The best BCAAs for fantastic muscle growth

Few fitness brands in the modern gym-going world have even a fraction of the renowned quality of Optimum Nutrition - a brand used by professional athletes, body-builders and newbies alike.

Regardless of what supplement you're looking for, if there's an Optimum Nutrition logo - you're in good hands - and its BCAA strawberry kiwi supplement is far from the exception.

Bursting with electrolytes, vitamins and Rhodiola - a herb proven to boost energy and alleviate post-workout fatigue, Optimum Nutrition's Gold Standard BCAA supplement is the perfect way to boost muscle-building in a healthy and enjoyable way.

Our only issue with Optimum Nutrition's BCAA is that it's only about a month's supply - making it a fairly expensive monthly cost.

For those who already have enough pre-workout supplements to drink before a gym session, BCAA tablets are a fantastic alternative to avoid bloating and sickness.

Simply take three BCAA tablets throughout the day (ideally, at least one pill immediately before and after a workout to boost muscle repair and prevent muscle atrophy), and you're pretty much set up for a pain-free rest day.

Not only that but with plenty of BCAA, you'll notice greater muscle gain and performance improvement week by week, making those intense workouts count all the more.

For the perfect intra-workout pick-me-up, Applied Nutrition's BCAA powder has an impressive 7.2g of BCAA per serving while also containing 1g of citrulline - making it perfect for that mid-workout boost to keep you pushing yourself to the absolute limit without burning out.

Applied Nutrition's BCAA powder is simply added to 500ml of water and taken either before, in the middle of, or after a workout - working effectively as an energy booster and as a quick post-workout supplement for muscle repair - so those days spent sore and lethargic are numbered.

Of course, it's not all upsides - some people, for example, dislike the sweetness of the flavour and find it overpowering - but for some, some sweetness is perfect for reinvigorating yourself and recovering from a tough workout.

Our main gripe with Applied Nutrition's BCAA powder is the sheer amount of water needed to dissolve the BCAA effectively, 500ml seems somewhat excessive to drink prior to or during a workout.

To keep yourself stocked up on BCAA powder without having to grab a new tub every month, XTEND'S BCAA blue raspberry is perfect for keeping stocked up on those essential amino acids - so you never lose your gains.

With enough to take two servings per day for maximum muscle saturation - the pain of the upstairs post-leg day struggle will largely disappear, and your muscle growth should improve almost immediately.

Our major gripe with the XTEND BCAA supplement is the lack of information on whether or not it's vegan or vegetarian, for that matter - there's very little information online as to the source of the amino acids, which typically are derived either from soy or animal gelatin - so we'd suggest plant-based eaters avoid it.

For vegans and vegetarians looking to improve their muscle growth progression and find a great source of essential amino acids - Vivo Life's Perform Raw protein powder is the perfect source of power that can be taken at any time of the day.

Using fantastic natural ingredients such as raw cacao, peas, hemp, mushroom, and a huge range of herbs for a quick energy boost - Vivo Life's Raw cacao flavour BCAA and protein powder is a delicious, natural and guilt-free way to keep healthy and fatigue-free throughout your most intense work out sessions.

For optimum muscle repair and growth - Reflex Nutrition's intra-workout BCAA supplement is quite easily one of the best powders on the market.

Each serving has an astounding 10g per serving - ensuring your muscles are fully stimulated and aren't remotely breaking down post-workout.

BCAA also fuels your hard-working muscles during training - ensuring that you're pushing yourself to your absolute limit and getting the best workout possible, and they're perfect for taking with some phenomenal zinc supplements.

Whether you're trying to bulk up, looking for that burst of energy without taking caffeine pills, or just simply looking to create a healthier morning routine - LLS's Essential Amino Acids contain all the necessary macronutrients for great muscle repair to really make those workouts truly count.

Ingest these easy-to-swallow pills between 5-10 times a day (dependent on just how much BCAA you're looking to absorb. This may sound like a huge amount of tablets to take per day - but the sheer benefits of BCAA almost certainly outweigh the ultimately minor convenience of taking some nutrients.

For vegans and vegetarians who may struggle to get all the BCAA they need from a non-meat diet, BCAAs are a fantastic method of seeing far more progress.

Keep stocked up on great-tasting, energy-packed BCAA perfect for before, after or mid-workout. An easy-to-consume, flavourful drink made of excellent natural ingredients with plenty of servings to cover up to three months - there's just no denying the sheer value of Bulk's BCAA.

What's more, Bulk's instant BCAA can be consumed up to three times per day for rapid muscle growth and repair, along with the best creatine powder, giving you a huge boost to your exercise performance and the comfort of your rest days.

For some users, however, certain flavours were too sweet for their taste - so pick wisely.

For a solid and affordable BCAA supplement from a renowned brand, Grenade's Defend BCAA powder is the perfect choice for you.

Made of high-quality, high-dose BCAA - Grenade's Defend BCAA is simply incredible for maximising your gains and keeping muscle loss down to a minimum.

Simply mix two scoops of Defend BCAA with 240ml of water and drink before or after intense exercise - but you can also drink it throughout the day if that's preferred.