BCAA stands for “branched-chain amino
acids.” These amino acids make up 30 percent of your muscle mass and are
usually used in hopes of reducing muscle soreness, supporting muscle growth,
and sustaining muscle mass. BCAA supplements are essential, which means that
they must be consumed through what you eat and drink, as opposed to
non-essential, meaning that your body can manufacture them for you with proper
nutrition. Your body needs BCAAs to sustain you, but you don’t necessarily have
to get them from a supplement, especially if you don’t work out. For many
people who aren’t trying to build or sustain muscle, diet alone gives them all
the BCAAs they need. When you are training to develop a stronger, more powerful
body, it is essential to stimulate and fuel your muscles at the cellular level.
Branch chain amino acids (BCAA's), valine, leucine, and isoleucine, make up
approximately 1/3 of muscle protein. Taking BCAA supplements reduces muscle
fatigue, speed recovery, decrease the loss of other amino acids from muscle
during exercise and help the body absorb protein. A deficiency in any one of
these aminos will cause muscle loss. Unlike other amino acids, BCAA's are
metabolized in the muscle and not the liver. The big benefit you'll experience
if you supplement your diet with branched-chain amino acids is that you can
rest assured that you will not experience deficiencies in overall amino acid
levels. Many of those who are on highly restricted diets will run the risk of
not taking in the essential amino acids, so this supplement helps make up for
that.
BCAA's act as nitrogen carriers which
assist the muscles in synthesizing other aminos needed for anabolic muscle
action. In simpler terms, it is a combining of simpler aminos to form a complex
whole muscle tissue. Therefore, BCAA supplements stimulates production of
insulin, the main function of which is to allow circulating blood sugar to be
taken up by the muscle cells and used as a source of energy. This insulin
production promotes amino acid uptake by the muscle. BCAA's are both anabolic
and anti-catabolic because of their ability to significantly increase protein
synthesis, facilitate the release of hormones such as growth hormone (GH),
IGF-1, insulin and helps maintain a favorable testosterone to cortisol ratio. For
optimum results in supplement form, it is desirable to take your branch chains
separately from the other amino groupings if for no other reason than the fact
that they totally dominate the race for entry into the body systems. Basically,
they account for upward to 80-90 percent of the total amino acid uptake in the three-hour
period following a meal. Many individuals do a good job of making sure they are
taking in enough protein and carbohydrates during the pre- and post-workout
period. More often, they will even go to the extent of looking into other
supplements that will help them take their results further,
such as creatine or glutamine, but yet still overlook the benefits of a good
branched-chain amino acid product.
Keeping in mind that the main component
BCAA uptake is elevated blood sugar and insulin spike. Taking BCAA supplements
with each meal and before and after a workout is ideal. They should also be
taken within 30-60 minutes preceding and following an intense workout to assist
in muscle regenerate process and create premium anabolic conditions.