I will be talking about my thoughts and experiences on the intra workout BCAA base product Xtend released by the company Scivation.
Xtend is a delicious, solid intra workout option with a recently updated formula. I will try to be as helpful and informative as I can throughout my review but if I have missed anything or if you have any comments please do so at the bottom of the page.
XTEND RATING
Overall, I give Xtend an 8.5/10.
The best tasting BCAA product I have had to date, while still offering a very solid formula at comparable prices to all other products in its respective category.
Buy Xtend Supplement Online
If you are interested in saving money when purchasing supplement we highly recommend you buy them online. Shipping is always fast, and the prices are always far better than the supplement stores.
Below are the two best supplement sites to buy Xtend from:
#1 – MuscleandStrength.com – Price = $22.99 (Retails for $38.99)
#2 – BodyBuilding.com – Price = $21.99 (Retails for $38.99)
“So What is Scivation Xtend?”
Scivation Xtend is a zero calorie, powdered BCAA base product with added glutamine, citruline malate and an electrolyte blend. Each scoop provides your typical 2:1:1 ratio of an impressive 7g of BCAAs offering 3.5g of leucine, 1.75g of isoleucine and 1.75g of valine. The benefits that BCAAs alone bring to the table could be a whole review and breakdown in itself, to put it short, here are some highlights:
Enhance muscle protein synthesis
Higher BCAA levels correlate with a lean body composition
Result in a better testosterone to cortical ratio
Greater strength adaptations to training with supplementing with leucine
Decrease DOMS
Protect Liver
Improve sensitivity to insulin
BCAAs are also extremely effective at keeping the muscles in an anabolic state whether its aerobic training or resistance training. This, in turn leads to a much greater protection of lean mass during a lean down phase and/or caloric deficit.
The best time to take a powdered BCAA product is without a doubt during exercise. BCAAs are free-form amino acids which allows the body to absorb and utilize them at a MUCH faster rate than protein or food products. I recommend mixing a scoop with 16-20oz of water and sipping it from the start of your workout all the way to the end. In between sets, during slow down phases in aerobic training, whatever you have to do to get a sip in here and there will add up in the big picture of muscle sparing and recovery.
But aside from the BCAAs with get the enhanced immune support from glutamine, increased blood flow from the citruline and my personal favourite, the electrolyte blend. When comparing Xtend with its competitors products the often do not include the electrolyte blend and being that you are reading this review, you are most likely already heavy into training and maintaining proper nutrition. A large part of maintaining proper nutrition is the massive consumption of water everyday. When you drink as much water as an athlete or bodybuilder many electrolytes are lost in that exchange through urination and many of us don’t replenish that, we just drink more water. Xtend has our back in a way where we are getting the benefits of a solid intra-workout BCAA product and keeping the muscles hydrated when it is most important, during exercise.
Scivation Xtend can be compared with many products on the market, intra workout products are released by most major companies and the profiles are very close, aside from the nice electrolyte blend. But what I can tell you is that Xtend is probably the best tasting BCAA product I have ever had. It mixes up with zero issues, no grit at the bottom of the shaker and a nice flavour selection as well. The watermelon is unreal, its impressive to know that it is a health product and not a sugary juice.