You might have heard that we at Gnarly are making a big change to our line of products—goodbye to BCAAs. But not to worry; we’re not cutting them out entirely. Instead, we’re inviting their six other friends to the party. Science is always evolving and we like to stay ahead of the curve. Let’s take a closer look at why we’re making the switch from BCAAs to essential amino acids (EAAs) and how this change might benefit you.
Amino acids are the building blocks of protein and there are 20 different ones in total. They’re divided into three categories: non-essential, essential, and conditionally essential. Non-essential amino acids are produced by your body, while EAAs must be obtained from the food you eat. Conditionally essential amino acids are ones that your body can sometimes produce, but not always.
Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs)—which include leucine, isoleucine, and valine—are a subgroup of EAAs. Leucine has long been regarded as the star of the amino acid world, especially because it’s well-researched and has been shown to play a pivotal role in muscle protein synthesis. However, research shows that leucine alone can’t do the job. Even with isoleucine and valine, it’s still not enough. To build muscle effectively, you need all 20 amino acids working together, much like how you can’t build a house with just one tool—you need the whole toolbox.
You might be wondering, “Why not just get all of this from whole foods?” While we’re all about food-first nutrition at Gnarly and believe whole foods are the best source of nourishment, we also recognize that sometimes it’s difficult to hit your nutritional goals. Whether you're struggling to meet your protein needs, don't enjoy protein-rich foods, are over 65, or trying to lose fat while gaining muscle, a little extra help from supplements like Gnarly Aminos could make a big difference.
To maximize muscle growth, you should aim for roughly 1.6-2.2 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight. For some people, this is easy to achieve through food, but for others, getting enough protein from meals alone can be a challenge. This can be especially true for plant-based eaters. Protein supplements can be beneficial, but plant-based proteins do not contain the same level of EAAs that are found in animal proteins.
Our protein needs also go up as we age. If you’re 65 or older, it can be hard to reach your optimal protein requirements. As we age, protein becomes harder to absorb. Older individuals also can have lower levels of hunger or a harder time digesting or chewing protein-rich foods. Adding Aminos to this type of scenario provides an easy solution for folks needing to increase their protein in order to maintain muscle mass. This is important at all ages, but especially as we age.
While Gnarly Whey is an excellent choice for protein supplementation, not everyone can tolerate protein powders due to digestive issues or dairy allergies. Plus, when you're aiming to gain lean muscle mass, a little fat gain is often inevitable. Conversely, when trying to lose fat, you might end up losing some muscle along the way—unfair, right? By consuming more protein while keeping calorie intake lower, you may be able to minimize these effects.
For elite athletes, where every calorie counts, Aminos can offer a more targeted approach. If you need to stay within a strict calorie limit to meet competition weight, EAAs provide the essential amino acids your body needs without calorie-dense foods.
Aminos can be taken before, during, or after exercise. We recommend taking Aminos before activity as they are quickly absorbed in the bloodstream and can help minimize muscle protein breakdown during exercise. It can be especially beneficial if you have not had a meal high in protein (at least 20 grams) within the last two hours before training. If you’re taking Aminos prior to activity, we still recommend protein and carbohydrate rich foods for recovery.
So, if any of these scenarios sound familiar to you, it might be time to give our new Aminos a try. And for those of you who have been loving BCAAs, don’t worry—you're going to love the expanded benefits of EAAs. Now, you’ll be getting all the benefits of the BCAAs plus six additional essential amino acids to support your muscle-building and recovery no matter what your goals are.
