Most people have heard of protein shakes, but many "average joes" or "fitness rookies" might not be familiar with my recent favorite - BCAA's.<br /><br />Branch Chain Amino Acids are, essentially, the building blocks of protein, which is what your muscles are made of. They are readily absorbed into your body, rather than having to be digested first (like a protein shake), making them an excellent choice to drink immediately following your workout (when muscles are most thirsty for those nutrients - I'm talking within 20 minutes post-workout if possible). Most BCAA blends you find on the shelf are a "2:1:1 ratio". Let's keep it simple for now and say just stick with that. I'll go more in-depth on BCAA's another day.<br /><br />I've been using BPI Best BCAA. It's simple, tastes good, and includes a CLA matrix (a fatty acid with a number of health benefits). When my training gets more intense I'll tend to sip on BCAA's later in the day in addition to my post-workout serving. You can find BPI Best BCAA (or whichever brand you might prefer) at your local supplement shop (my favorite, obviously, is Cape Cod Nutrition Corner).