Amino Acids and BCAAs

Amino acids are often referred to as the building blocks of proteins, and the proteins and enzymes that are comprised of these amino acids make up muscle, hormones, neurotransmitters, and much else that makes the body run smoothly. A healthy body requires twenty different amino acids, several of which are produced by the body itself.

However, eight of these can only be gotten through diet or supplement, and many of the others often need a boost due to a variety of factors, including diet, age, exercise, infection, and stress levels. Amino acid supplements can aid in making a body healthy, and fighting conditions such as fatigue. They are particularly useful for body builders and weight trainers, as amino acids are essential for muscle building, maintenance and repair.

For those taking supplements to aid in strength training, BCAA supplements are a good option. BCAA refers to the branched chain amino acids, which include leucine, isoleucine and valine - three of the amino acids your body cannot produce on its own. Leucine, isoleucine, and valine make up around 33% of the skeletal muscle in the body and are necessary for muscle formation, as well as being useful in slowing muscle degradation.