BCAAs are so common these days that it's important to make sure the ones you choose have a good nutrient profile and aren't just glorified, sugar-filled sports drinks—and have flavors that make you excited to reach for them every day. We chose these specific products based on the following criteria: Maintain hydration during the race by replacing lost water and salts through sweating by drinking water and carbohydrate-electrolyte solutions. Drink two-three big gulps every 15-20 minutes, a little more if it’s a hot day or you tend to sweat a lot.

Each serving of Amino Energy contains 17 separate ingredients per two scoops. The primary component of Amino Energy is the Amino Blend which comprises 5 grams per serving (serving size is two scoops). In this 5 gram component, there are 14 separate ingredients. This goes beyond the standard BCAAto include even non-essential amino acids and beta-alanine. WHAT DOES OPTIMUM NUTRITION AMINO ENERGY DO? See what all the fuss is about and become a BCAA devotee with the best amino blends, recommended by discerning lifters and athletes. How We Choose the Best BCAAs

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Dietary supplements are not intended to replace a varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle overall. There’s also 160 milligrams of caffeine (about as much as you’ll find in a cup and a half of coffee) made from green tea extract and green coffee extract. The green tea extract has been standardized for EGCG, which means it has retained a lot of the healthful phytonutrients found in green tea. ESSENTIAL AMIN.O. ENERGY + Electrolytes from Optimum Nutrition (ON), great for athletes, sports people or for a boost* throughout the day Jeukendrup, A. et al. (2014). A step towards personalized sports nutrition: carbohydrate intake during exercise. Sports Med, 44, S25–S33.

All in all, we think that this is a pretty option that combines a range of important Amino Acids with other ingredients such as Caffeine and Green Tea Extract. Post workout: 1 to 2 servings (2 to 4 scoops) For a more intense burst of energy before the gym, the Gold Standard Optimum Nutrition Pre Workout might be a more suited pre-workout supplement for the more advanced gym goer. Many people forget about the importance of their race day nutrition focusing on their nutrition and training to get them to the start line. However, race day nutrition can be the difference between your clients achieving their target time or simply running a race without stomach upset or hitting the wall so your advice on what to eat and when during the race is critical.Mix up Essential Amino Energy in your ON Shaker any time you’re looking to improve mental focus and alertness. It’s also a bit frustrating that this is a proprietary blend. Is it 2:1:1 leucine to isoleucine and valine? Do we know how many grams of each amino acid it contains? I don’t know, and that’s important to a lot of people. Essential Amino Energy Taste This supplement comes in well over a dozen different flavors, including mocha cappuccino, peach lemonade, and cotton candy. We tried the blue raspberry flavor which tasted a lot like blueberry candy. It was a little sour and a little fruity, pretty standard flavors in BCAAs, but I wouldn’t call it delicious. The Takeaway The main downsides are the fact that it uses a proprietary blend, so we don’t know the doses of some of the ingredients, and that it also contains the sweetener Sucralose.

Supplements can help to support you on your health and fitness journey, but they are not going do much unless you’re prepared to put in some effort yourself. Conclusion – Our Final Thoughts Essential Amino Energy’s label says that it’s for “anytime muscle recovery” and “energy and focus,” and it has perhaps more ingredients than any other BCAA supplement we’ve seen. Are they bogus, or could it be the ultimate BCAA? It’s generally best not to regard fitness-focused supplements as ‘magic’ pills or powders that will work without any effort on your part. There’s a lot to break down here. Let’s start with the pros. Optimum Essential Amino Energy Nutrition

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Essential Amino Energy doesn’t just contain the leucine, isoleucine, and valine that all BCAA supplements contain, amino acids that can prevent muscle breakdown and improve endurance. There’s citrulline, which may improve blood flow and provide a “muscle pump,” beta-alanine which may help delay fatigue, tyrosine which works as a stimulant, methionine which is used for bone strength, phenylalanine which may improve the function of the nervous system and have mood benefits… Graham, T. E. et al. (1991). Performance and metabolic responses to a high caffeine dose during prolonged endurance exercise. Journal of Applied Physiology, 71, 2292-2298. Make sure you test out all of your nutrition strategies extensively leading up to the race so you know what works for you.

Note: This article is supporting content to the Optimum Nutrition for Health and Performance course and is for educational purposes only. It does not reflect the opinion of Glanbia Performance Nutrition, nor is it intended for product marketing purposes. g of amino acids, including citrulline, glutamine, tyrosine, taurine, beta-alanine, arginine and three BCAAs It’s no exaggeration to say that Optimum Nutrition is one of the most prominent names in the supplement game, and quite possibly the number one brand out there.These contain between 75mg-150mg caffeine per serving or a piece or two of caffeine gum which contain 100mg of caffeine per piece. Again, this is very individual depending on your caffeine tolerance and body weight so I recommend testing what works in training leading up to the race. Of course, they also isolate the most important amino acids for building and maintaining lean muscle— leucine, isoleucine, and valine—in thirst-quenching drink powders that happen to taste like the sugary drinks that you might be craving anyway. Start your day with a carbohydrate rich breakfast to top up your energy stores. Aim for 0.5g-1g/kg.BW for each hour before the race. If you struggle with pre-race nerves, and find it hard to digest solid food, a lighter liquid meal could be a good option for you such as my go-to pre-race smoothie: Ready to drink, low calorie (only 10 calories per serving) and sugar-free. Available in convenient 250 ml cans, a perfect drink on-the-go