It's Getting Hot Out There!

Something unexpected happened after I developed Beta Red Pre-Workout Formula: I started getting feedback from athletes about how they were better able to handle training in high temperatures while using it.

I had noticed something similar during my own early summer training, but being the skeptic I am, I didn’t initially attribute it to Beta Red. Rather, I merely assumed I was adapting to warmer conditions after a typical Colorado off-season. What got my attention was that I was handling training sessions in 90+ degree temperatures better than I could ever recall. (My desert-dwelling friends are probably laughing at the thought of 90 degrees being “hot.”) I still had to maintain fluid intake to keep hydrated, but the heat wasn’t zapping my performance as it had in the past.

I’ve since duplicated this effect repeatedly while consuming Beta Red, so I’m confident it plays a role in helping myself and others better handle heat-related training stress. Since I’m the type who always wants to know “why” I dug deeper into the research on each of Beta Red’s ingredients. What I found leads me to believe that Betaine may be the primary reason for this effect.

Betaine is a naturally-occurring compound found in beets, spinach, wheat bran, quinoa, and amaranth. It is formed by the combination of the amino acid glycine with the essential nutrient choline. In some ways, Betaine functions like certain B-vitamins (mainly B12 and folate) as a methyl donor, which means it contributes to brain function and has been linked to preventing a host of diseases. However, it originally got my consideration for Beta Red due to research showing positive effects on lower-body strength endurance.

My more recent investigation revealed Betaine’s role as an osmolyte. Osmolytes are compounds that have substantial effects on osmosis and have been shown to protect cells against changes in fluid balance as a result of heat stress, amongst other things. Suddenly, it all made sense. If there’s anything that can result in heat stress, it’s a good old-fashioned workout when the mercury rises. Preventing heat stress assuredly will help maintain performance when it gets hot.

I’d like to hear your experience if you’ve used Beta Red consistently while training and/or competing in the heat. Have you been able to better maintain performance in sweltering conditions? Please send me your feedback at brian@endurobites.com.