What are EAAs? And why should you supplement with them?
EAAs stands for Essential Amino Acids. Essential amino acids are all amino acids that the body cannot produce itself and must therefore absorb through food. Amino acids, in turn, are the components of proteins and are responsible for providing you with energy.
Animal protein sources are particularly rich in EAAs – beef, poultry, eggs, fish and dairy products. If you are vegan or vegetarian, supplementing with EAAs is highly recommended. But even if you eat animal products and do a lot of sport, EAA supplementation is recommended. Firstly, you need to eat a variety of protein sources every day to cover your need for all essential amino acids and secondly, EAAs counteract the catabolic state during intensive training sessions so that your anabolic state is guaranteed and your muscle protein synthesis is stimulated.
EAAs also ensure better glucose transport. If your EAA requirement is covered, a larger proportion of the glucose is transported into the muscle cells and a smaller proportion into the fat cells. The high glucose content in your muscle cells keeps your energy levels up for longer during training.
USAGE:
EAAs are best taken before, during or after training. A dosage of 10-20g is recommended. It also makes sense to take EAAs on non-training days, as the L-leucine it contains stimulates muscle protein synthesis, which improves your regeneration.
