EAA
EAA stands for Essential Amino Acids: the nine amino acids your body cannot manufacture on its own and must obtain from food or supplements. EAA powders contain all nine, whereas BCAA powders contain only three of them.
Why It Matters
EAA supplements were positioned as the upgrade to BCAAs once researchers showed that all nine essentials are needed for full muscle protein synthesis. The catch: a 25g serving of whey, beef, egg or soy already contains every essential amino acid in the right ratio. EAA powders are mostly useful during a fast or for people who do not tolerate complete proteins.
How to Spot It on a Label
EAA powders list all nine essentials on the panel: leucine, isoleucine, valine, histidine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine and tryptophan. Common EAA dose is 10 to 15g per serve. Some products blend EAAs with electrolytes and call themselves intra-workout powders.
Examples from real products
Related Terms
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