what are the benefits of bcaas?

What are BCAAs?

BCAAs stands for "Branched Chain Amino Acids." Amino acids are the building blocks of protein and your muscles will not grow without them. Your body is unable to produce BCAAs on it's own which means you need to get them from your diet.The benefits of BCAAs include increased lean muscle mass, faster recovery, less fatigue and less muscle loss.

Are BCAAs Natural?

BCAAs are naturally found in foods containing protein, with the highest concentrations in beef, chicken, salmon, eggs and whey protein. It's important for vegetarians to supplement with BCAAs as they're not easily found in vegetarian or vegan diets. The free form BCAAs found in Elixir are absorbed directly to the muscles during your workout so that they can be used as fuel or to build and repair itself.

Five Reasons to Take BCAAs

Workout Harder for Longer

The longer and more intense you workout, the more BCAAs will be used as fuel. Since they are absorbed rapidly into your muscles, they can be used as a source of fuel to sustain your energy and strength training for longer periods of time. This is also the reason why taking a BCAA supplement is better than food, it's a lot easier to drink a a supplement during your workout compared to eating a piece of chicken mid way through your training. The nutrients also reach your muscles a lot faster and are absorbed efficiently!

Gain More Muscle Mass and Strength

Muscles are made up of protein and protein is made up of amino acids. Research shows that BCAAs increase muscle growth by directly stimulating protein synthesis. Additionally, BCAAs boost insulin levels which act as hormone that further increases muscle growth and recovery.

Build Muscle and Lose Fat at the Same Time

BCAAs are well known for reducing protein breakdown, allowing you to build and maintain lean muscle while losing fat on on a low calorie diet. A study published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition found individuals were able to maintain lean muscle mass while being on a calorie restricted diet. BCAAs also help reduce cortisol levels which is a hormone that caused by stress. Reduced cortisol levels result in less muscle loss after or during exercise and improved recovery which means less muscle soreness.

More Fat Loss

BCAAs are clearly great for building muscle mass but they're also beneficial for fat loss. A Study shows that the BCAA Leucine helps balance blood sugar levels which can promote fat burning. In addition to improved glucose uptake, leucine may help you feel more full by improving sensitivity to leptin which is the hormone responsible controlling hunger. Leucine has also been proven to increase energy expenditure and fat oxidation.  

Reduced Soreness, Less Fatigue and Faster Recovery

BCAAs accelerate recovery through enhanced protein synthesis and improved glucose uptake. You'll be able to train harder more often resulting in more muscle growth. Not only are BCAAs great if your goal is to build muscle, they're also beneficial for your brain and help reduce fatigue. They delay fatigue by lowering the amount of tryptophan entering the brain which can really help reduce mental fatigue and make you mentally sharper. I find I'm able to stay focused and maintain my workout intensity from start to finish by drinking Elixir BCAAs. I also drink BCAAs throughout the day and on rest days so I can stay focused and work for longer hours.

How I take Elixir BCAAs

The most important time to take BCAAs is around your workouts. I've found the best results by drinking 1-2 servings during my workout because they help me train harder and lift heavier. If you workout on an empty stomach, BCAAs will provide the fuel you need to still perform at your best.

If you want to build more muscle mass, you can add 1 more serving of Elixir BCAAs first thing in the morning to help trigger protein synthesis after being in a fasted state during your sleep.

I drink BCAAs on rest days as well to boost mental energy, reduce hunger, reduce muscle soreness and increase muscle growth. I made sure Elixir BCAAs tastes like a refreshing, fruity juice so it's a perfect drink to help you stay well hydrated.

• Mix one scoop of Elixir BCAAs with 300-350ml of cold water and drink it during your workout.
• On non-training days, you can drink one serving of Elixir between meals or along with meals.