Biotest BCAA

It's odd that we just don't talk about Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAA's) much, especially when you consider that almost all of us who write for Testosterone Nation use them.

They're probably the one thing that's remained a constant in the lives of our coaches, from Charles Poliquin to Chad Waterbury to Christian Thibaudeau to John Berardi. Each of them — along with their clients — take large amounts of BCAA's every day. Next to protein powder, it's their primary supplement.

Of course, I suppose it would be like a bunch of doctors discussing their stethoscopes. If something is a mainstay of your profession, it often gets taken for granted.

That's too bad, because BCAA's are something that every lifter should be taking, if not daily, then at least during very specific training cycles.

For those of you who have forgotten, the branched chain amino acids are named leucine, isoleucine, and valine. What sets them apart from other amino acids is that they have some very specific, very special properties:

• BCAA promote protein synthesis in muscle.
• BCAA taken during training have been shown to increase both growth hormone and insulin, thus increasing anabolism and anti-catabolism.
• BCAA, unlike other amino acids, are used to provide energy.
• A 1992 Italian study showed that BCAA taken prior to a workout not only prevented a decrease in post-workout Testosterone levels, but caused it to increase.
• BCAA have been shown to decrease post-workout soreness.
• BCAA, according to a 1997 Italian study published in Medicina Dello Sport, when taken 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after a workout, were shown to increase lean body mass and improve strength in the bench press and squat.
• BCAA have been shown to increase exercise endurance, especially exercise conducted in high temperatures.
• As little as 4 grams of BCAA can kick start the body from a catabolic state to an anabolic state.

Directions:

As a dietary supplement, take four to six tablets three times per day between meals. On training days, take four to six tablets before, during, and after training (12-18 tablets para-training). Do not exceed more than 30 tablets in any 24-hour period.

Servings:

Container: 240 Tablets
One Serving: 3 Tablets
Servings Per Container: 80  

Information Per Serving: