Archive for January 19th, 2010

Acid Buffers in Sports Supplements

World-class endurance athletes and their trainers are constantly seeking new ways to improve performance and endurance without running afoul of the organizations that monitor their sport or sacrificing their health. At such an elite level, improvements measured by fractions of a second can be quite significant so triathletes and other types of endurance athletes examine every aspect of diet, training, sleep patterns and other factors to gain a competitive edge. Thanks to innovative research on how our bodies manufacture lactic acid and process it, endurance athletes and their trainers now have a much better understanding of how to prepare for elite competitions.

Best of all, their decisions are based on hard scientific evidence instead of anecdotal evidence and supposition. Over the last several years, several sports supplements have been developed to help prevent lactic acid buildup in muscle tissue during intense exercise by including compounds that act as lactic acid buffers. This overview of how lactic acid buffers help reduce lactic acid buildup from impairing performance and endurance during intense workouts has been demonstrated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study.

How Lactic Acid is Produced and Processed by the Human Body

When the muscle cells in an endurance athlete’s body need fuel, they convert glycogen or glucose into lactic acid. Next, each muscle cell’s mitochondria, the power plant of a cell, burns lactic acid for fuel. Specific types of proteins called “transporter proteins” expedite the delivery of lactic acid, also called lactate, to each cell’s mitochondria through a network of tiny tubes throughout the cell. Through proper training, an endurance athlete like a triathlete can gradually improve the rate at which lactic acid is burned for fuel in their body so it doesn’t accumulate in their muscle tissue and impair performance, endurance, and cause them to “hit the wall.”

How Lactic Acid Buffers Work

Buffers are substances that help prevent any solution, such as blood or the fluid in muscle tissue, from undergoing a change in pH when introducing an acid, such as lactic acid, or alkali. In order to illustrate how lactic acid buffers work and help an endurance athlete stay competitive, it is helpful to have a basic understanding of the physiology and biochemistry of the human body.

The lungs and kidneys work together to maintain a pH of 7.4 in blood by altering the components of naturally occurring buffers. If the blood’s pH becomes too acid or alkali with pH’s as low as 7.0 or as high as 7.8, the body’s buffers can no longer compensate for the extreme conditions and systems begin to fail one after the other. There are four major buffering systems in the human body:

Biocarbonate buffers found in the blood’s plasma correct the equilibrium shift that occurs when a surplus of lactic acid in muscle tissue creates an abundance of excess hydrogen ions.

Hemoglobin in red blood cells acts as a buffer to byproducts and other threats to the pH balance in blood. For instance, when glucose is broken down into fuel by muscle cells and converted to lactic acid, the byproducts created are carbon dioxide and excess hydrogen ions.

Phosphate buffers are essential for buffering the pH of fluid in cells and are especially important for buffering urine in the kidneys. Protein buffers also buffer the effects of excess hydrogen ions created when glucose converts in lactic acid. Protein buffers primarily buffer the pH of fluid inside cells.

Lactic Acid Buffers such as Magnesium and Potassium

Many sports supplements include magnesium and potassium in their formulas because these two substances, along with a lesser amount of sodium, help regulate fluids in cells, especially muscle cells, and help equalize or buffer the blood’s pH. Potassium levels maintained in a ratio of 5:1 to sodium help regulate water retention in our bodies and prevent too much potassium from voiding as waste in urine. Potassium protects against kidney damage, strokes and high blood pressure.

Only within the last two decades has magnesium’s importance in maintaining proper pH and overall health been understood. Research has found that magnesium is essential for facilitating the storage of potassium in our bodies. Without magnesium, the human body cannot store potassium. When triathletes and other endurance athletes take sports supplements that contain recommended dosages of potassium and magnesium, the amount of sodium removed from the body increases, as does the amount of excess fluids. These minerals are not only essential to proper health and balance, they also facilitate the body’s ability to buffer and quickly process the lactic acid created during strenuous exercise.

Whether you’re an elite endurance athlete or a weekend warrior, taking a sports supplement with lactic acid buffers such as potassium and magnesium is not only a good way to gain a competitive edge, it is also essential for overall health!  You might also want to try some <a target=”_blank” href=”http://freakynutrition.com/”>cheap protein</a> powder!

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Qivana – Medicinal Mushrooms?

Qivana Announces the Qivana Qore Defense Product

There was much excitement this September in Orlando, Florida when Qivana introduced its newest product, Qivana Qore Defense. This organic mushroom composite, the Qore Defense, is actually a combination of six of the foremost immune-potent varieties of known medicinal mushrooms in the world. Recognized for their nutritional content, medicinal mushrooms have a well-documented record of supporting immune system activity in humans. Each mushroom variety has a very special role in this formula. In addition, they compliment and enhance each other and perform side-by-side to accomplish outstanding and unique immune support. Each mushroom variety has been extensively validated, researched, and is proven to have very specific health benefits. This distinct complex is designed in harmony with the values of ancient Tibetan and long-established Chinese medicine.

Qivana – Introduction to Medicinal Mushrooms

Mushrooms are thought of as one of the most ancient of medicines, with a history of use dating back many millennium. While mushrooms have always been consumed as food, in the Far East ancient healers were more drawn to their marked healing benefits, outweighing their use as an ordinary food .

When most people talk about mushrooms, they consider only the handful of varieties obtainable in a grocery store and used in well-known recipes. However, the use and significance of mushrooms is known far beyond the edible species. Qivana literature states that according to a recent publication, the number of identified mushroom species on earth is estimated at about 140,000, with only about 10% of the total species acknowledged and identified on the planet. Of those acknowledged, about 50% are considered to possess some degree of edibility and over 1,800 species are likely to have some known medicinal advantage.

According to Qivana literature, the Qore Defense product supports strong immune function in addition to increasing endurance, stamina and energy. These mushroom varieties are distinguished for their distinctive, complex, and powerful nutritional content. They can deliver a expansive variety of health benefits, yet they are best recognized for their ability to activate immune-defense mechanisms. The medicinal mushrooms utilized in the formula are: Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), Cordyceps (Cordyceps sinensis), Coriolus (Coriolus versicolor), Zhu Ling (Polyporus umbellatus), Maitake (Grifola frondosus), and Shiitake (Lentinus edodes).

Qivana Qore Defense is Made with Organic Ingredients

The mushrooms in Qivana’s Qore Defense are all organically grown and cultivated in a greenhouse environment under fully controlled surroundings in the United States. Unlike others that are grown in Asia, the mushrooms in this complex are grown without using harsh herbicides or pesticides and they are free of impurities and contaminants, such as heavy metals. While the distinct advantages of these medicinal mushrooms are renowned, the Qivana Qore Defense formula has supported these benefits using a innovative cultivating technology. The mushrooms in the Qivana Defense product are grown on a bed of powerful, immune-enhancing adaptogenic herbs with beneficial nutrients. As the mushrooms grow, they take in the powerful benefits from these herbs and nutrients, which are specifically designed to enhance the strength of the mushrooms, increase their nutritional content, and enhance their essential worth.

How Do Mushrooms Boost Your Immune System

Mushrooms play a vital role at the foundation of the ecosystem. They grow most often in an extremely hostile surrounding, among dead and decaying matter, and are active in recycling and purifying organic substance. To protect themselves against the variety of damaging pathogens they encounter, mushrooms must have an extremely powerful chemical immune and detoxification system. Their very existance is dependent on their ability to defend themselves by deactivating these toxins. Their secret to a potent immune system is a special chemical, called a polysaccharide, which resides inside the mushroom’s cell wall through which food travels. This process is thought to be the source of their well-documented immune supporting power in humans.

Research has shown that more often than not, nature holds the key to many of our challenges. The experts at Qivana believe that regular mushroom supplementation could hold the key to keeping our immune systems alert, energetic, and more set to defend.

In conclusion, Qivana utilizes organically grown medicinal mushrooms in a product called Qivana Qore Defense that is designed to:

Support healthy immune function*
Activate the Natural Killer cells (NK) of your immune system*
Help maintain health during challenging seasonal changes*
Increase energy, endurance, and stamina*
Protect against chronic infection*

*These statements have not been evaluated by the food and drug administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Click here and sign up for the Qivana Take 5 Challenge and receive a free sample of the Qivana Qore Essentials. Qivana Qore Defense is only one of the amazing proprietary products in the Qivana Qore System.

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Acai berry- Does Acai berry work for quick weight loss

Acai berry is a tiny fruit that grows on the palm trees of Amazonian rainforests. This wonder fruit has been used by many Brazilian tribes for centuries. Some tribes also use it as a staple diet. Unknowingly they have been eating the most nutritious food on earth. They also use Acai berry of curing many ailments.

Acai berry is highly perishable in nature therefore it must be freeze dried immediately after being plucked from the palm trees. Its nutritional value is retained by freeze drying method and then it is shipped for processing. We find many acai berry supplement in different form.

When you buy this supplement always check the content and go for a good quality acai berry supplement. Many of these are available for free trial offer.

Rich anti oxidant content of Acai berry replenish free radical loss very efficiently. It boosts your metabolism and triggers your natural fat burning mechanism. As you start burning fat naturally; weight loss become very easy. Apart from boosting your metabolism ,Acai supplement boost your digestion and flush out excess fat from your colon.

Usually acai supplements are combined with a natural colon cleanser so that you keep flushing out toxins and fecal waste continuously. With faster metabolism, you start absorbing nutrition from your food very fast. No fat remains deposited in your gut therefore you remain slim and trim.

If you use this supplement for a month or so, you can see some remarkable results. there are no side effects whatsoever. All you need to do is follow the diet plan properly for a month. Moreover you need not spend your money to see its efficacy. Some of the best Acai berry supplements are available for free trial offer.

Grab the free trial offer of one of the best Acai berry supplement now

Make sure that you go for both colon cleansing and acai supplements for best effects. Not only will you lose weight very fast but also experience a lot of other health benefits like improved cardio vascular health and overall increase in your stamina.

 

Do Not waste your time and energy in trying useless weight loss supplements. Read the complete review of how Acai berry weight loss formula works and grab the free trial offer of best Acai berry supplement now

read more about how acai diet is the best Weight loss diet

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Acai Berry Juice vs Pure Acai Berry

Acai Berry Juice vs Pure Acai Berry

There are many forms in which acai berry is available online as well as offline. Tow of such forms include acai berry juice and pure acai berry capsules.

Acai berry is a rare combination of antioxidants, essential fats, amino acids and fibre. It is much much higher in ORAC ratings as compared to other antioxidant fruits like strawberry, pomegranates etc.,

Since it is rrich in antioxidants it is highly effective in increasing your metabolism so that your body is able to burn more fat quick and fast. In its purect form, acai berry can help you lose 2lbs-5lbs a week without any side effects at all.

Not only this, it is also rich in antibiotics and increases your body’s resistance to various sort of health diseases and disorders.

Acai berry is also known to increase your energy levels, boost libido, improve vision etc., In fact, it ensures overall wellness.

The juice versus the capsule

As for the debate regarding whether the juice or the capsule is better, it is good to review the similarities. The first similarity is the fact that both the juice and the pills come from the Acai Berry. Both also go through processes before they make it to you. The truth, however, is that the juice offers more flexibility. There are different beverages that contain Acai Berry and the juice can also be combined with others for unique flavors.

But more importantly, there are some high quality acai berry capsules that are nothing but acai berry in its purest form with no additives, fillers or binders. Such supplements or pills can have a high potency of as much as 1500mg oer serving.

This is likely to make them more effective as compared to substandard products or supplements and all other forms of acai berry such as juices etc.,

Not only this, top of the line acai berry pills do not come as a Free Trial. This is of great importance free trials are nothing but an attempt into luring you to buy a substandard product.

Check out more on the Most Powerful and All Natural Acai Berry Supplement that is a top of the line product with a maximum potency of 1500mg per serving.

Matt Penn is a fitness expert. Find out more on Benefits of Acai Berry and Pure Acai Berry that can make you lose 2lbs-5lbs a week without any side effects.

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Acai berry- How to lose weight with Acai berry

One of the most nutritious foods on earth, acai berry has also been ranked as the number one super food. Acai berry is Brazilian berry found in the rainforests of Amazon. This tiny grape like fruit is full of many nutritional properties. Among several health benefits of Acai berry, weight loss abilities are the most talked about property of this tiny fruit.

Obesity is major healths issue in the US therefore any product or health supplement that can guarantee quick weight loss; becomes an instant hit. Acai berry also became a favorite of health enthusiasts in a very short time. Media coverage and celebrity endorsements of Acai supplements did a great job in popularizing the weight loss capabilities of this wonder fruit.

Acai berry weight loss program is quite easy to follow. Almost anyone can lose weight remarkably fast by using this supplement. This program has been divided into two phases. Usually the first phase of Acai weight loss program consists of acai supplement that boosts your metabolisms and suppresses your hunger pangs.

Grab your risk free trial offer of the best Acai berry weight loss supplement

The anti oxidants and other nutrients take care of your energy needs and boost your metabolism. With a fast metabolism, you start burning fat naturally. Once your fat burning mechanism is triggered; it is just a matter of few weeks before you regain you slim and trim body.

Another phase of Acai berry diet plan is colon cleansing. Once your bat burning system starts working, you need to keep fat from depositing in your colon. The Colon cleansing part of this program removes years of mucus placoid from your colon and boosts your digestion. the best part of this program is that you do not gain your weight very easily.

The combined effect of this two step formula works wonders reducing your weight in a month. Apart from helping you shed weight , acai berry works wonders to rejuvenate you from inside. You start feeling the surge of energy from inside and your face starts glowing because of improved blood circulation.

Do Not waste your time and energy in trying useless weight loss supplements. Read the complete review of how Acai berry weight loss formula works and grab the free trial offer of best Acai berry supplement now.

Read more about which is the best Weight loss diet

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New Study Shows Pycnogenol Naturally Relieves Symptoms of Acute Hemorrhoids

A new study published in a recent issue of Phytotherapy Research indicates that  Pycnogenol® (pic-noj-en-all) has anti-inflammatory and anti-thrombotic properties that may be beneficial in treating and preventing hemorrhoids.  

Pycnogenol® is an antioxidant plant extract derived from the bark of a pine tree that grows in southwestern France.   The extract, which has been studied for the past 40 years, contains a number of procyanidins, bioflavonoids and organic acids that offer extensive natural health benefits.

“In this study, both topical and oral Pycnogenol® treatment reduced the intensity and duration of hemorrhoidal pain and bleeding. Pycnogenol® even reduced the number of procedures and hospital admissions caused by severe cases,” said Professor Peter Rohdewald, a co-author of the study.

According to the study Pycnogenol® decreased or eliminated hemorrhoidal bleeding and decreased pain for patients who took it orally and topically. For patients who took Pycnogenol® there was a decrease in the number of lost working days and fewer treatment costs in the following month.

“This study clearly indicates that Pycnogenol® is an effective, natural solution in controlling this common, disabling problem and may contribute to relieve hemorrhoidal attacks and offer pain relief,” said Professor Rohdewald. “Individuals never affected by hemorrhoids cannot imagine what people go through. Hemorrhoids can affect every aspect of your daily routine; it represents a tragedy most people don’t realize.”

Pycnogenol® dietary supplements are already available in health food stores, pharmacies and online. A  topical formula specifically for the treatment of hemorrhoids is being developed. Further studies are currently researching how Pycnogenol® can be used to prevent hemorrhoid attacks.

Callum Martinez writes articles on hemorrhoids and digestive health. If you’ve enjoyed the valuable information you read here go to
HeathwatchReport to learn more.

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Why Acai Berry Isn’t at the Grocery Store

Originally grown in the Amazon rainforest, look for this tiny grape-like fruit in your local grocery store and you are unlikely to find it, especially fresh.

Even despite acai berries numerous endorsements by Julia Roberts, Rachel Ray and Brad Pitt (during his film ‘Burn after Reading’), the only real source for buying  this nutrient dense product is online.

Part of the problems stems from acai berries rapid degeneration. Within 24 hours of being harvested, acai berry loses the potency of its numerous nutrients and becomes less effective. So unless you live near Brazil, eating fresh Acai is next to impossible.

Fortunately advancements in flash freezing has meant that acai berry can now be more easily preserved and converted into supplements, purees, juices and powders.

Yet even then accessing acai berry products is difficult. 

Due to its processing, by the time this product reaches the supermarket shelves it has dramatically risen in price. The only real affordable way to access this fruit is to buy it online.

Search Google and you’ll find a number of reputable sources for this nutritious fruit who will happily ship their juices/supplements to anywhere in the world. The only thing you should be conscious of is the quality of these products when you are researching.

Check first to see how the berry has been processed. If it has undergone anything other than flash freezing, then don’t buy it. If you do you could potentially be investing in product that may have lost a significant amount of its nutrients along the way.

One acai berry product we recommend is Acai Berry Select Cut. Made from 100% pure, unaltered acai berry, this product is easily the most potent acai berry product on the market offering consumers 1500mg per a serving. However the most notable element to this supplement is its backing and credentials:

• Certificates of analysis and purity
• Immediate fast weight loss from day 1
• Quality assured, produced in CGMP facilities
• Powerful antioxidant support – highest ORAC rating 

For more information on Acai Berry and how it can assist in your weight loss, please visit:

Acai Berry Grocery Store

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