First off, for anyone who doesn't already know this, BCAA powder on it's own tastes terrible. It is possibly one of the worst tasting things in the world. That's just how it is. Why, you ask, would one choose to consume it in this form, as opposed to taking capsules or using the super-artificially flavored stuff? Well, #1) The amount that you need to take is pretty large, an amount that is about equivalent to 15-20 capsules. If you buy BCAA already in capsules, you will either need to consume an insane number of pills (which is not cost effective) or take incredibly tiny dosages that are basically pointless. The flavored stuff may be a better option for some people, but I prefer to consume the least amount of artificial flavorings and sweeteners as possible. I have not tried the flavored version from Nutricost, so I can't say anything about it being more palatable. I did use a BCAA powder a few years ago that was very palatable. The only issue was that it contained some artificial sweeteners, which was the reason I decided not to reorder it. If you don't care about artificial sweeteners and prefer something that has an acceptable taste, you might want to consider trying NaturoNitro: Naturo Nitro Atlas, BCAA Instantized Powder, Best Branched Chain Amino Acids, 28 Servings, 5.5g Per Serving, Lemon Lime Flavor . However, if avoiding artificial sweeteners is a priority for you, this Nutricost BCAA powder is the best you'll find.
Since I prefer to suffer the terrible taste of the pure powder I used the unflavored version. This is not a criticism of this brand; BCAA is just inherently gross. We, as humans, are not designed to consume amino acids directly; we are designed to consume meat (which does taste pretty darn good) and then break it down internally into amino acid components.
I did one time actually encapsulate this BCAA powder, myself, since I have a bunch of empty gelatin capsules that I often use to make my own supplement capsules. However, the main problem with doing this is #1) It takes about 15-20 capsules per dosage, AND: #2) this powder is incredibly hygroscopic so it becomes clumpy within minutes since it attracts the moisture in the air almost immediately. It's very hard to work with.
With that caveat out of the way, I have nothing but good things to say about this product. Here's what I like:
1) It's made in the USA. This is increasingly rare and at times impossible to find. This brand is one of the few that seems to make all their supplements in the USA. Other brands are produced in China (even if they are 'packaged' in the USA) which means: little/no regulation or oversight and you really have no way to know what horrible contaminants you might be ingesting.
2) It works. I know most people use BCAA prior or after going to the gym to improve recovery time. I use this for a different purpose: to minimize PEM (post exertional malaise) which is a debilitating symptom of CFS/ME. If I start to feel PEM starting (which usually begins with dead arms), I take a dose of BCAA as one of my interventions. The relief is fairly immediate, though not long lasting. However, the fact that it is effective tells me that the product is what it's advertised as being.
3) Buying it like this (as bulk powder) is cost-effective, much more so than other brands in capsules.
Overall, I'm extremely happy with both this company and this product, specifically. If you have any questions, I'm happy to try to help. If you found this review helpful, consider leaving me feedback, I'd really appreciate it.
