The Essential Guide to Amino Acids (pun absolutely intended)

The Essential Guide to Amino Acids (pun absolutely intended)

In the world of fitness and bodybuilding, BCAAs have long been touted as a staple supplement. We agree, which is why we developed Breach®. But, BCAAs include just 3 of the 20 amino acids, 9 of which are essential amino acids (EAAs), meaning the body doesn’t make them and we must get them via food and supplementation. So, in the world of fitness and bodybuilding, what’s the deal with EAAs and should we be supplementing with them like BCAAs?

What Are Amino Acids?

Let’s take a step back and do a quick review of Amino Acids. Your body uses 20 amino acids to create muscle protein. Nine of the twenty are considered essential amino acids (EAAs), meaning they cannot be made by the body in meaningful amounts, and therefore must be obtained from diet and supplementation. The remaining nonessential amino acids, the body can make on its own. Branched chain amino acids, or BCAAs are 3 of the essential amino acids. The three BCAAs are Leucine, Valine and Isoleucine, and they are called “branched” because of their chemical structure. For years we’ve been known BCAAs are a must for muscle building and recovery, but what about the rest of their amino acid friends?

Why Are Essential Amino Acids Important?

Muscles are made from protein, which is made up of amino acids. One really important point is that all 9 EAAs are required to make muscle protein. Read that statement again. BCAAs have always been (and certainly still are) a critical factor in creating muscle, and this is because the BCAAs are shown to be responsible for kick-starting muscle protein synthesis. For sake of an analogy, BCAAs can start the engine, but all 9 EAAs are required to make the car run.  It is for this reason that Redcon1 has developed Grunt®, a powerful and effective EAA formula packing 9 amino acids necessary for growing new and preserving existing muscle mass.

Hot Take From the Redcon1 Product Specialist Team

There is a lot of science backing the ingredients in both Breach® (BCAA + electrolyte supplement) and Grunt® (complete EAA supplement). We will dive much deeper into the science in articles to come, but the question for many of our athletes and consumers is: How and when to use Breach® vs. Grunt®? Most of the research we’ve extensively reviewed indicates that EAAs are best used as part of your pre-workout and intra-workout routine to reduce muscle protein breakdown, while BCAAs are most beneficial post workout due to its ability to  help initiate new muscle protein synthesis. With Grunt® containing the 3 BCAAs as well as the other 6 essential amino acids needed to properly build muscle, it wins the intra-workout battle and is simply a product you shouldn’t train without. So, whether you’re dieting and want to reduce muscle breakdown, putting on size to the best of your ability, or simply trying to recover from tough workouts, Grunt® should absolutely be in your arsenal.

Mix it Up

Alright enough with the science, let’s have some fun! Grunt® comes in 5 amazing flavors: Cherry Lime, Pineapple Banana, Blood Orange, The Redcon1 famous Tiger’s Blood and most recently, Mango. There’s a ton of fun ways to enjoy this product in addition to just drinking it pre- and intra-workout.  You can blend it with ice and make it into a slushee or even make popsicles with it. Grunt® also stacks very well with some of our other products that are great for an intra-workout shake; just ask Redcon1 Athlete, Luke Sandoe. Luke’s personal intra-workout cocktail includes Grunt®, Tango® and Cluster Bomb®. Grunt® is backed by science, fun and versatile. So, what are you waiting for?



Always consult with a doctor before taking any dietary supplements.

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Grunt - Cherry Lime

GI Juice - Pineapple Banana

Breach - Tiger's Blood