Amino Acids vs. BCAA

[SP1966]

They are different how?

[Fifty+]

They are different how?

Tons of information regarding amino acids on the net. Here is a link describing amino acids...

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/bbin...age=AminoAcids

[dbx]

They are different how?

Here's a good basic explanation, stolen directly from this store site:

Among the most beneficial and effective supplements in any sports nutrition program are branched chain amino acids. These are the essential aminos leucine, isoleucine, and valine.

Although these supplements have been around for a long time and the scientific understanding in the exercise performance benefits of BCAA supplementation is rich many people don't know exactly how they exert their effects or how and when to use them properly.

You probably know that amino acids are the building blocks of protein. When you eat a protein food, it gets digested in the stomach and intestine into individual amino acids and short chains of amino acids that are small enough to be absorbed into the bloodstream. These amino acids have far reaching effects in the body from building tissues, to producing chemicals that enable our brains to function optimally.*

What Is The Difference Between Essential and Non-Essential Amino Acids?

Essential amino acids cannot be made by the body. You must get them from complete protein foods or combinations of incomplete vegetable foods. There are 9 essential amino acids: histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, and valine. Your body can make non-essential amino acids by itself from vitamins and other amino acids.

The term "non-essential" can be misleading since all amino acids are essential for proper metabolism and certain non-essential amino acids, such as glutamine, become very essential. The 13 non-essential amino acids are alanine, arginine, aspartic acid, cysteine, cystine, glutamic acid, glutamine, glycine, hydroxyproline, proline, serine, & tyrosine.

The essential branched chain amino acids (BCAA's) are of special importance for athletes because they are metabolized in the muscle, rather than in the liver. Here's how this works: After digestion once protein is broken down into individual amino acids these aminos can either be used to build new proteins or be burned as fuel to produce energy.*

[Mr. Someday]

BCAA's are amino acids, but the term amino acids refers to all of them, free form and branched chain. BCAA's include leucine, isoleucine and valine. Leucine is the most mportant of the 3 according to most recent studies.

[SP1966]

So when people are talking about the "Oh so great" Xtend are they also taking a BCAA sup? Taking either or both does not take the place of a PWO shake, or does it?

[Fifty+]

So when people are talking about the "Oh so great" Xtend are they also taking a BCAA sup? Taking either or both does not take the place of a PWO shake, or does it?

Xtend is a precise, scientific blend of Energy Aminos consisting of the proven 2:1:1 ratio of Branched Chain Amino Acids (L-Leucine, L-Isoleucine and L-Valine),



Protein breaks down into amino acids.

[dbx]

So when people are talking about the "Oh so great" Xtend are they also taking a BCAA sup? Taking either or both does not take the place of a PWO shake, or does it?

You PM'd me about Xtend just a week or so ago. Beside my reply, have you not taken 60 seconds to look the product up to see what's in it?

For the last part of your question; no. There are BCAAs in whey (food), but not "enough", so to speak (completely subjective reasoning).

[dbx]

Xtend is a precise, scientific blend of Energy Aminos consisting of the proven 2:1:1 ratio of Branched Chain Amino Acids (L-Leucine, L-Isoleucine and L-Valine),



Protein breaks down into amino acids.

Plus two other ingredients, but he's going to have to look it up

[SP1966]

You PM'd me about Xtend just a week or so ago. Beside my reply, have you not taken 60 seconds to look the product up to see what's in it?

For the last part of your question; no. There are BCAAs in whey (food), but not "enough", so to speak (completely subjective reasoning).

Yes I did. I may have actually taken more than 60 seconds as there is a lot of verbiage on that page! I also understood that BCAA are amino acids, yet did not see an obvious (at least not obvious enough for an idiot like myself) explanation of why they are considered two different product catgories.

I made the mistake of reading some of the threads on Xtend in the sup forum and while the debate is somewhat entertaining I did not find it so enlightening...

Besides, I am entitled to my occasional dumb ass thread, all the others I start are of high quality. On second thought scratch that last part...

[dbx]

I made the mistake of reading some of the threads on Xtend in the sup forum and while the debate is somewhat entertaining I did not find it so enlightening...

Xtend is nothing more than a good BCAA "product" that happens to include/add L-glutamine and citrulline malate in it, as well as have a superior (to most) flavoring system. I like a few Scivation products, but truth be told...if they hadn't combined their products last winter (like buy Xtend & Vasocharge for $48) I wouldn't have continued to buy Xtend. Been using it over 3yrs and love it, but with money being tight...I'd buy straight 2:1:1 BCAA bulk powder if no "deal" is available. But right now, I think I still have 3+ large tubs left (I buy in fairly large quantities when deals are good).

[SP1966]

Xtend is nothing more than a good BCAA "product" that happens to include/add L-glutamine and citrulline malate in it, as well as have a superior (to most) flavoring system. I like a few Scivation products, but truth be told...if they hadn't combined their products last winter (like buy Xtend & Vasocharge for $48) I wouldn't have continued to buy Xtend. Been using it over 3yrs and love it, but with money being tight...I'd buy straight 2:1:1 BCAA bulk powder if no "deal" is available. But right now, I think I still have 3+ large tubs left (I buy in fairly large quantities when deals are good).

See now, that is exactly the type of answer I was looking for. I knew if I poked (not porked) enough people I would get my answer!!

[Timoteus]

I have been following this thread as I was walking around with the same question... so thanks everybody! One more question left; Since life is already expensive enough... would the optimum BCAA 1000 (400 caps) for only 28 bucks not do exactly the same job as the other, more expensive sups?

My sups are now: 1MR and Beast Creature, and I was thinking that a BCAA sup would be the perfect top up (besides a healthy diet of course ;-)) I have been taking only protein powder for a long time and got over it... I kind of have the feeling that if I eat my tuna, chicken, eggs and steak, I'd would have enough protein intake a day.*

What are your thoughts?

Thanks!