BCAA or EAA: what the label means

BCAAs are three amino acids: leucine, isoleucine and valine. EAA products list the full group of essential amino acids. So BCAAs are one part of an EAA mix. Some tubs here hold both. The label on each product page shows what is inside.

• BCAA powders: Red Rex BCAA (300 g, 30 servings) in Lemon Lime and Fruit Punch, Victor Martinez BCAA Juice (Watermelon, 300 g), Challenger Intra BCAA, and BSN Amino X, which lists BCAAs in a 2:1:1 ratio.
• EAA with electrolytes: Nutrex EAA+ Hydration in Apple Pear, Blood Orange and Strawberry Watermelon, Limitless Alpha EAA + Electrolytes, and Muscle Add EAA+BCAA (390 g, 30 servings).
• Amino energy: Optimum Nutrition Amino Energy, which lists caffeine from natural sources such as coffee bean and tea leaf.

Caffeine, sugar and format

Some of these mixes have caffeine and some do not, so read the label if that matters to you. Optimum Nutrition Amino Energy has caffeine. BSN Amino X says no caffeine and zero sugar. Nutrex EAA lists zero sugar and zero calories.

Most products here are powders you mix with water. Max Muscle Amino Fuel is the one liquid: a 945 ml bottle with 21 servings, in Watermelon Splash and Pineapple Splash. Muscle Add Xtreme DAA is a different kind of product. It is made of aspartic acid, an amino acid the body also makes on its own.

Picking a flavour and a brand

Red Rex, Muscle Add and Max Muscle are made in Egypt, and Nutrex is made in the USA. Muscle Add EAA+BCAA is labelled vegan. It comes in Bubble Gum, Electric Lemon and Tropical Twist. If you want an amino with no caffeine to mix into water, start with BSN Amino X; the Red Rex descriptions list no caffeine either. See more in all supplements, post-workout and muscle building.