Leucine for Bodybuilders and Serious Muscle Growth
Leucine is one of the most important amino acids for adding and retaining muscle, and no serious bodybuilder or strength athlete can afford to go without having supplements as a part of their dietary regimen. Leucine, along with Isoleucine and Valine, is one of the important branched chain amino acids.
Leucine, as well as its branched chain cousins, is unique among amino acids in that they are not metabolized in the liver. Rather, it is stored directly in muscle tissue and serves to help grow new muscle and increase strength, resist the breakdown of muscle tissue, and can provide extra energy to the muscle if it is under heavy exertion by quickly converting to glucose. It has also been shown to have beneficial effects on the liver and the immune system.
BCAA Supplements For Serious Muscle Building
| SciFit BCAA Powder 5000 is 100% pure meaning there are no additional sweeteners or fillers. Nothing but pure Leucine, Isoleucine, and Valine powder here. | |
| SciFit BCAA AKG 1000 - Virtually all sport nutrition products contain the same ingredients. The difference with Sci Fit is our proprietary pH altered delivery system. By enhancing our supplements to an alkaline state it allows them to bypass through the digestive system and go directly into the blood stream. | |
| Optimum BCAA 1000 Caps contains a potent balance of Branched Chain Amino Acids which are building blocks of muscle mass and size. Metabolized directly in the muscle, BCAAs, may improve nitrogen retention by sparing other amino acid groups for repair and rebuilding. | |
| Eclipse 2000 Deluxe BCAA is an anti-catabolic supplement that provides the body with the BCAA (Valine, Leucine, and Isoleucine). Deluxe Branched Chain Amino Acids utilizes free form amino acids, which are the most readily absorbed form of singular amino acids. | |
| Optimum BCAA 5000 Powder provides a 5000 mg blend of the three Branched Chain Amino Acids (Valine, Leucine and Isoleucine) in every serving. The BCAA, so named because of their unique branched chemical structure, are essential in that the body cannot make them from other compounds. |
Leucine is one of the basic building blocks of the proteins that are used in the development of muscle tissue. Muscles are continuously being broken down and rebuilt in the body. For bodybuilders, this translates to an on going struggle to increase the rate at which muscle is built and slow the rate of muscle degradation.
Leucine has been shown to help with both of these processes. High concentrations of this BCAA are known to promote the creation of new muscle tissue. Recently, studies have also shown that it works to inhibit the breakdown of existing muscle tissue.
While all of the branched chain amino acids are important for athletes, Leucine has the most far reaching benefits for strength athletes both in terms of new muscle creation and muscle retention. For these reasons alone, it is obvious that any bodybuilder should include Leucine supplements as a part of their dietary regimen.
As any serious athlete knows, nothing is more detrimental to remaining in full competition readiness than having to take time off from training because of a sickness or injury. Studies have shown Leucine to promote proper immune function. Also, Leucine seems to enhance the body's ability to recover from injury, both in terms of surface wounds as well as more serious internal injuries such as broken bones.
Leucine Supplements Should Be
Taken With Isoleucine And Valine
Since the branched chain amino acids work together to enhance muscle growth and reduce muscle breakdown, having an imbalance of the three amino acids can reduce their effectiveness.
In terms of muscle growth and retention, Leucine is perhaps the most important of all amino acids for bodybuilders and other strength athletes. It helps grow new muscles and prevents the degradation of existing muscle tissue. Leucine is also useful for preventing training down time by increasing immune function and reducing the amount of time it takes to heal from injuries.
On top of all these benefits, Leucine has not been shown to have any negative side effects in healthy adults. All in all, there is no reason why supplements would not be a part of any bodybuilder's dietary regimen.
Get more information on the BCAA L-Leucine, right here
More Amino Acid Supplements
Read more on BCAA - Branched Chain Amino Acids for muscle building.
- Alanine
- Arginine
- Aspartic Acid
- Carnitine
- Cysteine
- Dopa
- Glutamic Acid
- Glutathione
- Histidine
- Isoleucine*
- Leucine *
- Lysine
- Methionine
- Ornithine
- Phenylalanine
- Taurine
- Threonine
- Tryptophan
- Tyrosine
- Valine *