Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. Branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) are great supplements for bodybuilders, athletes, and all active people. BCAAs have been popular for many years due to their numerous health benefits. They contain a combination of the amino acids leucine, iso-leucine, and valine. These are classified as “essential” amino acids because the body does not produce them naturally. This means you have to get them from your diet or from supplements. Some other essential amino acids include lysine, tryptophan, methionine, and phenylalanine.
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The amino acids that the body can produce on its own are called “non-essential” amino acids, which is a bit of a misnomer. All amino acids are actually essential for proper metabolic function, and many are essential for other bodily processes as well. Some of the main non-essential amino acids are glutamine, alanine, cysteine, tyrosine, arginine, glutamic acid, and proline.
Branched chain amino acids are best known for their effects on exercise performance. When BCAAs are digested, they are put to work in many parts of the body repairing tissues, building new tissue, producing special chemicals for the brain, and more. Supplementation with BCAA can lead to faster muscle recovery, improved metabolism, more energy for workouts, and a reduction in muscle catabolism (tissue breakdown).
BCAAs are especially important for physically active people because they are metabolized within muscle tissue rather than inside the liver. After they break down and digest protein, individual amino acids work to build new proteins, which are then burned to produce natural energy.
BCAAs get their name from their unique branched chemical structure, which is fundamental to the body’s complex construction. These helpful amino acids provide intra-cellular protein fractions, which are metabolically significant to muscle performance and integrity. BCAA supplements can therefore be very beneficial for athletes and other fitness enthusiasts.