When you’re trying to get in shape, it’s important to have the motivation to do so. For example, whenever you’re tired, it can be tough to want to get out and go running, or lift weights, or just do the things necessary to get a good workout in and stay healthy. Many people take energy based pre-workouts to get the job done, but we also recommend that you try out BCAA because of the many benefits it has.
Burn fat while you sleep with bedtime burn. Photo courtesy of Dr. Emil Nutrition.
BCAA, or Branched-Chain Amino Acids, are three essential amino acids that our body needs, but we can’t reproduce them ourselves. They help to boost muscle growth, and even reduce fatigue during and after a workout. BCAAs are a healthier option to go whenever you need an extra energy boost, along with repairing your muscles and helping them grow, and there is so much more to learn about them than you think!
Continue reading to learn:
- What Are BCAAs?
- What Are the Benefits of BCAA?
- How Are BCAAs and Energy related?
What Are BCAAs?
Understand how BCAAs can change and help strengthen your muscles, and make them heal faster!
As we covered in the beginning, BCAA stands for branched-chain amino acids, and it consists of leucine, isoleucine, and valine. These are three of the nine amino acids that our body needs everyday, but they are also the ones that we can’t produce ourselves. With a little help from BCAA supplements, it’s possible to get them and put them in your diet to live a healthier life.
BCAA supplements have lots of different benefits to them. Some of these benefits include:
- Increase muscle growth
- Decrease muscle soreness after physical activity
- Reduce exercise fatigue
- Prevent the breakdown of muscles
- Benefit individuals with liver disease
BCAAs cannot only be in the form of a supplement, but it can also be found in the food that you eat. From consuming protein-rich foods, you will be able to get all of the BCAAs necessary for your body, but supplements are great to use if you’re an avid weightlifter. Not only will you be able to keep your muscles growing, but with BCAAs, you’ll be able to prevent a lot of tight, or stiff soreness that comes from working out for so long.
The great part about BCAAs is that by helping your muscles recover faster (as well as reducing fatigue after a workout) they help you stay motivated to keep working out the next time. You won’t have that long drawn out session of sore muscles for 3 or 4 days. So instead of battling your stiff muscles and trying to convince yourself to start another workout, your muscles will heal faster, relieving you of the stiffness and the BCAAs will also boost your energy and help you get motivated to start your next workout.
And we all know how hard it can be to get into an exercise routine and stick with it, but with the benefits you get from BCAAs you will find it much easier to get motivated to reach your health goals. This provides huge dividends in the long term because your body will get used to your routine and it will know when to expect your next workout and be all ready to go the next time you hit the gym!
Should You Take BCAA Supplements Everyday?
Yes! You definitely should, and here are some reasons why!
If you’re thinking about taking BCAA supplements and you think that they’re for you, then consider taking them everyday. Not only will you be getting the three essential amino acids that you need, but you will notice a positive difference in your body after just a week or more of consecutive use. It is recommended to take at least 91mg of BCAA per pound depending on how much you weigh to ensure that you are getting enough of the supplement in your body to see the benefits it provides.
You can take BCAAs at any time of the day. This can be before, during, or after your workout, but they are intended to be taken for people who work out on a constant basis, or for people who are on a restrictive diet where they may not be getting all the essential BCAAs from their food that their body needs. Taking BCAAs when you work out increases amino acid levels within the bloodstream, promotes muscle protein synthesis, and even helps prevent your muscles from breaking down as time goes on.
This in turn helps each of your workouts be much more efficient than they would otherwise. I personally would take the BCAAs before the workout so that way you are enjoying the energy boosting benefits to help you get started with your workout. You will enjoy the fatigue reduction during your workout, which will allow you to workout out longer and harder than you otherwise would. As soon as your workout is over the BCAAs will immediately begin to help your muscles start their repair process, which will make your whole workout much more efficient each and every time you workout!
How Are BCAAs and Energy Related?
BCAA supplements and energy work to improve your body on a day-by-day basis with physical activity!
BCAA supplements can be a source of energy that your body needs to complete a workout to the fullest that you can. They help you get fit and get the energy your body needs to perform the way that it should.
While BCAAs stimulate your muscles and get muscle protein synthesis going, energy is coursing through your body during prolonged exercise. Glucose is the main source of energy in your body and when that runs low, then you become more and more tired. With BCAAs, they fill in when your glucose levels are low and they serve as the energy your body needs to push through a workout.
This means that BCAAs help you maintain your exercise routine even after the glucose in your system has been diminished. So they basically serve as a backup form of energy for your muscles. And I am sure you can see how having plenty of energy reserves built up in your system before you start your workout means that you will be able to workout longer with BCAAs. This is another way that BCAAs can make such a huge difference when you are beginning an exercise routine, or when you want to ramp up the current routine you are on to one that is more intense that will yield higher results after you are done!
To ensure that you are getting the energy that your body needs when it comes to taking BCAA supplements, make sure to take them everyday, even on the days that you aren’t working out. This is to see the significant results that they can have on your body. It is also recommended to split your daily dosage. Take a portion when you’re going to workout, and maybe consider taking it in the morning, or in the evening.
BCAA supplements and energy correlate with one another quite well actually. They give you the energy you need to complete your daily exercise regimen, and it’s important to consider taking BCAAs if you’re a fitness fanatic.
In human bodies BCAAs account for 35% of the essential amino acids that are found in our muscle proteins. And by extension BCAAs account for between 40 and 45% of the total amino acids that your body requires. Since we can’t produce them on our own, I am sure you can see how BCAA supplements can have an enormous impact on your physical health whether you are taking them as part of a workout routine or simply as a daily supplement to help promote your muscle health.
If you’re thinking about taking BCAA supplements, we believe that they are a great idea and can have many benefits. Make sure to talk to your doctor today if you’re interested in BCAAs and make sure they’re right for you today!
You should consult a licensed health care professional before starting any supplement, dietary, or exercise program, especially if you are pregnant or have any pre-existing injuries or medical conditions.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases.
