Having endurance right when you need it most allows you to physically perform at your peak, and for a prolonged period. Continually striving to improve endurance is essential for athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and for those just looking to live a healthier lifestyle. Together, a balanced diet and consistent training combine to play a vital dual role in maintaining the endurance to perform at your best.
Certain supplements can give you an even greater edge than you might anticipate. As an example of how to understand and select supplements that noticeably improve endurance, let’s examine how a muscle responds to training. You’ll see how Beta-Alanine and L-Carnitine can help you achieve peak endurance.
Leveraging Beta-Alanine
Have your muscles ever become completely exhausted immediately after training? That’s most likely because during the training, lactic acid flooded your muscles and caused complete muscle fatigue. Fortunately, Beta-Alanine helps to reduce lactic acid, which helps your muscles delay how long it takes to reach that exhaustion point.
To science, Beta-Alanine is considered a non-essential amino acid. But for you and your training, this powerful amino acid comes with even more terrific benefits! It plays a crucial role in creating carnosine, which helps to regulate pH levels during exercise.
When weightlifting, try doing some high-intensity interval (HIIT) training or doing cardiovascular exercise for any extended period. You’ll certainly understand and appreciate how important it is to reduce the lactic acid accumulation in your muscles!
Beta-Alanine is found in foods like chicken breast, beef, fish, and even pork. Those following a vegetarian and vegan diet may have a difficult time getting enough beta-alanine in their diet, so taking a beta-alanine supplement such as GAT Sport Beta-Alanine is likely even that much more beneficial.
Leveraging L-Carnitine
Another so-called non-essential amino acid, L-Carnitine is required to help regulate your metabolism. Specifically, L-Carnitine helps to convert body fat into energy. Your body fat then actually becomes an internal energy source, which helps to retain lean muscle mass. It’s available in both capsule and liquid forms.
L-Carnitine can help you stop missing workouts — or overexerting yourself — due to muscle soreness and fatigue. It reduces overall muscle inflammation and has been shown to promote faster muscle recovery.
Who would have thought a defined non-essential amino acid would have such a profound impact on your ability to recover and improve endurance? Luckily, L-Carnitine can be plentiful in the diet. It’s found in animal products like seafood, lean meats, poultry, and eggs, and in some beans and peas.
Is rest between training sessions still required?
The short answer is “yes”. Beta-Alanine and L-Carnitine are power-packed, speed up muscular recovery, reduce lactic acid, and improve your overall endurance. But they don’t replace the need for rest and recovery between workouts. (See our other blog story about “R&R” — Rest and Recovery.)
Can you benefit?
Absolutely. Regardless of your fitness goals, or what your current fitness level is. From the beginner to the professional athlete, Beta-Alanine and L-Carnitine can provide you with tremendous benefits and assist in improving your endurance while reducing the time it takes for your muscles to heal.
A misconception in the fitness world is that endurance is only important to long-distance runners and other endurance athletes. But it’s important to everyone. Endurance will play an important role in your every activity, every sport, and your every workout routine success.
Simply stated, Beta-Alanine and L-Carnitine supplements can improve your performance and endurance, making your muscle recovery easier. Consider adding them to augment your regimen. You’ll be surprised at the improvement.