Touted as one of the best supplements for muscle growth and recovery, BCAAs have been recommended by athletes and bodybuilders since a long time. Supplementing with amino acids has shown to be advantageous in terms of building muscle and recovery. In this article, I will take you through major benefits of BCAAs, what makes them favorite supplement for many bodybuilders and the best time to take them. Read further to find out more.
What are BCAAs?
BCAAs aka Branched Chain Amino Acids aka building blocks of protein aka building blocks of muscle aka well that’s enough.
There are three branched-chain amino acids namely Leucine, Valine and Isoleucine. These three essential amino acids (they can’t be created by your body) constitute about one-third of total muscle tissue in the body.
These three amino acids are of grave importance to the body as upon their consumption they are directly released into the bloodstream and later used by muscles thus making them an important exercise fuel. And because of this, BCAAs have shown to improve muscle recovery and the immune system.
You may also wonder what is the best amino acid for building muscle? Of all the three BCAAs (Leucine, Valine, and Isoleucine), Leucine is widely researched and has shown to be best amino acid for muscle gain.
Why you need BCAAs?
Now that you are well aware of basics of BCAAs and you know which amino acid is best for muscle growth, let’s see what exactly makes amino acids best for muscle growth, how do they help in fat loss and how Myfitfuel’s best amino acids for muscle growth -BCAA 5000 will help you achieve your fitness goals. Find it out below.
BCAAs aids Muscle Growth
When you are out there lifting weights, your muscle fibers undergo protein synthesis as well as protein degradation at the same time. As soon as your training session ends and your body returns to the normal hormonal environment, the anabolic process commences, and the muscle protein breakdown starts falling. Ingestion of amino acids becomes very crucial during this period.
It’s because when you consume BCAAs, availability of amino acids to muscle fibers increases which further intensifies the anabolic process (muscle growth) and decreases muscle protein breakdown. This will help protein synthesis get the advantage over protein degradation and thereby promote muscle growth.
BCAAs prevent Muscle Catabolism
Catabolism aka muscle breakdown is defined as your body’s ability to derive energy from muscle tissue. Catabolism not only causes muscles to shrink but also subjects them to increased levels of soreness and possibilities of injury while training.
What you should be really concerned about is a bodily process called as the glucose-alanine cycle where in your muscle tissues are robbed of BCAAs and used as glucose to get the extra energy.
Several studies have concluded that supplementing with BCAAs as intra-workout and post-workout can lead to a considerable decrease in muscle breakdown during a training session.
BCAAs promote Fat Loss
Simply put, fat loss occurs when first, the circulation of stored fats in the body increases and second, your liver uses fats instead of carbs as a primary source of energy.
A study conducted on thirty-six males over an eight-week resistance training program with an aim to evaluate the efficacy of consuming BCAAs concluded that supplementing with BCAAs not only decreases body fat percentages but also increased in lean mass and muscle strength.
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Buy the Best – MyFitFuel’s Best Amino Acids for Muscle Gain
- Every 5gm serving of MFF™ BCAA 5000 provides 50 servings with 3 essential amino acids Leucine (2500 mg), Iso-Leucine (1250 mg) and Valine (1250 mg)
- 2500 mg Pure Leucine per serving (50 servings).
- Proven 2:1:1 Ratio Encourages Muscle Growth.
- Prevents Muscle Breakdown & Promotes Recovery.
When to take BCAAs?
BCAAs can be used in several different ways. You can take in your pre-workout protein shake or ingest them after your workout finishes. You can even take BCAAs in the morning or before sleep.
BCAA in Pre-workout – Loading with BCAAs prior to training keeps your energy levels high and minimizes the muscle fatigue during the training. Take them at least 15-30 minutes before your workout to see good results.
BCAA in Post-workout – Once you’re done with your workout, it’s time to replenish the lost glycogen and induce quick recovery. You can fill back your glycogen by Dextrose Monohydrate aka fast carbs and recover quickly with the help of BCAAs.
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Also published on Medium.
