Beta Alanine & Carnosine Issues

Diet and Nutrition
1

Hey all,

I find that when I take either of these supplements (Beta Alanine or Carnosine supps)…

  1. I start to get headach-ee; a little bit of insomnia; I just feel strange, it’s kind of an all-over-my-head headache; not severe or anything; my sinuses ache a little too.

However,

  1. when I up my carbs a bit, I feel a little better.

I’m just curious, do any of you knowledgeable folks care to venture an educated guess wrt the ^^ connection here?

2

I hate beta-alanine I chalk it up as crap.

3

[quote]sevenmoist wrote:
I hate beta-alanine I chalk it up as crap.[/quote]

You mean it made you feel weird?

Or it did nothing for you?

Because, personally, I do feel like it otherwise really works.

4

It made me feel like shit and I have used it more than a few times. If I don’t use it I am just as strong, so in my opinion it’s crap.

5

[quote]sevenmoist wrote:
It made me feel like shit…[/quote]

How so?

~katz

6

I love the stuff, but everyone is different and hence responds differently. I have no idea as to why it would make you feel like crap though, although i can see how you perhaps are a non-responder. Maybe the two things are related and maybe one is the result of the other (makes you feel bad so you aren’t able to train well do to that). I wonder if some individuals have high levels of muscular carnosine (and hence would be non-responders) similar to how some people have high levels of creatine and are non-responders to that supplement.

7

My guess is that the both of you are somehow hyper-sensitive to Beta-alanine since my training partners and I are hooked on it.

Consistently better training stamina and workouts while using it.

I have read, although I don’t recall where, that BA is better absorbed or utilized when consumed with carbohydrates. I don’t know if this is accurate, but there might be something to it if you’re following a low-carb diet.

8

If these supplements give you those type of side effects, why don’t you just stop using them? Your body is telling you something is wrong. Save yourself the money and just hit the weights, don’t worry so much about supplements, especially these two.

9

[quote]ChrisKing wrote:
I have read, although I don’t recall where, that BA is better absorbed or utilized when consumed with carbohydrates. I don’t know if this is accurate, but there might be something to it if you’re following a low-carb diet.[/quote]

That may be true (better absorbtion with carbs) but I don’t notice any issues as a result of following such a protocol. Still seems to be working despite the low carbs.

10

OP if it makes you feel better, I also don’t tolerate Beta alananine very well either. Makes me a little nauseas and gives me the runs at times. It works to a degree but not worth the side affects. Frustrating because same thing happens with ANACONDA protocol. Large amounts of creatine aren’t my friend either.

11

I like it, I have more endurance and a bit more strength.

The only thing I feel is that flush to the face a few minutes after taking two pills. If it matters I use Ultimate Nutrition’s BA.