The Science Behind BCAA Supplementation and How to Make the Best Use of Them

BCAA orBranched-chain amino acids are the three essential amino acids that cannot be synthesized by the human body and must be consumed through diet. There is a lot of food where BCAAs can be found. Foods such as chicken, beef, eggs and some vegetables like spinach or broccoli are its main sources. Though you can get it from these products, it may not be enough, primarily if you work out.

You need enough BCAA in your body to fully get its benefits.The reason is this: there are nine BCAAs altogether, but the three that are considered to be the most important for muscle growth and recovery are leucine, isoleucine, and valine. BCAA provides these three.

These amino acids contain nitric oxide, which helps regulate blood pressure by widening blood vessels to prevent high blood pressure. They also provide energy to muscles and help with muscle protein synthesis. These amino acids also regulate the metabolism of glucose in the body. They may reduce muscle breakdown and improve exercise performance. Imagine all those benefits in one source!

What is BCAA's role in muscle growth and recovery?

BCAA's have been found todecrease oxidative stress on muscles after exercise because they can replenish glycogen stores in the liver and reduce inflammation in the muscles. This also helps with recovery time. We all know that recovery time is highly dependent on the workout that we do.

There are times when people won’t recover for days, especially those who are new to working out. If they take BCAAs, their recovery time would be a lot shorter.

These amino acids also play a role in protein synthesis, so they must be included when trying to gain muscle mass because they are more anabolic than other essential amino acids. Simply put: If you want to gain muscles and recover from your workout quickly, taking BCAA is highly recommended.

There are many benefits to taking BCAAs during times of intense exercise, including:

• increasing protein synthesis
  
• preserving muscle mass
  
• reducing muscle soreness and fatigue
  
• reducing the breakdown of muscle tissue

BCAAs should not be seen as a replacement for regular workouts but more as an addition to them. They don't affect the caloric burn or fat loss, and they are not a magic pill that will make you lose weight if you don't do any physical activity. With this, investing in a BCAA supplement can be an excellent decision because it can provide long term benefits to your health.