White willow bark has traditionally been used as an analgesic, dating back to around 400BC. Back then, it was mainly used to reduce pain, fever and inflammation.

The anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects of white willow bark are due to the presence of salicin. Salicin was identified in the 1800s but was expensive to extract so a synthetic compound, salicylic acid, was produced. This, however, was too harsh on the stomach so a milder version called acetylsalicylic acid was derived. Acetylsalicylic acid is more commonly known as aspirin.

Read Full Post

Probably one of the biggest differences between whey protein and soy protein is their source. Whey protein is an animal product, extracted from the watery substance that’s left over from cheese production. Therefore, it is unsuitable for anyone with allergies to dairy products or who is lactose intolerant. It also wouldn’t be suitable for vegans.

Soy protein, on the other hand, is a plant product, extracted from the soybean. This would make it suitable for vegans but not for people with soy allergies, which is a fairly common allergy.

So if you don’t have any dietary problems with either protein type, which one wins the whey vs. soy protein fight on a quality level?

There are a few different systems in place to measure protein quality. Digestibility is measured using a protein digestibility-corrected amino acid score (or PDCAAS). Officially, the highest score possible is 1.0. Both whey and soy proteins rate at 1.0, meaning they are both highly digestible. Unofficially though, whey protein has scored 1.14 so it’s probably just that little bit better.

Read Full Post

Do you hear the term “carbohydrate” and immediately think of something that’s bad for you and that you should avoid as much as possible? You don’t need to think of carbohydrates as the enemy. All carbohydrates are not created equal.

Carbohydrates occur in two different forms – either simple or complex. Simple carbohydrates are sugars like glucose or fructose. These are the sorts of carbohydrates that you shouldn’t eat too much of.

Complex carbohydrates, on the other hand, are carbohydrates that are good for you. We all need to ensure that we eat plenty of complex carbohydrates so that our bodies can produce energy to drive our metabolisms.

Read Full Post

Green tea extract is, these days, a popular ingredient in weight loss products. This is because studies have shown that green tea acts as a metabolic stimulant.

Green tea, as do other teas, contains caffeine. Maybe you’d think that it’s reasonable to assume that it’s the caffeine component that boosts the metabolism. However, green tea contains catechin polyphenols and it’s believed to be these compounds which are mainly responsible for the increase in metabolism. Catechin polyphenols are thermogenic, which means that they increase the rate at which the body burns calories.

In addition to this metabolic boost, studies conducted by two universities have also indicated that green tea extract will increase the rate at which fat is oxidized and that it improves glucose tolerance.

Read Full Post

Designed for serious bodybuilders, Arson by Muscle Asylum Project is a thermogenic product offering rapid fat burning results. Thermogenesis is the production of heat in the body due to metabolic processes. Some people have reported feeling the heat generated by Arson after taking just a single dose.

Containing a number of fat-burning ingredients including green tea and caffeine, Arson was shown in one study to increase the oxidation of fat by up to 35% in 24 hours. Arson works by boosting your levels of noradrenaline, the main fat-burning hormone in your body, by up to 40%. It also blocks alpha-2 receptors which has the effect of telling your body to keep burning fat for longer. Arson incorporates Rapid Wave Pulse Technology, a nutrient transport system that quickly delivers the active ingredients to your fat cells for rapid fat reduction.

If you do an internet search, you can find a number of comments about Arson from people who have tried it. Most comments are quite positive though, as you’d expect for any supplement, there are also reports of it having little effect in some who’ve tried it, and some people even reported feeling ill on it. Arson is not designed for the average person but more for the hardcore bodybuilder, so it might be a good idea to do a bit of homework before deciding to take Arson by Muscle Asylum Project to ensure that it’s suitable for you. Of course, if you have any health problems or are on any medication you should certainly consult your doctor.

Are you an athlete looking to increase your muscle strength and mass, and your endurance? Beta-alanine is a supplement that can help you to do both of these things.

Beta-alanine is a non-essential amino acid. This means that our bodies are able to produce it. We also ingest it when we eat proteins like chicken, beef and fish. So why do we need to supplement it if we can produce it ourselves?

Firstly, we need to understand what beta-alanine does. When beta-alanine and another amino acid called histidine combine, they produce a compound called carnosine. Carnosine is an intracellular buffer which is produced by our muscles, and which absorbs hydrogen ions. As we exercise, lactic acid builds up in our bodies. This lactic acid then releases hydrogen ions and it’s these hydrogen ions that are responsible for causing our muscles to become fatigued. If you have higher carnosine levels more of the hydrogen ions will be absorbed, thereby boosting muscle performance and allowing you to exercise for longer.

Read Full Post

Casein is the main protein found in milk, making up about 80% of all proteins found in cows’ milk (though only about 40% of human milk). It not only contains essential amino acids but also calcium and phosphorous.

If you want to increase your muscle mass, casein protein powder can be a valuable supplement. It is a slow-digesting amino acid source, meaning that it will stay in your body longer than a fast-digesting protein like whey protein. This, together with the fact that it inhibits the breakdown of protein, means that your muscles can get the benefit of casein for a longer period of time. In studies it’s been shown to stay in the blood for up to seven hours.

Casein is also a very good source of glutamine, which is found in your skeletal muscles and plays an important role in the synthesis of protein.

Read Full Post

If you want a supplement that will help you to build muscle mass quickly, maybe you should give Methyl 1-D a try. Research has shown that Methyl 1-D has helped some body builders build muscle and burn excess fat in as little as two weeks.

Methyl 1-D is a very powerful prohormone supplement that converts into testosterone once in your body, giving you the benefits of a testosterone boost. The only way that you could develop more muscle size and strength would be by taking steroids, which are, of course, illegal.

Read Full Post

If you’re planning to get fit, you should have a good fitness plan. What your fitness plan should involve will depend entirely on what your goals are. Maybe you want to lose weight, train for a marathon, or just want some more energy so you can keep up with the kids. Whatever your goal, it’s a good idea to have some sort of plan of activity in place.

If you’re serious about getting fit, or if you’ve been working on your own but don’t seem to be getting anywhere, using the services of a personal trainer can be a great idea. Your trainer can design a fitness plan which combines things like cardiovascular work, strength, flexibility, and balance training. Taking your goals and your current level of fitness into account, your trainer will come up with a specialized plan just for you.

Read Full Post

If you’ve ever watched The Biggest Loser on TV you might wonder how the contestants manage to survive the training programs they’re put on. Maybe you think the workouts are a bit over the top; harder than what the average person would handle. Well, maybe, but the basics of The Biggest Loser workouts are ideal for a weight loss program.

A good weight loss program needs to have a component to improve the cardiovascular system. Low intensity endurance training requires you to work at a slow, steady pace for a reasonable length of time. You start with however long you are comfortable with and gradually increase to no more than an hour. This builds your endurance and improves your body’s ability to burn fat efficiently.

Read Full Post