So you’re on the hunt for the perfect BCAA supplement?
Whether you’re lacking protein, skipping meals, or doing fasted workouts, branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) might be just what you need to crush those fitness goals and see eye-opening results.
How do I choose the best BCAA supplement for me?
BCAAs are no longer only accessible to professional athletes. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the thousands of BCAAs on the market – you’re certainly not alone.
We’ll be comparing the quality and effectiveness of the best BCAAs for women, so choosing the right product to match your goals will be a breeze. But if you’re in a hurry, Transparent Labs – Intra is our winner.
Ladies, get ready to dominate your workouts!
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Overall Best BCAAs for Women
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Best BCAAs with Caffeine for Women
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Best Premium BCAAs for Women
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Pros:
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Pros:
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Pros:
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BCAAs:
5 g
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BCAAs:
5 g
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BCAAs:
10 g
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EAAs:
6.7 g
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EAAs:
5 g
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EAAs:
14,550 mg
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Caffeine:
none
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Caffeine:
124 mg
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Caffeine:
none
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Servings:
30
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Servings:
20
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Servings:
20
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Flavors:
blue raspberry, strawberry lemonade
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Flavors:
blue raspberry, cherry lemonade, watermelon
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Flavors:
coconut lime, strawberry acai, pineapple, watermelon lemonade
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Discount code:
LV10 = 10% off Transparent Labs
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Discount code:
n/a
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Discount code:
LIFTVAULT = 15% off
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- BCAAs at 2:1:1 ratio
- Also contains EAAs
- No artificial sweeteners or preservatives
- BCAAs at 2:1:1 ratio
- Electrolytes for hydration
- Organic caffeine for energy
- Twice as many BCAAs as most brands
- BCAAs at 2:1:1 ratio
- Also contains EAAs
The 10 Best BCAA Supplements for Women
- Intra w/ BCAAs – Transparent Labs
- BCAA Glutamine – Transparent Labs
- Enigma w/ BCAAs – Apollon Nutrition
- Superhuman Intra w/ BCAAs – Alpha Lion
- In-Kaged Intra Workout w/ BCAAs – Kaged
- Aminos – Cira Nutrition
- Amino Slim – Raw Nutrition for Women
- BCAA – Scivation Xtend
- BCAA – Alani Nu
- Classic BCAA – Old School Labs
Intra – Transparent Labs
With 6.7 grams of EAA (5 of which is BCAA 2:1:1), 2 g of citrulline malate, 2 g of taurine, 1,250 mg of betaine anhydrous, 1 g of coconut water, 150 mg of ElevATP, and electrolytes, Transparent Labs bring a well-rounded ingredient label for Intra.
Don't let the name fool you. Intra is perfect for intra-workout or post-workout usage.
Discount codes:
LV10 = 10% off Transparent Labs
If you’re looking for the best BCAA powder to take before or during your workout, look no further!
Why choose this one? This special formula provides you with a precise ratio of all nine essential amino acids, including a perfect 2:1:1 ratio of vegan-certified BCAAs.
In terms of healthiness, it ticks all the boxes. No artificial sweeteners, no synthetic coloring, no artificial preservatives, no gluten, and no GMO. Did we mention it comes in delicious flavors? What more could you want?
Key Ingredients:
- Essential Amino Acids – 6.7 g
- BAAs 2:1:1 – 5 g
- Citrulline Malate 2:1 – 2 g
- Taurine – 2 g
- BetaPure Betaine Anhydrous – 1.25 g
- Coconut Water Powder – 1 g
- ElevATP (Ancient Peat, Apple Extract) – 150 mg
- Astragin- 25 mg
BCAA Glutamine – Transparent Labs
BCAA Glutamine from Transparent Labs is laser-focused on one thing: helping you recover from your workout.
If you take your BCAAs after working out, then BCAA Glutamine is a good pick for you.
Delivering a hefty 8-gram dose of BCAAs at the proper 2:1:1 ratio, your body will have the ingredients it needs to stimulate muscle protein synthesis. Glutamine may help alleviate muscle soreness after intense exercise.
Discount codes:
LV10 = 10% off Transparent Labs
And Transparent Labs does it again. They have provided us with the very best post-workout BCAA supplement with a whole 8 grams of quality BCAAs.
When comparing premium fermented vegan BCAA supplements, this one takes the cake (or should we say, cheat meal?). The ingredients have all been clinically proven to aid in muscle repair and recovery. We even included BCAA Glutamine in our list of the best glutamine supplements!
Give it a go if you want increased post-workout muscle growth and lightning-fast recovery, to name just a few of the awesome benefits.
Key Ingredients:
- BCAA 2:1:1 – 8 g
- Glutamine – 5 g
- Coconut Water Powder – 1 g
Enigma – Apollon Nutrition
Featuring a collosal 14.5 gram dosage of EAAs, including 10 grams of BCAAs, 5 grams of L-glutamine, and a complete electrolyte & hyrdration matrix, Enigma is the most overdosed intra-workout EAA supplement on the market.
Discount codes:
LIFTVAULT = 15% off at Nutri Cartel
LIFTVAULT15 = 15% off at Supp Kingz
Here we have the winner for the best premium BCAAs.
Why is it the ultimate muscle recovery drink? This one’s loaded with heavy BCAAs and all the other essential amino acids as well as all the electrolytes and osmolytes you need. In fact, you’ll get more than you probably need.
Think hydration. Think enhanced performance. Think rapid recovery. Even the most brutal of brutal workouts won’t get you down if you’re taking this.
The label is 100% transparent, and it comes in ultra-tasty flavors like Coconut Lime, Strawberry Acai, Pineapple, and Watermelon Lemonade.
Key Ingredients:
- L-Carnitine L-Tartrate – 2 g
- Creatine Hydrochloride – 2 g
- Glutamine – 5 g
- BCAA – 7.4 g
- Taurine – 1 g
- Betaine – 1.5 g
- Black Pepper Fruit Extract (Piperine) – 5.3 mg
Superhuman Intra – Alpha Lion
With 10 g of EAA (6 g of BCAA 2:1:1), Superhuman Intra is certainly on the upper end of EAA supplements in terms of amino acid volume.
But where it truly shines is flavor! If you want a tasty EAA or BCAA supplement, look no further.
Discount codes:
LIFTVAULT = 15% off at Nutri Cartel
LIFTVAULT15 = 15% off at Supp Kingz
The name says it all. This excellent, premium BCAA powder is said to give you superhuman performance levels in the gym (or out).
It contains high-end patented ingredients in the perfect doses and ratios to provide your muscles with exactly what they need to build and recover.
Alpha Lion is so confident that you’ll have an incredible experience using their products that they even offer customers a 365-day 100 % money-back guarantee. What have you got to lose?
Key Ingredients:
- BCAA 2:1:1 – 6 g
- EAA – 4 g
- Taurine – 2 g
- Raw Coconut Water Powder – 1000 mg
- Calcium Potassium Phosphate Citrate – 500 mg
- Aquamin- 250 mg
- AstraGin – 50 mg
In-Kaged Intra Workout – Kaged
Need an extra kick during your training session? In-Kaged has you covered with 124 mg of organic caffeine to help you power through.
Needing a rocket boost for your workouts? We’ve found the best BCAA supplement with caffeine. Organic certified caffeine!
If you’re looking for unstoppable energy to maximize your endurance and focus during your training, this is it.
The BCAA ratio is optimal, and they use top-of-the-range patented ingredients (with no artificial colors or flavors) that are third-party tested for purity and quality.
Key Ingredients:
- BCAA 2:1:1 – 5 g
- L Citrulline – 3 g
- Beta-Alanine – 1.6 g
- Coconut Water Powder – 500g
- Taurine – 1 g
- L-Tyrosine – 500 mg
- PurCaf Organic Caffeine – 124 mg
Aminos – Cira Nutrition
A fun BCAA supplement for those who enjoy creative flavors.
Unfortunately, exact BCAA dosages aren't disclosed, so we don't know if they're included at the proper ratios.
This supplement is formulated for women on the go. At first glance, it looks incredible, but there are a few reasons why we wouldn’t recommend it.
Although it contains the other amino acids (which is great), they don’t disclose the exact amounts of each amino acid or give the ratio of the BCAAs. This is essential to know when choosing a quality BCAA powder.
It also means there’s a good chance the ingredients are underdosed. Red flag!
Key Ingredients:
- Amino9® (EAA) formula – 3 g
- Taurine – 1 g
- L-Tyrosine – 500 mg
- Coconut Water Powder – 500 mg
Amino Slim – Raw Nutrition for Women
A popular, but unfortunately underdosed vegan BCAA supplement for women.
We’ve included this one for comparison purposes – we don’t recommend it for reaching your fitness goals.
The BCAA ratio is optimal, but the dose of each amino acid is not. To make taking this kind of supplement worth your while, you want to be getting at least 2 grams of leucine, 1 gram of isoleucine, and 1 gram of valine per serving.
Amino Slim doesn’t meet the minimum dosage requirements, unlike the other BCAA supplements mentioned in this guide.
Key Ingredients:
- L-Glutamine – 2 g
- BCAA 2:1:1 – 3 g (1500 mg : 750 mg : 750mg)
- Ashwagandha – 300 mg
- Saffron – 88.25 mg
BCAA – Scivation Xtend
A popular BCAA supplement.
Here is another good BCAA supplement choice, containing high doses of leucine, isoleucine, and valine in the optimal ratio. It also contains electrolytes to help you rehydrate after an intense gym session.
There is no indication as to whether the ingredients are plant-based or if this supplement has any certification, like being FDA or GMP-certified. (More on that below.)
Key Ingredients:
- Vitamin B6 (as Pyridoxine Hydrochloride) – 640 mcg
- L-Glutamine – 2.5 g
- BCAA 2:1:1 – 7 g
- Electrolyte Blend (Trisodium Citrate Dihydrate, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Chloride) – 1.17 g
- Citrulline Malate 1:1 – 1 g
BCAA – Alani Nu
A popular BCAA supplement designed for women. As usual, Alani Nu delivers several fun flavors.
The next one on the list is a popular vegan BCAA powder that helps to support muscle recovery to help you perform your best.
This comes in five fun flavors: Sour Gummies, Sour Peach Rings, Strawberry Kiwi, Rocket Pop, and Hawaiian Shaved Ice.
Key Ingredients:
- Instantized Vegan BCAA 2:1:1 – 5 g
- L-Glutamine – 500 mg
Classic BCAA 2:1:1 – Old School Labs
At about $0.75 per serving, this BCAA supplement from Old School Labs is one of the best value picks available.
This brand was worth mentioning as it has close to 3,000 good reviews on Amazon.
Their tasty Natural Watermelon BCAA powder is 100% vegan and free of artificial flavors, colors, sweeteners, GMOs, gluten, and soy.
What makes it unique? It contains a probiotic blend, which means your gut will be happy, along with your muscles!
Key Ingredients:
- BCAA 2:1:1 – 5 g
- BioFit Probiotics (150 Million CFU) – 10 mg
Buying the Right BCAAs For You
Let’s take a look at how you can choose the best BCAAs for you and how you can benefit.
What to Look for When Buying BCAAs for Women
Fully Disclosed Ingredient Label
You want to look for a BCAA supplement with a fully disclosed formula and a non-proprietary blend policy.
In other words, the brand needs to be fully transparent about its ingredients and not be hiding anything as a “proprietary blend” (a vague mixture of ingredients without their exact doses).
Companies that make their supplements from safe ingredients don’t have anything to hide, like underdosed ingredients.
Do you follow a vegan diet or prefer to stick to organic products?
Then you’ll definitely want to go for a BCAA with fully disclosed ingredients to know if it’s vegan-friendly or certified organic.
Another thing you should look out for is an FDA & GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) certification. This ensures that you can trust the claims on the supplement’s label and the quality and safety of all the ingredients.
Caffeine Content
BCAA supplements don’t naturally contain caffeine, but some brands choose to add it in for that extra boost during your workout. Think of it as pre-workout and BCAAs all in one.
Good or bad? There isn’t enough research to say.
But if you are someone who gets the jitters after a double shot cappuccino, you definitely want to check that your BCAA supplement is caffeine-free.
Besides, BCAAs can help to stimulate muscle protein synthesis – which can give you sustained energy through your training – with or without caffeine.
BCAA Ratio
You might know that branched-chain amino acids are important to build muscle and enhance recovery, but do you know the best ratio of leucine, valine, and isoleucine?
When it comes to BCAA supplementation for women, the optimal ratio is 2:1:1. Meaning you should be getting at least 2 grams of leucine, 1 gram of isoleucine, and 1 gram of valine with every dose.
Brand Reliability
Here are some pointers to make sure that the supplement brand is legit and trustworthy before you buy:
- The supplement has reviews online (This really helps you to make the best choice. People trust people).
- There is a website with contact details (a phone number or email address).
- It’s available at multiple retailers.
- It was recommended by reputable fitness or health experts.
What Are the Benefits of BCAAs?
Muscle Protein Synthesis
There’s no need to get too deep into the science here, but it’s good to have a basic understanding of how BCAAs are greatly beneficial to muscle protein synthesis.
Basically, BCAAs make up one-third of the amino acids present in lean muscle mass. They work together within your muscle tissue to help repair damage.
Did you know that leucine, isoleucine, and valine (BCAAs) are the essential drivers of muscle protein synthesis?
This process is vital for high-quality muscle growth post-exercise.
Decrease Muscle Soreness
It’s the day after leg day, and now you can hardly walk up the stairs. Even using the restroom is a major challenge. And don’t get us started on day two of delayed-onset muscle soreness.(If you know, you know.)
The good news is that BCAA supplements can be very effective in preventing or lessening muscle soreness.
How? Branched-chain amino acids provide your muscles with the exact proteins they need to recover rapidly. They can also decrease the levels of enzymes called creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase (the ones involved in muscle damage).
Improved rates of recovery and reduced muscle damage from workouts? Sign me up!
Reduce Fatigue
Ever begin your gym session feeling motivated and full of energy, only to end your workout earlier than you had planned due to being too tired to continue?
Brain fog and exhausted muscles – we’ve all been there.
But what if we told you there was a simple way to reduce that dreaded mental and physical fatigue? You guessed it. Branched-chain amino acids.
According to studies, people who took BCCAs had 15% less fatigue during exercise compared to those who just took a placebo.
More energy during your workout means that you can push your body further to achieve those big fitness goals sooner.
Maintain Muscle Mass
If you’re trying to tone up, lose weight, or work towards your dream body, you’re likely eating in a calorie deficit.
Yes, this might be an effective weight-loss strategy, but it often results in muscle loss too.
The reason? Diets give the body a hard time maintaining sufficient energy stores to use as fuel – so to satisfy its energy demands, it breaks down muscle proteins.
The solution to prevent muscle breakdown? Branched-chain amino acids for the win!
Take a good BCAA supplement, and you can expect the opposite: muscle gain. And if fat loss is your goal, get pumped because muscle burns more calories than fat.
More lean muscle. Faster metabolism. More fat burning. A leaner, stronger you.
FAQs about BCAAs for Women
Taking a BCAA supplement isn’t necessary if you get sufficient protein through your diet.
However, BCAAs might be very useful if you answer yes to any of the following questions:
– Do you often exercise in a fasted state?
– Are you struggling to get enough quality protein through your food?
– Do you want to improve your muscle retention and recovery time after intense workouts?
Yes, yes, or yes? Go get those BCCAs!
Yes, BCAAs have plenty of awesome benefits for women. From helping to achieve daily protein goals and supporting several metabolic functions to improving endurance and strength during workouts with better muscle recovery after.
According to Examine and WebMD, women should take 20 grams of BCAA at a 2:1:1 ratio for intense workouts. This isn’t a black-and-white answer, though.
It’s in your best interest to read the dosage label of the specific BCAA supplement that you pick to make sure you’re getting the most accurate dosage.
Another thing to keep in mind is that you don’t need to take BCAAs on days that you don’t exercise or if you’re just doing simple cardio because your body won’t be as dependent on essential amino acids.
Yes and no, as research is spotty.
More studies are needed to see whether branched-chain amino acid supplements are more effective for weight loss when compared to a high protein diet.
However, many women have claimed to be successful in reducing their body fat while taking a BCAA supplement. Although it’s debatable whether that was due to the supplement itself, or several other possible factors.
Why not give it a try?
You won’t gain fat from BCAAs, but it may increase your muscle weight. And lean muscle growth is the goal, right?
If you’ve heard someone say that “BCAA supplements make you look bulky,” you can laugh – because it simply isn’t true (unless you’re in a bulking phase of your training program, of course).
Simply speaking – as often as you want. It’s protein. Who doesn’t need protein every day?
Again, this really depends on the brand you’re taking. For example, some BCAA supplements contain a high dose of caffeine – which you might not want to take in excess (jitters and overstimulation are not fun.)
As a rule of thumb, BCAAs are best to take when you need a boost of amino acids during high-intensity training.
But always read the directions on the label to know exactly when and how to take your BCAA supplement of choice.
Final Words
Out of all the muscle performance products listed above, a few definitely stood out from the crowd. And so the queen of BCAA supplements for women is:
- Transparent Labs – Intra: Winner
- Alpha Lion – Superhuman Intra: Runner Up
- Apollon Nutrition – Enigma: Runner Up
These BCAA powders fulfill everything you could want in the perfect supplement:
- An optimal BCAA ratio of 2:1:1 in sufficient doses
- A fully disclosed ingredient label with certified ingredients
- Brand reliability and hundreds of positive reviews
If you’re struggling to make it through intense workouts without feeling fatigued, hitting a wall with your fitness progress, or battling with muscle soreness after exercise, consider investing in a good BCAA like one of these.
You’ll wish you had done it sooner!
