Close Ad ×

Muscle & Fitness logo Muscle & Fitness

  • Workouts

    Workouts

    • Workout Routines
    • Workout Tips
    • Fitness
    • Athlete/Celebrity Workouts
    • Exercise Videos
    Find Exercises Targeting…
    • Abs and Core Exercises
    • Arm Exercises
    • Back Exercises
    • Chest Exercises
    • Leg Exercises
    • Shoulder Exercises
  • Nutrition

    Nutrition

    • Healthy Eating
    • Lose Fat
    • Gain Mass
    • Supplements
    • Performance Nutrition
    Person carving an air fryer turkey on a cutting board for thanksgiving
    Healthy Eating

    How to Perfectly Air Fry Your Turkey this Thanksgiving

    Couple-Preparing-Turkey-Dinner-Female-Basting-Turkey
    Healthy Eating

    9 Exciting Ways to Prepare Your Thanksgiving Turkey

    Michelin Chef Daniel Humm plating Morel Mushroom and Seaweed Baked Rice
    Healthy Eating

    Daniel Humm’s Morel Mushroom and Seaweed Baked Rice Recipe

    Richard Torrez Jr. posing for a fight with his hands up
    Meal Plans

    This Boxer's 'Path’ to Greatness Has Become a Family Affair

  • Athletes & Celebrities

    Athletes & Celebrities

    • News
    • Interviews
    • Women
    • Pro Tips
    • Behind-the-Scenes
    • Videos
    Lt. Col. Koaalii C. Bailey performing pushups
    Pro Tips

    Lt. Col. Koa Bailey challenges Air Force Members to Be Fit to Serve and ...

    PFL Champ Olivier Aubin-Mercie Celebrating his victory
    Pro Tips

    PFL Champ Olivier Aubin-Mercier set to leave it all in the cage

    Shane Idleman giving a motivational speech
    Pro Tips

    Beating Addiction Has Given This Fitness Professional Hope and Thanks

    Heidi Somers stretching
    Interviews

    Heidi Somers Is 'Laying the ‘Grounds’-Work for Female Fitness

  • Features

    Features

    • From our Partners
    • Active Lifestyle
    • M&F: Fit to Serve
    • Gear
    • News
    • Opinion
    Rep Fitness
    Gear

    10 Fitness and Wellness Cyber Monday Deals to Look Out For

    INNO SHRED INFERNO 1
    From our Partners

    Turn Up the Heat with New Inno Supps Inno Shred Inferno and Melt Away Po...

    Female doing online shopping for athletic clothing and sneakers for new years resolution
    Gear

    20 Black Friday Wellness Products You Don’t Want to Miss Out On

    FitFlow
    From our Partners

    FitFlow: Unleash Your Potential With the Ultimate Bodyweight App

  • Anti-Aging

    Anti-Aging

    • Functional Medicine
    • Hormone Optimization
    • Recovery
    • Wellness
    Muscular man washing his face for skin care
    Wellness

    This Skin Care Guide Will Prepare You for All Seasons

    Old man suffering from back pain from post exercise muscle soreness
    Recovery

    Active Recovery for Improved Athletic Performance

    best spermidine supplement
    Anti-Aging

    Best Spermidine Supplements: Review of the Top 5 Brands

    Male-Elderly-Old-Bench-Press
    Functional Medicine

    Muscle Mass May be Your key to Defeating Injuries and Illness

  • Flex

    Flex

    • Olympia Coverage
    • Athletes
    • Nutrition
    • Training
    • Videos
    Olympia 2024 returns to Las Vegas
    News

    It’s Official — The Olympia 2024 is Returning to Vegas!!!

    Rob Wilkins chief liaison between the Council and the Armed Forces
    News

    Rob Wilkins is Strengthening National Security Through Fitness

    Podcast 11-13
    News

    Podcast Recaps: 2023 Olympia Weekend Wrapup Edition

    gnc beyond raw lit preworkout
    Supplements

    Sponsored: The Power of Beyond Raw® LIT™

  • Hers

    Hers

    • Workouts
    • Nutrition
    • Supplements
    • Athletes & Celebrities
    • Features
    MMA One Championship fighter Danielle Kelly entering the arena
    Muscle & Fitness Hers

    Danielle Kelly Shares Her 'weird' Post-Training Meditation Technique

    Natalie Burn looking in the mirror
    Hers Workouts

    Try Natalie Burn’s “Killer” Core and Kickboxing Workout

    Trish Marmo
    Hers Athletes & Celebrities

    How Ballroom Dancing Helped This Athlete Regain Her Edge

    Mila Stanzani competing in ninja warrior competition after preparing with her ninja warrior workout routine
    Hers Workouts

    This 'Ninja'-Inspired Workout Will Help Strengthen Your Pullups

  • Muscle&Fitness+

    Muscle&Fitness+

  • Olympia

    Olympia

    • Olympia Coverage
    • Buy Tickets
    Caesar Bacarella performing a dumbbell workout with biceps curls
    Pro Tips

    Caesar Bacarella Is Building a Fitness Empire at Full Speed

    Olympia-2019-Whiteny-Jones-Press-Conference
    Interviews

    Whitney Jones Can Break, But Can Never Be Broken

    IFBB Wellness Pro Yarishna Ayala
    Interviews

    Yarishna Ayala Shares Advice for Future Wellness Division Competitors

    2021 Mr. Olympia Top 3 winners Brandon Curry, Big Ramy, Hadi Choopin
    News

    BIG RAMY WINS THE 2021 OLYMPIA!

Subscribe to YouTube Subscribe to the Newsletter Terms of Use Privacy Policy Cookie Policy Accessibility Statement Do Not Sell
  • Workouts
    • Workout Routines
    • Workout Tips
    • Fitness
    • Athlete/Celebrity Workouts
    • Exercise Videos
  • Nutrition
    • Healthy Eating
    • Lose Fat
    • Gain Mass
    • Supplements
    • Performance Nutrition
  • Athletes & Celebrities
    • News
    • Interviews
    • Women
    • Pro Tips
    • Behind-the-Scenes
    • Videos
  • Features
    • From our Partners
    • Active Lifestyle
    • M&F: Fit to Serve
    • Gear
    • News
    • Opinion
  • Anti-Aging
    • Functional Medicine
    • Hormone Optimization
    • Recovery
    • Wellness
  • Flex
    • Olympia Coverage
    • Athletes
    • Nutrition
    • Training
    • Videos
  • Hers
    • Workouts
    • Nutrition
    • Supplements
    • Athletes & Celebrities
    • Features
  • Muscle&Fitness+
  • Olympia
    • Olympia Coverage
    • Buy Tickets
  • Resources & Highlights
    • Topics
    • Videos
    • Podcasts
    • Contact
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Accessibility Statement
    • Do Not Sell

Stay Connected

Newsletter Signup

Stay up to date

Sign up below to receive our newest workout routines, recipes, news stories, and offers from our partners

Facebook Twitter Youtube Pinterest
Open menu button
Open search bar button
×

Search M&F

Featured Articles
Lean Muscle
Healthy Eating

28-Days-to-Lean Meal Plan

With the right plan and the right discipline, you can get seriously shredded in just 28 days.

Read article
Kate Upton Attends the 2016 Vanity Fair Oscar Party
Women

The 20 Hottest Female Celebrities

Talented stars, killer physiques.

Read article
Bench press record holder Bill Gillespie breaking the world record at age 62
Pro Tips

The 'Dos' and 'Don’ts' of Bill Gillespie’s Record-Breaking Bench Press

At age 62, "Big Bill" shares his wisdom to dominate one of the ultimate strength marks.

Read article
The 50 Best Female Fitness Influencers on Instagram
Girls

The 50 Best Fitness Influencers on Instagram

Follow these fit women we're crushing on for inspiration, workout ideas, and motivation.

Read article
Boost Workout

Best Amino Acid Supps for Energy

Try these amino acids to help build insane intensity for visible muscle growth.

by M&F Editors
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
Muscular Man
View Gallery

Best Amino Acid Supps for Energy

Close gallery popup button
1 OF 4

1 of 4

Muscular Man

Amino Ammo

As an avid bodybuilder, you likely know that your body uses amino acids to build protein. You may even be familiar with the difference between essential amino acids and nonessential amino acids. But did you know that aminos do more than build muscle protein? But which amino acids are most important? We have a suggestion for a few you’ll want to take before every workout to boost your energy levels to new heights. That’s right, carbs aren’t the only nutrient that provides energy. Besides being critical for muscle growth, certain amino acids can energize you better than carbs before a workout. Try these amino acids to help you work out with insane intensity, all in the name of muscle growth.

2 of 4

1-arm dumbbell curl

Branched-Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs)

There are three amino acids that comprise the BCAAs — leucine, isoleucine and valine. They are critical for muscle growth and energy. The BCAAs, unlike most other amino acids, are used directly by the muscles for fuel during exercise. Yet, after the workout’s over, the muscles rely mostly on fat for energy so the BCAAs can be used for muscle growth. This means that taking BCAAs before workouts will provide you with more energy during the workout, spare your muscle levels of BCAAs (which normally get burned for fuel during workouts), and boost muscle growth even after the workout is over. Take 5-10 grams immediately before your workout. Your best bet is to look for products that provide a 2:1 ratio of leucine to its companions, isoleucine and valine. This means a 5-gram dose should contain about 2.5 grams of leucine, 1.25 grams of isoleucine and 1.25 grams of valine.

3 of 4

man resting on bench at gym

Glutamine

This amino acid can aid energy production in a number of ways. Your muscles can use glutamine to produce more energy while you’re resting between sets. This can help your muscles recover better between sets, which can enhance your strength and endurance on later sets. Glutamine also helps to produce bicarbonate, which buffers the fatigue-producing chemicals that form during intense exercise. In addition, the amino acid boosts growth hormone levels, which frees up more fat from fat cells for enhanced recovery. Glutamine further helps the muscle cells load up better with glycogen, so that they can perform better for longer when you exercise. Glutamine even provides energy for your immune system to run efficiently. Take 5-10 grams immediately before workouts.

4 of 4

Muscle building supplements

Citrulline Malate

This supplement consists of the amino acid citrulline bound to malic acid (malate). In the body a great deal of citrulline gets converted to arginine, which can then enhance nitric oxide production. This helps to increase blood flow to the muscles, which delivers more nutrients and oxygen to boost energy. Citrulline is also involved in removing ammonia from the body. Ammonia is a toxic compound that is produced when amino acids are metabolized (during intense workouts). By enhancing the removal of ammonia from the body, citrulline helps to delay fatigue during workouts. Malic acid helps the body convert the lactic acid that’s produced during exercise to energy, thus further delaying muscle fatigue. Studies in humans have shown that citrulline malate supplements reduce fatigue, increase adenosine triphosphate (the major energy currency of all cells) production during exercise and increase the rate of creatine phosphate (energy used when lifting weights) recovery following exercise. Take 1-3 grams of citrulline malate immediately before workouts.

Back to intro

Amino Ammo

As an avid bodybuilder, you likely know that your body uses amino acids to build protein. You may even be familiar with the difference between essential amino acids and nonessential amino acids. But did you know that aminos do more than build muscle protein? But which amino acids are most important? We have a suggestion for a few you’ll want to take before every workout to boost your energy levels to new heights. That’s right, carbs aren’t the only nutrient that provides energy. Besides being critical for muscle growth, certain amino acids can energize you better than carbs before a workout. Try these amino acids to help you work out with insane intensity, all in the name of muscle growth.

Branched-Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs)

There are three amino acids that comprise the BCAAs — leucine, isoleucine and valine. They are critical for muscle growth and energy. The BCAAs, unlike most other amino acids, are used directly by the muscles for fuel during exercise. Yet, after the workout’s over, the muscles rely mostly on fat for energy so the BCAAs can be used for muscle growth. This means that taking BCAAs before workouts will provide you with more energy during the workout, spare your muscle levels of BCAAs (which normally get burned for fuel during workouts), and boost muscle growth even after the workout is over. Take 5-10 grams immediately before your workout. Your best bet is to look for products that provide a 2:1 ratio of leucine to its companions, isoleucine and valine. This means a 5-gram dose should contain about 2.5 grams of leucine, 1.25 grams of isoleucine and 1.25 grams of valine.

Glutamine

This amino acid can aid energy production in a number of ways. Your muscles can use glutamine to produce more energy while you’re resting between sets. This can help your muscles recover better between sets, which can enhance your strength and endurance on later sets. Glutamine also helps to produce bicarbonate, which buffers the fatigue-producing chemicals that form during intense exercise. In addition, the amino acid boosts growth hormone levels, which frees up more fat from fat cells for enhanced recovery. Glutamine further helps the muscle cells load up better with glycogen, so that they can perform better for longer when you exercise. Glutamine even provides energy for your immune system to run efficiently. Take 5-10 grams immediately before workouts.

Citrulline Malate

This supplement consists of the amino acid citrulline bound to malic acid (malate). In the body a great deal of citrulline gets converted to arginine, which can then enhance nitric oxide production. This helps to increase blood flow to the muscles, which delivers more nutrients and oxygen to boost energy. Citrulline is also involved in removing ammonia from the body. Ammonia is a toxic compound that is produced when amino acids are metabolized (during intense workouts). By enhancing the removal of ammonia from the body, citrulline helps to delay fatigue during workouts. Malic acid helps the body convert the lactic acid that’s produced during exercise to energy, thus further delaying muscle fatigue. Studies in humans have shown that citrulline malate supplements reduce fatigue, increase adenosine triphosphate (the major energy currency of all cells) production during exercise and increase the rate of creatine phosphate (energy used when lifting weights) recovery following exercise. Take 1-3 grams of citrulline malate immediately before workouts.

Topics:
  • Bodybuilding
  • Build Muscle
  • Diet
Author picture
Written by M&F Editors
Also by M&F Editors
Frank Sepe Noel Deyzel and Muscle & Fitness Chief Content Officer Zack Zeigler at the Muscle and Fitness Booth at the 2023 Olympia World Fitness Expo
News

Behind The Scenes of The 2023 Olympia World Fitness Expo

Impact wrestler Brian Myers slaps Muscle and Fitness contributor writer in the face
Entertainment

See the Moment Pro Wrestler Brian Myers ‘Assaults’ an M&F Contributor...

Newsletter Signup

Stay up to date

Sign up below to receive our newest workout routines, recipes, news stories, and offers from our partners

Muscle & Fitness logo

Follow us

Facebook Twitter Youtube Pinterest

More news

Woman Taking Supplement
Boost Workout

What’s the best way to take Vitamins?

Gone are the days when vitamin supplementation was limited to a bottle of capsules.

Read article
Undercover Protein: 7 Ways to Sneak in Extra Grams
Boost Workout

Undercover Protein: 7 Ways to Sneak in Extra Grams

Don't fall short on your macros — try these tricks to sharpen up your physique.

Read article
Eye-Ball-Focus-Media-Collage
Boost Workout

Nootropics: Can Supps Make You Smarter?

Is better brainpower simply a food, pill, vitamin, or supplement away?

Read article
All Boost Workout
  1. Home
  2. /
  3. Supplements
  4. /
  5. Boost Workout
  6. /
  7. Best Amino Acid Supps for Energy
Muscle & Fitness logo
  • Workouts
  • Nutrition
  • Athletes & Celebrities
  • Features
  • Recipes
  • Topics
  • Videos
  • Exercise Videos
  • Podcasts
  • RSS Feed
  • Muscle&Fitness +
  • Buy Olympia Tickets
  • Archives
  • Sitemap
Facebook Twitter Youtube Pinterest

Newsletter Signup

Stay up to date

Sign up below to receive our newest workout routines, recipes, news stories, and offers from our partners

Muscleandfitness.com is part of a360media Fitness & Health Network

Contact Us Terms of Use Privacy Policy Cookie Policy Do Not Sell Accessibility Statement

JW Media, LLC

Copyright 2023 JW Media, LLC, parent company of Muscle & Fitness. All rights reserved.