BulkSupplements Pure Beta Alanine Powder

Great pre-workout

Caution: Taking this in large doses will cause mild to severe flushing and tingling of the skin, most commonly the forehead, arms and hands, or back. If you experience this, know that it's common, temporary, and you're going to be okay. But, most importantly, it is avoidable. Read the "how to take" section for more. About the product: Bulk Supplements is a great brand. Look at their average review across all their products. Few can compete. I've had no complaints with this product, and it came exactly as advertised, which has been true for all of my purchases from their line. Other products by this brand have been quality-tested by third party organizations like LabDoor, and all have exceeded their promises. One thing worth doing is explaining how to work with their products, so here's a short guide -The bags use press-to-seal ziploc, which is not ideal for multiple accesses. I recommend transferring portions of the powder to a mason jar or similar container, using the bag for long-term storage. -There is no scoop provided, because they don't do dosing. What IS provided is a measurement to concentration table. The label gives you measurements in increments of teaspoons (1tsp = 5ml). It's easy to miss and very handy. How (and why) to take beta-alanine: Take 3.2grams per day, taken as either four doses of 800mg or three doses of 1.1g (1100mg), spaced out by at least three hours. The time of day does not matter, and it is irrelevant to take it pre-, post-, or mid-workout. At any given time, it only matters if you have taken it consistently for a week or two. Take it in 800mg doses for one week before trying 1.1g doses to get your body used to it. It's been found that almost all people tolerate 800mg, but most will handle a slightly higher dose without the prickling feeling. I personally take 1.1g without noticeable effects. It takes one to two weeks to reach peak efficacy, and you will lose the performance benefits two to three weeks after you stop taking it. More information and the reasons for this dosing can be found below. I do a meta-analysis of every supplement I consider taking. The information below is up to date via peer-reviewed, vetted studies sourced July 1st 2018. The realistic, studied doses are 3-3.5 grams per day and ~6 grams per day. There has been no difference in results between the two, so my dosing recommendations will be targeted at and just above 3 grams per day. There is no reason to believe lower doses are ineffective, but they have not been studied. Both doses have been found to increase muscle concentration of carnosine and to improve performance in mid-high intensity, mid-high duration activities. Think long sprints, HIIT, swimming, and drop sets. Effect has been observed in general (think resistance training) activities, but it's too early for certainty. Muscle carnosine levels have been found to be highly diet related, so supplementing is very unlikely to cause long-term change. Specifically, vegetarians (which implies vegans also - the significant aspect is the lack of meat in their diet) have chronically lower carnosine levels. It has not been studied, but it is simple to predict beta-alanine supplementation may be even more valuable to non-meat eating groups. Carnosine levels following the end of beta-supplementation have steadily reverted to baseline values across multiple studies. It's only effective while you take it. At 800mg per dose, beta-alanine has consistently shown no prickling or flushing side effects. This number was chosen arbitrarily by researchers, and the only hard data about what doses WILL consistently cause side effects is anything 3g or more in a small time frame. Many will tolerate a larger (than 800mg) dose, but how much larger remains to be seen. If you have any questions, you may reply to my comment and I will do my best to answer and make clear the limitations of my knowledge. The disturbing presence of naturalists, broscientists, and other homeopathic charlatans is something I'm willing to spend my time working against.

Got to love the tingle and added endurance beta alanine provides. For anyone looking to forego the pre-mixed, sugary, who-knows-what-filler pre-workouts, "raw" products are the way to go. Bulk Supplements is a good way to buy individual ingredients to make your own mix (for me it is BCAAs, beta alanine and creatine, rarely with a shot of caffeine). It is cheaper in the long run and you can customize. If you don't like so much tingle, cut your beta alanine. If you want a vasodialator, put some l-arginine in and skip the caffeine. Already got your needed BCAAs with your protein powder, don't pay extra for a pre or post workout mix with BCAAs just to get the other ingredients you are looking for. It has taken me a few years to really understand that I have a lot more control over the supplements I put in and that we are not beholden to pre-mixed junk. It only takes a little more time to dose your own mix. So, down from my soap box and on to the product at hand.. This is a basic beta alanine. As I stated in my review of Bulk Supplement's "raw" BCAA's, I like the minimal packaging and the price per serving as compared to similar products I can purchase locally. The product mixes well and does what beta alanine is supposed to do. I've had no issues with this particular package closing, as others have, although my bag of creatine does not zip after a couple of openings. Again, not the worst thing. I just use a ziplock bag or you can dump it/roll it up and store it in a reusable plastic container. I don't think any of Bulk Supplement's products come with a scoop. Likely because the purpose of buying their products is so you can dose them yourself. They provide a tsp/tbs to mg/g table on the back of the bag for the 3 products I am currently using from them. Break out your kitchenware and measure up.

First of all, Bulk Supplements is wonderful for offering an enormous number of CLEAN supplements at the lowest costs I can find. I've purchased several supplements from them and am beyond pleased with them all. Now that that's out of the way, I'll be reviewing the beta alanine itself. I'm a novice-intermediate lifter that's followed several programs such as starting strength, greyskull, and currently PPL. For those who are unfamiliar with these programs, they're basically strength training programs that focus on increasing the weight on the compound lifts in a linear fashion (from workout to workout). In addition to these major compound movements, greyskull and PPL also include accessory work for bodybuilding or addressing muscular imbalances. I first decided to try beta alanine after doing research via internet; not necessarily because I was displeased with my results, just mostly out of curiosity. I definitely felt the tingling upon minutes of taking it for the first week or so, but no longer really feel it. Regardless, it was never really a big deal and I kind of appreciated it as it served as immediate feedback that it was working. To keep this review from dragging on, I didn't notice much of a difference in lower reps of heavy compounds (typically 5 reps), however I did feel as if I was able to push out an extra rep or two at lower weights, particularly for body building movements and rep ranges (triceps extensions for 12 reps for instance). For those who participate in any body building activities, you know that these few extra reps can make a pretty big difference for development. Keep in mind, this is just personal anecdotal experience and it's incredibly difficult to be objective when noticing effects like this. However, I did forget my beta alanine for one work out (just too eager to train) and I fatigued much quicker during my accessory movements. My compounds were unaffected. To summarize, likely effective for higher rep ranges (body building purposes). Less effective for lower reps of compound movements (strength training). Worth it? I suppose that depends on your goals and whether you consider a few extra reps worth it. For those sultans of steel who are desperately chasing gains, this is an easy answer. As for myself, I actually just ordered another bag which is why I remembered to review the product haha. Hope this helps.

Love this, just wish it came in a true container with a lid. Bag broke a few weeks in.