Description
The branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) are L-leucine, L-isoleucine and L-valine. So-named because of their branching molecular structure, the three BCAAs comprise an astonishing 70 percent of your muscles' protein composition. All three of these workhorses are essential aminos, meaning that your body cannot fabricate them from other aminos. They must be supplied in abundance in your diet. They are the aminos that are most rapidly processed by your body because they're critically needed in all of your body's muscle building, recovery and repair processes. In the three hours following a meal, they account for 50 to 90 percent of the total amino acid uptake by your muscles.
Your dietary BCAAs, and particularly L-leucine, help increase work capacity by participating in the production of insulin. Insulin, as you know, is the "key" to opening up your muscle cells to glucose uptake. And, glucose uptake is critical for energy production. There is much research indicating that the BCAAs have powerful anabolic properties. This means that they both prevent muscle protein breakdown as well as stimulating muscle protein synthesis. Moreover, up to 15 percent or more of your high intensity workout energy is derived from the breakdown of the BCAAs.
Here are some of the critical factors that must be accounted for when taking BCAA supplements: