Betaine: An Undercover Endurance Supplement for Sports and Weight Training

Now, I know what you're thinking, but I didn't spell "Beta Alanine" wrong - I met Betaine. While not as commonly known as Beta-Alanine, Betaine is a powerful supplement that has been used safely for years, although it isn't as popular as many other supplements, and is hardly considered a
�staple. This is most likely due to the fact that Betaine's main effects aren't very visible ones - the supplement doesn't promise huge, steroid-like gains or unbelievable fat loss. But sometimes, that's for the best, as the most-hyped up supplements often fail to deliver real results for the majority of users.But what exactly is Betaine? You may be surprised to learn that Betaine is found in the body, as a naturally-occuring chemical in the stomach that breaks up proteins and fats. It can also be found in foods, such as spinach, shellfish and sugar beets. Usually, Betaine is supplemented for its heart and blood vessel benefits, as well as its tendency to prevent liver disease. In addition, Betaine can boost the metabolism, aiding in weight loss, and has been shown to preserve muscle mass during weight loss (1).And while those are the effects that Betaine is known for, that doesn't mean the supplement isn't capable of anything else. Recently, a group of scientists put Betaine to the test in another study to see if it had any performance enhancing benefits. For a period of 15 days, the researchers followed two groups - one receiving 2.5 grams of a Betaine supplement daily and one receiving a placebo. Each group visited the lab a total of seven times during the 15-day period, with assessments of their bench press, squat, and anaerobic power (Wingate testing) taken each time.After even such a short period, the scientists did detect some significant differences between the groups. The group receiving Betaine performed a significantly greater number of squats at the end of the period than the placebo group. In addition, squats performed at 90% or greater of peak power in the Betaine group were greater than those of the placebo group both after one week and two weeks of supplementation.Betaine: An Undercover Endurance Supplement for Sports and Weight Training

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