Can BCAAs Go Bad?

Making the decision to purchase a fitness supplement isn’t always easy, given the vast array of products available online and in stores. These products make so many claims about benefits and results that it can be tricky to figure out the rules for a given supplement – how it works, when to take it, and whether there are any risks involved. Even newer, more advanced supplements like those containing BCAAs might be viewed with skepticism; after all, the fact that they’re meant to be ingested might lead to some perfectly understandable questions. One thing you should ask about amino acid supplements is whether BCAAs can go bad. To find out, keep reading as the people at aminoVITAL® offer some answers.

Do BCAA Supplements Ever Go Bad?

Though they’re consumed in much the same way as food, supplements exist in a sort of grey area between how we treat food and how we treat medicine. Most people store their supplements in their bathroom or kitchen – two of the worst places to keep them, for reasons we’ll get into below – and take them daily or almost daily, but there still seems to be little understanding around whether they go bad or not. After all, BCAA supplements are kept in a sealed packet, they don’t offer the moist environment microorganisms love, and they don’t decompose in any noticeable way, so does it matter how long they sit there?

The answer is yes, though they don’t go bad in the same way that food does, and this process takes far longer. BCAA supplements like those from aminoVITAL® are essentially a collection of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids, so they don’t spoil and become dangerous the way food will if it’s left out for too long. Instead, BCAAs and other supplements tend to simply lose some of their potency over time. Estimates for how long this takes vary, but the consensus seems to be that you can still use supplements for up to two years past any posted expiration date.

If you have some BCAA supplements that have been sitting around for months, they should still be perfectly fine to take; if you’ve had them for a few years, they probably won’t hurt you, but it would probably be better to get a fresh batch anyway.

How to Store Your BCAAs

Above, we mentioned that it’s generally a bad idea to store your supplements in your kitchen or bathroom; here’s why. The bathroom and kitchen are hot spots for two environmental factors that can significantly harm vitamins and supplements over time: heat and humidity. Both of these factors can degrade supplements, so it’s important to keep your BCAAs somewhere cool and dry, such as in a bedroom drawer or closet.

How to Use BCAA Supplements

Most fitness-oriented people have heard at some point that it’s important to take your protein shake right after you work out. This is often touted as the ideal time window for supplementation, and for good reason; the body’s muscle-building processes are in high gear right after working out, so it’s crucial to supply them with the resources they need to create and repair new muscle tissue. However, this is far from the only use for BCAA supplements. Below, we’ll discuss how BCAAs can help with every phase of your workout routine.

BCAAs as Pre-Workout Supplements

Most pre-workouts load you up with caffeine in an attempt to get you energized for the gym. This may work for some, but these pre-workout mixes tend to lose effectiveness after 45 minutes or so and could even cause you to crash before your workout is over. BCAAs, on the other hand, provide a more stable source of energy – one based on simply providing the muscles with fuel rather than jolting them with stimulants. This lets users experience a steady influx of energy during a workout without the jitters or crash that can accompany caffeine. 

BCAAs During a Workout

The same energy BCAAs bring to pre-workout products is available in an intra-workout formula as well. The Action intra-workout formula from aminoVITAL® help users stay energized in the midst of tough workouts by providing BCAAs that fuel the muscles and kick-start the body’s recovery process, plus electrolytes to balance hydration. BCAAs have even been shown to fight fatigue, and because they require much less digestion than whole proteins, BCAAs can take effect up to three times faster than whey. Just add one of these mixes to a bottle of water, and you’ll be ready for that next set in no time.

BCAAs for Post-Workout Recovery

Anyone serious about fitness knows how important the recovery process is after each workout. This is the period in which the body begins mending the damage done during exercise and building new muscle mass to prepare for the next workout – two essential steps in any fitness plan. The BCAAs in our post-workout fitness supplement help with this by providing the body with the resources it needs to put together new muscle tissue while reducing soreness and streamlining the recovery process. The Rapid Recovery mix from aminoVITAL® also offers a small dose of carbohydrates to replenish the body’s glycogen stores, providing energy for your next workout.

Safe, Effective BCAA Supplements Available from aminoVITAL®

Whether you’re new to fitness supplements or a veteran of your local gym looking to try something different, BCAA supplements from aminoVITAL® have something to offer. These supplements are safe and effective, and they won’t go bad for years after your purchase. To learn more about BCAA supplements, visit aminoVITAL® online or call (888) 264-6673 today.