Should I Take BCAAs Pre-Workout or Post-Workout?

May 20, 2020
by amino VITAL

Taking a fitness supplement is part of many pre-, mid-, and post-workout routines, from those used by casual gym members to those practiced by top professional athletes. These supplement regimens can be very helpful; many give people the jolt of energy they need to get moving at the beginning of their workout, while others streamline the recovery process or improve the body’s ability to make bigger muscles. Choosing which supplements you should take and when you should take them isn’t easy, however; consider BCAA amino acid fitness supplements like those from aminoVITAL®, for instance. These products have become increasingly popular in recent years, but do you know how to use them properly? Should you take BCAAs pre-workout or post-workout? To find out, read on as the people at aminoVITAL® provide some answers.

What Do BCAA Supplements Do?

Before we tackle when to take BCAAs, let’s first discuss just what these supplements do. For those who don’t know, the term “BCAA” is an abbreviation for “branched-chain amino acid,” a specific classification of amino acids encompassing three particular compounds: leucine, isoleucine, and valine. These compounds are among the “essential” amino acids, meaning that your body can’t produce them on its own and must get them from foods, drinks, or supplements.

The three BCAAs – and especially leucine – have been the subjects of considerable study. The full extent of each compound’s usefulness has yet to be determined, but there is sound evidence supporting the idea that BCAAs aid in the creation¹, protection², and repair³ of muscle tissue.

Leucine – This amino acid signals to the body that it needs to create more muscle tissue, leading to greater muscle mass and increased strength.
Isoleucine – This BCAA promotes the movement of glucose (the body’s main source of energy) into the muscles, improving endurance and recovery times.
Valine – The third BCAA builds upon the beneficial effects of the other two while also protecting the muscles from excessive damage caused by exercise.

Some of these effects may seem familiar if you’ve used supplements before. In fact, many of the benefits that come from protein shakes and powders have to do with the BCAAs, as the whole proteins they contain break down into (among other things) these three amino acids; however, supplements offering free-form amino acids have a few significant advantages over convention protein supplements.

BCAAs vs. Protein Supplements

Those looking at BCAAs as a potential fitness supplement might understandably ask what makes these products superior to protein shakes and powders. In addition to the benefits discussed above, amino acid supplements come with two main advantages over conventional protein-based products: they’re leaner, and they take effect faster.

Because BCAA supplements from aminoVITAL® are made with only those ingredients essential to physical performance, they come with far fewer calories and sugar than many other supplements. Instead, they offer an array of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids designed to keep you energized and support muscle function. This makes them a better choice for those looking to build lean muscle while improving gains and boosting endurance.

Amino acids also boast much faster bioavailability than protein-based products. When you drink a protein shake, those proteins contain amino acids joined together by peptide bonds. To use those amino acids, your stomach has to break the bonds between them so they can be absorbed into the bloodstream, which takes time. By comparison, supplements based around free-form amino acids can take effect up to three times faster because they require far less digestion, making them ideal for a quick dose of energy during workouts.

When You Should Take BCAA Supplements

Thanks to the fact that amino acids can provide an array of benefits without requiring significant volume, they can be easily integrated into products aimed at addressing every part of your exercise routine, including the pre-workout and post-workout recovery phases; simply choose the supplement designed for your specific needs and experience the effects you’ve been searching for.

Taking Pre-Workout BCAAs

An ideal pre-workout supplement should give your energy quickly and effectively without causing you to crash an hour later. Stimulants can help with the former but often not the latter; that’s where amino acids come in handy. The Action mix from aminoVITAL® is so effective because it energizes you with vitamins and amino acids that can provide the fuel you need at the start of your workout without slowing you down later.

BCAAs During a Workout

Supplements don’t have to be reserved for before and after a workout; you can take them during exercise to maintain your energy levels and support your hard-working muscles. Our Action intra-workout mix, for example, is designed to ward off fatigue and prime the recovery process while replenishing electrolytes – the perfect thing for helping you push past that plateau.

Using Post-Workout BCAAs

While amino acids provide extensive support on their own, the body needs more than these compounds when the recovery phase begins. That’s why our Rapid Recovery post-workout formula offers a dozen grams of carbohydrates in addition to vitamins, electrolytes, and amino acids; carbs are necessary immediately after exercise to replenish the body’s glycogen stores – essentially the gas tank your muscles use during a workout.

BCAA Pre-Workout and Post-Workout Supplements Available from aminoVITAL®

If you’ve been considering a new supplement for your workout regimen, check out the amino acid supplements from aminoVITAL®. Our lean, efficient, and effective products are carefully formulated to help your muscles work harder for longer, and they’ll kick-start the recovery process afterward. To learn more about these cutting-edge fitness supplements, visit the aminoVITAL® website today or call (888) 264-6673.