Have you ever worked out so hard you felt like your muscles couldn’t take anymore? Are you focused on body building but are concerned you’re hurting your body more than helping it? Your diet can take care of it with branched chain amino acids. Branched chain amino acids are a group of essential amino acids that are made up of isoleucine, leucine and valine. These branched chain amino acids work to build muscle growth and repair muscles after intense workouts. Isoleucine, leucine and valine are important in:

• Preserving muscle tissues
• Maintaining the stored muscle glycogen
• Preventing muscle breakdown after a strenuous workout

Avid exercisers alike have taken supplements containing branched chain amino acids to aid them with their exercise regimes since they enhance their performance level. Some preliminary reports have found that branched chain amino acids have helped people who’ve experienced fatigue, but more tests are being conducted.

Some side effects that may be associated with taking branched chain amino acids are:

• Breathing problems
• Chest pains
• Rashes or swollen skin
• Leg pain
• Jaundice
• Upset stomach
• Tiredness

Leucine, isoleucine and valine together make up about 1/3 of the body’s skeletal muscle. These three essential amino acids play a pivotal role in protein synthesis. In medicine, these branched chain amino acids are being used to help burn victims recover from their wounds, and also build up the strength of athletes. To build up the body’s strength and supply it with these branched chain amino acids, the body needs to have a good helping of foods jam-packed with essential amino acids. Those foods—poultry, dairy products, fish, wheat germ, legumes—are vital to the body’s health.