Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAA) refers to the three major amino acids L-Leucine, L-Isoleucine and L-Valine. They are unique in a way that they are directly metabolized in the skeletal muscle and not in the liver, just where you need them to work. They are both anabolic (muscle-building) and anti-catabolic (prevent the breakdown or damage of hard-earned muscles).
BCAA supplements are known to have a beneficial effect on muscle endurance and performance as they help stimulate protein synthesis in muscles while you train and compete. BCAA drinks play a vital role in muscle and energy production during-workout, hence they are helpful intra-workouts. They help fuel your workout and minimize the protein breakdown to help maximize every minute of the training.The Benefits of BCAA:
â ” BCAAs helps increase the rate of protein synthesis for greater muscle hypertrophy (growth) and maintenance of lean muscle mass during non-training periods such as recovery from injury. This happens especially when consumed with a pool of amino acids consisting of alanine, aspartate and glutamate.
â ” BCAAs helps reduce the amount of protein breakdown This occurs by reducing the amount of bases that are released which signal to break-down protein. BCAAs increase protein synthesis, and reduce protein breakdown, which in turn leads to more muscle being built. Leucine-enriched BCAAs mixtures enhance muscle building for older trainees who aim to put on muscle1. The most effective ratio for muscle growth is thought to be 4:1 of Leucine to Valine and Isoleucine
â ” BCAAs helps increase fat burning (Leucine) and glucose tolerance (Isoleucine) for a leaner body composition. During training periods for fat loss, the athletes benefit from the BCAA supplements.
â ” BCAA supplements can help to reduce tiredness, which can significantly boost your workout. This is one of the key reasons which they are recommended to take before your workout. They do this by inhibiting the production of serotonin, which often rises during exercise. Serotonin increases the ˜perception of fatigue' which means you will tire more during your workouts. If you haven't already worked it out, BCAAs will prevent this from occurring, giving you more energy. Therefore you can work out for longer, push harder and lift even more weight.
â ” BCAAs helps improve hormone balance for greater strength, power and endurance by increasing testosterone and decreasing cortisol in addition to reducing inflammation.
â ” BCAAs helps improve strength development with training when more than 4g per day of Leucine is consumed, because of effective increases neuromuscular coordination.
â ” BCAAs helps enhance strength endurance and decrease fatigue, because BCAAs can be burned as energy to replenish ATP (Adenosine Tri-Phosphate) levels, the prime energy molecule in the human body. They also delay fatigue and tiredness by inhibiting Tryptophan receptors in the brain.
â ” BCAAs helps preserve the integrity of muscle fibers. This decreases muscle soreness and allows you to train more frequently helping you to reach your full athletic potential more efficiently and effectively
â ” BCAAs helps reduces muscle catabolism (degradation) by protecting lean muscle tissue. This also prevents muscle mass reduction in endurance sports, where BCAA levels in blood plasma can drop significantly
â ” BCAAs helps improve insulin health and metabolic rate for an advantageous body composition. Insulin sensitivity may also reduce the risk of diabetes
â ” BCAAs shows anti-ageing properties, because they are used in cancer and liver disease treatment strategies. They increase the formation of new mitochondria and thus reduce age related muscle loss
â ” BCAAs improve cognition, because of their enhancing effect on neurotransmitters and glutamate synthesis.
â ” BCAAs helps reduces muscle soreness
How to use: Just add 1 scoop of BCAA powder in 500 ml water and consume it during the game/ workout.