EAAs (Essential Amino Acids)

What it is

Essential amino acids (EAAs) are the nine amino acids the body cannot make and must obtain from food. Supplemented in free form, they directly stimulate muscle protein synthesis, with leucine acting as the primary trigger of the anabolic signaling response.

Benefits

Stimulate muscle protein synthesis and support recovery and lean-mass maintenance, especially around training and in older or anabolic-resistant people. Synthesis begins to rise at about 1.5-3 g of a leucine-rich EAA blend and plateaus near 15-18 g per serving.

When to take it

Can be taken around training; consuming EAAs shortly before resistance exercise improves amino acid delivery to muscle. Total daily protein intake matters more than precise timing.

Side effects

Generally well tolerated. Large free-form doses may cause mild gastrointestinal discomfort; the amino acid load is otherwise comparable to dietary protein.

Sources

• ISSN Position Stand: Essential Amino Acid Supplementation on Skeletal Muscle and Performance (PMC)
• ISSN Position Stand: Effects of essential amino acid supplementation on exercise and performance (Taylor & Francis)

Products containing EAAs (Essential Amino Acids)

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