What Is a Intra Workout – Benefits To Taking BCAA’s
What is a intra workout and what does it do? The quick and easy answer is a supplement that you take during exercise that promotes muscle development, hydration and replenishes energy stores.
Intra workout Supplements are sometimes just referred to as BCAA’s which are Branch Chain Amino Acids. This supplement is filled with Amino Acid proteins as well as other nutrients that provide better performance. Since ingredients differ between brands, we will talk about what to look for in a solid BCAA, and how they work.
We will uncover the many benefits that come with a Intra workout BCAA as well as any possible negatives. Lastly, we will review which sports work best for using Intra workouts and also my personal experience with these supplements.
What Is A Intra Workout
The three most important supplements that will give you the best chance for meeting your fitness goals, I’m going to call the “Fitness Trifecta“. These include pre workouts for energy and strength, Intra workouts (BCAA’s) for endurance and hydration and post workout protein powders for proper muscle recovery.
Between these three supplements, they will help you to have the most explosive workout and build the most muscle. Since energy and endurance are so important during your workout, the Intra workout keeps you focused and energized.
Intra Workouts are filled with Amino Acids, but mostly BCAA’s. These Branch Chain Amino Acids are three of the most important Aminos in this drink. You will also find carbohydrates and important nutrients such as vitamins and minerals used as electrolytes.
Intra workout BCAA’s are usually associated with the meat-heads at your local gym. They can be seen walking around with some kind of florescent colored super juice. If you think you may be one of these guys, please don’t hurt me.
However, Intra Workouts work well for both athletes and amateurs. Even if you are simply trying to stay in shape or get in a good run, an Intra workout will do wonders for endurance, alertness, and hydration. The more difficult the type of exercise, the better the benefits.
Intra Workout Benefits
The most beneficial effect is the increase in physical performance along with more muscular endurance. Intra workouts also jump-start muscle protein synthesis to increase muscle recovery time.
Intra Workouts can benefit weightlifting, aerobics, Crossfit, running, swimming, team sports, HIIT (high intensity interval training), Zumba, strength circuit training and the list goes on. Keep in mind that the more endurance based the sport, the more advantageous this supplement.
This supplement is convenient to take even when on the go. It just requires some water and a shaker bottle. I have several friends that keep their BCAA’s and a shaker in their car for when they get to the gym sometime during the day.
Intra workouts are affordable, with a price tag of only $25-$35 for 30 servings. If you were able to use it every other day, it can last you up to 2 months. There are no known side effects with taking Intra Workout supplements.
Better physical performance- Fights fatigue
- Longer muscular endurance
- Keeps you alert and energized
- Better hydration than water alone
- Faster muscle recovery
- Reduces muscle soreness
- Just healthy proteins, vitamins and minerals
- Convenient
- Inexpensive
Intra Workout Negatives
There is some controversy that when taking a pre workout supplement, an Intra workout is not necessary. The theory is that it may be repetitive since they both contain Amino Acids. However, it won’t hurt to get plenty of Aminos and other nutrients. If an Intra workout helps with your performance, by all means, keep taking it.
As I had mentioned, there are no side effects when taking Intra workouts. However, many brands do contain artificial ingredients. This usually includes artificial flavors and color. Many also include sugar substitutes such as Sucralose. Personally, I’m not very concerned about an occasional serving of these minuscule ingredients.
If you know of any more pros and cons for BCAA’s, I’d like to know about them. Please leave any comments at the bottom.
Get the Best Prices on Intra Workout BCAA’s
.
Intra Workout Ingredients
The key ingredients are Amino Acids. There are 21 of these total and they do everything from helping with cognitive memory to muscle growth and everything in between. Your body creates most of these naturally, except for the 9 essential Aminos that have to be added through your diet
These essential Aminos are:
- Histidine
- Leucine
- Isoleucine
- Lysine
- Methionine
- Threonine
- Tryptophan
- Valine
- Phenylalanine
The three BCAA’s or Branch Chain Amino Acids are valine, leucine, and valine. As you can see, these three are included in the essential Aminos. Therefore these have to be added into your body through food or drink. They are also some of the most important Aminos for muscle building and performance.
Intra workouts also contain electrolytes and carbohydrates to keep you hydrated and add the minerals your body needs. If you have ever felt weak or shaky towards the end of your workout, it is from the lack of these nutrients.
These vitamins and minerals can include:
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin B12
- Vitamin B6
- Magnesium
- Calcium
- Sodium
- Iron
- Potassium
Get the Best Prices on Intra Workout BCAA’s
How Intra Workout BCAA’s Work
In the beginning, sports scientists started testing carbohydrates and proteins in water. They found out that the ratio’s of the elements and the way they worked was much more complex. They eventually developed a combination of ingredients like Amino Acids, Peptides and whole proteins that would work the most efficiently for your body.
BCAA’s are chains of Aminos which are the building blocks for proteins that your body’s cells make. These Amino Acids stimulate protein synthesis, which in return will assist in building and repairing muscles.
When you exercise, your body increases blood flow to your muscles by 500 percent, skyrocketing the amounts of Amino Acids needed. This means that this is the peak time that your body needs to absorb more nutrients.
Intra workout or BCAA supplements are taken to support endurance, replenish essential nutrients and increase your muscle mass during and after your workout. In fact, many of the Amino Acids work specifically for muscle growth.
Another benefit of this supplement is that it performs similar to Gatorade, except that Intra workouts contain the components that the muscles need to perform better.
The Amino Acid proteins, electrolytes, and carbohydrates in Intra workouts all work together to keep your muscles adequately filled with these nutrients. This keeps your energy levels high to get additional performance. Intra Workouts can help to keep your body functioning as peak capacity.
Sports That Benefit From Intra Workouts
Intra workout supplements are not only for weightlifting but used widely throughout the fitness world. There is actually a wide range of activities that the body can really benefit from these nutrients. Athletes performing any kind of endurance sport or high intensity sport will see the best results when using these.
This includes anything from long distance running to basketball. In fact, the higher the endurance sport, aerobic sports such as marathons, the more beneficial the Intra Workout will be.
They work well with everything from biking, hiking or anything that requires endurance and hydration. Many of these sports require performance over a longer period, making these ingredients even more critical.
Bodybuilding and strength training workouts only last between 45-60 minutes, so one would not lose nearly as many nutrients as say, a marathon runner. I know these two actives are the furthest apart as possible, but there are many similarities and levels of sporting activities in between.
What it comes down to is that any sport, short or lengthy, you can always benefit from the boost that additional nutrients will provide. If you have any comments or questions about what sport is right for an Intra workout, please leave them below and I will respond.
My Intra Workout Strategy
I will usually take my BCAA’s for my longer, more intense workouts. Especially when I will be lifting and running in the same day. When running only, 5K’s are about the longest endurance activity that I will do, but this is an excellent time to get these nutrients.
A good deal of energy stores are exhausted during the first mile or two making this a peak absorption time your body needs these nutrients to recharge. In a race, an Intra workout will hydrate you better than water.
Personally I enjoy the performance boost and hydration that this supplement gives me. It’s easy to mix and easy to drink. I prefer mine on “the rocks”, in my shaker bottle.
Here is my mixture for today’s workout ——>
.
The Intra Workout Conclusion
An Intra workout supplement is used to increase muscle performance, prolong fatigue and enable better hydration. I recommend an Intra workout BCAA that contains plenty of Amino Acids, minerals for the electrolytes, vitamins, and carbohydrates.
The maximum absorption time that the body needs Aminos Acids and other nutrients is during exercise. Feeding your body during this key absorption period results in improved performance, and the electrolytes will hydrate you even better than water.
Intra workout supplements work well with any aerobic (endurance) or anaerobic (high intensity) exercise program. This includes anything from long distance running, to weightlifting, to team sports.
Scientific data shows that a good Intra workout can be a vital component along with exercise. There are numerous benefits to this supplement.
If you have any comments, tips or suggestions about “what is a Intra Workout”, please leave them below and I will respond.
Get the Best Prices on Intra Workout BCAA’s
