The three essential amino acids, valine, leucine and isoleucine cannot be manufactured by the body, yet are required in large amounts in the diet of athletic animals to ensure the optimum recovery and repair of muscles after exertion. Branch Chain Amino Acids are required in high amounts any time there is strenuous exercise and stress, including after muscle injury, surgery, and, of course, hard or prolonged exercise. Muscle tissue consists of about one third of these three branch chain amino acids. Any muscle damage during exertion from excess lactic acid results in loss of large amounts of these critical nutrients. Regular supplementation before, and after heavy exertion, helps reduce the effects of lactic acidosis, tying up syndrome, and other muscle problems, allowing muscles to continue to work to the maximum potential. L-Carnitine is added to BC5aa PASTE to improve the utilisation of fats in energy production as fat breakdown does not result in excess lactic acid production. L-Glutamine is also an energy source.