Top 10 Best Intra-Workout Supplements for Cutting or Bulking
As the term “intra” suggests, these are supplements taken during a workout. They provide a boost of energy, additional endurance and improved power while you are training. They are also designed to improve protein sympathies and support recovery after a workout.
I’ve done a lot or research on these types of supplements. Read my post on Can You Maximize your Workout with an Intra-Workout Supplement.
What I’ve discovered is that supplement companies have taken time to create different formulas for these supplements, each with a specific goal in mind. Theses goals include either bulking up and building muscle or cutting weight and getting lean.
Below I have reviewed the top intra-workout supplements for these two goals. Check it out!
Top 10 Best Intra-Workout Supplements for Cutting
Lets first take a look at the top 10 for cutting. If you are on a serious diet to cut weight then having an intra-workout supplement in your regiment is important. This type of supplement will provide your body with important nutrients and amino acids that you’ll need. It will help to prevent muscle breakdown and damage when working out during a cutting phase. Missing these key essential nutrients could set you back in your long-term goals.
1. Aminolytes from Beast Sports Nutrition
From Beast Sports Nutrition, Aminolytes is one of the top supplements for intra workout. It contains the right amount of BCAAs (5g), electrolytes (1.1g) and Amino Acid Matrix (5g). Although it’s considered an intra-workout drink, you can still have it anytime you want, up to several times a day.
Its main goal is to aid you in training harder and supporting your muscles for faster recovery with the amount of aminos. The electrolytes will help keep a healthy balance of fluids during a workout and are good for blood chemistry and muscle action.
Overall, it’s a highly effective workout supplement that mixes well with cold water with minimal floating. With 10 grams of amino acids, it’s no wonder it’s one of the award-winning intra-workout supplements on the market. Buy Aminolytes Now
2. Scivation Xtend Intra-Workout Catalyst
This product will exceed your expectations and is why it’s on the top of the list. It helps promote proper protein synthesis during and after workout. The BCAAs are formulated in a precise 2:1:1 ratio, which is great. It contains twice as much leucine as valine and isoleucine. There has been plenty of research on this ratio that has proven to be the most effective ratio of BCAAs when optimizing intra-workout energy, recovery and new muscle hypertrophy.
The nice thing about this supplement is that it doesn’t contain caffeine. It includes branched chain amino acids, glutamine, citrulline malate, electrolytes and vitamin B6 to help ensure the BCAAs are absorbed and used during a hard workouts. Another bonus is that it comes in various flavors that taste great! The best one is the blue raspberry flavor, which was voted by its fans.
This is a great drink to avoid depleting your energy and feeling sluggish after performing strenuous exercises to build muscles. Buy Xtend Now
3. MRM Natural Reload Nutritional Supplement
Fortified with BCAAs, this intra-workout supplement is designed for anyone who wishes to minimize muscle soreness and perform longer exercises. It is an all-natural formula that still offers great taste and smooth appearance.
Instead of focusing only on antioxidants the formula is a precise ratio of aminos and Vitamin B6 to maximize the absorption of the supplement to maximize intensity during a workout and recovery after. Another benefit is that it is an all-natural fitness supplement. This means no artificial sweeteners.
It includes 3g of glutamine in it to replenish the glutamine in your body after having an intense session in the gym, and also includes a high amount of leucine at almost 4gs. Unfortunately, high amount of leucine and lack of artificial sweeteners it doesn’t taste that great. But the price is right on this supplement and if you are looking for real results then the taste shouldn’t be a big deal. Buy Reload Now
4. AmiN.O. Energy by Optimum Nutrition
Formulated with caffeine, this intra-workout supplement delivers essential amino acids to increase alertness, focus and provide a moderate energy boost during a workout. With the green tea and coffee extracts, AmiN.O. Energy can be taken in the morning for a pre-workout or just an afternoon booster. You might want to avoid drinking this at night if you find it difficult to sleep after consuming caffeine.
The formula includes BCAAs and arginine to help support intense, vascular pumps. But only includes 10 calories, which is perfect for those looking to cut some pounds lose weight. This is a great intra-workout supplement that wakes you up and helps you get ready to workout or go to the gym. It prevents fatigue without dehydrating you.
Compared to other intra-workouts it may not provide an intense punch but it will give you a nice moderate burst to get you going which is great for cardio work outs or a game of pick up basketball. So if you are a power lifter this probably would be the supplement you are looking for. Buy AmiN.O. Energy Now
5. Purple Wraath by Controlled Labs
This intra-workout is a little closer to a pre-workout then most in the category it includes beta alanine, betaine anhydrous, citrulline malate along with EAA/BCAA complex. It will defiantly enhance your athletic performance and provide some extra energy and focus at the gym. It’s absorbed into the body fast and will provide additional support for recovery.
Purple Wraath will maximize lean muscle gains and optimizes fat loss and can be taken for Fasted Training. Compared with other intra-workout supplements, Purple Wraath is considered to be the most complete BCAA product but has shown to be not as intense as others so the benefits will not be as noticeable.
If you constantly complain of experiencing muscle soreness right after a fasted workout, then this product is the right one for you as it prevents you from hurting after a day of heavy lifting. It tastes good maybe not the greatest, but it can easily be swallowed to give you some extra energy and help your muscles recover faster. Buy Purple Wraath Now
6. Amino1 by MusclePharm
Amino1 contains ingredients that are quickly absorbed by your body to give you intra-workout recovery and hydration. It also provides you sufficient energy and includes a complete electrolyte balance during a workout.
It contains more than 10gs of amino acids and all-natural coconut water concentrate for better rehydration. It’s patent pending 3:1:2 ratio of BCAAs is great for stamina and muscle building. It also only contains 5 calories so this is a great intra for cutting. Other ingredients include essential vitamins such as Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, Calcium, etc.
It does have a few drawbacks. It can be difficult to mix and some have found it to taste can be horrific to some. It does come in a variety of flavors so it might just come down to finding the right flavor for you taste buds. Buy Amino1 Now
7. Best BCAA by BPI Sports
This product is a modern on the intra-workout supplement. It’s been designed to support better mental performance and support recovery. The supplement contains 10 grams of BCAA peptides, 2 grams of conjugated linoleic acids, and 500 mg of agmatine.
It utilizes the oligopeptide multi-chain BCAA model that makes it easier for your body to absorb the ingredients and enhance bio-activity.
One of its great benefits is that it contains agmatine, which is an arginine metabolite to reduce muscle pain and increasing glucose absorption by the muscles. This is a great intra for cutting while still providing muscle gains. It can also be consumed a high-carb shake or meal after working out for additional recovery and muscle gain. Buy Best BCAA Now
8. Omega Sports Strive
With advanced ingredients, Strive from Omega Sports has BCAAs that promote muscle and protein synthesis. It includes only 16 calories with no carbs and has a blend of BCAAs, Casein Hydrolysate And essential daily vitamins which will provide a burst of energy while at the gym and help with recovery
This is a great option if you want to cut and transform your body into a competition-worthy physique. Through its great taste and amazing results, Strive can enhance your exercise perform above the standard.
Compared with other BCAA products, Strive’s mixability is excellent as the powder dissolves almost instantly. When it comes to endurance, this supplement can provide you with plenty of energy throughout your workout routine. With this supplement, you may no longer need a pre-workout drink to enhance your workout routine. Buy Strive Now
9. IFORCE Compete
For long training and grueling workouts, IFORCE Compete is a wonderful supplement that refuels your body to improve your training sessions. With Compete, your mental focus and physical performance will be enhanced. It’s also a must-have supplement to enhance muscle recovery while rehydrating your body.
The formula includes a nice amino blend about 20g of L-Carnitine L-Tartrate and L-Carnitine Fumarate for performance Citrulline Malate, Whey Protein Hydrolysate for Anti-Catabolic, Rhodiola Rosea Extract for Mental Edge, along with Vitamins for additional Energy.
It’s a unique supplement that will keep you hydrated throughout your workout as it helps you avoid starvation when cutting. Compete’s nutritional value is high enough to further maintain your endurance so you can finish your workout session without tiring yourself. Buy Compete Now
10. BSN Amino X Endurance & Recovery Agent
Final supplement on the list is from BSN. The intra-workout contains sufficient amounts of aminos including 10g of valine, isoleucine and leucine, which promotes protein synthesis while improving intra-workout anabolism. Although it is designed as an intra-workout supplement, you can still take it before and after workouts or anytime really.
It improves your insulin sensitivity while enhancing glycogen resynthesis. There is no caffeine or suger in this supplement, which is ideal for those who are cutting weight and leaning out.
Big drawback on this is the price can be very expensive if it is not on sale. Buy Amino X Now
Best Intra-Workout Supplements for bulking
Now lets look at some intra-workout supplements that will help with build mass and bulk up. If you are looking to add additional weight and muscle mass then the right supplement will help you reach these goals. The products in this category include all of the BCAAs along with dextrose and protein as well as additional calories. If you are bulking then avoid something with glutamine in it. Without the correct ingredients you won’t see the results you are looking for.
1. Gaspari Size-On bulking intra workout
This hybrid intra-workout is a whey hydrolysate creatine formula drink made by Gaspari that has been around for years and evolved over time. Per serving of it does contain 190 calories, which which is great for bulking up. It has a high amount of creatine monohydrate, whey protein hydrolysate and leucine 5g, making it great intra-workout supplement that will provide extra support for your workout routine and recovery.
You will notice improvements in endurance,stamine and anaerobic power. And when it comes to size and recovery, Size On is the perfect sup to add to your regiment. It tastes better than other supplements in this category making it easier for you to drink it during and after workout. You can pair it with other supplements to gain more muscle mass. Buy Size On Now
2. VPX Fast 5
This is another solid intraworkout supplement made by VPX, which has been around science the 90s. Although it’s scientifically formulated as an intra-workout supplement, you can also use it as a pre-workout or post-workout drink. You can also take it as a standalone drink or add it to your protein shake to further promote protein synthesis.
FAST 5 contains a combination of PeptoPro Casein Protein Hydrolysates with a 2:2:1 ratio of BCAAs. This formula will provide your muscles right fuel during a workout and stimulate muscle protein synthesis. It will ignite explosive power at the gym but what makes it unique is that it increases recovery time while reducing muscle soreness.
It’s made with elite athlete in mind making it a great supplement to pack ripped muscle fast. It mixes well so you won’t expect it to foam up much. Buy FAST 5 Now
3. COR-Performance Beta-BCAA by Cellucor
This intra-workout supplement has the right ingredients to increase muscle mass and kick-start synthesis of protein right after working out. Incorporating the most effective ingredients for overall muscle recovery, COR-Performance gives you the improvement you need for your overall physique.
It comes with blended beta-alanine, which reduces soreness of muscles while improving muscle strength. This supplement is also made of citruline that improves your cardiovascular system.
Taking this supplement during and after an intense workout can help you maximize your exercise, as long as you pair it with post-workout nutrition.
Unfortunately, it does not have creatine and glutamine, which are all necessary in maintaining a healthy immune system. Buy COR-Performance Now
4. Bulk Supplements Pure L-Leucine Powder
The best amino in a BCAA supplement is l-leucine so instead of buying a formula with a ton of different ingredients you could just buy this in bulk to save some cash.
It will promote muscle growth and speeding up muscle repair are the first main goals of this intra-workout supplement. Made by a reputable company, this supplement is one of the best Intra supplement to limit muscle breakdown while increasing mood and concentration during workout.
Unlike other intra-workout supplements, this one contains pharmaceutical-grade ingredients. Thus, you are getting its benefits at a solid price and you’ll know what you are putting in your body.
On the down side it doesn’t taste that great so you’ll want to mix it with something. Depending on what you mix this with it could be used for bulking up when combining it with protein and crabs or cutting when mixed with a drink with electrolytes. Buy Bulk l-leucine Now
5. PRIMAFORCE Citrulline Malate 200 Grams
Citrulline Malate is being called the next big performance enhancer. PrimaForce took to time to test and develop a supplement that is safe, legal and non-hormonal that can be taken as an intra-workout.
This supplement will increase your performance and help with lean mass gains. You’ll feel a noticeable difference during a strength endurance workout. It will also support increased blood flow and amino acid delivery to skeletal muscle. This will lead to an increase in protein synthesis, which will increase muscle growth and enhance ATP production. It also has the nice side effect of increasing vascularity. You can stack this with Beta Alanine and Cordyceps for cardio/conditioning activities.
The one drawback for this product is that it can taste a little sour. This is because of the chemical compound to citrulline malate is MALIC ACID. But it will provide a better pump than most NO-boosting products. This is primarily because the arginine breaks down by enzymes before it has a chance to work. The citrulline malate in this product seems to work better than just L-citrulline. Buy PrimaForce Citrulline Malate Now
6. AllMax Nutrition Aminocore
This is a great BCAA product. It’s both affordable and has solid ingredients. It was developed by Allmax these guys have an impressive manufacturing process and are transparent which the formulas behind their supplements.
This BCAA packs 8,180 mg of L-Leucine (3,681 mg) , L-Valine(2,454 mg) and L-Isoleucine (2,045 mg) in each scoop. It also has 100 mg of muscular toxin-scavenging keto-isocaproic acid (KIC) and 7 different forms of anabolic-supporting B vitamins per serving.
Every serving delivers a pure 45:30:25 ratio of BCAA powder which will definetly increase your body’s ability to build hard, lean muscle.
Aminocore also tastes great without a chemically after taste and mixes really well. Amino acids are essential to promoting muscle mass and recovery. So you should check this out if you are looking to set your body chemistry into that anabolic state within 15 mins of ingesting this product before, during or after their workout. Buy Aminocore Now
7. Prime Nutrition EAAs
Supplementing with EAA’s will reduce post workout muscle breakdown allowing for more results in less time than for those not supplementing with essential amino acids. Prime Nutrition’s EAAs has more then just BCAAs it’s a blend of many more aminos. It’s a powerhouse supplement with 5 gms of leucine. It can be take 1 to 5 times a day, pre, during or after workout.
This amino stack includes: Isoleucine, Leucine, Lysine, Methionine, Phenylalanine, Threonine and Valine. It will help you build muscle, support muscle, improve recovery and boost energy levels when taken during a workout.
It is dosed effectively, with a few extra goodies and it mixes well. But the taste is a little bitter. Overall, it’s a solid BCAA for the price that gives a hefty dose of Leucine, the king of the BCAA. It’s great for recovery/endurance for long workouts. Buy Prime Nutrition EAAs
8. BCAA Capsules from Sheer Strength
For building muscle faster and recover easily, BCAA Capsules will help you see results faster. Again this supplement is nice because it only contains BCAAs, which makes it great for stacking with other supplement to support your goals. It can help you burn fat faster, or build more muscle mass, depending on what you take it with. You will be less sore after a heavy workout. This means you can work out harder and bulk or cut faster.
They are in capsule form. Thus there is no need for you to mix anything. But, because they are capsules, the absorption may not be immediate. This means that you will have to wait a little longer for the ingredients to work.
The cool thing about this product is it’s backed by 100% money-back guarantee, you can be sure that this intra-workout supplement will give you thrilling results. Buy Sheer Strength BCAA Capsules Now
9. Athletic Edge Nutrition IntraBolic
If you are looking for an intra-workout to bulk up then check out IntaBolic this stuff is light on calories of only 30 grams and carbs 4 grams but includes a PeptoBolic response blend of hydrolyzed whey protein and BCAAs to give you a boost in the gym, build muscle and recovery faster.
Offering a solid ratio mixture of BCAAs, Intrabolic of Athletic Edge comes in an array of great flavors. As an intra-workout supplement, this one can help you keep at your best, during and after working out.
Despite its solid ratio, its mixability is superb allowing you to drink it easily. This is important to help you continue drinking this supplement.
The mixture of EAAs and BCAAs in this product makes it an outstanding intra-workout to increase muscle growth. It also reduces muscle pain after an intense workout, which you will appreciate most.
Sadly, it only comes with simple BCAAs. It does not contain other effective ingredients, like citruline and beta-alanine. Buy IntraBolic Now
10. Purple Psyko by Controlled Labs
The final intra-workout on the bulking side is Purple Psyko. This intra will provide extra endurance and power throughout your workout. It’s the second supplement on the list from Controlled Labs. This intra workout takes it to the next level by including 12 grams of calories with 3 grams of protein and is piked with additional leucine to provide all of the EAAs (Essential Amino Acids) along with Citrulline Malate to help take your workout to the next level.
The Citrulline Malate has been shown to increase energy, while L-Norvaline is known to promote tissue regeneration and muscle growth. So this product lives up to its description. When consuming it during it workout, it has shown to help maintain intensity and strength longer than normal. With addition of the protein the supplement will help you recover faster after a workout and build muscle mass faster.
The drawback of the hydrolyzed whey is that it doesn’t mix as well as other intra-workouts, but it doesn’t get foamy. It only comes in a fruit punch flavor but it tastes pretty good. If you are in a bulking phase you might want to give this a shot. BuyPurple Psyko Now
Conclusion
Wow – there are a ton of these types of supplements out there. It took a ton of time to go through each one, I hope it was worth it and you got something out of this article and it helped you decide with one is right supplement for the goal. I’ve added Scivation Xtend to my regiment and have found a ton of benefits. It’s provided me with some additional energy at the gym to kick it up a notch even when I’m not on my A game. I can’t wait to get through this tub to try a few others. Thanks for reading along!
