AMAZING AMINOS

Amazing Aminos – the key to unlocking Amazonian Muscle Growth
Proteins are macro-molecules that are composed of amino acids. Halt! You're bored already. Right! Why? Because most of the crud you read about amino acids is as exciting as watching sand shift in the Mohave desert.
But you know what? The EAAs (essential amino acids) are the single most important dietary factor in promoting muscle mass gains and expediting recovery. Why? Because your body doesn't naturally make them. Hence, they are essential!
If you slept through high school biology (admit it, we all did), remember that amino acids are the building blocks of protein. So for any given protein that you consume, whether it is beef, chicken, or beans, the amount of each specific amino acid differs. Most plant sources of protein for example do NOT have enough of the essential amino acids; that's why they are incomplete proteins. And that's why most athletes are carnivores.
Conversely, the non-essential amino acids are made by your body; therefore, you don't necessary need to consume them in your diet. Though if you consume meat or milk-based proteins, then you will always get a mix of essential and non-essential amino acids.
So what are the essential amino acids or EAA?
Of the 20 amino acids that are used to form proteins, 9 are essential or indispensable; meaning that you need to consume them in your diet because your body does not normally make them. (See Table 1)
Table 1 - Essential Amino Acids
1. Phenylalanine
2. Valine
3. Tryptophan
4. Threonine
5. Isoleucine
6. Methionine
7. Histidine
a. (arginine)
8. Lysine
9. Leucine
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And these EAAs are the holy grail of muscle recovery and growth.
For those of you with the attention span of a fruit fly, here's a summary:
• Consuming the essential amino acids after lifting weights leads to a large increase in the rate of muscle protein synthesis which means in gym lingo, your muscles get bigger.(1)
• A high proportion of leucine, the key essential amino acid, is required for optimal stimulation of the rate of muscle protein synthesis; i.e. big muscles again.(2)
• Net muscle protein gain is significant when essential amino acids and/or protein are consumed immediately post-exercise. There is also evidence to show that consuming essential amino acids pre-exercise is even more anabolic.(3) So friggin' eat protein or aminos right after you train as well as before!
• According to the International Society of Sports Nutrition, their position stand states that, �Post-exercise ingestion of amino acids, primarily essential amino acids, has been shown to stimulate robust increases in muscle protein synthesis, while the addition of CHO may stimulate even greater levels of protein synthesis. Additionally, pre-exercise consumption of a CHO + PRO supplement may result in peak levels of protein synthesis.(4)� Yeah yeah�boring science stuff. But hey, it's proof that it works!

Boring Science Stuff to Read – But it's Proof!
1. Drummond MJ, Dreyer HC, Fry CS, Glynn EL, Rasmussen BB. Nutritional and Contractile Regulation of Human Skeletal Muscle Protein Synthesis and mTORC1 Signaling. J Appl Physiol 2009.
2. Katsanos CS, Kobayashi H, Sheffield-Moore M, Aarsland A, Wolfe RR. A high proportion of leucine is required for optimal stimulation of the rate of muscle protein synthesis by essential amino acids in the elderly. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2006;291:E381-7.
3. Tipton KD, Rasmussen BB, Miller SL, et al. Timing of amino acid-carbohydrate ingestion alters anabolic response of muscle to resistance exercise. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2001;281:E197-206.
4. Kerksick C, Harvey T, Stout J, et al. International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: Nutrient timing. J Int Soc Sports Nutr 2008;5:17.