BCAA, is it neccessary?

skeo

Hello,
So after reading a few articles about BCAA's, I'm a bit confused as to if it's really a neccessity? What benefits does it offer, because I'm still confused about it. Is it for muscle re-building? Doesn't protein do this? I drink a protein shake post workout, would it do me any harm or help if I were to take a BCAA after as well? I've seen some people put a scoop into a water bottle and sip on it all day, what benefit does that have?

In short, if I consume adequate amounts of protein, ie the 1 to 1 (lbm ratio) or .8, WITH the help of a post workout protein shake, does the BCAA have any added benefit?

Just want to know before shelling out any money.

neanderthin

No, not if your consuming adequate protein, which you are.

TwinkieDong

Some proteins have BCAAs. Here is a better understanding of BCAAs pasted from bodybuilding.com

Among the most beneficial and effective supplements in any sports nutrition program are branched chain amino acids. These are the essential aminos leucine, isoleucine, and valine.

Although these supplements have been around for a long time and the scientific understanding in the exercise performance benefits of BCAA supplementation is rich many people don't know exactly how they exert their effects or how and when to use them properly.

You probably know that amino acids are the building blocks of protein. When you eat a protein food, it gets digested in the stomach and intestine into individual amino acids and short chains of amino acids that are small enough to be absorbed into the bloodstream. These amino acids have far reaching effects in the body from building and repairing tissues, to producing chemicals that enable our brains to function optimally.

What Is The Difference Between Essential and Non-Essential Amino Acids?

Essential amino acids cannot be made by the body. You must get them from complete protein foods or combinations of incomplete vegetable foods. There are 9 essential amino acids: histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, and valine. Your body can make non-essential amino acids by itself from vitamins and other amino acids.

The term "non-essential" can be misleading since all amino acids are essential for proper metabolism and certain non-essential amino acids, such as glutamine, become very essential. The 13 non-essential amino acids are alanine, arginine, aspartic acid, cysteine, cystine, glutamic acid, glutamine, glycine, hydroxyproline, proline, serine, & tyrosine.

The essential branched chain amino acids (BCAA's) are of special importance for athletes because they are metabolized in the muscle, rather than in the liver. Here's how this works: After digestion once protein is broken down into individual amino acids these aminos can either be used to build new proteins or be burned as fuel to produce energy.

TwinkieDong

No, not if your consuming adequate protein, which you are.

not all Protein has BCAAs

Capt_Apollo

you do not need any supplements at all, especially if you are getting in a good diet.

however, as far as things go, BCAA is pretty good.

http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2014/03/27/what-supplements-should-i-take/

Branched Chain Amino Acids: BCAA’s are three amino acids – leucine, isoleucine, and valine. These play a role in protein synthesis and glucose uptake into cells, which is definitely something we want to encourage when trying to build muscle. However, they are naturally found in protein and unless you are working out fasted, the studies are inconsistent at best on if supplementing with them will actually help with anything. Conclusion? Get them from food!

neanderthin

No, not if your consuming adequate protein, which you are.

not all Protein has BCAAs

Yes, I know.