NOW L-Leucine Powder, 9 oz

NOW L-Leucine Powder, 9 oz

• Free-Form, Pharmaceutical Grade
• Non-GMO, Mixes Instantly
• Helps Build Lean Tissue
• Vegetarian/Vegan

L-Leucine is one of the three Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs) that is critical in muscle tissue structure. Among the BCAAs, Leucine is unique in its role as a signaling molecule that helps to regulate optimal skeletal muscle protein synthesis in normal tissues. In addition, it helps to maintain already healthy glucose metabolism and insulin function, and may help to promote the use of fat for energy. Studies suggest that L-Leucine, in conjunction with adequate dietary protein, may help to build and maintain lean tissue and optimize body composition. NOW Leucine Powder is instantized for easy mixing in water, beverages or smoothies. Does not clump.

The body's protein structures are made up of about eight percent L-Leucine, which is the fourth most concentrated amino acid in muscle. L-Leucine is not only essential to your health, but especially beneficial for bodybuilders. L-Leucine helps maintain muscle tissue through sustaining nitrogen balance, supplies energy to the body even when under the stress of training and preserves muscle glycogen used for muscle contraction.

Leucine is essential for a muscle building environment and assists mental ability even when exercise becomes more intense. L-Leucine is the strongest of the Branch Chain Amino Acids, and if you do not have enough of it in proportion to other amino acids, your body cannot utilize what you take in. An L-Leucine deficiency will mean that you cannot use protein that you consume, regardless of how much you have. So basically, without L-Leucine, your protein consumption is wasted, and without protein, muscle building cannot occur.

BCAAs consumed before, during or after training support muscle protein synthesis, decrease protein catabolism and are very important to the use and production of glucose for energy. Leucine enhances insulins anabolic response, and is believed to be the most important BCAA with respect to increasing protein synthesis and prevention of muscle catabolism. Like the other branch chain amino acids, it is metabolized in our muscles directly rather than in the liver.

Leucine is found in all sources of protein, however, taking additional leucine by itself or with the other branch chain amino acids offers further benefits to bodybuilders. This is because the leucine in whole foods can take hours to be liberated and assimilated from its original source. Add 5 grams of leucine or 10 grams total branch chain amino acids to the water that you sip during your workout. Leucine can be used as an energy source for muscles, but more importantly it slows the rate of protein breakdown in skeletal muscle tissue. 

Mix another 5 grams of leucine or 10 grams branch chain amino acids in your post-workout protein shake. A 2005 study in the "American Journal of Physiology. Endocrinology and Metabolism," compared the effects of leucine, carbohydrates, and protein to protein/carbohydrates and carbohydrates alone. Results showed that the combination of the three caused the greatest increase in muscle protein synthesis.

In simple terms, given the same workout, you would gain more muscle, faster by adding leucine. Take 5 grams of leucine or 10 grams of branch chain amino acids before bed. This helps to boost growth hormone production and accelerate muscle recovery during sleep, when the body repairs muscle tissue damaged by intense weight-training. Additional leucine and/or branch chain amino acids can be taken with or between meals to encourage faster recovery and increased protein synthesis.

Suggested Usage:

As a dietary supplement, mix 1 level tablespoon (5 g) into 8 oz. of water or other beverage 1 to 3 times daily.