Optimum Nutrition Amino Energy-A Review

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• What is BCAA?
• Nutrition Facts of Optimum Nutrition Amino Energy
• Ingredients in Optimum Nutrition Amino Energy
• Miscellaneous Ingredients
• Flavors
• Optimum Nutrition Amino Energy Description
• Suggested use
• Is Optimum Nutrition Amino Energy Vegan?
• Optimum Nutrition Amino Energy and Mental Fatigue
• Is Optimum Nutrition Amino Energy Bad?
• Conclusion 
• Common Questions

It is true to suggest that one of the most popular brands in the supplement game is Optimum Nutrition. It is the number one brand out there.

The key explanation for this is their best selling Optimum Nutrition Amino Energy. It is the market’s most common protein powder.

But for almost any requirement an athlete or a exerciser might need, it provides tablets, powders, and potions. So, today we are giving a review of their amino acid supplement branch chain.

The label of Optimum Nutrition Amino Energy claims it is for any muscle recovery, energy and focus. Maybe, it has more ingredients than any other BCAA supplement we have seen. Are they fake, or could they be the ultimate BCAA?

What is BCAA?

It refers to a group of three essential amino acids whenever anyone speaks about BCAA. Valine, Leucine, and Isoleucine.

We are looking at the amino acid that has been used as part of the Amino Blend. The main role of BCAAs is to help your body’s muscle development.

More precisely, here are some of the ways how BCAA helps us:

• Reduce tiredness from exercise
• Increase the development of muscles
• Reduction of muscle soreness
• Preventing muscle wasting
• Fight liver disease

Our bodies are unable to produce their BCAAs, so our diet is the only way for us to get them.

Nutrition Facts of Optimum Nutrition Amino Energy

Each serving contains

Calories	5 Kcal
Caffeine	100 mg
Amino acids	5g (Amino Blend)
Total fats	0g
Saturated Fatty Acids	0g
Total Carbs	1g
Sugar	0g
Protein	20g

Saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, dietary fiber, added sugar, vitamin D, calcium, iron, and potassium are not present in this drink.

Ten calories and two grams of carbohydrate come in a nine-gram serving. It is generally pretty high for a BCAA supplement.

Ingredients in Optimum Nutrition Amino Energy

These are the primary ingredients in a five-gram mixture of amino acids.

• Taurine
• Glutamine
• L-arginine
• L-leucine
• Beta-alanine
• Citrulline
• L-isoleucine
• L-valine

There are also 160 milligrams of caffeine made from green tea extract and green coffee extract. This is about as much as you’ll find in a cup and a half of coffee. Green tea extract has been standardized for EGCG. This indicates that a great deal of the healthy phytonutrients present in green tea has been preserved.

Miscellaneous Ingredients

Then there are these ingredients. Flavoring comes from citric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, and natural and artificial flavor. Then there’s silicon dioxide and calcium silicate (anticaking agents).

Sucralose (a sweetener also called Splenda), a gum blend of cellulose, xanthan, and carrageenan (thickeners and stabilizers) are added. Soy lecithin is for mixability.

Food dye blue number 2 (we had the blue raspberry flavor), and finally inulin is added. Inulin is a type of fiber that’s good for digestion. However, as the final ingredient in a 9-gram blend, there’s probably not enough to have any real benefit.

It has a high dose of caffeine, making it a good choice for a pre-workout. This supplement contains taurine, which may help to reduce the tiredness and lack of focus that comes with a shot of caffeine. It may also reduce muscle cramps.

It doesn’t just contain the leucine, isoleucine, and valine that all BCAA supplements contain. This has 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 and tyrosine which works as a stimulant is present.

Methionine which is used for bone strength and phenylalanine which may improve the function of the nervous system and have mood benefits is added.

Flavors

This supplement comes in well over a dozen different flavors, including mocha cappuccino, peach lemonade, and cotton candy. Hence, we tried the blue raspberry flavor which tasted a lot like a blueberry candy. However, it was a little sour and a little fruity, pretty standard flavors in BCAAs, but I wouldn’t call it delicious.

Optimum Nutrition Amino Energy Description

100 mg Caffeine from coffee bean or tea leaf extract

Supports energy, focus, and muscle support

Essential Amino Acid delivery

5 to 10 calories per serving with zero sugar

5 grams of Amino Acids per serving for muscle recovery support

Suggested use

Use it first thing in the morning, before the workout, as an afternoon pick-me-up, or any time of day. So, blend roughly 2 scoops into 10 to 12 fluid ounces of cold water.

Is Optimum Nutrition Amino Energy Vegan?

It consists of 5g of amino acids in this blend. A Branched-Chain Amino Acid (BCAA) is among them, which could have originated from either an animal or a plant-based source.

The issue here is that nothing about their BCAA sources was revealed by Optimum Nutrition.

Ascertain sports nutrition companies are known to use animal-based sources in their products, it is safer to stay on the side of caution. So, it seems that Optimum Nutrition may also be one of them.

So, it’s not vegan for Amino Energy.

However, because either plant-based or synthetic tends to be the rest of the ingredients in the drink, you might assume that Amino Energy is vegetarian, but not vegan.

Optimum Nutrition Amino Energy and Mental Fatigue

The ability to fend off the mental exhaustion that often follows long workouts was demonstrated by BCAAs. This is largely because of the low BCAA-tryptophan relationship.

Normally, your body releases more tryptophan when the BCAA levels decrease. Hence, it converts to serotonin in your brain and results in feelings of exhaustion and mental fatigue. This phase is stopped by BCAA supplements.

Is Optimum Nutrition Amino Energy Bad?

Possible problems you can face when you drink it too much include:

• Weight Gain
• Responsive teeth
• Overdose of caffeine
• Sugar crashes

You should consider your degree of caffeine tolerance and keep the intake of Amino Energy within those limits.

In the meantime, when consuming Amino Energy, you do not have any issues with cavities and sugar crashes, because there is no sugar in it.

The acidity in its drink, however, will not affect the acidity levels of your own body. So, your body retains a pH value that, regardless of what you eat or drink, is slightly alkaline (between 7.35 and 7.45).

Conclusion

This 3-in-1 supplement is formulated to complement your active and balanced lifestyle. It comes from the iconic sports nutrition company, Optimum Nutrition.

It is supposed to aid your muscle recovery, help you concentrate better, and increase your physical performance and stamina. In addition, it gives you an energy boost.

There are 5g of amino acids and 100mg of caffeine obtained from natural sources in this sugar-free powder.

It is the newest addition of protein powders, multivitamins, nutrition bars, and ready-to-drink shakes to an already famous brand.

Common Questions

Is Optimum Nutrition Amino Energy Good For You?

Important benefits and efficacy of Amino Energy

It has a high dose of caffeine, making it a good pre-workout option. However, this includes taurine, which may help minimize the jitteriness and loss of concentration that comes with a caffeine shot. So, it can decrease muscle cramps as well.

What does Amino Energy do for you?

Mix up Amino Energy if you want a boost of help for energy, concentration, and muscle recovery. However, each serving provides 100 mg of caffeine from natural sources to promote energy and concentration. Also, it has 5 grams of amino acids for muscle support.

Is Optimum Nutrition Amino Energy a pre-workout?

Amino Energy is better taken before exercise. However, first thing in the morning, intra-workout, or post-workout can also be taken.

Is amino energy better than coffee?

Amino acids offer fast but steady energy that lasts longer than what caffeine does, instead of jitters and an imminent crash. Hence, it does so without causing you to crash.