Post-workout nutrition is an incredibly important factor for progression. Most people seem to view it as secondary to the training itself when in fact it’s a clear 50/50 split. If you can’t recover between your workouts, then you’re not going to progress.

This is where post-workout supplements come in. There is now a wide range of products designed to give your body all of the necessary tools it needs to recover effectively and efficiently.

The reason the post-workout period is so important is that your muscles are primed and ready for adaptation. They’ve just received a huge stimulus telling them to grow and now, you’re giving them the bricks to do so.

Most people consume a whey protein shake directly after training as the protein stimulates MPS (muscle protein synthesis). Whilst this is a good start, there’s far more you can be doing to maximise the post-workout period.

As with any supplement, it can be incredibly tricky picking the right product for your post-workout period. We always opt for the companies with clear, concise labels that let us know exactly what’s in their products. This means that we can manage the amount of each ingredient we get as well as assure ourselves there are no filler ingredients.

We’ve compiled a list of our Top 10 favorite products below which not only contain the right ingredients, but they come in the right doses, too. If you want to find out more about each one and why they’re on the list, then scroll down below the table and find out.

Best Post Workout Supplements – 2018 Top 10 List

10 Top Rated, Post Workout Supplements For Men And Women Review

1. Rich Piana 5% Nutrition ALL DAY YOU MAY

Unlike most supplements which try to sell you the false belief that all you have to do is take their product and you’ll be fine, ALL DAY YOU MAY is a dynamic product which adds to your diet without replacing it.

The supplement’s ingredients are specifically chosen to improve your help and improve your recovery.

These ingredients are:

• Leucine
• L-glutamine
• HICA
• N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC)
• Creatinol-O-Phosphate
• Beta Alanine
• D-Glucosamine Sulfate & Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM)
• Microdried Blueberry Fruit Powder
• L-Carnitine
• Vitamin C
• B-12
• Bromelain
• Coconut Water Concentrator

Benefits and Features:

• Contains both a high dose of leucine and glutamine to help start muscle protein synthesis and keep your immune system healthy
• Can help your joint and liver health
• Contains anti-oxidants
• Includes vitamin-c to support the growth and development of your tissues.

The main benefit of this powder is also its biggest drawback. As it’s created under the idea that supplements should not replace your diet, it contains a lot of ingredients which you wouldn’t otherwise get through what you eat (or wouldn’t get a high enough dose).

However, as it aims to give you what you wouldn’t normally get, it doesn’t give you the basics such as a high level of protein, carbohydrates or fats. This means that it’s great for if you know you can eat well after a workout, but not good as a meal replacement entirely.

2. JYM Post Jym

By using BCAAs, creatine, beta-alanine, and glutamine, the supplement can be used after or even during long workouts to help with performance.

Here’s the full list of ingredients:

• 6 grams of BCAAs in a 3:1:1 ratio
• 3 grams of glutamine
• 2 grams of Creatine HCL
• 2 grams of CarnoSyn beta-alanine
• 2 grams of Carnipure L-Carnitine L-Tartrate
• 1.5 grams of betaine
• 5 milligrams of BioPerine

Benefits and Features:

• 6 grams of BCAAs with a high dose of leucine to promote MPS
• 3 grams of glutamine to improve recovery and support the immune system
• No proprietary blends
• No “abbreviated” formulas
• Zero concentrates and fillers
• Comes in: fruit punch, watermelon, lemon lime, rainbow sherbt, lemonade and mandarin orange flavors

JYM Post Jym is another great supplement that gives you what you’d normally miss from a normal post-workout meal.

Though it does contain a high dose of fast-acting carbohydrates (30g – 29g of sugar) to immediately provide energy for recovery, it misses things such as a high dose of protein. You may want to have this alongside a protein shake for maximum benefits.

As well as this, it only contains 2g of creatine when 3-5g of creatine per day has been shown to be most effective. Making sure your pre-workout supplement contains creatine or adding a scoop to your mix will definitely do the trick.

3. NutraBio RELOAD

Each scoop contains BCAAs in a 2:1:1 ratio, a muscle recovery accelerator blend, a strength and growth matrix, an electrolyte and rehydration optimizer mix, and a nutrient absorption enhancer.

Whatever you’re looking for, this supplement most likely uses it.

Ingredients per scoop:

BCAAs:

• 4g L-Leucine (fermented)
• 2g L-Isoleucine (fermented)
• 2g L-Valine

Muscle Recovery Accelerator

• 5g L-Glutamine
• 1.5g L-Carnitine
• 500mg Ornithine Alpha-Ketoglutarate
• 500mg Glycine

Strength and Growth Matrix

• 1.6g CarnoSyn Beta-Alanine
• 1.5g Betaine (trimethylglycine)
• 1.5g Creatine Hydrochloride
• 500mg Creatine MagnaPower

Electrolyte and Rehydration Optimizer

• 1.5g Taurine
• 176mg Calcium Phosphate
• 157mg Sodium Phosphate
• 102mg Potassium Phosphate
• Nutrient Absorption Enhancer
• 5mg BioPerine (black pepper extract)
• 2.3g Flavoring

Benefits and Features:

• No proprietary blends and full label disclosure
• Zero fillers or additives (except flavor)
• Full therapeutic dosages for every ingredient
• 4g Leucine to help spike MPS
• 8g of BCAAs
• 5g Glutamine
• 23g of 16 active ingredients
• 50% DV of Folic Acid, 50% DV of B5, 70% DV of B1, 75% DV of B3, 420% DV of Vitamin C and 750% DV of B6 per scoop
• Comes in the following flavors: unflavoured, orange mango, passion fruit, blood orange and grape

NutraBio’s Reload contains far more ingredients than many of the post-workout supplements on the market.

All of the ingredients also come in scientifically backed doses for maximum effect. This definitely makes it a premium product and one of the higher-quality products you’ll find. However, premium products come at a premium price.

So, if you’re slightly strapped for cash, then you might want to opt for one of the other post-workout supplements on this list. Though, if you like to invest in your supplements, then this will make a great addition to your stack.

4. iForce Finish Line

With 6g of BCAAs, your body will be primed to enter its anabolic phase as soon as possible after the catabolism of your workouts.

If you don’t get protein in within a certain time after your workout, your body will continue to be catabolic and break down tissue.

In order to build and repair you need to be anabolic, and that’s just what BCAAs help with; especially leucine.

This post-workout supplement contains 6g of BCAAs in a 4:1:1 ratio so you get a massive spike in muscle protein synthesis.

Ingredients:

• 6g of BCAAs
• 3g of Creatine
• 3200mg of Beta-Alanine
• 2500mg Trimethyl Glycine

Benefits and Features:

• Large amount of leucine and beta alanine for growth and recovery
• Contains betaine for muscle growth, fat loss, heart health and muscular endurance
• 2g of creatine to increase power output
• Comes in: juicy watermelon, rainbow sherbet, and very cherry lime

With minimal ingredients, iForce’s Finish Line still packs a punch. It contains all the necessary ingredients for progress and growth in quality dosages.

Though, it’s low on creatine dosing as 3-5g has been found to be optimal to get the most benefit. This means you may want to add a small scoop of pure creatine to get the most from your post-workout mix.

5. Evlution Nutrition Recover Mode

Using both creatine monohydrate and creatine HCI can make it more absorbable and decrease the chance that you’re a ‘non-responder’.

Here are all the ingredients per scoop:

2:1:1 BCAA Matrix

• 2,500mg L-leucine
• 1,250mg L-Isoleucine
• 1,250mg L-Valine

Creatine Complex

• 2,250mg Creatine Monohydrate
• 750mg Creatine HCI

Other

• 3,000mg L-Glutamine
• 1,600mg Beta-Alanine
• 1,500mg Betaine Anhydrous
• 1,000mg L-Carnitine L-Tartrate
• 1000mg L-Taurine
• 1,000mg Calci-K (Calcium Potassium Phosphate Citrate)
• 5,3mg Black Pepper Fruit Extract

Benefits and Features:

• 125% DV of Vitamin D, 150% DV of Vitamin C and 200% DV of Vitamin E in each scoop for a healthy immune system and better recovery from intense workouts
• High amount of leucine to kick start MPS
• Contains 1g of electrolytes to help your body hydrate and recover
• Two types of creatine for absorption to support growth, strength, and power
• Comes in: blue raspberry and furious grape

This simple powder contains all the right ingredients to help you adapt and improve from your workouts.

It contains a high amount of BCAAs for growth, creatine for power, glutamine for recovery and vitamins for health. Its only downside is its lack of flavor range which means it might not mix well with other supplements.

6. Cellucor Alpha Amino Xtreme

With 14 amino acids, it packs a real protein punch compared to other post-workout supplements.

It even contains raw coconut water powder and chia seed extract in its Alpha-Hydration Formula for electrolytes and hydration.

Ingredients per serving:

• 500mcg Vitamin B6
• 35mcg Vitamin B12
• 10mg Calcium
• 16mg Magnesium
• 60mg Phosphorous
• 70mg Potassium
• 30mg Sodium

5000mg Alpha-BCAA Matrix in a 2:1:1 ratio

• 3 types of leucine (instantized L-Leucine, Leucine Nitrate, Leucine Peptides)
• Micronized L-Isoleucine
• Micronized L-Valine

3000mg Alpha-Hydration Formula

• Micronized Taurine
• HydroMax Glycerol Powder
• Raw Coconut Water Powder
• Dipotassium Phosphate
• Disodium Phosphate
• Dimagnesium Phosphate
• Chia Seed Extract

2500mg Alpha-Amino Complex

• Micronized Glutamine
• Micronized Alanine
• Micronized L-Citrulline
• Micronized L-Arginine
• Micronized L-Threonine
• Micronized L-Lysine
• Micronized L-Phenylalanine
• Micronized L-Tyrosine
• Micronized Histidine
• Micronized L-Methionine

119mg Alpha Amino Xtreme Blend

• Caffeine Anhydrous
• XCELICOR Caffeine Pterostilbene Cocrystal
• Pyridoxal-5-Phosphate
• Methylcobalamin

Benefits and Features:

• Large amount of BCAAs for growth and repair
• Extensive range of ingredients for quick after workout recovery

With its extensive range of ingredients, this supplement from Cellucor will have anything you’re looking for.

Now, though marketed as a post-workout supplement, this might actually be better suited as a pre-workout supplement due to its lack of creatine and high caffeine content. Though, the BCAAs, glutamine, and electrolytes make it perfect for sipping on both during and post-workout, too. Making for a very well-rounded supplement.

7. Muscletech After Build

Everything that goes into After Build has been clinically dosed and lab-tested for a scientifically backed recovery formula.

With a hydra-electrolyte support blend for hydration and specific ingredients to promote muscular growth, After Build is designed to leave no area of recovery untouched.

It even contains two types of creatine to help with your strength and power output.

Full ingredients per scoop:

4:1:1 BCAA Matrix

• 4g L-leucine
• 1g L-Isoleucine
• 1g L-valine

Growth and Recovery Matrix

• 2g L-glutamine
• 2g Creatine monohydrate
• 1g Creatine HCI

Lean Muscle and Performance Matrix

• 2.5g Betaine
• 1g Taurine

Hydra-Electrolyte Support Blend

• 63.5mg Sodium Chloride
• 55.5mg Dipotassium Phosphate
• 50mg Coconut Water
• 5.26mg Black Pepper Extract

Benefits and Features:

• 4g of growth-stimulating leucine with every scoop
• 3g of two types of creatine for strength and power
• Multi-ingredient hydration blend
• Clinically dosed and researched backed ingredients

At only 40 calories per serving all coming from protein and carbohydrates, this supplement will allow for you to get the most out of your recovery and diet.

As well as this, it contains more BCAAs than most other post-workout supplement and specifically, more leucine for muscle protein synthesis. It even contains 3g of creatine which is the recommended amount you need per day for it to have an effect.

The best part of MuscleTech is that they fully research all of their supplements and back up their ingredients with science. This lets you know that you’re getting exactly what you need in the right doses without having to worry about any fillers or unjustified costs.

8. Optimum Nutrition Essential AmiN.O. Energy

Each scoop contains:

5 grams of amino acids

• 1000mg of L-Glutamine
• 500mg of L-Arginine
• 500mg of Taurine
• 350mg of Beta Alanine
• 250mg of L-Tyrosine
• 200mg of L-Histidine
• 200mg of L-Lysine Hydrochloride

2 grams of BCAAs

• 1000mg of L-Leucine
• 500mg of L-Isoleucine
• 500mg of L-Valine

Other

• 100mg of Caffeine
• 100mg of Green Tea Extract
• 25mg of Green Coffee Extract

The fact that this powder contains 100mg of caffeine may make it unsuitable for some workouts. If you’re exercising late at night, then you’ll want to avoid caffeine in order to let you sleep.

As well as this, if you’re already taking a substantial amount of caffeine in your pre-workout, then 100mg extra can push you over the edge of the 400mg safe range.

However, the benefit of including caffeine is that it fights any of the post-workout mental fatigue and tiredness you can experience. As well as this, the high dose of leucine is sure to help spike MPS and fight catabolism.

Used at the right time, this can be a powerful concoction to keep your mental clock ticking whilst your body is kick-started into repair mode.

ON recommend mixing 2 scoops with 330ml of water. That makes for a total of 200mg of caffeine – more suited to a pre-workout than a post-workout.

If you do want to use this as a post-workout, then limit yourself to one scoop or spread them out 2-3 hours apart.

9. BSN R3BUILD EDGE

The formula is designed around the 3 most important ingredients for recovery: creatine, glutamine, and BCAAS.

With high doses of all three, your reparation systems will have everything it needs to help you progress.

Ingredients and dosing for each scoop:

Recovery Infusion

• 5g L-Glutamine
• 4g Micronized BCAA Blend (L-Leucine, L-Isoleucine, L-Valine)
• 50mg Lactoferrin
• 25mg ActiGin Proprietary Blend (Panax notoginseng Extract, Rosa Roxburghii extract)

Myogenic Matrix

• 5.5g Creatine Monohydrate, Creatine Hydrochloride, Magnesium Creatine Chelate, Creatine Anhydrous

Efforsorb Composite

• 2.2g Citric Acid, Malic Acid, Sodium Bicarbonate, Bitter Melon

Benefits and Features:

• 4g of BCAAs (2:1:1 ratio)
• Massive dose of glutamine (5 grams) to support immune system, health, and recovery
• Comes in: cranberry limeade, strawberry orange, fruit punch, green apple and island cooler
• Contains milk and soy

BSN’s 3 pronged attack on recovery and repair contains large doses of the most important ingredients for progress. Its main downside is that these 3 ingredients are the only things the supplement offers.

If you just want the basics, then this product is fantastic for that. However, if you’re looking to go above and beyond, then you might want to choose another product from our top 10 list which contains electrolytes and other extras to help your recovery.

10. Myprotein RECOVERY XS

Their RECOVERY XS combines carbohydrates and protein for the perfect post-workout mix.

Each scoop contains:

• 276 calories
• 0.5 grams of Fat
• 42 grams of Carbohydrate
• 26 grams of Protein
• 3 grams of Creatine Monohydrate
• 5 grams of L-Glutamine
• 5 grams of L-Leucine

MyProtein has used both whey protein isolate and hydrolyzed whey for maximum, efficient absorption. The carbohydrates come from a mix of waxy maize starch and maltodextrin to help fuel your body for recovery and refill your glucose stores immediately.

Both carbohydrates and protein help to spike MPS, so by including both in high doses, they’ve ensured that your body has everything it needs to make the most out of your workout.

FAQ:

1. How to choose the best post workout supplement?

The best post-workout supplement will depend on you as an individual.

Some of the products listed above contain caffeine. If your lifestyle doesn’t allow for you to train in the morning or at lunch, then post-workout caffeine can seriously affect your sleeping ability.

Also, you’ll want to understand how much protein you need in a day. As post-workout shakes tend to contain a high amount of amino acids, these will contribute to your overall protein total for the day. Those who need more protein will want a higher content of amino acids in their post-workout shake.

Lastly, you’ll want to look at the price. Don’t just look at the total price of each product, look at the price per serving. This will give you a more accurate idea of how much the product costs and whether you can afford it on a regular basis.

Every product on the list above has been rigorously examined to decide whether it deserves to be on this top 10 product list. The best post-workout product will be listed above. Yet, the right one for you among these ten needs you to work it out.

2. Is whey the best post workout protein?

Each different type of protein has its own unique benefit. However, the key benefit to whey is that it’s fast-absorbing. Per hour, between 8 and 10 grams of protein from whey is absorbed.

This is incredibly effective for the post-workout period when you want to start recovery as fast as possible. This not only allows for more time to recover between workouts, but it also switches your body from a catabolic state (tissue breakdown) to an anabolic state (tissue creating).

This is why whey protein is often seen as the best source of protein after a workout.

3. What is post workout catabolic state?

The body has two states: catabolic and anabolic. Catabolism is the process of breaking tissue down whilst anabolism refers to creating new tissue.

Catabolism is the primary state involved when we cut as our body is getting rid of fatty tissue whereas anabolism is the primary state when we bulk to build muscular tissue. Unfortunately, the two can’t exist at the same time.

However, catabolism doesn’t just occur during a cut, it also occurs when we’re training. When we hit the gym hard and push our muscles to the limit, muscle tissue gets broken and torn apart.

In order to switch our body back to becoming anabolic and adapting to the stimulus we’ve just given it, we need to revert it back to an anabolic state. This is exactly what post-workout supplements do.

References:

1. Jordan, T; Effect of beta-alanine supplementation on the onset of blood lactate accumulation (OBLA) during treadmill running: Pre/post 2 treatment experimental design.; School of Family, Consumer, and Nutrition Sciences, Northern Illinois University; 2010; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20482881
2. Kraemer WJ, et al; The effects of L-carnitine L-tartrate supplementation on hormonal responses to resistance exercise and recovery.; Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12930169

The post Top Ten Post Workout Supplements appeared first on Muscle & Cuts.

Muscle Pharm Amino 1

Here’s a few of the more obscure ingredients explained:

• Citrulline DL-Malate 2:1: 2 parts L-Citrulline and 1 part DL-malic acid. DL-malic acid provides L-malic acid which helps produce ATP during the Citric Acid Cycle.
• Coenzyme Q-10: Helps produce ATP and improve exercise performance
• Goldenseal Root Powder: A natural antibiotic that is considered as a “cure-all” herb. It is sometimes made into a tea to help cure a sore throat.
• Sarsaparilla Root Powder: A traditional Native American herb to treat syphilis, skin diseases, and to help increase sweating.
• Slippery Elm Bark Powder: Mostly used to coat mucous membranes to help soothe and absorb toxins

There are a few ingredients that are pretty questionable like the Sarsaparilla Root Powder and the Slippery Elm Bark Powder as to why they are in there, but their “hydrate system” worked pretty well if you ask me.

Muscle Pharm Amino 1 Review

• Effectiveness

I didn’t experience as good muscle endurance or between-set recovery as I have with Xtend. On the other hand, it had to have been one of the most thirst-quenching drinks that I’ve had. I ran a few times while using this and it worked incredibly well for hydration, which in turn, allowed me to keep running harder and longer.

Unfortunately, I was lean-bulking while using Amino 1 so I kept running to a minimum and my workouts were weight-based and the hydration was less needed than when I ran. This being said, I would have much rather had the between-set recovery in Xtend than the hydration from Amino 1. I also feel like they try to draw people in with their “Patent-Pending BCAA 3:1:2 Ratio” acting like its a scientific breakthrough, when really, I noticed no extra benefit compared to a 2:1:1 ratio.

• Taste/Mixability

I had the Cherry Limeade flavor and it was delicious. Looked forward to drinking it during my workouts. It also mixed very well. There were a few “floaties” but that is expected in BCAA supplements, so I didn’t mark off there.

• Value

This runs about $23 on Muscle&Strength for 32 servings making it 75 cents a serving. Some might want to double scoop for the extra BCAAs but I just stuck to 1 scoop per workout.

• Overall

I enjoyed my experience with Amino 1 but I personally feel like there are better BCAAs out there. I would only recommend it to people who are cutting down and running a lot due to the hydration benefits.

Hope you enjoyed reading this short MusclePharm Amino review.

Jarrett

Muscle Pharm Amino 1 Supplement Facts:

The post Muscle Pharm Amino 1 appeared first on Muscle & Cuts.

If you are reading this article then I am sure you practice (and hopefully love) a weight-lifting related sport such as bodybuilding, and to this extent you will surely have heard about supplements. They are pretty much everywhere and are marketed a lot, but we all know how marketing goes nowadays; companies promise you everything but most of the time you only end up getting very little.

This makes it hard for people to actually purchase quality supplements, but the solution to this problem is research. By completely avoiding the product labeling (which contains claims that aren’t actually approved by the FDA) and instead looking at the ingredients, you will get a much better look at what’s actually inside. Another very good filter is looking for reviews, but you have to make sure they are real and legit reviews such as this JYM Post JYM review.

Using my 7 years of bodybuilding experience I will give you an in-depth look into one of my favorite post-workout supplements, that is not only popular with myself but also with many of the people at my gym and also on Bodybuilding.com, where it scored a whopping 9.8. Post-workout nutrition is very important as directly after training your body will be susceptible to nutrient absorption, something you should take advantage of if you want to build muscle and recover faster. Also, many of the body’s nutrients are depleted after your workout so this “window of opportunity” can also be used to replenish said nutrients. Let’s get started…

JYM Post JYM Benefits

Using a formula created by Jim Stoppani, owner of JYM, this post-workout supplement contains a vast range of nutrients that are essential to consume directly after training. With the overall goal to help with muscle repair and growth, it includes the following:

• BCAAs

BCAAs are basically 3 essential amino acids that play a big part in muscle repair and growth. This product uses a 3:1:1 ratio for L-Leucine, L-Isoleucine, and L-Valine respectively. BCAAs also help to increase insulin, which in turn acts as a pump helping to push the nutrients found in this supplement into your muscles.

• Creatine HCL

Standing for creating hydrochloride, this new form of creatine is known to be absorbed better and also to mix better with water. Like regular creatine, this helps with strength, power, and growth.

• Beta-Alanine

JYM contains beta-alanine from the CarnoSyn brand, which is then converted to carnosine by the body. This helps with endurance and recovery.

• L-carnitine L-tartrate

Coming in from the Carnipure brand, this nutrient helps the muscle to receive more blood along with more oxygen, thus helping with recovery. This also helps your body make better use of testosterone.

• Glutamine

A very popular post-workout amino acid, this helps your body maintain a healthy immune system while also providing better recovery.

• Betaine

A modified version of the amino acid glycine, betaine has been shown to help with strength, power, endurance, and with improved protein synthesis which in turn leads to muscle growth.

• Taurine

This amino acid helps with endurance, strength, and nitric oxide production although it is depleted quickly through training. This is why supplementing taurine is important since it helps you to replenish what was lost.

• BioPerine

An extract of the fruit of black pepper, this ingredient helps your body absorb all of the other ingredients better.

As you can probably already tell if you have ever used the corresponding pre-workout by the same company, many of the ingredients are the same. This is because both of these products were made to work in conjunction with each other. This product is great for people on a diet because it contains only 2 carbs and 10 calories per serving, but people seeking more can always add their own or use JYM Fast-Digesting  Carb! Dextrose, another supplement.

The best thing about JYM Post JYM, and all of the other JYM products, is that they are very transparent. They don’t hide their dosages and ingredients behind proprietary blends like some other companies, and also don’t include any un-needed fillers.

Using JYM Post JYM

I was able to achieve the best results by consuming this product as close as possible to the end of the workout. Mix it with about 25 oz. of water for best effect, and if possible take it with you to the gym so that you can consume it as soon as you finish your last set.

That’s all for this write-up guys; I hope you have learned something new from this JYM Post JYM review!

Here are my final product ratings for you guys.

Jarrett

JYM Post JYM Supplement Facts:

BPI Sports Best BCAA Review >>

The post JYM Post JYM appeared first on Muscle & Cuts.

Let’s be honest here, supplements aren’t miracle workers; they won’t turn you into the next Ronnie Coleman but they do offer a real benefit when used correctly.

Although a healthy diet will provide many good nutrients for the body, it is perfectly possible that you are missing some. Through supplementation you can fill this gap and feed your body the full spectrum, but choosing the correct product can be harder than you thought. The supplement industry is a booming market and many companies compete against each other trying to sell you their products. To this extent, many of them put unrealistic claims on their product labeling, claims which are not approved by the FDA

If you base your purchase decisions on these claims you are likely to make the wrong choices, which is why I suggest you see reviews such as this BPI Best BCAA review. Real and legit reviews such as this one offer a comprehensive look at the product in question, allowing you to easily compare it to others in its category.

In my 7 years of training, I have used many supplements which is why I can tell you first hand that not all of them deliver. Some supplements do pretty much nothing, some are OK while some are truly top notch and effective. BPI Sports Best BCAA falls in the last of these categories and is why I decided to review this product. Read on, learn, and always make informed decisions.

BPI Sports Best BCAA Facts

BPI is a very well-known company when it comes to bodybuilding supplements, and they definitely didn’t hold back when it comes to this product. Using the very bold name “Best BCAA”, does this product live up to its name? It sure does! Before you can fully understand the benefits of this product, you have to first learn how BCAAs work. Standing for branched-chain amino acids, BCAAs are made up of 3 amino acids that are essential to the body (ie. they aren’t produced by the body and must be taken through external sources). These are leucine, isoleucine, and valine.

Now the vast majority of the other BCAA products deliver said amino acids using the traditional way, but BPI Sports Best BCAA uses a new form of transportation technology. Known as Oligopeptides, which is basically a bonded chain of amino acids created through a proprietary process route, this new way of amino acid transportation acts as a better delivery system, increases bio-activity, has better metabolization, provides faster onset time, and is a more improved BCAA model. Besides this great feature, this product also comes with complex bio-active Oligopeptide-Enzymatic technology that further enhances delivery and absorption.

Using BPI Best BCAA The Right Way

I already mentioned earlier that BCAAs are essential amino acids, but I have yet to tell you that when the body is low in energy (such as during or directly after a workout) it will cannibalize its own muscle for said energy. Three of the first amino acids it goes for are the BCAAs, which is why such supplements are great not just for recovery but also for muscle protection. To this extent, you can consume this product directly before, directly after, or even during a workout.

Unfortunately this product only comes in powder form which is a little bit more cumbersome when compared to pill form, but the good thing is that it tastes great and also mixes in very easily. I only tried the Fruit Punch flavor so far but I assume the others are just as good. Each scoop of BPI Sports Best BCAA gives you 5 grams of BCAAs (2.5g of which are leucine, 1.25g of which are isoleucine, and 1.25g of which are valine), 1 gram of CLA MATRIX, and 250 mg of Oligiopeptide-Enzymatic technology.

Regardless of when you choose to take this product, always mix it with an adequate amount of water; about 8 oz is enough. As you can probably expect from such products, I only experienced one thing: additional recovery. While taking BPI Sports Best BCAA I noticed I was feeling “fresher” between one workout and the next, and it also made the muscle soreness go away faster which is always a plus; I hate having to train my chest with sore triceps for example. I used this product once a day directly after my workout, and opted not to take it during non-training days although you can consume a serving as soon as you wake up.

This marks the end of this BPI Sports Best BCAA review; I hope you have enjoyed it and also learned something new.

Oh, and don’t forget to check out my final ratings:

Jarrett

BPI Sports Best BCAA Supplement Facts:

MusclePharm BCAA 3:1:2 Review >>

The post BPI Sports Best BCAA appeared first on Muscle & Cuts.

Now there are many supplements out there from which one can choose, which is why selecting a quality product is so hard. The best way I have found to filter the good from the bad is to look for, and read, reviews on your chosen product such as this MusclePharm BCAA 3:1:2 review.

Before I start with the actual review I would like to introduce myself a little. During my 7 years of training, I have tried many different supplements and realized that some are good while some others not so much. Using my knowledge and experience, I decided to write this and many other reviews to inform you, the consumer, on products that are actually genuine and worth your money. Let’s get started.

MusclePharm BCAA 3:1:2 Facts

Let me first start by explaining what BCAAs actually are. Standing for Branched-chain amino acids, these are composed of 3 amino acids that fall under the “essential” category, meaning that the body cannot produce them on its own like the “non-essential” ones. To this extent, such amino acids must be taken through food or supplementation, or both!

These amino acids are depleted quickly during training and are one of the first sources of energy the body goes for, which is why it is important to replace them as soon as possible. The benefit of taking a supplement in conjunction with real food is that supplements are digested faster, and thus bring your body to an anabolic state as soon as possible. MusclePharm BCAA comes in both pill and powder form, consisting of 240 capsules and 30 servings respectively. For convenience sake, I always used the pill form although the powdered version can be used as well by taking it solo or by mixing it with your protein shake.

Now not all BCAA products are equal. This particular product however comes from only the purest of sources which is to be expected from a company with a reputation such as MusclePharm’s. This is the main reason why I highly recommend it to you.

The “3:1:2” part of the product’s name is actually a reference to the ratios found within. Each serving of MusclePharm BCAA 3:1:2 provides you with 3g of Leucine, 2 grams of Valine, and 1 gram of Isoleucine creating the perfect scenario for BCAA absorption.

Using MusclePharm BCAA 3:1:2

The instructions that come with this product suggest that you take 1 to 3 servings daily, preferably post-workout, pre-workout, and in-between meals, and it also warns you to not take more than 3 servings per day. When using this product I opted only for the post-workout part and even then I noticed quite a lot of benefits. BCAA supplements are known to help with recovery, growth, and even insulin function. Now I cannot vouch for the last part, but I did notice quite a big impact in terms of recovery. I also gained some muscle while using Muscle Pharm BCAA, but I cannot say whether this was from the actual supplement or from the fact that I was more recovered for each workout.

Overall this is a very good product made by a well-known company, so if you are looking for a BCAA supplement definitely give this one a go. It is quite inexpensive so many of you will be able to afford it, plus is backed up by a 9.4 rating on Bodybuilding.com along with the 2012 Brand of the Year award given to the company by the same site.

One last thing I want to mention is that this product is not a substitute for food, but something you add to it. You should still eat even after taking this product to give your body the other nutrients it needs such as protein, carbs, and healthy fats.

That’s all for this write-up guys; I hope you have learned something new from this MusclePharm BCAA 3:1:2 review!

Thanks for reading.

Jarrett

MusclePharm BCAA 3:1:2 Supplement Facts:

Optimum Nutrition Essential Amino Energy Review >>

The post MusclePharm BCAA 3:1:2 appeared first on Muscle & Cuts.

Supplement companies are all about money and most of them resort to inferior ingredients just to make more income while also glorifying their products with unrealistic claims so that you buy them.

This is the reason why many people fall victim to these products, but thanks to this Optimum Nutrition Essential AmiNO Energy review (and the many others which I write) you will be able to get a realistic view on some of the quality products that still remain.

Optimum Nutrition Essential AmiN.O. Energy Facts

This product that I am going to talk about today provides a big range of benefits to its users through a combination of multiple powerful ingredients. While containing a big list of compounds that is too long to show here (you can always look at the ingredient label of course), I will list the main ingredients which are hinted at in the product’s name; these amino acids, N.O. boosting ingredients, and natural energizers.

• Amino Acids

Amino acids are what protein is made out of, and as such it is important to feed your body these nutrients in order to assist with recovery and muscle building. ON Essential AmiN.O. Energy includes a big range of these nutrients including BCAAs, which are 3 essential amino acids. Although most products stop there, this one also includes a lot of other amino acids including CarnoSyn® beta-alanine to help boost endurance and arginine to help give you better pumps. All of the amino acids found in this product are of the highest quality, come in free-form, and are micronized, making them very easy to absorb by the body. One serving (which is equal to 2 scoops) provides a total of 5 grams of amino acids.

• Energy

Besides the amino acids, this product also includes an “energy blend” which is a combination of multiple ingredients each one aimed at energizing you. This blend includes well-known and powerful ingredients such as green coffee and green tea. You cannot work out effectively while tired, which is why energy is an important asset to a productive training session. You don’t want to be “that guy” yawning through his session do you?

• N.O. Boosters

Standing for Nitric Oxide, supplementing N.O. will help you greatly during your workout by giving you better pumps and increased strength.

As you can probably tell by this point, Essential AmiNO Energy has a lot of uses so let’s look at that next.

Using ON Essential AmiN.O. Energy

It’s hard to really classify this product as a pre-workout or post-workout supplement as it can be used at various times throughout the day. For example, it can be taken before your workout or even during for better pumps, better energy, muscle protection, and more endurance. It can also be taken post-workout and even between meals for added energy and recovery.

Personally, I only took this product before my actual workouts although the regular single serving size wasn’t very effective. I had to go up to 2 servings (4 scoops) in order to feel the burst of energy commonly associated with most pre-workout supplements, although the effect was quite noticeable then.

AmiN.O. only comes in powder form but is available in multiple sizes. The smallest is 10 servings which goes up to 30 and even 65. Mixability was great as the powder dissolved almost instantly without even needing a good shake and the flavors were good as well. I only tried two, Fruit Fusion and Orange Cooler, so I cannot really comment on the others but these two were good. Also worth mentioning is that this product contains no sugar and only has 10 calories per serving making it very attractive for people on a diet.

That’s all for this write-up guys; I hope you have learned something new from this Optimum Nutrition Essential AmiNO Energy review!

Here are my final product ratings for you guys:

Optimum Nutrition Essential AmiNO Energy Supplement Facts:

The post Optimum Nutrition Essential AmiNO Energy appeared first on Muscle & Cuts.

When buying supplements it is important that you research your chosen product first before you actually commit, but when buying from a well-known company such as BSN you can be sure that what you are getting is high-quality. The product that we will be looking at today can be used before, during, or after a workout, so let’s get started with this BSN AMINO x review.

BSN AMINO x Facts

As you can probably tell from the product’s name, AMINO x is, in fact, an amino acid supplement. Amino acids are the building blocks for protein and are a very important aspect of muscle recovery and building, which is why this and the many other supplements like it are very popular. Amino acids are broken down into two categories, which are the essential amino acids and non-essential ones. The latter are produced by the body so they aren’t very important, but the prior must be taken through a healthy diet. Now a diet can only provide so much, which is where supplements such as this one come into play.

AMINO x contains a total of 6 essential amino acids. The first three, which are also known collectively as BCAAs, are leucine, valine, and isoleucine. These amino acids are the first to be metabolized by the body when there is a lack of energy reserves (such as during or after a workout), which is why taking them helps with both muscle protection and repair. The other three amino acids are alanine, taurine, and citrulline, with each one providing a big range of benefits to bodybuilders athletes. It also includes vitamin D in the equation, providing the following nutrients per serving (which is equal to 1 scoop):

• 10 grams of amino acids
• 500 IU of vitamin D

With the exception of alanine all of the amino acids contained within this product are micronized. In addition to this, they are also delivered via an effervescent delivery system that not only allows the body to absorb the nutrients better and faster, but it also makes the powder very easy to mix with water.

Last but not least, this product is great for people on a diet because it contains zero sugar, zero calories, virtually no carbohydrates (less than 1 gram), and is also non-caffeinated. It does contain 160 mg of sodium however so be aware of that and make sure that it fits your macros.

Using AMINO x

I used AMINO x 8 times so far, which is why I can accurately and surely say that it does indeed work. Now I mentioned in the introduction that this product can be used pretty much at any time you wish, but I chose to consume it directly after my training session. This was quickly followed by a real-food meal and I felt this was the best approach to take. To this extent, I took 1 scoop on training days and nothing at all on non-training days, although you can choose to use it in a different way of course. Although it mixes in quite easily, make sure you include about 8 oz of water with the mixture for best effect.

The most noticeable benefit I got from this supplement was the increased recovery; I felt more fresh and alert going into my workouts and my sore muscles went back to normal quicker. It took me about 3 weeks to start to get the full effect, although for some people it can take longer even up to 8 weeks. It is suggested that you cycle this product after 12 weeks of use taking about a month off (probably due to diminishing returns).

So there you have it, guys, that was my BSN AMINO x review. During my 7 years of training, this was one of the best amino acid supplements which I tried, and I hope it works well for you too. I am not alone in thinking that this product is great as you can instantly see as soon as you enter its Bodybuilding.com page. It has a total overall score of 9.4 based off of 1,423 user-posted reviews, and it also received this year’s (2014) Recovery Supplement of the Year award from the same site.

That’s all for this write-up guys; I hope you have learned something new from this review!

Jarrett

(Last Update April 9th, 2016)

BSN Amino x Supplement Facts:

The post BSN AMINO x appeared first on Muscle & Cuts.