What are the differences between Anti-Fatigue Caps and Endurance BCAA+?
Q: What are the differences between Anti-Fatigue Caps and Endurance BCAA+ and can they be used together?
A: Anti-Fatigue Caps and Endurance BCAA+ may most definitely be taken together as they complement each other perfectly.
Anti-Fatigue Caps contains nutrients that neutralize excess ammonia, which is a primary cause of fatigue, and an issue that all endurance athletes must deal with. Information about the ingredients in this unique product:
Potassium/Magnesium Aspartate - A well-known nutritionist says it best regarding aspartic acid: "Because aspartic acid increases stamina, it is good for fatigue and plays a vital role in metabolism. It is good for athletes and helps to protect the liver by aiding in the removal of excess ammonia." Studies (Agersborg and Shaw 1962, Hicks 1964, Gaby 1982) show this combination provides substantial benefit for the prevention of fatigue. Aspartic acid also combines with other amino acids to form molecules that absorb toxins and remove them from the bloodstream, aids the function of RNA and DNA, and helps to protect the liver. Additionally, the potassium/magnesium aspartate compound increases production of a key substrate, oxaloacetate, which is involved in energy production. Lastly, the compound provides the minerals potassium and magnesium to help provide protection against cramping.
OKG - Both ornithine and alpha-ketoglutarate (OKG) provide a readily available, non-ammonia-producing source of glutamine in the body. Glutamine is depleted at high rates during exercise but cannot be replaced with regular glutamine as it produces ammonia on its own. OKG increases the amount of glutamine in the muscle and also helps prevent muscle catabolism. Colgan writes, "Both ornithine and alpha-ketoglutarate act in the body as an ammonia scavenger."
Dosing suggestion: 2-4 capsules 20-30 minutes prior to exercise, with additional doses of 1-2 capsules every hour.
Endurance BCAA+ supplies the key amino acids—the BCAA (leucine, isoleucine, valine)—that the body needs to satisfy a small percentage of its energy requirements during prolonged bouts of exercise, helping to protect against lean muscle tissue breakdown. BCAA supplementation has also been shown to decrease the perception of fatigue on both a mental and physiological basis.
Two capsules contain:
- L-Leucine – 400 mg
- L-Isoleucine – 200 mg
- L-Valine – 200 mg
- L-Alanine – 100 mg
The liver can convert L-alanine into glucose as needed, which the bloodstream transports to the muscles for energy. L-alanine also aids in the synthesis of pantothenic acid (B-5), which is also needed for protein, fat, and carbohydrate metabolism. activation in cells. L-alanine also activates an enzyme called AMPK that turns on genes that serve to increase energy production.
- Reduced Glutathione – 100 mg
Glutathione is a tripeptide, consisting of the amino acids glutamic acid, cysteine, and glycine. It is one of the three endogenous (naturally occurring in the body) antioxidants the body maintains to control excess exposure to free radicals produced during exercise as well as from exposure from the environment. Literally pages and pages could be written about this tremendously powerful nutrient, which one nutritional scientist calls glutathione “The Life-Extending Master Antioxidant,” with an Oxygen Radical Absorbency Capacity (ORAC) score/rating estimated to be an astounding 12,000+, glutathione is undoubtedly a potent antioxidant, arguably the most important one in existence.
Dosing suggestion: 2-4 capsules 20-30 minutes prior to exercise, with additional doses of 1-2 capsules every hour.
How do I stay alert at night during ultras?
If you're doing an ultra-distance race, especially one where you’ll be racing through the night and into the next day, chances are you'll need something to help you stay alert. Here are four safe and effective suggestions, all of which you can use in combination:
1) Take 1 serving of Fully Charged every 3-4 hours. Among the numerous benefits this amazing product supplies, two amino acids in Fully Charged, taurine and tyrosine, enhance focus, alertness, and concentration without stimulating the nervous system. Fully Charged also contains a small amount of caffeine—approximately 10-15 mg per serving—courtesy of the green tea extract in the product.
2) Take 1-2 capsules of Endurance BCAA+ prior to the race and each hour during. The primary components in this product are the three branched chain amino acids (BCAA), l-leucine, l-isoleucine, and l-valine. Among their many benefits, research has shown that BCAA supplementation helps decrease the perception of fatigue on both a mental and physiological basis.
3) Take a capsule of Super Antioxidant every 1-2 hours during nighttime hours. The Ginkgo biloba and vinpocetine components in the product not only provide antioxidant support, they also have circulation-enhancing benefits and are purported to have cognitive/alertness-enhancing benefits as well.
4) Use one of the caffeinated versions of Hammer Gel on occasion. Each serving of Espresso Hammer Gel contains 50 mg of caffeine and each serving of Tropical Hammer Gel contains 25 mg. By using these specific flavors of Hammer Gel, you will be providing your body with complex carbohydrates for long-lasting energy (no “flash and crash”), as well as a sufficient but not too-high dose of caffeine.
Are your supplements 3rd party tested?
Yes, every Hammer Nutrition supplement is 3rd party tested in compliance with the FDA’s regulations, 21 CFR Part 111 – Dietary Supplements. All the raw materials for each supplement we produce are tested for purity, strength, identity, and integrity. In addition to raw material testing, every Hammer Nutrition supplement is also tested in every stage of production—blending, encapsulation / powder-filling, packaging components and finished goods—before being released for distribution.
