Electrolytes are minerals that carry an electric charge when they are dissolved in a liquid. The heart, muscle and nerve cells use electrolytes to carry electrical impulses to other cells. Electrolytes are present in the body and the balance of the electrolytes is essential for normal function of our cells and our organs. Common electrolytes in human body include Sodium, Potassium, chloride and magnesium. Electrolytes are very important for normal functioning of human body. Electrolyte imbalance occurs during loss of fluids such as diarrhea or vomiting or sweating. Loss of electrolytes can lead to weakness, confusion, muscle cramps, dizziness, numbness and twitching. Hence it is very important to keep balance of electrolytes especially during intense workouts.

Beta-alanine is a popular supplement among athletes and fitness enthusiasts. It is a non-essential amino acid that is produced naturally in the body. Unlike most amino acids, it is not used by the body to synthesize proteins. Beta- alanine aids in the production of carnosine, which reduces the acidity in muscles during high-intensity exercise. When we workout our muscles break glucose into lactic acid. This is converted into lactate, which produces hydrogen ions; this reduces pH level in muscles, making them more acidic. Muscle acidity reduces the muscles ability to contract. This causes fatigue. Carnosine serves as a buffer against acid, reducing the acidity in muscles and improving performance during high-intensity exercise. Since beta-alanine increases carnosine levels in muscles they help the muscles reduce their acid levels during exercise which delays muscle fatigue. This proves very beneficial for athletes especially for endurance athletes delaying their muscle fatigue and allowing them to last longer in their workouts.

Leucine is an essential Branched chain amino acid that is important in Muscle protein synthesis. Plant proteins contain half the amount of leucine as compared to animal proteins. Studies have shown that one needs to consume about twice as much plant protein to equal the same muscle-building effects as of whey protein. This double dose of plant protein essentially provides about 2.5 to 3g of leucine, which is the amount needed for muscle protein synthesis. A study showed that whey protein that was supplemented with Leucine showed significantly higher gain in muscle mass as compared to regular whey. That is because Leucine is a co-factor involved in MTOR pathway, that converts food protein to muscle protein. It is one of the most potent factor for muscle protein synthesis.

Amino acids currently constitute a multibillion dollar market in sports nutrition category. Amino acids are manufactured by a number of processes including fermentation, hydrolysis, chemical and enzymatic synthesis and extraction. In some cases hybrid methods are also used. Most of the amino acids that are available in the market are made by hydrolysis process, were the substrate used is bird feathers or human hair. However, there is a superior technology which is relatively new for manufacturing amino acids and ergonomics like creatine. Amino acids made by fermentation process yield a clear and clean molecule. This technology produces a superior molecule which has better absorption as compared to the amino acids made from bird feathers or human hair.

Glucose has been long used in conjugation with creatine to boost creatine uptake, but is it necessary at all? There are plenty of creatine supplements available in the market as a practice it is consumed with 75 gms of glucose/dextrose. Glucose being a simple sugar tends to increase the adipose tissue (Body fat) if underutilized.

ALA(alpha lipoic acid) rose to its popularity in the recent years and it has known to:

• Mimick insulin
• Lowers bood sugar levels
• Increase Glut-4 transporters on the outside of muscle cells which means more glucose shuttled into the muscle cells and is not directed towards fat conversion Post exercise the insulin levels are already high and supplementing it with ALA further helps in efficient uptake of creatine into the muscle cells while promoting the efficient utilisation of glucose as well.

Thus we recommend the consumption of Alpha Lipoic Acid, an insulin mimicker, along with Creatine to increase muscular creatine absorption and avoid unnecessary fat gain due to glucose

Thereby by supplementing with ALA, the uptake of creatine is increased without having to need to consume excess glucose, while helping you reap maximum benefits out of creatine. More power to you!