BCAA and EAA Supplements: Can They Co-Exist and Compliment Each Other?
Can’t we all just get along? All jokes aside and dialing it back for a minute, there has been much debate over the years in regard to BCAA and EAA supplements. Is one better than the other? Is one worthless if the other doesn’t exist? Must you have all of the essential amino acids in order to maximize your results? What’s the real difference between BCAA and EAA supplements?
Well, the answer isn’t exactly cut and dry as there is some overlap, but their uses and function can be quite different in comparison. While the research shows that BCAA and EAA supplements are best when combined, that doesn’t necessarily mean that a standalone BCAA supplement is completely worthless, and if you have one at home, you should just go throw it in the trash.
Let’s discuss BCAA and EAA supplements and dig into this topic a little further to better understand their similarities and differences and when they can be used.
The Best of Both Worlds Yet Powerful Enough to Be Separated
We have all come to understand that amino acids are considered the building blocks when it comes to muscle growth and repair. And new studies have been released that have shown that EAAs are necessary to help maximize muscle growth (more on this shortly). The nine essential amino acids (EAAs) that we need to be familiar with are phenylalanine, valine, threonine, tryptophan, methionine, leucine, isoleucine, lysine, and histidine, while BCAAs are simply leucine, isoleucine, and valine.
What’s important about EAAs is that not only do they help prevent the breakdown of muscle, but they also help build it. EAAs stimulate mTOR, which then initiates muscle protein synthesis. If you feel you aren’t eating enough protein throughout the day, consuming EAAs would be a good idea.
BCAAs, on the other hand, are great for preventing the overall breakdown of muscle protein but tends to be inferior at building lean muscle mass. So, do EAAs completely replace BCAA supplements out on the market? No, not exactly.
BCAA and EAA supplements shouldn’t come down to an either/or debate. When strategically implemented into a supplement plan, BCAA and EAA supplements can drastically improve your results. The answer when looking at BCAA and EAA supplements should be, “How can I leverage BOTH to help me fast-track my results and training in the gym?”
What Does the Research Say?
For years many have considered BCAAs to be the greatest thing since sliced bread. And while EAAs have someone put them in their shadow, the research is still showing BCAAs to be extremely effective. Researchers have concluded that BCAAs were capable of reducing whole-body protein breakdown, which is essential when trying to preserve lean muscle tissue. Additionally, BCAAs can help decrease body fat percentage.
Switching over to EAAs, the research specific to their benefits is also quite impressive. EAAs have been found to be effective at not only preserving but improving lean body mass.
Lastly, put it all together, research has discovered that to get the greatest response from amino acids, you can supplement with both BCAA and EAA supplements.
Putting It All Together and Building a Head-Turning Physique
It doesn’t matter if you’re a man or woman, BCAA and EAA supplements cannot tell the difference. Therefore, BCAA and EAA supplements are effective for both genders equally and can have some significant benefits when trying to build a winning physique for the competitive stage or simply look good while strolling down the beach in a swimsuit on vacation.
When you are looking to recover faster and build lean muscle mass, research has shown that EAA supplements should be at the top of your list. Using EAAs post-workout (even in conjunction with a protein shake) will help enhance recovery and muscle tissue growth.
So, where do BCAAs come into play when comparing BCAA and EAA supplements? Quite frankly, anywhere you want them. Sipping on BCAAs throughout the day and intra-workout is an excellent idea if you are trying to transform your physique. BCAAs do a fantastic job of helping preserve your hard-earned muscle and prevent muscle tissue breakdown. Why would this be important? Well, if you’ve ever attempted to decrease your body fat and lose weight, you’ve probably tried fasted cardio at some point. Right there is a perfect example of how to leverage BCAAs. It’s much more important to preserve lean muscle tissue as that will help keep your metabolism revving all day.
When you are dieting, whether it be for a competition or to simply get in better shape, you risk potentially burning (or wasting) lean muscle mass to be used as fuel – essentially putting you in a catabolic state. You can help prevent this from happening while staying anabolic by supplementing with a product that includes BCAAs.
Evogen Proves BCAA and EAA Supplements CAN Co-Exist
Many people have asked why Evogen Nutrition sells multiple amino acid products. The answer – as laid out above, is simple – they both work. Two products that seem to come up the most are AminoJect and Amino K.E.M. Let’s look at them both separately to fully understand how you can utilize both to see better and faster results.
First up is AminoJect. When looking at the product, some consider it to be a BCAA supplement. However, it’s MUCH more than that. And its recommended usage differs from Amino K.E.M. AminoJect contains fermented BCAAs, fermented glutamine, betaine anhydrous, citrulline malate, and electrolytes – making this an ideal intra-workout supplement to help fuel your workouts by improving endurance and recovery. That said, AminoJect can be sipped on throughout the day or consumed before fasted cardio sessions to help reduce muscle breakdown and support your recovery efforts.
Next is Amino K.E.M. This supplement is a combination of BCAA and EAA supplements, all wrapped up in an advanced formula to help enhance blood flow and muscle growth. Amino K.E.M. can be used pre-, intra-, or even post-workout. This amino acid supplement contains all nine essential amino acids, trademarked S7™and citrulline malate to increase blood flow and vasodilation, and betaine anhydrous to increase power output. When used surrounding workouts (pre- or post-workout), you may experience accelerated recovery and muscle growth.
With all the information presented and laid out, it’s time to finally put this debate to rest. BCAA and EAA supplements can absolutely co-exist as two standalone products to help maximize your results.
