Proven Benefits of Amino Acid Supplements

Amino Acid Supplements
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Athletes and bodybuilders know the health benefits of protein in their daily diet and almost all of them consume it as supplements. They are also aware of the benefits of amino acids, and you must have heard that those are commonly used as supplements, too. Yet, if you remember something from your biology class, you will get confused; if amino acids are the building blocks of protein, then why would people consume protein supplements and amino acids at the same time?

Well, the answer is simple: protein is the building force behind muscles, and amino acids are the building blocks of protein—they themselves are what makes protein very important. Here’s how your body works when it ingests protein: it breaks it down into individual aminos, then reorders them, refolds them and turns them into muscles, tissues or cells, or whatever your body needs. Athletes are especially concerned with a group of three main amino acids: leucine, isoleucine, and valine. They are called branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs).

BCAAs are invading the market nowadays under different brands. The team of researchers at fitnessinformant.com/rankings/best-bcaa-amino-supplements/ are convinced that almost all companies are trying to trick you into purchasing their products by presenting “unique” BCAA formulas or “special ingredients,” which in fact have zero amino acid absorption benefits to your body. So why take amino acids, or more specifically, BCAA supplements?

In this article, we will take a look at their nine benefits, which will probably make you consider starting on them right away.

Guarantee

No matter what protein supplement you consume—even if it is the purest—it will contain different amino acids that will have varying characteristics when it comes to absorption. Yet, a BCAA supplement will contain the optimum percentage of the three main amino acids to help protein supplements work.

Improve muscle growth

BCAA supplements will make your physique look bulkier with leaner muscles. Especially, leucine is proven to regulate and improve the muscle protein synthesis that happens in your body after an intense workout.

Burn fats

While training a lot, reducing carb intake and increasing the intake of the three amino acids will protect the muscle glycogen synthesis of your body, by burning fat as fuel, which will increase your body endurance during exercise. So, BCAA is suitable both for those who want to lose some fat and get in shape, and those who want to build muscle.

Decrease fatigue

BCAAs change how your body is working. During intense workouts, BCAA levels are decreased, which will push your body to produce increased amounts of tryptophan, which in turn becomes serotonin upon reaching your brain. Research suggests that serotonin leads to tiredness and mental fatigue you may experience during and after workouts. However, if you consume BCAA supplements before training, it ensures amino acid levels are stable, and prevents your body from going through this process.

Improve mental health

Tryptophan is not only responsible for fatigue, but sometimes also for short-term memory issues and mental disabilities. This is why athletes consume amino acid supplements, especially before competitions, to be able to perform for long hours with healthy minds.

Protect muscles

Athletes usually work out in sets, sometimes to the point of damaging their muscles. When that happens, the body works on replenishing it with the help of protein. In some cases, due to a bad training routine, excessive training, or insufficient diet, athletes’ bodies may break down the muscles and use it as a source of energy. Studies have shown that in such cases, high BCAA intake can protect muscle tissue against significant damage.

Improve recovery

Since BCAA can enhance muscle protein synthesis and protect the muscles, scientific experiments showed that they can also help with muscle recovery, which gives you another good reason to consider taking supplements. This way, you can recover faster, and return to your routine faster and stronger

Reduce muscle soreness

Many athletes consume their BCAA supplements during workouts between sets, as it has been proven—and confirmed through reviews—that it reduces muscle soreness during and after intensive training.

Overall health

According to researchers, the nine amino acids—including BCAAs that athletes are concerned with—are not to be only used by athletes; but they can improve regular people’s health as well, especially those with liver diseases and IBS.

Here are some facts about these three amino acids:

Leucine: As mentioned before, it is critical for protein muscle synthesis. It also regulates blood sugar levels and helps in wound healing and producing growth hormones. Some common symptoms of leucine deficiency are skin rashes, hair loss and fatigue.

Isoleucine: It is mainly concentrated in muscle tissue and is responsible for muscle metabolism, but it also plays a significant role in immunity, energy regulation and hemoglobin production in the blood. Older adults are more prone to isoleucine deficiency, which may cause muscle loss and shaking.

Valine: Its main function is muscle coordination, growth and regeneration, but it also helps improve mental focus and emotional stability. Its deficiency may cause insomnia and reduced mental function.

Some health benefits of the other six amino acids:

1. Histidine: It helps in the regeneration and repair of body cells and tissue, increases immunity and maintain reproductive health.

2. Lysine: It aids in injury recovery, and regulation of hormones, enzymes and antibodies.

3. Methionine: It is essential for healthy hair and skin, and nails. It also helps in removing lead and mercury from our bodies.

4. Phenylalanine: It helps the body absorb amino acids and proteins. Our bodies are able to convert them to tyrosine, which is necessary for specific brain functions.

5. Threonine: It is essential for the skin, as it is a component of collagen and elastin. It regulates teeth health, fat metabolism, and helps with indigestion.

6. Tryptophan: It is a sedative acid that can improve mental health and emotional processing, especially in women. It can help with mood, sleep, pain, and appetite, and it is necessary for the proper growth of babies.

So, if BCAAs enhance growth and recovery, protect muscles, reduce fatigue and soreness, and increase mental well-being, then they will definitely improve the performance of athletes and bodybuilders, in one way or another. Your body will respond better to your workouts and your mind will stay focused on your goals.

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