Life is all about choices. Burgers or hot dogs, boxers or briefs, squats or deadlifts? But does everything have to be either one or the other? Not anymore. By harnessing the power of synergy, you can have the best of both worlds and better results than you’ve ever dreamed of before.
Protein and BCAA Supplementation
Traditionally, many of us have viewed these nutrients as battling for supremacy, as if one was intended to act just as a replacement for the other. But if both are beneficial, why would you deprive yourself of the advantages of one just because you feel the other is better? That kind of thnking is only holding you back from the body of your dreams. The first, most obvious difference is that protein supplements such as ISOFLEX, HEXAPRO and ALLWHEY contain calories, while BCAAs do not. There are advantages and disadvantages to both of these – BCAAs may be better for intense dieting due to the lack of calories, but they are not as filling as protein powders. Additionally, protein powder provides calories needed to build mass. Unlike BCAAs, protein needs to be broken down by the body to be used, which expends calories in itself. One interesting aspect of BCAAs is that they trigger anabolism (muscle building) even without heavy lifting as a stimulus. One study showed that supplementation of leucine resulted in a 58% increase in protein synthesis, even in the absence of exercise! This can be especially potent when combined with a protein powder, as the extra calories and protein will aid in muscle-building. Research indicates that combining BCAA and protein supplementation during resistance training leads to increases in lean mass and significant improvements in strength. In order to take advantage of this, consume BCAAs such as ALLMAX GLUTAMINE, TAURINE and LEUCINE during your workout and ISOFLEX afterwards. BCAAs and protein powder also complement each other when it comes to nitrogen balance. Protein powder stimulates better nitrogen assimilation than BCAAs alone, so the combination can aid in maintaining a positive nitrogen balance, which leads to an optimal environment for muscle-building.BUT MUSCLE-BUILDING ISN’T THE ONLY AREA IN WHICH USING BCAAS AND PROTEIN POWDER IN CONJUNCTION WILL DELIVER RESULTS.But muscle-building isn’t the only area in which using BCAAs and protein powder in conjunction will deliver results. The combination can also aid significantly in fat loss. Protein from sources such as protein powder requires digestion, which boosts the metabolism and induces caloric expenditure known as the thermic effect of food. In fact, studies have shown that up to 25% of the calories consumed in a protein-heavy meal can be burned during the digestion and absorption process. Combining protein powder with BCAAs can be particularly effective, as shown in another study. After just 19 days of BCAA supplementation in a caloric deficit yielded a reduction of more than 17% in body fat, with a reduction of 34.4% in abdominal fat! At this point, it should be pretty obvious – these two supplements are better than one. Supplementing with both protein powder and BCAAs will enable you to reap the rewards of each and accelerate fat loss and mass building.
Sources:
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- Kerksick, C.M., et al. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 20(3): 643-653, 2006.
- Gropper, S., et al. Advanced Nutrition and Human Metabolism, Fourth Edition: 184, 2004.
- McArdle, W.D., et al. Exercise Physiology: Energy, Nutrition, and Human Performance, Third Edition: 134-135, 1986.
- Mourier, A., et al. International Journal of Sports Medicine. 18(1): 47-55, 1997.
