Betaine HCL is a common ingredient found in many cleaning products and beauty items. It boosts healthy stomach acid levels to create an inhospitable environment for bacteria, yeast and fungi.

During the extraction process the ionic liquid is collected in two separate aqueous phases. A slope analysis shows that the stoichiometry of betaine in the ionic liquid phase is independent of the counter ions chloride or nitrate.

Digestive Support

Betaine is a naturally occurring molecule in sugar beets, spinach and shellfish that acts as a methyl donor when it interacts with other chemical compounds in the body. This process improves liver function, cellular reproduction and helps the body digest fats. It is also known to safeguard heart health by reducing levels of the amino acid homocysteine in the bloodstream.

Many people suffer from low stomach acid (hypochlorhydria) which causes indigestion, bloating and gas. Betaine hydrochloride promotes adequate stomach acid production to alleviate these symptoms.

In addition to betaine, this digestive aid contains organic apple cider vinegar powder that works with the betaine to provide the most comprehensive support for digestion without causing stomach upset. This formula also includes ginger, peppermint and anise to support healthy digestive function. It has been proven to help with nutrient absorption, so you can get the most benefit from the food you eat! It’s no wonder that this is one of the most popular products in our line.

Immune System Support

Betaine is rich in methyl groups, which can act as a nutrient to protect the cell membranes. It also acts as an osmolyte, a substance that regulates water balance in cells.

The most famous health benefit of betaine is that it can safeguard heart health by lowering levels of the amino acid homocysteine in the bloodstream, which is associated with atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). Betaine is able to reduce these levels by attaching itself to homocysteine and turning it into an innocuous form of methionine.

In addition to this, betaine has lipotropic properties and can help your body process fats. This makes it very popular in many weight loss products. It also helps reduce fatty liver disease by supporting the natural function of your liver to break down and remove fats. The all-natural version of this ingredient is coco betaine. It does not cause itchy or painful skin reactions like the synthetic cocamidopropyl betaine, and is therefore safer for sensitive skin.

Leaky Gut Syndrome Support

Many GI conditions, including celiac disease and Crohn's disease, have intestinal permeability as a symptom. Taking Betaine hydrochloride, which boosts stomach acid levels and improves digestive function, can help reduce gastrointestinal discomfort and food allergies by improving the integrity of the gut lining.

In one study, betaine improved intestinal functions by enhancing the digestive enzymes, ameliorating intestinal morphology, and enriching intestinal microbiota of high-salt stressed rats. It also helped protect against salt-induced damage to intestinal epithelial cells.

It can be found in nutrient-rich foods such as spinach, beets and certain ancient whole grains (especially if they are sprouted first). If you're considering taking betaine supplements, make sure you speak to your doctor before doing so. Depending on your current health, they may recommend a different dose or caution you against it due to its ability to raise total cholesterol levels. Those with liver or heart disease should also consult their doctor before taking betaine. In rare cases, betaine can cause mild side effects like diarrhea and nausea.

Body Composition Support

A lot of new supplements enter the fitness space and are hyped up to be the next big thing, but they rarely pan out and make a reliable difference in strength or body composition. Betaine (trimethylglycine), however, is one of the rare exceptions to this rule.

Betaine works by acting as a methyl donor, and donates a molecule of itself to homocysteine, converting it into the amino acid methionine. Methionine is used in protein synthesis and other critical actions throughout the body.

Betaine has been shown to increase muscle strength in trained individuals, and enhances aerobic and anaerobic performance in untrained individuals. Nonetheless, studies involving CrossFit athletes have been mixed and inconclusive. In a short-term study (6 weeks), betaine supplementation enhanced back squat strength but did not improve body composition or aerobic and anaerobic performance in expert CrossFit athletes. This may be due to the specific training regimen used in these studies, and future research utilizing novel CrossFit athletes may shed some light on this issue.