Among the huge amounts of amino acids that the human body needs, a special place is occupied by alanine, a biologically active substance that is involved in many processes. There are two types of alanine - alpha and beta. In the first case we are talking about an amino acid, which is part of the majority of proteins and contributes from a more complete digestibility. Beta-alanine in free form is found only in brain cells, but it can be part of peptides and is most often found in carnosine.
Why does the body need beta-alanine?
This substance helps to restore and increase muscle mass due to the fact that it buffers oxygen ions in tissues, which are a kind of protection. That is, when a person exposes himself to physical exertion, fatigue is a natural criterion that regulates muscle function. Beta-alanine, which removes such a barrier, helps to overcome it. It is for this reason that this food supplement is widely used by athletes who devote 4-6 hours a day to training and are interested in gaining muscle mass as soon as possible without experiencing any discomfort. pain and fatigue. It should also be borne in mind that this substance contributes to the removal of ammonia from the body, which accumulates after physical exertion and may cause intoxication. It should be noted that beta-alanine not only helps build muscle and is an integral part of bodybuilding, but also has a very positive effect on the brain, improving memory and speeding up the reaction. The advantages of this substance should include a positive effect on hormones, which is very important for people over the age of 40 years. Beta-alanine stimulates the production of hormones, which allows the female body to prepare for menopause, and for men it gives the opportunity to prolong youth and strengthen physical health.
How can you replenish beta-alanine in the body?
Beta-alanine is not present in food, although some types of fruits and vegetables, as well as seafood, stimulate its production by the body. However, for people who are seriously involved in sports, the amount of this biologically active substance that is present in the body is clearly not enough. It is for this reason that today there is a huge amount of vitamins and the so-called pre-training complexes, which include beta-alanine.
As a rule, such supplements are of interest to athletes who want to not only build muscle mass, but also get rid of pain after exercise. However, beta-alanine can be used by those who are not keen on sports, but who want to increase their own body's stamina, raise its tone, speed up the process of burning fat and reduce appetite.
How safe is beta alanine?
It is believed that food additives such as peptides, can not cause human health significant harm. On the contrary, they act as a stimulant that activates the vital functions of the body, gives a feeling of vitality and helps to restore power. All this is true with respect to beta-alanine, which indeed has regenerating, stimulating and analgesic properties. Nevertheless, scientific studies show that this substance is not so harmless as it seems at first glance. To begin with, it should be understood that the daily norm consumption of beta-alanine in the form of various nutritional supplements for an adult should not exceed 6 g. The dose is calculated on the basis of body weight and is not more than 20 mg per 1 kg of weight. If this rule is violated and the dosage is increased independently, then nothing terrible will happen, but over time paresthesia may develop - irritation of the peripheral nervous system, which is accompanied by discomfort in the muscles and extremities. In addition, doctors have concluded that for more than 12 weeks in a row this food supplement should not be taken, since excess beta-alanine in the body leads to inhibition of liver and kidney functions, which is a direct consequence of protein poisoning in the body.
