| Everyone knows a bit about protein in carp baits, but | | | | excellent in winter for this reason not just for its |
| what about the awesome impacts of betaine or | | | | palatability but its rich betaine content which it |
| lecithins and the breaking up of proteins by betaine | | | | contributes in Robin Red.) |
| when baits get heated up making them even more | | | | On the point of preventing cellular stress my |
| attractive because they give off more amino acids? | | | | investigations into the most effective liquids to drink |
| For much more about creating super-boosted baits | | | | just before strenuous exercise found that ideally you |
| read on now! | | | | would have at least around 20 percent inclusion of |
| We humans are long-lost ancestors of fish and we | | | | minerals and sugars in your water to enable you to |
| too have a basic need for betaine too in many | | | | actually become re-hydrated (thus the market for |
| regards, not least for many of the same reasons as | | | | isotonic drinks such as Lucosade.) |
| fish so it is no surprise betaine is found in human | | | | Although not a chemist I have observed just how |
| tissues as well as in fish meals. One of the major | | | | effective it is to include very high levels of more |
| impacts of betaine is that it ensures correction ionic | | | | hygroscopic and water-soluble bait substances. Those |
| balance of our cells by replacing inorganic salts thus | | | | famous Mistral Isotonic baits are I imagine made to |
| relieving osmotic stress (e.g. dehydration) which can | | | | similar effects. Isotonic refers to a balance of |
| be fatal! | | | | osmotic pressures inside cells and outside cells by the |
| Where humans were concerned, historically salt was | | | | maintenance of fluid retention and cell pressure is |
| worth its weight in gold in many areas of the world | | | | balanced by osmosis by the make-up of the fluids |
| where it was scarce, especially in hotter climates; | | | | passing in and out of the cell wall (which is a |
| water will keep you alive for only so long but to | | | | semi-permeable membrane.) |
| retain hydration in your cells and tissues you need | | | | This passage of fluids is called osmosis, where water |
| salts. I hope these points show you a little more why | | | | is drawn to or from each side of the membrane |
| such things as betaine and salty ingredients packed | | | | depending upon how hygroscopic the solution is inside |
| with water soluble polypeptides and free amino acids | | | | or outside the cell and this is where things like salts |
| such as enzyme-treated fish protein are so very | | | | and betaine are hugely important in maintaining a |
| effective when used together in carp baits! | | | | healthy balance. The electrolytes in blood are vitally |
| Without such additional cell and tissue-balancing | | | | important for correct function for instance. |
| ingredients and additives in your own foods and | | | | It might be noted that any constant stress of cells |
| drinks you will pass water straight through your | | | | leads to disease or death so the concept of baits |
| system with very little hydrating effect within as little | | | | containing hygroscopic substances that help fish |
| as 15 minutes. Sugary drinks like Fanta and colas are | | | | maintain constant osmotic cell pressure as in the case |
| and sugar-packed beer are better than just water | | | | of normal isotonic blood cells is a great edge. As I |
| for re-hydrating for this reason although not the best | | | | mentioned previously, boosting the carp immune |
| choice for long-term health with the obvious | | | | system in various ways is a very big competitive |
| associated risks of diabetes, obesity etc! | | | | edge over competing baits. |
| Note, although beer is rich in sugars, its alcohol will | | | | (Note: The terms hypertonic refers to dehydration |
| dehydrate you. But there is no solid evidence to back | | | | and hypotonic refers to over-hydration that can lead |
| up claims that caffeine in coffee or tea will dehydrate | | | | to cells actually exploding so this balanced isotonic or |
| you; in fact quite the opposite - the very fact you | | | | balanced tension state is vital!) Again, you might be |
| are drinking liquids instead of nothing counts for a lot | | | | familiar with the term isotonic boilies and now to |
| in re-hydration terms! Like very many legendary carp | | | | some degree understand a little more about it. |
| bait additves, ingredients components and flavour | | | | Apparently betaine causes lysis (breaking apart) of |
| components etc including potently bioactive, a huge | | | | polypeptides from proteins in high temperatures i.e. in |
| number are metabolic stimulants. | | | | boiling baits. So the splitting of cells by inducing a |
| In carp protein and energy metabolism is controlled | | | | hypotonic state releases water-soluble amino acids |
| by enzymes. Betaine donates its vital methyl groups | | | | from the proteins in the baits which is another very |
| so biochemical reactions caused by enzymes acting | | | | good incentive for using betaine! Things like the extra |
| as catalysts can take place and these reactions are | | | | concentrated green-lipped mussel extract from |
| essential for basic fish survival. | | | | Ccmoore are absolutely packed with betaine but |
| The insignificant rise in body temperature by drinking | | | | there are many more options I can assure you! |
| hot drinks in hot temperatures means drinking such | | | | The splitting of cells by inducing a hypotonic state is |
| hot liquids does nothing to cool you down, but again | | | | very much like the way antibiotics like penicillin work |
| what helps is re-hydration itself. Adding raw brown | | | | by causing breakage (lysis) of bacterial cell walls by |
| cane sugar or molasses especially will help and | | | | causing them to make defective cell walls which are |
| contains betaine of course! This relates to their | | | | then broken by enzyme lysis. Our own saliva contains |
| success in carp baits as betaine is not simply a | | | | similar-acting enzymes as does egg whites! Again, this |
| palatability factor or sensory cell stimulator but an | | | | may well be another hidden reason for using egg |
| internal osmotic stress balancer which in effect | | | | albumin which is over-looked and this ingredient has |
| boosts immunity in carp (another factor of huge | | | | many more benefits going for it in baits than at first |
| importance!) | | | | glance. |
| Methyl donors are an important part of bait and it is | | | | Betaine is known to cause lysis of proteins at high |
| no coincidence that liquid lecithins are also so | | | | temperatures and so part of its success is in breaking |
| effective in being choline donors. Lecithins are | | | | up proteins in heated boilies for example. This |
| probably one of the most underestimated and | | | | releases peptides and amino acids which are highly |
| under-used substances in improving bait performance, | | | | stimulatory feeding triggers to carp so adding betaine |
| bait hydration, dispersal of oils, adding key nutrition, | | | | is much more potent an additive in combination with |
| and of course improving that so very vital bait | | | | highly digestible protein ingredients in this vital respect |
| digestion too! | | | | too. (Maybe next time you sniff a boilie all this will |
| The famous carp bait additive called Robin Red (and | | | | come to mind beyond simply thinking what flavours it |
| many of its close substitutes) are well known to | | | | might contain.) |
| contain a high proportion of water-soluble sugars | | | | There is much you can do with betaine by combining |
| apart from other components like the oils and | | | | it with other substances to optimise your baits and |
| peppers and seeds etc. The highly soluble molasses | | | | their effects even if you rely on readymade baits so |
| sugar content is a big part of the success of Robin | | | | never be satisfied with your standard baits because |
| Red in opening up bait structure allowing improved | | | | further improvements and competitive edges can |
| release of bait substances even in low winter | | | | always be achieved! (For more information see my |
| temperatures. (Raw crystalline molasses are especially | | | | special website and biography right now! |