The Secret of Bucked up Preworkout Woke AF

When evaluating a core nutritional meal replacement powder (MRP), most of us tend to focus on readily visible macronutrients and micronutrients such as proteins, carbs, fats, vitamins, and minerals. However, there are certain additional essential elements present in most MRPs that are often neglected during assessments - essential amino acids, fatty acids, and related biochemical compounds. Omitting consideration of these elements from an evaluation can dramatically impair the ability to effectively assess and accurately program the supplementation needs of bodybuilders.

What are Essential Macronutrients?

Essential macronutrients consist of the primary components of protein, fat, carbohydrates, essential amino acids, and essential fatty acids. These are essential because they are the building blocks of our bodies and they form the physical structure and various biochemistries necessary for us to sustain life. Without them, not only would we quickly fall ill, but we wouldn't be able to repair or build muscle tissue, lower fat stores, or even break down food for energy.

Essential Amino Acids

Protein is composed of a collection of amino acids, which can be divided into two categories - essential and non-essential. Essential amino acids cannot be naturally synthesized by the body, and must be obtained from our diets. They are especially important for bodybuilders as they are the primary building blocks in the muscle repair process that allows for muscle growth.

Commonly referred to as branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), these essential amino acids consist of nine primary amino acids - leucine, isoleucine, valine, lysine, threonine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, histidine, and methionine. Taken as individual compounds, or as a combination of various amino acids, all of these amino acids cannot be underestimated for their importance in the bodybuilding diet.

Essential Fatty Acids

Fatty acids can also be divided into two categories - essential and non-essential. However, unlike essential amino acids, our bodies can produce essential fatty acids like alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). These essential fatty acids are important for many bodily functions ranging from nerve and brain health to anti-inflammatory processes.

Despite their presence in the body, these essential fatty acids still must be obtained from our diets in order to function properly. Additionally, due to their typically low levels in most diets, it can often be beneficial to supplement them in a core nutrition MRP for a bodybuilder.

Biochemical Compounds

Biochemical compounds like nucleotides, glycerides, and sphingolipids are not on most bodybuilder's radar as they are typically not listed on nutritional labels. However, there are a variety of compounds, enzymes, and nutrients found in our food that aren't present in the macronutrient broad categories, but are still essential to the body.

For example, nucleotides play a role in protein synthesis, cell formation, and cell metabolism. Glycerides are made up of fatty acid molecules and their backbone is an important component of cell membranes and the maintenance of cell homeostasis. Lastly, sphingolipids are important for thermogenic fat burning and energy production. These essential compounds are commonly found in the core nutrition MRPs that professional bodybuilders use and can be overlooked during evaluation.

Conclusion

In conclusion, in order to obtain a complete picture of a core nutrition MRP, it is important to consider not only the primary macronutrients, but also the underlying essential amino acids, fatty acids, and biochemical compounds that act as the catalysts of our bodily functions. Most of these compounds are not listed on nutritional labels, so it is up to the bodybuilder to do the research to ensure they are getting the most out of their core nutrition MRP. In addition to macro and micronutrient analysis, careful consideration should also be given to the essential amino acids, fatty acids, and other biochemical compounds to produce optimal results in the bodybuilder's pursuit of their fitness goals.