Best BCAA Supplements Reviewed and Rated
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Many people have heard about BCAA by now, but far less actually know what it is and how to properly use it. You may know that it has something to do with athletes, but are BCAA worth it? In fact, BCAA stands for branched-chain amino acids. These amino acids are essential to the human body and are typically found in certain foods. Typical foods that contain these amino acids include meats, dairy, and beans or legumes. The “branched chain” part of the BCAA simply refers to the chemical structure of these amino acids.
This supplement are very popular in the health and fitness world because they help to build and protect muscle mass, even for those individuals who are dieting. If you have cut back on your diet, you likely have noticed that in addition to burning or losing fat, you are also losing muscle mass. For many athletes, this is not desirable. This is especially a problem for athletes who are injured and who are forced to stop working out completely. This stop in exercise can drastically decrease the amount of muscle mass a person has, but a branched chain supplement can help to slow down this process.
In particular, BCAAs are so popular because they are quickly absorbed by the bloodstream instead of having to be processed by the liver, like other supplements or other amino acids. With quick absorption, they go to work right away, helping athletes to build and sustain muscle while working out.
Our Top 3 Picks
- MRM, BCAA + G
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Our rating - Produced in certified GMP facility
- Price: See Here
- Optimum Nutrition, BCAA
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Our rating - Pure branched-chain amino acids
- Price: See Here
- MusclePharm BCAA
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Our rating - 3,000 mg per serving
- Price: See Here
While the main benefit of this type of supplement is to aid individuals who want to burn fat but not muscle, this is not the only benefit. Taking a branched chain supplement can also help with increasing concentration and decreasing fatigue. This combination of benefits makes Branched-chain amino acid supplements incredibly appealing to athletes. However, figuring out what the best BCAA supplements for athletes are can be difficult.
10 Best BBCA Supplements
1. MRM
Format/Count: Powder
Price point: Expensive
If you are looking for maximum impact, this will be a great option for you. This is a more expensive supplement, but it is also a large container weighing over 2 pounds, so this will be sure to last you for a long time.
- Pure and potent ingredients
- Produced in a certified GMP facility
- High quality ingredients
- Expensive
2. Optimum Nutrition
Format/Count: 1000 capsules
Price point: Slightly expensive
The three amino acids again are present in a 2:1:1 ratio.
There are no other ingredients in this supplement.
A serving size is only two capsules, so this product will last you a lot longer than other supplements on this list, so the elevated price is worth it given the value you are getting.
The value combined with the good amount of BCAAs present (1,000 mg) in each serving is what lands this supplement in our top two.
- Pure ingredients
- Good price
- Small serving size of 2 capsules per day
- Form of administration: capsules
3. Muscle Pharm 3:1:2
Format/Count: 240 capsules
Price point: Slightly expensive
This is another supplement that simply contains the BCAAs and nothing else, so if you are looking for a pure supplement just focused on these amino acids, this will be a good option for you.
The only downside we found with this product is that 1 serving size is 8 capsules, which is a very high serving size. However, this may be beneficial if your doctor recommends you take a lower BCAA dosage, you could simply adjust your daily intake. Because the recommended serving size is so high, however, this product will not last you as long as some others on this list, which is what makes it a slightly more expensive product.
- Adjustable dosage
- Contains only the BCCA's
- Quality ingredients
- A high serving size of 8 capsules per day
4. BSN Amino X
Format/Count: Powder
Price point: Fairly inexpensive
This comes in a naturally and artificially flavored watermelon flavor that helps make this easier to drink when mixed with water. Especially considering the mix of ingredients in this supplement, the slightly higher price is worth it for the quality and combination of ingredients.
- Contains 8 essential amino acids
- Energy booster
- Quality ingredients
- Contains artifical ingredients
5. Jarrow Formulas
Format/Count: 120 capsules
Price point: Inexpensive
L-glutamine is considered conditionally essential because our bodies use large amounts of it, with a lot being already present in the body to begin with. This also contains vitamin B6 to aid in the metabolism of the amino acids. There are 600 mgs total of the BCAAs per serving size, which is one of the lowest amounts on this list.
- Contains L-glutamine
- Contains vitamin B6
- High quality ingredients
- Capsules instead of powder
6. Dymatize Nutrition
Format/Count: 200 caplets
Price point: Fairly inexpensive
This supplement also contains vitamin C, vitamin B6, and riboflavin to help with absorption.
These caplets are also extended release in order to have maximum effectiveness over the course of and after your workout.
- Inexpensive
- Solid amount of BCAA's
- High quality ingredients
- Contains vitamin C and B6
- Capsules instead of powder
7. Universal Nutrition
Format/Count: 100 capsules
Price point: Fairly inexpensive
The 3 main BCAAs again come in the 2:1:1 ratio, although a much smaller amount than some other supplements on this list, all totalling only 1,000 mg per serving.
This is a good option for you if you decide, or if your doctor recommends, that you take a lower daily dosage of BCAAs.
Finally, this supplement also has vitamin B6 to help increase absorption.
- Affordable
- Vitamin B6
- High quality products
- The active ingredients are in a smaller dosage
8. BPI Sports
Format/Count: Powder
Price point: Fairly expensive
This supplement contains ogliopeptides based branded-chain amino acids that help increase the metabolization of all the other BCAAs. This comes in a watermelon ice flavor that helps make the powder easier to swallow and drink when mixed with water.
- Increases metabolization
- Flavored
- Easy to take and swallow
- Expensive
9. Betancourt
Format/Count: 300 capsules
Price point: Fairly inexpensive
This supplement is also lab tested to ensure quality standards are met. Keep in mind that there is no established daily value of these amino acids, so determining how much to take is largely up to you (and also, whatever your doctor recommends).
- High quality ingredients
- Inexpensive
- Pills instead of powder
- Daily value is not established
10. ALLMAX Nutrition 100% Pure
Format/Count: Powder
Price point: Fairly inexpensive
What is great about this supplement is that the ingredients are totally pure and there is nothing else added in addition to the amino acids.
Every ingredient is lab tested to ensure quality and potency standards.
Finally, the powder is gluten free.
- All natural ingredients
- High quality product
- Gluten free
- Unflavroured
Decision Time
There you have it! Our top rated Branched-chain amino acid supplements. All contain the 3 main branched-chain amino acids that will be most effective in building and maintaining muscle mass. If you are an athlete, you should definitely add in a BCAA supplement to your diet. As with any supplement, please consult with your doctor first to determine what is best for your body. To further help make the right decision, decide if you wish a supplement that only contains these branched-chain amino acids, or if you want additional ingredients, particularly those that help with the absorption of the amino acids. Knowing which ingredients you want, along with the dosage that you feel is best for you (along with your doctor’s recommendations), will help you to easily make the decision on which BCAA supplement is best for you.
