What Are Branched Chain Amino Acids, How Do They Work, and What Are th

Branched chain amino acids are essential for you to build and maintain muscle mass. For athletes, supplementation with BCAAs can help reduce fatigue and aid in concentration and performance. In fact, you may gain even more significant benefits through a BCAA supplement than by getting these nutrients through food alone.

There are three BCAAs: L-Leucine, L-Valine, and L-Isoleucine. Each of these play a primary role in your ability to improve your fitness level. Specifically, they work in a preventive and supportive capacity to aid in the development of healthy muscle mass and stamina. Here's a breakdown of how each of these nutrients work.

L-Leucine

Your body naturally breaks down protein. Slowing the rate at which this occurs aids in the maintenance of muscle mass. L-Leucine has a key role in stimulating protein synthesis and muscle growth. In other words, it helps you to keep the muscle mass you have. It also assists in muscle repair after a strenuous exercise regimen. Your muscles stay strong and are better able to recover from your training program.

This BCAA has other benefits. Animal studies have linked L-Leucine to good cholesterol levels and greater weight loss success than is otherwise achieved with exercise alone.

L-Valine

Your body needs more energy during intense exercise. To provide it, L-Valine produces extra glucose. This helps to keep your body going and also stops the breakdown of muscle. This BCAA also aids in tissue repair and blood sugar regulation. In other words, it helps everything in the body work efficiently. It is necessary for the healthy function of all cells and organs.

L-Isoleucine

To build muscle mass, your body must have the fuel it needs for the entire process. That includes the stages of repair and rebuilding. It's in these stages that L-Isoleucine is particularly important. This BCAA also helps to improve endurance. Body builders get energy-boosting benefits from this nutrient, and as a result they can keep up with their strenuous regimen and maximize performance.

BCAAs for Your Workout Regimen

People get BCAAs from their diet, specifically though regular consumption of foods rich in protein. However, taking a supplement make it easier for your body to access and make full use of BCAAs during training periods. BCAAs in food are bound to other substances and take a significant amount of time to digest. BCAAs in supplements, however, move rapidly into the bloodstream and are available almost immediately.

You can get the right amount of BCAAs through proper supplementation. 1 Up Nutrition has a men and women product to help you meet your goals. They are specifically formulated with high L-Leucine to optimize performance and recovery. We also have a BCAA product that is all-natural and vegan.