I’ve written numerous columns on Branch Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs), discussing the plethora of benefits that come with having them in your supplement stack; the number one being muscle recovery. However, BCAA products are no longer touted as the best option for muscle recovery.
Essential Amino Acids (EAAs) are all the rage these days and for good reason.
EAAs are proteins that are essential for health but cannot be produced by the body. This means that we need to consume them in the form of foods or supplements.
Why EEAs
During research, I found that experts like to use EAAs with the analogy of building a house. The BCAAs are singular bricks. You can’t build a house with just a few bricks. To build a solid foundation you need to place all the bricks together. That is how EAAs and BCAAs work together, meaning it’s better to use a full spectrum of Essential Amino Acids instead of just a few in the case of BCAAs (valine, leucine and isoleucine). EAAs give us all the benefits of BCAAs and more.
The most reputable EAAs include all nine Essential Amino Acids:
Methionine for assisting energy production and fat metabolism.
Lysine for stimulation of growth hormones and muscle building.
Tryptophan for mood enhancement and pain tolerance.
Threonine for a healthy heart and strong bones and muscles.
Phenylalanine for improved rate of perceived exertion, pain tolerance and mood enhancement.
Histidine for assistance in offsetting lactic acid build up.
Leucine for protein synthesis and energy production.
Isoleucine for endu-rance, energy and muscle recovery.
Valine for muscular growth, energy, and recovery.
Benefits of EAAs
Performance and endurance: EAAs can help us to improve pain tolerance, assisting us to squeeze in that last rep. They also help to offset lactic acid build up, meaning you can perform for longer without your legs burning or feeling like jelly.
Muscle recovery and soreness: EAAs assist with recovery by refueling your muscles with the amino acids needed to replenish stores lost during a workout. This can also help to reduce or even eliminate muscle soreness after a workout.
Assist muscle growth and prevent muscle breakdown: Consuming an EAA product can help to reduce muscle catabolism while helping to build lean muscle mass.
All of these amazing benefits and more can be found in a reputable intra-workout product. All ingredients work in harmony together to help you go above and beyond during your workout.
