Gains come in acronyms: EMOM, AHAP, AMRAP, RFT. Each of those acronyms represent hard work put in during your training. There is another acronym, though, that targets what your body needs to finish pushing that gain train to the station: BCAAs.
BCAAs stands for branched chain amino acids. Those BCAAs are leucine, isoleucine and valine. Everyone’s body has amino acids, some essential and others nonessential. The three BCAAs are part of the nine essential amino acids your body requires to build musculature, boost exercise performance, aid in recovery and, for some people, help with weight loss.
In our last supplement post we talked about the benefits of taking a protein supplement. Think of BCAAs as the foundational building blocks for your muscles and the protein your muscles use to grow and recover. Leucine is great for building muscle proteins and isoleucine and valine work to produce energy for the muscles and regulate our blood sugar.
So why should I be taking this acronym on the regular?
- BCAAs delays muscle fatigue over longer workouts.
- BCAAs help preserve muscle mass during periods of higher volume.
- BCAAs work to better incorporate the protein you already take/eat into your muscle growth cycle.
- BCAAs aid your muscles in recovery after grueling workouts.
You can take BCAAs pre- and post-workout, or even throughout the day to continue fueling your body and the muscles you’ve worked so hard for.
We offer two options for BCAA supplementation at Lincoln Nutrition & Fitness: Home of CrossFit Lincoln: MAX ARM and Pro BCAA.
MAX ARM (Anabolic Recovery Matrix) was designed to follow rapid recovery and anabolic science. Created to be the ultimate post workout formula, MAX ARM provides the necessary nutrients to support maximum muscle activation, restore fluids and electrolytes, replenish glycogen and accelerate overall muscle recovery and repair.
Pro BCAA powder is a scientifically-based formula to provide the body with high potency branched-chain amino acids (BCAA Xtreme) in the ideal 2:1:1 ratio of leucine, isoleucine, and valine. As a versatile formula, Pro BCAA is specifically designed to benefit both pre-, during, and post-workouts. For the pre- and during workout, this comprehensive formula is designed to support the energy fuels needed for high intensity and endurance workouts. For the post-workout, it functions to support rapid recovery, muscle anabolism and anti-catabolic effects.
If you want to learn more about BCAAs and how they can benefit you, check out these articles: