Over the last decade of examining and researching sports supplements, there have been very few compounds that have passed my stringent criteria for gaining access to supplement stardom. Creatine, of course, is the most popular and most effective. It easily hurdled the challenges of requiring a physiologic basis for success, of providing solid research backing, and of proving itself with athletes and fitness professionals. Almost every day, there are new compounds that challenge this criteria, but few pass the test. One that just might is an amino acid called Beta-Alanine.

by Kelsey Brandin

Amino acids are the building blocks of our muscles—without them, proteins would not exist, and our bodies wouldn’t be capable of basic function. Most likely, you have heard of “Essential Amino Acids”—this term refers to the nine amino acids that cannot be synthesized (created) by our bodies through basic metabolic functions. Of those nine, there are three “Branched Chain” amino acids (BCAA’s): Leucine, Isoleucine, and Valine. Before we get into their application for athletes, it is important to understand the chemistry behind aminos.

Protein, together with carbohydrates and fat, is one of the three macronutrients that provide the vast majority of energy to the body. As the major structural component of all tissues there are approximately 50,000 different types of protein containing compounds in the human body-65% of which are found in skeletal muscle. The main purpose of dietary protein is to supply raw materials for the construction and maintenance of bodily tissues, especially muscle. In addition, proteins play a vital role in human health including hormone regulation, immunity defense and oxygen delivery to tissues and organs.

For years Creatine has been considered the big daddy of safe, legal and non-hormonal performance enhancers.And rightfully so. Throughout its existence the sports nutrition world has been subjected to many products hyped by marketers and manufacturers as "the next big thing" in legal ergogenic aids. In my time alone I have seen the likes of Boron, Sasparilla Root, Pyruvate, Ribose, Methoxyisoflavone, and too many other items to list, talking the talk.claiming to be "the next big thing" in performance enhancement, but to no avail! Creatine came on the scene, talking the talk, saying it would take the sports nutrition world by storm and that's exactly what it did!

First let me start by telling you this is not going to be your typical "muscle magazine" article.  What do I mean by that?  This article is not going to give you some secret herb or supplement that will give you freaky mass and freaky cuts in 30 days.  Nothing will give you freaky mass and freaky cuts in 30 days unless you get off your ass and do freaky workouts.  So, are Nitric Oxide products the secret to huge muscles, ultra fast recovery, and freaky cuts?  Yes and no. Think of NO products as a piece of the puzzle- a large puzzle with a foundation of a good diet and disciplined training.  In addition sleep and the proper ratio of protein/carbs/fat intake are all important and should be what you look to "tweak" first when trying to achieve a more muscular physique.