Should I Take BCAAs?

Today, I thought I would post on something more fitness related. When I started working out more aggressively I realised the need for BCAAs, and often found myself googling “should I take BCAAs?” After my extensive research, I decided to give it a go and now my answer to the question is YES!

BCAA is short for ‘Branched Chain Amino Acids’. It’s composed of 3 amino acids, namely leucine, isoleucine and valine. The combination of this trio aids in muscle growth and prevention of muscle fatigue.

Since a year and a half I have been taking BCAAs during my workout, instead of sipping plain water. There are many benefits to taking them; however, there are two that I notice the most.

BCAA Benefits:

Muscle retention

The protein synthesis characteristic of BCAAs enables muscle retention in that it stops the breakdown of muscle. This is really important because I do a lot of workouts that use weights and functional movements that incorporate cardio, so you burn through both fat and muscle.

Decreased muscle soreness

This is my favourite thing about BCAAs – the decrease in muscle soreness. My muscles are pretty much never fatigued, which allow me to work out 5-6 times consecutively a week.

I also remember once sleeping very little and going to work after a flight back from Vienna. Literally could not keep my eyes open at my desk and was pretty sure a workout was not gonna happen later on. I decided to put BCAAs to the test and made myself a mix, and guys within about 15 minutes I felt less tired and ready for the gym. I remember smashing legs that day. Not sure if that was a placebo effect but it worked for me.

Which BCAAs to get?

So many different brands do BCAAs, you need to do your research and figure out which brand to go with. I got recommended the MyProtein BCAAs from one of my friends. I gave it a go, liked it and have been using it since.

There are two different forms of taking BCAA’s, either in a powder or tablet form. I go for the powder form because it works instantly and is processed more quickly by the body. I have never tried tablets so I wouldn’t be able to judge how great they are but from doing a lot of research online I opted for the powder form because I felt that is what fulfilled what I wanted.

When buying your BCAAs make sure to never get the unflavoured version, it is absolutely disgusting, unless you mix it into a smoothie or a flavoured protein shake, but then that would be difficult to have whilst working out.

I always order the MyProtein BCAAs, in the blue raspberry or guava flavour. My fave is definitely guava but they don’t seem to sell it anymore, so it’s def blue raspberry for me.

Give it a go and see how muscle soreness is yesterday’s news!

Naturally,
Sweebs xx