BCAA Supplements: The Secret Weapon for the Bodybuilder

For gym lovers, passionate bodybuilders, fitness junkies, and athletes, supplements can boost performance and help you achieve fitness goals fast. Our range of BCAA supplements are no exception. No matter what kind of fitness routine you're following, a supplement like BCAA can really make a difference. They’re hailed as one of the most effective ways to optimize your workouts and recover after a grueling workout session.

Branched-chain amino acids (BCCAs) are a group of three essential amino acids, namely: Leucine, isoleucine, and Lavine. Typically, essential amino acids are the building blocks of muscles that promote growth and development. When we say “essential,” your body needs it but can’t make it on its own. So you have to get them from food and workout supplements. 

Essential amino acids can be sourced from meats, fish, and eggs, but what you eat may not be enough to supply your body’s needs. Although essential amino acids are naturally found in many food sources, BCAA supplements are generally preferred for better and quicker results. It can help you build muscles while losing weight when combined with exercise.*

In addition, BCAA supplementation can contribute to the maintenance of muscle glycogen stores and help support even more intense exercise performance.* It may also help you to stay in the gym longer and burn more calories.* In other words, BCCAs may be the key to maximizing both muscle growth and fat loss from your training sessions,* as well as ensuring better recovery and muscle repair afterward.*

How Do BCAA Supplements Work?

As mentioned earlier, BCCAs are made up of key amino acids that are essential to our health. They make up a major part of the amino acid pool in our bodies and nearly 20% of all the amino acids in any given muscle cell. Supplementing with BCAAs preserves your glycogen stores,* leaving them available to fuel your workout. This helps you train harder, while also preventing muscle breakdown.* It's simple: more intensity and better results, without the negative side effects of stimulants.

Taking BCCAs has several functions in your body. For example:

• These special molecules are used as building blocks of protein in your body,* including the creation of new muscle tissue.* Among these special molecules, leucine may have the strongest effect on building lean muscle mass.*

• Isoleucine and valine are fundamental to energy production, which burns fat when combined with exercise and helps regulate blood glucose levels.*

• Instead of the liver, BCCAs are broken down directly in the muscles. This offers an energy boost that lasts your whole workout.*

• It’s hypothesized that BCAAs curb an increase in blood glucose by triggering cells to absorb glucose from the bloodstream,* thus maintaining muscle and liver glucose stores.*

• BCAAs lessen fatigue levels during workouts due to their role in reducing serotonin hormone production.*

Top Proven Benefits of BCCAs

Generally, there are about five major benefits that BCCA offers. These include the following:

Boost Muscle Growth*

BCAAs are one of the most popular supplements on sale and for good reason. They help you train harder and build more muscle.* These supplements will help you build more muscle faster by promoting protein synthesis and inhibiting cortisol production,* leading to a reduction in protein breakdown.* This way, you'll get the biggest muscles gain in the shortest time possible.* To achieve better results, you must have all the essential amino acids.

Reduce Muscle Degeneration & Soreness*

Perfect for anyone who works out regularly, BCAA supplements can help decrease soreness after a hard workout and improve recovery time.*

It's normal to get sore muscles for a day or a couple of days after exercise. That is, as a result of DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness), a condition that starts 12 to 24 hours after working out and lasts until 72 hours later. By reducing muscle breakdown, BCAA increases the rate at which muscles heal and repair themselves.* Packed with enough amino acids to soften the most stubborn DOMS, BCAAs are sure to be a lifesaver. It does this by restoring glycogen and nutrients faster in the body.*

Boost Your Exercise Endurance*

The branched structure of amino acids helps your body to process them faster,* which results in several benefits including increased strength and muscle endurance.* Unlike regular proteins, they’re metabolized directly in the skeletal muscles.* So, when required, they provide instant energy during exercise.* They also prevent muscle breakdown during long periods of exercise.*

As you exercise, BCAA stops serotonin from building up and fatigue from setting in.* Also, by supplementing with BCAAs, you contribute to overall muscle building by helping to preserve your stores of glycogen.* Glycogen is the primary fuel your muscles use for energy production.

Accelerate Fat Loss When Combined with Exercise*

BCAAs are powerful supplements that help you achieve your fitness goals. Based on a study, BCAAs can help you accelerate fat loss when combined with exercise while preserving muscle mass.* When you use it as part of a healthy diet and exercise plan, they help you attain your health and fitness goals faster, while minimizing the risk of metabolic disorders associated with obesity.*

The BCAAs help boost the rate of fat metabolism and decrease appetite,* which makes it ideal to take alongside other diet supplements. In addition, they protect you from adverse health effects that occur due to an unhealthy diet, including fatty livers and diabetes.*

How To Take BCAA Supplements

As a supplement, BCCAs should be taken before, during, and after training​. When consumed the right way, they will help in gaining muscle mass and prevent muscle breakdown to help you perform at the top of your game.* The formulation helps supplement your diet with the essential nutrients needed for a healthy body. When combined with an effective training schedule and a healthy diet, you'll know that you are loaded up to succeed.

A great way to ensure that you consume enough leucine is to include brown rice and whole-wheat foods in your regular diet. Almonds, peanuts, and cashews are rich in valine, and to get enough isoleucine, try dairy, grains, mushrooms, and soy products.

To provide enough BCAAs to your muscles, you need protein from high-quality animal products like red meat, fish, eggs, and chicken, as well as vegetarian alternatives like soy. All amino acids are important, so consume them all by eating a variety of foods.

Should You Take BCAA Supplements?

With all the benefits and support to your fitness journey, taking BCAA supplements is highly recommended. Whether you're a bodybuilder, fitness enthusiast, athlete, or simply looking for a healthier lifestyle, BCAA supplements are for you.

However, the choice is up to you. We hope that the information we provided can help you reach a decision.

At Bucked Up, we know that a quality supplement can help sustain your muscles and encourage gains. If you’re getting the nutrients you need, it’s easier to lift longer, recover faster, and achieve your fitness goals quicker.

Frequently Asked Questions About BCAAs

Can BCAAs go bad?

BCAAs are generally pretty stable and it is very uncommon for them to go bad if you have handled your supplement properly. They have a fairly long shelf-life of up to two years.

The expiration date is used to estimate the elapsing of a supplement as soon as it's been opened. However, if your BCAAs have been exposed to moisture and humidity, they'll start to break down chemically and lose their effectiveness. It's best if you dispose of a supplement that has an odor, bitter flavor, color change, or clumps in it.

Which BCAAs do I need?

You don’t need to confuse yourself with all the options on the market. If you need endurance, we recommend taking the Original BCAA 2:1:1, especially for doing strenuous workouts or physical activities. It’ll help you go harder and last longer during your workout.

For the best in growing your muscle and getting in shape faster, nothing can beat the Racked BCCA. Delivering instant amino acids, they help to boost protein synthesis,* leading to muscle growth.* Taking it is like a shortcut to losing fat while building muscle quickly.*

When should BCAAs be taken?

When it comes to taking BCAA supplements, there's a lot of information to take in. The timing of your dose is very important for both performance and recovery. To get the most out of workouts and build muscle, experts agree that anywhere from one to three grams are enough. However, if you're trying to focus on pre-workout nutrition, it may be beneficial to ingest up to seven grams. This is so the amino acids are readily available for muscle repair. 

If you're taking BCAAs after a workout, take five to 10 grams by themselves or mixed in a protein shake right after your training session. A good tip for maximizing results is to make sure to consume BCAAs every day, including non-training days.

Based on your body's needs, you may consume up to 10 to 20 grams daily. A study suggests that athletes can also benefit from this amount, as it can aid in minimizing soreness and promoting recovery.*

Will BCAAs keep you awake?

As we’ve said, taking BCCAs can help increase energy levels and focus during workouts,* which can lead people to think that they might be able to take them at night without any side effects. However, this isn't necessarily the case.

If you're taking BCAA powder for the purpose of staying awake and alert, or for any other reason, then you'll be disappointed to find that it's not going to work. BCAAs don’t cause stimulation, but rather are an ingredient in protein supplements that help to reduce muscle breakdown when working out.*

In regards to taking it in the evening, it may be more beneficial than causing insomnia. The idea is that using BCAAs before bedtime can help preserve muscle by boosting protein synthesis.*

Where do BCAAs come from?

BCAAs are essential nutrients that power muscle protein synthesis and help muscles recover.* Naturally, they're found in dairy, meat, and legumes. BCAA supplements are made from protein. This means that they come from the same sources as other proteins: plants and animals.

We source the purest high-quality BCAAs and combine them with other nutrients to ensure optimum performance and recovery during a workout.* With high potency formulation, this supplement is more expensive than other types of protein powder because of its quality. It satisfies the body's daily requirement for all essential amino acids.

How Soon Will I Notice Results?

Within just a week, you should experience some positive effects or changes in your body. These changes can continue over time. Everyone is different, and not everyone will respond in the same way. Results vary based on factors, which may include your diet, lifestyle choices, and metabolism.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.  This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.