
Chemistry Labs™ HMB (30 Servings)
- BEYOND RAW CHEMISTRY LABS HMB POWDER: Provides 3gm of lab grade HMB per serving which plays a role in decreasing protein breakdown during resistance training.*
- MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE MUSCLE: HMB plus resistance training may improve protein synthesis and muscle mass.*
- BE YOUR OWN CHEMIST: Mix with your favorite beverage, add to your favorite pre-workout. Create your perfect formula using HMB powder + other Beyond Raw® Chemistry Labs™ products.
- BACKED BY SCIENCE: Since 1935, GNC has been committed to meeting the highest standards of quality, safety, and efficacy while applying the most up-to-date advances in nutritional science so you can live well.
$39.99
Everything You Need to Know Before Purchasing This Popular Muscle-Building Supplement
As someone who loves working out and building muscle, I’m always on the lookout for supplements that can enhance my gains. Lately, I’ve been hearing a lot about a product called Beyond Raw HMB – but as a savvy supplement user, I wanted to do my research before trying it out.
In this complete buying guide, I’ll give you a full rundown of Beyond Raw HMB, including what it is, how it works, its benefits, side effects, cost, and more! My goal is to equip you with all the details you need to decide if Beyond Raw HMB is right for you.
Let’s get started!
What is Beyond Raw HMB?
Beyond Raw HMB (β-Hydroxy β-Methylbutyrate) is a popular supplement made by GNC’s Beyond Raw brand. It contains an active ingredient called calcium HMB which helps support muscle growth and reduce muscle breakdown.
HMB is not a new supplement by any means – it’s been used for decades to enhance exercise performance and recovery. However, Beyond Raw put their own spin on it to create an advanced formula optimized for building muscle mass.
The Beyond Raw brand is all about hardcore supplements for serious athletes and bodybuilders. Their HMB supplement is geared towards those looking to gain size, strength, and lean muscle.
How Does Beyond Raw HMB Work?
The main mechanism of action of HMB is that it helps decrease muscle protein breakdown. This has an anti-catabolic effect which means your muscles are better protected from damage during intense workouts.
Reduced muscle breakdown equals greater muscle protein synthesis – which translates to increased muscle building and growth. HMB complements your workouts by allowing you to train harder while minimizing muscle tissue damage.
HMB also helps boost strength gains when combined with a good resistance training program. Studies show it has the potential to improve lower and upper body strength.
Furthermore, HMB may raise natural testosterone levels, providing additional support for muscle growth. The combination of these effects makes it a powerful supplement for both men and women looking to gain lean mass.
What Are the Benefits of Beyond Raw HMB?
Based on multiple research studies, here are the main benefits you can expect from Beyond Raw HMB supplementation:
- Increased muscle mass & growth – By reducing muscle breakdown, HMB enables greater muscle protein synthesis. With proper training, this means better muscle-building results over time.
- Faster strength gains – Studies show taking HMB while resistance training can significantly increase lower and upper body strength.
- Enhanced muscle recovery – The anti-catabolic properties of HMB help alleviate exercise-induced muscle damage, allowing you to recover faster between workouts.
- Decreased fat mass – Some evidence shows HMB may also have a slight fat-burning effect by increasing lipolysis. This can enhance the growth of lean muscle.
- Improved exercise performance – By improving strength, power, and recovery time, HMB supplementation can lead to better performance during exercise.
- Injury prevention – The protective effects of HMB on muscle tissue may help decrease nagging aches, pains, and injuries from overly-strenuous workouts.
Clearly, the benefits of Beyond Raw HMB are tailored towards anyone looking to improve muscle-building results from their training program. Let’s now look at how and when you should take it.
How Should I Take Beyond Raw HMB?
The standard dosage for HMB is 3 grams per day, divided into three 1 gram servings. Beyond Raw recommends taking 1 gram 30-60 minutes before training, and 1 gram 30-60 minutes after training. The third 1 gram dose can be taken at any other time of day.
Ideally, you should take HMB on both training and non-training days for maximum benefits. The capsules are best taken with food, as the dietary fats help with nutrient absorption.
On training days, take Beyond Raw HMB before and after your workout to get the synergistic effects. On rest days, take a serving in the morning or with a meal.
Beyond Raw HMB is also safe to stack with other Beyond Raw products or supplements like whey protein. However, always allow 30-60 minutes between taking other supplements and HMB for optimal absorption.
Is Beyond Raw HMB Safe to Use?
The good news is HMB has an exceptional safety profile with no serious adverse effects reported in studies when used as directed. Mild side effects like nausea, headache, fatigue have occasionally been reported.
Since Beyond Raw HMB is drug-free and contains natural ingredients, it’s considered very safe compared to harsher muscle-building compounds. Still, it’s not recommended for anyone under 18 years old to be cautious.
As with any supplement, start with a lower dosage and increase slowly to access tolerance. And consult your doctor first if you have any underlying medical conditions or take prescription medications.
What Are the Ingredients in Beyond Raw HMB?
Here is the full Beyond Raw HMB formula:
- Calcium HMB (hydroxymethylbutyrate) – 1 gram
- Gelatin capsule
- Cellulose
- Silica
As you can see, the only active ingredient is calcium HMB – the compound that provides all the benefits we discussed earlier. Beyond Raw uses pharmaceutical grade Calcium HMB to ensure maximum purity and potency.
The other ingredients are just used to fill the capsules and don’t provide any additional effects. Since the formula is 100% natural, it’s generally well-tolerated by most people.
How Long Does it Take to See Results With Beyond Raw HMB?
You should begin experiencing benefits like enhanced recovery within the first 1-2 weeks of supplementation. However, to see measurable muscle or strength gains, plan to take Beyond Raw HMB regularly for at least 2-3 months.
The longer you use HMB (say 3-6 months), the more dramatic the muscle-building results. Keep in mind you also need to be following a proper training and diet program to see significant effects from HMB or any supplement.
Be consistent, stay patient, and within a few months you should really start seeing and feeling the benefits during workouts. I always say don’t expect miracles overnight – good things come to those who wait!
Can Beyond Raw HMB Help With Muscle Recovery?
Multiple research studies confirm that HMB supplementation can support quicker muscle recovery following intense exercise like weight training or sprints.
The reason is that HMB helps stabilize muscle cells and prevent excessive damage that leads to prolonged soreness. Anecdotal reports from weightlifters also support HMB speeding up how fast the muscles recover post-workout.
So yes, taking Beyond Raw HMB before and after training will help you bounce back faster and feel less achy. You’ll reduce soreness and experience fewer nagging pains or injuries.
Faster recovery means you can increase training frequency and intensity – driving even better results. It’s a supplement that complements hard training programs perfectly.
Are There Any Side Effects of Beyond Raw HMB?
As mentioned earlier, HMB is considered extremely safe with minimal risk of side effects. No serious adverse events have been reported in clinical studies to date.
Potential mild side effects include nausea, headache, fatigue, and cramping – but these are uncommon. To avoid digestive upset, take HMB with a meal instead of on an empty stomach.
There are no known negative interactions between HMB and medications. And since it’s all natural, allergic reactions are very rare. Still, discontinue use if any abnormal reactions occur.
As with any supplement, start with a lower dose and see how your body responds before increasing. Only use as directed and consult your physician if unsure.
What Do Reviews Say About Beyond Raw HMB?
Looking at various supplement review sites, Beyond Raw HMB gets very high average ratings – between 4-5 stars. Here’s a quick summary of the positive and negative feedback:
Pros:
- Helps build muscle and strength
- Speeds up workout recovery
- Easy to take and no bad aftertaste
- Very affordable for an effective supplement
Cons:
- Effects can take a couple months to notice
- Powder form may be more convenient
- Does not give crazy muscle pumps like creatine
As you can see, most users are very happy with their results from Beyond Raw HMB supplementation. Of course individual results can vary based on your training, diet, and goals. But overall it receives rave reviews.
Where Can I Buy Beyond Raw HMB?
As a GNC exclusive supplement, Beyond Raw HMB can only be purchased either online or in stores through GNC. Here are your options for buying:
- GNC website – Order online and have HMB shipped to your door. GNC frequently runs promotions that let you save money.
- Brick-and-mortar GNC stores – Pick up your HMB supplement in person. Many locations price match their website.
- GNC mobile app – Download the app to order HMB and have it ready for in-store pickup. Very convenient option.
No matter how you choose to buy, you receive the same freshest, high-quality product direct from the source at GNC. Be sure to look for any current deals to maximize savings on every purchase.
And remember GNC has a superb return policy if you are unsatisfied with your supplement for any reason.
How Much Does Beyond Raw HMB Cost?
A bottle of 120 capsules (40 servings) of Beyond Raw HMB retails on the GNC website for $25.99. However, sales prices are frequently offered.
For instance, right now there is a Buy One, Get One 50% Off promo running. So you can buy two bottles for $38.99 total! That brings the cost down to only $0.65 per serving.
Even at full retail price, Beyond Raw HMB is still very competitively priced at under $1 per serving. Considering all the muscle and strength-building benefits, it’s an excellent value supplement.
You can save additional money by signing up for the free MyGNC rewards program. You earn points on purchases which convert into discounts on future orders.
Is Beyond Raw HMB Effective for Muscle Mass Maintenance?
Absolutely! Research has found that HMB is highly useful for not just building new muscle mass through training, but also preventing loss of lean mass.
This makes it the perfect supplement if you are recovering from an injury or offseason where your activity levels are reduced. HMB helps you retain hard-earned muscle so you don’t lose size or strength.
Older adults can also benefit from HMB when muscle loss starts becoming an issue. By keeping aging-related declines in muscle mass to a minimum, HMB assists with staying strong and functional.
So even if not actively training to gain mass, HMB can effectively help maintain the lean muscle you already built. It’s great for periods when training intensity or volume is reduced.
Can Beyond Raw HMB Be Used With Other Supplements?
Yes, Beyond Raw HMB stacks well with most supplements, including both pre workouts and post workout recovery formulas.
Some trainers recommend taking Beyond Raw HMB in combination with creatine and whey protein powder to maximize strength and muscle gains.
Just make sure to take your HMB dose 30-60 minutes apart from other supplements to avoid any potential absorption interference.
Beyond Raw HMB can complement your current regimen nicely. Talk to your trainer if unsure about pairing certain supplements together.
Does Beyond Raw HMB Contain Any Allergens?
Beyond Raw HMB is formulated using only clean, high-quality ingredients. It is free from all major food allergen ingredients:
- No dairy or lactose
- No soy
- No gluten
- No egg
- No peanut
- No tree nuts
- No fish
The only ingredients are pharmaceutical grade calcium HMB, gelatin, cellulose, and silica. Since there are no common allergenic compounds, most people can tolerate it well.
Just bear in mind the capsule itself contains gelatin derived from animal sources. So strict vegetarians or vegans may want a different HMB supplement or alternate capsule form.
Who Should Not Use Beyond Raw HMB?
While considered very safe, these are some circumstances where caution is advised with Beyond Raw HMB:
- Under 18 years old – Lack of research data in younger populations. Best to wait until fully grown.
- Pregnant or nursing – Limited studies on safety for pregnant or breastfeeding women. Best avoided to be careful.
- Medical conditions – People with serious health issues, kidney/liver disease, etc should get doctor approval first.
- Medication interactions – Though rare, contraindications with certain meds could occur. Check with physician.
- Allergy – Anyone allergic to HMB or gelatin ingredients should avoid. Discontinue if reaction occurs.
Of course, it’s always smart to consult your doctor before taking any new supplement if you have underlying medical issues or take prescription meds. They can review your full health profile.
How Does Beyond Raw HMB Compare to Other HMB Supplements?
There are other HMB supplements from competitors like Optimum Nutrition and MuscleTech. But several key advantages make Beyond Raw HMB stand out:
- Uses pharmaceutical grade raw material for maximum purity and potency
- Precise 1 gram clinical effective dosage per serving
- Contains only proven muscle-building ingredient HMB without filler
- Made by top sports nutrition brand GNC for quality assurance
- Very affordable pricing for a premium, trusted product
- No reported side effects or adverse reactions
For a powerful HMB formula made by a leading supplement company, Beyond Raw is tough to beat. It delivers everything you need with zero filler or fluff.
Is Beyond Raw HMB Vegan-Friendly?
While the HMB raw material itself is 100% vegan, the gelatin capsule shell Beyond Raw uses is animal-derived. So strict vegans would not consider this product plant-based.
However, a potential option is to carefully open the capsule and pour out the HMB powder into a vegan-friendly capsule or mix into a smoothie. This avoids ingesting the gelatin itself.
For maximum convenience though, a vegan would likely want to opt for an HMB product that uses plant-based capsules. There are a few alternatives like Nutricost HMB capsules which fit this need.
What is the Recommended Dosage for Beyond Raw HMB?
The clinically effective dosage for HMB supplementation is 3 grams per day. Beyond Raw provides this amount via three 1 gram servings.
Here is a quick recap on how to take it:
- Take 1 capsule (1 gram) 30-60 minutes pre-workout
- Take 1 capsule (1 gram) 30-60 minutes post-workout
- Take 1 capsule (1 gram) another time separate from above doses
On non-training days, the three 1 gram servings can be spread throughout the day with food. Taking approximately 3-4 hours between doses optimizes absorption.
How Does Beyond Raw HMB Enhance Performance?
We’ve covered the major benefits like increased strength, muscle gains, and quicker recovery earlier. But looking specifically at physical performance, HMB improves it in a few key ways:
- Increases strength output – Lifting heavier weights directly improves training performance measures.
- Reduces fatigue – Shorter recovery between sessions increases the quality of each workout.
- Improves endurance – Some evidence of enhanced aerobic capacity and endurance from HMB supplementation.
- Prevents overtraining – The protective effects help athletes avoid burnout and overreaching.
- Decreases muscle damage – Less tissue breakdown means better performance and body mechanics.
The combined impact of these benefits is that your workouts will steadily improve as you are able to train harder, heavier, and more frequently without breaking down.
Conclusion
I hope this comprehensive buying guide gave you all the important details on Beyond Raw HMB! To summarize, it’s an effective, affordable supplement proven to enhance muscle gains, strength, and recovery.
If you are serious about taking your training to the next level and getting bigger and stronger, HMB can help get you there faster. Beyond Raw gives you the core benefits of HMB in a pure, potent formula.
While a healthy diet, intense training, and restful sleep all play a role too, supplementation is that extra edge. If your goal is explosive muscle growth, I highly recommend adding Beyond Raw HMB to power you to new PRs!