BCAA

BCAAs refer to three specific essential amino acids: leucine, isoleucine, and valine. They are called "branched chains" because of their unique chemical structure. These amino acids occur naturally in our muscles and are therefore a popular supplement among strength athletes.

Over the years, a wide variety of BCAA products have been introduced, usually as capsules or flavored powders. Formulas often contain added vitamin B6 and L-glutamine. The 2:1:1 ratio represents the amount of leucine to isoleucine and valine. Other common ratios are 4:1:1 and 8:1:1.