The protein signal that tells your muscles to grow (mTOR) turns on just as well with plain protein as it does with protein plus sugar or alanine.

When trained guys drink a special ketone drink after a tough leg workout (and also eat protein and carbs), their muscles send stronger 'grow' signals than when they drink a fake version — even though their insulin levels are the same.

Taking leucine — a protein building block — might turn on muscle-building signals in your muscles, but if you're already training and eating enough protein, it won't actually make you stronger, bigger, or recover faster.

When you lift weights, your muscles turn on a specific molecular switch called mTORC1, which helps build more muscle protein. But just because this switch flips on right after a workout doesn’t mean you’ll definitely get bigger muscles over time—it doesn’t always line up.

When rats do regular strength training, their muscles show higher levels of certain proteins that help with insulin signaling. This might help their muscles build protein even when another important pathway isn't as active.

Leucine activates the mTORC1 signaling pathway to initiate muscle protein synthesis.