by Chris Shugart
Get more out of your pump and get more gains. Here are three bioactive agents that make it happen.
I remember my first pump. I was in the garage using my new K-Mart weight set. In the reflection of a car window, I caught a glimpse of my little triceps. At 14, I was hooked. I didn't know it then, but the pump contributes to hypertrophy.
Along with mechanical tension, muscle damage, and metabolic stress, that tight, engorged feeling signals anabolic pathways (like mTOR activation), promoting muscle protein synthesis. The pump enhances the anabolic environment, delivering amino acids, glucose, and oxygen to muscles. It also helps with recovery and is key to the mind-muscle connection. (As the saying goes, you have to feel it to build it.)
I learned all those big words later. All I knew then was that it felt and looked good. Today, we know how to enhance the pump and make it last for hours. It's psychologically motivating and, physiologically, plays a big role in workout performance and gains.
Three substances help us augment the pump: citrulline malate, citrulline nitrate, and betaine.
The Pump Trio
The pump is driven by nitric oxide (NO)-mediated vasodilation, metabolite accumulation, and osmotic changes. Resistance training increases blood flow to muscles, causing fluid accumulation in muscle cells (cell swelling). Here's how citrulline malate, citrulline nitrate, and betaine fit in:
- Citrulline Malate: This compound combines L-citrulline, an amino acid that boosts NO production, with malic acid, which supports energy metabolism. Citrulline malate rapidly converts to arginine, driving immediate nitric oxide synthesis and promoting intense vasodilation, greater muscle perfusion (the delivery of blood and nutrients to muscle tissue), and explosive pumps.
- Citrulline Nitrate: This compound combines L-citrulline with a nitrate group, further boosting NO via a different pathway. It helps sustain NO levels for hours, prolonging muscle fullness and maintaining maximal nutrient delivery throughout your workouts.
- Betaine: The choline-derived compound supports muscle performance, hydration, and recovery by acting as an osmolyte and methyl donor. Betaine complements the synergistic effect of citrulline malate and nitrate by promoting intracellular hydration and cell volumization, optimizing the muscular environment to enhance and extend NO signaling and vasodilation.
How would I describe that combo of compounds to my teenage self? I'd say:
- It gives you bigger, longer-lasting pumps, bro.
- You'll look more veiny.
- You'll have more endurance during long sets and get more reps.
- You'll feel less fatigued during hard workouts.
- Heavier weights will feel lighter.
- You'll be able to contract a muscle harder.
- You'll recover faster and feel less sore.
Ignite the Pump
All three ingredients above are included in the Biotest Igniter (Buy at Amazon) formula, along with other performance enhancers. Here's the breakdown:
- Citrulline Malate (6g)
- Citrulline Nitrate (2.5g)
- Betaine (2.5g)
- Beta-Alanine (3.5g)
- Alpha-GPC (600mg) – The physical/mental performance enhancer
- Tyrosine (2g) – The resilience nutrient
- Uridine Monophosphate (300mg) – The motivation supplement
- Caffeine (350mg)
Together, these ingredients not only augment the pump but also buffer lactic acid and amplify neuromuscular responsiveness, laser-sharp focus, and dopamine-fueled motivation. Detailed info HERE.
Take Igniter about 20 minutes before your toughest workouts and get ready to feel it. Admiring the reflection of your triceps in your car's window after the workout is optional, but highly recommended.
