posted Tue, 02/09/2016 - 17:13
3969
BCAA vs. Protein Powder
ad
I've searched to see if this has been a topic previously, but I had no luck (if it has been, my apologies and please point me in the right direction). So, my question is this... What are the advantages/disadvantages of supplementing with BCAA vs. Protein Powder (or vice versa)? I have debated this for a long time, and have done my research... but the chemistry of it gets too deep for me... and I'm hoping someone here with greater knowledge can dumb it down for me scientifically.
- Bookmark
- 0
- 0
YouShouldGetWha...Protein shakes.
BCAA supps are over hyped. You get them in food anyway. Chicken, fish, nuts, protein powder all contain them, among others, so you’re probably getting more than enough anyway.
Tuna is especially good for them.
dropdzzBCAA are an invention of the supplement industry.Save your money!!!!Protien supplements are great but most body builders even do too much if those.Real protien sources are much better!
I think of BCAA's more as protein sparing. Good to take during fasted cardio or intraworkout or sip throughout the day to help prevent catabolism by immediately providing key amino acids in the bloodstream so the body doesn't have to break down muscle to get them. Protein powder I like to think of as the tissue builder. Providing all essential and non-essential aminos needed to build lean tissue.
What do you do when you're in your "cutting phase", Makwa?
Sip BCAA's all throughout the day between meals and use intraworkout. I usually drink 10g intraworkout and consume another 40+ grams throughout the day. Keep a constant trickle of aminos in the bloodstream because you never know when your body is going to flick on the switch and use them, so keep it supplied at all times to help prevent catabolism. I can't stand to drink just plain water, so that is what I flavor my water with. Much easier to drink 2+ gallons/day then. When I start fasted cardio I drink 10g before and 10g during the cardio also.
As Faz said bcaa's are the fast acting amino acids
Leucine, isoleucine, and valinine.
Protein powder should have these listed, usually around 5-5.5gm per serving. So if you do a scoop before workout you get bcaa's
Stand alone bcaa powders also usually add electrolytes and taurine and glutamine. Good to take during workout.
^this^
Unless you're not training fasted, I would save the money and go for whey proteins and real food
Yea, I've been using an intra-workout mix for some time now and it's been very helpful at keeping intensity levels peaked for longer.
I've replaced most of my protein with EAA .
1 pound of meat and 80 grams eea per day and I'm good.
It's worked amazingly. I feel better and gain just as well if not better (if that makes since)
I'm not sure about Bcaa
RustyhookerThe side or your protein can has the list of branch chained aminos listed. There's essential and non essential as you know.
The pills post exactly the same deal. Essential and non essential. If you go with the bcaa mix, look at twinlabs liquid amino. Chock full and costs less.
Honestly, if you're eating a good mix of milk, eggs and meats then you're well covered. I do supplement with whey post workout while cooking up eggs, toast and big glass of milk. Night time workouts, simply modify your post workout meal. Preworkout a dense carb mix is great.
If you're in a "cutting phase" ... outside of your "real" protein consumption, do you lean towards the BCAA?
If you eat chicken breast(s) or any Meat during the day, you just eliminated the need for bcaa's. There is more bcaa in one 8oz piece of chicken breast then there is in one scoop of the supplement. Carry around chicken breasts and save yourself money. I do. I have an 8oz piece every night at work.
Chicken is my main protein source, I didn't realise it had that much bcaa's in. Do you believe you could consume too much bcaa's?
I don't think so since food especially meats have it in them.
Ye, that's a good point, thanks
Bcaa's is best for pre or intra workout, helping with recovery, energy levels and it helps with maintain muscle mass on a calorific deficite.
BCAAs in supplement form, are free-form, require no digestion, and are rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream. They spike blood amino acid levels to a much greater and faster extent than peptide-bound aminos(whey protein) Even a few grams of free-form BCAAs will spike BCAA plasma levels to a much greater extent than 30 grams of whey protein, therefore having a more immediate impact on protein synthesis and protein degradation.
Protein powder is best used for post workout because of its fast acting absorbtion rate. It is however not a replacement for real protein sources such as meat!
I use these supplements this way...
5g creatine pre workout (30mins before)
15g BCAAs + 3g of creatine intra work out
25g whey protein + 25g slow digesting carbs and 25g fast acting carbs.
Right!... so, I consume "real" protein through at least 4 small meals throughout the day... the BCAA is to insure maximizing my protein intake. I don't use it as a meal replacement; it's purely an addition to maximize protein synthesis. Therefore, would you say that the BCAA serves the same purpose (w/o the additional kcals)?
You can't count BCAA's as part of your macros for protein intake.
You're right, perhaps I chose my words poorly... I guess I meant that one would consume BCAA to protect & repair damaged tissue as an ancillary to real protein (e.g. meats)... assuming that one is in a "cut phase"