Product Comparison

Approved Science BCAA Powder

If you are looking to get better results out of your workouts, then Approved Science BCAA Powder is something that deserves your undivided attention. Of all the BCAA powders currently available on the market, this is the one that deserves a closer look and very likely, the one that will change your life!

It contains the highest quality, clinically-proven ingredients for building muscle mass and increasing energy and endurance as well as preventing muscle wasting and aiding muscle recovery. This was the only product we found that contains a whopping 10-gram scoop containing a 2:1:1 ratio of the BCAAs – L-leucine, L-isoleucine and L-valine, additional amino acids L-glutamine and L-citrulline for an added Nitric Oxide boost and a natural electrolyte blend of coconut water powder to replenish lost electrolytes. This formula also contains BioPerine^® which is a patented black pepper extract to improve nutrient absorption. All of the beneficial ingredients come in a non-GMO, vegan-friendly powder to ensure a safe and humane source of BCAAs. It does not contain any additives, preservatives, sugar, soy or dyes and is safe to use with no long-term side effects.

Quality: Approved Science BCAA Powder contains high-grade, natural, clinically-verified ingredients that are GMP certified.

Reputation: Their reputation is top quality. This manufacturer has several third-party monitoring services, including buySAFE, Norton, and Trustee, as well as an A+ rating from the quality monitoring company QualityTrusted.

Money Back Guarantee: Every item sold, is supported by a 60-Day 100% Money Back Guarantee. Such guarantees from manufacturers show strong confidence in their products’ ability to deliver results. Great news for consumers.

What’s more, they are well known in the industry and an established company that provides great customer support service, secure and easy checkout as well as prompt, efficient delivery.

Their commitment to the health industry and consumer is excellent, providing further qualification of efficacy by producing their products in an FDA registered laboratory.

If you are looking for a product that ticks all the boxes for an effective BCAA powder, from an established reputable company with an excellent money-back guarantee, this is the supplement for you.

It would be good to note that, due to high demand, Approved Science BCAA Powder is often sold out. To avoid having to back order, don’t hesitate to make that purchase when you see it in stock.

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Designs for Health BCAA Powder

Designs for Health is a manufacturer that has been producing supplements since 1989. Their BCAA powder is composed of BCAAs in a 2:1:1 ratio of L-leucine to L-isoleucine and L-valine. It also includes an additional amino acid, L-glutamine. This product aims to build muscle and support the immune system. It is gluten-free, sugar-free and made of non-GMO ingredients. It is flavored with a natural orange flavor from citric acid and sweetened with the natural herb stevia. Where this powder differs from our editor’s choice is with a lower dosage as well as fewer ingredients. This powder contains only 5 grams of BCAAs and only 2 grams of L-glutamine. It also does not contain any additional amino acids, like L-citrulline, to boost nitric oxide production. Additionally, there is no ingredient to replenish the electrolytes that are depleted after intense training workouts. Furthermore, while this powder is vegetarian, it is not vegan. BCAA powders are notorious for having been sourced from dodgy ingredients and therefore it is always the safest and most transparent option to look for vegan-friendly BCAA powders. Overall though, we like this manufacturer and feel that they formulated a decent option. 

When reviewing this product, we were pleased to see a price tag that suggests quality – not cheap, but definitely affordable. It isn’t the cheapest we found but cheap doesn’t always mean quality so when it comes to good quality supplements, most of the time, you get what you pay for. We appreciated the fact they have a 2:1:1 ratio of BCAAs and that they included quality ingredients. Unfortunately, we felt that they were simply lacking a high enough dosage and some key ingredients that are backed by scientific research. Additionally, this powder did not have many positive reviews that we were able to find. 

We appreciated the fact that this supplement offers a full month’s supply but it does not come with a scoop for measuring the powder. Without a standard scoop, inaccurate measuring can occur which may result in a failure for the powder to last throughout the month. We were also discouraged to see that this manufacturer has an automatic billing program option as it can be very difficult for customers to disentangle themselves from that commitment. Furthermore, we did not see any kind of guarantee associated with this product. We did note a return policy however, it is only valid for only 30 days after purchase. Customers should be aware of this before they purchase this product.   

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Nutricost BCAA Powder

Nutricost is a manufacturer that produces a full range of nutritional supplements. Their BCAA powder consists of 6 grams of pure BCAAs in a 2:1:1 ratio of L-leucine to L-isoleucine and L-valine. It comes in a variety of flavors including grape, green apple, pineapple, unflavored and watermelon, and comes with its own scoop. The manufacturer advises consumers to take this powder both before and after workouts. The label states that this powder contains non-GMO and gluten-free ingredients. It is made in a CMP compliant, FDA registered facility, it is third party tested and offers a money-back guarantee if customers are not 100% satisfied. 

We liked the fact that this product contains the clinically-proven ratio of 2:1:1 to develop muscles, increase energy and aid muscle recovery, however, the total dose of BCAAs is only 6 grams. This is not the maximum amount we have seen. There are also no additional amino acids, such as L-citrulline, which is known to boost nitric oxide production in the muscle fibers. Furthermore, there are no electrolytes found in this product. During intense exercise, water and electrolytes are lost via sweating, therefore many BCAA powders will add an electrolyte blend to replenish them.       

Our final point of contention is regarding the BCAA source as well as the unnecessary ingredients included here. BCAAs are often derived from human hair, animal fur, pigskin and duck feathers. These items contain keratin, that contains BCAAs, but the extraction of the BCAAs requires harsh chemical processes. Because of this, many companies chose to use vegan BCAA sources instead. We were disappointed to see that wasn’t the case here. Additionally, there is sucrose as well as artificial flavorings found in this powder. While they are not dangerous, they are unnecessary and are usually avoided by serious bodybuilders.    

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