Athlete's Banner- Workout
Your Subtitle text

BCAAs: Essential Amino Acids | Leucine Isoleucine Valine

Leucine, Isoleucine, and Valine
BCAAs (branched chain amino acids): Essential Amino Acids

Recent research on BCAAs has shown them to be one of the crucial keys to adding muscle mass. This relatively inexpensive supplement is one you do not want to skimp on!

Rating:****
Categories:
Energy production, Fat Burning, Muscle Growth, Recovery.

Explanation:
The BCAAs are leucine, valine, and isoleucine.  They are  
essential amino acids (supplied by diet), crucial for anticatabolic and
anabolic effects. Leucine is especially important as it is the amino acid that actually "switches on" protein synthesis, which starts the muscle growth process.

Bodybuilding Benefit: Studies have shown that those who supplement
with BCAAs may note increased body fat loss and maintenance of lean
muscle mass. Bodybuilders typically take BCAAs in capsule form, although
many of the better quality protein supplements contain large quantities of
BCAAs.

Dosage:
3-6 g BCAAs per day.


What are Branched Chain Amino Acids?
Branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) consist of three of the essential amino
acids, specifically: leucine, isoleucine, and valine. These BCAAs are body
(therefore are considered essential to the diet). BCAAs are found in many
animal and plant  foods and are popular dietary supplements, especially for
bodybuilders and strength training athletes.

Health Benefits
BCAAs are used as a fuel source for muscle tissue during times of stress or
trauma.  A bodybuilding workout is a time of stress when BCAAs are very
important. BCAAs are also effective in preventing catabolism (the breakdown of muscle for energy), while encouraging protein synthesis. Due to these attributes, BCAAs are given to victims of severe burns or serious trauma.

Leucine, Isoleucine and Valine (especially Leucine) have become very popular bodybuilding supplements as they help minimize muscle tissue breakdown during and after exercise, as well as assisting in keeping the muscle in an anabolic state (anabolic is a state of growth as opposed to catabolic, which is a state of breakdown).

Your body needs amino acids in order to build proteins for many important
functions. Out of around 80 amino acids that exist in nature, the human
body requires 20 of them for good health and proper body function. There
are essential amino acids (which the body cannot manufacture and must get through food), and non-essential amino acids (which the body can produce if the diet provides insufficient amounts).

Essential and non essential amino acids

Here are the 9 essential amino acids:

  1. Histidine
  2. Isoleucine
  3. Leucine
  4. Lysine
  5. Methionine
  6. Phenylalanine
  7. Threonine
  8. Tryptophan
  9. Valine

Here are the 11 non-essential amino acids:

  1. Alanine
  2. Arginine
  3. Asparagine
  4. Asperatic acid
  5. Cysteine
  6. Glutamic acid
  7. Glutamine
  8. Glysine
  9. Proline
  10. Serine
  11. Tyrosine

 

 

 


Amino acids are a basic need for health and proper function of the human
body.  Amino acids are used to produce muscle tissue, neurotransmitters,
hormones and other fluids. Amino acids are also essential for the proper
growth maintenance and function of organs, glands, muscles, skin, hair,
and even nails.

Protein found in animal foods such as meat, fish, poultry and dairy products
are considered “complete” proteins, simply because they contain all 9 of
the essential amino acids. Protein from plant sources is considered
incomplete, meaning that one or more of the essential amino acids is
missing. Soybeans are the only exception.

If the body does not have essential amino acids available from the diet
when they are needed, it will break down muscle tissue for energy.
Bodybuilders and athletes who are looking to build muscle and strength
muscle must consume complete proteins with every meal, preferably 4 to 6
meals per day to support increased muscle production.

Recommendations on protein consumption vary based upon individual
differences and goals. A general recommendation for regular individuals is
to consume 0.4 grams of protein per pound of body weight, while athletes
and bodybuilders may need up to 1.0 – 1.5 grams of protein per pound of
body weight.
Web Hosting Companies