FitLine Basics: What It Contains, What It's For, vs PowerCocktail

FitLine Basics in 30 seconds: this is FitLine's "essential" morning sachet, 12 g to dissolve in 180 ml of water, orange flavour. It contains vitamins C, E, B1 and B2, selenium, fibre, fruit and vegetable extracts and two live cultures. It contains no caffeine, and that is the main difference from PowerCocktail. Its job is to cover a daily baseline of micronutrients and fibre: vitamin C and selenium contribute to the normal function of the immune system, and vitamins C and E together with selenium contribute to the protection of cells from oxidative stress. It costs 72 euro in Italy for 30 sachets, so 2.40 euro a day.

I'm Alfio Nicolosi, independent FitLine Team Partner: I earn a commission on purchases made through my links, and I'm telling you that before anything else. Basics is the product I recommend most often to people who ask me "where do I start", and in this guide I explain why, but also who does not need it at all.

What FitLine Basics is

Basics belongs to PM-International's Optimal-Supply line, the range of everyday "foundation" products. It is a powdered food supplement made in Germany, using the company's NTC technology, which is designed to support the absorption of nutrients.

The idea behind it is a simple one: put into a single morning routine the things a lot of people fail to cover with breakfast, meaning a share of vitamins, fibre, vegetables and live cultures. It is not an energy product, it is not a weight-loss product, and you do not "feel" anything half an hour after drinking it. It is a base, and it is meant to be treated as one.

What's inside: the label, ingredient by ingredient

Group	What's in it	What the label says (EFSA claim)
Vitamins	C (from acerola and added), E, B1, B2	Vitamins C and E contribute to the protection of cells from oxidative stress; thiamine and riboflavin contribute to normal energy-yielding metabolism; vitamin C contributes to the normal function of the immune system
Trace elements	Selenium (from enriched yeast)	Contributes to the normal function of the immune system and to the protection of cells from oxidative stress
Fibre and prebiotics	Oat fibre, pea fibre, apple fibre, inulin, acacia gum	An extra daily dose of fibre
Vegetables	Broccoli, white cabbage, carrot, spinach, tomato and pepper powder; pineapple; grape seed extract; turmeric	Fruit and vegetable extracts, with no specific claims
Live lactic cultures	Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus reuteri	There are no authorised claims for probiotics in the EU, and I'd rather say so plainly
Sweeteners	Fructose and stevia	It contains sugar: this is not a "zero" product
Colour	Beta-carotene	Natural

What it does not contain: caffeine, guarana, stimulating extracts of any kind. That is exactly why it is the right choice for anyone who does not tolerate caffeine well, or who is pregnant (always with their doctor's opinion first).

For an analysis of the whole range, see FitLine ingredients: the complete analysis.

How to take it

1. Pour one sachet (12 g) into around 180 ml of still water.
2. Stir well.
3. Drink it once a day, preferably in the morning.

Taking it with or without breakfast makes no difference to absorption. If the fibre leaves you feeling bloated in the first few days, take it with breakfast instead of on an empty stomach. A pack of 30 sachets covers a month.

Basics or PowerCocktail: which one to choose

This is the question I get asked more than any other, and the answer comes down to three differences:

	Basics	PowerCocktail
Caffeine	No	Yes, 30 mg from guarana
Vitamins	C, E, B1, B2	C, E, the whole B group, beta-carotene
Plant extracts	Vegetables, pineapple, grape, turmeric	Berries, pomegranate, acerola, spices and others
Fibre and cultures	Yes	Yes
Serving	12 g in 180 ml	15 g in 180 ml
List price	72 euro / 30 sachets (2.40 euro a day)	107 euro / 30 sachets (3.57 euro a day)

Choose Basics if: you are sensitive to caffeine, you are pregnant or breastfeeding (with your doctor), you want the foundation product at the lower price, or you already take Activize Oxyplus and don't want any more caffeine on top.

Choose PowerCocktail if: you want the complete morning formula with the full B group and the berry extracts, and the 30 mg of caffeine doesn't bother you. The complete guide is here: PowerCocktail: what it is for and how to take it.

There is no point taking both: they cover the same function.

Who it's genuinely for (and who it isn't)

It makes sense for: people who eat very little fruit and veg, people who skip breakfast or eat it on the run, people who want a simple routine they can keep up for months, and people who don't tolerate caffeine.

It's not for: anyone whose diet is already rich in fruit, vegetables and pulses, where the benefit will be minimal; anyone looking for energy they can feel, because that is not what this product does; anyone who wants to lose weight, because Basics has nothing to do with body weight.

From my own experience: I take it during the periods when I'm not using PowerCocktail, for instance when I want to cut down on caffeine. The difference I notice is on digestive regularity, thanks to the fibre and the cultures. Nothing else dramatic, and that is entirely normal for a foundation product. If somebody promises you more than that, they are selling, not informing.

Contraindications and side effects

Basics is generally well tolerated. The things to watch:

• First few days: some bloating from the fibre and the cultures is possible, and it usually settles within a week.
• Allergens: check the current label on the pack.
• Medication and medical conditions: if you take anticoagulants or thyroid medication, or you have a chronic condition, ask your doctor. The interactions are covered in the article on side effects and safety of FitLine products.
• Pregnancy: this is the caffeine-free version, but it is still a supplement: talk to your gynaecologist.

Do not exceed the recommended dose. Food supplements should not be used as a substitute for a varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.

Price and where to buy it

The list price is 72 euro for 30 sachets in Italy, which works out at 2.40 euro a day. With Team Partner registration (roughly 20% off, with no obligation to sell anything) it drops below 2 euro. Prices vary from country to country, so check the figures for your own market. There is also the Optimal-Set Basics, which pairs Basics with Restorate and Activize Oxyplus for a complete routine.

It is sold only in the official PM-International store through a Team Partner: a 5% discount code on your first order (FitLine discount code) or become a partner. The current price list is in the guide to FitLine prices. Product sheet: FitLine Basics.

Frequently asked questions

Does Basics contain caffeine? No. It is the caffeine-free FitLine morning product.

Can I take it during pregnancy? It contains no caffeine, but it is still a supplement: ask your gynaecologist first.

When will I notice the effects? On digestive regularity, within one to two weeks. Beyond that, don't expect anything you can feel: a foundation product works on your intake, not on your sensations.

Is it suitable for children? The label does not indicate it for children. For them there is PowerCocktail Junior, to be discussed with a paediatrician.

Can it be combined with Restorate and Activize Oxyplus? Yes, that is exactly the Optimal-Set Basics routine: Basics in the morning, Activize Oxyplus during the day, Restorate in the evening.

Does Basics make you lose weight? No. It has nothing to do with body weight. For that you need food and movement: nutritional support in weight management.

Conclusion

Basics is the no-frills FitLine: vitamins, fibre, vegetables and live cultures in one sachet, without caffeine, at a lower price than PowerCocktail. It is the right choice for anyone who wants a simple daily base, or who would rather avoid caffeine altogether. It is not a product you "feel", and it doesn't promise anything that isn't written on the label.

FitLine is a registered trademark of PM-International AG. This website is run by an independent Team Partner and is not the company's official site. The information here is provided for general information purposes and does not replace medical advice.