BCAA Insulin Rush?

Diet and Nutrition
1

I read in another thread that BCAAs can often lead to an insulin rush. I also hear they are best to take frequently throughout the day, like most supplements.

From a precontest standpoint, I like to keep all of my carby meals in the morning and around my workout, along with supplements that raise insulin. I also keep all of my fats in the PM, and take all of my fish oils/CLA with my last shake.

Sooooo, I take my BCAAs in the morning and after my workouts, good shit huh. But what about night time? Most poeple reccomend taking them before bed to combat catabolism while dieting. Will this insulin rush hinder precontest?

2

You’re pre-contest dieting?

Seriously?

What contest?

3

[quote]eengrms76 wrote:
You’re pre-contest dieting?

Seriously?

What contest?[/quote]

I use that term loosely. I do photoshoots pretty much bimonthly. Why are you acting so suprised? Almost EVERY question I’ve ever asked on T-Nation has had to do with precontest dieting. You act as if you know me, and find that I’m not ready to diet.

Please, if you’re going to post, try and make sense people. I’m not a substitute teacher for retarded kids ya know.

4

I’m interested in the same question, if anyone has any answers.

Thanks.

5

[quote]Damici wrote:
I’m interested in the same question, if anyone has any answers.

Thanks.
[/quote]

The reason I ask this is because the usual protein I purchase from a local store is out of stock for the month of january. So I am purchasing a substitute. My previous protein had BCAAs in it, so I really never bothered supplementing with them. This new protein, however, has none. So I picked up a bottle of BCAAs and began fiddling with the dosages, trying to get a feel for them.

Honestly I have not noticed much of a rush, probably because the reccomended dosage is FAR less than that of Biotest’s BCAAs, so I’m getting far less BCAAs for about the same price. I have noticed a lack of lethargy when carbs aren’t present, and I don’t feel too hungry, unless of course I think about donuts.

If no one with greater experience chimes in, then I will continue to post my findings with different BCAA timings and dosages.

6

[quote]Roy wrote:
Damici wrote:
I’m interested in the same question, if anyone has any answers.

Thanks.

The reason I ask this is because the usual protein I purchase from a local store is out of stock for the month of january. So I am purchasing a substitute. My previous protein had BCAAs in it, so I really never bothered supplementing with them. This new protein, however, has none. So I picked up a bottle of BCAAs and began fiddling with the dosages, trying to get a feel for them.

Honestly I have not noticed much of a rush, probably because the reccomended dosage is FAR less than that of Biotest’s BCAAs, so I’m getting far less BCAAs for about the same price. I have noticed a lack of lethargy when carbs aren’t present, and I don’t feel too hungry, unless of course I think about donuts.

If no one with greater experience chimes in, then I will continue to post my findings with different BCAA timings and dosages.[/quote]

Amino acids are found in all protein whether or not it’s a powder, chicken leg, or steak. Branched Chain Aminos like L-isoluceine, L-Luciene, and L-valine, are potent in regard to muscle by stimulating protein synthesis and muscle growth. If there is an insulin spike from taking these it would be beneficial in transporting these aminos into muscle cells.

Insulin spikes are negative are “bad” when it’s primarily stimulated by sugar and or combined with fat where the insulin will usually transport sugar or fat into fat storage minus the presence of rigorous physical activity.

Hope this helps,

D

7

[quote]Dedicated wrote:
Roy wrote:
Damici wrote:
I’m interested in the same question, if anyone has any answers.

Thanks.

The reason I ask this is because the usual protein I purchase from a local store is out of stock for the month of january. So I am purchasing a substitute. My previous protein had BCAAs in it, so I really never bothered supplementing with them. This new protein, however, has none. So I picked up a bottle of BCAAs and began fiddling with the dosages, trying to get a feel for them.

Honestly I have not noticed much of a rush, probably because the reccomended dosage is FAR less than that of Biotest’s BCAAs, so I’m getting far less BCAAs for about the same price. I have noticed a lack of lethargy when carbs aren’t present, and I don’t feel too hungry, unless of course I think about donuts.

If no one with greater experience chimes in, then I will continue to post my findings with different BCAA timings and dosages.

Amino acids are found in all protein whether or not it’s a powder, chicken leg, or steak. Branched Chain Aminos like L-isoluceine, L-Luciene, and L-valine, are potent in regard to muscle by stimulating protein synthesis and muscle growth. If there is an insulin spike from taking these it would be beneficial in transporting these aminos into muscle cells.

Insulin spikes are negative are “bad” when it’s primarily stimulated by sugar and or combined with fat where the insulin will usually transport sugar or fat into fat storage minus the presence of rigorous physical activity.

Hope this helps,

D[/quote]

That did help clear a few things up. I knew amino acids were in protein, but I didn’t know the specifics.

Thanks for the info on insulin.

8

[quote]Roy wrote:
eengrms76 wrote:
You’re pre-contest dieting?

Seriously?

What contest?

I use that term loosely. I do photoshoots pretty much bimonthly. Why are you acting so suprised? Almost EVERY question I’ve ever asked on T-Nation has had to do with precontest dieting. You act as if you know me, and find that I’m not ready to diet.

Please, if you’re going to post, try and make sense people. I’m not a substitute teacher for retarded kids ya know.[/quote]

It’s because of posts like this. I ask a simple question and in turn you call me retarded. Most of the posts you made on this forum (that I’ve read) are usually full of nonsense. I didn’t actually ever take you as a serious trainer, especially one who does photoshoots.

What the hell do you have monthly photoshoots done for anyway?

9

[quote]eengrms76 wrote:

It’s because of posts like this. I ask a simple question and in turn you call me retarded.
[/quote]

I never called you retarded… It’s ok, take it slow, you’ll get it eventually.

I do joke alot, but again, maybe you can’t tell the difference between jokes and advice/questions. That’s between you and your teacher.

Since when am I a trainer? I help out friends but in no way do I take clients, or accept payment for help/advice.

[quote]
especially one who does photoshoots.

What the hell do you have monthly photoshoots done for anyway?[/quote]

I guess I got discovered by a photographer a while ago, did some shoots for chump change. He introduced me to my current manager. Now my manager tells me where and when to be in what condition for what kind of shoot.

I do clothes, baithing suits, fitness equipment.

It puts food in my mouth, so why the hell do you care?

10

Uggh. Comprehension is obviously not your strongsuit.

11

[quote]eengrms76 wrote:
Uggh. Comprehension is obviously not your strongsuit.[/quote]

The guy is an idiot. It’s obvious. You and a couple of other guys are too eager to help. You encourage people like this guy to post stupid questions. It lowers the IQ of the board.

This board would be a lot better if you would not answer every stupid question posted. People will get the hint: “Oh, maybe I should do some research on my own before hitting submit.”

12

[quote]CaliforniaLaw wrote:
eengrms76 wrote:
Uggh. Comprehension is obviously not your strongsuit.

The guy is an idiot. It’s obvious. You and a couple of other guys are too eager to help. You encourage people like this guy to post stupid questions. It lowers the IQ of the board.

This board would be a lot better if you would not answer every stupid question posted. People will get the hint: “Oh, maybe I should do some research on my own before hitting submit.”[/quote]

Yeah when you two are done blowing each other, I hear there’s a new Eric Cressey article to read.

Just thought I’d let ya know.

13

[quote]eengrms76 wrote:
Uggh. Comprehension is obviously not your strongsuit.[/quote]

Either that or you made up a lame arguement, got made fun of, and have no funny comebacks.

Lighten up dude, I said I joke alot.

I’m not fond of parent teacher confrences, but if push comes to shove…

14

[quote]Dedicated wrote:
Roy wrote:
Damici wrote:
I’m interested in the same question, if anyone has any answers.

Thanks.

The reason I ask this is because the usual protein I purchase from a local store is out of stock for the month of january. So I am purchasing a substitute. My previous protein had BCAAs in it, so I really never bothered supplementing with them. This new protein, however, has none. So I picked up a bottle of BCAAs and began fiddling with the dosages, trying to get a feel for them.

Honestly I have not noticed much of a rush, probably because the reccomended dosage is FAR less than that of Biotest’s BCAAs, so I’m getting far less BCAAs for about the same price. I have noticed a lack of lethargy when carbs aren’t present, and I don’t feel too hungry, unless of course I think about donuts.

If no one with greater experience chimes in, then I will continue to post my findings with different BCAA timings and dosages.

Amino acids are found in all protein whether or not it’s a powder, chicken leg, or steak. Branched Chain Aminos like L-isoluceine, L-Luciene, and L-valine, are potent in regard to muscle by stimulating protein synthesis and muscle growth. If there is an insulin spike from taking these it would be beneficial in transporting these aminos into muscle cells.

Insulin spikes are negative are “bad” when it’s primarily stimulated by sugar and or combined with fat where the insulin will usually transport sugar or fat into fat storage minus the presence of rigorous physical activity.

Hope this helps,

D[/quote]

I question why an insulin spike from sugar could be so different from an insulin spike from BCAA’s (if they do spike insulin). I thought insulin’s primary purpose was to lower blood sugar levels by transporting glucose to your body tissues.

I do not think BCAAs would spike insulin very much. BCAAs are found in protein and as far as I know, fats and proteins have very little effect on insulin levels

15

[quote]Roy wrote:
eengrms76 wrote:
Uggh. Comprehension is obviously not your strongsuit.

Either that or you made up a lame arguement, got made fun of, and have no funny comebacks.

Lighten up dude, I said I joke alot.

I’m not fond of parent teacher confrences, but if push comes to shove…[/quote]

Are you actually a teacher or something because the parent/teacher thing is not funny, nor were your other teacher jokes?

As for “getting made fun of”, unlike you I really could care less.

16

[quote]playmaker08 wrote:
I do not think BCAAs would spike insulin very much. BCAAs are found in protein and as far as I know, fats and proteins have very little effect on insulin levels[/quote]

I think people are using the term “insulin spike” incorrectly. BCAA’s cause an insulin response, not a spike. There is a huge difference. All foods elicit an insulin response (well maybe not straight fiber), all that is different is the intensity of that response. Foods containing large amounts of sugar actually cause a spike, or basically a very large and rapid insulin response. Spikes are what you don’t want (except PWO), plain old insulin responses are normal and nothing to worry about.

17

[quote]eengrms76 wrote:
playmaker08 wrote:
I do not think BCAAs would spike insulin very much. BCAAs are found in protein and as far as I know, fats and proteins have very little effect on insulin levels

I think people are using the term “insulin spike” incorrectly. BCAA’s cause an insulin response, not a spike. There is a huge difference. All foods elicit an insulin response (well maybe not straight fiber), all that is different is the intensity of that response. Foods containing large amounts of sugar actually cause a spike, or basically a very large and rapid insulin response. Spikes are what you don’t want (except PWO), plain old insulin responses are normal and nothing to worry about.[/quote]

Thank you for shedding some light on that. Looks like the student has surpased the teacher…