Proteins are essential for your body, and gym trainers most often recommend increasing your intake of protein. However, protein should be taken at the right amount since including protein in your diet helps you exercise.
BCAA powder has branched-chain amino acids, which contain three amino acids like leucine, isoleucine and valine. BCAAs are highly recommended by gym trainers. In contrast, whey proteins are derived from milk, a vital source of protein and amino acids.
What Is the Difference Between BCAA and Whey Protein?
As mentioned earlier, BCAA is made up of leucine, isoleucine and valine. Just as protein is the building blocks of the body, amino acids are the building blocks of protein. These are divided into essential amino acids and non-essential amino acids. Essential amino acids must be externally sourced since you can only acquire amino acids from BCAA powder for arduous workouts. Your body requires amino acids or BCAA supplements for strengthening your muscles. Although leucine is available in your skeletal muscles, you will need more leucine when your muscles get stressed out, and you can only get this through BCAA supplements. Whey protein contains 90 per cent of pure proteins. It also has nine essential amino acids and BCAA, but this doesn’t make it a pure protein supplement.
What Are the Benefits of Taking BCAA?
Increases in muscle growth: The leucine in the BCAA supplement increases muscle protein synthesis or the process of making muscle. According to a study, people who had 5.6 grams of BCAAs had a 22 per cent increase in muscle protein synthesis after their strenuous workout.
Reduces fatigue: BCAAs help in reducing fatigue and exhaustion from exercise. How quickly you get exhausted depends on the workout’s intensity, fitness level, and many other factors.
Reduces muscle soreness: BCAAs reduce your muscle soreness in exercised muscles by decreasing the damage. It also decreases the severity of the delayed onset muscle soreness that can develop 12 to 24 hours after working out.
What Are the Benefits of Whey Protein?
Reduces inflammation: Inflammation happens when your body or a part of your body responds to damage. Although short term inflammation seems favourable, it should not persist under any condition.
Promotes muscle growth: Since whey is also rich in BCAA, it contains leucine that supports muscle growth. Whey protein improves your strength, gives you a nice looking body and reduces muscle loss.
Reduces hunger: After consuming whey protein, you might feel that you don’t have any cravings. This is because of the high protein content found on whey, which also helps in losing weight.
Which Is the Better One?
Although whey proteins have all the essential amino acids along with BCAA, taking a BCAA supplement helps you lose weight and retain muscle mass. To sum up, BCAA is better when it comes to building your body.
Is It Possible for You to Take BCAA and Whey Protein Together?
Yes, it is possible, but this solely depends upon your exercise schedule. You can consume both whey protein and BCAA powder together but one at a time, only if you are doing an intense workout since you will require a lot of energy for that. You need to measure your portions before consuming both whey and BCAAs. In case you are trying a very strenuous exercise daily, then you need BCAA. While consuming BCAA, make sure you take small doses since it is a heavy supplement. And in case you continue consuming BCAA supplements, you can include whey proteins as well.
