Science
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Leucine: The Key Amino Acid for Bodybuilders
As an avid gym-goer, you should know not that all amino acids are created equal. Amino acids are needed by the body to recover and put on muscle, but one particular amino acid is very important to bodybuilders: leucine.Research shows that leucine is the key to activating the mTOR pathway – the pathway responsible for muscular hypertrophy – and it also stimulates other various proteins that are essential for building muscle. As well, leucine has been shown to help increase overall strength of individuals supplementing with it, as compared to those without. But that’s not all that leucine does. Leucine...
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Vitamin D
Vitamin D has been getting more notice lately, and for good reason. It has been reported that 51 to 70 percent of individuals are low on vitamin D. This isn’t good, considering how important vitamin D is to not only the general population but also athletes and bodybuilders. You might be wondering why it’s so important. Well, here are a few reasons why: Low vitamin D levels lead to irregular contractions of the muscles and inability to relax, resulting in your muscles being unable to produce as much force as they should. This means you won’t be strong as you...
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Leucine Helps Prevent Muscle Loss with Aging
Chalk one more up for leucine. As you get older, you lose muscle mass. It’s just nature. The muscle loss is because of a loss of appetite and metabolic changes that trigger muscle atrophy. Some of these metabolic changes include insulin resistance, decreased testosterone and inflammation. And we don’t want to lose muscle. Muscle loss can hinder the quality of life of all individuals, not just bodybuilders. What’s more, decreased muscle mass also increases the risk of injury. Is there anything you can do to help keep your muscles? Yes: supplement with leucine. Researchers have shown that leucine can ward...
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Your buddy, bovine lactoferrin
Supplement makers are always looking for an edge, always looking for new ways to get your attention and your supplement dollars. In the past several years, some companies have stumbled upon bovine lactoferrin, a specialized protein found in cow’s milk that’s supposed to have antibacterial power. Bodybuilders have been skeptical, and it hasn’t really caught on. That may change, because new science shows that this stuff actually works – and works well! A study has found that taking bovine lactoferrin orally can not only keep your immune system strong by killing opportunistic bacteria – like those that hang around in...
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Simple carbs can kill muscle growth
Bodybuilders need carbs – and lots of them – to get the energy needed to get big and strong. But that’s not all: Bodybuilders also need carbs to protect muscle tissue and protein from breaking down. Carbs not only supply energy but also are anti-catabolic. But not all carbs are created equal. In fact, some might cost you muscle. A study looked at the impact of carbohydrates on the cardiovascular system of young, lean, healthy test subjects. The subjects were given three meals in a random order, with each meal providing 50 grams of glucose, bread or pasta. Blood samples...
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Post-training carbs help keep you healthy
You work hard to build muscle – lots of it. But with hard work comes the risk of getting sick and an increased vulnerability to infections of opportunity, such as upper respiratory tract and ear infections. However, consuming a carbohydrate drink after your workout is a great way to help offset the hard effects of training on the immune system. A new study by researchers from the University of South Carolina tested the effects of two specific carbohydrate types on markers of immune system strength. They found that glucose and oat beta-glucan reduced susceptibility to infection following stressful exercise. FUSION...