted dosage of PeakO2 is 2g per day.
NordicCherry – 500mg
NordicCherry is used at 500mg. NordicCherry is Tart Cherry Extract that has several benefits as it relates to recovery. You will find NordicCherry in many post-workout products, but who says you cannot have it in a pre-workout? NordicCherry has been shown, at doses of just 500mg, to aid in joint support, post-exercise recovery and healthy sleeping habits. NordicCherry has been shown to support post-exercise recovery within 7 days.
The standard dosage of NordicCherry is 500mg.
Vaso6 – 300mg
Vaso6 is a branded ingredient from Compound Solutions. In the simplest of explanations, Vaso6 increases nitric oxide allowing for an increase in blood flow. Specifically, VASO6 improves the bioavailability of nitric oxide by inhibiting the expression and secretion of a peptide hormone responsible for vasoconstriction and increased blood pressure called endothelin-1 (ET-1). This is what makes Vaso6 unique and different than many of the NO boosting agents on the market today.
The best dosage of Vaso6, per studies, is 300mg, which is what we are getting with Olympus No Mercy.
S7 – 50mg
S7 is a blend of seven plant-based ingredients (green coffee bean extract, green tea extract, colorless turmeric extract, tart cherry, blueberry, broccoli and kale) that has been clinically proven to ignite your body’s own nitric oxide system. A pilot study has shown that S7 can increase nitric oxide levels by 230%.
In a pilot study, the effects of S7 were measured on how it influences circulating, bioavailable nitric oxide concentration within healthy humans. This is a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover, human study. Eight different healthy humans were selected between the ages of 24 and 55. They were given either a placebo or a 50mg dose of S7. S7 was clinically shown to increase nitric oxide levels by 230% at only a 50mg dose, thus resulting in increased blood flow. Increased blood flow can lead to improved performance. The placebo group showed insignificant results.
S7 is not a nitrate product. S7 is an ingredient that actually triggers your own body’s nitric oxide to produce more.
KannaEase – 25mg
KannaEase is used at 25mg. This is sceletium tortusoum and is used to alleviate stress and anxiety. Olympus has used KannaEase at this dosage before in prior pre-workouts. Supplementing with KannaEase not only may alleviate anxiety, it may lead to improved focus.
Dosage is appropriate at 25mg.
Olympus No Mercy Final Takeaway
Olympus No Mercy is one of the more advanced and unique non-stimulant pre-workout powders on the market. The addition of PeakO2 is all you need to replace the caffeine and stimulants as it can aid in increased energy and exercise performance. Pair that with the pump producing ingredients of Citrulline, Vaso6 and S7 you are going to have a helluva pump producing non-stimulant pre-workout powder. The addition of 3g Taurine will be noticeable in strength output and aid in the pump.
The label reads a non-stimulant pre-workout, and it is, but that should not deter you from buying this and combining with your favorite stimulant based pre-workout. There’s no need to pair this with Levels, Olympus’ stimulant-based pre-workout, but you can pair this with other pre-workouts on the market that are missing these unique, effective ingredients.
We are excited to get our hands on this and try this product. The combination of the pump and NordicCherry will also help with the alleviation of DOMS. Exactly what most of us want and need.
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