If you’re looking for a supplement that will support your muscle growth, boost your performance in the gym and help with recovery, then Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs) need to be your go-to.
The Verve BCAA Powder, part of our new Elements range - a premium collection of products designed to elevate your health and fitness - offers a blend of benefits that will help to ensure you stay at the top of your game when it comes to exercise and recovery.
What Are BCAAS?
Before we get on to Branched Chain Amino Acids, it’s worth knowing what amino acids are. These are essentially the building blocks of protein and there are 20 in total. We need protein for lots of reasons, from hormone production, to muscle and bone health, weight management and even immune health.
BCAAs are a group of three specific amino acids - Leucine, Isoleucine and Valine - and they are essential, in the sense that your body can’t make them. Instead, you need to get them from your diet. There are nine essential amino acids and the remaining 11 are non-essential, which means your body can produce them.
BCAAs can be found in certain foods, primarily protein-rich foods such as meat, dairy, eggs, legumes, nuts, seeds and soy products.
Whether you eat BCAA-rich foods or not, a BCAA supplement is an easy way to increase your intake.
Why Should I Take BCAAs?
There’s a pretty impressive list of reasons why you might want to add BCAAs to your supplement repertoire.
Firstly, research has found that BCAAs help to activate certain enzymes which support muscle growth. BCAAs also help your muscles to keep going for longer, reducing exercise-induced fatigue. In one study, participants who took BCAAs reported up to 15% less fatigue than those who were given a placebo.
Post exercise, BCAAs have also been shown to help support muscle recovery. Research has found that BCAAs lower blood levels of the enzymes creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase, which are involved in muscle damage. So taking Verve BCAA Powder could help you to bounce back quicker and avoid this muscle damage. Because after all, you don’t want to spend days nursing sore muscles.
What Should I Look For In My BCAA Powder?
Research suggests that if you’re someone who has a sedentary lifestyle, in which you spend much of the day sitting down, then your recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of BCAAs should be 45 mg per kg of weight for Leucine and 22.5 mg per kg of weight of both Isoleucine and Valine, per day. This would mean a 2:1:1 ratio of BCAAs (Leucine: Isoleucine: Valine).
People who are more active, such as gym goers, may need more BCAAs.
Verve BCAA Powder contains the recommended ratio of BCAAs, with 2.25g of L-Leucine, 1.25 g of L-Isoleucine 1.25g and 1.25g of L-Valine.
Is There A Right Time To Take BCAAs?
To really reap the benefits, take BCAAs before, during or after exercise. Mix 5g (1 level 10 ml scoop) of Verve BCAA Powder to 250ml of water or juice before and drink once a day.
What About Potential Side Effects Of BCAAs?
Generally, BCAA powder is safe. However, excessive amounts can lead to nausea and headaches, so it’s best to always follow the recommended dose. We recommend a 5g daily serve of Verve BCAA Powder.
Why Should I Trust Verve BCAA powder?
Good question. Whilst Verve BCAA Powder helps to boost athletic performance, muscle growth and recovery, one of the key things that sets us apart from our competitors is honesty. Verve BCAA Powder is 100% transparent and has none of the nasty stuff that you might find in other powders.
