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During high
intensity exercise, our bodies accumulate a large amount of hydrogen ions
(H+), causing our muscles’ pH to drop (become more acidic). This
process is occurring whether you feel a burn or not. As our muscles' pH
quickly drops, so does their ability to contract forcibly and maintain
a high level of performance throughout your workout session. Not being
able to perform and maintain forceful muscular contractions and push your
body to the limit during your workout session seriously hampers your ability
to maximally overload your muscles and force new muscle gains.
Buildup of
H+ is most prevalent in an energy system called glycolysis, which also
produces lactic acid. It is the released H+ from lactic acid that causes
muscular performance problems, not the leftover lactate ions as many incorrectly
believe. While lactic acid is the primary source of released H+, it is
not the only source. H+ ions are also being released at a rapid rate when
you break down the high energy compound ATP during exercise.
When beta-alanine
enters the muscle cell, it becomes what we call the “rate limiting
substrate” to carnosine synthesis. By rate limiting, we mean that
without beta-alanine, carnosine does not get produced. So why is carnosine
so important? Carnosine is a dipeptide found mainly in fast-twitch muscles
whose primary function, is buffering hydrogen ions (H+) and prevents pH
levels in muscle from dropping to low acidic levels. Low acidity creates
that “burn” in your muscles, causing fatigue and forcing you
to muscular failure.
* Boosts
explosive muscular strength & power output.
* Increases muscle mass
* Boosts muscular anaerobic endurance
* Increases aerobic endurance
* Increases exercise capacity so you can train harder & longer
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