Amino acids in comparison – BCAA or EAA?

Amino acids in comparison – BCAA or EAA?

What are the benefits of BCAA?

BCAA (“branched chain amino acids”) are amino acids that the body cannot produce itself and therefore has to obtain from food. In BCAA you will find 3 of the 9 essential amino acids: leucine, isoleucine and valine.

BCAAs serve as an important building substance for muscles, but also play a major role as an important energy supplier. BCAAs stimulate protein synthesis, which has many advantages for building muscle. Leucine stimulates the release of insulin, which has a positive anabolic effect on muscle building. BCAAs also serve to protect muscles, burn fat, and prevent muscle soreness and exhaustion.

What are the advantages of EAA?

In EAA (“essential amino acids”) you will find all 9 essential amino acids, including the three branched chain amino acids (BCAA).

The essential amino acids are vital, but the body cannot produce them itself, which is why they must be obtained through food.

The essential amino acids include: isoleucine, lysine, leucine, methionine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, threonine and valine.

Tryptophan is needed for the body to produce serotonin, and low levels of serotonin in the body negatively affect mood and sleep.

EAA can generally lead to better exercise performance, improved oxygen supply and faster recovery.

When and for whom does it make sense to take EAA or BCAA?

Basically, a varied diet is enough to consume a sufficient amount of EAA and BCAA. However, this depends on the level of physical activity of the person. Competitive athletes, whether in strength or endurance sports, need more essential amino acids than people who are less physically active.

Therefore, EAAs are a good way for athletes to cover their required amino acids. If the focus is more on building muscle, BCAAs are used. The 3 amino acids in BCAAs not only serve to build muscle, but also to maintain and regenerate muscle. Taking EAAs or BCAAs after a training session increases muscle production.

EAA can always be taken to support your fitness. Even on days when you don't train, it can be useful to take it to provide the body with protein. BCAA are particularly useful before training, as they are then available to the body as an energy source.

Conclusion

In summary, the biggest difference between BCAA and EAA is that BCAA only contains 3 essential amino acids, while EAA contains all essential amino acids.

If you want to achieve the greatest possible success with amino acid supplements, you should use EAA, as EAA contains all essential amino acids and is a more comprehensive supplement than BCAA, which only contains 3 of the essential amino acids. EAA contains the perfect mix of all the important protein building blocks for the body and is especially recommended for strength athletes who want to achieve muscle growth.

Nevertheless, the popularity of BCAAs is not unfounded. Isoleucine, leucine and valine are still the most effective amino acids for muscle growth, as they have the best values ​​for protein synthesis.