BCAA & How Can It Boost Your Post Workout

<+a href=”https://pi-nutrition.com/shop/bcaa/post-workout-bcaa/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>BCAAs, or branched chain amino acids, have been increasingly recognized in recent years for their incredible benefits. In particular, the bodybuilding community has come to hail BCAAs as a powerful health tool. BCAAs are a group of three, similarly structured amino acids: leucine, isoleucine and valine. Because your body is not capable of producing these branched chain amino acids on its own, it is critical that you get them from your diet and/or supplements.

What is the function of BCAAs (branched chain amino acids)?

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When your body depletes itself of its stored glycogen, it needs BCAAs as a secondary fuel source. The human body encounters this situation especially when in a state of cutting calories and increasing your physical activity. Even though the result of an intense diet and exercise is optimized physical health, it does, in a way, tear down the body to get there. Scientists refer to this state as a “catabolic crisis,” as your body breaks down muscle in a desperate attempt to preserve fat stores. So in order to push your body in the right direction you have to take matters into your own hands. This is where BCAAs come in.

BCAAs are responsible for stimulating protein synthesis, and also improve each cell’s ability to perform its own protein synthesis. So not only do BCAAs complete this process on their own, but they provide support for the process to be carried out by other agents of the body. Talk about double duty! Another important function of BCAAs is their ability to slow down the rate of protein breakdown, decreasing overall protein loss. These two benefits halt the “catabolic crisis,” and directly support the preservation of your hard-earned muscle mass.

So what does all this mean? Essentially, BCAAs are your secret weapon for crushing your muscle gain goals. Their incredible properties are the reason why BCAAs are a common element of post-workout supplements, used regularly by members of the fitness community who have worked to stay informed and learn about the science of maximizing results.

Who should take BCAA supplements?

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Many people might think that BCAA supplements are only needed by elite athletes, those who engage in regular, intense physical activity. The average person often imagines BCAAs as a tool of only the most serious bodybuilders who are looking to build incredible amounts of muscle. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Anyone with any level of health and fitness goals should be looking to BCAAs to support them in the process, specifically to ensure they are incorporating a proper recovery process into their routine.

So if you have health or fitness goals at any level, you should learn more about BCAAs. Whether you’re looking to be able to do a set of 10 push-ups or preparing for a pro-level bodybuilding competition, BCAAs are an incredibly useful and necessary tool in the process.

Why are BCAA supplements a good alternative to whole food sources?

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If you wanted to avoid all supplements and just stick with straight-up food sources, you certainly could. However, the idea of throwing down a massive steak right after a killer workout doesn’t appeal to very many people. Also, consuming the amount of protein that would equal a BCAA supplement, relying only on food sources, is very challenging for the average person. Time constraints and food preferences often act as obstacles, so using a BCAA supplement is your best bet for making it all work.

Additionally, a BCAA supplement is actually far more efficient than consuming amino acids through food sources alone. Because the supplements do not require digestion, they are able to bypass your liver and directly hit your bloodstream. This means a BCAA supplement will be significantly more fast-acting than a food source, giving you quick results. You’ll be able to get the boost of energy you need from BCAA supplements, without waiting for your body to break down and digest food.

How and when should I take BCAA supplements?

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Commonly combined with whey protein, BCAA supplements can be taken either before or after a workout, depending on your goals and desired benefits. Taken before a workout, BCAAs can help combat fatigue by maintaining your cellular energy levels. If the supplement you take includes protein (as most do), then you’ll enjoy additional calorie-burning benefits as well.

If you are looking to boost your muscle gains and improve recovery, then post-workout is a good time for you to incorporate BCAAs. This will prevent your body from going into muscle-burning mode, which could cut into the hard work you just finished. During exercise, your body oxidizes and breaks down BCAAs, which is the path to that “catabolic crisis” you should be looking to fight off.

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You have to be smarter than your body sometimes because it will try anything to preserve fat stores. This stems from a biological desire for survival – your body doesn’t realize that it will, in fact, survive this workout (and the next one, and the next one). Ingesting a post-workout BCAA supplement will stop that process in its tracks and instead provide the raw material your body needs to get into recovery mode.

As you can see, BCAA has benefits when taken both pre- and post-workout. Depending on your goals, one or the other might be best for you. However, there’s no reason you can’t do both and reap the benefits of BCAAs from start to finish!

You can take your BCAAs alone or as part of a complete protein supplement, depending on your preferences. The Performance Inspired Nutrition team has designed a clean post-workout BCAA supplement, ideal for rehydration, refueling and recovery. For an efficient, healthy supplement, we omitted artificial ingredients and fillers from the post-workout BCAA. Additionally, it includes a power punch of electrolytes to get your body to an ultimate state of recovery.

Making BCAAs a regular part of your health routine will help you not only reach your goals, but totally and completely smash them to bits.

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