Bodybuilding.com Signature Amino Plus Energy Review – A Bona Fide Work In Progress

If you want a supplement which is more than just BCAAs, Bodybuilding.com Signature Amino Plus Energy could be right up your alley. Its versatility is sure to raise your eyebrows at the very least in this review.

About Bodybuilding.com Signature Amino Plus Energy

Bodybuilding.com Signature Amino Plus Energy feature “Amino Acids and Caffeine For Energy, Focus, and Recovery,” per its official website. Formula notes:

• Five grams of BCAAs per scoop. Should help you muscle up, increase energy levels, and torch fat.
• 2:1:1 BCAA ratio. Common among many BCAA supplements.
• Versatile. Can double as a pre-workout and post-workout supplement.

Amino Acids and Caffeine For Energy, Focus, and Recovery

We hope you’ve included BCAAs in your bodybuilding supplement arsenal by now. Let us count the ways:

• Help increase protein synthesis
• Boost fat loss
• Support hormone balance during training
• May ramp up strength
• Ward off fatigue
• Keep muscle soreness at bay
• Preserve muscle mass
• Improve insulin sensitivity

You cannot miss out on these important benefits. BCAAs are essential amino acids. This means your body cannot synthesize them. Hence, you must obtain them from whole foods (some of the best sources are chicken breast, lean beef, canned tuna, and wild salmon) and supplements.

Sure, there are many detractors who think BCAA supplements aren’t necessary since you can obtain them from whole food sources. They make a valid point.

However, BCAA supplements offer convenience these whole foods cannot. If you need to supplement with BCAAs between meals, it would be inconvenient to grab a chicken breast and wolf it down.

On that note, we’re hoping Bodybuilding Signature Amino Plus Energy can exceed your expectations.

When we sized up Bodybuilding.com Signature BCAA, we thought it was one of the simplest BCAA products on the market. Too bad the manufacturer laced it with fillers. We’re crossing our fingers Bodybuilding.com Signature Amino Plus Energy does it one better.

The manufacturer dubs this supplement “Amino Acids and Caffeine For Energy, Focus, and Recovery,” per its official website.

Interesting. We’re sure this marketing tag line will resonate well with many bodybuilding enthusiasts who want to become consistent in those areas. Let’s hope this product lives up to the hype.

Bodybuilding.com Signature Amino Plus Energy can help you achieve your fitness goals.

BCAA Blend 2:1:1, 5 grams

Bodybuilding.com Signature Amino Plus Energy’s BCAA Blend 2:1:1 takes up five grams per serving. That’s a decent amount for any BCAA supplement.

While the company divulges the 2:1:1 BCAA ratio, it doesn’t break down the individual BCAA amount. Since there are five grams of BCAAs per scoop, that should be easy to figure out. This all comes down to 2.5 grams of l-leucine and 1.25 grams each of l-isoleucine and l-valine per serving.

That much l-leucine should help you remain in an anabolic state during the day. Remember, this is the most anabolic amino acid which helps kickstart muscle protein synthesis. Not only that, but some experts say l-leucine may help ward off obesity. We’re sure you’ll love that upside.

As for the 1.25 grams of l-isoleucine per serving, we say it will help you repair muscle tissue, increase endurance, maintain a positive nitrogen balance, and regulate blood sugar levels.

On the other hand, 1.25 grams of l-valine per scoop will help you repair muscle tissue, increase endurance, improve sleep quality, suppress appetite, regulate the immune system, and ramp up muscle growth.

We’re confident Bodybuilding.com Signature Amino Plus Energy will help you achieve your fitness goals. Thing is, it would have been better if the company displayed better transparency for the sake of the customer.

CarnoSyn Beta-Alanine, 750 milligrams

Beta-alanine is a naturally-occurring beta amino acid and a staple pre-workout supplement ingredient. The reason is simple: it helps buffer muscle carnosine levels for increased work capacity.

Long story short, when you consume beta-alanine, you’ll be able to keep fatigue at bay. You’ll find yourself working out longer, cranking out more reps, and establishing new personal bests at the gym.

In fact, judo athletes who supplemented with beta-alanine for four weeks experienced enhanced “judo-related performance,” per the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport’s April 2017 issue.

Beta-alanine is a time-tested bodybuilding ingredient we recommend. While 750 milligrams per scoop is not the most we’ve seen in a supplement (Bodybuilding.com Signature Pre-Workout has twice the amount), it will do for a BCAA product.

In our opinion, the inclusion of beta-alanine helps enhance Bodybuilding.com Signature Amino Plus Energy’s pre-workout properties. Combine this with its other components (namely l-arginine and caffeine anhydrous), you get a BCAA brand which can double as a pre-workout supplement.

Micronized Taurine, 500 milligrams

Time and again, we’ve been praising taurine for its versatility. It’s one well-rounded amino acid, if you ask us. Let’s rattle off its benefits:

• Wards off oxidative stress
• Increases fat loss
• Improves insulin sensitivity
• Ramps up testosterone levels
• Shortens recovery time
• Boosts cardiovascular function
• Improves sleep quality
• Enhances cognitive function

Plus, the Mayo Clinic’s Katherine Zeratsky  says, “Some studies suggest that taurine supplementation may improve athletic performance, which may explain why taurine is used in many energy drinks.”

Taurine and BCAAs’ benefits mesh quite nicely, don’t you think? We say putting those two together in one supplement make for one potent combination. You achieve a heap of fitness goals in the process.

Five hundred milligrams of taurine per scoop should go a long way in a BCAA supplement. We’re stoked it’s in Bodybuilding.com Signature Amino Plus Energy.

Micronized L-Arginine, 500 milligrams

Bodybuliding.com Signature Amino Plus Energy also has 500 milligrams of l-arginine per serving. This is an alpha amino acid and nitric oxide precursor which is popular among fitness enthusiasts. The reason: it is a powerful vasodilator.

That means l-arginine helps improve blood flow for increased muscle pumps, better nutrient uptake, and healthier blood pressure levels. Plus, health experts consider nitric oxide an antioxidant which helps keep free radicals at bay. That bodes well for your long-term health.

Don’t expect insane muscle pumps with just 500 milligrams of l-arginine per scoop (if you want otherworldly muscle pumps, try EAS Myoplex Muscle Armor’s ridiculous seven grams of l-arginine per serving). However, it should make a positive impact on blood flow and nutrient uptake. Don’t expect anything extreme, though.

Caffeine (From Caffeine Anhydrous and Green Tea Extract), 100 milligrams

Bodybuilding.com Signature Amino Plus Energy has 100 milligrams of caffeine per serving. More specifically, the manufacturer sourced this from caffeine anhydrous and green tea extract.

Caffeine anhydrous is caffeine in its pure, powdered form. It helps neutralize andenosine, a nucleoside which inhibits nervous system activity.

Simply put, caffeine anhydrous helps increase focus, energy, and alertness. Caffeine also helps stifle free radical activity, incinerate fats, increase exercise performance, regulate blood sugar levels, and boost liver function.

Bodybuilding.com Signature Amino Plus Energy’s caffeine content is equal to roughly one cup of brewed coffee. This is not as much as many competitors who have at least 200 milligrams of caffeine per serving.

Nonetheless, we maintain our stance on caffeine: it’s a double-edged sword. It can still produce a spike-crash effect, nervousness, and sleeplessness in some individuals. Please proceed with caution.

Green Tea Extract (Std. to 25 Percent EGCG and 12 Percent Caffeine), 100 milligrams

Bodybuilding.com Signature Amino Plus Energy has 100 milligrams of green tea extract (std. to 25 percent EGCG and 12 percent caffeine) per scoop.

Green tea is one of the healthiest beverages on the planet. Here are some of the things it can do for you:

• Improves brain function
• Boosts fat loss and heart health
• Increases exercise performance
• Wards off free radicals and obesity
• Enhances cognitive function
• Regulates blood sugar levels

To substantiate these, the journal Chinese Medicine’s April 6, 2010 issue (via NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov) says, “Long-term consumption of tea catechins could be beneficial against high-fat diet-induced obesity and type II diabetes and could reduce the risk of coronary disease.” Green tea extract is a health booster in every sense of the word.

We’re excited this BCAA supplement has green tea extract. One hundred milligrams per serving should go a long way.

Our first impression: Bodybuilding.com Signature Amino Plus Energy will help you reap the benefits of BCAAs and ramp up your energy levels, for sure.

However, the manufacturer continues to lace its Signature supplement line with fillers (in this case, it’s sucralose and FD&C Blue No. 1).  That move may take a toll on the company’s reputation.

Let’s check out the formula ingredients:

• Sodium (as sodium chloride), 100 mg: Bodybuilding.com Signature Amino Plus Energy is not a significant source of sodium at just four percent of the daily value (five percent of the daily value or lower is minuscule).
• Potassium (as potassium citrate), 100 mg: This product also isn’t a significant source of potassium at just three percent of the daily value.
• Calcium (as calcium chloride), 25 mg: Bodybuilding.com Signature Amino Plus Energy is not a significant source of calcium at just three percent of the daily value.
• Magnesium (as magnesium oxide), 25 mg: This supplement is a so-so source of magnesium at six percent of the daily value.
• Chloride (as sodium and calcium chloride), 198 mg: Bodybuilding.com Signature Amino Plus Energy is an average source of chloride at six percent of the daily value.
• CarnoSyn Beta-Alanine, 750 mg: This is a naturally-occurring beta amino acid which helps buffer muscle carnosine levels. This results in greater working capacity and increased resistance against fatigue.
• Micronized taurine, 500 mg: A versatile amino acid which helps ward off oxidative stress, increase fat loss and testosterone levels, improve sleep quality, and boost heart health.
• Micronized l-arginine, 500 mg: This is an amino acid which acts as a precursor of nitric oxide, a compound which helps improve blood flow, increase vasodilation, and improve nutrient uptake. Five hundred milligrams per serving won’t produce extreme results, but it’ll still make an impact.
• Caffeine (from caffeine anhydrous and green tea extract), 100 mg: This is the pure, powdered form of caffeine which helps increase energy levels and focus. Bodybuilding.com Signature Amino Plus Energy’s caffeine content is roughly equal to one cup of brewed coffee.
• Green tea extract (std. to 25 percent EGCG and 12 percent caffeine), 100 mg: An ingredient which helps boost fat loss, improve heart health, keep free radicals at bay, enhance cognitive function, and regulate blood sugar levels.

BCAA Blend 2:1:1, 5 g

• L-leucine: The most anabolic amino acid which helps build muscle mass and ward off obesity. Using Bodybuilding.com Signature Amino Plus Energy’s 2:1:1 BCAA ratio, we computed this supplement’s l-leucine content at 2.5 grams per scoop.
• L-isoleucine: The BCAA which helps repair muscle tissue, increase endurance, maintain a positive nitrogen balance, and regulate blood sugar levels. Using the 2:1:1 BCAA ratio as a clue, we computed this supplement’s l-isoleucine content at 1.25 grams per scoop.
• L-valine: The BCAA which helps increase endurance, repair muscle tissue, improve sleep quality, suppress appetite, and regulate immunity. Using the 2:1:1 BCAA ratio as clue, we computed this product’s l-valine content at 1.25 grams per scoop.

Formula Analysis

We were hoping Bodybuilding.com Signature Amino Amino Plus Energy would outdo Bodybuilding.com Signature Pre-Workout and Bodybuilding.com Signature BCAA. The two latter products have fillers. We crossed our fingers their BCAA and energy counterpart would be cleaner.

Unfortunately, the trend continues: Bodybuilding.com Signature Amino Plus Energy’s Blue Raspberry flavor has sucralose (an artificial sweetener which may increase weight gain) and FD&C Blue No. 1 (an artificial food coloring which has several side effects). Thumbs down.

Whenever we see dirty ingredients like these, we pine for cleaner and natural alternatives such as stevia (a natural sweetener which helps regulate blood pressure levels).

Bodybuilding.com Signature Amino Plus Energy’s 2:1:1 Amino Blend is also proprietary (the manufacturer fails to break down the individual BCAA amounts). Plus, its caffeine content (which is lower than most energy boosters at 100 milligrams per scoop) is a double-edged sword.

Sure, Bodybuilding.com Signature Amino Plus Energy is by no means a perfect product. However, it does have its upsides.

First, we like the five grams of branched-chain amino acids per serving. That, and the 2.5 grams of l-leucine per scoop, should help you muscle up and achieve your various fitness goals.

Second, it includes time-tested bodybuilding supplement ingredients beta-alanine, taurine, and l-arginine. We’re sure you will experience increased energy levels, more fat loss, better sleep, and improved blood flow, among other things.

In fact, we’re confident this product can also double as a pre-workout supplement. The manufacturer claims it can also act as a post-workout supplement. The ingredient profile speaks for itself. Try it before a hard workout, and you’ll see what we mean.

Like we said, don’t expect any insane muscle pumps or extreme effects from the 500 milligrams of l-arginine per scoop. While it is helpful, that much pales in comparison to those of the competition.

Plus, l-arginine has poor solubility. L-cirtulline, another powerful vasodilator, would have been the better option.

After a thorough analysis, we say Bodybuilding.com Signature Amino Plus Energy’s solid ingredient profile will help ramp up your energy levels and improve your performance in and out of the gym.

While it’s a solid product, we weren’t impressed with its several chinks (fillers and proprietary blend, to be precise). Consider Bodybuilding.com Signature Amino Plus Energy a work in progress. With a few tweaks, it can still improve.

Bodybuilding.com Signature Amino Plus Energy Benefits

“Our formula provides a serious dose of BCAAs (five grams), plus caffeine and electrolytes. Sip this refreshing beverage pre-workout to fuel your training, post-workout to speed muscle repair and recovery, or any time your day could use some energy,” per Bodybuilding.com Signature Amino Plus Energy’s official website.

Who Takes It?

The manufacturer intended Bodybuilding.com Signature Amino Plus Energy for healthy and active individuals who are at least 18 years of age who want to increase muscle mass, focus, and energy levels; boost fat loss, shorten recovery time, and achieve their daily fitness goals.

Any Side Effects?

Bodybuilding.com Signature Amino Plus Energy contains 100 milligrams of caffeine per scoop, which is roughly equal to one cup of brewed coffee. Caffeine consumption may result in a spike-crash effect, nervousness, and sleeplessness in some individuals.

This supplement also contains sucralose (a.k.a. Splenda), an artificial sweetener which fitness experts have linked to weight gain.

This product’s Blue Raspberry flavor also has FD&C Blue No. 1, an artificial food coloring which has several side effects.

If these, or any other ingredient, make you feel doubtful, please consult your physician before buying Bodybuilding.com Signature Amino Plus Energy.

The manufacturer also issues a warning:

Bodybuilding.com Signature Amino Plus Energy Review Summary

Pros

• Solid ingredient profile. Impressive components from top to bottom.
• Five grams of BCAAs per scoop. At par with most BCAA supplements.
• 2:1:1 BCAA ratio. Should meet your expectations.
• Beta-alanine. Increases work capacity and delays the onset of exercise fatigue.
• Taurine. One of the most versatile amino acids.
• L-arginine. Nitric oxide precursor. Don’t expect 500 milligrams per scoop to produce extreme results, though.
• Versatile. Can double as a pre-workout or post-workout supplement.
• Flavor options. Comes in Blue Raspberry, Grape, and Green Apple varieties.

Cons

• 2:1:1 BCAA Blend. Proprietary in nature. Thumbs down.
• Fillers. Blue Raspberry Flavor has sucralose (a.k.a. Splenda) and FD&C Blue No. 1.
• Caffeine content. A proverbial double-edged sword.

Pricing & Where to Buy

• 1 304-gram Container (30-Day Supply): $17.99
• Available online and in retail