Amino acids

Rocka Nutrition's amino acids are your perfect supplement before, during, and after training. Our "Yum Yum EAA" powders contain all essential amino acids in an optimal ratio and offer you a variety of extremely tasty EAA drinks. Of course, all products are 100% vegan.

What are amino acids?

Amino acids are organic compounds and the building blocks of proteins. They are divided into essential and non-essential amino acids. While the latter can be produced by the body itself, essential amino acids are indispensable for humans and must be obtained through diet. Many people know the term "amino acids" from the sports and fitness world. If you do a lot of sports, you have probably heard the terms EAA and BCAA. We will tell you exactly what they are, why you need them (especially in sports), and how to optimally meet your needs.

What are EAAs?

EAA stands for Essential Amino Acids. Particularly good animal sources include eggs, chicken, beef, and pork, as well as fish and cheese. Additional intake can be achieved with EAA supplements, such as EAA powders.

What are BCAAs?

BCAA stands for Branched-chain Amino Acids. These are branched-chain amino acids, including valine, leucine, and isoleucine—essential amino acids that cannot be produced by the body but are important for muscle building.

Which essential amino acids are there and what are they important for?

Essential amino acids are extremely important for the body and maintaining health. On the one hand, they form the building material for bones, hair, muscles, and tissue. On the other hand, they are involved in numerous bodily processes. As precursors of hormones and neurotransmitters, they regulate many metabolic processes. In short: nothing works in your body without amino acids. In our amino acid list, we show you which essential amino acids exist, in which foods they occur, and what they are especially important for.

Phenylalanine

Sources: Fish, meat, soy, peas, nuts

Importance: involved in the formation of the hormones adrenaline and thyroxine

Leucine

Sources: Beef, chicken breast, salmon, tuna, milk, peas, nuts, whole grain products

Importance: part of BCAA and helps build protein mass in muscles, provides energy to muscles, and supports muscle healing processes

Methionine

Sources: Beef and chicken, tuna, Parmesan, sesame, Brazil nuts

Importance: contributes to the formation of hormones and neurotransmitters, inhibits bacterial growth, and counteracts infections

Lysine

Sources: Beef, tuna, eggs, cheese, soybeans, lentils, peanuts

Importance: forms proteins for skin, hair, bones, and muscle cells, strengthens the immune system

Isoleucine

Sources: Wheat germ, tuna, peanuts, salmon, beef and veal, chickpeas, cottage cheese, rice

Importance: as a BCAA, contributes to muscle mass building, is an energy supplier in strength and endurance sports, promotes synthesis under increased stress or illness, and supports healing processes

Valine

Sources: Eggs, dairy products, salmon, beef, chicken, corn, walnuts

Importance: also a branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) involved in muscle mass building

Threonine

Sources: Wheat germ, soybeans, lentils, brook trout, sunflower seeds, chicken, peanuts, cottage cheese

Importance: an important building block for enzymes, hormones, and neurotransmitters, thus contributing to many body functions; important for growth and the immune system

Tryptophan

Sources: All types of meat, hard cheese, soybeans

Importance: acts as a building block of the "happiness hormone" serotonin, uplifting and calming mood, may have a weight-reducing effect

Histidine

Sources: Beef, fish, soybeans, wheat germ

Importance: considered semi-essential and thus conditionally essential, responsible for oxygen supply to organs and tissues, detoxifying, and supporting growth processes

Why buy amino acids?

While the intake of these important substances can also be regulated through diet, why buy and supplement amino acids? In fact, adequate intake of amino acids can be difficult. This is not necessarily due to an unbalanced diet. Certain body stresses, such as physical activity, can increase the need for EAAs. Meeting this need through diet alone is not always possible. It can also be challenging for vegans to meet their needs purely from plant sources.

Amino acids for muscle building

As already mentioned, amino acids have an anabolic, muscle-building effect. Amino acids are even essential for the formation of new muscle cells—this is especially relevant in strength training, where muscles are actively built. Amino acids also actively protect the body from muscle breakdown by providing all necessary building blocks for muscle repair during intense training, so the body does not have to draw energy from existing muscles but burns the supplied amino acids for energy. Studies have shown that 10 to 12 g of amino acids before or after training can significantly increase muscle protein synthesis, where proteins are built in the muscles. So, if you want to build muscle mass, you can promote this process by supplementing amino acids.

Amino acids for vegans

The trend toward plant-based nutrition has risen rapidly in recent years. Although legumes and soy products can help meet your protein needs as a vegan, it is worth considering amino acid supplementation. The reason is that many plant-based foods are considered "incomplete protein sources" because they often do not contain all essential amino acids in sufficient amounts or only in very low concentrations. Additionally, your needs increase if you do a lot of strength training and your muscle tissue is constantly exposed to new stimuli. According to the WHO (World Health Organization), the absolute minimum is 0.83 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight, but this is really a minimum and must be increased accordingly under stress.

Order high-quality amino acids

If you want to buy high-quality amino acids, Rocka Nutrition is the right place for you. Thanks to our innovative Rocka formula, which is based on WHO recommendations, our EAA powder supplies you with all 8 essential amino acids and supports your training success. As always, our products are developed by experts, lab-tested, and made in Germany.

But enjoyment is not neglected either. Our EAA drinks from the "YUM YUM EAA" range offer you a fruity refreshment. Apple, lime, sweet peach, and more: discover the incredibly delicious variety! They are also ideal for vegans to quickly and easily meet their amino acid needs. On the way to sports? The powder dissolves well and mixes quickly, so let's go!