What Is L-Leucine?
Protein is made up of amino acids and each source of protein has a unique amino acid profile.
Leucine, isoleucine and valine are known as branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) and they provide energy during exercise, per the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
So what is leucine good for and what does is it do for your body? Amino acids play different roles in the body, primarily related to making proteins, per the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
As is the case with all essential amino acids, leucine cannot be produced by the body and must be obtained from food. While leucine is present in some plant-based foods (more on that below), it is generally higher in quantity and easier to find in food sourced from animals, per the NIH. That's why plant-based diet followers should pay extra attention to their leucine intake.
Foods high in leucine include chicken, beef, pork, tuna, tofu, beans, milk, cheese, squash seeds and eggs, per the USDA.
Leucine Health Benefits
This essential amino acid plays a number of important roles in your health. Here are the top leucine health benefits you should know about.