There are 9 essential amino acids. Of these 9 amino acids, 3 of them are the branch chained amino acids, namely Leucine, Isoleucine, and Valine. There are different ratios of these 3 amino acids within supplements, but the most common ratio is 2:1:1, where Leucine occupies the '2' spot. Leucine is the chief driver of the natural growth chemical mTORC1 (more about this special chemical later). Isoleucine is a great amino acid for lowering blood sugar. It achieves this feat by stimulating the uptake of glucose into cells. This alone helps with the growth of tissues. Valine is the amino acid that competes with tryptophan's uptake into the brain, which results in greater alertness. There is a cool chemical in the body that is on the wish-list for every gym-goer. This chemical is named mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (or mTORC1 to its friends) and boosts muscle growth. Elevating this chemical is a great way to grow your guns! You can boost mTORC1 by simply drinking a supplement containing BCAAs. There was a landmark paper back in 2006 that described the signaling pathway of mTORC1. It described how leucine, one of the BCAAs, boosts mTORC1, which leads to an increase in muscle mass. These amino acids are very versatile. You can take them before you exercise, during your workout and even after training to boost recovery. The most important thing is that you take you BCAAs anytime around your workout and you will benefit from these essential amino acids.