BCAA and Insulin Spike

[Justin]

Hey guys, I know how much we all BCAA's and leucine around here however I've been reading recently that BCAA and Leucine in particular spike insulin, so I was wondering if taking BCAA on a cut is counterproductive because one deosn't want an insulin spike on their Low carb days. however if mass gain was your goal BCAA and Leucine would be GREAT

Also I was wondering what would happen if you take BCAA without any carbs, thus producing an insulin spike however not giving the body glucose to refill muscle cells?? i read glutamine can be transformed into glycogen to re-fill muscle glycogen?

Thanks

[Big.jazayrli]

the insulin spike from BCAA's is negligible

and in the grand scheme of things, unless you are doing a ketogenic diet and insulin spike is not bad for fat loss.

When push comes to shove all that matters is calories

that's it

no exceptions

period.

[Justin]

haha thanks the thing is I just finished my BP run and starting a carb cycling approach where I have 1 higher day followed by to lower. I was wondering if I take a protein which has different release times will it help blunt the insulin release?

[Big.jazayrli]

haha thanks the thing is I just finished my BP run and starting a carb cycling approach where I have 1 higher day followed by to lower. I was wondering if I take a protein which has different release times will it help blunt the insulin release?

the insulin release is negligible

it doesn't matter

[RobRegish]

Hey guys, I know how much we all BCAA's and leucine around here however I've been reading recently that BCAA and Leucine in particular spike insulin, so I was wondering if taking BCAA on a cut is counterproductive because one deosn't want an insulin spike on their Low carb days. however if mass gain was your goal BCAA and Leucine would be GREAT

Also I was wondering what would happen if you take BCAA without any carbs, thus producing an insulin spike however not giving the body glucose to refill muscle cells?? i read glutamine can be transformed into glycogen to re-fill muscle glycogen?

Thanks

As Hani mentioned, I too feel it's negligible.

You actually want a rise in insulin, however small.

REASON: With no insulin present, there is no "driver" of protein synthesis. You can think of the BCAA's/Leucine as "bricks". Now, with no workers to lay down those bricks, what happens?

Whole lotta' nothin'.

Triggering a rise in insulin via glucogenic amino acids is a WHOLE 'nother ball game, vs. slamming 30 - 50g of sugar. It is in fact, referred to as "glucogenesis", a process that takes place in the liver.

MUCH preferred for fat loss, vs. just lowering overall calories and performing "lots of cardio...". What you wind up there is, lots of muscle loss...