BetaGen Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I’ve been supplementing with creatine monohydrate for a while now, and I just saw a report on TV that it could possibly damage my liver and kidneys. Is that true? 
A: Not according to the many studies that have been done on creatine to date. There has been no evidence of creatine use having any adverse effects upon either liver or kidney function. There is a possibility, however, that creatine supplementation could raise levels of two creatine metabolites—creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and creatinine. These two metabolites are often used by doctors to establish whether or not your kidneys are functioning properly, and the supplementation of creatine may cause that test to come back as a “false positive.” 

Q: How much BetaGen per day should I be taking? 
A: The recommendation is to use three servings total per day. You can mix one serving, which is one scoop, in 4oz of water or in a nutrition shake and take it at three evenly spaced times during the day. 

Q: When is the best time to take BetaGen? 
A: As long as the three doses are spaced evenly throughout the day, you should see results, but a great plan would be to take one of the servings in the morning before your workout, another serving after training, and take the last one right before you go to bed at night. 

Q: I was wondering if the recommended dosage of supplements like creatine and HMB should be adjusted according to bodyweight or gender? 
A: Although studies have not been done to answer this particular question, logic dictates that if a 200-lb guy gets good results using 3 grams of HMB a day, a 135-lb woman should get good results by using 2 grams a day. It also seems to make sense that if a 200-lb athlete experiences positive results using a maintenance dose of creatine (6-10 grams), then a woman who weighs 135 lbs might need only 4-6 grams of creatine a day. By the same token, athletes who weigh over 200 lbs might benefit from taking more of these supplements to get optimal results. 

Q: What is a good supplement cycle for bulking up? I'm using creatine, HMB, and glutamine at different times now. How should I combine these? 
A: Here's one suggestion that may work for you. For the first week, load up on Phosphagain 2, a lean mass-stimulating supplement that has been shown, in clinical research, to produce effects above and beyond creatine alone. Almost all experts agree that loading up with creatine the first week you take it is a great way to put on size and strength fast. After the first week, you can cut back to a maintenance dosage. Loading on HMB, in the form of BetaGen, and glutamine, in the form of CytoVol, during the first week would also work well. The theory is that when you first start taking a supplement, it's possible to super-saturate muscle tissue with it.There is another important developing theory that insulin may enhance the uptake of supplements like HMB and glutamine. Studies have already shown that using an insulin-releasing carbohydrate like dextrose, along with a dose of creatine, substantially enhances the muscle's ability to take in that supplement. Thus, loading up on creatine, HMB, and glutamine for the first week and using each supplement in conjunction with a high-glycemic carbohydrate drink may produce extraordinary results. Load up on these supplements for seven days (see Table below), in divided doses throughout the day, with or between meals. Then cut back to a regular dose of all supplements the second through sixth week. After completing this cycle, you can repeat it or switch to a cutting program.Remember, if you are trying to bulk up, you need to be consuming more calories each day than your body burns. A bulking supplement cycle is not going to produce maximum results unless you are eating enough and training heavy. 

Q: What a strange name—BetaGen—it sounds like pieces of other EAS products. What's in this stuff? 
A: As a matter of fact, you're right! BetaGen is a combination of maintenance doses of HMB and creatine monohydrate, plus it includes the cell-volumizing amino acids, glutamine and taurine. Included in each serving of BetaGen is two grams of creatine monohydrate and one gram of HMB. 

Q: Should I load on BetaGen like you suggest with Phosphagen or Phosphagen HP? 
A: Since creatine monohydrate is the only component of BetaGen which may be effective to load, we suggest you do your loading phase with Phosphagen or Phosphagen HP and then use BetaGen for your maintenance doses of creatine and HMB.