Monthly Archives: July 2009

Natural Products for Enhancing Mood and Well Being

Acetyl-L-Carnitine supports mitochondrial energy production and enhances the production neurotransmitter acetylcholine.  Research shows Acetyl L-Carnitine has the ability to enhance brain function and exert an antidepressant effect.

 

Sam-e has been extensively studied for its antidepressant activity.  It works as a methyl donor involved in the synthesis of several neurotransmitters.  Its exact mechanism of action isn’t entirely clear, although it is suggested that Sam-e may normalize levels of specific neurons in the brain.

 

Another interesting compound is L-Theanine.  L-Theanine is a free form amino acid found almost exclusively in tea plants.  Studies suggest it can increase brain levels of serotonin, dopamine and GABA.  Clinical studies suggest L-Theanine may increase alpha wave activity, relaxing and focusing the brain without drowsiness.


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Branched Chain Amino Acid Supplements Can Improve Performance

From numerous studies it is clear that BCAA’s (Branched Chain Amino Acids) have a significant role in increasing overall conditioning factors such as aerobic and anaerobic capacities, by improving physiological markers such as: red blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, serum albumin, fasting glucose levels, a decrease in creatine phophokinase, increased glycogenesis, and even rapid alleviation of muscle inflammation. Other positive attributes associated with BCAA’s as shown by current scientific literature includes: increased muscle recovery especially after intense eccentric exercise, alleviation of short term decrements in performance commonly associated with overreaching, improvements in plasma levels of BCAA’s (often linked with fatigue), and may aid in the healing of injuries, sickness, and trauma. There may also be strength and muscle mass increases accompanied by Branched Chain Amino Acid supplementation. However, further research is needed to determine whether this is a direct or indirect effect of BCAA supplementation.

How Much Water Should you Drink?

During every day activity you should be consuming about ½ ounce of water per pound of bodyweight.  For a 160 pound individual that means 80 ounces of water.  Keep in mind coffee and other beverages do not count.

 

While exercising 24 ounces per hour is the upper limit and most people will need less unless the exercise session is very intense.  Consuming too much water can reduce exercise performance.

Curcumin for Joint and Cholesterol Health

Curcumin is an herb which is derived from Tumeric.  It is often used in food as a flavoring and has been getting attention for its ability to support joint function, reduce inflammation, and help maintain healthy cholesterol levels.  Recent studies have highlighted the ability of curcumin to support the function of collagen and cartilage cells.  A study in 2005 showed that curcumin exerted a protective effect on cartilage cells and inhibited degradation of these cells as well.  Another study showed it had a positive effect at enhancing synovial (joint fluid) cell health. 

 

Curcumin has also been shown to maintain cholesterol and lipid levels that are already normal.  In another study curcumin given to animals consuming a high fat diet had a smaller increase in lipid levels than those not consuming curcumin.

Killer Bee’s – Fat Burner Review

Killer Bee’s is a fat burner that will remind users of some of the original products that contained ephedra.  The energy from this product is intense making it a great pre-workout addition.  It also provides a good thermogenic effect as well as solid appetite control.  If you haven’t used a fat burner before this is probably not the product to start with as this formula was really designed for people who have used this type of product before. 

 

Killer Bee’s combines powerful fat burners with nootropics which improve mood, mental clarity and reduce appetite.  The idea is that the better you feel the easier it will be to stick to your diet and workout regimen.

 

Killer Bee’s blend of ingredients promotes lipid mobilization.  On the fat cell’s surface are receptors that signal the cell to hold stored fat, the natural alpha-2 antagonists in Killer Bee’s can switch off these receptors.  This frees fatty acids so they can then move out of the cells and into the bloodstream.  The extent to which exercise or calorie reduction will burn fat is totally dependant upon the rate of lipolysis.  If you want to increase your rate of fat burning you need to increase the rate of lipolysis. 

Blast the Weight Off with ROCKET FUEL

User feedback has made Rocket Fuel the go to option for healthy weight loss.  Rocket Fuel is designed to attack weight through an increase in metabolism, reduced appetite and an increase in energy levels.  Rocket Fuel uses a liquid delivery system designed for pharmaceutical use.  Pharmaceutical grade ingredients and delivery system ensure greater potency and efficacy for this product.  This product is a potent energizer so dosing should start low and can be increased as tolerance is assessed.

Rocket Fuel uses a few unique ingredients which set it apart from some of the other products in the fat burning category.  A standardized extract of cayenne is used for its thermogenic properties.  As your body heats up you expend more calories.  A unique blend of green, black and white tea ads fuel to the fire by allowing the body to break down fatty acids more efficiently promoting fat as a fuel source.  The ingredient Phenyl ethylamine reduces appetite and elevates mood helping to avoid the ups and downs associated with calorie restriction.  L-dopa from the plant Mucuna Puriens increases the level of growth hormone that is produced which will have a positive impact on body composition.  Rocket Fuel also employs a new form of Tyrosine which will naturally increase the levels of the fat burning hormones T3 and T4.

Pro Complete 40 Review

This is one of our favorite proteins and a big part of this is the taste.  This is by far one of the easiest proteins to drink on the market.  Even when mixed in water Pro Complete 40 still tastes great.  The mix ability of Pro Complete 40 is excellent; we prefer using a shaker although it is possible to mix it with a spoon.

 

This product is over 80% protein which is calculated by taking the number of protein grams per serving (40gm) and dividing it by the total serving size (50gm).  This gives you 80% for Pro Complete 40.  Because flax oil has been added to this product the starting formula comes in at over 80%.  To put this in perspective the highest available protein percentage is between 81% and 82%. 

 

Pro Complete 40 uses a blend of protein which consists of whey isolates, casein and egg proteins.  The blend is preferred by most athletes as it is the most versatile of any protein.  The whey isolates in the product will get to the muscle quickly providing a quick anabolic jolt of protein.  The casein and egg proteins are digested slowly providing a much slower release of aminos into the blood stream and into the muscle.  This has a strong anticatabolic effect.  The formula is fortified with extra glutamine and BCAA’s which are the primary amino acids needed for muscle repair and recovery.

 

Because Pro Complete 40 uses higher quality proteins it is easily digested and doesn’t cause gas or bloating which can be seen with lower grade proteins.  Flax fiber and digestive enzymes where added to further aid in digestion and protein absorption.

 

The health profile of Pro Complete is hard to top.  There are only 100 calories per 20 gram scoop with 0gm saturated fat.  Cholesterol is only 5mg and the sodium is only 17.5mg.

 

If you have not yet tried this product stop into one of our stores as this company provides us with samples for customers to try out.