Amino acids BCAAs — more details

Branched chain amino acids (abbreviation of "branched—chain amino acids — amino acids having branched side branches) is one of the essential supplements for any bodybuilder

The amino acids that differ unusual branched structure and include leucine, isoleucine, and valine. As you know, our body itself can produce only part of the essential amino acids, while others, without which it cannot exist, must come from the outside. These amino acids belong to the class of indispensable, and that includes BCAAs. At the same time, it should be noted that they are contained in large enough quantities in the foods consumed daily by each person. Seem to produce them by artificial means makes no sense, however, some time ago, they still appeared on the Supplement market. However, the popularity and the wide distribution they received, because it does not give almost any result: no weight gain, no strength gains.

The next wave of interest in BCAAs rose after in the sport of bodybuilding, like most other sports, came to a serious science. The search for promoters that promote muscle growth and at the same time not providing detrimental effect on the body, forced again to refer to these amino acids. The fact that the adult human body needs only 31 milligrams of leucine per kilogram of body weight, while the needs of a growing child is almost fourteen times more – 425 milligrams. In the case where the child's body suffers from a lack of BCAAs, its growth stops completely, as these amino acids are essential for the regulation of protein synthesis.

Thus, it becomes quite clear why the BCAA did not give a proper result earlier: just for the stimulation of the growth of the body, it should receive a huge number of these amino acids. Studies have shown that only a mega-dose (daily dose may be up to 15 grams) BCAAs are effective as a stimulator of muscle growth. The amino acids act like drugs of the directed action. So, penetrating inside the nucleus of cells, leucine helps to activate genes which are responsible for protein growth. However, in the adult human body, BCAAs are difficult to break through the closed doors of muscle cells that protect the genes missing amino acids inside extremely limited quantities. But when you exercise, the situation is fundamentally changing.

Strength training helps to activate the metabolic processes inside the cellstarting to get a variety of biochemical substances required for its growth and activity. In this case the outer shell of the cell at this time somewhat weakened by his defense, allowing you to penetrate and unwelcome "guests", among them amino acids BCAAs. That is why it is crucial to take them directly after exercise. At this time they are great hlynuv flow inside the cells of muscle fibres, will promote the launch of anabolic genes that were in a state of sleep since adolescence.

In addition, scientists have found amino acids with branched side branches has many other useful properties:

1. The increase in the number of hormones

As you know, the training is more effective than the heavier, but have high load and negative sides. The fact that exercise is a stress to the body, any stress, especially prolonged, eventually leads to that secretion of testosterone is reduced, whereas catabolic hormones, on the contrary, increases. That is why many bodybuilders at some point there comes the stagnation, and the muscles cease to grow. To avoid this, it is recommended to conduct a short training cycles with breaks, not leading to the crisis of their hormonal system. Simultaneously, it is advisable to take branched chain amino acids are regular intake of of which allows you to wrap the process around: to increase the concentration of testosterone in the blood and reduce the production of catabolic hormones. Of course, all this is possible only under condition of use megadose BCAAs immediately after workouts.

2. Increase energy

Not all types of "fuel", which is later extracted energy, the human body has the ability to store for future use as glycogen. For example, the main intracellular source of energy, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), is synthesized in the cells of muscle fibers during exercise. This burns ATP much faster than occur intracellular transport processes. In result of delay of delivery of raw materials for the formation of another portion of the energy of phosphates begins to show muscular fatigue, and the athlete has to finish the training. When receiving the signal of the disastrously low level of energy reserves in the body, the adrenal glands begin to produce catabolic hormones that tear apart molecules, muscle protein, and the savings direct amino acids to maintain metabolism and increase energy levels. To prevent the destruction of muscle cells, it is necessary to take pre-workout BCAAsthe presence of which will relieve the body from the need to synthesize hormones catabolic.

3. Decrease body fat and increase muscle mass

As already mentioned, amino acids with branched side branches can be used by our body as a source of muscle energy. It is their property should take note of those bodybuilders, who are eager to preserve their muscle mass during a period of intense "drying". It should be noted that in the course of the experiment, when the athletes seated on a low calorie diet received BCAAs, it was discovered that these amino acids not only protect muscles from samopoedaniya more and reduce fat reserves, converting them into energy.

4. Analgesic effect

As you know, the pain felt after an intense workout in the muscles caused by microtrauma in muscle fibers. They have different thickness, and some of them are broken, unable to withstand stress. In the discontinuities arise point of inflammation, which become sources of pain. Despite the fact that this pain in a few days, is by itself, it is quite unpleasant, and some athletes to decrease, take various analgesics. However, most of these drugs are quite toxic, and some even inhibit muscle growth. A much more useful technique of BCAAs, which, though not rid of the pain completely, but it is much reduced.

5. Reducing the recovery period

Our muscles contain a sufficiently large number of amino acids up to a fifth of the total volume. In result of the conducted researches it was found out that in the course of performing strength exercise there is an active expenditure of BCAAs, therefore, the restoration includes not only the replenishment of glycogen in the liver, but also reproduction of the original BCAA levels in muscle fibers. Thus, it is possible to achieve a significant acceleration of the recovery process through taking dietary supplements containing these amino acids. In addition, this increases the athletic potential of a muscle, and following exercise can be carried out more intensively.

In the course of scientific research has established that the most powerful among anabolic of the three BCAAs is leucine. Once inside the cell nucleus, it has a stimulating effect on anabolic genes, thereby making the muscle cell starts the process of protein synthesis. Leucine is vital for muscle growth, and its deficiency growth stops. However, you need to understand that all the BCAAs you can replace only one leucine. As we found out, protein,formed only this amino acid will eventually be dissolved with a special enzyme if it does not take isoleucine and valine. After one month of supplementing with BCAAs cortisol levels in the blood bodybuilders reduced by fifty percent.

One of the best sources of amino acids branched structure is a whey protein that should be taken both before and after training. However, you need to ensure that the serum was high quality and contained at least seven to twelve grams of leucine per serving.