While many athletes take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) before or after training, this has been shown to actually increase inflammation when compared with those athletes who don’t take them. Use of NSAIDS by athletes has also been associated with mild kidney impairment and low-level endotoxemia (where bacteria from the colon leak into the bloodstream).

If taking NSAIDS is potentially harmful, what, then, is the best way to promote a healthy inflammatory response? The answer to a healthy inflammatory response is by working with your body’s natural systems. TGF-ß (transforming growth factor beta) is a naturally occurring anti-inflammatory peptide that stimulates the healing process and helps promote a healthy inflammatory response to muscle inflammation. It can be found in natural supplements such as Protein Extreme Energy, along with other effective and natural anti-inflammatory agents such as papain and turmeric. Still not convinced that the natural route to recovery from inflammation is effective?
Read the stories of these athletes who have managed to cut down their recuperation time using completely natural inflammatory response methods.

References:

1. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 2008 Nov-Dec;32(6):656-9.
Inflammation: roles in aging and sarcopenia.
Jensen GL. PMID: 18974248

2. February 15, 1999 The Journal of Physiology, 515, 287-291.
Pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine balance in strenuous exercise in humans Kenneth Ostrowski*†, Thomas Rohde*, Sven Asp*, Peter Schjerling* and Bente Klarlund Pedersen*† doi:10.1111/j.1469-7793.1999.287ad.x

3. Brain Behav Immun. 2006 Nov;20(6):578-84. Epub 2006 Mar 22.
Ibuprofen use, endotoxemia, inflammation, and plasma cytokines during ultramarathon competition.
Nieman DC, Henson DA, Dumke CL, Oley K, McAnulty SR, Davis JM, Murphy EA, Utter AC, Lind RH, McAnulty LS, Morrow JD. PMID: 16554145

Copyright 2010 Elite Sports and Fitness

Antioxidants

Free radicals are small oxygenated molecules that possess an unpaired electron. In molecules, electrons generally go around in pairs and if an electron had no buddy then it desperately tries to find one. So desperately, in fact, that as soon as they are born they will steal one from the nearest donor they can find. In some cases that will be a skin cell, in others a low density lipid (LDL) molecule, and in yet others, DNA and proteins such as muscle tissue will be destroyed.

In each case, the molecules robbed of an electron are altered in some way or, as inferred above, even destroyed.  Thus, the membranes of skin cells are ruptured, causing the appearance of premature aging.  LDL molecules are rendered water-insoluble, so that they and the cholesterol they carry are deposited on the walls of your arteries causing atherosclerosis, and muscle cells are destroyed causing weakness and lack of athletic performance.

Free radicals are formed by exposure to pollution such as pesticides, tobacco smoke, industrial and traffic fumes and strong sunlight.  They are also formed during your body’s metabolism, and the more you exercise the more free radicals are generated.

Antioxidants destroy free radicals as soon as they are formed, and so prevent this undesirable oxidative stress taking place. Common antioxidants include Vitamins A, C and E, flavanoids, beta-carotene and many other forms of plant chemicals (phytochemicals). They can be used by athletes to prevent oxidative damage cause by the free radicals that are generated in the body during strenuous exercise.

Anti-Inflammatories

The immune system works in many ways to protect your body from invasion by pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and other foreign intruders. Part of your immune system is known as the inflammatory response, which occurs particularly when parts of your body suffer damage or become infected.

For example, arthritis is an inflammatory condition that occurs as a result of damage to bone tissue or cartilage, and subsequent infection of the synovial fluid. Another is the fever associated with serious bacterial and viral infections. Your body reacts to these situations by producing prostaglandins, opening up the blood vessels to allow the white blood cells to get to the source of the infection, thus causing swelling. They also increase the body temperature to render it less comfortable for bacteria and viruses, and produce chemicals such as cytokines that can call on the larger macrophages of the blood to the infected site.

The increase in the blood vessel size causes painful swelling while the temperature increase can lead to fever.  Some anti-inflammatories work by inhibiting the enzymes, mainly Cox-1 and Cox-2, that are responsible for prostaglandin production.  Inflammation reduces and the pain and swelling are relieved. These are the NSAIDs (non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as aspirin and ibuprofen. Others operate in a different way, but with the same end result.

Importance to Athletes

No Pain, No Gain – so they say. The trouble is that with pain you cannot gain. Pain caused through injuries is mainly caused by inflammation. Muscle degradation is caused by free radical oxidation, the free radicals being generated by extreme muscular exercise and metabolic activity.

Athletes and runners, who are particularly prone to free radical-induced oxidative stress and to inflammation of joints and muscles, require treatment that does not involve NSAIDs. It has been reported that some athletes using Advil, or ibuprofen, suffered more inflammation that those that did not1.  NSAIDs block the production of inflammatory prostaglandins, but also block a prostaglandin that protects the lining of the stomach and this can lead to internal bleeding.

They also reduce blood clotting, which results in increased general bleeding and bruising from injuries. For athletes, therefore, natural anti-inflammatories such as turmeric, papain(2), cocoa flavanols(3) (possibly) and trimethyl glycine(4) are preferred.  They work in various ways, including reducing prostaglandin production, although are much kinder to your body.

Reducing Inflammation

It is essential that free radical oxidative stress and inflammation be reduced to a minimum, not only to enable rapid recovery after exercise, and also after injury, but also to allow metabolic rates to increase without a corresponding increase in free radical damage to the cardiovascular system and muscle tissue.

The use of NSAIDs is commonplace, but, as explained, can cause several side effects if taken regularly. The safest method is by means of natural anti-inflammatories and antioxidants, some of which have been mentioned above though this is by no means an exhaustive list.

References

1.  Reported in http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/01/phys-ed-does-ibuprofen-help-or-hurt-during-exercise/

2.  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11589110

3.  J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 2006;47 Suppl 2:S163-71; discussion S172-6.

4.  http://www.arthritis-treatment-and-relief.com/supplements-that-help-ease-muscle-and-joint-pain.html

5.  http://arthritis.emedtv.com/diclofenac/diclofenac-risks.html

Copyright 2010 LifeHealthSecrets

To summarize the benefits in bullet point form, the benefits of bioactive proteins found in Protein Extreme Energy include:

• boosts and strengthens the immune system
• gets more amino acids into muscle cells throughout the body
• promotes muscle tissue growth, regeneration, and strengthening
• initiates the transport of nucleic acids into the cell nucleus, where the DNA resides
• provides the raw material needed to repair damage to the DNA and initiate cell division
• supports reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines
• helps in post-exercise recovery
• beneficial in repairing extreme muscle rips

From these points you can see why serious athletes and body builders nationwide have been incorporating Protein Extreme Energy into their daily regime.

How will Protein Extreme Energy help me build muscle?

Protein Extreme Energy offers a supply of high quality bioactive protein, and helps to maintain a positive nitrogen balance, essential for the retention of dietary protein. Combined with weight training, Protein Extreme Energy allows you to build muscle quickly and easily.

Why not just use whey powder?

In addition to being fifteen times stronger than whey protein isolate, containing 45% Immunoglobulin G as opposed to whey protein isolate’s 3% level, Protein Extreme Energy is far more bio-available because it is the only protein source that does not require high temperatures for raw material to be made. This means the un-altered amino acid sequences found in Protein Extreme Energy are far more digestible than those found in whey protein isolate, not to mention far stronger with eight times more IGF-1 and other immunoglobulin. This leads to a significant increase in your level of protein synthesis and nitrogen retention that allows your body to use more of the protein you eat and allows it to remain usable for a longer period of time.

This puts your body in the most anabolic state it has ever been in.

The only two times in your life that your body has had elevated levels of immunoglobulin was if you were breast fed as an infant and when your body transitioned from adolescence to adulthood. It takes a healthy adult approximately one full day for their body to produce the amount of immunoglobulin that is made available within just six hours of having a scoop of Protein Extreme Energy.

What is a positive nitrogen balance in the body?

This simply means that less protein is excreted from the body than is consumed. Protein loss occurs primarily through urine, though it can be lost through all other bodily fluids, including sweat, fecal matter, saliva, menstruation and ejaculation. A positive nitrogen balance allows the body to retain the protein inputted through diet and utilize it in synthesizing new tissue – building up your muscles.

I am an athlete/bodybuilder, why should I be worried about my immune system?

It has long been known that during intensive physical activity and training, the immune system is suppressed, thus rendering the athlete more vulnerable to infection. This immuno-suppressant effect lingers for hours after a workout, causing further exposure to harmful bacteria and viruses abundant in our environment, with few defenses to prevent them from wreaking havoc.

How does Protein Extreme Energy boost my immune system?

Protein Extreme Energy is a unique product designed to boost the immune system in a way that no other supplement can. It is a source of natural antibodies and also provides a supply of both immunomodulatory and growth-promoting peptides, essential components of any serious athlete or body builder’s regime. These include Immunoglobulins (IgG), Insulin Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1), and Transforming Growth factor-beta (TGFB).

So which component does what, exactly?

IgG, a type of Immunoglobulin, is proven to protect against pathogens, thus relieving strain on the immune system.

IGF-1, or Insulin Growth Factor-1, has been demonstrated to augment the transport of amino acids into muscle cells throughout the body, regenerating, strengthening, and growing these tissues after workout. It is produced primarily in the liver through the conversion of Human Growth Hormone (HGH). HGH, secreted by the pituitary gland, is essential for growth and optimal immune system performance. European researchers have established that IGF-1 is responsible for initiating the transport of nucleic acids into the cell nucleus, where the DNA resides, thus providing the raw material needed to repair damage to the DNA and initiating cell division.

In a recent study (unpublished) it has been observed through laboratory analysis that the concentration of IGF-I in Protein Extreme Energy is not different from the concentration of IGF-I already present in human serum.  A similar concentration of IGF-I in the product compared to normal human serum has these advantages: 1) No expected change in the way the product would influence normal, healthy cells than would normal serum;  and, 2) For damaged tissue, IGF-I at normal levels in serum has been shown to have a positive effect on the repair process.   The study completed on this topic by measuring IGF-I concentrations in healthy adults in a clinical trial and observed no change in circulating IGF-I levels.

TGFB, or Transforming Growth factor-beta is anti-inflammatory, helps in post-exercise recovery, and is beneficial in repairing extreme muscle rips.

How much Protein Extreme Energy should I take?

For best results, drink one scoop of Protein Extreme Energy mixed with 8-12 oz. of  cold water upon waking and one scoop of Protein Extreme Energy as a post workout drink.  In addition, drink approximately sixteen ounces of water within thirty minutes and one ounce for every two pounds of body weight throughout the rest of your day.

Why do I need to drink water?

All protein pulls water from your system, which can cause dehydration and further lead to gas, fever, nausea and diarrhea. The protein in Protein Extreme Energy has a very high rate of absorption and adequate water intake is crucial for ensuring the best results are obtained.

Copyright 2009 LifeHealthSecrets

Strong adrenals also promote a healthy inflammatory response. Addressing chronic inflammation is crucial in the fight against aging, as it has been associated with age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s, heart disease, diabetes, cancer and stroke, amongst others.

As we age, our bodies descend into an increasingly catabolic state, which essentially means that tissues and muscle are breaking down instead of building up and growing, your body can no longer heal itself. By promoting an anabolic state,  your adrenals helps muscle regeneration and growth.

Adrenals = vital to regulate stress and metabolism.

The adrenals are a pair of endocrine glands that sit on top of your kidneys. They are responsible for regulating stress and controlling the body`s energy output in conjunction with the thyroid. They produce over 50 hormones and neurotransmitters, including adrenaline, cortisol and DHEA. They govern the sodium-potassium balance in the body, necessary to cellular energy production. They also initiate the fight-or-flight response when confronted by imminent danger or stress.

When humans lived in a more primal fashion, the fight-or-flight response was useful because it provided short, intense bursts of energy. Today, however, our modern lifestyle means that we are bombarded with multiple stresses daily. Chronic stress may overburden your adrenals, and over long periods of time it can cause serious mental and physical damage.

Another way in which the adrenals are weakened is through the use of stimulants such as caffeine. While substances such as coffee and energy drinks provide a quick pick-me-up in the moment, repeated use overloads the adrenals and can lead to health issues such as anxiety, fatigue, lower back pain and sleeping disorders.

The adrenals can also be weakened by sugar and other refined carbohydrates found in many processed foods, infection, extreme exercise, lack of sleep, virtually any chronic disease, and the use of prescription medications.

Do you feel constantly tired and run down? Do you need caffeine and sugar to get you through the day? Are you under frequent mental or physical stress? Do you have trouble coping with stress? Do you have a decreased sex drive? Are you frequently depressed or angry? Do you engage in frequent extreme exercise? Do you often have an upset stomach? Do you overeat and/or have experienced significant weight gain? If you answered yes to any of those questions, you may be overburdening your adrenals and producing an excess amount of cortisol.

The short answer: because it may be dangerous. Traditional DHEA supplementation has been the subject of much controversy. First, there is a possibility that it may cause your body`s natural production of DHEA to decline. Second, the body converts it into excess estrogen or testosterone, which can upset your natural hormonal balance and speed the development of certain cancers.

Copyright 2009 LifeHealthSecrets