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Mandy Mozzochi is a NASM Certified Personal Trainer, Women’s Fitness Specialist, and Fitness Nutrition Specialist.
BCAAs, you’ve probably heard the abbreviation before, but what does it mean and how can they benefit you. Most people aren’t really sure what they are and why they should be taken as part of their exercise routine. I am here to give you a little insight into the topic and as it relates to muscle recovery
What are BCAA’s?
BCAA’s stands for branched-chain amino acids. “Branched-chain” refers to the chemical structure of these amino acids. They include leucine, isoleucine, and valine which are essential in the body. (2.)
BCAAs are essential nutrients that the body obtains from proteins found in food. The most common foods are meat, dairy products, eggs, and legumes. It is also easy to find a range of supplements that contain BCAAs or that are specifically designed to deliver BCAAs in a powder form. The keyword here is essential.
What are BCAAs used for?
BCAAs are widely used in the medical field as well as in the health and fitness world.
Because branched-chain amino acids are used in the body to create protein synthesis you can see why they are popular amongst the fitness industry.
When you should add a BCAA supplement.
Because branched-chain amino acids can be found in foods if you are eating a high protein diet you don’t necessarily need to add a supplement. However, if you are working out for more than an hour daily and/or are eating a diet low in protein, supplementing with BCAAs can help your recovery by reducing soreness and assist in building lean muscle.
As a trainer, I recommend to my clients to take BCAAs before and/or during a workout to help battle fatigue and reduce soreness later, post-workout. Also is you are doing fasting cardio or fasting workouts drinking BCAAs while you lift have been shown to help reduce muscle breakdown when training without fuel.
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