Unleashing the Power of Amino Acids
Amino acids are often referred to as the building blocks of life. Our body uses these organic compounds to construct proteins, which play a vital role in various biological processes. But did you know that certain amino acids can significantly boost athletic performance and recovery? In this article, we'll dive deep into the world of Energized Aminos and explore how they can help you reach your fitness goals.
Branching Out: BCAAs and Performance
Branched-Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs) are a group of three essential amino acids: leucine, isoleucine, and valine. Since our bodies cannot produce them, we need to obtain them through our diet or supplementation. BCAAs are well known for their role in muscle protein synthesis, which is essential for muscle growth and repair (1). You can learn more about these essential amino acids in our article "BCAAs: Essential Amino Acids for Performance."
Not only do BCAAs contribute to muscle building, but they also help reduce muscle soreness and fatigue, making them a popular choice among athletes and fitness enthusiasts (2). BCAAs have been found to decrease the rate of perceived exertion during exercise, allowing individuals to push harder and perform at a higher level (3).
Nitric Oxide Boosters: Enhancing Workouts
Nitric oxide (NO) is a molecule that plays a crucial role in various physiological processes. One of its main functions is vasodilation, which is the widening of blood vessels. This allows for increased blood flow, oxygen, and nutrients to reach working muscles, leading to improved performance and faster recovery (4).
L-arginine and L-citrulline are two amino acids that help increase nitric oxide production. Studies have shown that supplementing with these aminos can improve endurance, strength, and overall exercise performance (5). If you're looking for a comprehensive pre-workout supplement that combines these amino acids with other performance-enhancing ingredients, check out our Nitric Shock Pre Workout and read our article "Nitric Shock Pre Workout: Enhanced Workouts."
Energized Aminos: Fuel for Your Workout
One significant challenge athletes and fitness enthusiasts face is maintaining energy levels during a workout. This is where energized aminos come into play. Certain amino acids, such as taurine, beta-alanine, and tyrosine, have been found to improve exercise performance and delay fatigue (6).
Taurine, for example, is a conditionally essential amino acid that helps regulate water and mineral balance in the body. Studies have shown that taurine supplementation can improve endurance and reduce muscle damage during high-intensity exercise (7).
On the other hand, Beta-alanine is a non-essential amino acid that helps increase muscle carnosine levels. Carnosine acts as a buffer against muscle acidity, allowing individuals to maintain peak performance for a longer duration (8).
Tyrosine is another amino acid known for its energizing properties. It serves as a precursor for essential neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine, which play a vital role in regulating mood, focus, and energy levels (9).
Plant-Powered Performance
For individuals who follow a plant-based diet or have dietary restrictions, there's good news! Our Energized Aminos are available in vegan-friendly form.
In addition to the amino acids mentioned earlier, several plant-based protein sources are rich in energized aminos. For example, pea protein is a popular vegan alternative that contains a high concentration of BCAAs and other essential amino acids (10). Incorporating plant-based protein powders into your diet can help you meet your amino acid needs while adhering to your dietary preferences. So grab some of our high-quality Vegan Protein Powder and check out our article "Vegan Protein Powder & Energized Aminos for Performance."
Recovery Matters: Amino Acids for Post-Workout Repair
Now that we've discussed the benefits of energized aminos for enhancing performance, let's shift our focus to recovery. Adequate recovery is crucial for preventing injury, reducing muscle soreness, and promoting muscle growth. Amino acids play a significant role in this process, ensuring that your muscles receive the nutrients they need to repair and rebuild.
Glutamine: The Amino Acid for Recovery
Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in the human body and plays a critical role in muscle recovery. It aids in the removal of ammonia, a waste product generated during exercise, and helps maintain the integrity of the immune system (11). Glutamine supplementation has been found to reduce muscle soreness and accelerate recovery, making it an essential addition to your post-workout nutrition (12).
Antioxidants
Intense exercise generates free radicals, damaging cells and contributing to inflammation and muscle soreness. For the most potent antioxidant, try our Liposomal Glutathione and check out our article "Liposomal Glutathione: The Ultimate Antioxidant for Health."
Combining Aminos with Protein: A Winning Formula
While amino acids alone offer numerous benefits for performance and recovery, they can be even more effective when combined with protein sources. Whey protein, in particular, is an excellent source of BCAAs and other essential amino acids. In addition to its role in muscle building and weight loss, whey protein can help speed up recovery and reduce muscle soreness (13). Check out our Whey Protein powders and our article "Whey Protein's Role in Muscle Building & Weight Loss."
Conclusion
Energized aminos are an indispensable tool for athletes and fitness enthusiasts looking to optimize their performance and recovery. Incorporating these amino acids into your pre-and post-workout nutrition can unlock your full potential, push through barriers, and achieve your fitness goals. With our plant-based Energized Aminos, individuals with dietary restrictions can also benefit from the power of energized aminos. So, gear up and get ready to take your performance to the next level with the help of these powerful compounds!
References:
- Negro, M., Giardina, S., Marzani, B., & Marzatico, F. (2008). Branched-chain amino acid supplementation does not enhance athletic performance but affects muscle recovery and the immune system. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 48(3), 347-351. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18974721/
- Shimomura, Y., Inaguma, A., Watanabe, S., Yamamoto, Y., Muramatsu, Y., Bajotto, G., ... & Mawatari, K. (2010). Branched-chain amino acid supplementation before squat exercise and delayed-onset muscle soreness. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 20(3), 236-244. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20594095/
- Gervasio, J. M., & Osborne, M. (2012). The effect of a caffeinated sports drink on various psychological measures during submaximal cycling. Journal of Sports Science & Medicine, 11(3), 528-534. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24149813/
- Lundberg, J. O., Weitzberg, E., & Gladwin, M. T. (2008). The nitrate–nitrite–nitric oxide pathway in physiology and therapeutics. Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, 7(2), 156-167. https://www.nature.com/articles/nrd2466
- Bailey, S. J., Blackwell, J. R., Lord, T., Vanhatalo, A., Winyard, P. G., & Jones, A. M. (2015). l-Citrulline supplementation improves O2 uptake kinetics and high-intensity exercise performance in humans. Journal of Applied Physiology, 119(4), 385-395. https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/japplphysiol.00192.2014
- Hobson, R. M., Saunders, B., Ball, G., Harris, R. C., & Sale, C. (2012). Effects of β-alanine supplementation on exercise performance: a meta-analysis. Amino Acids, 43(1), 25-37. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00726-011-1200-z
- Balshaw, T. G., Bampouras, T. M., Barry, T. J., & Sparks, S. A. (2013). The effect of acute taurine ingestion on 3-km running performance in trained middle-distance runners. Amino Acids, 44(2), 555-561. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00726-012-1372-1
- Sale, C., Saunders, B., & Harris, R. C. (2010). Effect of beta-alanine supplementation on muscle carnosine concentrations and exercise performance. Amino Acids, 39(2), 321-333. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00726-009-0443-4
- Neri, D. F., Wiegmann, D., Stanny, R. R., Shappell, S. A., McCardie, A., & McKay, D. L. (1995). The effects of tyrosine on cognitive performance during extended wakefulness. Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine, 66(4), 313-319. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7794222/
- Gorissen, S. H., Crombag, J. J., Senden, J. M., Waterval, W. A., Bierau, J., Verdijk, L. B., & van Loon, L. J. (2018). Protein content and amino acid composition of commercially available plant-based protein isolates. Amino Acids, 50(12), 1685-1695. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00726-018-2640-5
- Cruzat, V., Macedo Rogero, M., Noel Keane, K., Curi, R., & Newsholme, P. (2018). Glutamine: Metabolism and immune function, supplementation and clinical translation. Nutrients, 10(11), 1564. https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/10/11/1564
- Street, B., Byrne, C., & Eston, R. (2011). Glutamine supplementation in recovery from eccentric exercise attenuates strength loss and muscle soreness. Journal of Exercise Science & Fitness, 9(2), 116-122. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1728869X11000182
- Davies, R. W., Carson, B. P., & Jakeman, P. M. (2018). The effect of whey protein supplementation on the temporal recovery of muscle function following resistance training: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutrients, 10(2), 221. https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/10/2/221