If you’ve ever stepped foot inside a nutrition store – or a high school science class – you’ve probably heard of “BCAAs”, short for “Branched Chain Amino Acids”. But in order to fully appreciate the power of these mighty molecules, you have to understand their larger place within the human body.

In total, there are 20 different amino acids that make up the proteins found in our bodies. Of those 20, nine are considered “essential”, meaning they must be ingested via food or supplements because the body doesn’t produce them on its own. Among those essential nine is the trio in question: leucine, valine and isoleucine—the three “branched chain” amino acids at the forefront of muscle-building and recovery. 

How? The key is BCAAs’ ability to preserve your muscles’ main source of energy production: glycogen. With a rich supply of glycogen available, your body won’t tap into the muscle proteins themselves for energy, allowing for a more efficient workout that won’t compromise the gains you’ve already made. And once the workout’s over, it’s those same muscle-safeguarding properties that can decrease how sore you feel in the days after due to reduced muscle damage.

And while all three BCAAs are found in abundance in meat, eggs and other high-protein foods, actively incorporating them into your diet in powder form offers an even more functional way to reap their benefits. Consider this: amino acids obtained via food take anywhere from 3 to 4 hours for the body to fully absorb them. But in crystalline form (i.e. powder), that absorption time is cut to just 30 minutes, making it a quick, on-demand source of energy for athletes.

Ready to load up? We’ve got 2 products specially formulated to deliver amino acids at every stage of your workout. Our AminoLean provides a pre-workout punch of 5 grams of amino acids with 125 milligrams of caffeine, while our AminoLean Recovery delivers an even richer array of amino acids, along with a 500-milligram dose of hydration support and sea mineral blend for added support.