What are BCAA’s (Branched Chained Amino Acids) and what do they do?
- Posted on January 5, 2012 by Gaetan Tremblay
Lately, I have been getting a lot of
specific questions regarding
the Arbonne Essentials
Vitamin/Mineral Shakes and some of
the ingredients found in it. I think this is
terrific… It means people are really
becoming interested in what they are
putting in their bodies!
Since I published my blog a few days ago
explaining about what Amino Acids are
and what their purpose is, I have had some questions come up about BCAA’s. I have put some
of this information together to help you understand BCAA’s and something that you can use as
a valuable reference tool for yourself and your clients.
The Arbonne Essentials Vitamin/Mineral Shakes contain Protein taken from Pea, Cranberry
and Rice. I have to admit, when I first heard the buzz about pea protein my initial reaction was,
“Really?” I mean, when you think of muscle builders, peas are probably one of the last foods
that come to mind, but indeed, the Arbonne Essentials Vitamin/Mineral Shakes contain these
excellent Proteins, which have a very high BCAA count.
The main reason Pea Protein is gaining traction is because it is very rich in branched chain
amino acids (BCAA’s), protein compounds that have been shown to delay fatigue during
exercise. That’s exciting, because the amount of BCAA’s in pea protein comes close to those
found in milk and eggs, but is less likely to cause allergic reactions or intolerances. Pea protein
also contains Arginine, an amino acid shown to enhance immunity, fight erectile dysfunction
and improve fertility. The lysine content in peas helps the body absorb calcium and decreases
the amount of calcium lost in urine, thus helping to maintain strong bones. And peas are a
plant, so it’s a protein source that’s lower on the food chain (thus more “green”), and in line
with the general shift towards a plant-based diet. (The Arbonne Essentials Vitamin/Mineral
Shakes are certified Vegan)
OK, so first of all we need to ask the question… What are BCAA’s?
BCAA’s (branched chain amino acids) are the essential amino acids leucine (1740
mg), isoleucine (940 mg), and valine (1004 mg). (The totals in Brackets are the amount found
in each serving of the Arbonne Essentials Vitamin/Mineral Shake). The combination of these
three amino acids makes up approximately 1/3 of skeletal muscle tissue in the human body.
BCAA’s play a very important role in protein synthesis (the production of proteins in cells from
amino acids to build muscle).
What do BCAA’s do?
Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. When you eat food or drink the Arbonne
Essentials Vitamin/Mineral Shakes, the protein gets digested through the intestines and
stomach. During this process, the protein is broken down into individual amino acids and short
chains of amino acids. These amino acids are small enough to be absorbed into the
bloodstream.
Once the amino acids are absorbed into the bloodstream, they have far reaching effects across
the entire body. Amino acids are involved in muscle repair (lean muscle building), essential
brain functions, and even hair growth, just to name a few.
What is a metabolic pathway?
To understand just how important BCAA’s are to muscle building and recovery, you need to
know what a metabolic pathway is. Put simply, a metabolic pathway is a chain of chemical
reactions that takes place within a cell (in this case, a muscle tissue cell). When adequate
amounts of BCAA’s are ingested they create their own metabolic pathway which results in
increased protein production. This means more muscle tissue will be grown and muscles will be
repaired faster.
So… What does all this mean?? Basically, it means that the Arbonne Essentials
Vitamin/Minerals Shakes provides sufficient quantities of BCAA’s to really help build Lean
Muscle Mass. Which in turn means it will help you build muscles, lose fat, and help boost your
metabolic rate. Combined with some Healthy Activities, this will truly lead to a very healthy
lifestyle.