NOW Foods Sports Nutrition, Branched Chain Amino Acid Powder with Leucine, Isoleucine, and Valine, 12-Ounce

I bought this because its hard to find an all natural amino supplement and this one is just straight aminos, no other ingredient. I was hesitant at first because of all the bad reviews about the taste, and that messed me up when it arrived because my anticipation of the bad taste was so great that I almost threw up the minute I put it into my mouth. After swallowing however, i realized that it wasn't that bad, really actually quite painless. Sure, it doesn't taste good, but by all means is it acceptable and when mixed into a small glass of cranberry juice I can down it in one shot and barely taste it at all. I tried to mix it into a protein shake and that was a bad idea, it really did alter the flavor of my normally delicious shake. I decided going forward i would need to take it in small shots and just get it down and done with. I also tried blending it with cranberry juice in the blender...horrible idea. The amino acid powder does not mix....at all, it just has zero ability to mix with liquid so it foamed up in the blender and became this aerated foam blob. The juice settled at the bottom and contained zero amino powder since the powder had separated into the foam at the top. So, my suggestion is to just lightly hand mix the powder into some juice and shoot it down quick and easy. If you can handle that then I highly recommend this product, great quality and no extra B.S. ingredients - just Aminos!Update 10/29/2013 - Its been a couple months since i bought this and I still have about half the bottle left. It became harder and harder to put down, after weeks of drinking the stuff it really started to gross me out. I wont be able to finish the product and i wont be purchasing it again as I've developed a gag reflect to it. I wanted to like it and the taste really wasn't THAT bad at first...i just cant stand it anymore and its become to hard to get down. My GF cant even look at the stuff.

I bought these to assist with losing weight. So far, so good. I can't say how much this has to do with it, but aminos are helpful for converting fat to muscle. That's my goal. An excellent product at a great price.

Excellent price, purity, and valueDoes not mix well with water and a spoon, suspends at top and clumps. Mixes well with shakers but adds a foul taste to water or protein shakes (tastes acrid).Mixes best with sour products like OJ, pre work out NO powders, and emergenCEssential for post workout recovery, pre workout to maintain muscle mass, and pre sleep in order to boost hgh levels and build lean mass.You won't find a better value in a name brand. This size and price is unbeatable in any store or any other website. I have been using this exact product for over 3 years and maintain excellent health, 6-8% body fat, and my blood panels come back immaculate every time. Resting heart rate 52-55.As with any product, exercise is essential, and supplementation is key when your calories are cut and low. When I am below 2000 call I make it a point to supplement.I will buy again, no need to shop around, and I recommend this to everyone I train. Two thumbs up for NOW on this one, they hit it out of the park.If this review helped please thumbs back.

I have been using this product for about half a year now. As a weightlifter of four years now, I can say that adding BCAAs to my supplement stack has made a noticably significant difference in improving my bodys ability to retain muscle mass while cutting. For the amount that I use for this purpose while trying to shed this extra fat, it is a bit pricey, but it is certainly worth it. I take a seving during and after long cardio sessions, and after intense weight training. Highly recommend to anyone that has difficilty losing stubborn fat and retaining lean muscle mass. I must say though, this does not mix well, and tastes like moldy flour. Takes time to get used to.TL; DRPro: Highly effectiveCons: Mixes poorly, tastes bad, expensive for serving sizes and frequency of use

Great product

Yes, this is a high quality BCAA powder, no fillers, no bull.Yes, it is hydrophobic (does not mix well with water).Yes, if you try to mix it for a minute, the powder just floats to the top.Here is what you should do:1) Add the powder to you favorite liquid (I use crystal light)2) Mix with stirrer or shake in a protein shaker cup (don't worry if it doesn't mix well)3) Let it sit for about 15 minutes (this is plenty of time for a majority, if not all of the powder to dissolve into your liquid)4) Stir or shake some more to get the remnants (it should be ready for drinking without any waste)5) Drink the most nasty tasting juice you've ever had.Yes, it tastes awful, so "Man Up" or mix some sugar free Da Vinci Gourmet Raspberry syrup into the drink to help mask the flavor.Enjoy!!!

I believe in BCAAs, but this is the nastiest supplement I've ever tasted. I generally can eat/drink anything if you tell me it's healthy, but this stuff really pushes my limits. I usually drink a vegetable smoothie with raw eggs every day (never had salmonella in 25 years of doing it). In order to get the BCAAs, I do NOT put them in with the smoothie initially. I first blend the smoothie, then pour 3/4 of it into my glass and drink normally. Then, after enjoying the flavor of a fresh smoothie, I go and add the BCAA powder to what's left of the smoothie in the blender, blend it, and try to chug it down quickly. It really is awful. I'm generally not a complainer, but this stuff tastes like aspirin powder. It's like eating chalky medicine tablets. But no pain no gain. Again, I do believe in the science behind BCAAs, but just remember you were warned about the taste. If you are a wimp, you will not like it, and you will not continue to take it. Just blend it in a small amount of liquid so you can get it down fast, is my advice. No flavoring (sugar, honey, fruit) will mask the taste. You just have to deal with it, or don't buy it.