What are BCAAs?
If you’ve just begun your fitness journey or you’ve been working out for a little while, chances are you’ve heard a few new acronyms and phrases that might sound a little foreign at first. One commonly referenced supplement in the health and fitness world is “BCAA”.
There’s a reason for the prevalence and popularity of BCAAs, which stands for branched-chain amino acids. We’re going to break down what they are, how they work, and why they benefit your health and fitness goals.
What Are BCAAs?
Branched-chain amino acids are the building blocks of protein. There are 20 different amino acids that you get from different parts of your diet — and branched-chain amino acids represent three specific amino acids that stand out due to their differing structure.
According to clinical nutritionist and personal trainer Autumn Bates, CCN, “Any complete protein will automatically have BCAAs. If you’ve had Greek yogurt, lean meats, or peanut butter on some whole wheat toast recently, you’ve already been consuming BCAAs.”
Amino acids are the building blocks of protein — there are 20 amino acids that you get from different parts of your diet. Branched-chain amino acids are a subgroup of three amino acids (“branched-chain”…
