Are Amino Acids Better for Energy Than Energy Drinks?

Before hitting the gym or heading out for a run, it’s a common practice to down an energy drink or pre-workout mix to boost energy levels and foster motivation. Many weightlifters and bodybuilders swear by this method because it makes it allows you to push yourself even harder during a workout. However, energy drinks and powders often come with some drawbacks as well, especially if they contain a strong stimulant like caffeine, but it can be tough to find something as effective that doesn’t have those same issues. A newer type of fitness supplement that has been gaining popularity is the amino acid workout supplement; could amino acids be better for energy than energy drinks? To find out, keep reading as the people at aminoVITAL® provide some answers.

What Are Amino Acid Supplements?

For those still unfamiliar with these potent products, amino acid supplements are a type of fitness supplement based on certain amino acids, typically a kind called branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs). These amino acids are chosen because, out of the 20 different amino acids our bodies need to craft hormones, enzymes, neurotransmitters, and other types of proteins, the BCAAs are notable for their ability to enhance exercise performance.

Extensive research^1,2 has been done on these substances, and an overwhelming number of studies have found that they can boost gains, provide energy, promote recovery, and generally improve performance and results during and after a workout. But, how do the energizing effects of amino acids compare to those of energy drinks, and what other advantages might they offer? We’ll answer that question below.

How Amino Acids Give You Energy

It’s no secret that the longer you exercise, the more exhausted you become, especially if you’re pushing your body to its limits for an hour or more. When you first start working out, your body fuels your efforts, in part, by using up the glycogen – a form of glucose found in the muscles and used for fast energy during exercise – that you’ve stored away in your muscles. Unfortunately, this pool of energy doesn’t last forever; someone pushing through an intense workout can easily deplete their glycogen stores, which forces the body to turn to other forms of fuel to meet energy demands.

One of the fuel sources it turns to is the body’s supply of BCAAs. Not only do these compounds help support muscle health and performance, but they can also be absorbed into, and oxidized by, the muscles³ – a process that releases energy and lets you continue exercising. By supplementing with an appropriate amount of BCAAs, you can give your body another source of fuel for those long workouts.

Amino Acid Supplements vs. Energy Drinks

For those who use them, the biggest draw of energy drinks is that quick jolt of energy you get after drinking one, but those who use these stimulant-based products also know that they can lead to some unpleasant side effects. It’s common for an energy drink or pre-workout mix to cause jitters in those who use them, which could manifest as shaky hands or an anxious demeanor. The energy provided by energy drinks is also fleeting; users tend to crash after a certain amount of time, leaving them with far less energy than they had before.

Amino acid supplements, on the other hand, don’t come with these problems. Instead of jitters and an inevitable crash, amino acids provide quick but steady energy that lasts longer than what caffeine provides, and it does so without making you crash.

Another big advantage amino acids have over energy drinks is their ability to fight the onset of fatigue. As BCAAs are drawn from the bloodstream into the muscles when you work out, they allow greater amounts of tryptophan – another amino acid – to enter the brain. That’s because tryptophan normally has to compete with BCAAs for access across the blood-brain barrier, but with lower concentrations of BCAAs, tryptophan has free rein to cross in greater numbers.

Once in the brain, tryptophan is used to create serotonin, a neurotransmitter linked to mood, sleep, and appetite (among other things). It is believed that serotonin contributes to a condition called central nervous system fatigue, sometimes simply caused central fatigue, which can hinder athletic performance and muscle function. By supplementing with BCAAs, you can restore the balance of amino acids in your blood and prevent fatigue caused by a buildup of serotonin.

And that’s not all: Amino acid supplements are also better for you than energy drinks. A single can of Red Bull, for instance, has 110 calories and 27 grams of sugar, while the Action pre-workout mix from aminoVITAL® has only 10 calories and no sugar at all – just a dose of amino acids, vitamins, and electrolytes that can power your muscles and enhance your workout, minus the side effects.

Try a Potent Amino Acid Supplement from aminoVITAL® Today

When deciding what kind of fitness supplement works best for you, consider the benefits of the BCAAs and other amino acids found in aminoVITAL® supplements. Not only do these amino acids offer some significant advantages over energy drinks, protein shakes, and other sugar- and calorie-laden products, but they can also boost gains, improve endurance, speed up recovery, and generally support a high-level workout and enhanced athletic performance. Each supplement is made from vegan amino acids and naturally flavored; just add one to a bottle of water and enjoy with your next workout. To learn more about these effective, efficient supplements, visit aminoVITAL® online or call (888) 264-6673 today.

1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16365096/
2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32269649/
3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15173434/