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BCAAs, or branched-chain amino acids, have become one of the most popular supplements in the fitness industry, and Alani Nu has quickly become a best-selling brand. However, with so many BCAA options on the market (we’ve tested nearly 20), it can be hard to choose the best BCAA supplement for you.
In this Alani Nu BCAA review, I’ll show you what makes Alani Nu different, what our testers thought, and whether or not Alani Nu BCAA is worth the higher-than-average cost. After all, the last thing you want to do is waste your hard-earned money on a product that doesn’t live up to the hype, so let’s take a closer look at Alani Nu BCAA.
Medical disclaimer: This article is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. For health advice, contact a licensed healthcare provider. GGR also recommends choosing a product that has been third-party tested for quality.
Tested by a Team of Experts
Here at Garage Gym Reviews, we don’t review a single product that we don’t have personal, hands-on experience with. Not to mention, we have a tried-and-true supplement testing methodology to help us accurately rank each supplement, so you can easily see how products stack up against our scoring system.
For this review, two of our testers tried Alani Nu BCAA, GGR Senior Editor Erin Chancer, NASM-CNC, ISSA-CPT, and GGR Head of Content, Nicole Davis, CPT, PN1-NC. They both took detailed notes and scored this formula according to the most important criteria, including:
- Price per serving
- Formulation
- Taste
- Solubility
- Side effects
- Third-party testing
- Customer service
- Customer reviews
Now, let’s get into the review and see how Alani Nu scored in our BCAA testing.
Alani Nu BCAA
Alani Nu BCAAs
Product Highlights
- Vegan BCAAs offered in a variety of 5 unique flavors
- Intended to improve recovery, support muscle mass, and enhance performance
- Key ingredients include sodium, potassium, L-leucine, L-isoleucine, L-valine, and L-glutamine
- Each serving costs about $1.39
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Tasty flavors
- Vegan BCAAs
- Mixes well
- Aids in hydration
Cons
- Expensive
- Made with artificial sweeteners including sucralose
- Too sweet for some
Bottom Line
While Alani Nu BCAAs are one of the more costly BCAAs on the market, their flavor options reign supreme.
A Quick Look at Alani Nu BCAA
Alani Nu was founded by fitness influencer and entrepreneur Katy Hearn in 2018 and is currently one of the most popular brands in the fitness industry. In addition to a wide range of health and fitness supplements, including protein powder, protein bars, creatine, and vitamins, Alani Nu sells a popular line of energy drinks that are available at most major retailers.
Even though Alani Nu hasn’t been around for all that long, they’ve already launched special collaboration flavors with Kim Kardashian, Addison Rae, and Emily Ratajkowski, so it’s no surprise that they’ve become a very popular brand.
Before we get into our detailed review of Alani Nu BCAA, it’s important to understand what BCAAs are, how they work, and whether or not you truly need them.
Before You Buy
- Alani Nu is a very popular brand that often charges a premium price for its supplements, including Alani Nu BCAA.
- Overall, research shows that BCAAs aren’t going to do much to support muscle recovery if you’re already consuming adequate protein, so this product is only useful for those on a low-protein diet.
- The product is sweetened with sucralose, which may leave an unpleasant aftertaste for some.
Is Alani Nu BCAA Worth It?
When it comes to BCAAs, Alani Nu is one of the more expensive brands we’ve tested. With vegan amino acids and added glutamine, it makes sense that the price is a little higher, but that doesn’t mean it’s the perfect supplement for everyone.
BCAAs are branched-chain amino acids, three of the nine essential amino acids (EAAs) that our bodies can’t produce, and must be obtained through our diet. The BCAAs are leucine, isoleucine, and valine. Leucine in particular is thought to have a powerful impact on muscle protein synthesis, which is the process of muscle growth and recovery.
Many supplement brands, influencers, and fitness magazines promote BCAAs as a recovery supplement. You’d drink them before, during, or after a workout, and they’d reduce muscle damage while improving recovery.
However, most newer research shows that BCAAs aren’t that useful1 if you’re already getting adequate protein in your diet. That’s because the three branched-chain amino acids are naturally found in most complete protein sources, and if you’re getting enough BCAAs from protein, adding more isn’t going to do anything.
Not to mention, there are plenty of great pre-workouts with BCAAs already included, so you may not need extra BCAAs on the side.
That doesn’t mean BCAAs are bad, especially if you enjoy the taste and want to use them, but know that you’re probably getting more than enough amino acids already, especially if you’re using any dairy-based protein powders, which are naturally abundant in BCAAs.
Alani Nu BCAA is formulated with vegan BCAAs and added glutamine, which may drive up the price a bit.
Great for:
- Those who struggle to consume enough protein
- Anyone looking for a tasty BCAA supplement
- People who are fans of Alani Nu energy drinks and want to try its other workout supplements
Not recommended for:
- Those on a budget
- Those who are consuming adequate protein from other sources
- Anyone using protein powder before or after training, which is already rich in BCAAs
- Those looking to avoid artificial sweeteners
RELATED: Are BCAAs Worth It?
Alani Nu BCAA Specs
| Price per serving | $1.33 |
| Flavors | Sour Gummies, Sour Peach Rings, Hawaiian Shaved Ice |
| BCAAs per serving | 5 g |
| L-Leucine dosage | 2.5 g |
| L-Isoleucine dosage | 1.25 g |
| L-Valine dosage | 1.25 g |
| Other key ingredients | L-glutamine, citric acid, natural and artificial flavors, sucralose, beet root extract, acesulfame potassium |
| Calories per serving | 10 |
| Sweeteners | Sucralose, acesulfame potassium |
| Third-party tested? | No |
Experience Using Alani Nu BCAA
When testing Alani Nu BCAA, Erin tried the Rocket Pop flavor, which is currently unavailable on the Alani Nu website or Amazon, but could be back in stock later on as Alani tends to offer seasonal flavors like Strawberry Kiwi and Witch’s Brew on and off throughout the year.
I haven’t tried this product, but I’ve used the Alani Nu pre-workout in the past, which has very similar flavors, and I’m a regular consumer of Alani Nu energy drinks, so I have some experience with the brand.
Overall, Erin enjoyed the product, although she noted the flavor left a slight aftertaste, which may be due to the artificial sweeteners.
Price Per Serving
At $1.33 per serving, this is one of the more expensive BCAAs we’ve tested and scores a 3 out of 5. Alani Nu has added glutamine and uses vegan amino acids, which may drive up the price.
Interestingly, the 30-serving tub of BCAAs costs $39.99, while a 30-serving tub of Alani Nu’s whey protein only costs $44.99. Considering whey has all of the BCAAs already, along with all of the other essential amino acids needed to build muscle, I’d expect the BCAAs to be quite a bit cheaper.
RELATED: EAA vs BCAA
For only $5 more, you get all of the essential amino acids in a whey protein powder, not just the three BCAAs. All in all, I would love to see Alani Nu lower the price of its BCAA formula a bit.
Formulation
For the formulation, Alani Nu BCAA scores a 4 out of 5. The label is transparent and lists precise dosing for each ingredient, which is great to see. Alani Nu also uses vegan BCAAs, which some may prefer over traditional BCAAs sourced from animal products.
For a BCAA supplement, we want to see a 2:1:1 ratio. Two parts leucine, one part isoleucine, and one part valine, which is the exact ratio Alani Nu uses, with a 5-gram total dose.
RELATED: The Best Ratio for BCAAs
There is no added sugar, but the product does use sucralose, along with added l-glutamine to increase hydration. Research shows2 that glutamine may improve hydration when paired with electrolytes, like the sodium and potassium found in Alani Nu BCAA.
Taste and Solubility
For the flavor, Alani Nu earns a 4 out of 5. Erin said: “I tried the Rocket Pop flavor and thought it was pretty good (not mind-blowing by any means), but it had a slight aftertaste. I tend to go lighter on the scoop because I don’t like my post-workout BCAAs overly sweet, so others may prefer a heftier scoop.”
The solubility earns a very strong 5 out of 5. Nicole mixed hers in a glass of water with a spoon, and it dissolved quickly with no residue in the glass.
RELATED: Best BCAA for Women
Side Effects
Erin and Nicole didn’t notice any side effects, and I couldn’t find any reviews that mentioned any negative side effects aside from an aftertaste, so Alani Nu BCAA scores a 5 out of 5.
Several negative reviews mentioned that the product gave them headaches, but our testers didn’t experience this.
Third-Party Testing
Unfortunately, Alani Nu does not provide any third-party testing, so this product scores a 1-out-of-5 rating. The label seems transparent, and Alani Nu seems like a reputable brand, but without third-party testing, it’s impossible to know what you’re actually getting in each scoop.
Alani Nu BCAA vs Ghost BCAA
Ghost BCAA
Ghost BCAA
Product Highlights
- 7 g BCAA per serving
- 2:1:1 BCAA ratio
- Candy-like flavors
- Transparent label
- Formulated with Astragin
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Free from soy, gluten, and sugar
- BCAAs may help muscle recovery
Cons
- Contains sucralose
- Almost $2.00 per serving
- Ultra-sweet tasting
Bottom Line
Ghost BCAAs have candy-like flavors that some reviewers appreciate and some say are too sweet. Either way, it’s formulated with Astragin, which may help improve your body’s ability to absorb key amino acids, proteins, and glucose.
Since Alani Nu has taken the supplement industry by storm, I’m going to compare it to another very popular product, Ghost BCAA, which we’ve reviewed in-depth right in our Ghost BCAA review. Both Alani Nu and Ghost are relatively new companies, and both have already built a strong following and loyal community thanks to their strong social media presence and influencer partnerships.
Neither are third-party tested, but Ghost is a more affordable option that comes in more flavors and has more BCAAs per serving. For most people, Ghost BCAA is probably the better choice, though if you’ve tried and enjoyed other Alani Nu supplements and prefer the flavors they use, then Alani Nu is still a good option.
| Alani Nu BCAA | Ghost BCAA | |
| Price per serving | $1.33 | $0.93 |
| Flavors | Sour Gummies, Sour Peach Rings, Hawaiian Shaved Ice | SourPatch Kids Watermelon, SourPatch Kids Blue Raspberry, SourPatch Kids Redberry, Lemon Crush, Kiwi Strawberry |
| BCAAs per serving | 5 g | 7 g |
| L-Leucine dosage | 2.5 g | 3.5 g |
| L-Isoleucine dosage | 1.25 g | 1.75 g |
| L-Valine dosage | 1.25 g | 1.75 g |
| Other key ingredients | L-glutamine, citric acid, natural and artificial flavors, sucralose, beet root extract, acesulfame potassium | AstraGin, malic acid, citric acid, natural and artificial flavors, tartaric acid, sucralose, silicon dioxide, calcium silicate, Himalayan pink sea salt |
| Calories per serving | 10 | 30 |
| Sweeteners | Sucralose, acesulfame potassium | Sucralose |
| Third-party tested? | No | No |
Customer Experience
Alani Nu’s return policy has pros and cons. They offer a 30-day return window and free return shipping, which is great to see, but you can only exchange your purchase for store credit, rather than a full cash refund.
If you want the ability to return your purchase and receive your money back, you may wish to purchase from another retailer like Amazon or Vitamin Shoppe.
If you need to reach customer support, Alani Nu allows you to submit a contact form or chat on the website, but there’s no phone number listed.
Ordering Alani Nu BCAA
Ordering directly from Alani Nu is an easy, painless experience. The company offers free shipping on all orders over $50, orders over $100 receive a free shaker cup, and orders over $150 receive a free crewneck sweater.
You can create an account to receive rewards with your orders to save money on future orders, and Alani Nu often sends free samples at checkout. You can also complete your purchase with ShopPay, which allows you to split your order into multiple payments.
I’ve placed multiple orders with Alani Nu over the years, and while the shipping isn’t as fast as Amazon Prime shipping, I found that my orders were usually packed and shipped within 1 to 2 business days.
Customer Reviews
Alani Nu BCAA has very positive reviews, with an average rating of 4.9 on the Alani Nu website, which has over 7,300 reviews, and a 4.4 rating on Amazon with over 3,100 reviews.
Most reviews seem to agree that the flavor is good, but not great, and some are bothered by the aftertaste. A few negative reviews also mention the package burst open during shipping, but the biggest complaint I saw was the flavor.
Final Verdict of Our Alani Nu BCAA Review
When it comes to BCAA supplements, Alani Nu has created one of the more popular options on the market…that’s also one of the most expensive options.
While BCAAs may help with workout recovery if you’re very deficient in protein, most protein sources already contain all of the essential amino acids, so this supplement probably won’t level up your fitness game if you’re already using protein powder, or eating enough protein throughout the day.
RELATED: How Much Protein Do You Need?
If you’re a big fan of the Alani Nu brand and want to add BCAAs to your supplement stack, this may be a great choice. However, if you’re getting plenty of protein in your diet already, you probably won’t notice much of a benefit, and there are more affordable options available if you still want to try using BCAAs.
- While the true benefits of BCAAs are debatable, Alani Nu is a very popular brand, and this may be a useful supplement for those deficient in protein.
- The product is formulated with vegan BCAAs and added l-glutamine, which may increase the price.
- This is one of the more expensive options for BCAA supplements on the market, and you can easily find more affordable options if you’re looking to add BCAAs to your routine.
Full Rating
Alani Nu BCAAs
While Alani Nu BCAAs are one of the more costly BCAAs on the market, their flavor options reign supreme.
Product Brand: Alani Nu
Product Currency: $
Product Price: 29.99
Product In-Stock: InStock
3.66
Alani Nu BCAA: FAQ
Does taking BCAAs really work?
While BCAAs can certainly improve muscle recovery, they’re naturally found in most protein sources, so if you’re consuming plenty of protein already, you probably don’t need to add BCAAs.
What is the best BCAA supplement brand?
There are too many brands to say which are the best, so we suggest looking for a brand that offers label transparency, third-party testing, and is priced to fit your budget.
Is it safe to take BCAAs everyday?
While BCAAs are naturally found in most proteins, and are generally safe, you should always consult with a physician if you have concerns or pre-existing conditions. High protein diets can be dangerous3 in individuals with kidney disease.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases.
References
- Plotkin DL, Delcastillo K, Van Every DW, Tipton KD, Aragon AA, Schoenfeld BJ. Isolated Leucine and Branched-Chain Amino Acid Supplementation for Enhancing Muscular Strength and Hypertrophy: A Narrative Review. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2021;31(3):292-301. doi:10.1123/ijsnem.2020-0356
- Hoffman JR, Ratamess NA, Kang J, et al. Examination of the efficacy of acute L-alanyl-L-glutamine ingestion during hydration stress in endurance exercise. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2010;7:8. Published 2010 Feb 3. doi:10.1186/1550-2783-7-8
- Ko GJ, Rhee CM, Kalantar-Zadeh K, Joshi S. The Effects of High-Protein Diets on Kidney Health and Longevity. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2020;31(8):1667-1679. doi:10.1681/ASN.2020010028
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