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.