Does anyone on here think supplements work?

[Azn Muscle]

I disagree.  Supplements do work.  Maybe not the fancy over hyped ones, but the basics like  whey protein, creatine, and multi-vitamins definitely do work.  There are hundreds of studies showing that supplementing somewhere between 3-5 grams of creatine a day is beneficial to athletes, which is an impossible amount to get from "whole food" (unless you eat 10+ lbs of  meat a day).  The same goes with multi-vitamins, it would be almost impossible to cover all your deficiencies through just whole food.  I think most people who believe supplements are crap usually do not have their diet and training in check.  They are the people who wonder why their fat burner isn't working when they eat at McDonalds five times a week.  Though supplements are effective, they are also not meant to be a crutch.  As pointed out earlier they are meant to "supplement" your diet and training.  If you truly have your diet and training in check, supplements will help you.  Also what is wrong with  trying to "make that car go 102" instead of 100.  If you are satisfied with anything less than your best, more power to you.   

[copacetic]

Carnosine is beta-alanine + l-histidine together. The two together make Carnosine. I am sure some companies just say Carnosine but it is the combo of both...

but as i understand it you can get just beta-alanine maybe your body can't split the carnosine into beta alanine and l-histidine effectively so you need just pure beta-alanine? thats what i'm really trying to get at cause otherwise i'll run over to wal-mart and just get carnosine and save money cause just beta-alanine seems to be harder to come by and much more costly........i really think they are just selling carnosine calling it beta alanine and charging an extra 40 dollars per ounce or some shit....but i need somebody to say that that is the exact truth of the matter not otherwise.......

[busyB]

but as i understand it you can get just beta-alanine maybe your body can't split the carnosine into beta alanine and l-histidine effectively so you need just pure beta-alanine? thats what i'm really trying to get at cause otherwise i'll run over to wal-mart and just get carnosine and save money cause just beta-alanine seems to be harder to come by and much more costly........i really think they are just selling carnosine calling it beta alanine and charging an extra 40 dollars per ounce or some shit....but i need somebody to say that that is the exact truth of the matter not otherwise.......

Dont try to make it harder than it is...and exert for you

Muscle Carnosine Boosters Beta Alanine & Histidine

Carnosine (beta-alanyl-L-histidine) is a naturally-occurring dipeptide discovered in Russia in 1900 and is made up of amino acids Beta-Alanine and L-Histidine. Carnosine is found in skeletal muscle, heart and brain. Since much of the research with carnosine was performed in Russia, it has been largely unavailable to the Western World until just recently. Carnosine is now becoming more and more recognized for its remarkable potential as a highly effective anti-aging nutrient...But there’s a lot more!

Antioxidant, buffering, free radical scavenging and even neurotransmitter properties are attributed to Carnosine. Carnosine is also found primarily in type II muscle fibres11,12. These are the “fast-twitch” fibres that are important for explosive movements such as sprinting and weight training. Increasing muscle Carnosine concentrations are important to athletes because Carnosine increases intramuscular hydrogen ion (H+) buffering capacity. And the production of H+ is the result of energy release, leading to a burning sensation and muscle fatigue. Basically what this means is that Carnosine increases your ability to work harder by preventing your muscle from becoming too acidic during times of stress by picking up Hydrogen ions. More Carnosine in muscle means you can keep muscle acid in check and train harder and longer.13

So why not start mega dosing Carnosine? Dietary intake of Carnosine gets broken down into the amino acids Beta-Alanine and Histidine and in turn gets resynthesized into Carnosine in the muscle. Carnosine biosynthesis is dependent on availability of Beta-Alanine and L-Histidine. If truth be told, a deficiency in L-Histidine reduces muscle Carnosine levels, while supplementation with it increases Carnosine levels14, 15, 16. Another study done on Beta-Alanine and L-Histidine for 30 days increased muscle Carnosine by 13%17!

The take home message is this. Oral supplementation of Carnosine can lead to increased concentrations of Carnosine. Supplementation with Beta-Alanine and L-Histidine may prove to be a more effective way for getting the benefits of elevated levels of Carnosine. And with these elevated levels of Carnosine, increased athletic performance, and a great deal more is the result.
 
..... Simple, get it now??

[busyB]

I disagree.  Supplements do work.  Maybe not the fancy over hyped ones, but the basics like  whey protein, creatine, and multi-vitamins definitely do work.  There are hundreds of studies showing that supplementing somewhere between 3-5 grams of creatine a day is beneficial to athletes, which is an impossible amount to get from "whole food" (unless you eat 10+ lbs of  meat a day).  The same goes with multi-vitamins, it would be almost impossible to cover all your deficiencies through just whole food.  I think most people who believe supplements are crap usually do not have their diet and training in check.  They are the people who wonder why their fat burner isn't working when they eat at McDonalds five times a week.  Though supplements are effective, they are also not meant to be a crutch.  As pointed out earlier they are meant to "supplement" your diet and training.  If you truly have your diet and training in check, supplements will help you.  Also what is wrong with  trying to "make that car go 102" instead of 100.  If you are satisfied with anything less than your best, more power to you.   

Thank you. Thought I was all alone out here....

[copacetic]

Oral supplementation of Carnosine can lead to increased concentrations of Carnosine. Supplementation with Beta-Alanine and L-Histidine may prove to be a more effective way for getting the benefits of elevated levels of Carnosine. And with these elevated levels of Carnosine, increased athletic performance, and a great deal more is the result.
 
..... Simple, get it now??

you see this part is what my question is about "Supplementation with Beta-Alanine and L-Histidine may prove to be a more effective way for getting the benefits of elevated levels of Carnosine" so is this true or is just plain carnosine just as freaking good? if i do get carnosine pills should i just slowly take them throughout the day or should i just take like a bunch of them before i work out eh? which will be more effective? I mean i get a fair bit of carnosine in my protein shakes + some alanine (different than beta-alanine or basically the same thing though?) Amino acids just freaking intrigue the hell out of me but i am sucky at chemistry......like in the beta-alanine defintition on wiki there is this word dihydrouracil what the hell does that word mean? my guess is sugar+carnosine = more beta-alanine but under normal conditions beta alanine gets turned into acetic acid so you need to sup beta-alanine not carnosine because you'll never boost your beta-alanine levels with carnosine because it will be converted into acetic acid? Is this right or is that right? Sorry I'm insane but maybe somebody with a good understanding of biochemistry could look at this eh cause i really am not qualified to answer the question i am asking for myself meh maybe i'll ask MJ's sister i think she's a biochemist bah! If nobody answers back i will...

[candidate2025]

I disagree.  Supplements do work.  Maybe not the fancy over hyped ones, but the basics like  whey protein, creatine, and multi-vitamins definitely do work.  There are hundreds of studies showing that supplementing somewhere between 3-5 grams of creatine a day is beneficial to athletes, which is an impossible amount to get from "whole food" (unless you eat 10+ lbs of  meat a day).  The same goes with multi-vitamins, it would be almost impossible to cover all your deficiencies through just whole food.  I think most people who believe supplements are crap usually do not have their diet and training in check.  They are the people who wonder why their fat burner isn't working when they eat at McDonalds five times a week.  Though supplements are effective, they are also not meant to be a crutch.  As pointed out earlier they are meant to "supplement" your diet and training.  If you truly have your diet and training in check, supplements will help you.  Also what is wrong with  trying to "make that car go 102" instead of 100.  If you are satisfied with anything less than your best, more power to you.   

i agree 150% with what you just said.
awesome post.

i get tired of everyone here always dissing every suplement.   

the only reason they wouldnt work for you is because your diet and/or training+cardio regimins are not in check.

[busyB]

you see this part is what my question is about "Supplementation with Beta-Alanine and L-Histidine may prove to be a more effective way for getting the benefits of elevated levels of Carnosine" so is this true or is just plain carnosine just as freaking good? if i do get carnosine pills should i just slowly take them throughout the day or should i just take like a bunch of them before i work out eh? which will be more effective? I mean i get a fair bit of carnosine in my protein shakes + some alanine (different than beta-alanine or basically the same thing though?) Amino acids just freaking intrigue the hell out of me but i am sucky at chemistry......like in the beta-alanine defintition on wiki there is this word dihydrouracil what the hell does that word mean? my guess is sugar+carnosine = more beta-alanine but under normal conditions beta alanine gets turned into acetic acid so you need to sup beta-alanine not carnosine because you'll never boost your beta-alanine levels with carnosine because it will be converted into acetic acid? Is this right or is that right? Sorry I'm insane but maybe somebody with a good understanding of biochemistry could look at this eh cause i really am not qualified to answer the question i am asking for myself meh maybe i'll ask MJ's sister i think she's a biochemist bah! If nobody answers back i will...

Got an idea. Why not try both for one month each, then make an assesment.

I can get into the biochemistry with you but there is no point! Beta-Alanine and Histidine will work much more efficiently than carnosine alone..

[peroni]

Other than whey protein, does anyone on here actually think supplements work?  Gacik bullshit, etc.  In my teens, I probably spent over a grand in GNC and gained nothing.


Paul Dillet said it best:  only steroids work like steroids.

most are junk and make you fart more than usual

[copacetic]

Got an idea. Why not try both for one month each, then make an assesment.

I can get into the biochemistry with you but there is no point! Beta-Alanine and Histidine will work much more efficiently than carnosine alone..

See thats what i've been trying to get you to say i suspected thats what you personally felt and i personally feel that that is a possibility but how can I trust what you've said now busyB? all you've done is copied some text which you provided no source for get into the chemistry of the shit with me beta-alanine + histidine standalone VS Carnosine?  What will cause the carnosine to split? will working out hard prevent it from coverting to acetic acid since you will be taking it pre-workout?  In fact your original post seems to support that carnosine is just as good as taking beta-alanine and histidine seperately. Now you believe separate is better?

[busyB]

See thats what i've been trying to get you to say i suspected thats what you personally felt and i personally feel that that is a possibility but how can I trust what you've said now busyB? all you've done is copied some text which you provided no source for get into the chemistry of the shit with me beta-alanine + histidine standalone VS Carnosine?  What will cause the carnosine to split? will working out hard prevent it from coverting to acetic acid since you will be taking it pre-workout?  In fact your original post seems to support that carnosine is just as good as taking beta-alanine and histidine seperately. Now you believe separate is better?

I am done with college with my Nutrition degree on my wall. So no need for me to do an analytical report on the two, I don't have time nor wish to waste time trying to make you understand. You said you suck at chemisty. Why would I want to try and teach you if you don't get it anyway? Do your own research, I have been trying to give you advice, not give you a college lecture. You insist on wanting to do one type, the cheaper type so go do it and quit fishing for repsponses so go ask your sisters brothers aunt that is a biochemist. I copied and pasted just something for you to go on since you said you can not find anything on carnosine..

I have used both, beta+hist seems to be better for me. I can not speak for anyone else. I could site and back up all kinds of reports but you go do your own homework, I have to go eat and train rather than get into a debate with you.

[copacetic]

I am done with college with my Nutrition degree on my wall. So no need for me to do an analytical report on the two, I don't have time nor wish to waste time trying to make you understand. You said you suck at chemisty. Why would I want to try and teach you if you don't get it anyway? Do your own research, I have been trying to give you advice, not give you a college lecture. You insist on wanting to do one type, the cheaper type so go do it and quit fishing for repsponses so go ask your sisters brothers aunt that is a biochemist. I copied and pasted just something for you to go on since you said you can not find anything on carnosine..

I have used both, beta+hist seems to be better for me. I can not speak for anyone else. I could site and back up all kinds of reports but you go do your own homework, I have to go eat and train rather than get into a debate with you.

I in no way was trying to demean you.  I am just trying to have an intelligent discussion about the subject with people who probably know far more than i do about amino acids and want to be enlightened on weather carnosine is capable of splitting in the body readily and boosting beta-alanine without taking just plain beta-alanine and be far cheaper than getting beta alanine and easier( I can get carnosine at wally world). I mean really we are all getting quite a bit of these things in our protein shakes anyways cause really who just drinks 1 a day?

On another note i think if the carnosine pills are only 500mg you'd have to take freaking 12 of them a day just to hit the 3grams of beta-alanine suggested cause it'd only really be half beta-alanine at best.....

[busyB]

No man, do the powders....

The one I like the best is by Isatori H-Blocker. Go to their web site and read up on it.

I understand you are wanting answers but I can get way too analytical and do not have time, sorry...call it lazy but I just dont want to type that much. Call me and we will do lunch 

[G.R.H.]

depends on what it is, and on the individual who's  using it.  i have some success with certain ones, and then leveled off.  you have to keep experimenting. that's what sucks! the $ wasted experimenting!