For its assist enhancing train efficiency, delaying muscular fatigue, and elevating total endurance, beta-alanine — a key ingredient in Beachbody Performance Energize — has gained consideration as a complement in recent times. However there’s a unusual facet impact that some folks expertise whereas supplementing with this amino acid: the beta-alanine itch or tingle.
“The feeling is usually described as ‘pins and needles’ poking underneath the pores and skin, which generally is a bit nerve-wracking for individuals who’ve by no means used beta-alanine earlier than,” says Elliot Reimers, a NASM-certified diet coach.
“There’s a false impression that this is likely to be harmful, or one way or the other inflicting long-damage to your nerves or muscle groups, however that’s merely not true, even at higher doses.”
Why Does Beta-Alanine Make You Tingle?
Scientists and researchers don’t have a definitive reply for what causes beta-alanine tingling — thought-about a type of paresthesia — however there may be proof to assist one main speculation, says Melissa Morris, ACSM-certified train physiologist and ISSN-certified sports activities nutritionist.
The speculation she relays is that beta-alanine prompts G-protein-coupled receptors, that are answerable for transmitting signals all through your central nervous system, and particularly on the pores and skin.
In different phrases, the amino acid fires up your nerve endings in a method that causes that beta-alanine tingle and itch, however not sufficient to trigger precise ache.
Understand that it is a facet impact, quite than a foremost impact, Morris provides. “Beta-alanine acts on the mobile degree to maintain the pH throughout the muscle from getting too acidic, which contributes to fatigue. Subsequently, beta-alanine delays neuromuscular fatigue, which supplies efficiency advantages. The itch, or tingle, is simply one thing to place up with in your option to getting these advantages.”
How Lengthy Does the Beta-Alanine Tingle Final?
The size of time throughout which you’ll really feel these pins and needles can fluctuate relying in your expertise. Reimers says, some folks might really feel this impact for only a few minutes. Others might need it for an hour. Some might by no means expertise it in any respect.
The tingling sensation begins within the neck, shoulders, and arms about quarter-hour after you are taking it, in keeping with ISSA-certified nutritionist and private coach Jamie Hickey. For most individuals, the feeling begins to fade inside half-hour, he provides.
Can You Cease the Beta-Alanine Itch?
In the event you’ve been taking beta-alanine in your pre-workout supplement for some time and also you merely can’t get used to that tingling feeling, there are methods to attenuate the feeling. You would possibly even be capable to cease it utterly.
The primary technique is to separate up your doses, Reimers advises. He suggests taking smaller quantities all through the day as a substitute of taking one massive dose simply earlier than hitting the fitness center. This could considerably scale back the beta-alanine tingling you expertise.
You can too attempt lowering your dosage. See when you nonetheless get outcomes by way of athletic efficiency with out feeling itchy.
Enjoying round with easy methods to use beta-alanine most successfully is definitely worth the hassle, Hickey believes. He thinks beta-alanine supplementation lives as much as its repute.
“The vast majority of dietary supplements in the marketplace are over-hyped and ineffective,” he says. “Beta-alanine, nevertheless, stands out as one of many few merchandise that continues to point out solid science to again up its effectiveness in serving to athletes and bodybuilders attain their health targets. And that’s price somewhat tingling.”
