Powerful protein supplement for workout/training

This particular blend of essential amino acids (EAAs) is the most concentrated and powerful protein supplement for peri-workout nutrition (the period shortly before, during and shortly after a workout or training session). The reasons for this:

It contains 100% protein amino acids.
Essential amino acids are 100% absorbable without digestion.
This mix of essential amino acids is a protein supplement with the highest possible PCDAAS score (protein digestion corrected amino acid score). The PCDAAS is the ultimate determination of the strength of a protein based on the ratio of amino acids in the protein as well as its digestibility.

What are essential amino acids (EAAs)?

Amino acids are the building blocks for proteins. Twenty different amino acids are needed to make the body's own proteins.

Eleven of these amino acids can be made by the body itself, these are known as non-essential amino acids. However, there are nine amino acids the body cannot make itself. These are the essential amino acids. Like vitamins and minerals, the 9 essential amino acids must be taken in through the diet.

Two handy facts:
- Using the essential amino acids, the body can make the remaining non-essential amino acids.
- During training, the body consumes essential amino acids and creates a relative surplus of non-essential amino acids.

Use of essential amino acids

Dietary proteins combined with weight lifting can increase muscle mass. The higher the quality of the protein, the better it works. The ‘quality’ of a protein is measured by the protein's essential amino acid content and the ratio of those essential proteins. The king of proteins is whey protein with approximately 50% essential amino acids in favourable proportions.

If you want an even more concentrated source of essential amino acids than whey protein, our Essential Amino Acids is the best choice. It contains all 9 essential amino acids in correct proportions.

As soon as 1 of the 9 essential amino acids is deficient, protein synthesis stops. This is because the body cannot make the deficient essential amino acid itself.

Timing the intake of essential amino acids

The digestive process takes a lot of energy and requires ample blood supply. During intense training, digestion will be switched to a very low level by the body to release energy for exercise. The blood supply is largely shifted from the intestines to the muscles. Therefore, solid foods and even an easily digestible protein shake with whey protein are not great to consume right before or during a workout.

However free-form essential amino acids do not need to be digested. They can be absorbed immediately. They are therefore the ideal 'protein source' to use during training.

Essential amino acids are ingested around exercise (peri-workout). They can be ingested before, during and after exercise. For example, one dose 0 to 15 minutes before exercise and one dose shortly after.

Two doses of essential amino acids (about 16 grams) ingested at once after exercise will be too much for many people. The capacity of the intestines to absorb free-form amino acids will be exceeded. A staggered intake of half before exercise and half after, overcomes this problem.

Combining foods with essential amino acids

The absorption of free-form amino acids is fast. As a result, the supply of amino acids from the intestines to the body stops after a short amount of time. To maintain muscle protein synthesis for an extended period after training, it is necessary to eat protein-rich foods afterwards. It is advisable to eat protein or drink a protein shake after taking the last dose of essential amino acids (within an hour).

It is permissible to combine a post-workout shake with essential amino acids. This will not slow down the absorption of amino acids much, if at all.

For maximum muscle growth, not only should muscle protein synthesis be increased, but muscle protein breakdown should be reduced. A high intake of foods that are rich in protein and/or carbohydrates makes this possible. In short, consuming essential amino acids should not be considered separately from consuming enough proper nutrition.

Distinginctive features of Essential Amino Acids from Power Supplements

The ratios of the 9 amino acids are based on scientific studies on the use of essential amino acids in weight lifting. If there is a shortage in 1 of the 9 essential amino acids, the rest of the amino acids are no longer useful to the body.
All essential amino acids are present, including (L-)tryptophan. Tryptophan is also an essential amino acid. Yet tryptophan is often omitted from 'EAA blends'. An essential amino acid supplement that does not contain tryptophan has a biological value of 0. The essential amino acids are produced by fermentation processes (vegetarian and vegan) rather than being sourced from offal, feathers or hair.
This dietary supplement is free from synthetic sweeteners.

Comparing EAAs versus (high-dose) BCAAs

Essential amino acids (EAAs) comprise 50% of the 3 BCAA amino acids L-leucine, L-isoleucine and L-valine. Two doses
of EAAs (6 scoops) contain about 9 grams of BCAAs in the well-known 2:1:1 ratio. Besides the BCAAs, this high-quality EAA supplement contains 6 more essential amino acids.
Higher doses of BCAAs can cause a deficiency in other amino acids by blocking their synthesis. When using higher doses of amino acids, EAAs are therefore preferable to BCAAs. This is especially true when training sober, when you have absorbed few (essential) amino acids from your diet.

Quality tested annually by independent laboratory. View the laboratory analysis (.pdf)