Looking for a new preworkout? Oooh do I have a tasty solution for you! I have never been a fan of the artificial flavors in most branched-chain amino acid powders, so a couple years ago I decided to play around with some unflavored BCAAs to see what I could concoct. And wowzers there are a lot of tasty variations you can make on this recipe! The tangy taste of the lemon juice pairs so perfectly with the sweetness of the mango and stevia, leaving absolutely no icky BCAA taste in your mouth. 

I love drinking this beverage pre (and sometimes during) my workout if I am doing an early morning session and feel like I need an oomph of energy. Evening workouts have been big for me recently as well, so when I’m hitting the gym at 7pm and haven’t snacked since 3pm, this is the perfect dose of carbs and amino acids to prepare my body for a great workout! And quite honestly, sometimes I sip on this in the summer even when I’m not about to break a sweat, because a little extra BCAAs never hurt anyone and this is just so stinkin delicious.

Many of you may be thinking… wait Reed, halt. Why should I be taking BCAAs in the first place? Branched-chain amino acids, like other amino acids, are the building blocks of protein. Supplementing with BCAAs (specifically before and during your workout) helps to preserve muscle glycogen stores and minimize protein breakdown during exercise. In simple terms, they help you to have more energy in your workouts and preserve muscle tissue, especially if you are in a caloric deficit (any sort of restricted calorie regimen… aka dieting). So there are definitely some benefits to this form of supplementation and I don’t think it will take much convincing once you try this tasty recipe 😉 

Mango Lemonade BCAA Slushie

Ingredients:

• 1 scoop unflavored BCAAs
• 1 cup frozen mango chunks
• 2 packets of Truvia (or other stevia sweetener)
• 1/2 cup lemon juice
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1 cup of ice

Directions:

1. Pour all ingredients into the blender and blend to slushie consistency.