—-Quick Summary—-
While Amino Energy tasted really good regardless of what flavor you get, mixed well, and does include a decent amino blend, this did not help as an energizing pre-workout.
—-Introduction—-
Amino Energy was the first PWO I had taken after a friend had introduced it to me, and upon trying other PWOs (and once again retrying Amino Energy later on), I was not too impressed. It may be good for those who are sensitive to stims and hate the jittery feeling, but it did not have strong stimulants.
—-Ingredient Profile—-
Amino Energy’s amino blend is decent; it includes 5 grams of the beneficial ingredients such as taurine, glutamine, leucine, arginine, and more. However, the label is vague and does not provide exact amounts, and 5 grams for all of those ingredients is simply not enough in my opinion. The weakest portion of its ingredient profile is its energy aspect. It only contains 100 mg of caffeine for per serving. At best, 100 mg can serve as a little pick-me-up in the morning. If you were intending to use this as a PWO, most people would need 4+ scoops. It does not contain many of the common ingredients, such as beta alanine, citrulline malate, betaine anhydrous, etc.
—-Taste/Mixability/Dosing—-
Its taste and mixability is stellar. Out of the many PWOs that I’ve tasted, this has to be one of the best, which isn’t a surprise considering ON’s reputation as a well-established company. I have tried watermelon and concord grape which have both tasted exactly as labelled. It also mixes better than any of the other PWOs that I’ve seen. In terms of dosage, like I said earlier, I needed 4-6 scoops for it to be effective. Of course, it depends on the person and intended usage, but the blend simply is not powerful enough for me.
—-Effectiveness—-
This product could do well if it is stocked along with stronger PWOs. I know through personal experience and through friends that sometimes, you do not feel like taking the same, stimulant-heavy pre workout every training day, so this could be helpful for deloading days/lighter intensities. Overall, however, it would only be effective for consumers who are looking for really mild stims, or upon waking up like I have tried.
—-Value—-
Amino Energy may appear to be cheap on the outside, as you can find it for as low as $0.60 per serving or so on some sites. However, keep in mind that you may need to use multiple servings just to use it as an energizing PWO, and even then, it is missing some helpful ingredients. Most of the money is being invested for the amino blend, which is quite pricey considering that there isn’t too much else put into the formula.
—-Side Effects—-
None.
—-Conclusion—-
Overall, this product is not too effective as a PWO, but can be used for other purposes if you are looking for a decent amino formula. I did, however, enjoy the fact that it feels like a super clean, mild formula that I could rely on for days that I really did not feel like going hard in the gym. I didn’t have to worry about getting jittery, ruin my sleep, etc. I’ll still be an ON customer, but I do not think that I will be buying this product again.
Rated 4 out of 5
MSGF –
Good Amino for beginers
—-Quick Summary—-
It is a very helpful amino for every athlets. The tastes are very variant.
—-Introduction—-
Using this amino can be helpful for beginners who just want to start workout. It can help them to have good performance and feel fersh after excercise.
—-Ingredient Profile—-
The types of amino acids which are in this products are enough for beginners.
—-Taste/Mixability/Dosing—-
There are many different tastes. Lemon was good but I prefer grape and green apple.
—-Effectiveness—-
The energy that it gave u is remarkbale.
—-Value—-
—-Side Effects—-
—-Conclusion—-
I suggest this supplement to people who want to start workout.
Rated 3 out of 5
S3Y74Q –
Not too Bad BUT….
—-Quick Summary—-
Amino acids have been soaring in popularity over the last decade. Energy, Stimulant, Nootropic pick me up products have recently become the next big hit over the recent years. So why not put them both together and see what happens
—-Introduction—-
Optimum Nutrition, A staple company in the industry for years on end. ON is one of the few brands known by lifters and non lifters alike. ON has always held a reputation for bringing out quality products and great taste. With the sudden popularity of energy and stimulants ON has brought forth their version of a “Pick me Up” drink that can be sipped throughout the day with the benefit of Essential Amino Acids to help with muscle recovery, focus and energy.
—-Ingredient Profile—-
Each serving size is 2 scoops (9grams) When you break down the 9gram serving there are 57% active ingredients listed below and 43% colors, additions and artificial flavors. On paper 57% actives are quite low for an Amino Acid supplement, I like to see the actives at least 70-80% but on the flip side you can expect a great tasting drink. “Amino Blend” 5 Grams All Micronized Taurine, Glutamine, Arginine, Leucine, Beta Alanine, citrulline, Isoleucine, Valine, Tyrosine, Histidine, Lysine, Phenylalanine, Threonine, Methionine. “Energy Blend” 160mg Caffiene, Green Tea Extract, Green Coffee Extract.
—-Taste/Mixability/Dosing—-
Taste: Dont expect anything less then what you are used to with ON, the flavors are good and with the wide range of available flavors including their cafe series you will easily find one you love. Mixability: all the active ingredients are micronized, there will be little to no trouble having this dissolve in water, i have been able to mix this simply with a spoon without too much vigor so a Shaker bottle is not necessarily needed. Dosing: This is where i tend to have the largest concerns. The 5g of Aminos are under a proprietary blend so we cant know exactly what doses we are getting of any amino. So at first glance i would have to assume that this is a little under dosed.
—-Effectiveness—-
This area took me a while to wrap my head around. Please understand that the Proprietary blending is not inherently wrong and until just a few years ago the majority of supplements were prop blends but without knowing the exact doses I am a little confused at what I can use this product for. As a pre-workout there are too many ingredients missing and you dont know the ratio of stimulants you’re getting As an Amino supplement it is hard to determine if there are enough active ingredients to support Muscle recovery, protein synthesis or endurance. What i will say though is that as a general “pick me up” it is great, This is obviously dependent on each individuals caffeine tolerance, but having it in the morning or when the mid day blues kick in, it works just fine with giving you a subtle kick of energy. I enjoy the cafe series and add 1 or 2 scoops to my morning coffee instead of any sweeteners or creamers. With the above said though I do not look to This product as my daily EAA supplement so the 5 grams are irrelevant, i use this strictly as a pick me up.
—-Value—-
Now Value is why this product is not rated as low as my review might suggest it should be. ON EA Energy ranges from $14.99 – $26.99 here in the Canadian market, Also depending on how much caffeine you want and knowing that this may not be the ideal Amino Acid supplement then 1 or 2 scoop servings are fine. At the labelled 2 scoop serving and if i take the mid level price listed ($19.99) you are at $0.33cents per 1 scoop serve or $0.66cents per 2 scoop serve. This is extremely cheap for either a caffeine or Amino source.
—-Side Effects—-
Nothing bothered my here. The Caffeine wasnt so high that i needed a buffer or ingredients to keep the risk of crashing away.
—-Conclusion—-
The Product for me is fine as long as you know what you are using it for. Personally The Aminos are not the primary use. I use this strictly as a subtle and great tasting caffeine source that isnt too high that could result in sweats or jitters. It is just enough, similar to a daily or morning coffee and cheaper than a cup of coffee too.
Rated 4 out of 5
Rwh142 –
Optimum Nutrition Amino energy has a great taste and is very effective
—-Quick Summary—-
Optimum nutrition amino energy is a great preworkout supplement. It tastes great and the caffeine it has will help give the extra energy to get through the workouts.
—-Introduction—-
This product is a preworkout supplement with a moderate dose of caffeine and branch chain amino acids.
—-Ingredient Profile—-
The ingredients in this product are good. It includes the following: Micronized Taurine, Micronized L-Glutamine, Micronized L-Arginine, Micronized L-Leucine, CarnoSyn Beta-Alanine, Micronized Citrulline, Micronized L-Isoleucine, Micronized L-Valine, Micronized L-Tyrosine, Micronized L-Histidine, Micronzed L-Lysine, Micronized L-Phenylalanine, Micronzed L-Threonine, Micronized L-Methionine Caffeine (From Green Tea) 160mg, Green Tea Extract (Camellia Sinensis) (Leaf ), (Standardized for EGCG), Green Coffee Extract
—-Taste/Mixability/Dosing—-
The taste of amino energy is very good. It is a one scoop dose and it has a very powerful and sweet taste. The powder mixes easily and you won’t get any powder st the bottom of your glass.
—-Effectiveness—-
I have taken this product for two years. It helps me get through my workouts by giving me the caffeine for energy and the branch chain amino acids for gaining muscle mass.
—-Value—-
The product is a good value at either the 30 or 65 dose products.
—-Side Effects—-
I have had no side effects at all from this product.
—-Conclusion—-
I have used this product for over two years. It is great tasting produce with good flavors. Theee are over 20 flavors and they are sweet and sugary. The branch chain amino acids are a staple for building muscle and are included in this supplement. Many preworkout supplements include products which cause negative effects. This product doesn’t have any of them and I had no ill effects.
Rated 3 out of 5
SDS1582 –
Essential A-“Meh”N.O.
—-Quick Summary—-
A decent BCAA product from a reputable company but it’s geared more toward the “average” gym goer in my opinion or could be better for women.
—-Introduction—-
Hi all! I don’t think I ever would have bought this on my own just because there are so many others I prefer but my wife bought this and didn’t like the flavor so she gave it to me. I just finished a 30 serving tub (utilizing it mostly as a quick pick me up or for non overwhelming energy, see more below). So, here are my thoughts…. Enjoy!
—-Ingredient Profile—-
Not a bad amino profile. It pretty much as all the classics – Taurine, Leucine, Beta Alanine, Valine, Tyrosine, just to name a few. My first issue with this “Amino blend” is that it’s a non-disclosed BLEND. They tell us there’s 5 grams of aminos but we really don’t know how much of everything we are getting. Also, I feel like overall, for an amino product, the total amount of aminos is a little low. I’m usually looking for more like the 6-7 gram range. Next is the “Energy blend” which has a whopping 160 MG of caffeine (as well as some green tea extract). I’m sorry but for an “energy” product there needs to be more caffeine per serving. Otherwise, you’re using too many scoops to get the desired energy effects. Now, the tub says there’s 30 servings in there and each serving is 9 grams (2 scoops), so it begs the question, if their “energy blend” is only 160 MG, and the amino blend is 5 g what else makes up the 9 grams? The answer it appears is flavoring/”other ingredients” such as Malic acid, natural and artificial flavors, citric acid, sucralose, “gum blend”…. Ok you get the idea.
—-Taste/Mixability/Dosing—-
So, I ran the watermelon flavor. It wasn’t terrible. It did surprisingly have an actual watermelon taste and not an artificial taste to it. As I mentioned above, each serving is 9 grams (2 scoops) and there are 30 servings in the tub. For me to get effects I was looking for, I found myself taking 3 to 4 scoops. I thought this product mixed quite well actually. In a shaker bottle, it mixed smooth with a little bit of foaminess but little to no residual on the sides or bottom of the bottle. Even mixing it in a glass with a spoon, I found that mixed consistently.
—-Effectiveness—-
I actually took this product to work and used it in the afternoons as a quick energizer or for a pick me up. Again as I mentioned though, it took several scoops for me to feel energy. When I did though, it was nice. Smooth, and not too jittery or tingly. I felt more alert and could make it through the afternoons with relative ease and that’s what I was using it for so in that regard, it was very effective. However, as other reviewers have pointed out, this would not be effective as a pre-workout, in my opinion. While it does have a decent amino profile you look for in a PWO, the caffeine level is simply too low for most regular PWO users. It could be used as an intraworkout product if you’ve already taken a PWO. I think that might be ok.
—-Value—-
The cheapest I’ve seen this is like $16 for 30 servings, from Allstar Health. That’s a little over $.50 per serving and on the surface that seems like outstanding value. But if you are like me and you find yourself taking multiple servings per drink or shake, then the value decreases immensely. With this product, the way you plan to use it determines the value. If you use it for some extra energy at work or for a light workout or just to go about your day, I think it is a great value. If you’re using it as a pre-workout or an intraworkout, there are many other better options at a relatively similar price per serving.
—-Side Effects—-
None
—-Conclusion—-
A good amino product geared toward beginners or “average” gym goers from a reliable company. If they reformulate this I think they need to add a little more caffeine and bump up that amino profile more towards the 6-7 gram range. I’m a fan of ON but this isn’t or shouldn’t be one of their flagship products. If you do what I did and just keep this at your desk at work and use when needed for a boost, it’s solid, and is what I believe it is for more than anything else. Thanks folks! Until next time…..
jakel39 –
Decent Product, But Not For Stim-Goers
—-Quick Summary—-
While Amino Energy tasted really good regardless of what flavor you get, mixed well, and does include a decent amino blend, this did not help as an energizing pre-workout.
—-Introduction—-
Amino Energy was the first PWO I had taken after a friend had introduced it to me, and upon trying other PWOs (and once again retrying Amino Energy later on), I was not too impressed. It may be good for those who are sensitive to stims and hate the jittery feeling, but it did not have strong stimulants.
—-Ingredient Profile—-
Amino Energy’s amino blend is decent; it includes 5 grams of the beneficial ingredients such as taurine, glutamine, leucine, arginine, and more. However, the label is vague and does not provide exact amounts, and 5 grams for all of those ingredients is simply not enough in my opinion. The weakest portion of its ingredient profile is its energy aspect. It only contains 100 mg of caffeine for per serving. At best, 100 mg can serve as a little pick-me-up in the morning. If you were intending to use this as a PWO, most people would need 4+ scoops. It does not contain many of the common ingredients, such as beta alanine, citrulline malate, betaine anhydrous, etc.
—-Taste/Mixability/Dosing—-
Its taste and mixability is stellar. Out of the many PWOs that I’ve tasted, this has to be one of the best, which isn’t a surprise considering ON’s reputation as a well-established company. I have tried watermelon and concord grape which have both tasted exactly as labelled. It also mixes better than any of the other PWOs that I’ve seen. In terms of dosage, like I said earlier, I needed 4-6 scoops for it to be effective. Of course, it depends on the person and intended usage, but the blend simply is not powerful enough for me.
—-Effectiveness—-
This product could do well if it is stocked along with stronger PWOs. I know through personal experience and through friends that sometimes, you do not feel like taking the same, stimulant-heavy pre workout every training day, so this could be helpful for deloading days/lighter intensities. Overall, however, it would only be effective for consumers who are looking for really mild stims, or upon waking up like I have tried.
—-Value—-
Amino Energy may appear to be cheap on the outside, as you can find it for as low as $0.60 per serving or so on some sites. However, keep in mind that you may need to use multiple servings just to use it as an energizing PWO, and even then, it is missing some helpful ingredients. Most of the money is being invested for the amino blend, which is quite pricey considering that there isn’t too much else put into the formula.
—-Side Effects—-
None.
—-Conclusion—-
Overall, this product is not too effective as a PWO, but can be used for other purposes if you are looking for a decent amino formula. I did, however, enjoy the fact that it feels like a super clean, mild formula that I could rely on for days that I really did not feel like going hard in the gym. I didn’t have to worry about getting jittery, ruin my sleep, etc. I’ll still be an ON customer, but I do not think that I will be buying this product again.
MSGF –
Good Amino for beginers
—-Quick Summary—-
It is a very helpful amino for every athlets. The tastes are very variant.
—-Introduction—-
Using this amino can be helpful for beginners who just want to start workout. It can help them to have good performance and feel fersh after excercise.
—-Ingredient Profile—-
The types of amino acids which are in this products are enough for beginners.
—-Taste/Mixability/Dosing—-
There are many different tastes. Lemon was good but I prefer grape and green apple.
—-Effectiveness—-
The energy that it gave u is remarkbale.
—-Value—-
—-Side Effects—-
—-Conclusion—-
I suggest this supplement to people who want to start workout.
S3Y74Q –
Not too Bad BUT….
—-Quick Summary—-
Amino acids have been soaring in popularity over the last decade. Energy, Stimulant, Nootropic pick me up products have recently become the next big hit over the recent years. So why not put them both together and see what happens
—-Introduction—-
Optimum Nutrition, A staple company in the industry for years on end. ON is one of the few brands known by lifters and non lifters alike. ON has always held a reputation for bringing out quality products and great taste. With the sudden popularity of energy and stimulants ON has brought forth their version of a “Pick me Up” drink that can be sipped throughout the day with the benefit of Essential Amino Acids to help with muscle recovery, focus and energy.
—-Ingredient Profile—-
Each serving size is 2 scoops (9grams) When you break down the 9gram serving there are 57% active ingredients listed below and 43% colors, additions and artificial flavors. On paper 57% actives are quite low for an Amino Acid supplement, I like to see the actives at least 70-80% but on the flip side you can expect a great tasting drink. “Amino Blend” 5 Grams All Micronized Taurine, Glutamine, Arginine, Leucine, Beta Alanine, citrulline, Isoleucine, Valine, Tyrosine, Histidine, Lysine, Phenylalanine, Threonine, Methionine. “Energy Blend” 160mg Caffiene, Green Tea Extract, Green Coffee Extract.
—-Taste/Mixability/Dosing—-
Taste: Dont expect anything less then what you are used to with ON, the flavors are good and with the wide range of available flavors including their cafe series you will easily find one you love. Mixability: all the active ingredients are micronized, there will be little to no trouble having this dissolve in water, i have been able to mix this simply with a spoon without too much vigor so a Shaker bottle is not necessarily needed. Dosing: This is where i tend to have the largest concerns. The 5g of Aminos are under a proprietary blend so we cant know exactly what doses we are getting of any amino. So at first glance i would have to assume that this is a little under dosed.
—-Effectiveness—-
This area took me a while to wrap my head around. Please understand that the Proprietary blending is not inherently wrong and until just a few years ago the majority of supplements were prop blends but without knowing the exact doses I am a little confused at what I can use this product for. As a pre-workout there are too many ingredients missing and you dont know the ratio of stimulants you’re getting As an Amino supplement it is hard to determine if there are enough active ingredients to support Muscle recovery, protein synthesis or endurance. What i will say though is that as a general “pick me up” it is great, This is obviously dependent on each individuals caffeine tolerance, but having it in the morning or when the mid day blues kick in, it works just fine with giving you a subtle kick of energy. I enjoy the cafe series and add 1 or 2 scoops to my morning coffee instead of any sweeteners or creamers. With the above said though I do not look to This product as my daily EAA supplement so the 5 grams are irrelevant, i use this strictly as a pick me up.
—-Value—-
Now Value is why this product is not rated as low as my review might suggest it should be. ON EA Energy ranges from $14.99 – $26.99 here in the Canadian market, Also depending on how much caffeine you want and knowing that this may not be the ideal Amino Acid supplement then 1 or 2 scoop servings are fine. At the labelled 2 scoop serving and if i take the mid level price listed ($19.99) you are at $0.33cents per 1 scoop serve or $0.66cents per 2 scoop serve. This is extremely cheap for either a caffeine or Amino source.
—-Side Effects—-
Nothing bothered my here. The Caffeine wasnt so high that i needed a buffer or ingredients to keep the risk of crashing away.
—-Conclusion—-
The Product for me is fine as long as you know what you are using it for. Personally The Aminos are not the primary use. I use this strictly as a subtle and great tasting caffeine source that isnt too high that could result in sweats or jitters. It is just enough, similar to a daily or morning coffee and cheaper than a cup of coffee too.
Rwh142 –
Optimum Nutrition Amino energy has a great taste and is very effective
—-Quick Summary—-
Optimum nutrition amino energy is a great preworkout supplement. It tastes great and the caffeine it has will help give the extra energy to get through the workouts.
—-Introduction—-
This product is a preworkout supplement with a moderate dose of caffeine and branch chain amino acids.
—-Ingredient Profile—-
The ingredients in this product are good. It includes the following: Micronized Taurine, Micronized L-Glutamine, Micronized L-Arginine, Micronized L-Leucine, CarnoSyn Beta-Alanine, Micronized Citrulline, Micronized L-Isoleucine, Micronized L-Valine, Micronized L-Tyrosine, Micronized L-Histidine, Micronzed L-Lysine, Micronized L-Phenylalanine, Micronzed L-Threonine, Micronized L-Methionine Caffeine (From Green Tea) 160mg, Green Tea Extract (Camellia Sinensis) (Leaf ), (Standardized for EGCG), Green Coffee Extract
—-Taste/Mixability/Dosing—-
The taste of amino energy is very good. It is a one scoop dose and it has a very powerful and sweet taste. The powder mixes easily and you won’t get any powder st the bottom of your glass.
—-Effectiveness—-
I have taken this product for two years. It helps me get through my workouts by giving me the caffeine for energy and the branch chain amino acids for gaining muscle mass.
—-Value—-
The product is a good value at either the 30 or 65 dose products.
—-Side Effects—-
I have had no side effects at all from this product.
—-Conclusion—-
I have used this product for over two years. It is great tasting produce with good flavors. Theee are over 20 flavors and they are sweet and sugary. The branch chain amino acids are a staple for building muscle and are included in this supplement. Many preworkout supplements include products which cause negative effects. This product doesn’t have any of them and I had no ill effects.
SDS1582 –
Essential A-“Meh”N.O.
—-Quick Summary—-
A decent BCAA product from a reputable company but it’s geared more toward the “average” gym goer in my opinion or could be better for women.
—-Introduction—-
Hi all! I don’t think I ever would have bought this on my own just because there are so many others I prefer but my wife bought this and didn’t like the flavor so she gave it to me. I just finished a 30 serving tub (utilizing it mostly as a quick pick me up or for non overwhelming energy, see more below). So, here are my thoughts…. Enjoy!
—-Ingredient Profile—-
Not a bad amino profile. It pretty much as all the classics – Taurine, Leucine, Beta Alanine, Valine, Tyrosine, just to name a few. My first issue with this “Amino blend” is that it’s a non-disclosed BLEND. They tell us there’s 5 grams of aminos but we really don’t know how much of everything we are getting. Also, I feel like overall, for an amino product, the total amount of aminos is a little low. I’m usually looking for more like the 6-7 gram range. Next is the “Energy blend” which has a whopping 160 MG of caffeine (as well as some green tea extract). I’m sorry but for an “energy” product there needs to be more caffeine per serving. Otherwise, you’re using too many scoops to get the desired energy effects. Now, the tub says there’s 30 servings in there and each serving is 9 grams (2 scoops), so it begs the question, if their “energy blend” is only 160 MG, and the amino blend is 5 g what else makes up the 9 grams? The answer it appears is flavoring/”other ingredients” such as Malic acid, natural and artificial flavors, citric acid, sucralose, “gum blend”…. Ok you get the idea.
—-Taste/Mixability/Dosing—-
So, I ran the watermelon flavor. It wasn’t terrible. It did surprisingly have an actual watermelon taste and not an artificial taste to it. As I mentioned above, each serving is 9 grams (2 scoops) and there are 30 servings in the tub. For me to get effects I was looking for, I found myself taking 3 to 4 scoops. I thought this product mixed quite well actually. In a shaker bottle, it mixed smooth with a little bit of foaminess but little to no residual on the sides or bottom of the bottle. Even mixing it in a glass with a spoon, I found that mixed consistently.
—-Effectiveness—-
I actually took this product to work and used it in the afternoons as a quick energizer or for a pick me up. Again as I mentioned though, it took several scoops for me to feel energy. When I did though, it was nice. Smooth, and not too jittery or tingly. I felt more alert and could make it through the afternoons with relative ease and that’s what I was using it for so in that regard, it was very effective. However, as other reviewers have pointed out, this would not be effective as a pre-workout, in my opinion. While it does have a decent amino profile you look for in a PWO, the caffeine level is simply too low for most regular PWO users. It could be used as an intraworkout product if you’ve already taken a PWO. I think that might be ok.
—-Value—-
The cheapest I’ve seen this is like $16 for 30 servings, from Allstar Health. That’s a little over $.50 per serving and on the surface that seems like outstanding value. But if you are like me and you find yourself taking multiple servings per drink or shake, then the value decreases immensely. With this product, the way you plan to use it determines the value. If you use it for some extra energy at work or for a light workout or just to go about your day, I think it is a great value. If you’re using it as a pre-workout or an intraworkout, there are many other better options at a relatively similar price per serving.
—-Side Effects—-
None
—-Conclusion—-
A good amino product geared toward beginners or “average” gym goers from a reliable company. If they reformulate this I think they need to add a little more caffeine and bump up that amino profile more towards the 6-7 gram range. I’m a fan of ON but this isn’t or shouldn’t be one of their flagship products. If you do what I did and just keep this at your desk at work and use when needed for a boost, it’s solid, and is what I believe it is for more than anything else. Thanks folks! Until next time…..