Nutrition What role (if any) does Amino supplements play in your nutrition?

[steve-in-kville]

I had bought a can of Amino Acid powder to use when I'm fasting while doing IF. Directions claim it can be used before, during or after a workout, or anytime I need to boost focus or energy. Its like 5 calories a serving, so I'm not worried about breaking a fast.

Does anyone else use AA's in their nutrition program?

 

[John K]

I used to use BCAAs when I worked out fasted. I took them before and after.

Now I’m pretty much always well fed so don’t use them.

 

[Denys Carthusian]

I had bought a can of Amino Acid powder to use when I'm fasting while doing IF. Directions claim it can be used before, during or after a workout, or anytime I need to boost focus or energy. Its like 5 calories a serving, so I'm not worried about breaking a fast.

Does anyone else use AA's in their nutrition program?

Yes.

 

[silveraw]

I used to use BCAAs when I worked out fasted. I took them before and after.

Now I’m pretty much always well fed so don’t use them.

Same.

I didn’t notice much of a difference either to be honest. (Between using them and not for fasted training)

 

[Boris Bachmann]

I used to use BCAAs when I worked out fasted. I took them before and after.

Now I’m pretty much always well fed so don’t use them.

Generally same. I take glycine some nights because someone a decade+ ago raved about having vivid dreams (and it does produce that). Once in a while, I'll buy a glutamine powder if it's cheap - I have no idea if it does anything at all. Other than that, it's just protein powder.

 

[steve-in-kville]

Same.

I didn’t notice much of a difference either to be honest. (Between using them and not for fasted training)

I am only drinking a cup or two of black coffee upon waking (about 4am or so). At about 8:30-ish, the hunger starts to set in so I do the Amino's. My first meal is 10:30, give or take.

So far has been working great. Tomorrow I plan to try an early morning workout, maybe 30 minutes and see how my body reacts to it and how the hunger sets in.

 

[Antti]

Collagen (and vitamin C) before training sure sounds interesting and worth a try.

 

[John K]

I am only drinking a cup or two of black coffee upon waking (about 4am or so). At about 8:30-ish, the hunger starts to set in so I do the Amino's. My first meal is 10:30, give or take.

So far has been working great. Tomorrow I plan to try an early morning workout, maybe 30 minutes and see how my body reacts to it and how the hunger sets in.

That’s a pretty good strategy in my opinion and experience. From what I’ve done and read aminos aren’t terribly beneficial EXCEPT when fasting or consuming low amounts of protein daily.

 

[SFSparky]

Lots of info on protein, amino acids, and impact on muscle growth. Can start around 1:20:00. Last 20 minutes or so particularly relevant.

 

[Halfakneecap]

I am only drinking a cup or two of black coffee upon waking (about 4am or so). At about 8:30-ish, the hunger starts to set in so I do the Amino's. My first meal is 10:30, give or take.

So far has been working great. Tomorrow I plan to try an early morning workout, maybe 30 minutes and see how my body reacts to it and how the hunger sets in.

I have been working out at 4am fasted for the past 4-5 yrs. Recently started 20:4 IF, and also only have black coffee. Haven’t thought about BCAA’s at all but I don’t really get hungry ( or desperately hungry ) til after lunch.

I used to have to eat brekkie. I’d wake up ravenous, but these days ( 44 ) I’m quite fine to go til lunch easily, which is why I’m trying the 20:4. Works for my body. I tried 16:8 but it was too big a window, I can easily overeat in 8 hrs.

Will look into it cheers

 

[LukeV]

When my workout volume made recovery an issue, I would often take a BCAA supplement (10g i think) after training and it certainly appeared to assist. DOMS was less severe and went away sooner when I took the supplement than when I didn't

 

[Chris Hall]

My favourite mix for recovery is a pre made EAA blend (the nine essential amino acids, including the BCAAs) plus glutamine.

 

[Chris Hall]

Aside from the performance/ recovery aspects, there are lots of interesting benefits of individual aminos.

Eg - Tyrosine helps to produce dopamine, which makes it useful for focus and motivation.

- Arginine boosts nitric oxide production which helps with muscle relaxation (particularly smooth muscle, but also has an effect on skeletal muscle) I suffered from spasms of the oesophagus when swallowing (sometimes called ‘steakhouse syndrome’). Taking arginine daily has stopped this entirely. As a welcome side effect it relaxed many tight muscles so much that my massage therapist was astonished. (Actually I take citruline, which is converted to arginine. Due to better absorption it elevates arginine levels more than the same dose of arginine.)

-Tryptophan boosts serotonin and some people find it helpful for mild depression. (Didn’t work for me when I had depression, but awesome that it works for a lot of people.)

- Carnitine makes DOMS much less likely.

Would love to hear any other uses of specific aminos that anyone has found.