01dragonslayer
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We’ve all been there. Those training sessions where you’re super motivated, your outfit is coordinated, your playlist can’t be beaten, and the gym isn’t packed for once. But then, your body gives in before your mind… When your muscles suddenly feel 10kg heavier, it can be very frustrating and disheartening.
Believe it or not, the peculiar combination of watermelon and apple could be the solution to your tiresome problems. No, we’re not making a fruit cocktail, but the mixture of Citrulline (that’s the watermelon part) and Malate (whose Latin name translates to apple) could go down a treat before your next workout.
In this article you’ll find:
Arginine has a role in the production of Nitric Oxide which works as a vasodilator to improve blood flow and oxygen delivery around the body.1
During aerobic exercise, skeletal muscle requires oxygen for energy production, therefore producing more NO leads to greater supply of oxygen to working muscles, and higher aerobic capacity, meaning you can push yourself to higher exercise intensities.2
Now, you may be thinking “why don’t we just supplement with arginine or NO?”. Well, citrulline has a longer half-life than arginine and NO, meaning that it circulates for longer once in our system, and is actually more effective at increasing levels of arginine than arginine supplements themselves.3
Think of citrulline supplementation as a stepping stone to boosting your body’s NO production.
Fundamentally, making sure your body has a sufficient amount of malate will keep the TCA cycle working smoothly and ensure your muscles have enough useable energy to keep you moving.
Being able to perform more reps equates to more Time Under Tension, which translates to superior muscle building.
Similar effects have been observed in women, with citrulline malate supplementation increasing the number of reps completed of various upper- and lower- body resistance exercises, compared to the placebo. Not only this, but the women in this study reported lower ratings of perceived exertion after consuming citrulline malate.7
Imagine exercising for longer AND it feeling easier!
If dumbbells aren’t your style, citrulline malate can also improve calisthenic exercise performance, such as chin-ups and pull-ups, as well as boosting explosive power during a cycling Wingate performance test.8,9
A few years ago, a research group put this to the test using a high-intensity cycling protocol, after participants had consumed either citrulline malate or placebo for the previous 7 days. In this case, citrulline malate increased the distance covered in a given time, improved capacity for oxidative metabolism, and lowered arterial blood pressure.11
So, if your goal is to improve endurance performance, a citrulline malate supplement might be worth a try.
Believe it or not, the peculiar combination of watermelon and apple could be the solution to your tiresome problems. No, we’re not making a fruit cocktail, but the mixture of Citrulline (that’s the watermelon part) and Malate (whose Latin name translates to apple) could go down a treat before your next workout.
In this article you’ll find:
What is Citrulline Malate?
Citrulline Malate (CM) is an amino acid compound which has gained attention due to its reported ability to delay the onset of fatigue during intense exercise. That’s why you’ll often find CM in pre-workout supplements. Let’s take a closer look at its components…Citrulline
Citrulline, sometimes referred to as l-citrulline, is a non-essential amino acid, meaning that it can be synthesised (produced) within the body. Once formed, citrulline is involved in various metabolic pathways — most notably, the urea cycle — and is a precursor for the amino acid Arginine.Arginine has a role in the production of Nitric Oxide which works as a vasodilator to improve blood flow and oxygen delivery around the body.1
During aerobic exercise, skeletal muscle requires oxygen for energy production, therefore producing more NO leads to greater supply of oxygen to working muscles, and higher aerobic capacity, meaning you can push yourself to higher exercise intensities.2
Now, you may be thinking “why don’t we just supplement with arginine or NO?”. Well, citrulline has a longer half-life than arginine and NO, meaning that it circulates for longer once in our system, and is actually more effective at increasing levels of arginine than arginine supplements themselves.3
Think of citrulline supplementation as a stepping stone to boosting your body’s NO production.
Malate
Malate is an essential intermediate of the Tricarboxylic Acid (TCA) Cycle, which generates two-thirds of the body’s energy by utilizing fats and carbohydrates consumed through the diet. In the TCA cycle, malate is dehydrogenised (stripped of its hydrogen atoms), which, in the process, generates NADH2. This co-enzyme can then go on to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is the energy needed for muscle contraction.5Fundamentally, making sure your body has a sufficient amount of malate will keep the TCA cycle working smoothly and ensure your muscles have enough useable energy to keep you moving.
Citrulline Malate Benefits
It’s all well and good understanding the nitty gritty about what goes on in our cells, but the question is, does citrulline malate really work and will it work for me? Luckily, research has the answers.Citrulline malate can delay muscle fatigue
During one cross-over study, resistance-trained men completed 5 sets of leg press, hack squat, and leg extension at 60% of one-rep max (the maximum weight you can lift for one repetition) until failure. Following the consumption of citrulline malate, the number of reps performed was significantly higher across all exercises compared to the placebo group.6Being able to perform more reps equates to more Time Under Tension, which translates to superior muscle building.
Similar effects have been observed in women, with citrulline malate supplementation increasing the number of reps completed of various upper- and lower- body resistance exercises, compared to the placebo. Not only this, but the women in this study reported lower ratings of perceived exertion after consuming citrulline malate.7
Imagine exercising for longer AND it feeling easier!
If dumbbells aren’t your style, citrulline malate can also improve calisthenic exercise performance, such as chin-ups and pull-ups, as well as boosting explosive power during a cycling Wingate performance test.8,9
Improves oxygen delivery to muscles
Not only does citrulline malate have benefits for power related exercise, it has also shown benefits in aerobic exercise.10A few years ago, a research group put this to the test using a high-intensity cycling protocol, after participants had consumed either citrulline malate or placebo for the previous 7 days. In this case, citrulline malate increased the distance covered in a given time, improved capacity for oxidative metabolism, and lowered arterial blood pressure.11
So, if your goal is to improve endurance performance, a citrulline malate supplement might be worth a try.