The Best Time To Take BCAA Supplements
Want the benefits of taking BCAAs but not sure about the right time to take your BCAA supplement? Get all the BCAA facts here!
What Are BCAAs?
BCAA is an acronym for Branch Chain Amino Acid. Branch Chain Amino Acids are a rich protein source and consist of three of the nine essential amino acids. These three amino acids play an important role in protein synthesis, immune system maintenance, and brain function. For athletes, BCAAs are important because they are the building blocks of performance proteins, allowing the body to re-build and grow new muscle. The three essential amino acids contained in BCAA blends are: valine, leucine and isoleucine. Most BCAA blends are formulated with a 2:1:1 ratio of leucine to isoleucine and valine because leucine appears to be more effective at catalyzing protein synthesis and reducing the breakdown of muscle protein.
The Benefits of BCAA
It is well understood that protein plays an important role in muscle growth, but more recent research shows that the specific components of BCAAs are especially good at maintaining muscle mass in athletes. Some of their other benefits include:
- Limiting Next Day Soreness
- Delaying Fatigue During Fitness
- Encouraging Muscle Growth and Repair
- Providing Muscles with Energy
With so many benefits of BCAAs it’s easy to understand why so many athletes take them to supplement their training. But despite wide adoption there is some debate among the athletic community about the right best time to take BCAA supplements.
Should You Take BCAA Before or After Workouts?
Benefits of Taking BCAAs Before Your Workout
Studies show that BCAA levels in your blood peak 30 minutes after consumption. With this in mind, to maximize the fatigue reducing benefits of BCAAs it would make sense to consume them slightly before the start of your workout. When taken before a long workout, BCAAs can act as an additional energy source to muscles after your store of glucose (the primary source for muscle energy) is depleted.
Benefits of Taking BCAA Supplements After a Workout
Consuming protein after a workout is important for building muscle and reducing muscle catabolism. BCAAs help with reducing muscle breakdown and reducing the dreaded delayed muscle soreness. If you’re looking to avoid the feeling of total muscle exhaustion the day after a strenuous workout, it seems consuming BCAAs after your workout can help. BCAA supplements provide easily absorbed protein components and can give your muscles a jumpstart on repair right after a workout before your next nourishing meal rounds out your post-fitness nutrition.
The Best of Both Worlds
So the answer is that the best time to take BCAA supplements is both before and after a workout. By consuming BCAA protein supplements before a workout you aim to delay fatigue and provide extra energy reserves for your muscles. By taking BCAAs after a workout your body receives support to repair, rebuild, and refresh muscles so you can feel less sore the next day.
The best time to take BCAA supplements is before and after your workout. Support your fitness goals and stay hydrated during exercise with Nuun Endurance.
