INTRODUCTION
At first, the invention of supplements for dietary requirements was a creation that was not welcomed by most of the world. Athletes, gymnasts and other locals were advised strictly to stay away from them. Pamphlets, brochures and advertisements were made to show people the harmful side effects of taking supplements to gain or lose weight.
But in recent years, dietary supplements, especially Branched Chain Amino Acid (BCAA) supplements have made a comeback and have proven to be healthy enough for people to be using them for weight loss.
WHAT ARE BCAA SUPPLEMENTS?
According to WebMD, “Branched chain amino acid supplements are essential nutrients that the body obtains from proteins found in food, especially meat, dairy products, and legumes.” People use BCCAs for medicinal purposes.
“Branched chain” refers to the chemical structure of the amino acids. In the human body, 20 different amino acids are present to make up hundreds and thousands of proteins. Nine of these twenty acids are supposed to be essential for the human body, and need to be obtained through dietary strictness, as they cannot be created by the human body itself.
Branched chain is the chemical structure which is also found in foods rich in nutrients like proteins such as meat, dairy products and eggs.
HOW DO THEY WORK?
The branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) are made up of three essential amino acids:
- leucine
- isoleucine
- valine
These supplements have proven to build body muscle, decrease muscle fatigue and cure muscle soreness. They also increase stamina and provide more muscle strength.
BENEFITS OF BRANCHED CHAIN AMINO ACIDS:
Branched chain amino acids have proven to be beneficial for a number of reasons and uses, which are as follows:
- Help with anorexia
Diseases like mitral valve prolapse and eating disorders cause anorexia, which causes victims to have poor appetite. Consuming branched chain amino acids help with this disease by improving appetite and nutrition intake. - Mania
Taking a proper course of branched chain amino acids dissolved in a drink manages to reduce symptoms of the psychological disorder called mania. - Weight loss
The biggest benefit of BCAAs is that they help massively with weight loss. They increase the metabolism because they make up 35-36% of essential amino acids in muscle proteins. These acids are crucial when it comes to building muscle, repairing of damaged muscle tissue, and rebuilding muscle strength and energy, which are extremely important keys when following a weight loss program.
BCAA powder helps a lot in weight loss and muscle building if taken 30-40 minutes before working out and even during your workout as it helps burn more calories during cardio.
Most of the time, when we are trying to lose weight, we are advised to a follow a diet which is strict about our calorie intake. Since we stop eating the way we usually do, it is possible for us to experience fatigue and lack of physical strength after some time, and we may feel like quitting our diet. Branched chain amino acid supplements help us stay on track by keeping our energy levels normal.