Athletes and bodybuilders know the health benefits of protein in their daily diet and almost all of them consume it as supplements. They are also aware of the benefits of amino acids, and you must have heard that those are commonly used as supplements, too. Yet, if you remember something from your biology class, you will get confused; if amino acids are the building blocks of protein, then why would people consume protein supplements and amino acids at the same time?

Well, the answer is simple: protein is the building force behind muscles, and amino acids are the building blocks of protein—they themselves are what makes protein very important. Here’s how your body works when it ingests protein: it breaks it down into individual aminos, then reorders them, refolds them and turns them into muscles, tissues or cells, or whatever your body needs. Athletes are especially concerned with a group of three main amino acids: leucine, isoleucine, and valine. They are called branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs). Continue reading →