Lifeway Foods is not a company you would typically connect to the world of sports nutrition, performance, and supplements, but it does have a few functional items out there. The brand is known for its kefir and probiotic solutions, including Probiotic Smoothie infused with multi-benefit collagen. Lifeway’s latest innovation is what has put it in the headlines of Stack3d, with the introduction of the very intriguing Muscle Mates.
The newly released Muscle Mates from Lifeway Foods is a functional beverage that combines high protein, kefir cultures for probiotics, and the classic muscle-building ingredient, creatine monohydrate. The mainstream company hasn’t taken any shortcuts either, putting in some solid dosages. The protein in Lifeway’s Muscle Mates sits at a hefty 20g per bottle, similar to a typical ready-to-drink protein, and the creatine is a full 5g.
The big question, of course, whenever we talk about creatine in a drink; is it stable? As great as creatine is, when in solution it quickly begins breaking down, hence why you almost never see companies doing that. Glanbia has tested creatine in that environment, reporting that 11% of creatine broke down within five minutes. That is a concern in Lifeway Foods’ Muscle Mates, as we don’t see any mention of a technology to keep it stable.
Creatine stability and concerns aside, Lifeway Foods has quite the innovation on its hands in Muscle Mates, especially with the amounts it is promising in the beverage. 20g of protein, 5g of creatine monohydrate, and those signature probiotics. The multi-benefit product is making its way to market later this year in Q4 in three tasty, lactose-free flavors to choose from in Strawberry Banana, Vanilla, and Mixed Berry.
