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What Are The Benefits Of BCAA?

Why Bodybuilders Prefer Consuming BCAA? Key Benefits Provided!

By Vikash KhandelwalPublished 4 years ago 4 min read
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Nowadays, people have become highly conscious about fitness and appearance. Fitness refers to the condition of both inside and outside. Nevertheless, it’s not easy for everybody to get a preferred body as it needs lots of dedication and determination to a precise lifestyle.

A well-maintained lifestyle includes proper water intake, diet, workout, supplements, sleep patterns, and more. An inadequacy of essential nutrients in the diet alone produces the requirement for supplements.

Supplements like fish oil capsules, multivitamins, whey protein, etc. promote the entire health, weight loss, and bodybuilding. And BCAA (Branched Chain Amino Acids) are one of the most necessitous supplements that encourage both weight loss and muscle development.

What Is BCAA?

There are nine amino acids that a body can’t produce and thereby, they are known as essential amino acids. Your body needs them from outside protein sources. 3 Out of these 9, Valine, Isoleucine, and Leucine collectively produce BCAA, i.e. Branched Chain Amino Acids.

BCAA is the 2nd most importantly used supplement that aids in glycogen storage and inhibits muscle protein breakdown. Bodybuilders use them most after whey protein. BCAAs make up nearly 35% of our muscle mass. They are advantageous in some medical conditions if consumed under supervision.

What Are BCAA Supplements?

BCAA supplements are the muscle recovery formula that contains the excellence of Valine, Isoleucine, and Leucine, combined in an appropriate ratio.

There are usually 2 kinds of BCAA supplements available in the market:

  • BCAA 2:1:1 – These BCAA supplements comprise 2 parts of Leucine and 1 part each of Isoleucine and Valine.
  • BCAA 8:1:1 – These BCAA supplements comprise 8 parts of Leucine and 1 part each of Valine and Isoleucine respectively.

In case your daily diet is not adequate, you can always choose a dietary supplement like BCAA protein powder.

When and How to Consume BCAA Supplements?

Just mix 1 scoop of BCAA powder with nearly 200ml of low-fat milk or water or any cold beverage of your preference. Don’t forget to shake it properly before intake. You can mix 2 scoops of this supplement if you are a bodybuilder.

For best results, consume the BCAA supplement two times every day. You can consume them once between meals and another just post-workout session.

Benefits of BCAA Supplements

There are lots of uses of BCAA supplements and having them regularly can help fitness freaks get the preferred physique within a short period. Here are some proven benefits of BCAA supplements given below:

1. Works as Fuel to the Body

The connection between Valine, Isoleucine, and Leucine are broken down by the body to form energy. Thereby, consuming BCAA amid exercise gives the body energy for the workout.

2. Enhanced Lean Muscle Gain

BCAA hinders muscle catabolism when taken amid exercise and thereby stores lean muscles. Moreover, it activates enzymes that aid muscle development. Adding a tiny amount of BCAA to whey protein powder after exercise aids lean muscle mass gain. There are many lean mass gainers supplements available in the market.

3. Supports Weight Loss

Different studies showcase the contribution of BCAA intake to weight loss, given that it is taken alongside a precise diet and suggested amount of protein consumption.

Studies show that BCAA supplements consumed along with a low-calorie high protein diet result in nearly 1 to 2kg of extra weight loss. BCAA supports 0.6% more fat loss and hinders weight gain.

4. Prevents Muscle Pain and Wasting

In BCAA, Leucine is an anabolic factor. When proteins or calories are not sufficient in the body, it helps the body synthesize muscle protein. This phenomenon helps hinder muscle wasting. Moreover, it eliminates pain produced by muscle break amid exercise.

5. Good for Skin and Hair

BCAA is one of the prime elements of the potassium-ion channel in human hair follicles. They have been discovered to improve hair development and probably repair impaired hair follicles.

Amino acids regulate protein metabolism. According to different studies, the combination of glutamine and BCAA is highly advantageous for reviving protein synthesis in skin damaged by UV irradiation. This causes the whole enhancement of skin quality.

6. Advantageous against Medical Issues like Diabetes

Isoleucine and Leucine help boost insulin production. However, there are restricted studies of BCAA vs. Insulin health. Some studies show the maximization of insulin secretion.

Nevertheless, some showcase an increase in blood sugar levels on including BCAA. Thereby, diabetic patients should consult a health professional before consuming BCAA as it might be advantageous in controlled conditions for diabetes.

BCAA might also eliminate liver-related issues. The amino acids present in BCAA are highly suitable for the liver. In some cases, BCAA efficiently enhances liver function and eliminate muscle exhaustion.

Is There Any Side Effect of BCAA Supplements?

If you consume BCAA orally, they are generally safe. Albeit people with any medical issue must abstain from consuming it without expert supervision as it might deteriorate their condition. BCAA is one of the main supplements for individuals who work out daily. It prevents muscle exhaustion, while supports bodybuilding and weight loss.

Albeit a person always must be particular regarding one’s need, different medical conditions, and most significantly the purpose of adding a specific supplement into a daily routine.

Final Notes

At present, BCAA is pondered as an important supplement for people who perform intense workouts and hard training. Different detailed studies have been done on the side effects and advantages of BCAA, in which BCAA has increased and proven itself as the main element in developing muscle, reducing muscle soreness, and eliminating muscle exhaustion.

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About the Creator

Vikash Khandelwal

Sales manager at India's top online health and bodybuilding nutrition store.

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