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5 Surprising Benefits of BCAA
Table of Contents
1. It improves insulin sensitivity
Insulin sensitivity is a marker of how effectively our cells respond to insulin. It's very important for health and weight maintenance, because chronic insulin resistance is linked to diabetes, which in turn leads to further health complications and the development of metabolic syndrome, which includes hypertension, hyperglyceremia and obesity. Many aspects of our lives affect our cells' insulin sensitivities; the strongest of these are, of course, exercise and proper diet. Now, thanks to the findings of scientists at the Sao Paulo University of Medicine, we also know that isolating glucose from other amino acids in the circulatory system is an important factor in insulin transport.2. Reduction of fat tissue
Usually, eating anything that's high in calories, to a greater or lesser extent, leads to the accumulation of fatty tissue -- in the case of branched-chain amino acids, that doesn't necessarily have to be true -- observational studies show that people who eat it.3. BCAA
BCAA accelerates metabolism by stimulating food thermogenesis and reduces hunger, stabilizes sugar levels and improves insulin sensitivity, as well as redirects upcoming calories to muscle.4. Improves the functioning of the immune system
Every time you do intense exercise, eat inappropriate food, or you're in a stressful situation, your immune system is put to the test. The increased stress your body is subjected to creates a breeding ground for viruses that can spread throughout the body. To defend against disease, we need to provide the body with energy that boosts our immune system's work during difficult times. Of course, this energy must also come from the right sources.5. Limiting muscle pain
The painful muscles that we can feel a day or two after we finish training are a kind of masochistic reward for our efforts, but they can often interfere with our daily lives, and most people are more likely to take advantage of the opportunity to reduce the effect of training the next day. The solution to this problem is simple: a portion of BCAA before training. Almost all studies that test muscle pain show either a real, empirical decrease in the participants' pain sensation, or a decline in muscle damage markers such as creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase, when BCAA are taken before exercise.6. Limiting central fatigue during training
Branched-chain amino acids are sometimes classified as long-neutral amino acid families which means they can cross the blood-brain barrier. BCAAs themselves have little effect on brain function, however, taking them before training will cause less tryptophan to enter the brain. This amino acid is converted to serotonin a neurotransmitter that causes fatigue and sleepiness associated with central fatigue.
