What are the BCAAs in NGX Protein and why are they important?
Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, and among them, branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) are a group of three essential amino acids that have been shown to have unique properties and functions in the body.
NGX Protein is made up of pea protein powder and brown rice protein powder which combine to deliver one of the highest ratios of BCAAs per gram of protein around.
But what are BCAAs and why are they important? Well, keep reading and you’ll find out!
What are BCAAs?
BCAAs are a group of three essential amino acids that are characterised by their branched side chains. The three BCAAs are leucine, isoleucine, and valine. Leucine has a branched side chain with two methyl groups, while isoleucine and valine each have a branched side chain with one methyl group. It is the branched side chain that gives BCAAs their unique properties and functions.
These three BCAAs are considered ‘essential’ because the body cannot produce them on its own, so they must be obtained through dietary sources like NGX Protein.
Why are BCAAs important?
BCAAs play a critical role in many biological processes in the body. They are unique among the essential amino acids because they are metabolised primarily in muscle tissue, rather than in the liver. This makes BCAAs essential for muscle protein synthesis, which is the process by which the body builds new muscle tissue.
Additionally, BCAAs have been shown to help reduce muscle breakdown during exercise and improve exercise performance. They have also been shown to help reduce fatigue and improve recovery after exercise. BCAAs may also play a role in regulating blood sugar levels and reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes.
Conclusion
So in summary, BCAAs are a group of three essential amino acids that are characterised by their branched side chains. They are important for:
- Muscle protein synthesis
- Reducing muscle breakdown during exercise
- Improving exercise performance
NGX Protein was deliberately designed to be high in BCAAs and we infuse NGX Protein into your personalised BodyFuel, BodyFuel Pro and PowerPack nutrition products to ensure maximum results across muscle building, performance, recovery and health goals.
References
Blomstrand, E., Eliasson, J., Karlsson, H. K., & Köhnke, R. (2006). Branched-chain amino acids activate key enzymes in protein synthesis after physical exercise. The Journal of Nutrition, 136(1 Suppl), 269S-273S.
Newsholme, P. (2003). Why is L-glutamine metabolism important to cells of the immune system in health, postinjury, surgery or infection? The Journal of Nutrition, 133(1), 244S-248S.
Shimomura, Y., Murakami, T., Nakai, N., Nagasaki, M., & Harris, R. A. (2004). Exercise promotes BCAA catabolism: effects of BCAA supplementation on skeletal muscle during exercise. The Journal of Nutrition, 134(6 Suppl), 1583S-1587S.
