aminoVITAL Rapid Recovery Ingredient Breakdown
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What is in Amino VITAL Rapid Recovery?
If you have taken Rapid Recovery before, you may already know the ingredients inside: vegan amino acids, electrolytes, complex carbohydrates, and a little sugar. Each of these ingredients serves a specific purpose for your muscle recovery.
Amino Acids
First, the main ingredient in Rapid Recovery is amino acids. Rapid Recovery contains Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs) which contain 3 essential amino acids - Leucine, Isoleucine, and Valine. Additionally, the amino acids L-Arginine and L-Glutamine are also in Rapid Recovery.
What Are Amino Acids?
Amino acids are the broken down, most simple forms of protein. For instance, one of the benefits of supplementing with amino acids over protein is that, because they are in their simplest form, they are more quickly absorbed by the body. This is important since your muscles crave nutrition after exercise. Every amino acid offers a different function for your body. BCAAs, Glutamine, and Arginine provide distinct benefits for muscles.
BCAAs
Muscle proteins are broken down during exercise. That soreness you feel after working out is the result of tiny tears in muscle tissue. Therefore, feeding your muscles after exercise with BCAAs can prevent the further breakdown of muscle tissue proteins while promoting muscle protein synthesis. Through these functions, BCAAs are known to help reduce muscle damage and the associated muscle soreness.
Glutamine
Similar to BCAAs, Glutamine is known to support muscle protein synthesis. An additional benefit of Glutamine is immune system support. A stronger, healthier immune system is important for muscle recovery. A healthy immune system helps clean up harmful waste products and then signals the body to begin the repair process.
Arginine
Arginine is a non-essential amino acid which means your body does not need to acquire Arginine through diet. However, supplementing with Arginine is still beneficial during exercise because it greatly contributes to the body’s natural secretion of Growth Hormone. Growth Hormone is essential to increasing muscle and repairing muscle damage. Arginine expands veins to promote circulation which means greater delivery of carbohydrate and oxygen to muscles.
See: What is Arginine and What Does It Do for You?
Carbohydrates / Sugar
Carbohydrates are important in a post workout drink in order to replenish the glycogen lost during exercise. Rapid Recovery contains two carbohydrate sources: Highly Branched Cluster Dextrin (HBCD) and sugar. HBCD is a complex carb which rapidly and sustainably releases glucose into the bloodstream. The body can absorb this quicker than standard carb supplements. Additionally, Sugar was put into this recipe because after exercise, insulin levels are down and as you may know, sugar boosts insulin levels. Insulin propels amino acids into your muscles. In this way, sugar acts as the transport system to get amino acids into your tired & hungry muscles.
See: Why Your Sports Drink Should Have Multiple Types Of Carbohydrate
Electrolytes
Lastly, Rapid Recovery contains electrolytes. We have always been told that if you sweat, you need to replenish your electrolytes. Not only are electrolytes key to hydration, but they are also important for muscle recovery. A benefit of electrolytes that is not as well known is that they are important for facilitating muscle contraction and growth and repair of muscle tissue. Rapid Recovery contains some important electrolytes including sodium, potassium, phosphorus, and calcium.
See: The Benefits of Sugar and Sodium in Sports Drinks
Sodium
When dehydrated, your muscles are more likely to cramp or ache. And, this makes muscle repair post-workout more difficult. Since 75% of muscle tissue is water, your muscles will start to feel fatigued and might be more prone to damage if your body's water levels are low. Sodium assists in regulating the amount of water in your body. And, can help your body retain more water.
Potassium
Potassium is important for many functions including regulating heartbeat, ensuring proper muscle function, and helping transmit nerve impulses. Muscles both absorb and release potassium as they contract and release. That being said, if your muscles do not have enough potassium, they can become weak. A balance of potassium is beneficial to maintain muscle tone and fight muscle fatigue and cramps.
Phosphorus
Phosphorus is actually the 2nd most abundant mineral in the body and is needed to make protein for the growth, maintenance, and repair of cells and tissues. In other words, due to its importance for tissue growth and repair, Phosphorus aids in muscle repair and post-workout pain relief. Additionally, phosphorus helps your body be able to absorb and use other nutrients.
Calcium
Calcium not only is good for bone health but also aids in muscle contraction and nerve impulse transmission. That being said, if you are calcium deficient, your body borrows this mineral from your bones to provide for your blood and muscles.
Key Takeaways:
• Amino Acids (BCAAs, Glutamine, and Arginine) all have specific functions to help repair muscles and reduce soreness.
• Carbohydrates and sugar help replenish the glycogen lost during exercise and increase insulin to propel amino acids into your muscles.
• Electrolytes not only keep you hydrated but also facilitate muscle contraction, muscle growth, and the repair of muscle tissue.
