In recent months, the consumption of drinks for athletes who want to increase their performance has become fashionable. Beyond the mythical protein shakes, Nocco drinks strive to be an essential for anyone who wants to improve and excel in each workout.
NOCCO is the abbreviation for No Carbs Company, the name of a new Swedish beverage company specializing in health and sports. Specifically, this type of product is advertised as a BCAA-enriched functional drink (branched amino acids) and vitamins. BCAAs are three branched-chain amino acids: leucine, valine and isoleucine, which are necessary for the body and must be introduced through the diet. Our body is unable to produce it on its own, so we can incorporate a good dose through food or supplementation.
Ingredients and nutritional value
Currently, in Spain we only have 4 flavors with caffeine and one without caffeine. As the boat assures, all NOCCO products are sugar-free and are sweetened with sucralose.
There are three different ranges, those with BCAAs (branched branched amino acids), those that contain caffeine and green tea, and the BCAA+ that does not contain caffeine, but has double the amount of BCAAs. Both product lines contain six different vitamins and amounts of caffeine. To analyze the components of Nocco drinks, we have chosen one of each type.
Nocco Miami Strawberry BCAA with caffeine is made up of “carbonated water, branched chain amino acids BCAAs (L-leucine, L-valine, L-isoleucine), caffeine, green tea extract, vitamins (niacin, B6, folic acid, biotin, D, B12), acidity regulators (citric acid) , aroma (strawberry), sweetener (sucralose), colors from natural extracts (carrot, safflower)«.
In each can (330 ml) we find:
- Calories: 12%
- Protein: 3 grams
- Vitamin D: 5 µg
- Biotin: 50 µg
- Folic Acid: 100 µg
- Niacin: 12mg
- Vitamin B6: 1mg
- Vitamin B12: 2 µg
Nocco BCAA+ Apple Caffeine-free has among its ingredients «carbonated water, branched chain amino acids BCAAs (l-leucine, l-valine, l-isoleucine), vitamins (niacin, B6, folic acid, biotin, D and B12), acidity regulators (citric acid), aroma (lychee, apple) , sweetener (sucralose) and color (beta-carotene)«.
In the same way, in a can of product it provides us with:
- Calories: 20%
- Protein: 5 grams
- Vitamin D: 5 µg
- Biotin: 50 µg
- Folic Acid: 100 µg
- Niacin: 12mg
- Vitamin B6: 1mg
- Vitamin B12: 2 µg
As we can well see in the nutritional labels, a can of NOCCO contains five different types of B vitamins: folic acid, niacin, biotin, B6 and B12. Folic acid, niacin, vitamin B6 and B12 help reduce tiredness and fatigue. For its part, biotin, niacin, vitamin B6 and B12 help maintain normal energy metabolism. In addition, it also has a contribution of vitamin D, which helps maintain normal muscle function.
Regarding the amount of caffeine, in 330 ml of BCAAs we find 180 mg of caffeine, the equivalent of two cups of coffee. In addition, it must be taken into account that NOCCO BCAA products contain a total of 3.000 mg of BCAAs, specifically 2.000 mg of leucine, 500 mg of isoleucine and 500mg of valine. In contrast, the BCAA+ products contain a total of 5.000 mg of BCAAs, made up of 3.333 mg of leucine, 833 mg of isoleucine and 833 mg of valine.
The ingredients are recommended in a punctual and moderate consumption. And the amount of calories it provides is negligible thanks to the fact that the main ingredient is carbonated water. In addition, carbohydrates and fats are not included.
Benefits of Nocco drinks
This type of supplement has some advantages for athletes. Its consumption is indicated for this sector of the population, despite the fact that essential branched-chain amino acids are necessary in all people.
Increases the consumption of amino acids
The main objective of this product is to increase BCAAs in the body. As we said before, essential branched chain amino acids are necessary for a multitude of functions in our body. In addition, since we cannot create them ourselves, it is necessary to incorporate them through food or through supplements.
Consuming an additional contribution of BCAAs causes the body not to go to its own protein reserves for energy. That is, it maintains our muscle tone and prevents the body from wearing down the muscle when it has few glycogen reserves left. In addition, these essential amino acids favor the increase in muscle mass thanks to the stimulation of insulin. Once we take this nutrient, it goes directly into the blood and is rapidly derived to increase muscle.
That is why it is so important in athletes and people who perform intense physical activities.
Low calories
Nocco drinks have hardly any caloric intake. By having carbonated water as the main ingredient, calories come mostly from protein. It should be noted that they do not contain carbohydrates, fiber, fat, sodium or added sugars. In addition, the amount of sweeteners is minimal, so it hardly increases the total calories at all.
It is common for this type of supplementation product to contain some type of carbohydrate among its ingredients, but luckily here we are exempt. So it is a good option in ketogenic diets and athletes who measure their intake of macronutrients and prefer to consume low-calorie products or low carbs.
Reduces fatigue from training
Just like BCAAs can help decrease muscle soreness, they can also reduce exercise-induced fatigue. Everyone experiences overload or exhaustion after intense training, and it can be caused by a number of factors, including exercise intensity and duration, environmental conditions, and nutrition and fitness level.
The muscles use the essential branch-chain amino acids during training so that the blood levels decrease. When this happens tryptophan levels increase. This is converted to serotonin, a brain chemical that contributes to the development of fatigue during exercise.) Therefore, increasing the intake of BCAAs can improve mental focus and reduce fatigue. In the long term, this could translate into exercise performance improvements.
can be taken at any time
Since Nocco BCAA drinks contain free amino acids that our body absorbs instantly, it can be taken at any time during training. Some drinks need to be taken before, during or after exercise to provide different benefits. Luckily, this type of amino acid can be taken whenever we prefer, since its contribution is always valid.
However, it is usually recommended before or during training to take advantage of doses of caffeine or green tea. In the case of choosing the variety without stimulant, you will have more "freedom" for consumption. In addition, it provides almost double these amino acids, so it can become a good muscle recoverer and fiber regenerator.
Even so, some athletes also prefer to take them before training to reduce muscle wasting caused by training thanks to the contribution of BCAAs.
Potential drawbacks of Nocco
Not all sports supplements are bad, nor are they magical. It is true that Nocco drinks respond to a good list of ingredients and nutritional values, but some of the disadvantages must be taken into account.
Innecesary expenses
Unless a doctor recommends you take some type of supplementation, most of these products are an expendable expense. Individually, the can sells for around €2. But if we want to consume these drinks regularly, we can opt for larger packages. Be that as it may, this type of consumption is more expensive than exclusively buying BCAAs in powders or pills.
When thinking about training 4 or 5 times a week, we would spend €10. On the other hand, if we opt for a supplement of 60 capsules of these amino acids, the usual price is usually around €20. In addition, in food we also find this type of nutrient, specifically in dairy products, eggs, oily fish, white fish, shellfish and lean meat.
We can take these drinks as a punctual whim so as not to make our wallet cry.
Nocco drinks are not for everyone
Although they are recommended for athletes, they are not recommended for children, or pregnant or lactating women. Keep in mind that supplementation, whatever its type, should be controlled by a health professional. In the event that you opt for these drinks, consult an expert if it is appropriate in your case.
It may even be that your performance does not require its consumption. If you just go for a walk or do light workouts, having a Nocco drink will simply have a pleasant effect. On the other hand, the most experienced athletes or those who carry out demanding activities can notice the effects of BCAA consumption.
Increase your caffeine intake
As the nutritional labeling previously said, in a 330 ml can we find 180 grams of caffeine. It is the equivalent of two cups of coffee, which is the dose recommended by health experts. The problem is in exaggerating your daily consumption. If we drink coffee when we get up and have a snack, including a Nocco drink would be increasing the level of caffeine in the body.
An increase in this substance can cause anxiety, insomnia, digestive problems, addiction, high blood pressure, rapid heart rate, fatigue and dehydration. Let's not forget that caffeine is a diuretic substance. Try to control your daily intake to enjoy good hydration and not jeopardize performance when training. It is preferable to drink water before, during and after physical exercise to recover the electrolytes lost in the effort.
It can cause intestinal problems
Some people find that a morning cup of coffee helps them move their bowels. But this fact can be unpleasant at times. However, caffeine itself also appears to stimulate bowel movements by increasing peristalsis, the contractions that move food through the digestive tract.
So you should not trust yourself when eliminating coffee in the morning and opting for a drink with this substance. If you are one of those who have loose stools or even diarrhea after consumption, you already know where the origin of the problem is. On the other hand, some studies suggest that caffeinated beverages may worsen gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in some people.
Also, it should be noted that some people are also sensitive to sweeteners. These can cause bloating, gas, and stomach cramps. It does not mean that it happens when drinking these drinks, but you should take it into account if sugar substitutes do not work for you.