Amino acids are the building blocks of protein and are vital to a diverse spectrum of bodily functions. They power every biochemical process that sustains our lives and without them, the human body could not function at all.
Essential amino acid supplements are a great way to supplement your exercise and fitness regimen. They can help you build muscle, prevent muscle loss, and speed up recovery time. Essential amino acids are comprised of essential amino acids such as leucine, isoleucine, valine, lysine, and more.
Amino acids can help you to achieve the best version of yourself. They can provide you with a higher level of energy, better sleep quality, and healthier skin and teeth.
It’s time to get back on track with Essential Amino Acid Supplements. This article will show you what they are, how they work, and the best amino acid supplements.
The very reason that protein is so imperative is those tiny threads of amino acids. Amino acids put quite simply, are the constructive blocks of life. On ingesting protein, the body breaks the chain of amino acid apart into the individual amino, rearrange it, refold it, and turn it into what is needed by the body.
But some amino acids, particularly when it comes to fitness, are extremely distinct in the manner they are used in the body.
While the amino’s are extensive to research when it comes to sports supplements. Of primary apprehension to fitness enthusiasts is a group of 9 amino acids, namely histidine, leucine, lysine, isoleucine, valine, methionine, threonine, tryptophan, and phenylalanine called Essential Amino Acids (EAAs).
What, exactly, makes Essential Amino Acid Supplements so important? If proteins are made of amino acids, why should you also take essential amino acid supplements, instead of just getting all your protein? Why are Essential Amino acids so popular as a sports supplement?
This Ultimate guide will provide you a clear understanding of all that you need to know about Essential Amino Acid.
Let’s start with;
What is Amino Acid?
Amino acids often referred to as building blocks of protein are organic compounds counting of nitrogen, carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, crucial for many different processes in the body.
There are 2 different types of amino’s namely: Essential and Non-essential. As the name indicates, essential amino acids are necessarily required by the body and must be acquired via diet on a regular basis, while non-essential amino acids are synthesized by the body on a regular basis and are not necessarily required to be taken through diet. However, this definitely does not mean that non-essential amino acids can be taken for granted.
The most generic source of essential amino acids is animal protein like meat, egg, and poultry. For this reason, a vegetarian diet often lacks essential amino acids.
The human body requires both; Essential and Non-essential amino acids to function properly. However, only nine are classified as essential amino acids as they perform a number of crucial and varied jobs in the human body:
- Phenylalanine: Phenylalanine is a forerunner to tyrosine, dopamine, epinephrine and norepinephrine neurotransmitters. It not only plays an extensive business in the formation and action of proteins and enzymes but also aids in the formation of other amino acids.
- Valine: Valine is one of the three branched amino acids, which means that it has a chain that branches off to one side of its molecular formation. Valine helps to boost muscle development and regeneration and engages in the production of energy.
- Threonine: Threonine is a major component of structural proteins such as collagen and elastin, which are significant skin and connective tissue elements. It also plays an important part in immune function and fat metabolism.
- Leucine: Like valine, leucine is one of a branched-chain amino acid that is remarkable for protein synthesis and rebuild of muscles. Also, it helps to balance blood glucose levels, encourages bruise curing and assemble growth hormones.
- Tryptophan: Tryptophan is a precursor for serotonin responsible to regulate sleep, mood, and appetite. Tryptophan also possesses pain-concealing qualities and can increase pain resistance ability during intense workouts or competitions.
- Methionine: Methionine is an important amino acid crucial for boosting the body’s detoxification and metabolism. Also, it has a key role to play in the growth of tissues and the absorption of vital minerals like zinc and selenium.
- Isoleucine: It is one of the 3 branched amino acids required for immune function, energy production, and muscle metabolism.
- Lysine: Lysine is another very important amino acid required for protein synthesis, hormone and enzyme production, and calcium absorption.
- Histidine: Histidine is required to produce histamine which is critical to the normal functioning of the immune system, sexual function, sleep-wake cycle, and digestion.
The above information clearly indicates that for many decisive processes essential amino acid is crucial. Not only they are perceived for their role in muscle advancement and rectification, but the body counts on them for so much more.
Benefits of Essential Amino Acids in the bodybuilding/ fitness world
Essential Amino Acid is most popular as a sports supplement as it has a special role to play and can be used as an ideal sports supplement in the form of powder/pills to improve strength, stamina and endurance ability.
Most athletes already appreciate the favor of amino acid as a sports supplement. With the growing craze to get fit and look better, The abounding functions and benefits of amino acids are now becoming widely known, so recreational athletes are also using amino acid supplements more and more.
To understand the credibility of EAAs better, Let’s understand the rationale that the main component of muscles is a protein which is composed of amino acids, On ingesting protein, complex chains of amino acids are broken down to its constituent form i.e. Amino acid. This whole process takes a considerable amount of time to undergo.(More than 30 minutes)
On the other hand, Essential Amino acid supplement contains amino’s in its constituent form i.e. ready to absorb by the body, the readily absorbable form of amino acid makes the whole process a lot more quick and steady.(Less than 30 minutes)
It is due to this reason that most fitness experts prefer supplementing with EAA supplements as a post-workout as it helps damaged muscles to recover faster and reduces damage like muscle soreness.
Some of the key benefits of Essential Amino Acids(EAAs) include:
- Maintenance of Muscle: Various studies reveal that supplementing 6gm of EAAs possesses a compelling muscle- preserving effect.
- Exercise Recovery: Supplementing EAAs as a post-workout escalates muscle protein synthesis and net muscle protein balance thereby resulting in reduced fatigue and faster recovery after a workout.
- Appetite Regulation: EAA’s possess a special ability to regulate appetize by activating the brain cells that suppress hunger and improve satiety which is extremely crucial for a fitness seeker!
Summing Up
The deficiency of EAAs can affect the entire health and well-being. As a sports supplement, Essential Amino Acids is a bonafide nutritional robust that can prove to be extremely helpful at optimizing workout performance, training recovery, sleep pattern, mood and so much more. It is for this reason that most fitness experts prefer supplementing essential amino acid by adding Branched Chain Amino Acid supplement to their workout regime.
What happens if you take too many EAAs?
When excessive amounts of amino acids are taken, catabolism by enzymes in the liver and elsewhere is accelerated when intake exceeds requirements. In addition, changes in the free amino acid levels in the brain signal the nervous system centers regulating food consumption, and eating patterns are affected.
When should I take the ultimate EAA?
EAAs Are Effective Pre- and Post-Workout
Whether you’re walking, cycling, running stairs, or jumping rope, start by taking your EAA supplement 30 minutes before your workout session. The biggest benefit comes when you take your EAA supplement within an hour after your workout when your blood flow is strong and active
Should I take amino acids in the morning or at night?
Protein ingested immediately prior to sleep is effectively digested and absorbed, thereby increasing amino acid availability during overnight sleep. Greater amino acid availability during sleep stimulates muscle protein synthesis rates and improves whole-body protein net balance during overnight recovery.
What happens if you take amino acids every day?
Amino acids, specifically, are generally safe to use every day, as long as they’re not consumed in huge amounts. Because the nutritional needs of different people can vary widely, it’s tough to say exactly what the upper limit might be for amino acids in general.
Does EAA have side effects?
According to scientific research, there are no known serious side effects have been reported when using an EAA supplement in both normal and high amounts.
Who should not take amino acids?
Three of the most commonly mentioned risks of long-term amino acid supplementation are nausea, headache, and pain. Amino acid supplements can impact your blood sugar levels. This means that you should avoid them before and after surgery. Many experts advise against taking supplements that contain a single amino acid.
What amino acids should not be taken together?
L-lysine, for example, competes for cell receptors with L-arginine, so they’re best used separately. Other amino acids that shouldn’t be combined are tryptophan and phenylalanine or tyrosine, taurine, and glutamic acid or aspartic acid, carnitine and tyrosine, and cysteine and lysine.
