Description
NZ PROTEIN BCAA’s 300g
Branched Chain Amino Acids are Essential Fuel For the Athlete.
NZ Protein’s Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs) is a 2:1:1 blend of the amino acids L-Leucine, L-Isoleucine, and L-Valine respectively.
Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins and these three branched chain amino acids make up about 1/3 of amino acids present in our body. The body cannot produce them so they must be obtained from dietary consumption.
While other amino acids are metabolised in the liver, branched chain amino acids are metabolised in muscle.
BCAAs can be depleted from muscle under intense training or dieting, and a deficiency in any one of them may cause muscle loss (catabolism). Exercise can increase BCAA requirements.
Branched Chain Amino Acid Benefits
Essential Fuel For the Athlete
Because branched chain amino acids are metabolised in skeletal muscle they may provide fuel (energy) for muscle during exercise.
BCAA supplementation may also fight fatigue during exercise too – BCAAs compete with tryptophan in the brain. Tryptophan is converted to serotonin in the brain, a chemical that can increase fatigue. During exercise BCAA levels reduce, which allows more tryptophan to enter into the brain.
A study from the Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness in 2011 found that BCAA supplementation provided energy and reduced fatigue by 17% compared to a placebo group.
Therefore, supplementation with BCAAs during prolonged exercise may help to provide more energy for muscle and fight fatigue.
Reduce Muscle Waste
Muscle proteins are constantly broken down and re-synthesised. The amount of protein in muscle is the net balance between the rate of breakdown vs re-synthesis. This is called the Net Muscle Protein Balance (NBAL). Muscle mass = protein synthesis – protein breakdown. Wasting of muscle occurs when muscle protein breakdown is higher than the re-synthesis.
This is especially the case when dieting as decreased energy intake can cause the body to use muscle to provide energy (catabolic).
Supplementing with branched chain acids during these times may help to slow or even prevent muscle waste by increasing protein synthesis and reducing breakdown.
Reduce Muscle Soreness
Some studies have found that BCAAs taken just prior, during, and/or immediately after exercise may reduce exercise induced muscle damage – also known as Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS).
This is because branched chain amino acids can reduce the impact of the enzymes creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase after prolonged exercise. These enzymes are associated with muscle damage.
Therefore supplementing with BCAAs just prior, during, and/or immediately after prolonged exercise may assist with reducing damage in muscles and soreness. Results tend to vary with diet, gender, and level of physical activity.
Muscle Building
BCAAS have anabolic (growth promoting) effects in muscle as they stimulate muscle protein synthesis, and help again protein breakdown. This is especially for leucine, which is primarily involved in muscle protein synthesis for muscle growth and recovery. Studies have shown leucine to be the most anabolic (growth promoting) amino acid for muscle growth and recovery.
When Should I take BCAA?
Protein powders already contain naturally occurring branched chain amino acids. Whey protein in particular has high BCAA content, so when can taking a BCAA supplement help (if at all)?
BCAA supplements are free form amino acid powders – in other words, they get absorbed by the body without having to be digested first. Protein powder, on the other hand, must be digested first for the amino acids to be absorbed. They should not replace protein powder, as protein powders generally contain all of the essential and non-essential amino acids needed for growth and development. Rather, because BCAA supplements are much faster acting, they may help to maximise recovery and protein sythesis after prolonged exercise.
If your protein intake is not high enough, or if on a calorie restricted diet especially, then supplementation with BCAA may assist against muscle protein breakdown.
Example of Nutritional Info:
This product is vegan – all amino acids are derived from plant sources.
Serving Size: 5.75g
Servings per pack: 52
ORANGE
| Name | Ave Quantity Per Serving | Ave Quantity Per 100g |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | <10kJ | 124kJ |
| Calories | 2 | 30 |
| Protein | 0g | 0g |
| – Gluten | 0g | 0g |
| Fat – total | <0.1g | 0.5g |
| – Saturated | <0.1g | 0.1g |
| Carbohydrate | 0.3g | 5.8g |
| – Sugars | <0.1g | 0.4g |
| Sodium | <5mg | <10mg |
| L-Leucine | 2.5g | – |
| L-Isoleucine | 1.25g | – |
| Valine | 1.25g | – |
Ingredients: Amino Acid Blend (L-Leucine, L-Isoleucine, L-Valine, Soy Lecithin), Natural Flavours, Citric Acid, Natural Colour (B-Carotene, Beetroot Powder), Sweetener (Sucralose).
Contains soy lecithin.
