What do we know about BCAA ?

[swimmer2]

Can anyone explain to me about Branch Chain Amino Acids (in simple terms please). Another forum suggested that I might take a BCAA supplement prior to exercise and wiki suggests they help with regulating blood sugar.

Anyone know about this ?

[librarising]

BCAA is on the edge of my radar, so I can't be much help. So much to learn, so little time

Anyone ?

Geoff

[borofergie]

Yeah - I take them sometimes, along with MCT oil to juice my ketone production.
BCAAs leucine and lysine are amino acids that are broken down into ketones rather than glucose.

There are a couple ways to kickstart ketone production, if that’s what you’re after. You can increase your intake of medium chain triglycerides, as found in coconut products. Since MCTs don’t show up in cell membranes and never really appear in adipose tissue, they go directly to the liver to be converted into acetyl-CoA for energy. Remember how the acetyl-CoA-ATP pathway can be overwhelmed, thus spurring the creation of ketones? That’s what eating MCTs can do – increase ketone production. Use more coconut oil and fewer long-chain saturated fats (which do go into cell membranes, can show up in adipose tissue, and are less likely to overwhelm the liver’s ability to make ATP), like animals fats, while you get adjusted.

You could also incorporate ketogenic amino acids. Huh? Well, a bit like how certain amino acids are more likely to participate in glucogenesis, certain amino acids are more likely to participate in ketogenesis. Both lysine and leucine are readily converted into ketone bodies. As Paul Jaminet points out, high-leucine ketogenic diets have allowed researchers to treat epileptic patients without having to resort to the overly restrictive traditional ketogenic diets. Doing it this way gives you a little more leeway with your vegetable intake.

Read more: http://www.marksdailyapple.com/what-doe ... z28vfKf4CC

See also Paul Jaminet:
http://perfecthealthdiet.com/2011/03/ke ... nic-diets/

More ketone production means less reliance on glucose, and therefore more stable BG levels.

[swimmer2]

So what's a good source of Leucine ? Is it a supplement or is it in something tasty ?

[borofergie]

So what's a good source of Leucine ? Is it a supplement or is it in something tasty ?

All meat proteins are "complete" which means that they include a complete set of amino-acids, which includes leucine. These foods are supposed to be especially rich in leucine:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/30516 ... d-sources/

However, the point of taking it as a supplement is that you get to take only the ketone producing aminos, wheras if you get it in meat, you'll get lots of glucose producing aminos too.

I take it as a supplement from nasty body-building websites.

If you want to juice your ketones, coconut oil or MCT (which is refined coconut oil) are probably a much better bet.

[swimmer2]

thanks Stephen,

I will visit my increasingly puzzled but helpful local health food shop and see what he has..

glad to see that both Peanuts and Almonds are rich in Leucine. That's pretty much all I eat, peanuts and almonds.

[Defren]

Me being me, I read this thread, did a bit of research and decided to give BCAA a try. I have been taking them about 7-10 days and have lost 2 inches of the most stubborn belly fat known to man. Thanks to both Simon and Stephen for bringing this to the forum, I'd never heard of them, but am now 2 inches smaller.

[hanadr]

Amino acids are the base units of proteins. I can't think of any reason why they should be more useful to you than any straight chain ones. You can only use molecules for which you have the relevant "keys" available.
Hana

[phoenix]

They're possibly effective for

Improving muscle control and mental function in people with advanced liver disease (latent hepatic encephalopathy).
Reducing muscle breakdown during exercise.
Decreasing symptoms associated with mania.
Reducing movements associated with tardive dyskinesia, a disorder associated with the use of antipsychotic medications.
Reducing loss of appetite and improving nutrition in elderly patients on hemodialysis.

what there's not enough evidence for and probably ineffective for here:
They might cause your blood glucose to go to low but I'm sure you're not bothered about that. There are also interactions with L Dopa, (Parkinson's drug) and minor ones with Corticosteroids, thyroid medication and Diazoxide(used for hypertension according to Wiki)

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplemen ... NO%20ACIDS

[swimmer2]

I have been taking Coconut Oil since I posted this and I think I feel better on it.

I add it to my morning porridge and sometimes fry an egg in it.

[Defren]

Amino acids are the base units of proteins. I can't think of any reason why they should be more useful to you than any straight chain ones. You can only use molecules for which you have the relevant "keys" available.
Hana

Thanks for that Hana, it's great having you on board, you explain things that otherwise I would never have known. I have no idea why they work, but for me, they have.

I was out today and have been able to buy clothes in a smaller size, and it feels great after months of stalling around the middle.

Simon, I fry in coconut oil and it's great. It's healthy fat, good for us, and the hint of coconut is divine (but I adore coconut).

[angua]

Yeah - I take them sometimes, along with MCT oil to juice my ketone production.
BCAAs leucine and lysine are amino acids that are broken down into ketones rather than glucose.

There are a couple ways to kickstart ketone production, if that’s what you’re after. You can increase your intake of medium chain triglycerides, as found in coconut products. Since MCTs don’t show up in cell membranes and never really appear in adipose tissue, they go directly to the liver to be converted into acetyl-CoA for energy. Remember how the acetyl-CoA-ATP pathway can be overwhelmed, thus spurring the creation of ketones? That’s what eating MCTs can do – increase ketone production. Use more coconut oil and fewer long-chain saturated fats (which do go into cell membranes, can show up in adipose tissue, and are less likely to overwhelm the liver’s ability to make ATP), like animals fats, while you get adjusted.

You could also incorporate ketogenic amino acids. Huh? Well, a bit like how certain amino acids are more likely to participate in glucogenesis, certain amino acids are more likely to participate in ketogenesis. Both lysine and leucine are readily converted into ketone bodies. As Paul Jaminet points out, high-leucine ketogenic diets have allowed researchers to treat epileptic patients without having to resort to the overly restrictive traditional ketogenic diets. Doing it this way gives you a little more leeway with your vegetable intake.

Read more: http://www.marksdailyapple.com/what-doe ... z28vfKf4CC

See also Paul Jaminet:
http://perfecthealthdiet.com/2011/03/ke ... nic-diets/

More ketone production means less reliance on glucose, and therefore more stable BG levels.

okay so I'm a little confused here .. I found this on Wiki

"Degradation of branched-chain amino acids involves the branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase complex (BCKDH). A deficiency of this complex leads to a buildup of the branched-chain amino acid (leucine, isoleucine, and valine) and their toxic by-products in the blood and urine, giving the condition the name maple syrup urine disease."

Which seems to suggest that leucine etc are not a good thing ?

Sorry to be stupid

Gilly x

[borofergie]

Amino acids are the base units of proteins. I can't think of any reason why they should be more useful to you than any straight chain ones. You can only use molecules for which you have the relevant "keys" available.
Hana

You're not supposed them as amino acids, they're supposed to be metabolized into extra ketones.

Seriously, if you like the BCAA, you should get yourself some MCT oil. It's the fat equivalent of "carbohydrate rocket fuel", and apparently allows you to enter ketosis at much higher carb counts than usual.

[borofergie]

I have been taking Coconut Oil since I posted this and I think I feel better on it.

I add it to my morning porridge and sometimes fry an egg in it.

I glug it from the bottle.

[swimmer2]

Bottle ?

Mine is a solid in a tub - like a quart of coconutty ear wax.