BCAAs Part 1: What They Are And Why You Need Them?

Posted by CJ on May 15th, 2010 in Featured, Nutrition, Supplements | 0 comments

BCAAs are absolutely essential in a person’s diet. Which leaves one question…what the heck are they?

BCAA actually stands for Branch Chain Amino Acids. This product is greatly misunderstood and the benefits are rarely communicated. Because of this only industry specialists and chemists really know what they are and how they work in the body. So, the next question is,what are amino acids?

Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. It might shock you to know that your body has no use what-so-ever for proteins. A protein molecule is too large and complex for the body to use. It must be broken down into its amino acid components. So, just to be clear, one protein molecule is made up of many amino acids. You should also know that every single thing in your body is made out of proteins so you had better get those BCAAs.

There are two different kinds of amino acids, essential and non-essential. Non-essential amino acids are amino acids that the human body can produce by itself on a regular basis. Essential amino acids must be obtained elsewhere, namely from food. BCAAs are the essential amino acids. That should make it pretty clear why it is important that BCAAs are part of your nutrition.

When eating certain protein sources such as fish, chicken, or red meat you are getting a mix of non-essential and essential amino acids. Some of the amino acids are not useful at the time because your body can make them. By eating meat, however, you are definitely getting all of the amino acids your body needs.

Vegetarians can have a harder time getting all of the protein that their body needs. The amino acids that come from nuts and dairy are almost all non-essential. The combinations of foods that they have to eat in order to get all of the amino acids they do need (beans and rice) generally provide way more carbohydrates then they could possibly need.

Though opinions of protein intake can vary those who promote vegetarian diets always fall on the lower end of the opinions. Generally because they have to. A higher protein diet and vegetarianism is practically physically impossible. If the lower estimates are wrong, then vegetarianism can lead to chronic deficiencies. Since every single thing in your body is made out of proteins and the BCAAs are the only pieces that your body can’t make it can be very productive and efficient, especially for vegetarians, to use a BCAA powdered supplement
because the body will then have access to all of the amino acids that are necessary.

Watch out for Part II on BCAAs.