Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) are a group of three essential amino acids (leucine, isoleucine, and valine) that are particularly important for building and repairing muscle tissue, as well as providing energy during exercise.
BCAAs may be especially beneficial for gym goers who are trying to:
- Maintain or increase muscle mass
- Improve exercise performance
- Reduce muscle soreness and fatigue
BCAAs can be consumed before, during, or after exercise to support muscle growth and recovery. Consuming BCAAs during exercise may help to reduce muscle breakdown and improve endurance, while consuming BCAAs after exercise may help to stimulate muscle protein synthesis and promote muscle recovery.
Many recent studies have shown supplementing with EAAs have greater positive effects than BCAAs as EAAs contain the three BCAA amino acids on top of the other 6 essential amino acids.