Introduction
We all have been in a situation when the supplement surpassed its expiry date because of any reason.
If you are someone who had to skip the gym for a few months because of a workout injury or due to the pandemic situation then you must be having a stack of supplements that have gone unconsumed. After giving a few months of the break to those supplements, the first thing that comes to mind is ‘is it good enough to consume it?’.
BCAA’s are one other the most common dietary supplement that lifters use to support muscle growth but do they go bad just after the expiry date?
Do BCAAs go bad? Yes, just like any other dietary supplement BCAAs come with an expiry date and can go bad if not stored properly. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that your bcaa will go bad just another day after its expiry date. You can increase the shelf life of your BCAA supplement by storing it in a dry and dark place. If the seal of the jar is still unbroken then the probability of the supplement being safe increases.
Ahead in this article, we will learn “how to know if your BCAAs has gone bad”.
Shelf life of BCAA
If you have properly stored the bcaa and other protein supplements then they are unlikely to go bad, rotten, get mold, bacteria, etc anytime before 2 years of the production.
The Shelf-like of the bcaa supplement majorly depends on its ingredients and the source of supplement.
Some BCAAs supplement also contains a blend of vital minerals, vitamins, caffeine, and even other essential aminos. Each of the ingredients has a different shelf life.
For the best prediction of shelf life, you should be relying on the given expiry date by the manufacturing company. With some products, a ‘use by’ or ‘best before’ date refers to the freshness, and for others, it is referred to as how long the product will stay eatable.
How long are supplements good after expiration?
The expiry date is just an estimated shelf life of a supplement if properly stored, if you have kept your BCAA supplement in moist or humid condition then it might go bad even before the expiry date.
Supplements don’t magically go bad just after exceeding the expiry date, instead, it depends on many factors. You also need to consider how long a tub is open, if you want to avoid ingredients becoming ineffective.
Most of the BCAA supplements are fresh enough to be consumed even after the expiry date, and some might lose their effectiveness. Generally, BCAAs are good to be consumed for a few weeks even after exceeding the expiry date, but if you experience the change in texture, color, taste, or smell of supplement then you should certainly dump it.
How to know if BCAA has gone bad?
Paying attention to the details can help you predict if the BCAA is still healthy to consume or not. You know if your supplement has gone bad if it starts to show one of these signs.
- Unpleasant smell: Does the supplement smell familiar? If it has got nasty or stale smell then it’s time to throw the supplement in the dustbin.
- Change in taste: Flavor is something that we can remember for a long time, if you experience irregularity in taste then the supplement must not be healthy to consume.
- Does it mix well? Most of the BCAA supplements mix really well in the water. BCAA has gone bad if you see the sedimentation or any white substance floating on the top.
- Clumpy texture: It’s mostly because of the moisture, once the moisture gets into the supplement it starts to reduce its shelf life.
- Irregularity in color or texture: Look close, if there is any kind of fungal or bacterial growth. Black or grey spots on the surface are caused by bacterial or fungal growth. It’s an obvious sign that yous bcaa has gone bad and you should get rid of moldy powder as you could get some pretty nasty food poisoning from it.
If the product has surpassed its expiry date and it’s not stored in a dry and clean condition then it’s highly recommended to dump the supplement.
BCAA Storage Tips
Storing the BCAA supplement should not be a big issue, you just need to find a place that is cool and dry.
Keeping the container seal tight is the first step to avoid moisture getting into the supplement and to prevent BCAA from going bad.
According to USA Emergency Supply, dried foods are best stored at cooler temperatures around 72 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. Storing the supplement in the refrigerator is an optimum solution (1). Other than the refrigerator, the best place to store the bcaa supplements is in the closet or drawer of the bedroom.
I have seen guys storing supplements in the kitchen or even in the bathroom, those are the worst place to stove any kind of supplement because of the moisture. Another mistake guys do with their bcaa supplement is they keep it in the gym bag which is already a breeding ground of bacterias and viruses because of sweaty clothes, gloves, wraps, shoes, etc.
Do BCAA go bad in water
The best approach is simply to mix the BCAA as close as possible to when you drink it.
Many people love to mix the bcaas in water and sip it through the day. As long as you are not exposing your bcaa drink to severe temperature fluctuation it should be fine to be consumed within 6-8 hours of mixing it in water.
Keeping the BCAA mixed in water for a long time can also degrade the protein structure which can reduce its quality and effectiveness. Refrigerating the BCAA drink at a low temperature can slow down the process of degradation of the amino structure.
Does it Expire Faster Once The Container Is Open?
Yes, once you open the container, the product starts to expire faster. It happens because of the contact with the air and moisture.
Vitamins and minerals last fairly long in comparison to amino powder. Once the safety seal of the product has been broken it should be consumed within 3-4 months for maximum benefits. If you cant consume the supplement in 2-3 months that means you should consider buying a smaller size.
Hey guys thanks for reading, let us know your thoughts on the article. Questions are welcomed in the comments as always.
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