Best BCAA Supplements 2023 – Your Ultimate Guide
We pick out three of the best BCAA supplements on the market right now to support your health and fitness goals
BCAA supplements are health and fitness products that deliver ‘Branched Chain Amino Acids’ in a convenient and easy-to-consume form.
Update: We updated this guide in January 2023 with the latest product choices and information. We currently rate Myprotein’s BCAA Powder as the best BCAA supplement right now.
Usually coming as tablets or in a powder to be mixed in with liquid, they are popular choices amongst gym goers and athletes alike, as they are often combined with things such as fasted exercise and intense gym sessions.
In this article, we’re going to take a look at what all the fuss is about with BCAA supplements, and also pick out some of the best products on the market right now to support you on your health and fitness journey.
(Photo: Adobe Stock)
Before we get going though, it’s important to remember that supplements such as BCAAs are designed to be consumed as part of a healthy diet and overall lifestyle. They should not be regarded as a ‘magic tablet’ to solve your health and fitness problems.
They do have a use, but sticking to a healthy diet and sensible exercise regimen should generally come before thinking about trying a new supplement.
Editor's note: The content on this website is meant to be informative in nature, but it should not be taken as medical advice. Our articles and the products featured in them are not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment of health problems. Always speak with a certified medical professional before making any changes to your lifestyle, diet, exercise routine, and/or taking any supplements.
So, with the introductions out of the way, let’s start taking a closer look at some of the best BCAA supplements and examine what these products are all about.
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Best BCAA Supplements – Three Top Picks
| Rating | Summary | Website | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Myprotein BCAA Powder |
 
|
• Powder Form • Flavours Available • Reputable Brand | Buy Now | |
| Protein Works BCAA Complex |
 
|
• Simple Formula • Tablet Form • UK-based Brand | Buy Now | |
| Bulk BCAA |
 
|
• Popular Brand • Tablet Form • Vegetarian Friendly | Buy Now |
BCAA Supplements – The Basics
As we have already mentioned above, the letters BCAA stand for ‘Branched Chain Amino Acids’. BCAA supplements are usually focused solely on delivering these three essential amino acids:
• Leucine
• Isoleucine
• Valine
The word ‘essential’ refers to the fact that the body cannot make these amino acids on its own, meaning that we need to get them from our diet and nutrition.
The important thing to remember here is that you will most likely be able to get enough BCAAs by following a healthy and balanced diet, and without any supplements at all.
Nevertheless, BCAA supplements are a popular category of health and fitness products, as people look to add in some extra BCAAs in a convenient way.
Generally speaking, most BCAA supplements come with an ingredients ratio of 2:1:1. This means that there are two parts Leucine to one-part Isoleucine and one-part Valine.
If you’ve done any research for yourself into BCAAs online, you’ll know that there are plenty of claims out there about how they can complement your health and fitness regimen.
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Most of the claims centre around the idea that consuming BCAAs around your workouts may help to support recovery. Despite this, in the EU at least, there are no authorised health claims that manufacturers can make about BCAA supplements as a whole or their separate amino acid ingredients.
It’s important to note that as we mentioned above, you will most likely be able to get enough BCAAs from your diet. For example, food sources of BCAAs include meat, fish, eggs, dairy products like milk and cheese, nuts and seeds, some soy products, as well as legumes, including beans, peas, and lentils.
That all being said, many bodybuilders and gym-goers choose to consume a BCAA supplement to up their consumption of these three important amino acids.
(Photo: Adobe Stock)
What To Look For
The first thing to realise is that there are a few different forms of BCAA supplements.
As mentioned above, they usually come in either a powder or a capsule/tablet form. This article is only focusing on tablet-form BCAA supplements.
One of the advantages of tablet-formed BCAA products is that they usually do not contain any sweeteners or flavourings, and they generally have fewer additional ingredients than powders.
The powder form BCAA supplements usually come in a flavoured mixture that is designed to be mixed with water, although some non-flavoured powders are also available. That being said, many companies also produce unflavoured powders (like our top choice in this guide) which don’t contain any unnecessary additions.
Probably the most important thing to look for in a BCAA supplement is the ingredients label. It’s best to ensure that the ratio of the three amino acids is the same one mentioned above, which is 2:1:1. Although there are some products that do offer different ratios, this is by far the most common one.
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After checking the ratio, you’ll want to see the total dose of BCAAs per capsule to ensure that you know how much you are consuming.
It’s also worth checking the ingredients label to ensure that the supplement is not packed full of additional substances or ‘filler’ additives.
BCAA supplements are generally one of the simplest food supplements around, as they usually only have to contain a handful of ingredients.
It’s also worth seeing whether the product you’re after is suitable for Vegans and Vegetarians, or other dietary needs.
Best BCAA Supplement 2023 – Three Of The Best
So, with the introductions out of the way, it’s time to bring you our pick of three of the very best BCAA supplements on offer right now from some top brands.
Editor's note: The writer of this article has not necessarily tried the products featured. All product information provided is purely research based.
1) Myprotein BCAA Powder
Product website: www.myprotein.com
If you’re looking for a clean and good-value BCAA supplement, then look no further than Myprotein’s BCAA Powder. Myprotein are one of the UK’s most established fitness supplement brands and their BCAA Powder is one of their popular products. The unflavoured version contains nothing but the BCAAs themselves, making it a clean and simple choice. As the name on the pouch suggests, this supplement provides BCAAs in the common ratio of 2:1:1. If you’re after a flavoured version, then you’re in luck, as Myprotein have an extensive range of different flavours to suit all tastes. This supplement is available in either a 1kg or 250g bag, and we think this is a great option for anyone looking for a straightforward powder-form BCAA supplement to add to their regimen.
2) Protein Works BCAA Complex
Product website: www.theproteinworks.com
The next product on our list is the BCAA Complex made by Protein Works. Protein Works are a UK-based company who sell a range of products, including protein powders and other sports nutrition supplements. The BCAA Complex is The Protein Works’ main offering when it comes to a BCAA product in a capsule form. It contains 3g of BCAAs per three-tablet serving and features a clean and clear ingredients formula. As you’d expect, this supplement contains the three main Branched Chain Amino Acids at the standard ratio of 2:1:1. The only other ingredients in this supplement’s formula are Microcrystalline and Magnesium Stearate. It’s available in three bottle sizes, containing either 90, 180 or 270 tablets. This is a good option if you’re looking for a straightforward and good-value BCAA supplement that comes in a tablet form.
3) Bulk BCAA Tablets
Product website: www.bulk.com
The third product on our list are the BCAA Tablets made by Bulk. Bulk (formerly known as Bulk Powders) are a UK-based nutrition company who have established themselves as a leading manufacturer of health and fitness supplements in recent years. Their BCAA Tablets supplement is their main offering when it comes to Branched Chain Amino Acids in a tablet form. This supplement contains BCAAs dosed in the usual ratio of 2:1:1. This supplement contains 5g of BCAAs per five-capsule serving and contains Vitamin B6. It’s a vegetarian friendly supplement in a convenient tablet form and you can rest assured knowing you’re buying from an established brand.
Anything Else To Consider?
As we have already mentioned above, supplements like the ones featured on this page are not designed to replace a healthy diet and lifestyle.
Sticking to a healthy, balanced and varied diet, and combining it with a sensible exercise regimen should always come first before supplements.
BCAA supplements are indeed a popular choice amongst many gym-goers, but you should be able to get enough BCAAs from your diet without the need for supplementation.
That being said, many people still choose to supplement with BCAAs to support their training and workout goals.
(Photo: Adobe Stock)
As we also mentioned above, we strongly recommend that you speak to your doctor or a certified medical professional before making any major changes to your diet, exercise regimen, or trying a new supplement.
Conclusion – Our Final Thoughts
That brings us to the end of our look at some of the best BCAA supplement options on the market right now.
We’ve walked you through the basic things you need to know about this kind of supplement, and some of the things to look for when selecting a product in this category.
We’ve then picked out three options when it comes to choosing a BCAA supplement in a capsule or tablet form to help support your workout and exercise goals.
Myprotein’s BCAA Powder currently head our list, but you shouldn’t go too far wrong by selecting any of the products featured on this page.
