What is BCAA and is it a tried and tested food supplement?
Many fitness and especially nutrition trends that make your training more effective and help you to shape your body come from the USA - the motherland of fitness awareness, so to speak. A look across the pond reveals that science has proven the effects of BCAA analyzed more than ten years ago. And thus the tangible and noticeable effects of BCAA are scientifically substantiated, so to speak! BCAA are "Branched Chained Amino Acids", branched-chain amino acids that improve the quality of the metabolism in such a way that muscle building in particular is sustainably improved during your training.
In 2006, the American Society of Nutrition published an interesting description of how these valuable amino acids work, written by Leonard L. Jefferson at the State University of Pennsylvania. We have translated and supplemented this for you so that you can directly understand the mode of action and the muscle-building effect as an introduction:
+ BCAAs stimulate the formation of skeletal muscle protein when taken as a dietary supplement
+ Of the three BCAAs, leucine is the main source for protein formation, plus isoleucine and valine
+ BCAA stimulates a variety of processes, including the phosphorylation of the ribosomal protein and other processes that improve the metabolism. And ultimately make your training even more effective and efficient.
Amino acids help you to achieve faster results during training and satisfy the enormous demand of the muscles that are stimulated by training. Read more about the effect, the main benefits and also the best dosage and application.
The main benefits and functions of amino acids: fuel and catalyst for cells
The effects of amino acids on your body are manifold. Unfortunately, amino acids are not so concentrated in conventional foods that their intake would be sufficient for the increased needs of a more ambitious athlete.
Are amino acids involved in muscle building?
Surprisingly, many forums are still discussing whether amino acids work. In fact, the effect has already been scientifically proven, but there are different, varying opinions on the question of dosage or the time of intake (before or after training). In the Medical Sports Network, Prof. Dr. med. habil. Georg Neumann writes that dietary proteins have a "decisive function in structural metabolism". And he quotes interesting figures: The protein consumption caused by training (he refers to this as protein breakdown) first sets the stimulus for muscle growth - something that every sportsman and sportswoman can certainly confirm. His sources say that 2 to 15 % of amino acids are metabolized every day. You can illustrate this by extrapolation: If 15 % of amino acids are exchanged, then the total amount of amino acids will be exchanged within a week. If there is no training, then only a maximum value of 6 % (i.e. not even half) could be achieved.
Amino acids indirectly help to burn fat
If you want to have an even more admirable body, then you should also think about fat burning and how this can be supported. Whether you measure your own body fat percentage or simply look at yourself in the mirror or compare yourself with people who have not yet started training: You'll see very quickly how fat can be burned when amino acids help muscles use energy and nascent growth hormones help the body's strong fibers grow. Cover the increased nutritional requirements with the valuable building blocks for the muscles and not with simple fat intake. You will soon see how your body feels firmer and even better. Due to their metabolism-boosting effect, amino acids are also indirectly a good fat burner.
Best properties with optimal combination of amino acids
Many articles describe the extensive interactions between amino acids. For this reason, it is advisable to take tried and tested amino acid supplements that contain a balanced proportion of the most important amino acids and do not unnecessarily burden the body with additional fats and fiber. The pure intake of BCAA also avoids putting too much strain on the digestive system, which in turn would lead to less athletic performance and less enjoyment of sport. BCAA supplements are also often enriched with appropriate vitamins - such as vitamin B6 - so that premature fatigue can be avoided.
A full load of amino acids for muscle growth and an attractive body
The first body-strengthening effects of BCAA can already be seen with an intake of an additional 6 grams per day. Even better is an intake of 10 grams, tailored to the time and start of training. As the muscles consume the most amino acids during training and have a real "hunger" for anabolic products, we recommend, for example, our PINK BCAA ZERO before or during training. These amino acids, which are tailored to your body, contain the right ratio of the amino acids leucine, isoleucine and valine mentioned in the first paragraph and also provide your body with carbohydrates. With our amino acids you declare war on fatty tissue: It contains exactly 0.0 grams of fat! And the fresh taste provides even more pep during training.
Lack of amino acids and no sports training: stress for the psyche?
When it comes to the question of over- or underdosing, you should assume that amino acids are substances that occur in the body and not completely synthetic products. It is quite clear that a lack of amino acids can disable or restrict important bodily functions that are based on the metabolism. Doctors have described in various studies that "too few" amino acids would supply the body's own neurotransmitters and the brain too poorly. Whether this can lead to depression and a low mood has not yet been fully clarified. Conversely, however, it quickly becomes clear that with a good supply of amino acids and training, you can shape your muscles and body and stimulate your metabolism and positive neurotransmitters as well as your own well-being and self-confidence. So you can say: amino acids and a sport-conscious lifestyle can prevent a number of health risks.
Long-term effect thanks to a change in body functions
You may remember the first real muscle soreness after training and that it only set in after the second or third workout after a higher workload: BCAA increases the amino acid content in your body and your muscles so that they have more "fuel" or "building blocks" to burn.