Friday, September 18, 2009

Supplements





Supplements and advertising hype! I couldn’t really say if they work or not. It is not like you feel the effects immediately like Popeye consuming a can of spinach. The only supplement where I noticed a reaction, is Creatine Monohydrate - it gives me head aches and leaves me feeling bloated. Maybe they work and maybe they don’t, I guess you can get the same benefits from a proper diet. A good documentary to watch which gives you the inside scoop and scams on supplements is “Bigger Stronger Faster”. Imagine some folks in Utah were filling capsules with flour and using slick marketing techniques to market the product as the next big muscle growth formula, using before and after pictures which were shot the same day and retouched in Adobe Photoshop. Below are a list of supplements with marketing hype obtained from the web. I have tried all of these at one time or another. Ever watch the news and some times they tell you coffee is good for you and then a couple of weeks later the same newscast tells you coffee is bad for you - depending on the sponsorers of the newscast? That is the same way supplements come across, it is a confusing hodge podge of information thrown at you.

First Endurance Optygen: The two main adaptogens in Optygen were first used by Tibetan Sherpas to help them climb Mount Everest. Optygen utilizes these unique adaptogens because clinical research (on elite endurance athletes) has shown them to increase oxygen utilization. This increases the body’s ability to adapt to high levels of physical stress, increase anaerobic threshold and reduce lactic acid.

Endurox Excel: Endurox is a natural dietary supplement that when taken as part of a normal workout regimen can increase fat metabolism and improve workout performance. Endurox is a pure standardized extract of the herb ciwujia (su wah ja). Ciwujia, a root grown in the northeast section of China, has been used safely in Traditional Chinese Medicine for almost 1700 years to treat fatigue and bolster the immune system. Ciwujia has also been used by mountain climbers to improve performance at high altitudes.

Omega 3-6-9: The Omega 3, 6 and 9 groups of fatty acids all contain essential fatty acids necessary for good health. The difference between them lies in the position of the first double bond from the methyl end or the Omega end of the carbon chain. As its name implies, the Omega 3 fatty acids have their first double bond at the 3rd position from the end of the chain, and likewise with the other two. Omega 6 has its first double bond at the 6th position from the end and Omega 9 has it at the 9th position from the end of the chain.

L-Carnitine Liquid: Carnitine, also known as L-carnitine (levocarnitine) is a quaternary ammonium compound synthesized from the amino acids lysine and methionine primarily in the liver and kidneys. It helps in the consumption and disposal of fat in the body because it is responsible for the transport of fatty acids from the cytosol into the mitochondria. It is often sold as a nutritional supplement.

Multivitamin: A multivitamin is a preparation intended to supplement a human diet with vitamins, dietary minerals and other nutritional elements. Such preparations are available in the form of tablets, capsules, pastilles, powders, liquids and injectable formulations.

Vitamin C: Vitamin C or L-ascorbic acid is an essential nutrient for humans, a large number of higher primate species, a small number of other mammalian species (notably guinea pigs and bats), a few species of birds, and some fish.

Nitric Oxide: Summary Research papers continue to flood the scientific journals with insights into the biological activity and potential clinical uses of nitric oxide (NO): a gas controlling a seemingly limitless range of functions in the body. Each revelation adds to nitric oxide's already lengthy resume in controlling the circulation of the blood, and regulating activities of the brain, lungs, liver, kidneys, stomach, gut, genitals and other organs.

B-Complex 50: The B-complex vitamins fall into the water-soluble group of vitamins and therefore need to be replenished on a daily basis. They are involved in an extremely large number of important metabolic functions in the human body, including energy production, interconversion of substances, detoxification, nerve transmission, blood formation, synthesis of proteins and fats, the production of steroid hormones, the maintenance of blood sugar levels and appetite, the toning of muscles, etc.

L-Glutamine Powder: L-Glutamine is the most abundent amino acid found in the skeletal muscle. Supplementing with L-Glutamine powder has been clinically proven to aid muscle recovery and energy repletion.

Zinc Magnesium Aspartate: ZMA is a scientifically designed anabolic mineral formula.* It contains Zinc Monomethionine Aspartate plus Magnesium Aspartate and vitamin B-6, and is an all-natural product that clinical testing suggests may significantly increase anabolic hormone levels and muscle strength in trained athletes.


BCAA Powder: Among the most beneficial and effective supplements in any sports nutrition program are branched chain amino acids. These are the essential aminos leucine, isoleucine, and valine.Although these supplements have been around for a long time and the scientific understanding in the exercise performance benefits of BCAA supplementation is rich many people don't know exactly how they exert their effects or how and when to use them properly.
Creatine Monohydrate: So, what is creatine? Our bodies naturally make the compound, which is used to supply energy to our muscles. It is produced in the liver, pancreas, and kidneys, and is transported to the body's muscles through the bloodstream. Once it reaches the muscles, it is converted into phosphocreatine (creatine phosphate). This high-powered metabolite is used to regenerate the muscles' ultimate energy source, ATP (adenosine triphosphate).

Power Bar Endurance: Powerbar Endurance Sport Drink is a great tasting lemon-lime drink mix for ideal hydration and muscle fuelling to help extend endurance. Studies show that consuming an optimal ratio of glucose and fructose sources regularly during exercise can increase the amounts of carbohydrates that can be digested, delivered to and used by working muscles during exercise by 20-55%. PowerBar Endurance Sports drink now contains C2 MAX, the same optimized ratio of glucose and fructose to help deliver more energy when you need it most.

Power Bar Recovery: Designed to decrease the downtime. Light, refreshing orange flavors create an irresistible "drive to drink". Carbs, Protein and electrolytes ideally formulated for rapid recovery

Muscle Milk Protein Powder: Muscle Milk is not actually milk, or milk derived from muscles. It is a protein powder formulated for the serious athlete or weight lifter. Protein powder is a pure source of protein formulated with lots of vitamins, minerals and without the extra calories and fat. A good protein powder is probably the best muscle-building tool you can buy.

Glyco Maize / Waxy Maize: Waxy maize carbohydrate matrix. 35 g Carbs. 35 mg Carbogen, 50 Servings. The bigger picture of carbohydrates. Whereas proteins help with muscle rebuilding, carbs refuel and replenish. Of the various types available, Waxy Maize Starch and Trehalose are two of the best. Waxy maize starches are long-chain, highly branched, exceptionally-dense complex carbohydrates that are rapidly absorbed. Trehalose is a much smaller, slower-digesting molecule comprised of two unusually linked glucose sugars. Together, these carbohydrates provide immediate and intermediate energy, top-off glycogen stores, and aid with nutrient absorption. That's why they're the foundation of our Glycomaize formula.

Clif Bar: It’s the first bar we made, and it’s still everything we’re about. Whole, all-natural, organic ingredients. Good nutrition. And great taste. Whether you’re on a 150-mile bike ride or making your way through a long day, it’s the energy bar for everyone.

Power Bar Gel: Refuel with POWERBAR® Gel, featuring POWERBAR® C2 MAX-optimized carbohydrate blend formulated with the same ratio of carb sources shown to increase endurance performance by an average of 8% in 8 trained athletes compared to glucose alone*. During strenuous exercise the body burns carbs and loses key electrolytes through sweat. POWERBAR GEL replenishes and restores those nutrients to help maintain peak performance. For best results,

Gu Energy Gel: GU sports energy gel is a favorite of triathletes, cyclists, runners and adventure racers, and endurance athletes everywhere. Used to energize you during exercise, GU energy gel increases endurance during exercise by providing your body with an energy source that helps you keep your energy stable and provides essential electrolytes that help hydrate and balance the body.

Accelerade: Accelerade from Pacific Health Labs is the first endurance sports drink that shifts the energy dynamic during exercise to improve performance. Like conventional sports drinks, Accelerade supplies the necessary carbohydrates and electrolytes for rehydrating and replenishing muscle reserves.But unlike conventional sports and energy drinks, Accelerade has the patented 4 to 1 ratio of carbohydrate to protein to speed the movement of carbohydrate into the muscle. Taken during exercise, Accelerade contains the ideal combination of simple and complex carbohydrates for rapid and sustained energy. By increasing the energy efficiency of every gram of carbohydrate, Accelerade conserves muscle glycogen and improves endurance. Studies show that, compared to a conventional sports drink, Accelerade extends endurance by 24%. And because Accelerade contains essential antioxidants, it reduces post-exercise muscle damage. Accelerade lets you train longer and harder, and you'll feel less sore afterwards.

Gatorade: Gatorade is a brand of flavored non-carbonated sports drinks manufactured by the Quaker Oats Company, now a division of PepsiCo. Intended for consumption during physically active occasions, Gatorade beverages are formulated to rehydrate and replenish fluid, carbohydrates and electrolytes.

Water: Water is a ubiquitous chemical substance that is composed of hydrogen and oxygen and is essential for all forms of life. Probably the best supplement there is.

Movie / Documentary - "Bigger Stronger Faster"

http://www.biggerstrongerfastermovie.com/


No comments: