Because branched-chain amino acids are obtained externally
and cannot be made by your body, many opt for BCAA supple-
ments to improve their body’s overall function and the quality
of their workouts. These supplements can be especially ben-
eficial for athletes just starting out and struggling with workout
endurance issues.
Of course, the benefits that we’ve already mentioned are re-
ally only the tip of the iceberg. The fact is there are many other
reasons why you should consider adding a BCAA supplement
to your day. What are they? We’ll detail nine of the top reasons
why you should consider supplementing with BCAAs.
1. Boost Performance And Prevent Fatigue During Exercise
One of the most popular uses for BCAAs is preventing fatigue
during exercise. BCAAs can be especially powerful and useful
when an athlete is just starting out. With that said, the reality
is that exercise fatigue can strike anyone. One study published
in The Journal of Nutrition found that BCAA supplementation
improved athletes’ perceived exertion and mental fatigue
after a 30-kilometer race. Researchers also found that it im-
proved participants’ performance on a cognitive test taken
after the race. Some even experienced an improvement in
physical performance.
2. Promote Muscle Protein Synthesis
For fitness junkies, one of the greatest benefits a supplement
can offer is muscle protein synthesis. Not only does research
published in the American Journal of Physiology indicate that
BCAA supplementation prevents the degradation of muscles –
the importance of which we’ll get into a bit later – but, accord-
ing to Swedish researchers, it also produces anabolic effects on
people in the post workout recovery period. Protein synthesis is
everything if you want to build muscke.
ironmanmagazine.com | SEPTEMBER 2017 53