Advertised as one of the best energy supplements on the market, AmiN.O. Energy is specially designed to keep you alert and focused throughout the day. It contains natural stimulants like caffeine and green tea to give you a much-needed energy boost without harmful chemicals.
1) What is AmiN.O. Energy?
AmiN.O. Energy, developed by Optimum Nutrition, is marketed as a premium pre-workout energy dietary supplement designed to supply the muscles with the amino acids they need to grow while also providing reasonable amounts of caffeine and green tea for extra energy and antioxidant support.
Basically, AmiN.O. Energy is something of a blend between a pre-workout supplement and a BCAA supplement.
It comes in a flavored powder form, designed to be mixed with water and consumed as a drink. It’s available in a range of different flavors.
2) The Company Behind AmiN.O. Energy
Optimum Nutrition is one of the largest sports supplement manufacturers in the United States. The business is an integrated part of the Glanbia Global Nutrition Group and, according to its official website, has set the “Gold Standard in sports nutrition for more than 30 years[1].”
With five state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities[2] in the United States and the United Kingdom, Optimum Nutrition is one of the few sports nutrition businesses to make items in every supplement category, including ready-to-drink beverages and shakes, multivitamins, protein powders, energy products, nutritional bars, and other health and wellness products that support a healthy lifestyle.
Some Optimum Nutrition best-sellers include:
- ZMA Capsules
- Gold Standard 100% Whey
- AmiN.O. Energy Advanced
- Pre-Workout
- Serious MASS
- Platinum Hydro Whey
- Gold Standard 100% Plant
- Immunity + Probiotic Gummies
- Opti-Men
How to contact Optimum Nutrition company:
- Website: optimumnutrition.com
- Email: consumer@optimumnutrition.com
- Phone: 1-800-705-5226
3) AmiN.O. Energy Ingredients
AmiN.O. Energy includes the following ingredients:
- Electrolyte Blend (Potassium Chloride, Sodium Chloride, and Magnesium Oxide) 440 mg
- Energy Blend [Green Tea extract (Camellia sinensis)(leaf), Caffeine (from Green Tea), and Green Coffee extract] 160 mg
- Amino Blend [Micronized Taurine, Micronized L-Glutamine, Micronized L-Arginine, Micronized L-Leucine, Micronized L-Citrulline, Micronized L-Isoleucine, Beta-Alanine (as CarnoSyn), Micronized L-Tyrosine, Micronized L-Threonine, Micronized L-Valine, Hydrochloride, Micronized L-Histidine, Micronized L-Lysine, Micronized L-Methionine, and Micronized L-Phenylalanine] 5 g
Other ingredients include natural & artificial flavor, citric acid, silicon dioxide, malic acid, calcium silicate, gum blend (cellulose gum, carrageenan, xanthan gum), sucralose, tartaric acid, caffeine (from tea leaf and/or coffee bean), inulin, lecithin, Yellow #5, Red #40, and Yellow #6.
4) Does AmiN.O. Energy Work?
The formula contains amino acids, caffeine, green tea, and some minerals, but the product is not designed for cognitive support.
That being said, the Energy Blend contains 160 mg of various coffee and green tea extracts that may help with focus and attention while also providing a boost of energy.
AmiN.O. Energy contains the BCAAs – L-Leucine, L-Isoleucine, and L-Valine.
L-Leucine is a branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) essential for repairing and building muscle. In fact, getting enough L-Leucine may prevent muscle wasting among older adults[3].
L-Isoleucine is another BCAA that plays a role in hemoglobin synthesis. Isoleucine is also key to the regulation of blood sugar levels and energy.
Some athletes and professional bodybuilders use BCAAs for the possibility that they will decrease soreness and post-workout muscle damage.
According to a systemic review[4] published in 2017 in the journal Nutrients, several studies have revealed that BCAAs supplementation may be beneficial at reducing exercise-induced muscle damage.
However, results appear to be most effective when the supplement is taken before exercise and muscle damage is low to moderate.
L-Valine is an essential amino acid, meaning that it cannot be biosynthesized in the human body. It must therefore be obtained through dietary sources, primarily meat. Dairy products are also high in L-Valine, especially cottage cheese.
The most common use of L-Valine relates to its role in muscle synthesis and maintenance. Additional benefits of L-Valine include growth in children, support of the immune system, and stress management.
Caffeine is the most popular and widely used natural stimulant.
Caffeine is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream, and blood levels peak after 90-100 minutes. Caffeine levels remain high for about three hours and then start to drop.
Unlike most substances and supplements, caffeine can affect cells throughout the body, including muscle cells and the brain[5].
Caffeine improves the metabolic rate, the rate at which the body uses or burns energy. Research[6][7] shows that drinking coffee is typically associated with a notable increase in metabolic rate during caffeine ingestion and continuing for three hours.
It is also worth mentioning that the body reacts to caffeine just like any other drug. Habitual, significant dose use is counterproductive. In this case, more is not better, and it takes a small amount to achieve great results.
5) AmiN.O. Energy Health Benefits
AmiN.O. Energy claimed benefits include:
- Great for beginner athletes and people looking for a solid pre-workout supplement;
- Great amino acid blend to give energy and build muscle;
- Available in many great flavors;
- Supports energy and focus;
- Supports recovery before, during, and after exercise;
- Moderate caffeine intake.
6) AmiN.O. Energy Side Effects
AmiN.O. Energy contains stimulants (such as caffeine). Consuming too much caffeine daily can lead to serious adverse effects[8][9], including:
- Shakes
- Jitters
- Fast or uneven heartbeat
- Disrupted sleep
- Headaches
- High blood pressure
- Anxiety
- Nervousness
- Dependency
- Dizziness
- Irritability
- Dehydration
- Stomach upset
- Heartburn
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Muscle tremors
7) AmiN.O. Energy Product Warnings
Some prescriptions may interact with caffeine[10][11][12]. These include:
- Carbamazepine, as caffeine could increase the risk of seizures
- Bronchodilators
- Antibiotics
- Antidepressants
- Antipsychotics, such as Clozapine
- Stimulants, such as Ephedrine
Some examples of dietary supplements and herbs that may interact with caffeine include:
- Red clover
- Calcium
- Ephedra
- Echinacea
- Kudzu
- Magnesium
8) Where to Buy AmiN.O. Energy?
There are a few places online where you can purchase AmiN.O. Energy from.
First is the Optimum Nutrition store. There you can find various discounts, deals, and attractive packages.
You can also order AmiN.O. Energy from other online retailers such as Amazon, Walmart, BodyBuilding, Supplement Superstore, VitaminShoppe, GNC, A1 Supplements, or Costco.
9) How Much Does AmiN.O. Energy Cost?
AmiN.O. Energy is available in various packages (190g, 270g, and 585g), forms (powder and drink), and flavors.
- AmiN.O. Energy Drink (12 drinks) is priced at $24.99
- AmiN.O. Energy 190g (about 20 servings) is priced at $29.99
- AmiN.O. Energy 270g (about 30 servings) is priced at $21.97
- AmiN.O. Energy 585g (about 65 servings) is priced at $36.97
10) How to Take AmiN.O. Energy
As a dietary supplement, add two (2) spoons of AmiN.O. Energy in 10-12 oz of cold water.
For an amino acid boost – The suggested dose is 1 to 3 servings in the morning and/or between meals.
For pre-workout energy – The suggested dose is 1 to 3 servings 20-30 minutes before exercising.
For post-workout recovery – The suggested dose is 1 or 2 servings right after exercising.
11) Variations of AmiN.O. Energy
AmiN.O. Energy is available in many flavors:
- Blueberry Mojito
- Concord Grape
- Fruit Fusion
- Iced Chai Tea Latte
- Iced Mocha Cappuccino
- Lemon Lime
- Watermelon
- Blue Raspberry
- Pineapple
- Strawberry Lime
- Orange Cooler
- Raspberry Black Tea
- Green Apple
- Cotton Candy
- White Peach Tea
- Tangerine Wave (+ Electrolytes)
- Half & Half Lemonade Iced Tea
- Iced Caramel Macchiato
- Peach Lemonade
- Wildberry
- Sweet Mint Tea
- Pineapple Twist (+ Electrolytes)
- Blueberry Lemonade
- Juicy Strawberry Burst
12) What Users Are Saying
"I've been buying this flavor for years and just purchased 3 of the 30 serving containers, but the flavor is different. It's not horrible but different, which is disappointing. I've tried so many other flavors and always come back to Fruit Fusion." [Read full review]
---Kyle D Kovich
"It tastes good. I wanted something that didn't have quite as many ingredients-maybe a little more healthy. It did give me a boost, more so when I first started using it, and then I had to increase the dosage to equal the same amount of energy." [Read full review]
---B. Allen
"More like an extra pep in your step. I use it after the gym to keep my energy from crashing. So if you're looking for something a little less intense than other pre-workouts, this is perfect." [Read full review]
---Lauren
13) The Bottom Line – “Does it Work?”
AmiN.O. Energy is definitely an effective stimulant, packed with caffeine with some added taurine to boost focus and smooth jitteriness.
Combining BCAA with other amino acids like L-Arginine, L-Glutamine, and Citrulline gives you a well-rounded blend of amino acids and other potent ingredients designed to provide you with a remarkable boost of energy, strength, and overall endurance while training.
The primary downsides are that it uses proprietary blends, so it’s impossible to know the doses of some of the ingredients and that it also contains the sweetener sucralose.
Overall though, AmiN.O. Energy is a highly regarded energy supplement for overall health support and fitness goals when used reasonably.
