BCAA - The "4" Letter Word in Fitness

Amino Acids are the compounds that are the building blocks of protein and are what your body uses to build muscle. There are both essential and non-essential amino acids. Non-essential amino acids can be produced in the body and from vitamins and other amino acids. They are essential for proper metabolism, despite their name. However, essential amino acids cannot be made in the body. These essential powerhouse building blocks can only be obtained through food and supplementation. Branch Chained Amino Acids – known as BCAA’s are made up of leucine, isoleucine, and valine, 3 of the 9 essential amino acids needed by your body for energy and muscle synthesis.

Why is this important?

The primary goal of most is muscle building or weight loss. Supplementing with BCAA’s can support the metabolic process to make that happen. As well as help you to get a more intense workout and aid in the reduction of muscle soreness.

How does this occur?

To aid in muscle building or weight loss, muscle mass must be gained. Muscle mass gain = rate of protein synthesis – rate of protein breakdown. BCAA’s stimulate muscle protein synthesis, the metabolic process of your body making new muscle protein, while also decreasing the protein breakdown pathway and the expression of several complexes involved in protein breakdown. When synthesis is increased, and breakdown is decreased, muscle is gained. Thus, muscle building and weight loss goals are achieved!

BCAA’s also competes with the entry of tryptophan into the brain, which is converted to serotonin. During exercise, serotonin levels raise, making you feel fatigued and unable to push your limits. BCAA’s reduce the amount of tryptophan, therefore reducing the amount of serotonin produced, which equates to longer, harder, more effective workouts.

BCAA’s also induce an insulin response in the body. This response transports aminos into your cells to repair muscle damage and reduce the onset of muscle soreness.

Branch Chained Amino Acid supplementation is a total WIN for any workout routine and should be taken regularly. They can be taken pre-workout, intra-workout, post-workout, and throughout the day between meals to help you stay in an anabolic state. BCAA’s are true powerhouses for helping you reach your ultimate goals!