Study after study supports the weight loss benefits of BCAAs for women, and anyone trying to lose weight and live healthily. If you’re one of the many women over 40 struggling, don’t give up yet, BCAAs could be the magic you’ve been waiting for.
I really like the benefits of BCAA supplements and since making it part of my daily routine I have noticed some positive changes in how I feel.
If you are a little afraid of supplements, no worries. I started out the same way. I thought all supplements were for the very big muscular crazy gym rats. You definitely don’t have to be a qualified bodybuilder to enjoy the benefits of BCAAs.
Resistance training, weight lifting and a higher standard of fitness for women, including women over 40, is becoming more popular, BCAA supplements are as natural on a pantry shelf as protein supplements.
Weight loss supplements aren’t the harmful extreme manufactured mess like they were 20, 30 years ago. Instead, many companies are producing natural, even organic supplements that help to truly supplement the nutrients our bodies need for top performance.
Then I started losing weight and living more healthy. After reading a lot of different blogs and talking to professionals, I realized the importance of some supplements, particularly as we age and try to rebuild muscles of our younger years.
BCAAs for weight loss for women over 40 are the perfect boost for losing fat and increasing metabolism.
What exactly are BCAAs?
BCAA stands for branched chain amino acids. BCAA’s are essential amino acids for our body. They are considered essential because we have to get them from our food intake. Our body does not produce them.
There are three Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) that are considered essential.
- Valine
- Leucine
- Isoleucine
These essential amino acids are key building blocks for energy production and muscle repair.
These 3 amino acids are called essential because they are not produced by the body, rather, they are found naturally in lean protein.
Why take BCAAs Supplements rather than eating protein?
Good question.
Weight loss benefits of BCAAs are peak when our calories are reduced and/or we are working out in a somewhat fasted state.
When we are exercising, our body needs energy. It obtains energy from either muscle or fat. Of course, we want to burn as much fat as possible while preserving muscle.
The BCAAs are able to protect our muscles by helping our body burn the fat.
The BCAA supplements can deliver the amino acids directly to our muscles, rather than if we could eat lean protein right before or during our workout, it would have to be processed in our liver before being delivered to muscles, thus, causing such a delay it could be too late.
What are BCAAs good for?
BCAAs to Reduce Muscle Soreness
Because BCAAs are all about our muscles and muscle recovery, BCAAs also help to reduce muscle soreness after a hard workout. Drinking a BCAA powder supplement in your water during your workout or even shortly after working out can prevent a lot of the soreness normally felt after a hard workout by reducing muscle recovery.
Have you had those mornings when you get out of bed only to realize you can hardly move because your muscles are so sore? Yeah, other than the pain from walking, it is a great feeling knowing you worked hard…but the BCAAs reduce that tremendously!
I can’t recall the last time I experienced that extreme soreness now that I have been taking the BCAAs for a while.
Weight Loss Benefits of BCAA for Women Over 40 in a Nutshell
1 – Essential amino acids we need
2 – Repair muscles in workout recovery.
3 – Stimulate metabolism through muscle growth
4 – Help us burn fat instead of muscle for energy
5 – Proven in studies to aid weight loss
6 – Increase endurance
7 – Aid in anti-aging
8 – increase lifespan
Best BCAAs for Women
After trying many different brands of BCAAs, some designed specifically for women, I have discovered there are many good ones to choose from.
Be sure to compare the grams of BCAAs to each other when choosing.
Taste is as important as quality to me, second to those are the price per serving.
I drink my BCAAs at different times of the day depending on my routine.
Waking up and immediately drinking a glass of BCAAs works wonders for me. My body seems to be super sensitive to any amount of dehydration. And, of course during the night I go about 8 hours without any water.
It used to take me a few hours to feel like my body was ready to start the day until I began adding BCAAs to my water first thing. Now, I feel awake and active within 30 min, which is awesome for the early morning workouts!
There really isn’t a wrong or bad time to drink BCAAs!
Most days, I work out twice a day. Weight lifting and cardio with riding my horse. I will often have a serving during both workouts. (affiliate link)
Here’s my favorite BCAAs! Very high quality AND it tastes amazing!
On non-training days, I will drink BCAAs in between meals to help muscle recovery and to protect my muscles as I typically will eat reduced calories on those days.
There are many different flavors and brands to choose from. Most of them taste really good without a vitamin taste. Although BCAA pill form is available, I prefer to add BCAA powder to my water.
Are BCAAs right for you?
If you are trying to lose weight, BCAAs can be very beneficial to your weight loss efforts.
If you have restricted your calorie intake and aren’t able to meet your protein needs, definitely, BCAAs could help you.
If you workout and are trying to tone muscles, BCAAs will help you reach your goals much easier.
What supplements do you currently take, if any? Share in the comments below.
More Science Behind Weight Loss Benefits of BCAAs
Frankly, I can’t explain all of the science behind it, but here are some great resources to read more about the science of BCAA weight loss benefits among other benefits.
Branched Chain Amino Acids Help Speed Up Your Metabolism
BCAA Benefits: A Review of Branched-Chain Amino Acids
Best BCAA for Women: BCAA Supplement Guide
Click for more supplements for weight loss that worked for me.
