Synthesis is the process by which muscles grow and repair themselves. Synthesis cannot take place if the rate of muscle breakdown is faster. In order to repair and grow, muscles must have protein, and more specifically, amino acids. Without them, the body starts breaking the muscle fiber down.
The reason synthesis is important is because it has to be done at the right rate or more muscle is lost than gained. Muscle mass= rate of protein synthesis- rate of protein breakdown. You must stay ahead of the game with the proper rest intervals, the proper diet and supplements such as BCAAs to gain the steady, solid growth you want.
BCAAs are necessary because of the catabolic process that tears muscle down when the body is on a diet. When dieting, the body needs fuel from other sources, so it breaks down amino acids found in muscle fiber.
Muscles will also start breaking down if there is not enough energy being absorbed by the body. Research has proven that BCAAs, (branched-chain amino acid) supplements are some of the best supplements to take while participating in bodybuilding activities. They provide several benefits that can enhance training and provide proven results.
BCAAs help maximize your workouts by providing the necessities for a body in training:
- Help with the immune system. Branched-chain amino acids helps provide immune system support for bodies under stress. Without this support, the body can weaken and is more susceptible to sickness while training.
- Help with amino acid deficiencies. This supplement puts vital amino acids back in your system after your body has utilized what you had when you worked out. This especially helpful for those that are on restrictive or strict diets. When foods are restricted, so are amino acids and vital nutrients. It is important to make up for this loss somehow. BCAAs also help with protein synthesis, providing muscle with the building blocks they need to repair old tissue while building new tissue.
- Aids in preventing lean muscle loss. BCAAs can help protect valuable muscle fiber that can deteriorate under the stress of overworking muscles. When muscles are overworked, certain hormones in the body can actually destroy muscle fiber, causing any progress to be destroyed with it. This is the reason a rest is required between workout intervals and intense workouts.
Whey has been cited by some as a good substitute for BCAAs. However, there are drawbacks to favoring whey over BCAAs, such as having to wait several hours for the BCAA in whey to digest and make it to the muscles.
With supplements, the benefit is gained sooner because there is no wait time for digestion and absorption. The benefit is almost immediate and there is a larger impact because BCAA supplements have higher dosages than a single serving of whey protein. BCAAs have been shown to be superior to other supplements and can provide the help you need.