Can You Take BCAAs Every Day?

Amino acids, and especially BCAAs, have gained significant popularity in recent years for their effectiveness as a new, more advanced form of fitness supplement. Fans of fitness regularly take these products as a way to boost gains and improve recovery times, but because amino acids are relatively unfamiliar to many gym-goers, questions abound regarding the exact nature and uses of amino acids. The concerns are very reasonable – after all, if you’re going to be putting something into your body, you’ll probably like to know how it will affect you – but rest assured that amino acids are safe, effective, and backed by a growing body of scientific evidence, including clinical studies and real-life success stories. Still, there are many who ask whether you can take BCAAs every day. To find out, keep reading as the experts at aminoVITAL® tackle this very topic.

What Are BCAAs?

Though the human body uses a variety of amino acids, there are 20 specific compounds that form the basis of all the other amino acids that keep us alive. The majority of these amino acids can be produced by our bodies through various processes – though some still require supplementation in times of stress – but there are nine that we can’t make ourselves; these are the “essential” amino acids, and they must be obtained through food or supplements.

Within this group of nine important compounds, there are three that share similar shapes, which are unique among the other amino acids. The amino acids in this group of three are referred to as the “branched-chain” amino acids, or BCAAs; more specifically, they are called leucine, isoleucine, and valine. The BCAAs are the amino acids that provide most of the fitness-related benefits we get from not only amino acid supplements but also most protein-based supplements as well.

That’s because the three BCAAs are contained in most of the whole proteins you eat or drink, especially the so-called “complete” proteins, such as whey, soy, and animal proteins. In fact, these compounds are the real reason people have used protein supplements for so long, even if they don’t know it; when a person drinks a protein shake after working out, their body breaks apart those proteins into their constituent parts: amino acids. Once digested, these amino acids are absorbed into the bloodstream, where they are carried to the various parts of the body that need them.

Benefits of BCAA Supplements

While amino acid supplements and protein supplements both offer essentially the same compounds, amino acid-based products are notably faster and leaner than their protein-based counterparts. The speed and efficiency of amino acid supplements come from the fact that free-form amino acids don’t require the same amount of digestion as whole proteins.

Whereas the stomach must break down proteins into amino acids before those compounds can be used, the free-form versions of these compounds lack the troublesome bonds that link them to one another in protein, so the digestive system has much less work to do and can absorb them much faster for delivery to the muscles. In fact, amino acid supplements are absorbed into the body as much as three times faster than even the ever-popular whey protein, making it a superior choice for your pre-, mid-, and post-workout supplement regimen.

One other major benefit of choosing amino acid supplements over protein supplements is that amino acid supplements tend to be a lot leaner than a traditional protein shake or powder. Take a look at the nutrition label on any popular protein-based product and you’ll probably see well over a hundred calories per serving and a generous helping of sugar – two of the last things you want if your focus is building lean muscle. Instead, amino acid supplements often have far fewer calories – the Action intra-workout mix from aminoVITAL® has only 15 calories, for example – and so offer generally better outcomes in terms of health and fitness.

Taking BCAA Supplements Every Day

To date, there is little to no evidence to suggest that taking a BCAA supplement every day comes with any downsides at all. BCAAs are naturally used by the body in some vital roles, so your system is already used to them, and they seem to put no real strain on the body’s systems when consumed, either. Though research is ongoing, a number of studies have looked at whether there are any dangers inherent in the use of BCAAs as a fitness supplement, and the consensus seems to be that they are perfectly safe, with a few (very specific) exceptions.

Those with certain medical conditions – namely those that impair the body’s ability to process amino acids – should not take BCAA supplements. If you have ALS, for instance, you should avoid amino acid supplements unless otherwise directed by your doctor. Those with a rare condition known as maple syrup urine disease should also avoid these products, as should those with ongoing kidney problems, and some researchers have suggested – out of an overabundance of caution, mainly – that women who are pregnant should skip these supplements, too. However, for a healthy individual, BCAAs are quite safe, even if you use them every day.

Get Safe, Effective BCAA Supplements Today from aminoVITAL®

As with any new health supplement, people have some very reasonable questions about how amino acids should be used, including whether they’re safe for daily consumption. The good news is that they are; research has consistently shown almost no side effects from the use of BCAAs, making these lean, fast-acting supplements among your best choices for building bigger, stronger, leaner muscles after exercise. To learn more about BCAAs and how they can help you reach your health and fitness goals, visit aminoVITAL® online or call (888) 264-6673 today.