What are BCAA (Branch Chain Amino Acids)?

BCAA's (Branched Chain Amino Acids) are Leucine, Isoleucine and Valine. They are considered to be essential amino acids because humans couldn't survive unless they were present in their diet.

BCAA's are required to maintain muscle tissue and studies have shown they preserve the muscle stores of glycogen (a stored form of carbohydrate that can be converted to energy). BCAA's also prevent muscle tissue breakdown during training and therefore can improve.

BCAA's are not like other amino acids as they are not metabolised in the stomach, and are instead metabolised directly in the muscle. This unique quality means that they are very anabolic (they build muscle) and very anti-catabolic (they stop muscle breakdown).

These unique Amino acids (Leucine, Isoleucine and Valine) cannot be synthesised by your body so they are essential to your growth.

Who needs it and what are some symptoms of deficiency?

Those who could benefit from BCAA supplementation are people with stress-related fatigue due to physical activity, or hypoglycemic individuals with irregular blood sugar levels. Vegetarians, or people on restrictive diets will allow benefit from BCAA supplementation. Hard training athletes will always need to supplement their diet with BCAA's to help keep muscle cells from falling into a state of negative nitrogen balance which effect there recovery, stamina and strength.

How much should be taken?

Suggested use is 5-10 grams of BCAA's pre workout, and 5-10 grams of BCAA's post workout. This should ensure your body experiences the optimum growth conditions in, and around your workout.

Recent Studies

Research shows that 50% of amino acids taken up by muscles after intense exercise are BCAAs (branched-chain amino acids). By directly supplementing BCAAs within 1 hour of intense exercise, the amount of muscle breakdown from the workout is dramatically reduced. BCAAs also directly stimulate muscle protein synthesis and increase nitrogen balance thus increasing muscle growth. In addition to boosting muscle growth and recovery, BCAAs are also responsible for sparing muscle glycogen stores leaving muscles full, not flat. The ratio of the Branch Chain Amino Acids and timing are critical which is why BCAA Speed gels are delivered in a liquid base with the exact ratio needed for muscles to get optimum benefit.

Realted Pages:

Amino Acid Products Amino Acids EAA's (Essential Amino Acids)

Branch Chain Amino Acid Products