How Are BCAAs Zero Calories?

[anaconda]

This may be a stupid question but I'm just curious as to how I can take in several grams of amino acids but still not be ingesting any calories?

scivation xtend nutrition info:

Side note, I said on here before that I don't see the benefits of BCAAs and stopped taking them when doing intermittent fasting. Well I decided to start taking them again and they are actually making a big difference in my fasted training. I feel WAY better taking them regularly (and recover better as well).

So if you are doing IF and training regularly I recommend BCAAs (and I love the xtend watermelon flavor).

 

[Seriously-Dead]

It's just a labelling technicality. BCAAs have the same calorie content as regular protein (which should be factored into a diet). FDA only considers proteins as having calories, not individual amino acids (protein = structure of several amino acids, BCAAs = individual amino acids). It's still 4kcal/g like protein.

 

[PUO3]

good question i wondered that also.

and, as much as i hate supplements, i felt a noticeable difference taking them as well.

 

[Sinister]

good question i wondered that also.

and, as much as i hate supplements, i felt a noticeable difference taking them as well.

If you consider BCAA's a protein, then they're not a supplement, protein is a food.

 

[DiscipleOfPog]

It may be because you cannot get energy from them, they simply are used in the body for building. No idea if this is true or not, just my thought.

 

[anaconda]

It's just a labelling technicality. BCAAs have the same calorie content as regular protein (which should be factored into a diet). FDA only considers proteins as having calories, not individual amino acids (protein = structure of several amino acids, BCAAs = individual amino acids). It's still 4kcal/g like protein.

Ok thats what I figured but I thought I was crazy when I checked all the nutrition labels. Thanks for clearing it up.

 

[PUO3]

If you consider BCAA's a protein, then they're not a supplement, protein is a food.

winning.

 

[hardheart]

This may be a stupid question but I'm just curious as to how I can take in several grams of amino acids but still not be ingesting any calories?

scivation xtend nutrition info:



Side note, I said on here before that I don't see the benefits of BCAAs and stopped taking them when doing intermittent fasting. Well I decided to start taking them again and they are actually making a big difference in my fasted training. I feel WAY better taking them regularly (and recover better as well).

So if you are doing IF and training regularly I recommend BCAAs (and I love the xtend watermelon flavor).

It's just a labelling technicality. BCAAs have the same calorie content as regular protein (which should be factored into a diet). FDA only considers proteins as having calories, not individual amino acids (protein = structure of several amino acids, BCAAs = individual amino acids). It's still 4kcal/g like protein.

good question i wondered that also.

and, as much as i hate supplements, i felt a noticeable difference taking them as well.

The reason BCAAs are 0 calorie because they are metabolized intramuscular rather than in the liver and require no processing by the body. You shouldn't consider BCAA powder the same as protein powder because your body doesn't handle or process them even remotely the same.

It may be because you cannot get energy from them, they simply are used in the body for building. No idea if this is true or not, just my thought.

No.

In most cases, isoleucine & valine wouldn't be converted into glucose in your body. However in a fasted state of ketosis it's safe to assume that some of the isoleucine & valine would be converted into glucose. Can't find any studies talking about their rates of conversion.

 

[Seriously-Dead]

The reason BCAAs are 0 calorie because they are metabolized intramuscular rather than in the liver and require no processing by the body. You shouldn't consider BCAA powder the same as protein powder because your body doesn't handle or process them even remotely the same.

That's not why. Calorie content of food is determined via calorimetry and doesn't account for what happens in a biological system at all. This is just an issue of technicality. Complete protein sources break down in BCAAs (and other amino acids).

 

[hardheart]

That's not why. Calorie content of food is determined via calorimetry and doesn't account for what happens in a biological system at all. This is just an issue of technicality. Complete protein sources break down in BCAAs (and other amino acids).

 

[xilliun]

It may be because you cannot get energy from them, they simply are used in the body for building. No idea if this is true or not, just my thought.

You oxidise amino acids in exercise, though your metabolism will only source around 5% of its needs from it. Read up on the free amino acid pool.

Might add in also on the topic of BCAA's - my lecturer was covering the topic recently and spoke briefly about new research emerging on BCAA supplementation and increased pain thresholds during exercise, specifically, being able to push yourself for longer.

 

[anaconda]

You oxidise amino acids in exercise, though your metabolism will only source around 5% of its needs from it. Read up on the free amino acid pool.

Might add in also on the topic of BCAA's - my lecturer was covering the topic recently and spoke briefly about new research emerging on BCAA supplementation and increased pain thresholds during exercise, specifically, being able to push yourself for longer.

That is indeed very interesting. My n=1 sample size would tend to agree that it helps me be able to push myself for longer.

 

[hardheart]

That is indeed very interesting. My n=1 sample size would tend to agree that it helps me be able to push myself for longer.

Mine too. I barely break a sweat now that I take BCAAs during a workout.

 

[thetopdog555]

I've been doing IF for the past ~2 months and I can't believe how much energy I have in the gym when the only thing I've eaten in the past 16 hours are 10gs of BCAAs

 

[Master Shonuff]

Unlike protein, carbs and fats, the body doesn't use them for energy. They are the building blocks

 

[nemosson]

I can't elaborate on calories and whatnot. However, when I'm cutting, I use bcaa's exclusively with great results as far as not losing muscle. To me, bcaa's are better than whey!

 

[anaconda]

So followup question - do I count the 5-10 g of BCAA in my protein count for the day?

Its not a huge difference, but I'm curious.

 

[hardheart]

So followup question - do I count the 5-10 g of BCAA in my protein count for the day?

Its not a huge difference, but I'm curious.

It's not the same as protein but two of the bcaa's convert to glucose pretty easy.

Since protein count is about lbm usually, I would.

 

[Respeezy]

I've been struggling with the idea of taking them before workouts during my fast, on one hand i dont like taking supplements other than creatine and i sort of feel the fast isnt a fast if i'm taking supplements, but on the other hand everyone seems to be positive on them.

My problem with taking them is, that the whole IF theory as i understand it , is that you dont need to eat anything, and muscle mass will preserve etc, so i feel kind of weird about taking a supplement during the fast. Especially because the IF guys on one hand sold me the idea that fasting is the answer to everything and that it works perfectly but than on the other hand advise to and take a supplement themselves, sort of admitting that fasting itself isnt the best option.

 

[The HoneyBadger**]

I've been struggling with the idea of taking them before workouts during my fast, on one hand i dont like taking supplements other than creatine and i sort of feel the fast isnt a fast if i'm taking supplements, but on the other hand everyone seems to be positive on them.

My problem with taking them is, that the whole IF theory as i understand it , is that you dont need to eat anything, and muscle mass will preserve etc, so i feel kind of weird about taking a supplement during the fast. Especially because the IF guys on one hand sold me the idea that fasting is the answer to everything and that it works perfectly but than on the other hand advise to and take a supplement themselves, sort of admitting that fasting itself isnt the best option.

Whats the difference between taking the BCAA and taking the Creatine?

(P.S. I'm not asking what the literal difference is I'm asking in context to your statement)