Product Review: Now Foods BCAA Big 6

Product Review: Now® Foods BCAA Big 6

Disclaimer:  I received both watermelon and grape BCAA Big 6 from Now® Foods in exchange for this review.  Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to find and write race reviews!

Roar talks about the benefits of including BCAAs in your diet, particularly if you are a female athlete

I first heard about Branched Chain Amino Acids, or BCAAs, when I read Roar (a book I also recommend for female athletes).  I was excited to have the opportunity to test the Now® Foods BCAA Big 6 supplement through the majority of my training for Madison Marathon.

Just add water!

So what are BCAAs?  They are essential amino acids that serve as building blocks of protein, which helps fuel muscles during workouts and can help support recovery post-workout.  "Essential" means that your body cannot make them on their own, so you have to get them from your diet.  The Now® Foods BCAA Big 6 product makes this very easy.  You add a scoop of powder to 16-20 oz of water, shake, and drink.  Now® Foods sent me a shaker for this product, but I have found that it blends very easily by just shaking it in a regular water bottle too.

Watermelon and Grape BCAAs

There are two flavors, watermelon and grape.  I received the watermelon first so I have used that the most and liked the taste.  I prefer it with really cold water and ice so I keep a tub of it in my desk at work because we have an ice and water machine there.  This also helps me with recovery because often if I do a tough workout in the morning, I am racing to get to the office.

Yes, my desk drawer is really messy.

Then I got the grape in the mail and all bets were off.  I am forever Team Grape :)

I also like that the company, Now® Foods, is a highly-tested brand.  The company conducts more than 16,000 tests each month for identity, purity, strength and composition to ensure that what is on the label is in the bottle.  They are also third-party certified via Informed-Sport for added purity assurance.  This program certifies that their products have been tested for more than 200 banned substances by their anti-doping lab.

Recovery Day! Calf sleeves + BCAAs

My typical use of this product has been to aid recovery and I have been impressed with how my recovery has gone this training cycle.  If you have been following my training log, you know that I just bumped up to the Hanson's Advanced Marathon Training plan and it is a doozy.  I was super tired from all of the initial miles in the early weeks and I feel that the BCAAs are working for me.  I also like drinking a full bottle of the product before going to bed the night before a tough workout.

If you are interested in trying either the watermelon or grape, use this Amazon link to save 20% off.  This is a one-time promo code for your use.  It is not an affiliate link (i.e., I do not make any money off of it.)  You can also enter code 20NOWBCAA on Amazon.com for either flavor of the product.  The link or code are good until 11/15/18. 

You can also join in #BibChat on Twitter this week, which will be sponsored by Now® Foods!  Tuesday night, 8 PM Central Time.  Follow @bibrave for instructions.  (While you are at it, follow me @amyschlott )

Have you ever used BCAAs?  Let me know in the comments!

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.