What exactly are BCAAs?
BCAAs are a class of three essential amino acids—leucine, isoleucine, and valine—that help with muscle growth and recovery.
They cannot be synthesized from other non-essential amino acids because they are essential amino acids. They must be obtained through exogenous supplementation, which is why many pills, powders, and other products contain BCAAs.
And if you're into any kind of serious fitness, they're probably a staple in your bag.
They're so popular because the body requires all nine essential amino acids to produce new muscle proteins.
Leucine has the most anabolic role in muscle growth of any amino acid, so supplementing extra makes perfect sense.
But wait, there's more. BCAAs may also aid in reducing the extent of muscle damage after exercise by lowering levels of circulating creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), both of which are markers of muscle damage.
Less damage means faster recovery and the ability to train harder during your next gym session.
Assume you're working out in a caloric deficit. In that case, BCAAs are great to have on hand because they alleviate the concern about gluconeogenesis and muscle protein breakdown for energy, which can occur during fasted training periods.
It is less of a concern if you consume enough dietary protein, but taking BCAAs pre-workout can protect against the possibility.
What exactly is HMB?
Even though it has been around for over 20 years, beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate, or HMB, is a relatively new addition to the fitness supplement world.
It's a compound that the body naturally produces in small amounts as a byproduct of leucine metabolism.
However, if you're considering taking leucine in the hopes of reaping the benefits of HMB, reconsider.
Only about 5% of the 20% of leucine that does not directly contribute to protein synthesis is converted into HMB.
However, as a standalone supplement or as part of a pre-workout blend, HMB is excellent for maintaining an anabolic state.
It aids in the prevention of muscle breakdown while also increasing workload, reducing and repairing muscle damage, and indirectly increasing muscle mass.
Currently, the leucine in your BCAAs will not provide you with much HMB, but supplementing with HMB alongside your BCAAs may provide you with a significant advantage.
Here's how it's done:
The main advantage of including HMB in your stack is that it aids in the reduction of muscle protein breakdown via the mTOR pathway.
HMB's ability to promote muscle growth is due to its ability to synthesize proteins by stimulating mRNA translation, muscle cell proliferation, and protein synthesis, as well as increased expression of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and growth hormone (GH) 5; both hormones are required for muscle protein synthesis.
However, keep in mind that the goal of HMB is not to increase muscle growth, but rather to slow the process of muscle breakdown in order to preserve all of your hard work in the gym.
However, it may also influence cortisol levels, which play an indirect role in the preservation of lean muscle mass.
Cortisol is an important hormone in the body, but too much of it can stymie your ability to gain muscle.
This is due to the fact that cortisol is a catabolic hormone, which means it breaks down muscle rather than supporting muscle growth.
HMB has been shown in studies to help mitigate the negative effects of cortisol when taken fasted.
As a result, there is no impediment to protein synthesis when levels are maintained during and after training.
Can You Take Both of Them?
If you want to maximize muscle growth and recovery, the answer is unequivocally yes.
However, keep in mind that the benefits of BCAAs and HMB are not the same. BCAAs are more concerned with increasing muscle protein synthesis, whereas HMB is more concerned with preventing muscle breakdown. They appear to be made for each other.
However, the end goal is nearly identical. To maintain lean muscle mass while increasing muscle-building capacity.
So, taking HMB before your workout in something like Burn Lab Pro will keep you in an anabolic state during your workout and help boost fat loss, whereas taking BCAAs before or immediately after your workout will provide you with the amino acids, specifically leucine, required to stimulate muscle protein synthesis.
If you plan on doing any intense exercise, BCAAs taken before training can help reduce muscle soreness.
Furthermore, because BCAAs bypass the liver and gut, they can be used to produce energy.
Can You Combine BCAA and HMB?
Both BCAA and HMB are fantastic supplements that can help you achieve your fitness goals both inside and outside of the gym. However, this is not a common combination.
BCAAs are typically found as a standalone supplement or in something like a pre or intra-workout drink, whereas HMB is typically found in fat burners or on its own.
While both are excellent in their own right, you may be wondering if they can be combined for maximum benefit.
That's what you're about to learn. We'll go over why BCAAs and HMB are both great supplements to add to your stack, as well as whether it's better to separate them or combine them.
HMB or BCAA: Which is Better?
Is HMB considered a BCAA?
Is it worthwhile to take HMB?
Is it preferable to take HMB or creatine?
Is it better to take leucine or HMB?
Can I combine HMB and pre-workout?
What is the purpose of HMB?
Is HMB considered a controlled substance?
When should you take HMB?
Is HMB a testosterone booster?
Does HMB help you gain muscle mass?
Does HMB make you gain weight?
Is HMB a hormone disruptor?
Is HMB effective in preventing muscle loss?
Can you take HMB on a daily basis?
Is it necessary to cycle HMB?
Last Word
To summarize, combining HMB with BCAAs will benefit you if you want more energy, faster recovery, and increased muscle protein synthesis. That isn't to say that if you don't take either of these supplements, your muscle growth and recovery will suffer; they aren't.
Still, they're excellent additions to any stack for anyone looking to improve performance and lose fat while maintaining lean mass. Both of these are especially important if you're doing any fasted training. Burn Lab Pro contains a combination of five unique ingredients, including HMB, designed to supercharge your workouts in order to help you meet all of your fitness goals.
It's one of the best stim-free fat burning formulas available, with ingredients that work together to enhance each other's beneficial activities, resulting in the cleanest, most powerful, and effective fat burner ever created.
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