The thousands of proteins in your body are made up of 20 different amino acids, nine of which are essential acids that cannot be produced by your body. Three of these are branched-chain amino acids, or BCAAs, and you can find them in supplemental drinks, eggs, meat, and dairy. In addition to helping build the thousands of proteins in your body, additional BCAAs also provide the following three benefits.

What Are the Advantages to Drinking BCAAs?

1. Boost Muscle Mass

The amino acid leucine acts as a catalyst in the body that can fuel the process of making muscle, also known as muscle protein synthesis. When you suffer from an illness, this will negatively impact the protein synthesis process, causing a loss in body protein and skeletal muscle mass. A study found that taking a supplemental drink with BCAAs and other essential amino acids help maintain muscle mass in chronic illnesses, making it easier to recover.

2. Reduce Exhaustion

When you exercise, your muscles use BCAAs, which causes a reduction of those levels in your body. This decline causes the levels of tryptophan, which is converted into serotonin, to increase. Serotonin has been shown to contribute to the feelings of fatigue and exhaustion during exercise. Research shows participants who consumed a supplemental beverage with BCAAs experienced sharper mental focus while exercising, as opposed to those who noted a feeling of “brain drain.” Branched-chain amino acids also improve workout efficiency by boosting energy metabolism, and individuals observed lower levels of muscle-damaging substances.

3. Decrease Body Fat

In addition to improvements in both your workout and your muscle maintenance, using supplemental BCAA drinks can also improve your lean muscle mass while reducing your body’s fat percentage. A study conducted on the effectiveness of BCAAs during a workout and weight loss regimens found that participants who regularly took supplements had a more significant decrease in body fat. They also noticed a greater increase in lean muscle mass compared to athletes that didn’t use the amino acid.

If you are looking for a way to feel better about your workouts and your health, talk to the professionals at One Nation Nutrition in Wentzville, MO, about supplements with BCAAs. A team of fitness experts leads this nutrition shop, and they provide athletes with various formulas and products to help achieve their desired results. To learn more about the benefits of amino acids, visit One Nation Nutrition online or call (636) 385-6868.