BCAA Complex: Natural Muscle Development

Proteins are essential for muscle development. But do you know how proteins are formed? Basically, they are complex molecules composed of long chains of units called amino acids. 

Among other functions, amino acids are responsible for helping to break down the food we eat, repair and grow our body tissues and produce energy. They have different structures and functions in our body, transforming into protein. Keep reading to learn more about this topic.

How do they work?

Amino acids can be classified into two categories: essential and non-essential.

Essential amino acids: there are nine different types, and they are those that the body cannot generate on its own, so we must obtain them through the diet.

Non-essential amino acids: these are produced by the body, including some that you probably already know, such as alanine, arginine, and glutamine.

The relevant ones in this article are the essential ones: isoleucine, leucine, and valine. These three are known as BCAAs (Branched Chain Amino Acids). 

While most amino acids are metabolized in the liver, with BCAAs this happens in the muscles, so they constitute 30%-35% of muscle protein and play a key role in the development of muscle mass. 

However, as mentioned above, our bodies do not produce them, so we must obtain them externally.

When we practice strength training, there is a degradation of the protein present in the muscles. This process is known as catabolism. 

When this happens, the body responds by strengthening the muscles, which requires an expenditure of amino acids, which - let us remember - form the protein. However, if protein synthesis is greater than protein degradation is when muscles grow.

BCAAs' properties

They contribute to muscle building: BCAAs act not only as the "structure" of the muscle but also as participants in protein synthesis, which is an anabolic process that has the opposite effect to the catabolic one, i.e., it prevents the loss of muscle mass.

They also reduce fatigue during training as they stimulate insulin release, which drives the absorption of amino acids. 

As the glycogen present in the muscle is depleted, the sensation of fatigue begins but branched amino acids - specifically leucine - help to increase the body's energy output. 

They participate in the Krebs cycle for energy production. A study in the Journal of Sports Medicine & Physical Fitness showed that 12 long-distance marathon runners, after taking BCAA supplements, reported less post-workout soreness and less muscle fatigue.

During endurance exercise, the concentration of tryptophan increases, and its absorption in the brain also increases. Simply put, BCAAs compete with tryptophan for absorption in the brain, thus decreasing the sensation of fatigue. It also limits the increase in serotonin production, which is also related to the feeling of tiredness.

According to the results of another study, marathon running performance improved for runners when taken during the marathon. The results show that both physical and mental performance is increased when taken during exercise.

Moreover, BCAAs strengthen the immune system by increasing glutamine, a non-essential amino acid that is present, among others, in muscles to the extent that it accounts for about 60% of skeletal muscle tissue. If the glutamine level is low, the overtraining state is generated.

Surely now you understand why these amino acids are so popular among sports enthusiasts. The sports nutrition market offers natural BCAA supplements without additives such as magnesium stearate. BCAA complex supplements include not only valine, leucine, and isoleucine, but also B vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B5, and B6) and zinc. 

The B vitamins help process the BCAAs in our body, specifically by facilitating the absorption and conversion of proteins. On the other hand, zinc is essential for metabolism as it contributes to fat reduction and boosts the functions of the immune system. 

If you are an athlete and you are looking for natural help to increase your physical performance and muscle mass safely, our BCAA natural supplements are your best bet. 

Final Word

BCAAs (Branched Chain Amino Acids) are essential amino acids that help the formation and growth of our muscles. 

Essential amino acids are the ones that can't be produced by our bodies, so we need to consume them through our diet and dietary supplementation. 

BCAA supplements are even better when coming in a complex form combined with zinc and B vitamins, enhancing their muscle-building properties.