Getting the right nutrition can be seriously challenging if you’re following a vegan diet, especially if you also spend a lot of time exercising. BCAAs are essential for everyone, but for a vegan who works out, they are even more critical – but how do you find vegan-friendly BCAAs that you can use to supplement your diet?
Unfortunately, Xtend BCAA is probably not vegan, as it may contain animal products. Many of the amino acids in BCAAs are easiest to get from animal products, so you need to be careful when choosing these supplements – and Xtend is not a supplement I would personally purchase.
In this article, we’ll find out more about why Xtend’s BCAA formula is not suitable for vegans, and what you might want to choose instead. We’ll also briefly touch on the history of BCAAs.
Why Isn’t Xtend’s BCAA Vegan-Friendly?
Xtend’s BCAA formula is not considered suitable for vegans, as it doesn’t contain certified vegan amino acids.
BCAAs are made up of amino acids, and these are most easily derived from animals in most cases. They can be derived from plants, but unless a brand is certified or claims to be vegan, it should be avoided.
Xtend offers more than one BCAA product, but none are certified as vegan. For example, their Original BCAA Powder Knockout Fruit Punch is described as suitable for vegetarians, but it’s likely that some of its ingredients are sourced from animals. Its ingredients include:
• L-Glutamine
• Flavorings
• Vitamin B6
• Allura Red AC
• Potassium Chloride Bulking Agent
• Sodium Citrate
• L-Leucine
• Acidity Regulators
• L-Valine
• L-Isoleucine
• L-Citrulline
• Sodium Chloride
• Sucralose
• Magnesium salts of citric acid
• Steviol Glycosides
As you can see, it contains L-Leucine, L-Isoleucine, and L-Valine, which are not usually vegan, unless the brand mentions otherwise.
They’re usually derived from animals, and Xtend BCAA does not claim that their BCAAs are suitable for vegans. You should therefore avoid this BCAA supplement.
You should also be wary of things like Allura Red AC (otherwise known as Red 40). This product is technically vegan in terms of its composition, but it has been tested on animals. For some vegans, this makes it unethical and thus some will avoid products containing it, as a result.
Are There Any Vegan-Friendly BCAAs?
You’ll be pleased to learn that there certainly are some vegan-friendly options. Although BCAAs have traditionally been associated with animal products, because they were originally derived from things like feathers, fur, and hair, many of today’s BCAAs are produced from plants, and these are suitable for vegans to consume.
BCAAs can be made from things like brown rice and wholegrain bread, lentils, chickpeas, soy, quinoa, and beans. That makes them ideal for vegans and means you aren’t missing out on critical nutrients that your body needs to repair itself after a workout.
You might want to try something like Protein Works Vegan BCAA Powder, which is completely plant-based. It is worth noting that it is produced in a factory that handles non-vegan products, but it is vegan. It contains fermented branched-chain amino acids — leucine, isoleucine, and valine included. Some of the flavor options contain colors, but these should be vegan-friendly.
You could also try Kaged Muscle 2:1:1 Pure BCAA, which is vegan and free from colors and flavors. It again contains L-Leucine, L-Isoleucine, and L-Valine, providing you with the short-chain amino acids you need.
Other options include Raw Synergies BCAA, Raw Barrel BCAA, and Truth Nutrition BCAAs.
Do Vegans Really Need BCAAs?
Although it’s debatable, vegans could be more likely to need BCAAs than non-vegans (although everyone can benefit from ensuring they get enough of these). BCAAs cannot be synthesized within the body, and must be sourced from your diet – but if you’re a vegan, you might struggle to get these, because most of them are found in animal products.
BCAAs are thought to be particularly valuable when exercising because they are partially responsible for muscle protein synthesis, so they help you build up your muscles. They may also reduce muscle soreness, which will help you to recover quickly after a workout, and make it possible for you to exercise again.
It’s also thought that BCAAs reduce fatigue and that they can slow down muscle wasting. All of these things will make it easier to exercise regularly and can improve the results you see.
Conclusion
Unfortunately, Xtend’s BCAA is not suitable for vegans, because it is not certified as such. It is therefore likely that the amino acids are derived from animals. It also contains colors that may not be vegan-friendly, or that some vegans would rather avoid because these are subject to animal testing.
Editor’s note: The content on this website is meant to be informative, but it should not be taken as medical advice. The content of our articles is not intended for use in the diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment of health problems. It’s always best to speak with your doctor or a certified medical professional before making any changes to your lifestyle, diet, exercise routine, or trying a new supplement.
