Panda Supplements Skull!
Panda Supplements Skull is a little different from the typical stim-based pre-workout. This one’s all about cognitive performance. Yet it doesn’t stop there. Intrigued? In this edition of Supplement Spotlight, we’ll take a closer look at Skull – as you will see, it’s quite an impressive Pre. So if you’re ready to roll, let’s jump right in!
What Is Panda Supplements Skull?
Panda Supplements Skull is a cutting-edge high-stim nootropic pre-workout created for those lifters looking to optimize their mental and physical performance in the gym. We’re talking elevated focus, enhanced motivation, extreme energy, huge pumps, improved performance, and increased endurance. This impressive Pre provides a complete approach to your workout experience.
Let’s Look At The Ingredients
20 Servings – Serving Size: 2 Scoops
L-Citrulline Malate 2:1 – 8000 mg
L-citrulline malate is made by combining the amino acid L-citrulline with malic acid. Citrulline promotes nitric oxide production for great pumps. Malate is an intermediate in the Krebs cycle, which promotes ATP (cellular energy) production. With the 2:1 ratio, Skull provides 6 grams of citrulline. (1)
Beta Alanine – 3200 mg
Beta-alanine extends endurance by buffering acid buildup in your muscles. It does this indirectly by increasing levels of carnosine in the body. As you might know, carnosine buffers lactic acid. This means you can power out more reps. Beta-alanine is also well-known for its temporary, harmless tingling effect. This side effect bothers some users so much that they don’t want to use a pre-workout that has the clinical dosing of beta alanine. It’s clinically dosed in Panda Supplements Skull. My suggestion is to drink it with plenty of water to help the effect pass quickly. (2)
L-Tyrosine – 3000 mg
L-Tyrosine is an amino acid that elevates focus and improves cognitive function. It’s involved in the production of the neurotransmitters dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine. These neurotransmitters control focus, mood, alertness, and help you cope with stress. It also has a major role in the production of thyroid hormones T3 and T4. (3)
Agmatine Sulfate – 1000 mg
Agmatine is produced in the body from the amino acid arginine. It’s a potent pump booster that also has strong cognitive benefits, including increased mental energy. It also helps the body deal with stress. (4)
Choline L-Bitartrate – 1000 mg
Choline L-Bitartrate is commonly used in many pre-workout and nootropic supplements. It is also a member of the B complex family of vitamins. Choline is a precursor to the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which supports focus and learning. (5)
Alpha GPC 50% – 600 mg
This is another form of choline and is naturally occurring in the brain. Alpha GPC is 40% choline by weight and has all the benefits of regular choline. In addition, it absorbs better than regular choline. (6)
DL-DMAE Bitartrate – 500 mg
DL-DMAE Bitartrate is a form of dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE), and found naturally in the body. It’s a precursor to choline, which, as noted, is used by the body to make the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. We’re only a few ingredients in, and by this time, the heavy nootropic emphasis of Panda Supplements Skull is already clear. (7)
Lion’s Mane Mushroom Extract – 500 mg
Lion’s Mane is a mushroom that improves cognitive function, motivation, and memory. It also acts as a neuroprotectant.
Caffeine Complex – 403 mg Total Caffeine
Caffeine Anhydrous – 325 mg
Caffeine is, of course, an immensely effective stimulant. Skull uses three types. As you can see, Panda Supplements Skull is serious about caffeine. The dominant type is caffeine anhydrous, which is caffeine with the moisture removed. This creates a more concentrated, faster-acting type of caffeine. (8)
Caffeine Citrate – 100 mg
This is a type of caffeine that enhances absorption by blending caffeine with citric acid. Like caffeine anhydrous, this is a form of caffeine that acts rapidly. That means you’ll get a quick hit of energy to power your workouts.
Dicaffeine Malate – 50 mg
This form of caffeine is here to balance out the other two fast acting caffeine sources. It is a form of caffeine that’s blended with malic acid. That combo results in a slower-release caffeine that helps smooth out the sometimes-harshness of caffeine and give you longer-lasting energy.
CognatiQ® Coffee (Coffea arabica) Fruit Extract – 100 mg
CognatiQ is a patented, natural ingredient that is derived from coffee fruit extract. It does not contain caffeine, but does support cognitive function, focus, memory, and brain health. (9)
Mucuna Pruriens Powder Extract (98% L-Dopa) – 200 mg
This is a tropical legume also known as velvet bean. It contains l-dopa, which is a precursor to the neurotransmitter dopamine. That’s a neurotransmitter that controls reward, motivation, motor function, improves mood and elevates focus.
Theobromine – 200 mg
Theobromine is a mild stimulant found in chocolate. It promotes energy and helps smooth out the sometimes-harsh effects of high amounts of caffeine. (10)
L-Theanine – 100 mg
This is an ingredient that is found in green tea. It can help the body relax without causing feelings of drowsiness. It’s usually combined with caffeine to help smooth the harshness of caffeine. As you can see, there are 3 ingredients that offset the potential harshness of caffeine, creating a smoother, extended energy experience. (11)
Rhodiola Rosea Extract – 100 mg
Rhodiola Rosea is an adaptogen. As you probably know, an adaptogen helps the body deal with mental as well as physical stress. Rhodiola contains active ingredients that are called rosavins and salidrosides. These actives are responsible for the benefits of Rhodiola. Besides its function as an adaptogen, the benefits include elevated mood, and overall enhanced cognitive function. Last but definitely not least, these two actives help maintain the functional integrity of the neurotransmitters adrenaline and dopamine.
Senactive® – 50 mg
Formerly known as Activan, Senactive is a patented combination of two adaptogenic herbal extracts – notoginseng root (Panax notoginseng) and sweet chestnut rose fruits (Rosa roxburghii). The benefits of this ingredient include increased energy, extended endurance, accelerated post-workout recovery, and muscle cell renewal. (12)
Huperzia Serrata Extract (1% Huperzine-A) – 20 mg
Huperzine A enhances mental focus and indirectly helps increase the production of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. One of the keys to the cognitive effectiveness of Panda Supplements Skull is that it directly targets this neurotransmitter to significantly enhance cognitive function. (13)
Pink Himalayan Sea Salt – 277 mg
This ingredient is a common source of electrolytes. The need to stay hydrated when working out is substantial, as mental and physical productivity drops when you’re dehydrated.
AstraGin® – 50 mg
This is a patented ingredient that is derived from Panax notoginseng and Astragalus. AstraGin® improves absorption and bio-availability of the entire Panda Supplements Skull formula. (14)
BioPerine® Black Pepper Extract (standardized to minimum 95% piperine) – 10 mg
If you can’t absorb a supplement, what’s the point of using it, regardless of how good it might be? Like AstraGin, BioPerine® Black Pepper Extract dramatically improves the absorption of the nutrients it’s included with. With not one but two absorption enhancers in Panda Supplements Skull, you will never have to worry about absorption!
How Do I Use Panda Supplements Skull?
Determine your tolerance by mixing ½ to 1 scoop with 8 ounces of water. Once you have determined tolerance, you can go up to the 2 scoop serving. Panda Supplements Skull should be consumed 20 minutes prior to your workout session.
What Can I Stack Skull With?
My first suggestion would be to use a good protein powder, such as Panda Supplements Premium Protein.grams of protein broken down as follows: Non-GMO rBGH Free Whey Protein Isolate (15.55 grams yielding 14 grams), Non-GMO rBGH Free Whey Protein Concentrate (13.75 grams yielding 11 grams), Collagen Peptides (3.33 grams yielding 3 grams). Yep, they have NutraBio-level full transparency when it comes to their Protein Blend. There’s also digestive enzymes and a complete Absorption Matrix. Did I mention it tastes absolutely amazing?
Next up would be to either mix in an EAA formula with Skull, or use one as an intra-workout. Training can have catabolic effects, adding an EAA helps maintain an anabolic state while you train. It also promotes protein synthesis due to the high leucine content. Remember to choose a stim-free version since Skull has more than enough stims.
From there, I would chase the pump even more with a quality pump booster such as Axe & SLedge Pumpies. I would also use glycerol, such as Raw Nutrition Pump2. This product features Glycersize™, a patented form of glycerol. Adding glycerol not only promotes huge water-based pumps, it enhances hydration and extends endurance.
Find all your supplements right here: Bodybuilding Supplements Store | I’ll Pump You Up (illpumpyouup.com/)
Summary
Panda Supplements Skull is undoubtedly the most impressive high-stim nootropic pre-workout on the market. This is a powerful cognitive formula that also covers energy, pumps, endurance, and performance. If you want a well-rounded Pre that gives you an unprecedented mental edge, Skull is the pre-workout for you!
References:
- Pérez-Guisado, J., & Jakeman, P. M. (2010). Citrulline malate enhances athletic anaerobic performance and relieves muscle soreness. Journal of strength and conditioning research, 24(5), 1215–1222. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181cb28e0
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/beta-alanine-101
- Deijen, J. B., & Orlebeke, J. F. (n.d.). Effect of tyrosine on cognitive function and blood pressure under stress. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8293316
- Reis, D. J., & Regunathan, S. (2000). Is agmatine a novel neurotransmitter in brain?. Trends in pharmacological sciences, 21(5), 187–193. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0165-6147(00)01460-7
- https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Choline-HealthProfessional/
- https://examine.com/supplements/alpha-gpc/
- Malanga, G., Aguiar, M. B., Martinez, H. D., & Puntarulo, S. (2012). New insights on dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE) features as a free radical scavenger. Drug metabolism letters, 6(1), 54–59. https://doi.org/10.2174/187231212800229282
- https://examine.com/supplements/caffeine/
- https://www.futureceuticals.com/cognatiq
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1756464624001282
- L-Theanine: Scientific review on benefits, anxiety, dosage, side effects | Examine.com
- https://www.qualialife.com/formulation/senactiv?srsltid=AfmBOopKfR8i4gx0mSu3SRKYDqPxhu-hRn4F78ghV7Reb9aA400XaNi7
- https://qbi.uq.edu.au/brain/brain-anatomy/what-blood-brain-barrier#:~:text=In%20the%20capillaries%20that%20form,wall%20and%20into%20brain%20tissue.
- AstraGin® – Better Health Through Better Absorption (getastragin.com)