Have a hard
time recovering from training? Struggling with muscle pain or soreness? If so, BCAA
supplements can help. These supplements speed up recovery and preserve lean
mass. This makes them ideal for cutting and intense workouts. Your body cannot
produce them on its own, so they must be obtained from food or supplements.
When consumed in optimum doses, BCAAs stimulate muscle growth, prevent
catabolism, and ward off fatigue. Their beneficial effects on exercise
performance are well-documented. BCAA supplements
not only promote hypertrophy but also reduce catabolism aka muscle loss. Exercise
depletes your body's BCAA stores, leading to muscle loss and slow recovery. By
supplementing your diet with BCAAs, you'll preserve lean mass and last longer
in the gym. That's why these products are so popular among athletes and
bodybuilders during periods of intense training and before competitions. In
fact, they're often used as a substitute for whey protein. Many
gym goers mistakenly believe that protein, BCAAs, and other supplements put
stress on the liver and kidneys. In fact, the opposite is true.
In clinical
trials, BCAAs have been found to improve liver function and lower the risk of
kidney failure by a staggering 40 percent. In a 2018 study, subjects with liver
cirrhosis who took BCAAs experienced major improvements in hypoalbuminemia,
glucose sensitivity, and body composition. They also lost fat and retained lean
mass. A diet high in BCAA supplements will allow
you to work out harder for longer periods of time. You'll lift heavier, run
faster, and train harder without experiencing excruciating pain and fatigue. These
amino acids stimulate norepinephrine release, which in turn, decreases
perceived pain. Furthermore, BCAAs have been shown to reduce the exertion
perceived by athletes during training by over seven percent. Insulin
resistance is a major risk factor for diabetes and metabolic problems. BCAA supplements may help improve insulin response and glycemic control, leading to
a lower risk of type II diabetes. These amino acids improve insulin resistance
in several ways. First of all, they help maintain normal blood glucose levels
by causing the muscles to take in more sugar from the bloodstream. Secondly,
they help reduce body fat levels and increase protein synthesis.
High body
fat levels contribute to insulin resistance and type II diabetes. This
may come up as a surprise, but taking BCAA supplements could be the key to a
better night's sleep. Branched-chain amino acids reduce end-tidal CO2 levels
and increase REM sleep, helping you catch more sleep and wake up refreshed. As
an athlete, you know that proper sleep is just as important as exercise and
nutrition. Your body releases testosterone and growth hormone, builds muscle,
and repairs damaged tissues at night. Sleep deprivation can throw your hormones
out of balance, trigger muscle loss, and impair recovery. Plus, your cortisol
levels will skyrocket if you're not getting enough shut-eye. There are many
other unexpected benefits associated with BCAAs. While it's true that you can
obtain these nutrients from food, supplements have their role. Their fast
absorption rate, high bioavailability, and optimum doses of amino acids ensure
superior results in terms of exercise performance. Make sure you choose a
quality BCAA supplements formula to fully reap the benefits.
