CORE MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021

Amino acids can be divided into three categories: essential amino
acids, conditionally essential amino acids, and non-essential amino
acids.
Your body can make some amino acids—these are called “non-essential”—
but they have to get others from food. These are called essential amino
acids. Conditionally essential amino acids can be made by the body some of
the time, but not under times of stress—like after a tough workout, or when
you’re sick. Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) are a subgroup of three
essential amino acids (EAAs):
Isoleucine
Leucine
Valine
Of the three BCAAs, leucine is the most researched, and appears to offer the
biggest physiological benefit. It stimulates muscle protein synthesis, which is
when muscle cells assemble amino acids into proteins. This process is key if
you want to build muscle strength and size.