XTEND Original BCAA is one of the most popular BCAA supplements on the market right now. Of course, XTEND are well-known for their BCAA supplement lineup, so I decided to give the popular 7g BCAA a trial run!
Before I go further, I just want to clarify that this review is for the XTEND Original 7g BCAA powder. The Original BCAA is XTEND’s best-selling BCAA supplement, so it is the one I purchased.
I used XTEND Original BCAA over the course of one week, involving a mixture of cardio (running) and weightlifting at the local gym.
I also want to add that I am currently intermittent fasting (16:8), which is actually a big reason I wanted to give BCAAs a try.
In this review, I run through first impressions, ingredients, flavors, overall value for money, taste, performance benefits, recovery benefits, and, lastly, pros and cons and whether you should buy.
So, with all of that said, let’s get started.
BCAAs Explained
For anyone who is not quite sure what BCAAs do, or the benefits of BCAAs, I’m going to provide a quick explanation here. If you are already about BCAAs, you can skip this part!
BCAA (BCAAs) stands for branched-chain amino acids. These are essential amino acids leucine, isoleucine, and valine – essential meaning these amino acids are not produced inside the body.
Essentially, amino acids – especially leucine, isoleucine, and valine – are important for building muscle tissue and providing muscle energy, both of these able to enhance performance, speed up recovery, and increase muscle mass.
BCAAs can be consumed in a wide variety of food (namely high-protein foods), but for people who fast or do not get enough protein in their diet, BCAA supplementation can be essential.
There are some reported side effects to taking BCAAs, but these are mostly rare or not considered that harmful, only occurring if BCAAs are taken excessively.
XTEND BCAA Supplements
So, first of all, a quick overview of XTEND.
XTEND are a pretty big name in the sports supplements industry. They have been manufacturing supplements for over ten years, with a bunch of well-known athletes using and endorsing their products.
XTEND are best known for their BCAA supplements. In fact, they have a whole lineup of BCAA powders, including Sport BCAA, Elite BCAA, Ripped BCAA, Energy BCAA, and Natural Zero BCAA, and The Original BCAA (the one this review is for).
XTEND also make whey protein and whey isolate powders, which is a good thing if you like their BCAA supplements and want to get the best of both worlds from one brand.
Overall, XTEND are widely trusted, so I was definitely looking forward to testing their BCAAs!
First Impressions
The Original 7g BCAA powder is a good-looking supplement. It’s well presented in terms of packaging, and it just looks like a professional, legitimate product that does not come across as cheap and nasty.
XTEND are a big name and it shows. If I had gone to a fitness or nutrition store, this would stand out on the shelf, simply because of the minimalistic yet high-end-looking design. The fruit on the front is also a nice touch!
I got the version offering 30 servings, but the XTEND Original BCAA also comes with 90 servings. As for flavor, “Watermelon Explosion” is the one I chose.
“Muscle Recovery + Electrolytes” is what it says on the front, so you know what you’re getting. It’s also got no calories, no carb content, and no sugar – the triple threat we’re looking for.
XTEND BCAA Ingredients
At a glance, XTEND Original BCAA has got the three main BCAAs, plus vitamin B6, sodium, potassium, l-glutamine, citrulline malate, and an electrolyte blend of sodium citrate, potassium chloride, and sodium chloride.
Electrolytes are important for muscle functions and hydration, so those are a nice bonus.
Per 13-gram serving (1 scoop), this is what you’re getting::
- 3500mg l-leucine
- 2500mg l-glutamine
- 1750mg -isoleucine
- 1750mg l-valine
- 1140mg electrolyte blend
- 1000mg citrulline malate
- 640 mcg vitamin B6
- 220mg sodium
- 180mg potassium
Overall, a well-rounded, nice and simple BCAA supplement.
XTEND BCAA Flavors
XTEND Original BCAA powder has a bunch of flavors to try and, honestly, they all look and sound great.
There could be more, but the flavors I noted were Watermelon Explosion, Blue Raspberry Ice, Glacial Grape, Italian Blood Orange, Knockout Fruit Punch, Lemon Lime Squeeze, Mango Madness, Smash Apple, Strawberry Kiwi Splash, Strawberry Mango, and Tropic Thunder.
I got Watermelon Explosion, but it wasn’t an easy choice.
With most BCAAs, or any performance-enhancing supplement, it can be hard to find this many flavors (especially flavors that sound this mouth-watering), so this is definitely a plus for XTEND.
Value for Money
As mentioned above, XTEND Original BCAAs have the option of 30-serving containers and 90-serving containers.
Obviously, 30 servings are good for a giving the supplement a trial. And if you end up liking it, 90 servings is a good amount to keep you going for a while.
Compared with other BCAA supplements, XTEND Original sits at a price that is slightly costlier than other BCAAs. That’s for both the 30-serving and 90-serving containers.
It’s not a massive price difference, by no means. But the thing with XTEND is that you know what you are getting.
Ultimately, if you want one of the most widely used and endorsed BCAA supplements on the market, you won’t go wrong with XTEND.
Taste
Now we move on to the good part. I mixed one scoop of XTEND Original with 500 milliliters of water and, after a few shakes, found that the powder mixed quickly. No cloudiness or residue at the bottom of the bottle (which I hate).
First taste? Good! The flavor I ordered, Watermelon Explosion, was sweet despite the amount of water used and the fact that watermelons generally aren’t sweet. And, yes, it did taste like watermelon.
Remember, XTEND Original 7g contains zero sugar, so the sweetness initially had me surprised. After more research, however, I found out that XTEND Original contains sucralose, an artificial sweetener, hence the sweet taste.
I can’t say anything for the other flavors (yet), but Watermelon Explosion, which I think is one of their best-selling flavors, did not disappoint in terms of taste.
Performance Benefits
So, throughout the week I tested XTEND Original BCAA, I took it fasted, 30 minutes before I headed off to the gym.
Taking BCAAs before workout is widely recommended, as they do not only improve post-workout recovery, but also reportedly increase performance.
On the first day that I took XTEND Original, I wasn’t sure if I noticed enough of a difference. However, around the third day, I definitely felt I had more energy.
I didn’t fatigue quickly on the treadmill (I always get a few kilometers in as a warm-up) and found that I was pushing out more reps with ease.
In a way, the performance benefits of XTEND BCAA felt similar to creatine – an improvement in strength, as well as the feeling that you can keep going past what you can usually do. Next week, I’m sure I’ll be increasing the weight of all my exercises.
Recovery
Above, I mentioned that I felt I had more energy as the week went on. One of the effects of taking BCAAs is improved muscle repair and recovery, and it did in fact feel like I was starting each of my workouts with more energy.
Soreness (DOMS) was also slightly reduced and, in general, it was as if I felt less sleepy, less fatigued, and ready to go.
Also mentioned earlier was how I took XTEND BCAA while intermittent fasting. This was one of the reasons I wanted to try BCAAs, and it could be the reason why I felt more energized and generally well-recovered each day after my workouts.
Overall, in terms of performance, recovery, and reduced fatigue, it has to be said that I did notice a difference. Whether muscle size increases is something I will have to talk about later on down the road!
XTEND BCAA Pros and Cons
So, what are the pros and cons of XTEND BCAA 7g Original?
If you are thinking about buying XTEND Original BCAA, these are the good points and bad points, as well as a round-up of my experience after taking it for one week.
I supplemented XTEND Original before workout, fasted (while intermittent fasting), doing a standard split that involved a cardio warm-up followed by weightlifting.
XTEND Original BCAA Pros
- increased energy and improved performance
- reduced fatigue, sleepiness, and soreness
- wide range of flavors (Watermelon Explosion tastes sweet)
- no sugar, no carbohydrates, no calories
- includes sodium, potassium, citrulline, and electrolytes
- trusted brand (one of the best-selling BCAAs around)
- good option of 30 or 90 servings
- mixes easily
- affordable
XTEND Original BCAA Cons
- slightly more expensive than other BCAA supplements, although not by much
- not vegan-friendly
- contains sucralose, an artificial sweetener
- too many appealing flavors to choose from
The last con was a slight joke, but it might take you a while to choose if you do go ahead and buy this supplement!
Final Verdict – Should You Buy?
Should you buy XTEND Original 7g BCAA? If you like taking BCAAs, or feel that you should take BCAAs if you are on a fasting diet or do not consume enough protein, I would definitely recommend XTEND Original for all the pros I listed above.
BCAAs, on the whole, are not entirely necessary if you eat a wide range of protein, however, as these essential amino acids can be consumed quite easily.
Despite that, if you like having a daily BCAA boost and the benefits that come with it, I think XTEND Original is one of the best BCAA supplements on the market. It’s affordable, highly trusted, and with enough flavors to keep you coming back for more.
