Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) are a group of three essential amino acids:
- BCAA supplements are commonly taken to stimulate muscle growth and improve performance during physical exercise; they can also contribute to weight loss and fatigue reduction after exercise.
We find that what are BCAA amino acids and what they are for.
Index
What are BCAA amino acids?
The amino acids leucine, isoleucine and valine are grouped together because they are the only three amino acids to have a chain that branches off to one side; like all amino acids, BCAAs are the building blocks that the body uses to produce protein.
I BCAAs are considered essential because, unlike non-essential amino acids, the body cannot produce them, therefore it is essential to take them with the diet.
How do branched-chain amino acids work?
I BCAAs make up a large part of the body's total amino acids; unlike most other amino acids, these are broken down in the muscle and not in the liver.
For this reason, they are believed to play an important role in energy production during exercise.
BCAA amino acid functions
BCAAs perform several functions within the body:
- The body can use them as building blocks of proteins and muscles
- They may be involved in regulating levels of cup sugar in the blood, preserving sugar reserves in the liver and muscles and stimulating cells to take sugar from the bloodstream
- They can help reduce the fatigue you feel during exercise by reducing the production of serotonin in the brain.
BCAA and fitness
BCAA supplements are very popular among fitness addicts, but a recent research shows that these amino acids they could slow down muscle growth and have negative health effects; why, then, do athletes keep taking them?
To work, BCAAs need all nine essential amino acids; when taking one scoop of BCAAs, the body must draw the other six amino acids from the blood or muscle tissue to support the stimulation of muscle growth.
When this process is triggered, however, the muscle breaks down to help with the excess BCAAs in the system. From the point of view of general health, however, also the vitamin B are affected by the intake of BCAAs; Vitamin B deficiency can impair numerous functions such as digestion, brain health, hormone production and the functioning of the nervous system.
Should I take BCAA supplements or not?
We have ascertained that to work well, BCAAs need all nine essential amino acids; this is where the EEAs come into play.
When you take all nine amino acids in a single supplement, your body doesn't need to “steal” them from muscle tissue; this way the body can start building muscle, helping in the recovery and improve athletic performance without sacrificing vitamin B levels or drawing from muscles.
Make sure that the supplement contains all of these elements:
- Leucine: essential for muscle building and sugar regulation
- Valine: involved in energy production
- Isoleucina: prevents muscle breakdown
- Lysine: plays a role in the secretion of growth hormone
- Methionine: helps eliminate fats
- Phenylalanine: has pain relieving effects
- Threonine: helps the immune system
- Tryptophan: manages sleep, appetite and mood
- Histidine: helps the body to respond to free radicals.
Have you ever taken BCAA or EEA amino acids? Let us know in the comments and remember to follow us on our telegram channel