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WHAT EXACTLY ARE BRANCHED-CHAIN AMINO ACIDS (BCAAs)?
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In order to rebuild and grow new cells, the body needs the building blocks of protein: amino acids. There are twenty amino acids in total; eleven of which are made in the body (non-essential) and nine that must come from our diet or supplements (essential). The Branched-Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs) are a group of just three essential amino acids: Leucine, Isoleucine and Valine.
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WHY SHOULD I TAKE BCAAs?
The most common use is for muscle loss prevention, but the potential benefits go beyond as BCAAs can play several roles in the body.
MUSCLE LOSS PREVENTION
- In some circumstances, fat loss is commonly accompanied by muscle loss.
- BCAAs can help diminish muscle loss while the calorie intake is reduced, sparing lean muscle mass in favor of body fat.
- Even without physical activity to stimulate muscle growth, consuming an adequate amount of BCAAs in your daily diet can lessen muscle protein breakdown.
- Supplementing with BCAAs on a calorie-restricted diet allowed individuals to maintain muscle mass while still losing weight. INCREASE FAT OXIDATION FOR FAT LOSS
- BCAA supplementation may help shift the body from using carbohydrates as the energy source to burning fat, called fat oxidation, which is particularly helpful for individuals trying to lose weight.
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INCREASE FAT OXIDATION FOR FAT LOSSย
- BCAA supplementation may help shift the body from using carbohydrates as the energy source to burning fat, called fat oxidation, which is particularly helpful for individuals trying to lose weight.
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APPETITE SUPPRESSION
- The branched-chain amino acid Leucine plays a direct role in appetite suppression.
- Leucine stimulates mTOR, which is a growth factor for muscles. Supplementation with leucine plays a role in the brainsโ detection of nutrient availability.
- As mTOR levels increase, the brain senses that nutritional needs have been met and signals of satiety are sent to stop eating more.
BCAAS SUPPORT IMMUNE FUNCTION
- All three BCAAs perform individual and collective roles. Besides being necessary for protein production, they are also an important fuel source for these cells.
Individually, they play the following roles:
- Isoleucine increases levels of ฮฒ-defensin, an antimicrobial compound.
- Leucine supports the bodyโs general immune health and how it adapts to pathogens.
- Valine increases dendritic cell function which sounds the alarm and signals the presence of toxic substances in the body.
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Caution: Consult a health care practitioner prior to use if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, if you have liver or kidney disease, or if you have been instructed to follow a low protein diet.
