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Amino-9 Essentials Powder

NOW Sports
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
(1399 ratings)
Tryptophan 117 mg
Lysine 888 mg
Histidine 319 mg
Valine 518 mg
Isoleucine 442 mg
Leucine 918 mg
Phenylalanine 751 mg
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Score 75.0

A cost-effective, complete essential amino acid powder suitable for general health and moderate fitness support, though dosages may be low for high-intensity athletic needs.

Quantity: 330 Gram(s)Servings size: 2 tsp (0 servings)
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Score 75.0

A cost-effective, complete essential amino acid powder suitable for general health and moderate fitness support, though dosages may be low for high-intensity athletic needs.

Analysis

NOW Sports Amino-9 Essentials Powder is a well-regarded essential amino acid (EAA) supplement that provides all nine amino acids crucial for various bodily functions, including protein synthesis. Its powder form allows for flexible dosing and rapid absorption, making it suitable for pre, intra, or post-workout consumption. The product is commendable for delivering a full spectrum of EAAs from a reputable brand at a very competitive cost. While it offers a complete EAA profile, the individual amino acid dosages are moderate, which might require larger serving sizes for individuals with high athletic demands or specific therapeutic needs. Online reviews generally praise the brand's quality and the product's mixability.

Pros
  • Contains all nine essential amino acids, providing a complete building block profile.
  • Excellent value due to its very low price per serving.
  • Produced by NOW Sports, a reputable brand known for quality and transparency.
  • Powder form allows for easy mixing and quick absorption.
Cons
  • Total EAA dosage per serving (approx. 4.85g) is relatively moderate, potentially requiring multiple servings for optimal muscle protein synthesis in highly active individuals.
  • Does not contain additional ingredients like electrolytes or non-essential amino acids (e.g., Glutamine, Citrulline) found in some comprehensive recovery blends.
Warnings
  • As with any supplement, individuals with pre-existing medical conditions or those taking medication should consult a healthcare professional before use.
  • Pregnant or nursing women should avoid use without medical advice.
$23.99($0.14 per serving)
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Ingredients
IngredientAmount per serving
Calories 20 Calorie(s)
L-Leucine 918 mg
L-Lysine (L-Lysine Monohydrochloride) 888 mg
L-Phenylalanine 751 mg
L-Valine 518 mg
L-Threonine 466 mg
L-Isoleucine 442 mg
L-Methionine 432 mg
L-Histidine (L-Histidine Monohydrochoride) 319 mg
L-Tryptophan 117 mg
Gluten Free Adults 18–50 Kosher Dairy Free
Categories
Lysine 75.0
Lysine is an essential amino acid important for protein synthesis, calcium absorption, and the production of enzymes, hormones, and antibodies. The dosage of 888mg per serving is substantial and contributes well to the overall essential amino acid requirements.
Leucine 70.0
Leucine is the primary branched-chain amino acid recognized for its potent role in directly stimulating muscle protein synthesis. The product contains 918mg per serving, which is a good amount for a mixed EAA product, but some dedicated BCAA supplements offer higher individual leucine doses.
Methionine 70.0
Methionine is a sulfur-containing amino acid crucial for metabolism, detoxification, and the synthesis of proteins. The 432mg dosage provides a useful contribution to these metabolic processes.
Goals
Fitness 75.0
EAAs support recovery, reduce muscle soreness, and aid in overall athletic performance by providing the necessary building blocks for repair and energy. Its comprehensive profile contributes positively to general fitness and recovery, making it a beneficial supplement for active individuals.
Muscle Gain 70.0
Essential amino acids, particularly BCAAs (Leucine, Isoleucine, Valine), are vital for stimulating muscle protein synthesis, which is fundamental for muscle gain. This product provides a complete EAA profile, but the dosage of BCAAs (approx. 2.1g per serving) is lower than the often recommended 5-7g for significant muscle protein synthesis, especially around workouts.
Immunity 65.0
Several EAAs, such as Tryptophan and Histidine, play roles in immune function. For example, Tryptophan is involved in cytokine production, and Histidine is a precursor to histamine, important for immune responses. However, this product is not specifically formulated as an immune booster, and its contribution to immunity is secondary to its primary role in protein synthesis.
85 Value

Branched-Chain Amino Acids

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★★★★★
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This product offers a substantial dose of BCAAs (2.9g per serving) at a very competitive price point, providing excellent value for targeted muscle support and recovery for active individuals. While not a full EAA blend, it's a cost-effective way to get high-quality BCAAs.
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Branched Chain Amino Acids

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(1896 ratings)
Providing a solid 2.9g of BCAAs per serving, this alternative from a trusted brand offers good value for those prioritizing the key muscle-building amino acids. It represents a cost-effective step up in BCAA concentration compared to the original product, balancing efficacy with affordability.
70 Value

Mega-Size BCAA 1000 Caps

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This BCAA product offers a lower dose of BCAAs (1g per serving) but at a price point only slightly higher than the original EAA blend. It provides a foundational BCAA dose from a highly recognized brand, representing a good value for those looking for a basic BCAA supplement in capsule form.
90 Performance

The Original Watermelon Explosion

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This product offers a much higher concentration of Branched-Chain Amino Acids (7g BCAAs vs. ~2.1g BCAA equivalent in original), along with L-Glutamine and Citrulline Malate, making it superior for muscle recovery, endurance, and pump, especially for intense training. Its comprehensive blend directly targets fitness and muscle gain goals more effectively.
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The Original Blue Raspberry Ice

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Similar to other XTEND products, this BCAA blend provides a significantly higher dose of muscle-building amino acids (7g BCAAs) and includes beneficial additions like L-Glutamine and electrolytes. This makes it a more potent option for intra-workout or post-workout support, enhancing recovery and performance beyond what a simple EAA blend at lower doses might offer.
80 Performance

Branched-Chain Amino Acids

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4.6
★★★★★
(1947 ratings)
For individuals primarily focused on muscle protein synthesis, this BCAA-specific product from the same reputable brand offers a more concentrated dose of BCAAs (2.9g per serving) compared to the BCAA content within the Amino-9 blend, providing a more targeted and potentially more effective impact on muscle recovery and growth.
40 Budget

Daily Amino Acid

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(8008 ratings)
This product is significantly cheaper per serving, making it highly budget-friendly. However, it provides a very low overall essential amino acid dosage (approx. 0.5g per serving) compared to the original product, making it less effective for most of the stated goals despite being a multi-amino acid blend.
50 Budget

L-Lysine 500 mg

NOW
4.8
★★★★★
(13912 ratings)
While much cheaper per serving, this is a single amino acid supplement (L-Lysine) and does not offer the comprehensive essential amino acid profile needed for broad benefits like muscle protein synthesis or energy support that the original product provides. It's only suitable for specific Lysine requirements.
50 Budget

Free-Form L-Lysine 500 mg

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★★★★★
(1563 ratings)
This is another budget-friendly single amino acid alternative, providing L-Lysine. It's useful for specific, targeted needs related to lysine, but it cannot replace the full spectrum of essential amino acids provided by the NOW Sports Amino-9 Essentials Powder for holistic support.
85 Value

Branched-Chain Amino Acids

Lake Avenue Nutrition
4.7
★★★★★
(1343 ratings)
This product offers a substantial dose of BCAAs (2.9g per serving) at a very competitive price point, providing excellent value for targeted muscle support and recovery for active individuals. While not a full EAA blend, it's a cost-effective way to get high-quality BCAAs.
83 Value

Branched Chain Amino Acids

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4.6
★★★★★
(1896 ratings)
Providing a solid 2.9g of BCAAs per serving, this alternative from a trusted brand offers good value for those prioritizing the key muscle-building amino acids. It represents a cost-effective step up in BCAA concentration compared to the original product, balancing efficacy with affordability.
70 Value

Mega-Size BCAA 1000 Caps

Optimum Nutrition
4.6
★★★★★
(25137 ratings)
This BCAA product offers a lower dose of BCAAs (1g per serving) but at a price point only slightly higher than the original EAA blend. It provides a foundational BCAA dose from a highly recognized brand, representing a good value for those looking for a basic BCAA supplement in capsule form.
90 Performance

The Original Watermelon Explosion

XTEND
4.5
★★★★★
(47937 ratings)
This product offers a much higher concentration of Branched-Chain Amino Acids (7g BCAAs vs. ~2.1g BCAA equivalent in original), along with L-Glutamine and Citrulline Malate, making it superior for muscle recovery, endurance, and pump, especially for intense training. Its comprehensive blend directly targets fitness and muscle gain goals more effectively.
88 Performance

The Original Blue Raspberry Ice

XTEND
4.5
★★★★★
(7526 ratings)
Similar to other XTEND products, this BCAA blend provides a significantly higher dose of muscle-building amino acids (7g BCAAs) and includes beneficial additions like L-Glutamine and electrolytes. This makes it a more potent option for intra-workout or post-workout support, enhancing recovery and performance beyond what a simple EAA blend at lower doses might offer.
80 Performance

Branched-Chain Amino Acids

NOW Sports
4.6
★★★★★
(1947 ratings)
For individuals primarily focused on muscle protein synthesis, this BCAA-specific product from the same reputable brand offers a more concentrated dose of BCAAs (2.9g per serving) compared to the BCAA content within the Amino-9 blend, providing a more targeted and potentially more effective impact on muscle recovery and growth.