Muscle Supplements - Using Nitric Oxide For Body Building

Every year, several new supplements are being introduced to the market. The majority of these actually do not last very long because of their obvious ineffectiveness in helping people gain more quality muscle. Bodybuilders are looking for new and natural ways to spur their body to newfound growth without the risk of adverse side effects. Nitric oxide has done just that.

Nitric oxide or NO is a free form gas that is naturally produced in the body which functions to improve communication among cells. The molecular composition of the gas is one atom of nitrogen and one atom of oxygen. The amino acid Arginine is broken down by enzymes inside the body. This process produces nitric oxide. The enzyme group is known as NOS or Nitric Oxide Synthase converting L-arginine into L-citruline. Nitric oxide has several other useful functions in the body such as regulating blood circulation, controlling and managing brain activities as well as functions of the liver, lungs, stomach, kidneys and other vital organs.

Bodybuilders have become quite interested in nitric oxide because of its blood circulation enhancing effects. Since athletes and gym enthusiasts aim to provide as much nutrients to their muscles for growth and strength as possible, nitric oxide has proven to be a great supplement especially when taken together with muscle-enhancing products like protein supplements and creatine.

More nutrients will be delivered via blood flow and absorbed by the muscles in effect making them larger and more conditioned against stress. Nitric oxide also has anti-inflammatory actions that help bodybuilders tolerate pain associated with muscle stress. This means that they can workout longer and recover faster. Hormonal actions are also affected such as regulating the release of gonadotroptin-releasing hormones and adrenaline.

A lot of health experts and bodybuilders suggest that you take nitric oxide 30 to 45 minutes before hitting the gym. This will help cause vasodilation or widening of the blood vessels to flush nutrients into your muscles. The effect would be increased endurance and tolerance to heavy weights, fuller pumps and faster recoveries. Some also find that supplementing via a post-workout drink will maximize the benefits provided by nitric oxide. You may consume 25 to 50 grams of protein, 5 to 10 grams of creatine or dextrose and 6 to 12 grams of arginine. On non-training days, bodybuilders also try to maintain maximum nutrient absorption in their muscles to aid recovery and tissue repair and growth by consuming more nitric oxide.

Take note that exercise boosts the effect of nitric oxide output. Whatever muscle you're working becomes more flushed as it fills up with blood thereby causing nutrients to flow in and be absorbed. Exercise increases ROS or reactive oxygen species and PNS or peroxynitrite species production that can inhibit protein synthesis and impair insulin effectiveness. Ingestion of anti-oxidants will help support nitric oxide and prevent its degradation such as vitamin E and C, selenium, grape seed polyphenols and lipoic acid. Folic acid is also good in supporting the conversion process of transforming arginine into nitric oxide.

Is BS NO Xplode Safe For Young Teenagers?

Bodybuilding is often seen as an adults-only routine. And most of them are very much open about taking body building supplements for added strength, energy, ad the ability to build more muscles quickly. However, many are not aware that majority of the teens are in fact more physically active than adults. A lot of teenagers do sports like track and field, dancing, football, cheer leading, and the like. And these teenagers who are competitive and are participative in contact sports, also need to work out and strengthen their muscles the way adults do. So a lot of people question, are dietary supplements such as the BS NO Xplode safe for teenagers to take?

Teenagers may be fortunate to have more time to eat and mothers who are willing to prepare healthy meals for them. However, as young and active as they are, they too could suffer a form of deficiency from proteins, energy, and other nutrients, thereby experiencing weakness and fatigue. Well, the BS NO Xplode is a supplement they can take if they're at least 16 years of age. The BS NO Xplode supplies the body with energy that teens may use for physical excursions. So teens who are 16 years old or above are permitted to use the supplement as they are at the peak of growth and are most active in this phase.

The BS NO Xplode is safe to drink because it is basically a creative supplier for the body. Creatine is a nitrogen filled organic acid that naturally occurs in the body. It gives the body added energy through Adenosine Triphosphate generation. So taking the supplement is only increasing what your body already has or may lack of. With added creatine, teenagers can lift more weights and do more exercises at the gym. And with that they get to bulk on more muscles. The supplement also constitutes the Muscle Volumizing Creatine Matrix. It cause the muscles to expand for added room for creatine and other increased volumizing nutrients. As long as teenagers are sure to utilize these through work outs and intense exercises, then there's no harm in taking them.

Soy Versus Whey Protein for Muscle Building

If you visit a muscle building forum, you will undoubtedly see a few threads full of people arguing about the pros and cons of soy versus whey protein for muscle building purposes. So in this article, I'm going to try and sort it out once and for all. It's a pretty simple issue really, so it won't take long to get to the truth.

The Biological Value indicates both how digestible the protein is and how available the protein is for use by the body. Biological value began as a percentage - A whole egg rated at 100% nitrogen absorbed. According to the study conducted by a medical doctor by the name of Aaron Tabor, soy protein versus whey protein has a bigger advantage especially when it comes to your exercise.

Basically, there are a couple of different protein powders. Whey protein is derived from cows milk. Remember that old nursery rhyme, Incy Wincy Spider Well that mentions curds and whey. Basically two parts of milk. Whey protein is obviously taken from the whey part of the milk.

Then theres soy protein. This is the stuff that is made from soy products. Obviously comes from a different place so it will obviously have different properties. The question you want answered is, which is better for muscle building

My answer to this question is whey protein. The answer can get quite involved when you look at it from a scientific point of view, but I'm not a scientist, I'm a bodybuilder, so I'm going to look at it from a bodybuilders point of view.

Basically, it has been shown in various scientific studies that soy protein can lead to higher levels of estrogen in the body. This is the female hormone and something that you don't want to have more of if you are looking at building muscle.

Firstly, you don't want estrogen because it has no role in muscle building, it only has a negative impact. Heightened levels of estrogen is what actually causes gynocomastia, or man boobs. And I'm not just talking about the little bit of fat that some guys have, I'm talking about actually growing small amounts of breast tissue.

On the other hand, whey protein can actually cause your body to become more anabolic. Meaning it will build muscle more efficiently. And since you are looking to use whey protein for muscle building, this is the one you want to choose.

So there you go, the debate can finally be ended and you can get rid of that tub of soy protein you have sitting in your cupboard.

Hydrolyzed Collagen, Protein Hydrate

Protein Hydrate is a Hydrolyzed Collagen that helps regulate the body's metabolic state by providing enzymatically digested collagen of a low molecular weight that is rapidly absorbed in the digestive tract. It provides important amino acids often missing in most diets. Normal food sources provide significant amounts of trytophan, cysteine, methionine, and histidine, however the Protein Hydrate formula has high amounts of glycine, lysine, and proline that are often found in low amounts or are even missing in other food sources or supplements. Protein Hydrate becomes important as a dietary supplement (along with a normal diet of other proteins) since age induced wear and tear of the connective tissues increases as we age.

This Protein Hydrate contains high levels of the amino acid glycine, which helps the Liver detoxify stored chemicals. It has also been helpful in speeding recovery from injuries.

This formula is an animal based Hydrolyzed Collagen protein powder from grass fed cows which contains biologically active peptides. This protein formula works best when taken on an empty stomach away from food, and then waiting 20-30 minutes before eating anything. It can be mixed with juice or warm tea, and it is absorbed fastest when it's not mixed with other fluids that contain proteins or amino acids.

Hydrolyzed Collagen is exceptional because it has a molecular weight less than 1000, and this low weight results in extremely rapid absorption from the intestinal tract.

The rapid speed of absorption and the distinctive spectrum of amino acids in this formula has a positive impact on a large number of metabolic pathways. It has been found that many people will experience immediate positive effects within 5-18 minutes of consumption when taken on an empty stomach. For example, tests have been done with a number of individuals using 2 tablespoons of the proprietary formula mixed in juice, and some of the effects noticed within 15 minutes of consumption include: improved mental alertness, mental clarity, concentration, and energy. Some people have experienced a short period of dizziness of 3-5 minutes because it causes a sudden release of brain neurotransmitters, however it is not dangerous and passes quickly.

Long term effects : supports repair of musculoskeletal injuries, reduces inflammation, improves hydration of the connective tissues of the body, improves joint flexibility, improves signal induction, improves sleep, reduces pain, improves cellular calcium uptake, increases metabolic rate, and improves the quality of hair and nails.

Many athletes and body builders take protein supplements regularly to support muscle repair and growth, however most protein supplements do not contain the raw materials needed by the body to repair corresponding connective tissue damage. Protein Hydrate Hydrolyzed Collagen taken as a food supplement provides the proper ratios of amino acids needed for collagen production. In addition, hydrolyzed collagen contains naturally occurring glucosamine and hyaluronic acid which supports connective tissue repair as well as providing hydrating and volumizing effects due to the natural ability of connective tissues to hold water.

Roland Moskowitz, M.D., notes that partially hydrolyzed collagen has been used as a food for at least a millenium. Collagen hydrolysate products are considered GRAS i.e., Generally Regarded as Safe, by the Food and Drug Administration. Collagen hydrolysate is now being used in the treatment of osteoarthritis, and osteoporosis. The fact that it is considered to be a food with a high level of safety makes it useful for long term use.

What is the function of Collagen and why do we need Hydrolyzed Collagen? Due to the limited food choices in our diets and the wear and tear that occurs with strenuous activity and aging, many people become depleted of the important amino acids needed to make Collagen. This can be a significant problem in individuals involved in strenuous physical activity such as athletes and construction workers.

Collagen is the most abundant fibrous protein found in the body, but in a dietary supplement unprocessed collagen is not digestible. Protein Hydrate provides predigested collagen that contains both free amino acids as well as peptide fragments (smaller chains of amino acids) that are rapidly absorbed through the walls of the intestine into the blood stream. These components are used by the body to build structures and to regulate the functions of the cells. Up to 30% of all the protein in the body is collagen, and up to 70% of the proteins in the connective tissues are composed of collagen. In the body, collagen is made by specialized cells in the skin, ligaments, bones and cartilage. The protein Hydrate formula also provides additional amounts of the amino acids glycine and glutamine. Glucine supports detoxification and glutamine helps the cells increase their levels of the energy storage molecule creatine.

How does it work?

The body's natural ability to repair supporting connective tissue (bone, joints, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, skin, hair and nails), an maintain hydration of the cells diminishes after age 25. Hydrolyzed collagen provides the missing link in supplying additional amounts of amino acids like glycine, lysine, and proline which are specifically needed by the body to build connective tissue structures, and to regulate the functions of the cells. Therefore, free amino acids and small peptides in Protein Hydrate provide the advantages of easy digestion, rapid absorption, as well as metabolic regulatory effects.

What are the benefits?

In addition to providing certain missing nutritional links lacking in most dietary supplements, it provides the specific amino acid building blocks needed to build and repair collagen.

For Athletes and Body Builders: it supports muscle growth, increases metabolism, and provides structural material and nutrients needed for the repair of injuries (cartilage, ligaments, tendons, bones and discs).

Anti-Aging: it provides a positive nitrogen balance which is important in the nutritional support of age relayed degeneration like collagen loss and cartilage damage. It is an excellent food product for individuals with a sedentary lifestyle, as well as the very active.

Inflammation: it provides nutritional support for individuals predisposed to repetitive joint injury, pain and joint discomfort.

Arthritis, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis: it contains amino acids needed for bone and joint health.

Skin tone: it provides critical nutrients, and helps support skin strength, texture, as well as thickness. Healthy skin retains moisture better, and is more elastic, and less prone to develop fine lines and wrinkles.

Hair: it provides nutritional support for healthy hair.

Nails: it provides nutritional building blocks for strong nails.

Weight loss: many users have more energy which promotes a more active lifestyle, thereby promoting weight loss.

Muscle tone and Strength are supported.

Exposure to Toxic substances: the high glycine content of the formula assists the detoxification process of the liver.

Tissue hydration is supported.

In addition many users report feeling more alert with improved concentration, balanced mood, improved energy and an increased sense of well-being.

Nutritional Supplements to Gain Weight - 4 Easy Tips

For those of us who do not have a hard time gaining weight and it sort of comes natural to us do not know what it is like for those that can not. For the person that is has an ectomorphic body type it can be very difficult to gain weight. The big reason for this is because their bodies easily burn all food intake. Sometimes nutritional supplements to gain weight can really spike increases and satisfy your hunger to get bigger. What is an ectomorphic body type?

- Hard to gain weight
- Delicate body
- Usually flat chest
- Lean
- Lightly muscled
- Thin
- Very fast metabolism

Now there are many people that think they can not gain weight but do not realize that they are ecto-mesomorphs. This body type can respond to gaining weight if done correctly. Here are 4 easy to follow tips that are the most important to anyone trying to gain weight.

1. The most obvious is diet, and by diet I mean that you must have a plan in place utilizing proper food intake and balance of all types of food with huge increases in protein and calories. Most people, when they hear the word diet, they think of less eating, when in reality a diet is just a food plan of any kind.

2. Included in the diet, should be nutritional supplements to gain weight such as proteins and weight gainers. If using just protein, it will help fuel the muscles and eventually build more muscle. Muscle weight way more than fat so it makes sense the you would gain weight. Weight gainers will help you even further because not only do they have the protein, but they are also packed with calories. In some cases triple or more of what you would get in a normal meal! So definitely the using nutritional supplements to gain weight are very important.

3. The third tip is to exercise and lift weights. Spend a lot of time in the gym or working out with you home gym to help gain muscle mass. You can take all the protein in the world but will not see it work for your body if you do not lift weights. You have to tear the muscle fibers in order to build new ones.

4. And finally, rest is very important to any changes in your body. The human body responds well when it is in prime condition. This is when it has had enough sleep and days off from exercise. Your will actually do most of your gaining in your sleep, so get plenty of it.

Overall, you must include nutritional supplements to gain weight. This will give you the extra boost and edge. It will speed up the gain. One more tip is that it is not about gorging yourself with any type of food; it is about eating many of the right foods including weight gainers, proteins, fruits and vegetables. These tips should get you started on the right path to gaining more weight and muscle.

Benefits of Protein Supplements

Advantages of Protein Supplement

Protein is an important nutrient needed by the body. It is one of the three nutrients that the body uses as energy source. The three supplements are carbs, fats and protein. Protein is actually amino acids linked like a chain. Amino acids are the body's primary source of nitrogen and the right nitrogen balance is essential for proper growth and repair of the muscles.

Protein is also important to the body for a number of other reasons apart from helping to build muscles. Protein helps to maintain the right blood PH level, creates and maintains the right hormone levels, is an energy source, regulates the fluid balance of the body and is necessary for chemical reactions to take place in the body.

The importance of protein to the proper functioning of the body led to the development of various types of protein bodybuilding supplements such as Whey Protein. Supplements are designed to help meet up with the body's protein requirement. Made from protein extracts, it compliments the protein gotten from daily food intake and builds the body's protein levels to what is needed for larger muscles or better performance.

How Protein Affects Muscle Growth

Increasing your protein intake during a training program will help you achieve better and faster results. Your body is constantly using up protein as you go about your daily activities. The body converts protein to energy and also uses it to repair and replace muscles. Muscle tissues are constantly needing replacement and repairs and protein is needed to achieve this. When you take bodybuilding supplements you help your body to maintain a positive nitrogen balance, which helps to maximize muscle repairs.

When you do not take in enough protein, you confuse the body because it does not have all the needed materials to work with. Without enough protein your body cannot replace or repair all the muscle tissues that need attention. This will lead to muscle loss and will affect other body functions that require protein. For example, the body will have problems maintaining proper hormone and PH levels.

If you are involved with bodybuilding training or any form of sports that require high levels of energy your muscles would more regularly be in need of repair and replacement. That is why weight lifters, body builders and sport people need more protein. To help maintain proper protein and nitrogen levels, you would need to take bodybuilding supplements such as Whey Protein.

The Role of Nutrition in Martial Arts, Police & Military Personnel

For a considerable amount of time, nutrition has not played a prominent role in the life of many martial artists, police, and military personnel as a means of improving performance. Top athletes are always looking for an edge. Although the martial arts are more of a way of life and a life style than a sport per se, the needs of the martial artist are the same as that of the elite athlete.

Mental aspects not withstanding (i.e. mental awareness, strategy, cunning, etc.), the need for speed, agility, strength, flexibility, and the ability to recuperate from tough workouts (and unforgiving sparing partners) is paramount to the success of athletes and martial artists alike. Police and military personnel can also have unique requirements that require them to perform at peak physical and or psychological levels.

Over the past decade our knowledge of sports nutrition has evolved into a science that has swept the athletic world and has been partially responsible for the ever increasing numbers of athletes who are pushing the envelope of human ability and performance. Although a handful of the worlds top martial artists, police, and elite military units have taken advantage of the 'cutting edge' nutrition being used by top athletes, the majority of these communities has not taken advantage of the new science of sports nutrition.

The advantage of improving one's performance through nutrition and correct supplementation is obvious for the athlete, but what about the martial artist? Obviously technique, form, and knowledge of one's chosen martial art is essential to the mastery of that art, but what if the person, regardless of skill level, becomes a little faster, stronger, and able to resist and repair from injuries and training better?

Will they not be an improved version of their former self? Of course they will! Proper nutrition can make the martial artist, as it has for so many of today's top athletes, an improved and potentially more accomplished practitioner of their art, plain and simple. If a policeman is able to stay alert, has more endurance or strength, etc., will he/she not have an added advantage to the job? Of course.. The benefits to the soldier are obvious. Bottom line? To not take advantage of the science of nutrition and supplementation, is to short change the martial artists, police, and military personnel.

As a trainer for many athletes from various sports, police, and, military personnel, and the author of numerous articles on sports nutrition and training, I have come to a few general guidelines that should be of considerable help and interest to the martial artist, police, etc. who want to improve both health and performance. Though nutrition is a complex topic, I have devised a basic guide to the major and minor nutrients that should be helpful to the martial artist, police, and athlete alike who are trying to make food and nutrient choices. Of course this guide is in no way total or complete, and many individual differences may apply, but as a basic guide to examining these nutrients, it could give you the edge you have been looking for.

Protein

Proteins are made up of amino acids which are the structural units of the protein molecule. There are approximately 20 amino acids. Eight of them are considered 'essential' because the human body cannot make them on its own - which is the definition of an essential nutrient. Link a few amino acids together and you get a peptide. Link a bunch of peptides together and you get a protein. The shape of the individual amino acids (and resulting proteins) is unique and highly specific, so I won't go into great detail about it here.

Suffice it to say, proteins are an essential part of virtually every function in our body from the muscles, to certain hormones, to our immune system(s) and a whole lot more. In particular, the amino acids known as the 'branched chain' amino acids (leucine, isoleucine, and valine) and the amino acid L-glutamine are of particular interest to active people as they are anti-catabolic (muscle sparing) and immune enhancing, to name only a few functions and benefits of these particular amino acids.

Though the RDA for protein is generally sufficient for couch potatoes (with some debate) the majority of athletes and/or highly active people will benefit from higher intakes of high quality proteins. Proteins with the highest biological value (BV) are the proteins that should constitute the majority of the active person's diet, as they are superior for maintaining positive nitrogen balance, reducing recuperation time from workouts, improving immune function, etc.

Whey protein concentrate (WPC) and isolates (WPI) have the highest BV of any protein, is almost 50% branched chain amino acids, and is high in L-glutamine, which is why I recommend several servings a day of WPC/WPI to all the athletes/martial artists/police I work with.

There are several brands of WPC/WPI on the market. Other high quality proteins such as skinless chicken, fish, eggs, soy, and lean red meats, have relatively high BV values and are good proteins. Another point that is important to know, the higher quality the protein, the less the person has to eat and this allows the person to keep total calories lower by sticking to these high BV proteins.

For a person who is active in the martial arts, has a busy job, and probably does some weight lifting and/or aerobics, an intake of.7?.8 grams of protein per pound of lean body weight is what I have generally recommended. For high level bodybuilders and competitive distance athletes, the protein intake will be higher, approximately 1g of protein per lb /bodyweight being the most common.

In certain situations, amino acid supplementation is useful, but most people will have no problem getting what they need by eating plenty of high quality protein foods. Low grade, high fat, preservative loaded, protein foods such as luncheon meats, hot dogs, etc., should be avoided for obvious reasons.

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are made primarily of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms that cycle into a ring. They can be 'simple' or 'complex' depending on the number of rings that are hooked together and the way the carbohydrate effects blood sugar (1). Though the rings can be slightly different in shape, their common theme is the ring structure. Similar to amino acids that make up proteins, when you link the simple units (the sugars) together you get carbohydrates with different properties.

As most people know, carbohydrates are a primary source of energy for the body. The best type of carbohydrates to eat are those that are high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

Though foods such as pasta, breads, and white rice are considered 'complex' they are highly processed foods, totally inadequate in fiber, vitamins, and minerals and should not make up a high percentage of a persons carbohydrate intake. Though these foods are often fortified with certain vitamins, in my opinion this does not truly replace what is lost during processing, not to mention the many nutrients that are not replaced.

Americans are notoriously low eaters of fiber, and heavily processed foods mentioned above do nothing to correct this deficit. High fiber carbohydrate foods such as brown rice, beans, lentils, oatmeal, sweet potatoes, and many others, are the preferred carbohydrate foods for health, performance, steady blood sugar levels, and reduced bodyfat levels.

Though the high carbohydrate/low fat diet is all the rage these days, it has not been in my experience the optimal diet for the many athletes, martial artists, and?normal? people I have worked with (see fats below). Data continues to support the fact that high carb low fat diets are not optimal for either health for weight loss. Eating too much of anything, including carbohydrates, will make one fat (too bad the makers of non-fat foods fail to tell you this) and cause a host of other ills I don't have the space here to cover.

There are many researchers, books, and studies using both animals and humans that seriously questions the high carbohydrate/low fat diet as the optimal diet for health and performance. Two grams per pound of lean bodyweight of carbohydrates is more than sufficient to fuel the energy needs of most athletes if other aspects of their diet is adequate (i.e. correct use and amounts of certain fats and proteins). And, as mentioned previously, the source of those carbohydrates is of paramount importance.

Fats

The very word sends a shiver down the back of the leanest person. There is not a more misunderstood nutrient in all of nutrition than fats. Many people know there are big differences in how various carbohydrates effect the body and some people even know that different proteins have different properties, but 'a fat is a fat, no'? is what the majority of people would say if you asked them about this much maligned nutrient.

Fats have just as many biochemical differences in the human body as do carbohydrates and proteins, and thus have just as many different effects on the body that range from very good to very bad. It really depends on the type and amount of fat(s) we eat(2). Americans tend to get their dietary fats from saturated fats, rancid fats, and highly processed fats ( which contain by products such as trans fatty acids), thus giving fats a bad name.

As mentioned earlier, an essential nutrient is anything the human body cannot manufacture on its own and must be obtained from the diet, or the person will become sick and/or perish if the nutritional deficit is not corrected. We know there are a multitude of vitamins and minerals, eight amino acids, and two types of fats that are considered essential nutrients for life itself to continue.

You should be aware that there is no such thing as an essential carbohydrate, but that's a whole other story. The two fats that are known to be essential to health are Linoleic acid (LA) which is an Omega-6 fatty acid and Alpha-linolenic acid (LNA) which is an Omega-3 fatty acid. Both of these fats can be found in various foods that have not been heavily processed.

These two fats are highly sensitive and reactive to heat, light, and oxygen (i.e. they go bad quickly), and are totally ruined or lost during the processing of our foods. The reason poly -unsaturated vegetable oils that line the shelves of most super markets can sit there for years on end is because they have been heated, deodorized, and generally processed to the point that they are the nutritional equivalent of white bread and table sugar. I recommend people avoid those oils.

Because of all the fat bashing by the popular media and health professionals who should know better, most people have come away thinking that all fat is bad and serves no other purpose than to make our hips and stomach wider while ruining our health. Nothing could be further from the truth. The membrane that surrounds every single cell in your body, the sheath around nerves, various hormones, prostaglandins, and countless other parts of the body (especially the brain) depend on the dietary intake of the right fats.

The importance of the essential fatty acids for health and performance cannot be understated. It is true that certain fats, such as, saturated fats, rancid fats, and trans fatty acids (found in margarine, Crisco, and other products), can cause numerous health problems from heart disease to cancer and insulin resistance, to name only a few ills of a diet high in the wrong types of fat.

However, the essential fatty acids (especially the Omega-3 fatty acids) are anti-lipolytic (stop fat storage), anti-catabolic (stop the break down of muscle tissue), increase metabolic rate and beta oxidation (burn calories/increase fat burning), improve insulin sensitivity, reduce the chances of heart diseases, and a whole lot more (3).

Though early research told us that we need a bit more LA (the Omega-6 fatty acid) than LNA (the Omega-3 fatty acid) in our diet, we find in practice that a diet containing higher amounts of Omega-3 fatty acids (LNA) gets the best results in health, bodyfat levels, and performance.

The richest source of the Omega-3 fatty acid LNA is Flax oil, which also contains a small amount of the Omega-6 oil LA (4). Flax oil can be found in the refrigerated section of any good health food store and is derived from the careful processing of flax seeds (5). As a nutritional consultant to various athletes, I have used flax oil with many of the country's top bodybuilders (a group of athletes notoriously fearful of eating fat) to reduce their bodyfat levels and improve their performance and health. Two/three tablespoons a day over a salad, taken straight, or in a protein drink does the trick (6).

Another major source of Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in deep water cold fish such as sardines, mackerel, and salmon (7), and I recommend that people eat two to three servings of these fish per week. Good sources of LA are unprocessed vegetable oils such as safflower, sunflower, sesame, and many other oils found in health food stores.

Fats to avoid are highly processed vegetable oils and other processed vegetable products (such as margarine), rancid fats, and to a lesser degree, saturated fats. The key to health and performance is a proper balance of essential fatty acids (LNA and LA), mono unsaturated oils (found in olive oil, avocados, etc.), and small amounts of saturated fats found in lean meats and other sources combined with the right carbohydrates and proteins.

Vitamins/Minerals

Obviously a full description of every vitamin and mineral and all their functions would take several large text books, so I won't even attempt it here. A good multi vitamin is an insurance plan to make sure we get all the major vitamins and minerals that for what ever reason we failed to get from our food on any given day.

There is not a single cell in our entire body that does not require the use, or interaction with, some vitamin, mineral, or biological function that is dependent on the above nutrients in adequate amounts. If you think we get all the vitamins and minerals we need from our highly processed food supply (as some health professionals maintain), then I have a bridge in Brooklyn I would like to sell you. Some (but not all) nutritionists and other health related professionals will often say something like 'vitamins supplements just cause expensive urine'.

The last time I checked, chemo therapy, heart bypass operations, and hundreds of other medical treatments cost considerably more than the average multi vitamin. If the intake of vitamins were to prevent any major disease in say one out of a 100,000 people, it would have been worth every cent in my book. In my opinion, the correct use of vitamins, minerals, herbs, essential fatty acids, and many other nutritional based compounds, is the best route to optimal health and performance. Any major brand of multi vitamin from such manufacturers as Twin Lab, Solgar, or Nature's Best, to name only a few good brands, would be fine.

Anti - oxidants

'Anti-oxidants' and 'free radicals' are the hot buzz words these days on television news shows, news paper articles, and magazine features. Though scientists in the health and nutritional fields have known about them for decades, they have recently been getting a lot of attention by mainstream media and more open minded medical researchers.

Anti-oxidants are a special class of vitamins and other non vitamin compounds that neutralize free radicals before they can damage cells in our body. What is a free radical? A free radical is a highly reactive molecular fragment that has a single unpaired electron. The unpaired electron wants to?pair up? with another electron.

The free radical will steal this electron from virtually anything it comes in contact with, including our cells. This reaction, if left unchecked, leads to a free radical chain reaction and damage to various parts of the cell depending on where it takes place. An anti-oxidant can donate an electron without itself becoming a free radical and thus can break the chain of events leading to an uncontrolled free radical chain reaction (8).

Free radical pathology is now believed to be linked to diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and dozens of other afflictions. Without going into a long (and boring) biochemical explanation, there are many things that cause free radicals to be released, such as smoking, exposure to various toxins found in air, food and water, sickness, exercise, and stress in general.

Anti-oxidants such as vitamin E and C and other compounds such as selenium, N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), and proanthocyanidins (derived from grape seed extract), to mention a few, will help recuperation from tough workouts, improve immunity, possibly prevent certain diseases, and improve your health in so many different ways it would take another article to explain. A good anti-oxidant formula made by any one of the brands I mentioned previously, should be added to the diet in addition to the multi- vitamin. Whey proteins can also greatly improve anti oxidants status and is recommended.

Sports Supplements:

The topic of sports nutrition supplements, such as: androstenedione and other?andros,? Arginine, Colostrum, CLA, Creatine, Ecdysterone, GH Supplements, Ginseng, HMB, Myostatin Inhibitors and Tribulus, to name just a few, is beyond the scope of this article. Each supplement has its potential uses, dawbacks, doses and other variables that need to be examoned on an indavidual basis. People in the martial arts, law enforecement, or military that want to understand these supplements; whether or not they are worth useing, doses, types, etc., should consider reading my ebook on the topic of sports nutrition supplements, nutrition, and training called Muscle Building Nutrition.

Conclusion

The above list of foods and supplements is in no way complete or the entire picture when it comes to additional ways the martial artist, police, and military personnel can improve his or her health, strength, bodyfat levels, and recuperative abilities. However, the information presented here can make for a foundation of health and performance that could add a considerable edge for those who seeks it.

If you want to learn more about training, supplements, nutrition, and other topics essential to law enforcement/military performance and health, check out OptimalSWAT and the Practical Applied Stress Training (P.A.S.T) program designed to take tactical LE to the next level.

Notes

(1)The way a carbohydrate effects blood sugar after it is eaten is known as the glycemic response. The glycemic index (GI) is a list of foods and how they effect blood sugar. Some foods we think of as 'complex' actually raise blood sugar much faster than many foods we think of as 'simple'.

(2) The health problems related to fats is are far more complex than most people appreciate. The pathology of disease(s) caused by high fat intakes of the wrong types of fat is a complex interaction between certain fats, carbohydrates, a lack of certain vitamins and other nutrients, free radical/anti-oxidant mechanisms, and other factors that are poorly understood.

(3) For more information on the many benefits of the essential fatty acids and to find out more information about fats and health in general, read?Fats the Heal fats that Kill? by Dr. Udo Erasmus published by Alive books.

(4) LNA and LA are in a 4:1 ratio in flax oil.

(5) Like fresh eggs, milk, meat, etc, all fresh unprocessed oils will spoil (go rancid) if not refrigerated constantly and eaten shortly after opening the bottle.

(6) All highly unsaturated oils, including flax, should NEVER be used to cook with as this will change the structure of theses oils making them toxic and of little use for the purpose they are intended for.

(7) The 'fish oils' DHA and EPA can be formed in the human body from LNA by desaturase enzymes.

(8) It is important to note that free radical reactions are a normal and essential part of metabolism. It is the uncontrolled free radical chain reactions that we are concerned with.

Bodybuilding Diet and Nutrition Advice - Bodybuilding Nutrition and Diet Basics

Introduction

A key component of the formula for bodybuilding success is nutrition. Nutrition is what gives us the raw materials for recuperation, energy, and growth. Without a good diet, your dreams of achieving your ideal body will never be reached.

In this article I'll discuss the characteristics of a good bodybuilding diet and also cover the macronutrients that we need on a daily basis, as well as how much, in order to gain muscle and lose fat.

Characteristics of a Good Nutrition Program

1) It should favor smaller and frequent feedings throughout the day instead of large and infrequent ones. Why? Because when you feed your body several times a day, your metabolism increases. Therefore, you burn more fat. Frequent feedings are of particular importance since after three to four hours of no food your body switches to a catabolic state (a state in which you lose muscle and gain fat!).

The body believes that it is starving and it starts feeding itself on lean muscle tissue and it prepares to store calories as fat. Bad scenario! Therefore, in order for your program to work, you will eat between four to six meals (depending gender and goals) a day spaced out at 2 to 3 hour intervals.

2)Every meal should have carbohydrates, protein and fat in the correct ratios. Having a meal that is not balanced (for example is all carbohydrates) won't yield the desired results. Every macronutrient has to be present in order for the body to absorb them and use them properly. Without boring you with the effect of food on the body's biochemistry, let's just say that if you only eat carbohydrates in one meal without anything else, your energy levels will crash in about 30 minutes and your body will be storing any carbohydrates that were not used into fat. Conversely, if you only eat protein, you will lack energy and your body will not be able to turn the protein into muscle because it is difficult for the body to absorb protein in the absence of carbohydrates. In addition, the ratios for each particular macronutrient have to be correct in order to get the results that you want. The ratio of our diet will look like the following:

40% Carbohydrates

40% Protein

20% Fats

Note that for every serving of carbohydrates, you get a serving of Protein. You can use Bill Phillips' Method of creating meals which is to count a portion of carbohydrates as the amount of food the size of your clenched fist and a portion of protein as the amount of food the size of your open palms.

3) The calories should be cycled. I strongly believe in caloric cycling as this will not allow the metabolism to get used to a certain caloric level; something that leads to stagnant results.

Therefore, bodybuilders in search of just muscle mass should follow 5 days of high calories (lean body mass x 15) with two days of lower caloric intake (lean body mass x12). Bodybuilders in search of losing fat while building muscle at the same time should follow 5 days of lower caloric intake (lean body mass x12) with 2 days of higher calories (lean body mass x 15).

Note: If you build muscle and lose fat at the same time you will not gain muscle as fast as you would if you just concentrated in muscle mass. However, you get to get both goals accomplished at the same time.

People interested in body sculpting (which is moderate muscle building with enough fat loss to go down to 10% body fat for males and 12-13% for women) should alternate between two weeks of lower calories (around 2000 for men and 1200 for women) and two weeks of higher calories (around 2500 for men and 1500 for women). These caloric intakes assume a normal activity level that only includes body sculpting training. Those of you involved in activities like marathon running or heavy physical labor jobs need to adjust your calories upwards accordingly mainly in the form of carbohydrates in order to support your higher levels of activity.

What's a Diet?

While the word "diet" brings these images of pain and starvation to most people's mind, a diet is simply the food choices that you make on a daily basis. So if you eat potato chips and sodas all day long, that is your diet.

Regardless of which diet you follow, there are 3 macronutrients that are present in one way or the other in all of them. Understanding what role these nutrients play, how to obtain them, and how much to consume of them on a daily basis will lead you to the bodybuilding and fitness results you have been looking for.

Bodybuilding Nutrition Basics

There are 3 macronutrients that the human body needs in order to function properly. These macronutrients make up your bodybuilding and/or fitness diet.

1) Carbohydrates:

Carbohydrates are your body's main source of energy. When you ingest carbohydrates your pancreas releases a hormone called insulin. Insulin is very important because:

A) On a very simplistic level, it takes the carbohydrates and either stores them in the muscle or stores them as fat (assuming that the carbohydrates are not needed for energy at the moment and assuming that both the muscles and the liver stores are full).

B) It takes the amino acids (protein) and delivers them inside the muscle cell for recovery and repair.

Most people that are overweight and are in low fat/high carbohydrate diets got into that condition because they are eating an overabundance of carbohydrates. Too many carbohydrates cause a huge release of insulin. When there is too much insulin in the body, your body turns into a fat storing machine.

Therefore, it is important that we eat no more carbohydrates than necessary and that we eat the right amount of carbohydrates.

Now that we have talked about the importance of having just the right amount of carbohydrates, let's talk about which are the best sources of carbohydrates.

Carbohydrates are divided into complex carbohydrates and simple carbohydrates. The complex carbohydrates give you sustained energy ("timed release") while the simple carbohydrates gives you immediate energy. It is recommended that you eat mainly complex carbohydrates throughout the day except after the workout where your body needs simple carbohydrates in order to replenish its glycogen levels immediately, something that will aid faster recuperation and rebuild of the muscle. Below is a list of good sources of carbohydrates:

Complex Carbohydrates:

There are two types:

1) Starchy: Oatmeal (1 cup dry), sweet potatoes (8 oz baked), potatoes (8 oz baked), rice (1 cup cooked), pasta (8oz cooked), corn (1 cup canned), peas (2 cups cooked). Each serving approximately equals 40-50 grams of carbohydrates.

2) Fibrous: Broccoli (1/2 cup raw), carrots (1 cup raw), cauliflower (1/2 cup raw), green beans (1/2 cup raw), lettuce (5 cups raw), mushrooms (3/4 cups raw), pepper (1/2 cup raw), spinach (3-1/2 cups raw), zucchini (1 cup raw). Each serving approximately equals 6 grams of carbohydrates.

Simple Carbohydrates:

Apples (1 apple), bananas (1 banana), grapefruit (1 grapefruit), grapes (22 grapes), oranges (1-1/2 orange), pears (1 pear), pineapple (3/4 of a cup).
Each serving approximately equals 20-25 grams of carbohydrates.

2) Protein

Every tissue in your body is made up from protein (i.e., muscle, hair, skin, and nails). Proteins are the building blocks of muscle tissue. Without it, building muscle and burning fat efficiently would be impossible. Its importance is paramount. Protein also helps increase your metabolism every time you eat it by 20%! It also makes the carbohydrates timed release, so you get sustained energy throughout the day.

Everybody that is involved in a weight training program should consume between 1 gram of protein to 1.5 grams of protein per pound of lean body mass (meaning that if you are 100 lbs. And have 10% body fat, you should consume at least 90 g of protein since your lean body mass = 90 lbs.). Nobody should consume more than 1.5 grams per pound of lean body mass as this is unnecessary and the extra protein may get turned into fat.

Good examples of protein are eggs (I use Egg Substitute: 1-1/2 cups liquid), chicken breast (cooked, skinless and boneless: 6 oz), turkey (cooked, skinless and boneless: 6 oz), lean (90% lean) red meats (6 oz), and tuna (6 oz). Each serving size equals approximately 35-40 grams of protein.

3) Healthy Fats

All the cells in the body have some fat in them. Hormones are manufactured from fats. Also fats lubricate your joints. So if you eliminate the fat from your diet, then your hormonal production will go down and a whole array of chemical reactions will be interrupted. Your body will then start accumulating more body fat than usual so that it has enough fat to keep on functioning. Since testosterone production is halted, so is muscle building. Therefore, in order to have an efficient metabolism we need fat.

There are three types of fats: Saturated, polyunsaturated, and monounsaturated.

a) Saturated Fats: Saturated fats are associated with heart disease and high cholesterol levels. They are found to a large extent in products of animal origin. However, some vegetable fats are altered in a way that increases the amount of saturated fats in them by a chemical process known as hydrogenation. Hydrogenated vegetable oils are generally found in packaged foods. In addition, cocunut oil, palm oil, and palm kernel oil, which are also frequently used in packaged foods and non-dairy creamers are also highly saturated.

b) Polyunsaturated Fats: Fats that do not have an effect in cholesterol levels. Most of the fats in vegetable oils, such as corn, cottonseed, safflower, soybean, and sunflower oil are polyunsaturated.

c) Monounsaturated Fats: Fats that have a positive effect on the good cholesterol levels. These fats are usually high on the essential fatty acids and may have antioxidant properties. Sources of these fats are Fish Oils, Virgin Olive Oil, Canola Oil, and Flaxseed Oil. We like to refer to these type of fats as good fats.

Twenty percent of your calories should come from good fats. Any less than 20% and your hormonal production goes down. Any more than 20% and you start accumulating plenty of fat. The way that I get my fats is by taking 1 teaspoon of Flaxseed Oil three times a day (I put them in my protein shakes).

Good sources of fat are canola oil (1 tablespoon), natural peanut butter (2 tablespoons), olive oil (1 tablespoon), flaxseed oil (1 tablespoon), and fish oils (1 tablespoon). Each serving size contains approximately 14 grams of fat. Alternatively you can get these fats from good EFA products like Labrada's EFA Lean.

Water

Water is by far the most abundant substance in our body. Without water, an organism would not survive very long. Most people that come to me for advice on how to get in shape, almost always underestimate the value of water.

Water is good for the following reasons:

1) Over 65% of your body is composed of water (most of the muscle cell is water).

2) Water cleanses your body from toxins and pollutants that would get you sick.

3) Water is needed for all of the complex chemical reactions that your body needs to perform on a daily basis. Processes such as energy production, muscle building, and fat burning require water. A lack of water would interrupt all of these processes.

4) Water helps lubricate the joints.

5) When the outside temperature is up, water serves as a coolant to bring the body temperature down to where it is supposed to be.

6) Water helps control your appetite. Sometimes when you feel hungry after a good meal this sensation indicates a lack of water. Drinking water at that time would take the craving away.

7) Cold water increases your metabolism.

In order to know how much water your body needs a day, just multiply your lean body weight by .66. This would indicate how many ounces of water you need in a day.

Sample Bodybuilding Diet For Men

Meal 1 (7 AM)
1 cup of dry oats mixed with water

1 cup of egg beaters

4 caps Labrada's EFA Lean Gold

Meal 2 (9 AM)
Meal replacement packet like Labrada's Lean Body mixed with water or a protein powder like Pro V60 (with around 40 grams of protein) mixed with 40 grams of carbs from cream of rice, grits, or oatmeal.
1 Tablespoon of Flaxseed Oil (Spectrum brand is best)

Meal 3 (12 Noon)
1 cup of brown rice, or medium sized baked potato, or 1 cup of oatmeal

2 cups of green beans, broccoli or any other desired vegetable

6-8 ounces of chicken, turkey, or lean fish

4 caps Labrada's EFA Lean Gold

Meal 4 (3 PM)

Same as Meal 2

Meal 5 (6 PM)

1 cup of brown rice, or medium sized baked potato, or 1 cup of oatmeal

2 cups of green beans, broccoli or any other desired vegetable

6-8 ounces of chicken, turkey, or lean fish

4 caps Labrada's EFA Lean Gold

Meal 6 (8 PM)

Same as Meal 2

Recommended Basic Bodybuilding Supplements For Men

(Essential to take)

Definitely make sure that you cover at least the basics of supplementation which are a Multiple Vitamin and Mineral formula, 3 grams of Vitamin C split in 3 equal servings throughout the day, 200mcg of Chromium Picolinate, and essential fatty acids coming from either fish oils, flaxseed oil, extra virgin olive oil, or Labrada's EFA Lean. Also, for convenience purposes a good meal replacement like Labrada's Lean Body or a protein powder like Pro V60 is a great way to add valuable calories and nutrients to your diet.

Performance Enhancing Supplementation

(Recommended for hard training bodybuilders who want to get the most out of their program}

In addition to those basic supplements, I would also recommend Creatine and Glutamine as these two supplements offer many of the same properties as anabolic steroids (such as increased recovery, increased strength, increased glycogen levels, enhanced immune system and higher nitrogen synthesis) without the side effects as they are not hormones. In addition, Nitric Oxide boosters may be of help as well. (Note: a product that conveniently has all of these items is the Super Charge! Xtreme).

Sample Bodybuilding Diet For Women

Meal 1 (7 AM)
1/2 cup of dry oats mixed with water

1/2 cup of egg beaters

2 caps Labrada's EFA Lean Gold

Meal 2 (9 AM)

Meal replacement packet like Labrada's Lean Body for Her mixed with water or a protein powder like Pro V60 (with around 20 grams of protein) mixed with 20 grams of carbs from cream of rice, grits, or oatmeal.

1/2 Tablespoon of Flaxseed Oil (Spectrum Brand is Best)

Meal 3 (12 Noon)

1/2 cup of brown rice, or medium sized baked potato, or 1 cup of oatmeal

2 cups of green beans, broccoli or any other desired vegetable

6 ounces of chicken, turkey, or lean fish

2 caps Labrada's EFA Lean Gold

Meal 4 (3 PM)

Same as Meal 2

Meal 5 (6 PM)

1/2 cup of brown rice, or medium sized baked potato, or 1 cup of oatmeal

2 cups of green beans, broccoli or any other desired vegetable

6 ounces of chicken, turkey, or lean fish

2 caps Labrada's EFA Lean Gold

Meal 6 (8 PM)

Same as Meal 2

Recommended Basic Bodybuilding Supplements For Women

(Essential to take)

Definitely make sure that you cover at least the basics of supplementation which are a Multiple Vitamin and Mineral formula, 3 grams of Vitamin C split in 3 equal servings throughout the day, extra Calcium (preferably calcium citrate for best absorption), 200mcg of Chromium Picolinate, and essential fatty acids coming from either fish oils, flaxseed oil, extra virgin olive oil or EFA Lean Body Gold. Also, for convenience purposes a good meal replacement or protein powder is a great way to add valuable calories and nutrients to your diet. For more information on this subject please refer to my article on Bodybuilding Supplementation Basics.

Hugo Rivera, CFT, SPN, BSCE, is a lifetime natural bodybuilder, multi-certified personal trainer, industry consultant and fitness expert who not only knows training and nutrition theory, but also applies it on a daily basis as evidenced by the fact that he's always in shape and by his awards and high placings at numerous national level bodybuilding competitions. He is also an internationally known best selling fitness author with a very successful franchise of books called "The Body Sculpting Bibles" which collectively have sold hundreds of thousands of copies.

Force Factor Free Trial Review - How Does Force Factor Help in Body Building & Muscle Development?

Force Factor is muscle-building supplement, which claims to enhance your strength and endurance through its main ingredient Nitric Oxide. Nitric Oxide (NO) is usually produced in our body, which helps in communication of cells. It also increases the blood flow and oxygen supply in our body, which consequently pumps up our muscles.

This unique quality of Nitric oxide is the basis of this supplement. The ability to heal injuries, create endurance and bestow strength is the unique selling proposition of this supplement.

Importance of Force Factor in Bodybuilding

* Force Factor promises to create more mental awareness through this product. The blood and oxygen supply to our muscles can be stimulated by consuming this supplement which can be extremely beneficial for adding those extra muscle mass.

* A healthy nutrition and a rigorous workout session is mandatory for muscle development. This supplement should be consumed between your workouts and diets for attaining an electrifying physique.

* The main ingredients of this supplement are Nitric Oxide, Argenine, L-Argenine Monohydrate, L-Citruline, Calcium Phosphate and Di-Pottasium Phosphate.

* Nitric oxide helps in boosting Argenine. It also boosts power and endurance in our body. This supplement benefits your strength training exercises.

* Nitric oxide gives you high performance in your workouts and decreases your recovery time. It is touted to be the key for unlocking success.

* It is always advisable to combine force factor with protein supplements for achieving fast results. Even lightweight exercises can provide you higher muscle mass through this diet.

* This product claims to show results after the completion of a month.

* Force Factor free trial can be easily procured by paying minimal shipping charges of $4.99. It also offers a 30-day money back guarantee.

Benefits of Creatine Monohydrate - Important for High-Intensity Exercise Performance

Creatine monohydrate is one of the most widely used forms of creatine, a nitrogen-containing organic compound which is naturally produced by the body. It is a very important substance because it supplies the body with the energy it needs by increasing the production of adenosine triphosphate, the substance that transports energy within the cells needed for metabolism.

In a pilot study conducted among both young, healthy subjects and patients suffering from neuromuscular diseases, creatine monohydrate supplementation was shown to have increased body weight, hand grip, dorsiflexion, and knee extensor strength.

If you are suffering from either Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, Huntington's disease or the Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, creatine monohydrate may be able to help in increasing your muscle strength and nervous control.

Creatine supplementation is popularly used to enhance sports performance, and has been successfully tested in the treatment of neuromuscular, neurological and atherosclerotic diseases. Creatine plays a key role in brain energy stability by acting as buffer for adenosine triphosphate and its regulator, adenosine diphosphate. Another experiment conducted by the Macmaster University in Hamilton, Ontario found that short term creatine monohydrate supplementation enhances high-intensity exercise performance in both males and females.

It was also shown that males that took whey protein supplements while on resistance training exhibited significant improvement in knee extension peak torque and gained more lean tissue mass than males engaged in training alone. Males that took a combination of whey protein and creatine monohydrate showed a much greater increase in lean tissue mass and bench press than those who supplemented with only whey protein or placebo.

In an experiment conducted by the University of Sydney among 45 young adults to test how oral creatine supplementation would enhance intelligence test scores and memory performance, the results show that indeed, creatine supplementation has significant positive effect on a person's intelligence and memory. This result clearly indicates that brain energy capacity plays a key role in enhancing brain performance, intelligence and memory.

Creatine plays a key role in cellular energy metabolism and can potentially play a role in protein metabolism. With regular supplementation of creatine monohydrate, young healthy men and women may experience a higher intensity exercise performance, increased skeletal muscle volume and phosphocreatine concentration, and increased fat free muscle mass.

Recent study also revealed that creatine monohydrate supplementation protects against neuromuscular as shown in laboratory animal models of Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and after ischemia. A low concentration of phosphocreatine content has also been noticed in skeletal muscles of elderly patients and of patients suffering from neuromuscular disorders.

For more information about this high-intensity exercise performance-enhancing supplement, log on to: http://purebulk.com/creatine-monohydrate-powder

Does Nitric Oxide Work? A Nitric Oxide Supplement Review

Lately, I've been hearing alot of buzz about No2 and it's possible effects on building muscle.

No2 has been around for a couple of years and there has been plenty of people who have tried this particular supplement with mixed results.

For those of you who don't know what N02 is, let me give you a bit of background.

No2 stands for nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is supposed to relax the smooth muscle in the walls of very small arteries called arterioles.

When a muscles contracts and it's blood vessels are dilated, a "puff" of gas appears for a brief instant and than dissapears. This gas settles into the underlying smooth muscle cells causing them to relax which allows a surge of blood to pass through more easily.

This gas is called nitric oxide.

You see, everytime you do a couple sets of curls and you feel that expanding feeling in your bicep, it means that nitric oxide was released into the smooth muscle, causing an extra surge in blood to your muscles. It gives your muscles that full feeling and that"puffy" look.

However, once you finish your workout, your muscels slowly loose the blood that it accumulated during the workout and it slowly goes back to normal. Of course, the pump is one of the best feelings you can get and too lose it, well, sucks. So, the man who brought creatine to the fitness world, Ed Byrd, gives you Hemodilator N02.

This stuff is supposed to help release nitric oxide at different times of the day to keep your muscles feeling pumped. What Ed Byrd managed to do was create a delivery system called phyex 9 which is supposed to help stimulate the release of nitric oxide at different times during the day. Certainly a beautiful concept for just about everyone out there who weight trains. Who doesn't want a constant pump...Maybe just walking down the street?

Well, I heard alot about no2 and it got my attention. So, I decided to give this supplement a shot. I have to admit, this stuff is not cheap. At $80 bucks a pop, it's kind of steep for the everyday working, weight trainer. Today, there are a whack of nitric oxide supplements out there and they all cost about
the same.

Now, I had my doubts. You see, this supplement uses arginine as it's main nitric oxide delivery mechanism. That is, arginine is supposed to cause the nitric oxide reaction which will produce the"pump". Now, back in the mid 80's, I vividly remember a supplement called"Inosine" which was supposed to do the same thing as No2. It was supposed to cause the small artieries to expand which would cause more blood flow into
the muscle.

Well, as a young, wide eyed teenager looking for a miracle supplment, this fit the bill. I bought a bunch of inosine in the hopes that it would help me build more strength and power. The result? A couple of hundred dollars down the toilet. I still see adds for inosine and I still shake my head.

So, after a bit of research I decided to give this particular supplement a shot and see if the results were as good as they claimed on the label. I choose to use the Hemodilator No2 for my nitric oxide supplement review.

According to the label, it reads "NO2 generates a PERPETUAL PUMP, Helps Boost Strength, Augments Peak Power, Delays Muscle Fatigue"

Well, does it do all that? First off, according to the label, they performed a clinical trial of this supplement at Baylor University. According to the results, there was a 300% increase in bench press strength for those who were taking Hemodilator compared to those who were taking a placebo (fake), over an eight
week period.

Also, the group taking the Hemodilator gained more endurance and power than the placebo group over the same 8 week period.

So, how did I fare with this supplement? Now, I'm just finishing up my third bottle and the results have not been mind blowing. Maybe I was expecting too much from this supplement but I haven't gained as much as I would have hoped. There has been a slight change from the pumps I get in the gym but they are not perpetual. The pumps stay in the gym.

In terms of strength, I gained a little bit in some of my compound movements but not as nearly as much as I would have if I would have taken creatine. For endurance, I can't say I noticed any thing at all. In terms of overall power, I would say that it has increased...But not 300% or even 20%.

Did I get my monies worth? That's a hard one to say. I mean, would have I gotten the same results if I didn't use the supplement? Probably not. The thing I noticed most about this product was the pumps in the gym. Like I said before, pumps are the reason I mainly go to the gym.

Am I happy with this product? I guess you can say that I'm "ok" with it. However, when I take the supplement Xpand, which is a combination of the nitric oxide booster arginine and tri-creatine malate, I simply explode! Maybe the combination of nitric oxide and creatine compliment each other more so than regular creatine or straight arginine.

In terms of side effects, I didn't experience anything. Just remember, huge doses of arginine can be toxic. However, there are some reports of users experiencing diarrhea nausea with relatively high doses.

Now, do I recommend this product? If you do not want to take a product such as creatine, I would have to say yes. It does work and will produce some results provided you have a well laid down eating plan and steady lifting habits. Just remember, you have to be on it for at least 8 weeks to see any sort of results.

However, next to a good creatine product such as SAN V12 or Dymatize Xpand, I would have to say no. These products
are so much better and the results are more immediate and dramatic.

So there you have it. A personal nitric oxide supplement review.

What Every Major League Muscle Building Program Should Have

Muscle building is a long process that takes months for obvious results. First of all, if you're not looking forward to getting into the gym any more, that may be a sign. It is true, you have to decide what you want to do and since you want to build muscle, you need to increase overall caloric intake.

One more very important ingredient in a muscle building diet and every muscle building program should go over is water. While you are working out in the gym you are stimulating your muscles but it is only when resting that your muscles get a chance to recover. Once you know exactly why you should never listen to that "buff guy" at your gym, you'll have an unfair advantage over all the rest who hang on his every word.

Weight Training

Weight Training Periodization Learn how to incorporate weight training periodization into your training and you will unlock all of your muscle building potential. We will go against the grain and gain weight fast. Guess how many people perform weight training exercises correctly.

Protein Tip: To promote a positive nitrogen balance, use approximately 1 to 2 grams of protein per pound of body weight per day from a combination of high protein foods and supplements. If you want to succeed and build muscle mass fast you have to follow some basics principles and the first one is lift heavy weights with low repetitions, usually about 70-80 percent of your max strength this will put a lot of pressure on the muscle and give them a really good workout. A great muscle building program is based around this princible.

Nutrition

Don't try and get big off of mc Donalds' or you'll end up harshly over weight and in worse shape then you were to start out with. This male hormone is what builds muscle and it needs protein, carbs and fat if you want to build muscle.

There are some major key parts to a successful muscle building program. One major aspect of body building includes diet and nutrition. There is so much conflicting information out there when it comes to the topic of building muscle, and sometimes it can be very difficult to know where to start.

Building Mass

Mass plus strength doesn't always equal increased speed. With a little intelligent bodybuilding training, you can build muscle mass and gain weight fast. A solid muscle mass building program won't take anything more than a little intelligence and a few extra hours a week to implement so.

Yes, the foods you choose will be one of the deciding factors as to the kind of mass you want to gain. A diet high in quality nutrients will produce much better results for building muscle mass and maintaining body fat levels than a diet high in fat and processed foods. If you can do this, while training hard and heavy, you will gain quality muscle mass while maintaining current body fat levels. Choice of food is the real key to building lean muscle mass. I suggest you do the following: Find your starting point; Multiply your body weight by 20 to get your base starting caloric intake for adding mass.

Muscles

Some elite athletes perform special exercises specific to their sports to improve the neural stimulation of their muscles, and many do weight training to build more muscle. Besides making muscles bigger, anabolic steroids may help athletes recover from a hard workout more quickly by reducing the amount of muscle damage that occurs during the session. In fact, these studies show that supplemental andro stenedione doesn't increase testosterone and that your muscles don't get stronger with andro use. Creatine monohydrate is a compound produced by your body that helps release energy in your muscles. Creatine helps muscles make and circulate more adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Creatine is stored in your muscles, and levels are relatively easily maintained.

These are some Muscle building and weight lifting tips that work. You can try following these techniques for excellent muscle building. Ensure that you don't listen to every piece of advice you hear in the gym or read on a message board. In case you are planning to get involved in muscle building, just ensure that you create your training in such a way that it includes all muscle groups. Most beginners and even a lot of seasoned gym goers can't. It also can't hurt to talk to your doctor before choosing any muscle building supplements as well.

What Exactly is Nitric Oxide? Why is It Such a POWERFUL Bodybuilding Supplement?

What is Nitric Oxide anyway?

The chemical compound nitric oxide is a gas with a chemical formula NO. It is an important signaling molecule in the body of mammals including humans, one of the few gaseous signaling molecules known. Nitric oxide (NO) is not nitrous oxide (N2O) or with nitrogen dioxide (NO2). (Formal definition courtesy of Wikipedia)

What is L-arginine (the key ingredient used to produce Nitric Oxide)?

L-arginine is an amino acid found in grains and fish, meats, supplements and passes through the intestine into the blood. From the blood, it enters endothelial cells, (these are the layer of cells lining the inside of the blood and lymph vessels of the heart) where it is used to produce nitric oxide.

L-arginine can be found in many foods such as meat, poultry, dairy products, and fish. The body also uses arginine to produce nitric oxide, which relaxes blood vessels. For this reason, it has been used to treat cardiovascular disorders such as heart failure, intermittent claudication, impotence, female sexual dysfunction, and interstitial cystitis. (Formal definition courtesy of Wikipedia).

It can also be used as an ergogenic aid to supplement bodybuilding and sports endeavors.

L-arginine supplements cause a delayed release of Nitric Oxide into the blood. Ed Byrd (the creator of NO 2) called this the "pHyser3" effect of creating a sustained hemodilation or blood flow in the body.

How does this help with bodybuilding?

Nitric Oxide helps with a sustained blood pump in your body. The blood vessels that deliver muscle building agents (nutrients, creatine) to your muscles are "forced open" for an extended period of time throughout the day. This means quicker recovery, enhanced muscle gains, greater strength, more endurance due to the prolonged pump NO2 provides. You know how you feel "pumped up" after a workout? Nitric oxide helps perpetuate this muscle pump effect.

Are there other health benefits to Nitric Oxide besides bodybuilding?

There is evidence that nitric oxide can prevent heart disease and stroke. The vasodilation effect nitric oxide helps protect the blood vessels from dangerous constriction. This increases the blood vessel flexibility to blood can circulate at a lower pressure. Nitric oxide may also help control platelet function, reduce artery plaque and even lower cholesterol.

Nitric oxide supplements is available at most supplement and health nutrition stores. Here are five nitric oxide products I would recommend:

-Nitrix by BSN. Nitrix has quickly gained the reputation as the world's top Nitric Oxide (NO) supplements.

-NO-xplode by BSN. NO-xplode uses both creatine and nitrix oxide to help you explode you bodybuilding regimen.

-A-AKG by Pro-line. This is perhaps the most economical priced nitric oxide supplement I could find.

-Mid-Cycle by Fizogen. Mid Cycle effectively enhances nutrient uptake, increases cell-signaling vasodilation and promotes improved muscle torque and intercellular energy levels.

-Cold Fusion by Legal Gear. This bodybuilding supplements is especially appropriate for serious athletes looking to maximize muscle gains with NO2. Cold fusion has twice as much NO per serving than any other nitric oxide product.

What Is Glutamine? Discover Its Energy-Giving And Wound-Healing Properties

Glutamine is the most abundant non-essential amino acid that is naturally produced by the body. It is called non-essential amino acid because it can be naturally produced by the body, not because it is not an important element.

It is produced in the body by the action of the enzyme glutamine synthetase which assists in the condensation of glutamate and ammonia to ultimately form glutamine.

It is found in abundance in the skeletal muscles and in the blood. The largest amount of glutamine is produced in the muscles, accounting for 90% of the total amount synthesized by the body. It is also produced in small amounts in the lungs, in the brain and in the liver. However, since the liver takes much of its glutamine supply from the gut, its role in glutamine metabolism has purely been regulatory rather than being part of its production.

The organs that benefit greatly from the production of glutamine are the kidney cells, cells of the intestines, the active immune cells and the many cancer cells.

It plays a key role in the different functions of the body such as in the manufacture of proteins by serving as an important precursor of nucleic acids, nucleotides, and amino sugars, it promotes an acid-base balance in the kidneys by producing urinary ammonia, it serves as a source of cellular energy by serving as respiratory fuel for rapidly growing cells such as lymphocytes, it transports nitrogen between tissues, and promotes carbon donation required to efficiently carry out the citric acid cycle. It is one of the few amino acids that can directly cross the blood-brain barrier.

Extensive study on glutamine and its important uses has been undertaken for the past 10 to 15 years and the results show that it is useful in the healing of wound after surgery, in the treatment of burns, injury, trauma, and in the treatment of the side effects of cancer treatment.

It is also popularly marketed as a supplement that promotes muscle growth and development during weight lifting, body building and endurance and other sports activities.

It is also believed that oral supplementation of glutamine may increase the Human Growth Hormone in the blood by simulating the functions of the anterior pituitary glands.

It is also believed that glutamine significantly reduces the healing period after surgery. Studies show that hospital confinement after abdominal surgery is greatly reduced by feeding the patient intravenously with substances containing high amounts of glutamine.

Studies show that patients who are on glutamine supplement demonstrated an improved level of lymphocyte count; an improved permeability of the intestines especially among patients who have just undergone surgery and; and an improved balance of nitrogen content in the body among patients recovering from surgery under parenteral nutrition.

You can get your daily supply of glutamine by eating foods rich in glutamine such as beef, chicken, fish, eggs, milk, dairy products, wheat, cabbage, beets, beans, spinach, and parsley. Minimal amounts of free L-glutamine can also be found in certain vegetable juices and fermented foods, such as miso.

In the field of research, glutamine is usually mixed with the culture medium in cell culture.

More interesting facts about glutamine and how it can benefit your body can be obtained at: http://purebulk.com/l-glutamine

Nitric Oxide - More Than a Great Pump

Nitric oxide is a relatively new substance on the bodybuilding circuit and is commonly abbreviated as NO. It has phenomenal results due to the effects it has within the body. The main thing to realize when first starting out with nitric oxide (NO) as a supplement for bodybuilding is where it comes from and how it can affect the body positively. Gaining an understanding of NO will help enormously when trying to implement it into a weight or strength training regime.

Nitric oxide is a gas that is naturally made within the body. It is directly responsible for opening up blood vessels to allow increased blood flow. When the body generates these molecules the blood vessels open wider and more blood is allowed to travel up to muscles, fibres and tissues. The more blood that is being delivered to these muscles and tissues means that there are more nutrients and amino acids also being carried to them. This surge feeds the muscles and it is with this information that is scientifically studied that the role of NO in bodybuilding becomes apparent.

The increased blood flow that nitric oxide provides is exactly what is needed for any strength training individual. The boost that this bodybuilding supplement provides allows for the increased blood flow of nutrient rich blood being transported to the relevant muscles. This atmosphere not only gives the muscles an extra boost it also increases stamina and strength that is required to develop stronger muscles.

There is one large drawback to using NO as a supplement. There is no set schedule for dosing instructions. Overdosing with nitric oxide is a possibility and can potentially cause stomach upset and weakness. An efficient dose of NO will provide the consumer with opposite results from an overdose making the signs and symptoms quite obvious. The only method to discover the right individual dosage of nitric oxide falls on each person who uses it. This method is called 'tolerance mapping' and is a simple process to follow.

Tolerance mapping to find the right dose of NO takes place over several weeks. The first week the bodybuilder begins with a small dosage and documents every side effect whether good or bad. This system is carried out for a few weeks by slightly increasing the dosage of nitric oxide every week after all side effects are taken into consideration. After several weeks the optimal dosage should become clear to the individual NO consumer. Remember the key to successful dosages of nitric oxide is to meticulously record the experiences during the tolerance-mapping phase.

NO is a great supplement to help strength train when used with caution and appropriate steps have been taken to avoid over dosing. You are now equipped with the knowledge that drives the nitric oxide supplement to work within the body so give it a try! Discover today what NO can do for you in increasing muscle strength and stamina.

Understanding Your Blood Test Results

There is no need to go to medical school if you want to understand the results of your blood test. In fact, it is good that you are taking an interest in your health. However, it is important to know upfront that lab tests are diagnostic tools and not the diagnosis. These tests are meant to provide your doctor or health physician with information that will help him understand you better and keep you healthy. So, a rule of thumb when scanning through your blood test result, do not overreact and do not interpret the results yourself. Although you will learn what the numbers mean, remember that there are so many factors that make the numbers what they are, not the least of which include - family history, age, race, medications, current regimen, lifestyle, sex, etc.

One of the most common blood test is Chem 7 which tests for 7 kinds of chemical components in your blood. Glucose measures the sugar level in your blood and this is used as a means to detect diabetes or an endocrine disorder.Blood Urea Nitrogen or BUN indicates kidney functions. Carbon Dioxide (CO2) refers to the level of CO2 (in the form of bicarbonate) is indicative of how the lungs and the kidney manage the levels of bicarbonate in the blood. Creatinine is associated with normal muscle breakdown (relates to blood pressure, kidney, and muscle-related issues). Serum chloride (CI) tests for chloride levels in the blood. Chloride helps maintain proper blood pH. Serum Potassium (K) tests for potassium in the blood. Potassium is related to muscle contractions and cell function. Serum Sodium (Na) tests for sodium in the blood. Excess sodium is excreted by the kidneys.

Other blood tests include CBC (Complete Blood Count) which basically counts red and white blood cells platelets, hemoglobin, and mean corpuscular volume. Remember, being outside the normal range does not necessarily mean a bad thing for you. There is a tolerance factor for any kind of test. Whatever the result may be, make sure you discuss it with your health provider.

Comprehensive Metabolic Profile Lab Testing

Do you know what CMP blood test is? It stands for comprehensive metabolic profile or comprehensive metabolic profile and it is frequently ordered by doctors to check the status of the blood proteins, blood sugar, acid/base balance, electrolyte, liver, and kidneys. If the readings of the results reveal abnormalities, the doctor can conduct further tests to give an accurate diagnosis.

The CMP testing is actually a group of tests and each test has an assigned current procedural terminology code. Laboratories are free to adjust the tests being conducted, as they see fit. It is vital that you know the CPT codes since you will use them when you file for claims with the insurance provider. In the US, the tests have already been standardized.

The CMP can test for glucose, calcium, proteins (albumin and the total protein), electrolytes (sodium, potassium, CO2, and chloride), kidney tests (blood urea nitrogen and creatinine), and liver tests (alkaline phoshatase, alanine amino transferase or SGPT, aspartate amino transferase or SGOT, and bilirubin). It is important that an increase or decrease in glucose or calcium is determined. This is also true with the total protein wherein albumin and other proteins are measured.

When there is an imbalance in the electrolytes, it can indicate chronic and acute illnesses. In most cases, the examination for electrolytes is carried together with other tests and is rarely ordered individually. If there is an increase of BUN and creatinine in the blood, it can mean that the kidneys are not functioning well. When tests reveal that there is an elevated concentration of the AST, ALT, and ALP in the blood, it can indicate a liver dysfunction or disease.

Once your doctor requests for the CMP, you have to ask if there is a need to fast before the blood is drawn from your arm. Follow the instructions of the medical professional so that the test can provide reliable readings. This will usually depend on the reason why the CMP was ordered. Most professionals use this test to identify if a patient has kidney disease, liver disease, and diabetes. In some cases, it can also be used to monitor side effects of kidney or liver related conditions and hypertension.

The comprehensive metabolic profile test is usually ordered for yearly physicals or part of the routine checks. In most cases, the patient should avoid food or water intake for 10-12 hours prior to the test. Ask the medical practitioner about the costs involved, and the implications that the readings can have on your health.

What is Protein?

Protein is an essential part of our diet. It is needed for the body to be able to grow and repair tissue and is the main building block of the human body. Protein is a molecule made up of 22 amino acids.

Your body can make literally hundreds of different proteins to perform various functions from these amino acids, such as:

Antibodies - for immune defense

Collagen - for supportive tissue

Enzymes for metabolism

Haemoglobin - for transport

Hormones

The human body can create 12 of these amino acids naturally, while the remaining eight need to be obtained by eating foods which contain them.

These eight amino acids are known as 'Essential Amino Acids' which include:

Isoleucine

Leucine

Lysine

Methionine

Phenylalanine

Threonine

Tryptophan

Valine

The body's proteins are broken down continuously, therefore our bodies needs to produce thousands of proteins every day to replace them. Basically the more active you are - the faster your proteins break down - the faster your protein breaks down - the more protein is needed to refill them. Protein needs to be replenished daily as it is unable to be stored in the body unlike carbohydrates or fats.

The body breaks down and absorbs protein to help our body in many important ways such as:

Balance hormones

Regulates metabolism

Builds and repairs muscle

Grows tissue

Fights against illness and infection

Did You Know?... Protein, like water, is the most plentiful substance in the body. Roughly half of the non-water mass of our bodies are made up of protein.

Parts of the body primarily made up of protein include:

Bones

Eyes

Hair

Individual cells

Ligaments

Muscle

Nails

Organs

Skin

Teeth

Tendons

Tissue

FACT: Our bodies generally require 1-2 grams of protein daily for each kilogram of body weight.

Did You Know?... Protein can also be burned as a source of calories. The amino acids that are not combined into protein are converted to calories or energy.

Will low Protein intake damage my body?

Without a sufficient amount of protein, the body will break down other muscles or tissues; or could even 'borrow' amino acids from the immune system or other body functions to satisfy its protein needs.

FACT: It is essential that your entire body receives enough protein from food to ensure proper growth and maintenance.

Protein is important when working out, for if you have inadequate protein in your body, you won't have enough to rebuild your muscles and other cells and tissue, leaving you weaker and more prone to injury.

Insufficient protein can affect your health and body functions such as:

Bone cell construction

Enzymes

Heart cell turnover rate

Hormones

Immune system

Neurological system

Organ function

Range of Motion/ mobility

Red blood cell production

Skin elasticity

Stamina

Did you know?... An inadequate protein intake during pregnancy may cause a less than ideal body weight for the baby.

Symptoms of protein deficiency include:

Anaemia - usually caused by a lack of iron, it causes insufficient amounts of oxygen to be delivered through the blood to the cells

Oedema - is a build-up of fluids which particularly occurs in the feet or ankles

Slow growth - in children

Wasting and shrinkage of muscle tissue

Is too much Protein dangerous?

Everyone has a different opinion regarding whether or not too much protein is dangerous. If you are generally healthy, don't have any problems with your kidneys or liver, and are not on medication, it is unlikely that it could do any harm.

What happens is when amino acids are not combined into protein, they become calories or energy. During the conversion the body separates the amino acids from their nitrogen atoms, therefore creating nitrogen waste which then enters the kidneys as 'urea' and gets filtered out through the body's urine.

Too much protein can actually cause harm to your kidneys if you have reduced kidney and liver function as the build up of nitrogen waste can strain the kidneys and liver, and can cause them to further weaken.

Did You Know?... A very high protein diet can also prompt excessive mineral calcium loss.

As with anything in life, protein intake needs to be balanced. As a general rule of thumb, 1-2 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight is adequate. If in doubt, it is wise to consult your Nutritionist to work out what is best for your needs.

What foods are high in Protein?

Almost every animal food including dairy products contain the most protein. If you are a vegetarian, you can easily obtain all of you protein needs by eating a diet with a variety of vegetables and grains.

Proteins rich foods include:

Black beans

Black-eyed peas

Chicken - chicken breast is high in protein

Chickpeas

Cottage cheese

Crab

Dairy

Eggs - egg whites

Fish

Lentils

Lobster

Nuts - Almonds, Peanuts, Cashews, Pecans

Orange roughy

Pork

Prawns - shrimp

Red meat - lean meats such as round steak, sirloin and ground beef

Salmon

Seeds - Sunflower seeds, Pumpkin seeds, Flax seeds

Soy beans

Soy bean products - tofu, tempeh etc

Split peas

Swordfish

Tuna

Turkey - turkey breast and lean ground turkey is protein rich

Vegetables

Wide variety of beans and legumes

Whole dried peas

Although starches and vegetables have only a small amount of protein, it adds up over the day.

Different protein sources include the following:

Casein Protein

Casein is a white odourless, tasteless combination of phosphor-proteins separated from milk by an enzyme known as rennin. It is very nutritious as it contains all eight of the essential amino acids and is also the basis of cheese. Muscles seem to love casein as they are found to use greater amount of protein through this source in comparison to others.

Did You Know?... Studies suggest casein not only assists in toning and firming muscles but can also assist in increasing muscle strength.

Soy Protein

Soy protein is made from the soybean which is native to East Asia. It is one of the very few plants which provide a complete protein source. The soybean not only provides high quality protein, it is also provides a good amount of vitamins, minerals and fiber, and is fairly low in fat content, making this protein source fantastic for vegetarians.

Whey Protein

Whey protein is a high quality protein naturally produced through cow's milk. It contains a high source of the essential amino acids. Whey protein is one of the most widely used forms of protein as it has numerous health benefits and fitness properties.

Kidney Health Nutrition and Understanding Your Lab Values Through Its Stages

After being diagnosed with kidney disease of any kind, many people will be faced with a lifetime of doctor visits, specialists, lab tests, dietary and fluid restrictions and changes and the looming possibility of dialysis or the need for a kidney transplant if the disease continues to progress.

Medications and diet will be important to keep this from happening, which makes it even more important for the patient to pay careful attention to what is said by the nutritionist during each stage of kidney disease. While some will be lucky enough to slow or stop the progression of the various forms of kidney disease, it is very important to note that even if you do everything the way that you are supposed to, the disease may still move forward and become more serious.

One of the things that you will have to deal with is the constant need for many lab tests, which starts with a blood draw or a urine sample. In those who have serious kidney disease, a port may be placed so that the doctor can have constant access without having to puncture a vein each time. The port can also be used to give medications and can be more convenient, but can also be problematic because it needs specific care either by the patient, the patient's family or, in some cases, a visiting nurse or care provider.

Some of the lab tests that you will have to have during treatment for kidney disease include:

Serum creatinine: muscle activity in the body creates creatinine, a waste product that is normally removed by the action of the kidneys. This tends to be one of the first waste products that start backing up in the blood vessels, which marks the start of kidney trouble.

Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR): this rate determines how well the kidneys are functioning. A GFR that is below 30 indicates a problem and will warrant the need for a nephrologist (a kidney specialist). Any GFR below 15 indicates that the problem is serious and there will be the need for dialysis, and it may indicate the impending need for a kidney transplant.

Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN): when the body breaks down proteins, not only from the foods that you eat but from normal metabolism as well, urea nitrogen is formed. This normal waste product is usually filtered from the blood by the kidneys and can rise if the kidneys are failing or if the patient is eating more protein than the body can effectively handle. The BUN can drop if the patient is eating too little protein as well.

Urine Protein: protein is a vital macronutrient, used by the body for a very wide range of systems and functions. Your body also creates some forms of protein from other forms to be used for other reasons. The kidneys filter protein and protein byproducts from the bloodstream when they are working correctly; however, when they are not, protein will accumulate in the urine. Although there are other instances when protein can be detected in the urine, persistent, detectable protein levels in the urine is an early sign of impending kidney disease or damage.

Microalbuminuria: in those who are at higher risk for kidney disease, including those who have other conditions like high blood pressure or a very serious family history of kidney disease, this test will be used to detect even very small amounts of protein in the urine before the amount gets high enough to be detected by less sensitive tests.

Ratio of Protein to Creatinine: for some patients, the doctor will ask for a 24 hour sample of collected urine, which will show him how much protein is found in the urine each day. This test can be complicated because it relies on the patient collecting all urine for a full 24 hours, storing the container in their refrigerator and then bringing it to the lab the following day for testing. Instead, the doctor may choose to use the protein to creatinine ratio, which will estimate the amount of protein that is excreted in the urine instead.

Serum albumin: the body uses protein that it gets from food to create other types of protein, amino acids, hormones and enzymes. Albumin is one of these body proteins. Low levels of this in the blood can be caused by not receiving the adequate amount of protein in the diet or enough calories. It is also important to note that the body cannot store protein and needs new sources of it every day. Even a small amount of blood albumin can cause serious health problems, including the inability to fight off infections.

Normalized protein nitrogen appearance or nPna: this test is often used by the doctor to tell if you are eating enough protein or, in some cases, too much. The testing is done by collecting urine and blood samples, and you may be asked to keep a food diary as well.

Subjective Global Assessment (SGA): this testing may be asked for by the nutritionist rather than the kidney specialist and is used to check for symptoms of nutritional problems. The testing is done by asking questions about the daily diet, completing a weight check and a check of the fat and muscle amounts in the face, arms, hands, shoulders and legs.

Hemoglobin: the blood is made of several parts, including the hemoglobin, which is the part of the red blood cells that work to carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. A low level of hemoglobin indicates anemia. Treatment for anemia includes iron and a specific hormone.

Hematocrit: this is the measure of how many red blood cells your body is actually making. A low value for this test also indicates anemia.

TSAT and Serum Ferritin: these tests both measure iron in the body.

PTH or Parathyroid Hormone: an imbalance of calcium and phosphorous in the body can result in high levels of PTH and can cause bone disease.

Calcium: because calcium is vital to healthy bones and may be leached out during some forms of kidney disease, the level will be checked.

Phosphorous: a high level of this mineral can lead to weak bones. The doctor and nutritionist may put you on a phosphorous-restricting diet and may also give you a medication that will bind the remaining phosphorous in foods.

Potassium: this mineral is needed by the body so that the heart and other muscles work properly. The level of potassium has to be balanced or it will weaken muscles and can lead to heart irregularities.

Blood and Urine Tests, Good Nutrition and Protein Supplements: A Case Study

Dave has kidney disease. At this point, he does not need to have dialysis; however, he does come to the lab very frequently to have blood work and to give a urine sample. He has had to do the 24 hour urine collection a time or two and is glad that the doctor has switched to using the protein to creatinine ratio instead. His overall diet was fairly healthy, but the nutritionist suggested that he change his fat intake to healthier Omega-3 fatty acids over the other, less healthy fats that he was eating and to increase the amount of protein and calcium in his diet. He will include a protein supplement because he has a lower appetite lately.

After trying protein shakes, Dave started using a new supplement. Because it is so small it can be consumed in a few seconds. While it only has 100 calories per serving, it gives Dave a high amount of digestible protein. He aims for two servings each day and then tries to increase his dietary protein from healthy plant sources for the rest of the day. On days when he simply cannot eat healthfully, he ups his intake to maintain his levels.