Branched Chain Amino Acid Myths

Are you believing that taking branched chain amino acids can add protein so you can recover faster, add strength, or repair muscles or organs?

Truth be told they don’t.

What are they anyway and what do they do? The branched chain amino acids are a name given to 3 of the eight essential amino acids needed to make protein. They are named, leucine, isoleucine and valine. They are called branched chain because their structure has a “branch” off the main trunk of the molecule. Scientists have shown that after workouts the body can break them down easily to make glucose out of them and so use them for energy, if one doesn’t provide the glucose needed during or after the workout.

The body actually can break down muscle to get these branched chain amino acids IF it needs to, to get energy. By supplying them, after or during a workout, the body may break down less of its own muscle to get glucose, but only if enough is not coming in.
They are not used to protein synthesis.

Here are some facts to consider:

1. To build protein one needs all 8 essential amino acids.
2. Taking 3 branched chain amino acids or 5 or 7 amino acids will not build protein. No way. No how. You need all eight.
3. When the muscle needs glucose, give it glucose. It only uses amino acids as a secondary back up when the glucose is not there.
4. Taking whole protein as a recovery aid does work but is not optimum because it takes hours to digest and the amino acids after digestion do not arrive at the muscle in time so it can begin repair operations immediately.

HERE IS THE REASON WHY Master Amino Acid Pattern (MAP) WORKS SO WELL:

1. MAP CONTAINS ALL 8 ESSENTIAL AMINO ACIDS SO PROTEIN CAN BE BUILT IMMEDIATELY.
2. IT ARRIVES AT THE MUSCLE IN 23 MINUTES AFTER EATING SO THERE IS NO LAG IN THE BODY BEING ABLE TO USE THEM TO REBUILD or MAKE NEW PROTEIN.
3. 99% OF IT GOES TO MAKE NEW PROTEIN OR REBUILD EXISTING PROTEIN.
4. THE BEST SOURCE OF GLUCOSE FOR THE MUSCLE IS SOME FORM OF GLUCOSE - NOT BRANCHED CHAIN AMINO ACIDS. THEY ARE COSTLY AND OFFER NO ADDED BENEFIT AND THE BODY CANNOT USE THEM TO MAKE PROTEIN.

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Through all the training and intense racing, I managed to stay healthy, fit, and strong — all things I can attribute to the MAP and BodyHealth Complete."

- Michael Barry - Discovery Channel Cycling Team