What Is The Best BCAA Supplement

Featured

Posted on by

BCAA’s are one of the most used supplements to weight lifting and are getting more and more popular amongst bodybuilders and athletes alike. One of the most popular times to take a BCAA is directly before and/or after a cardio workout like Visual Impact Cardio. When it comes to BCAA’s though, not all are created equal. The best BCAA supplement will mix easy, taste good and above all, deliver results!

What do BCAA’s do and what is the best BCAA supplement?

When it comes to preventing muscle breakdown and promoting muscle growth, these supplements really make a difference. Whether your main goal is to lose weight without losing muscle or to pack on pounds of lean muscle tissue, BCAA’s are one of the most helpful supplements.

  • Prevents muscle tissue breakdown*
  • Reduces muscle soreness and fatigue*
  • Increases endurance and power*
  • Improves the effectiveness of your training sessions*
  • Supports anabolic state for lean muscle development*

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Choosing the Best BCAA Supplement

Best BCAA Supplement - ProgradeThere are many different BCAA’s out there and some are good / some are bad. When it comes to the best BCAA supplement though, Prograde’s is probably the best.

Prograde is known for superior supplements made with the highest quality possible. They also offer some other great supplements including whey protein powder, a metabolism booster and even a testosterone booster, just to name a few.

Each serving of their BCAA provides:

  • L-Lucine – 500mg
  • L-Isoleucine – 250mg
  • L-Valine – 250mg

There are a few different ways to take BCAA’s. Some like to use them before a workout, some choose to take them right after a workout. Depending on your goal(s) both are acceptable.

The average consumption is anywhere from 5-10 grams at a time.

Muscle Recovery After a Workout

Posted on by

Many find that when they jump back into a workout routine that they get delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) which raises questions like “what does it mean?”, “should I work through the pain?”, and “what can I do to help muscle recovery?”

I know for me personally, I found that I was getting pretty tired after following Rusty Moore’s new Visual Impact Workout but I wasn’t necessarily getting sore. After doing some research I found out that I was perfectly fine to continue and I just needed to get into better shape! :D

Muscle soreness and what it means

First we will look at what muscle soreness means. Mild soreness is to be expected when ever you workout if you are expecting any kind of muscle growth or progress and that will occur around 8 hours after your workout and last for a couple days. This type of soreness can be worked through with light workouts and frequent rest periods. If you experience severe pain for more than 48hrs you may have caused minor tearing to the muscle fibers and that could take from 1-2 weeks to heal.

Do not lay in bed like you feel like doing but keep moving in a mild fashion mostly stretching, swimming, and walking.

During this phase you will want to plan to avoid strenuous exercises for a few days even if you only have mild soreness as this will prevent damage or injury. Great athletes never take the long shot back to back, they always plan a rest period before they go all out again. That doesn’t mean they aren’t still practicing. If you plan ahead you can try working one muscle group at a time so it can rest while you move on to the next group.

How to alleviate pain

To help lessen pain try anti-inflammatory medications, hot-cold rubs, massage, jet tubs, or ice baths after an intense workout. Try using a muscle compression wrap to reduce movement. You can even wrap it up with an ice pack. The biggest thing you can do is to stretch before and after your workout and during your “doms”. It helps break the cycle of muscle spasm to contraction and tightness. Make sure to be balanced in rest and movement.

Preventing severe muscle pain after workout

As with everything diet is also involved in preventing muscle strain or injury. If you fail to eat a well balanced diet you can lack the nutrients needed to prevent weak muscle fibers. Give your muscles and body the proper rest and never jump to a level of workout you haven’t trained for. Always work up to something. If you lift over 200lbs and are only used to 175 it will probably result in injury. Stay active between workouts especially if it is a long period of time. NEVER skip warm up and cool down sessions, it promotes flexibility and loosens muscle groups that will prevent soreness and muscle tears. Taking in a carbohydrate and protein supplement or drink will help accelerate post-workout protein synthesis and help prevent muscle damage. Stay well hydrated with electrolyte drinks if you are doing an intense workout.

Soreness as a positive

In the long run if you are too sore to look forward to your next workout try backing off a bit so you don’t lose motivation. If it is mild soreness that is livable just remember that your muscles are actually growing and strengthening though it is not necessary to see improvements. The level of “DOMS” you wish to deal with is up to you as long as you are careful not to injure yourself.

Is Prograde Krill Oil Better Than Fish Oil

Posted on by

It used to be that when it comes to a healthy and smart supplement to take that fish oil supplements where the go to pill. Things are changing though. Now it is becoming more and more clear that krill oil is the new supplement in town. But is krill oil better than fish oil for everyday use and do you get all of the same benefits that fish oil brings? For a sneak peak at the info to come, the answer is yes.

There are many different benefits that krill oil has over fish oil. In addition to the actual scientific reasons, one of the most popular is that there is no fishy after taste. No more of that after burp that many get from taking fish oil supplements. Even still though, there are more reasons that when it comes to a side by side comparison of krill oil vs fish oil, krill oil is better than fish oil for everyday use.

Why I Like Krill Oil Better Than Fish Oil

Okay, so in addition to the fishy after taste there are more benefits; perhaps more substantial — unless you REALLY hate fish. Some other aspects that I find interesting about krill oil is that they’ve basically got all of the good that fish oil has and then some.

Some of the highlights are:

  • Protection for your heart
  • Improved memory
  • Lowered cholesterol levels
  • A boost energy supply
  • Lighter PMS symptoms
  • Relief from joint pain

So these all sound good but I am in no way telling you that the Prograde krill oil supplement is a miracle pill … there is no such thing. What is real though is the benefits that these supplements provide.

Scientifically speaking, is krill oil better than fish oil? Absolutely. Here is a results chart outlining how Prograde krill oil was better than fish oil when taken side by side.

Cholesterol Levels -
Those who took 3 grams/day of fish oil had a 5.9% decrease
Those who took 1 gram/day of krill oil had a 13.4% decrease

LDL Cholesterol -
Those who took 3 grams/day of fish oil had a 2% decrease
Those who took 1 gram/day of krill oil had a 32% decrease

HDL (Good) Cholesterol -
Those who took 3 grams/day of fish oil had a 4.2% increase
Those who took 1 gram/day of krill oil had 44% increase

Blood Clucose -
Those who took 3 grams/day of fish oil had a 3.3% decrease
Those who took 1 gram/day of krill oil had 6.3% decrease

We can see from this study that the answer to “is krill oil better than fish oil?” is a pretty easy one. Again, not a miracle supplement but, Prograde krill oil is a very good one indeed.

What Do You Think?
Do you feel that krill oil is better than fist oil? Let us know your thoughts:

Is Krill Oil Better Than Fish Oil

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

References:

Lagarde M, Bernoud N, Brossard N, et al. Lysophosphatidylcholine as a preferred carrier form of docosahexaenoic acid to the brain. J Mol Neurosci. 2001; 16: 201-4.

Kalmijn S, van Boxtel MP, Ocké M, et al. Dietary intake of fatty acids and fish in relation to cognitive performance at middle age. Neurology. 2004; 62(2): 275-80.

Wainwright PE. Dietary essential fatty acids and brain function: a developmental perspective on mechanisms. Proc Sci Nutr. 2002; 61: 61-69.

Innis SM. Dietary (n–3) fatty acids and brain development. J Nutr. 2007; 137: 855-859.

BCAA Benefits For Muscle Building & Losing Weight

Posted on by

There really are many benefits to supplementing BCAA’s. One of the more beneficial in my opinion is the how you can strategically use them to lose fat while you also build a small amount of muscle. The BCAA benefits for weight loss are surprising powerful too.

Now, this doesn’t mean that these are not good for building more than a “small amount of muscle.” In fact, the reason BCAA supplementation has grown in popularity among athletes and body builders alike is due mainly to the muscle growth benefits.

The reason I believe that they are so beneficial for weight loss is because you can use them to strategically burn fat while preserving your muscles. For more information on this, checkout this post: How BCAA Supplements Help With Weight Loss

How BCAA Benefits Your Muscle Building Efforts

Branched chain amino acid (BCAA) supplements are generally maid up of the three essential amino acids for muscle building:

  1. L-Lucine
  2. L-Isoleucine
  3. L-Valine

By supplementing with these, the BCAA benefits you get can really be noticeable. Now, these aren’t a miracle supplement (if anyone who tells you that any supplement is going to instantly pack on 20+ pounds of muscle is off their rocker).

These will help you to build more lean muscle mass though. If you think about it, even 5 pounds of pure muscle mass added to your frame will make a major difference in your overall appearance.

Completely a side note: I’ve been following the Visual Impact Muscle Building workout lately (which is completely based off of building lean and defined muscle) and I can personally tell you that 5 pounds of lean muscle makes a MAJOR difference.

Don’t underestimate what building lean muscle can do for your figure. There are so many more benefits to building lean muscle than muscle where ever it happens to fall. If you gain muscle in the wrong places and with fat a long with it than it’s really not going to look all that impressive.

The benefits of BCAA’s and building lean muscle are undisputed. By using the best BCAA supplement along with an awesome workout plan you gain gain lean muscle and be way ahead of the pack. Yep, the BCAA benefits for building muscles that you’ll build solid, lean muscle that looks good.

How BCAA Supplements Help With Weight Loss

Posted on by

Did you realize that BCAA supplements play a role in weight loss? Although most commonly used for gaining muscle, there are some key reasons that the three branched chain amino acids will help you in your weight loss goals as well.

Often both bodybuilders and athletes use some type of BCAA supplements to aid in their recovery after a workout and in building muscle … and building lean muscle is a great way to burn fat!

One of the biggest factors that makes BCAA supplementation effective for weight loss is the role it plays in lowering your cortisol levels when combined with some type of resistance training. What does that mean?

  • Smaller appetite
  • Less fat storage
  • Body uses glucose for energy

When you are working out and dieting to lose weight, what is the main goal? To create a calorie deficit, right! In order to lose weight you need to consume less calories than you burn.

BCAA Supplements Reduce the Risk of Losing Muscle

Unfortunately though, there is risk of losing muscle if you are on a low calorie diet for too long or are eating to few of calories. If you supplement your diet and exercise program with a BCAA supplement then you can greatly decrease the risk of using muscle as fuel.

Why is this so important? Two main reason:

  1. Muscle burns fat
  2. Muscle adds shape

Lean muscle tissue increases your metabolism and actually helps you burn more calories and more fat throughout the day.

You need to at least maintain and in some cases gain muscle, whether you are a man or woman, in addition to losing weight. If you lose a significant amount of weight in the form of muscle you will not look good even 10, 20 or 30 pounds lighter. Your muscle is what gives your body a nice shape and makes you look toned.

If you lose muscle as well as fat then the chances are that you will just be a smaller version of what you look like now … perhaps a little soft.

For suggestions on how to implement BCAA supplements into your daily routine and to see how much you should take in order to gain and/or maintain muscle while losing weight, checkout this article containing some more in-depth weight loss research.

Three Ways a BCAA Supplement Can Improve Your Fitness

Posted on by
Reply

There are really quite a few different reasons to take a BCAA supplement. Generally, if you are looking to take these you are either currently doing a workout routine or you are planning on doing one.

Whether your goals are more focused on gaining muscle or on losing fat, BCAA’s can really help make a difference. Although these are my top 3 reasons to take a BCAA supplement, there are really quite a few ranging anywhere from improved brain function to improved immune system health.

#1 – Promotes Muscle Recovery & Muscle Growth

BCAA’s (branched chain amino acids) are vital for muscle growth, muscle repair and recovery. In order to ensure that your body has a sufficient amount of BCAA’s you should consider supplementing. You body actually can’t make these on it’s own so if you are not ingesting them then you will not get enough to ensure optimal effects. By supplementing BCAA’s you give your body the amino acids it needs to grow.

#2 – BCAA Supplement Replaces Depleted Amino Acids

BCAA supplements also help by replacing the depleted amino acids that you body used during it’s workout. These amino acids are used by your body to break down protein which contributes to muscle growth and repair. Branched chain amino acids are vital in that they are used for protein synthesis which helps muscles and other tissues.

#3 – Promotes Optimal Fat Loss

Probably my favorite aspect to using BCAA’s is how it helps in the role of fat loss. When you are on a low calorie diet these supplements ensure that you do not use fat for energy and they also make sure that you do not lose muscle as part of your weight loss. They are great to take prior to and directly following your workouts.

One of the most important aspects to consider when choosing a BCAA supplement, or any supplements, that you are going to put into your body is the quality of the supplement. You should never sacrifice a few dollars (sometimes not even that) just to get a better deal. While that is true, that doesn’t mean that you need to purchase the most expensive either. A solid company with solid supplements is really what you are after.

How Many Carbs Per Day To Lose Weight Naturally

Posted on by

It used to be that all carbs where off limits. Hardly any food you could find wasn’t labeled as being low carb. Even still, not all found weight loss to be easy following this low carb diet. Here is going to be some info on how many carbohydrates per day you should eat.

It’s ok to eat carbs as long as you don’t eat the wrong types of carbs or eat too many during the day. To lose weight it’s all about the type of carbs, calories and quality of food.

A general rule to follow is to base the amount of carbs you eat each each day on the activity level you normally live. Many will tell you not to eat more than 25 carbs a day. Don’t eat like this, it’s not healthy long term. You can eat a bit more than that.

So here it is … in order to lose weight, the right number of carbs is 50-100 grams per day and 100-150 grams to maintain.

Most importantly though, just don’t eat junk carbs. Also, I don’t encourage replacing your carbohydrates with “technological” foods and sugars as these chemicals are really not the best thing for your body.

You’ll really want to avoid harmful imitation food by constantly sticking with “real foods” only, or at least as much as possible. There are many alternatives but by sticking to only the real foods you body will operate best. Not all carbs are bad, and not all “no carb” and “low carb” foods are good either.

Having bad carbs sometimes won’t hurt you. Don’t worry about an exact number, just eat smart.

Just try to remember that your weight loss plan has to work long term and you have to be able to stick with it. If it doesn’t then you are going to fail. Focus on success and what will get you there.