Disclaimer: I've not been paid for this review, however; I have received a free trial of the product.
Geco Organic Beetroot Betaine Supplement
Geco Organic Beetroot Betaine Supplement
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Today I'm reviewing the "geco" supplement of betaine. You can find it to buy here: geco organic beetroot - with betaine
I'm going to start by saying that I am a perfectly healthy 28 year old woman, with perfect blood pressure readings and a healthy heart, so from a blood pressure point of view I cannot give my opinion.
So, lets get on!
What is betaine?
The company market it as a blood pressure reduction drug, saying this about it:
I'm going to start by saying that I am a perfectly healthy 28 year old woman, with perfect blood pressure readings and a healthy heart, so from a blood pressure point of view I cannot give my opinion.
So, lets get on!
What is betaine?
The company market it as a blood pressure reduction drug, saying this about it:
"Betaine is a naturally occurring chemical which is found in a number of vegetables, including beetroot. Betaine is a very interesting chemical, which has attracted a lot of research in recent years. Clinical studies on betaine have shown that it is able to protect the body from cardiovascular disease by lowering the amounts of homocystine circulating in the body, which in-turn lowers blood pressure. "
My interest was in the role of Betaine as a methyl donor, which has an important function in INCREASING muscle mass through the methylation of homocysteine (an amino acid) to form methionine. Methionine itself plays a crucial role in protein synthesis in the body, effectively acting like a creatine dose as methionine synthesises creatine in the body.
This works by having more methionine available, which in turn allows your body to go "gung-ho" on creatine production. This in turn sends your ATP production through the roof, which means you have more cellular energy - which funds additional mass growth/repair. In theory, it should increase muscle mass. There isn't much science to support this yet though.
Basically: it helps you make more creatine in your body, and creatine gives your cells more energy to grow more cells and repair the ones you have = increase in cells = increase in muscle mass.
For more information have a read of this article on bodybuilding.com.
Now on to the review of the product....what did I think?
Taste: they taste like pills. That's it really.
Easiness to swallow: they go down well.
Price: £17.49 (free p&p)
Effects:
I took some photos to chart the changing of my body over the three week testing period:
My interest was in the role of Betaine as a methyl donor, which has an important function in INCREASING muscle mass through the methylation of homocysteine (an amino acid) to form methionine. Methionine itself plays a crucial role in protein synthesis in the body, effectively acting like a creatine dose as methionine synthesises creatine in the body.
This works by having more methionine available, which in turn allows your body to go "gung-ho" on creatine production. This in turn sends your ATP production through the roof, which means you have more cellular energy - which funds additional mass growth/repair. In theory, it should increase muscle mass. There isn't much science to support this yet though.
Basically: it helps you make more creatine in your body, and creatine gives your cells more energy to grow more cells and repair the ones you have = increase in cells = increase in muscle mass.
For more information have a read of this article on bodybuilding.com.
Now on to the review of the product....what did I think?
Taste: they taste like pills. That's it really.
Easiness to swallow: they go down well.
Price: £17.49 (free p&p)
Effects:
I took some photos to chart the changing of my body over the three week testing period:
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Excuse the filter on that first photo - I hope you can see past it to see the "GAINZ" over the past month for me!
I'm not saying that this supplement just put the muscle on for me. I workout 5-6 days a week, at least one of those days I workout twice in the day. I eat. I eat right (sometimes). I protein fuel my body AND I've been working on reducing my bodyfat percentages; but, as a woman it is hard to put muscle on (which is why I'm prone to bite any woman who says "oh, but won't you get bulky lifting weights?" PFFFFT. I wish!)
I have been steadily increasing the weight I lift, and my measurements show that where I've not had much fat to lose (e.g. on my biceps & calves particularly) I've gained mass. I have not been eating in surplus to my requirements as I'm aiming to cut fat off.
My final thoughts?
If you're interested to supplement & have a bit of spare cash give it a go. I'm not going to say it's an "essential" supplement, as you can get betaine from your food - but it's useful in the same way creatine supplementation is, to fine tune your gains.
The company are a friendly, no hassle company and from that point of view I recommend them totally.
Contact details:
You can buy this supplement here.
Twitter: pending
Facebook: pending
I'm not saying that this supplement just put the muscle on for me. I workout 5-6 days a week, at least one of those days I workout twice in the day. I eat. I eat right (sometimes). I protein fuel my body AND I've been working on reducing my bodyfat percentages; but, as a woman it is hard to put muscle on (which is why I'm prone to bite any woman who says "oh, but won't you get bulky lifting weights?" PFFFFT. I wish!)
I have been steadily increasing the weight I lift, and my measurements show that where I've not had much fat to lose (e.g. on my biceps & calves particularly) I've gained mass. I have not been eating in surplus to my requirements as I'm aiming to cut fat off.
My final thoughts?
If you're interested to supplement & have a bit of spare cash give it a go. I'm not going to say it's an "essential" supplement, as you can get betaine from your food - but it's useful in the same way creatine supplementation is, to fine tune your gains.
The company are a friendly, no hassle company and from that point of view I recommend them totally.
Contact details:
You can buy this supplement here.
Twitter: pending
Facebook: pending
Website references
Journal references
Atkinson W, et al. Dietary and supplementary betaine: acute effects on plasma betaine and homocysteine concentrations under standard and postmethionine load conditions in healthy male subjects. Am J Clin Nutr. 2008 Mar;87(3):577-85
Barak AJ, Tuma DJ. Betaine, metabolic by-product or vital methylating agent? Life Sci. 1983 Feb 14;32(7):771-4.
Czapla, R., et al. Effect of betaine on cycling sprint power. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2010 Apr;7(Suppl 1):P23.
Iqbal, O. Betaine induced release of tissue factor pathway inhibitor and nitric oxide: Implications in the management of cardiovascular disease. FASEB 2006 Mar; J 20: A655.
Schwab, U., et al. Betaine supplementation decreases plasma homocysteine concentrations but does not affect body weight, body composition, or resting energy expenditure in human subjects. Am J Clin Nutr. 2002 Nov;76(5):961-7.
Zahn A, et al. Effects of methionine and betaine supplementation on growth performance, carcass composition and metabolism. Poult Sci 2006, 47:576-580.
- http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/80/3/539.full
- http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/ask-the-supplement-guru-whats-the-word-on-betaine.html
- http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/jim-stoppanis-expert-guide-to-betaine.html
- http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a608012.html
- http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-1008-betaine%20anhydrous.aspx?activeingredientid=1008&activeingredientname=betaine%20anhydrous
Journal references
Atkinson W, et al. Dietary and supplementary betaine: acute effects on plasma betaine and homocysteine concentrations under standard and postmethionine load conditions in healthy male subjects. Am J Clin Nutr. 2008 Mar;87(3):577-85
Barak AJ, Tuma DJ. Betaine, metabolic by-product or vital methylating agent? Life Sci. 1983 Feb 14;32(7):771-4.
Czapla, R., et al. Effect of betaine on cycling sprint power. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2010 Apr;7(Suppl 1):P23.
Iqbal, O. Betaine induced release of tissue factor pathway inhibitor and nitric oxide: Implications in the management of cardiovascular disease. FASEB 2006 Mar; J 20: A655.
Schwab, U., et al. Betaine supplementation decreases plasma homocysteine concentrations but does not affect body weight, body composition, or resting energy expenditure in human subjects. Am J Clin Nutr. 2002 Nov;76(5):961-7.
Zahn A, et al. Effects of methionine and betaine supplementation on growth performance, carcass composition and metabolism. Poult Sci 2006, 47:576-580.
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