Customer Reviews

Optimum Nutrition ZMA

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Ahh, ZMA. The famed all-natural sleep and recovery aid for bodybuilders and fitness enthusiasts. According to most supplement companies, it also increases free testosterone levels, though many studies show that this may not be true. Halfway through a bottle, here's what I've found:

Sleep - This stuff definitely knocks you out. If you take it as directed, 30-60 minutes before bed on an empty stomach, it hits you harder than "The Itis" after a Luther burger (Boondocks reference). You sleep excellently, too, and if you have to get up for any reason, you can easily fall back asleep afterwards. Some people say you have crazy dreams, but I don't ever remember mine, and that hasn't changed since I started taking ZMA. People also claim you wake up feeling awesome and ready to go, but so far I just wake up groggy as ever.

Recovery - This is sorta hard to judge, but my muscles do feel as though they are recovering faster after each workout since I started taking this stuff. Not quite as much soreness, either.

Testosterone - I actually think, despite some studies, that ZMA does have an effect on your testosterone production. I have read other reviews that say ZMA causes acne outbreaks, and I have observed this same thing over the past couple weeks. I don't think it's coincidence that soon after I started taking ZMA I'd randomly have recurring acne outbreaks that definitely weren't as bad before (I'm 19, by the way). But I'm no quitter, so I'm just going to finish this bottle and hope things go back to normal afterwards (there are other reasons I think this influences testosterone as well...see review title).

Other than the sleep, and some possible effects this supplement has had on my muscle tone/size (though there's no way to verify this), this stuff really isn't too fantastic. I gave it 5 stars though because it does what it claims to do. I won't be buying another bottle (unless I have a bad run of insomnia or something) any time soon, but if good sleep and recovery sounds good to you, I say go for it. Most people also have a daily magnesium deficiency, but if you take a good multi like I do you don't have to worry about this as much.

Highly, highly effective as a sleep aid. I've been taking these for a few months, and it does provide deep sleep, but not to the point that you're too conked out to hear your alarm.

I don't have any more acne than before (the only other supplements I take are whey protein powder and a little creatine). I did have some unusual (although not disturbing) dreams for the first few days.

I don't have any noticeable difference in testosterone levels. I don't have more aggression in the gym than before, but I do recover well with this (I'm 33, 189lbs), and I've put on maybe 2-3 lbs of lean muscle since I began using the product.

I would recommend that you try out a small sample of this from a friend of from your local supplement store before you buy a large amount. It effects people differently and can cause very very strange dreams. Do not mix with alcohol either please! If you are going to take ZMA Optimum is the best brand! The amount of active ingredients per capsule is much higher than competing brands!

I am a vegetarian and have had a testosterone deficiency since childhood. So finding ZMA was like a heaven sent gift for me. It does what it claims for me. Gets my testo levels to the appropriate amount. I do work out a bit and this stuff has been helping me a lot to relaxingly sleep at night (along with melatonin/ tryptophan ) and in the morning i do feel refreshed like new without any fatigue from previous day. But since i am a vegetarian, i sometimes feel like i should take two doses per day on days with work out. Make sure to avoid foods (any food or specifically that has calcium, antioxidants like Vitamin C etc) at least about 1 hour before and after the dosages. Also i found that i can buy this for $25 somewhere else with free ship if i order for about $75 total. .. hehe

EDIT:

Dont use ZMA more than once per day! Take 3 or 4 capsules before bedtime. If you take it during the morning, 1: Zinc dissolves very fast in an empty and acidic stomach and creates more acid thereby causing damage to gastric lining. 2: Magnesium is large doses is a laxative. So only eat ZMA after you have had a few meals of the day.. I also wash the ZMA using an after dose meal of casein drink an hour later.

EDIT2:

I stopped taking ZMA coz i found a better and all rounded combination. Here it is for general welfare. This combination will kick up your testo and libido drive.

Swanson vitamins passion line of herbal supplements especially the safer ones like Catuaba bark, Avena Sativa, Longjax eurycoma longifolia, Maca and Thyroid support (coleus forskohlii) all of these twice a day. The Thyroid support from Swanson even has 25 mg Zinc in it. Also no magnesium means no more bad stomach. I am probably never going back to ZMA and Arginine ever.

Been taking this for about 2 months now while trying to naturally boost my testosterone levels. Not sure if it's doing anything being that I'm not experiencing anything different in the gym. But I do know that I do need magnesium so I'm just taking it as a supplement to my mutlivitamin. It's also suppose to help with sleep but I still wake up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom since I drink it with a cup of water before I go to sleep.

This product is great and is a must for any serious bodybuilder. It help naturally jump up testosterone levels and having the added Zinc intake helps to prevent you from getting sick. My wife and 2 kids both get sick, but never passes on to me. As far as the gym goes, after a few days of taking 4 tabs (1 more than recommended, but I'm 6'1 239 lbs 14%bf) on an empty stomach before bed with fish oil I can feel the difference in my lifting performance. It gives you the motivation to lift that last rep that hurts the most. Highly recommend, but if you are looking for a magic pill to bulk you up in a couple of weeks this is not it. If you are looking to be healthy and strong as natural as possible, then this is for you. Added bonus... help with the libido... :)

I was already sleeping well before I started ZMA, but I have three young kids and have to get up all throughout the night. This helps me fall right back to sleep no matter how many times I get up, but I don't feel like I HAVE to go back to bed. In other words, not really sluggish or anything.

The dreams though, wholly carp! I read a review for ZMA once that said, "Stephen King ain't got nothing on my dreams." That is definitely true for me. These things are not just vivid, but disturbing, VERY disturbing. I am thinking about writing them down so maybe I can write a screenplay. There not so bad that I am afraid to fall asleep, like Nightmare on Elm Street-style, but WOW! I am kind of starting to look forward to seeing just how demented my mind can get each night.

I give it five stars just for the novelty of it, but is does what it says too.

First off I want to say is I love Optimum Nutrition products! I have been using Optimum since the late 90's and they have always made a great product. I think that this is the best ZMA for the dollar. My only con would be that Amazon doesn't offer it for subscribe & save.

I've been lifting for more than 5 years, and decided to give ZMA a try.

I don't really see any effects by taking it. However, I have to mention that I've always been a very good sleeper, so this is not doing so much.

As for the increased strength, I cannot see any significant gain.

I first began using a ZMA supplement about a year ago. Optimum Nutrition (ON)is my preferred brand, but I have also tried NOW Foods ZMA (NOW Foods ZMA 800 mg Caps-180 ct (Quantity of 1)).

Probably nothing more than a subconscious bias in favor of the green packaging, but I like ON because I think it's cleaner. I feel well rested and recovered the next morning. I highly recommend ON ZMA.

About me: 5'11", 190 lbs, 21% BMI, workout 5 days/week

Current Supplements: Multi Vitamin, Fish Oil, Milk Thistle, Kre-Alkalyn, BCAA, 2 protein shakes/day, Pre-workout NO Xplode, ZMA