Which XTEND is Right for You? The 7 Best BCAA Supplements

By Erick Avila

As part of our mission to raise the bar on muscle recovery, XTEND has built out a diverse family of products to support the goals of all types of people. Built with the foundation of clinically studied ingredients and formulas, cutting-edge performance ingredients, and hydrating electrolytes, the XTEND lineup was designed to help you refuel, repair, and recover*.

There are many ways to promote recovery, including proper nutrition, adequate sleep, hydration and repairing muscle tissue. At XTEND, we’ve optimized supporting muscle recovery and hydration. There are two features (BCAAs and electrolytes) that you may notice as the backbone in many of our formulas to support this goal.

Let’s go over the performance ingredients in our formulas so you can pick an XTEND product that’s right for your goals.

What are BCAAs?

BCAAs are branched chain amino acids, they have this name because their chemical structure resembles tree branches. BCAAs (Leucine, Isoleucine, Valine) make up 3 of the 9 essential amino acids, which are considered essential because our bodies need them to function and can’t make them on its own. A unique feature of BCAAs is that they mostly bypass the liver and can be rapidly absorbed into our bloodstream.

Research on BCAAs has shown that consistent supplementation at appropriate dosages has the potential for reducing muscle damage after exercise compared to placebo. [1,2] In two studies on the XTEND® formula, subjects supplementing with doses of 14 g of BCAAs per day in combination with diet and exercise showed beneficial improvements in body composition when compared to placebo. * [3,4]

What Are Electrolytes?

Electrolytes are essential minerals that contain an electrical charge. Electrolytes play important roles in maintaining fluid balance, pH balance, regulating nerve impulses and muscle contraction. Some important electrolytes include calcium, chloride, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and sodium.

Intense exercise and warm weather can both contribute to sweating and loss of electrolytes like sodium and potassium, which is exactly why they’re in our XTEND formulas. If rapid recovery is desired, consuming sufficient fluids and electrolytes is recommended.[5]

Which XTEND is Right For You?

Just like your fitness goals are unique to you, so are the products in the XTEND family. Let’s take a closer look at the XTEND family:

Best Original BCAA and Electrolyte Powder

XTEND Original is the BCAA product that started it all, formulated to support muscle recovery and hydration. XTEND Original contains 7 g of BCAAs, hydrating electrolytes and other performance ingredients. It’s the ideal, any time of the day hydration recovery drink when you want to support faster recovery.*

Ideal for: Performance-Focused Goals, Muscle Building Goals, Weight Loss Focused Goals

Best BCAA and Electrolytes for Performance

XTEND Elite helps support recovery, power output, and endurance. * XTEND Elite features 7 g of BCAAs, CarnoSyn Beta-Alanine, PeakO2, and NO3-T Citrulline Nitrate. XTEND® Elite is a performance drink for athletes who want a supplement that works as hard as they do.

Ideal for: Performance Focused Goals. Muscle Building Focused Goals.

Best BCAA and Electrolytes for Fat Burning

XTEND Ripped is a revolutionary cutting formula that helps you preserve muscle while you diet. * XTEND Ripped features 7 g of BCAAs and ingredients like CLA and Capsimax to enhance fat loss, in a stimulant free fat burning formula that can be used alone or stacked with other weight loss products. *

Ideal for: Weight Loss Focused Goals

Best BCAA and Electrolytes for Sports

XTEND Sport is NSF for Sport Certified, which certifies that this product was tested by one of the most well-respected independent certification agencies to be free of over 270 banned substances. With 7 g of BCAAs and an electrolyte blend that features BetaPower Betaine and Coconut Water Powder, XTEND Sport is hydration and recovery support trusted by athletes of all types *

Ideal for: Performance Focused Goals

Best BCAA-Rich Whey Protein

XTEND Pro helps maximize muscle retention, recovery, and growth with its 25 g of whey protein isolate and 7 g of additional BCAAs. XTEND Pro is engineered for incredible results, with fewer than 150 calories per serving and amazing flavors.

Ideal for: Muscle Building Focused Goals. Weight Loss Focused Goals. Performance Focused Goals.

Best Electrolytes for Anytime Hydration

XTEND Healthy Hydration: Designed for optimal performance, XTEND Healthy Hydration is formulated with 6 key electrolytes, essential amino acids and vitamins D + B, delivering effective hydration without sugar or artificial sweeteners.Ideal for: Anytime Hydration.

 

 

References

[1] https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/9/10/1047/htm
[2] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/332162853_Effect_of_branched-Chain_Amino_Acid_Supplementation_on_Muscle_Soreness_following_Exercise_A_Meta-Analysis
[3] https://jissn.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12970-015-0112-9
[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3313152/
[5] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22150427/
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.