Best Intra-Workout Supplements Reviewed & Rated for Quality
Runners and athletes prioritize exercise and training in order to live a healthy lifestyle—after all, diet alone won’t help you reach your performance and weight goals. So, if you are trying to keep it going, you should really consider one of the intra-workout supplements on our list.
Although none of us are completely perfect when it comes to diet and nutrition, when we work out it is a lot easier to make better choices and incorporate healthier supplements into our diet—so, if you want to keep up the good work check out the best intra-workout supplements below!
Enjoy!
Standout Picks
Criteria Used for Evaluation
Potency
Not all intra-workout supplements are the same and they all offer different levels of potency and effectiveness. Before you buy your supplement, make sure to assess what your needs are, your level of tolerance, and what your body can (or can't) handle in terms of ingredients and potency.
These products work in different ways depending on what is contained in them. They can help to maximize your training intensity while decreasing fatigue and allowing a faster muscle recovery. You will also experience increased muscle growth, thanks to the ingredients in them.
However, while they all contain amino acids that are the basic muscle building blocks and generally tend to work the same way to achieve the desired outcome, they are distinctively different in the contents of the bottle. The several different ingredients contained in them may work in a similar way or in a slightly different manner.
BCAAs
The most common elements contained in the bottle include Branched-Chain Amino Acids, commonly referred to as BCAAs (leucine, valine, and isoleucine). The surplus availability of amino acids – the basic muscle building blocks – during and after training, determines the results that can be achieved from the training session.
Consuming some extra BCAAs through supplements ensures you have enough muscle-building blocks to stimulate muscle growth. You don’t want to be training hard every single day with nothing much to show for it. Therefore, BCAAs should be part of the main ingredients used to make the product. This could help you to build muscle fast.
Beta Alanine
Beta Alanine can be very effective in delaying muscle fatigue. Apparently, muscle fatigue causes athletes to feel too tired to continue with their training, often leading to premature termination of training. This intramuscular buffer is very effective in offsetting the acid accumulating in the muscle as the athlete continues to train.
Being able to continue exercising for longer could lead to better results, unlike if you were to end your training session sooner. If you want to reduce muscle fatigue when exercising then you should probably consider products with Beta Alanine as one of the main ingredients. Either way, we made sure to include supplements for either preference or need.
Glutamine
On the other hand, Glutamine should also be available in plenty. L-Glutamine is one of the main ingredients used in making these products. It is also the most abundant form of amino acid available in the human body. It helps in speedy muscle recovery and repair, thereby resulting in muscle growth.
Training hard at the gym increases the chances of depleting your Glutamine stores. Therefore, you should have sufficient Glutamine in the body to replenish the stores once you are done with training. You could have it in the form of a drink to sip before, during, or after your training.
Electrolytes
These are also very important in keeping you hydrated after training hard for long hours. You might have heard that it is important to stay hydrated when exercising or training at the gym. Apparently, training hard causes you to lose some of the electrolytes in the body through the process of sweating. In fact, the harder you work out the more likely you are to sweat and lose much of the electrolytes in the body.
Some of these supplements contain sodium and potassium, but others may contain coconut water and melon juice to ensure the athletes stay hydrated throughout the training session. When you feel hydrated, you will be able to perform better without feeling excessively fatigued.
Use
We all have different, needs, and preferences when it comes to our workouts, intensity, and performance. And, although intra-workout supplements are pretty similar and many ways, that doesn't mean they are all meant for the same uses or goals--after all, if they were meant to be the same then there wouldn't be so many options available to choose from!
Here, personal preference plays a key role in deciding how you want to consume your intra-workout supplements. People have different preferences when it comes to taking these products. If you would like to consume it in the form of a drink before, during, or after exercise, consider the powder option.
It easily dissolves in water and in various other drinks to allow you to consume it in liquid form, which is easily absorbed by the body. If you are not enthusiastic about swallowing pills daily to meet your dietary requirements, the powder option provides a convenient way to take your preferred muscle booster in liquid form by mixing it with water or any other fluid you are comfortable drinking as you exercise.
Others are in soft gel and capsule form and are swallowed with water or other fluids and released into the body over an extended time. The extended-release makes it ideal for athletes to have access to energy in small bits throughout their training. This is unlike the powder form that is instantly absorbed by the body upon consumption, thereby providing instant energy and other benefits, including delayed fatigue.
This allows the athletes to consume the supplement and enjoy the benefits almost immediately. Therefore, if you are going to invest in any of these, you should consider the form in which you prefer to take them. It is also a matter of personal preference, as some people prefer the convenience offered by capsules to the bulkiness of powder.
The powder is also more likely to spill all over the place, but capsules and soft gels are easier to carry and use. You can take a few of these capsules and soft gels and carry them to the gym for use during your training. Regardless, it all depends on personal preference--so just make sure to keep what you want and need (personally) at the forefront of your decision-making process.
Taste
Even when it comes to supplements you can mix into your drinks or swallow as a capsule, no one wants something that tastes bad. In fact, many people will cease to take their supplement if it tastes bad--and I say this from personal experience. For the most part, all of the selections on our list are great in terms of taste--but just make sure to get something you know you won't mind taking when you work out.
Flavor is also a key factor to consider because you don’t want to invest in a product you dislike the taste and would not consume on a daily basis. For instance, if you find that the powder form of a supplement tastes like chalk, you are unlikely to follow through until you finish consuming it. In contrast, great-tasting products are likely to be consumed daily by athletes and other users.
If you enjoy consuming a product because of its great taste, you are likely to enjoy its benefits because you will have sufficient amounts of the essential ingredients in your body. Again, the flavor is also a matter of personal preference. For instance, while some people want to consume sweetened powder.
Others prefer tasteless powder because they will mix with fruit juices to enjoy the flavor of their favorite drink without the smell of the powdered product. There are several different flavors the athletes could choose to motivate them to consume their dietary supplements, but they have to choose flavors they are comfortable with if they want to derive maximum benefits from them.
10 Best Intra-Workout Supplements
1. Scivation Xtend
The advanced BCAA drink mix features 7g of BCAAs, 2 1/2 g of L-Glutamine, and 1g of Citrulline Malate. It is also blended with hydration-inducing electrolytes and provides a calorie-free way to support runners and athletes who have to put up with the most taxing gym sessions. You will be able to handle the challenges of a grueling workout knowing that you have the full support of the Scivation Xtend
Read morePotency
The product contains a high proportion of BCAAs to help support the growth of muscles. It may also support muscle strength to enhance the performance of athletes. It is great for runners looking to boost their muscle growth and strength.
Use
The product is packed with sugar-free ingredients and contains no carbohydrates and no calories. If you are looking for low sugar products to add to your regular diet, then you should try the Scivation Xtend. This BCAA drink is popular among runners and athletes who want to take their training to another level by consuming food products that boost their muscle growth and strength. It is also quite affordable.
Taste
As far as taste goes, this intra workout tastes great and can be easily mixed into your favorite drinks to ensure that they taste great and don't ruin your workout for you.
2. MuscleTech
The Amino Build Next Gen from the highly-innovative MuscleTech features a clinically-dosed muscle-enhancing formula designed to enhance performance. With massive doses of BCAAs, this product can be ideal for building muscle mass while accelerating fat loss. Those looking to grow or build some muscle and increase their strength should look no further than the Amino Build Next Gen. It will also help you recover faster and take your athletic performance to another level.
Read morePotency
The product contains 8g of BCAAs to help preserve muscle glycogen stores while fueling skeletal muscles and minimizing protein breakdown. You will be building muscle while reducing protein breakdown to maximum results.
Use
The MuscleTech product will help to replenish the electrolytes lost in the gym while preserving muscle glycogen stores and boosting endurance. Users have also realized a 40% increase in strength. In addition, the cost is never beyond the reach of a dedicated athlete.
Taste
The watermelon juice and coconut water included as part of the ingredients used to make the formula work with other ingredients to replenish the electrolytes lost while the athlete is training hard in the gym.
3. Beast Sports Nutrition
This creature creatine complex brings more benefits than the user can comprehend. It contains an advanced form of creatine and can be very effective in fueling overall muscle growth and boosting muscle strength. If you are into frequent exercise and often sustain muscle injury due to the breakdown of muscle fibers to rebuild bigger and stronger muscles, then the Beast creatine complex could be ideal.
Read morePotency
Users of the Beast Creature creatine have registered remarkable increases in muscle growth and strength. Runners could add the unique creatine formula to their regular diet to realize remarkable gains. It will also help to speed up recovery.
Use
To speed up muscle growth and develop huge muscles, users could try the Creature creatine formula and enjoy near-instant results. It is great for runners who also want to add some muscle. Strength training is common among runners and athletes. If you want to maximize muscle strength, add the Beast creature creatine to your daily diet and live to celebrate the results.
Taste
When it comes to taste, this intra workout supplement is delicious and easy to blend with your favorite drinks. Available in several flavors, you will love how great this one ends up tasting.
4. Kaged Muscle
The product contains top-quality ingredients that include fermented BCAAs and L-Citrulline. The perfect ratio of these ingredients could stimulate muscle protein synthesis. The Kaged Muscle BCAAs is vegetable-sourced and vegan-friendly. You don’t have to worry about animal products when consuming the Kaged Muscle if you are a vegan. The BCAAs are microencapsulated to help maximize absorption and solubility, thanks to the Kaged patented technology.
Read morePotency
It features a patented vegetable fermentation process and is specially formulated in the U.S. for the vegan athlete. It is great for the runner who wants to experience muscle growth in a vegan-friendly manner. The cost is also modest.
Use
The instantized fermented BCAAs contained in the Kaged Muscle is rapidly dissolving and of the highest quality. They effectively stimulate muscle protein synthesis to help you build muscles fast. The vegetable-sourced BCAAs will help you build muscle without worrying about animal products, especially if you are a vegan. This vegan-friendly formulation is very popular among vegans.
Taste
In terms of taste, this is a great supplement for you to easily blend in your favorite workouts and take with you to the gym or on the go.
5. Gaspari
The company took their nutrition expertise to the next level with the SizeOn creatine drink. With advancing clinical research, the company has been able to revolutionize the world of workout supplements to help support runners and athletes and their fitness goals and ambitions. The high-quality whey hydrosylate with mostly dipeptides and tripeptides allow for great muscle performance. Users will also experience unparalleled skeletal recovery.
Read morePotency
This cutting-edge formula of ammonia-scavenging amino acid salt (L-Aspartate and L-Ornithine) helps athletes to fight fatigue and continue performing throughout their training sessions. It could help them to push their limits and achieve so much more.
Use
The superior quality whey hydrosylate in the product also contains a high dose of L-LEUCINE to help speed up skeletal recovery and boost athletic performance. You can resume training sooner and notice an increase in performance. This cutting-edge formula is great for runners looking to battle fatigue while training hard to realize immediate gains in muscle size. It helps skeletal muscle recovery and boosts athletic performance. In addition, it is quite affordable.
Taste
This supplement is delicious and blends well with your water. It features awesome flavors that taste great and that you won't mind taking with you on the go.
6. Cellucor COR
Branched-Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs) are among the essential amino acids. In fact, many consider them the most essential. The body is unable to produce these amino acids naturally and must be consumed from food items or supplementary diets to enjoy the related benefits. Consuming BCAAs at any time of the day and working out could help to boost muscle synthesis. Athletes who have used the Cellulor COR have greatly benefited from speedy recovery following a high-intensity gym session.
Read morePotency
The Cellulor COR enhances the body’s immune system to enable the body to respond better to exercise. It will also help runners to enhance their response to disease and other disease-causing pathogens and microbes.
Use
High-intensity gym sessions can cause muscle fibers to tear and rebuild to become bigger and stronger. If you want to promote faster muscle recovery, you should consume the Cellulor COR. This BCAA product is designed for athletes looking to boost their immune response and recovery following an intense gym session. It also enhances muscle protein synthesis for bigger and stronger muscles. The product is pocket-friendly.
Taste
As far as tastes goes this supplement is not the best tasting option on our list--but they it does blend well so it certainly doesn't taste bad.
7. Controlled Labs Purple Wraath
The Purple Wraath is considered the “Holy Grail” of muscle-building and enhanced athletic performance for a reason. Besides maximizing lean muscle gains, it also speeds up fat loss and enhances recovery. Runners can use it to increase strength and boost endurance. If you are constantly worried about decreased energy levels following a session at the gym, you might want to add Purple Wraath to your daily diet to boost your energy levels.
Read morePotency
Athletic performance may deteriorate as you continue to lift weights, run faster, or complete complex exercises. However, to maintain optimal performance, you need to boost your energy levels and stimulate muscle performance. The Purple Wraath could help you perform better.
Use
This product from Controlled Labs is designed to enhance endurance and enable athletes to train for longer without feeling fatigued. Whether you want to run for longer periods or prevent muscle breakdown when in the middle of your training session, the Purple Wraath could help you achieve all that. This fast-absorption and fast-acting supplement is designed for athletes looking to take their performance to another level. It has helped athletes to increase their muscle mass while boosting their strength and energy. Moreover, the cost is quite modest.
Taste
Available in a few different flavors, this intra workout supplement actually tastes pretty good. Make sure to take a close look at your different options because most of them taste great!
8. Intra Surge
The INTRASURGE is a superior intra-workout supplement from Jacked Factory. It accommodates virtually anyone: from causal gym-goers to elite athletes. It is highly water-soluble and great-tasting too. The fermented BCAAs are great at boosting athletic performance and enhancing endurance. It also contains natural caffeine extracted from the coffee bean. Whether you are looking to recover faster or boost stamina and focus better, the INTRASURGE could be the ideal supplement you need to take your exercise regime to another level. Training hard and challenging yourself every day is not enough if you are not realizing substantial gains.
Read morePotency
Running, cycling, jogging, sprinting, and weightlifting can consume much energy. However, adding the INTTASURGE to your organic food diet could provide an instant energy source to boost stamina and increase focus. You will also realize a sudden increase in your overall athletic performance, as you will be able to run faster and lift heavier.
Use
The INTRASURGE is superb when it comes to stimulating muscle tissue growth. Your muscles will grow so fast that you’ll start to feel as if the weight has become lighter. It is great for the runner who is also a passionate bodybuilder.
Taste
The INTRASURGE is ideal for any athlete looking to boost muscle tissue growth while promoting fat loss. It is designed for both the novice and professional athlete looking to take his or her training to another level. The BCAA also has the greatest taste and easily dissolves in water.
9. Rich Piana
This recovery power can be very effective in speeding up skeletal muscle recovery after a taxing workout. Besides speeding up your muscle-recovery efforts, it can also aid your muscle-building process. The product is based on the late Rich Piana’s philosophy emphasizing that artificial ingredients and supplements should never replace high-quality organic food but instead be consumed in conjunction with natural food to help propel the user to reach athletic goals faster.
Read morePotency
This high-quality formulation also contains Creatine and Beta Alanine to boost muscle strength and enable the athlete to perform at optimum. These elements will help to meet your muscle-building needs while boosting endurance.
Use
The product is designed to be consumed during any time of the day. You can sip it before, during, and after your workout. It will help to spice up your diet and add some extra nutrients for healthy muscle growth and recovery. The BCAA formulation powder will help to stimulate muscle growth and recovery. It is great for runners and athletes looking to stimulate their muscle growth while enjoying the benefits of quick recovery. It is highly affordable as well.
Taste
Although this is not the best tasting intra workout supplement on our list of reviews, it still mixes great and tastes fine if you blend it well.
10. Cannabol BCAA
If you want to take full advantage of your workouts to gain the most impressive results, you should consider the Cannabol BCAA. This BCAA formula is ideal for runners who spend much time in the gym but never realize any remarkable gains. This can be a highly discouraging experience. However, with the Cannabol product from Force Factor, all that can change. The results include impressive gains that could encourage any individual to hit the gym regularly.
Read morePotency
The Cannabol intra-workout supplement helps to maintain energy before, during, and after your workout. If you are a marathoner looking to add some muscle and boost muscle strength, you’ll be surprised at how much more you could lift for longer periods.
Use
The cell hydration formula is designed to boost strength and endurance, resulting in better athletic performance. It can help runners to run faster and longer whereas bodybuilders can lift heavier and for extended periods.
Taste
This muscle-building formula is ideal for marathoners and sprinters looking to build more muscle to enable them to run faster and for longer. Besides helping to boost endurance, it also speeds up recovery. It is very pocket-friendly.
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