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If you spend an hour examining the packed shelves of a supplement store, you are more likely to walk away with a headache and empty pockets than a useful supplement. It is impossible to distinguish between supplements that build mass and those that build only debt without reliable nutrition and supplement information. Some supplements are useful but must be taken in appropriate quantities at the proper times.

Research supports the notion that meal timing around exercise increases the amount of lean mass gained. In one study, researchers supplemented two groups of men with the same supplement, except one group got the supplement immediately before and buy bulk l ornithine a-ketogluratate okg resistance training; the other group received the supplement several hours before and after working out(1). The group that received the supplement immediately before and after the workout gained significantly more lean mass than the group that did not practice good nutrient timing.

The most important part of building lean mass is eating extra calories. The extra calories should come from high quality protein, carbohydrates and fat, primarily before and after workouts.

Before a Workout-

Protein:

Generally, protein supplementation enhances lean mass gain during periods of resistance training-- thousands of studies support this conclusion. A study conducted at Baylor University in young men showed a significant increase in muscle mass with about 40 grams of protein supplementation per day (2). Before a work-out, whey protein, casein protein or mixed protein sources (like whey and casein/egg and whey).

Supplement with 0.5 grams/kg of protein before your workout.

BCAA:

The branched chain amino acids include leucine, isoleucine, and valine. All of these amino acids (the smallest units of protein), and leucine especially, increase the rate of muscle building and decrease the rate of muscle break down (3,4). Hence, BCAA supplementation before and after weight-lifting allows for an anabolic effect on protein metabolism.

Experts recommend 3-6 grams of BCAAs before and after workouts; take about 3 grams for each 50 kg of body mass. A pure BCAA powder is the most ecomical way to take this supplement; one rounded teaspoon is about 5 grams. A container containing 500g should cost you about $22-30 and should last about 2 months, depending on your weight.

Carbohydrates:

Carbohydrates are an important fuel source; lower glycemic or "slower" carbohydrates should be consumed before a workout. Good examples are oats and berries.

Consume about 0.5 grams/kg of carbohydrates before your workout.

Creatine:

Numerous studies have been published showing the benefits of creatine supplementation for increased lean mass and strength. One study showed about twice as much lean mass gain for men taking creatine over the placebo group when completing the same resistance training program (5). In this study the men supplemented with 20 grams/day during a one week loading phase and 5 grams/day for the rest of the twelve week study for maintainance. If you choose to do a loading phase, be sure to split the creatine up into 4 or 5 doses throughout the day to minimize stomach upset.

Creatine monohydrate is the form of creatine that has been studied the most and has been proven effective in research; 500g should not cost more than $15. Furthermore, there is evidence that creatine is absorbed better with high-glycemic carbohydrates; bananas and juice are good natural sources of sugar.

Example of a Good Pre-Work Out Shake for a 170 lb Man (taken 30-45 minutes before the workout begins): 1- 1.5 oz (scoops) casein protein, 2 Tbsp oats, 1 medium banana (in chunks, frozen for a thicker shake), 5 grams BCAAs, 7 g Creatine Monohydrate, ice or water as desired

Immediately After a Workout-

Carbohydrates:

Quick-absorbing carbohydrates are important after a workout for a number of reasons. First of all, the enzymes responsible for glycogen synthesis are upregulated immediately after resistance training. Glycogen, which is made in the body from sugar, is a major carbohydrate fuel for weight-training. As such, it is important to get your post-work out shake into your body as quickly as possible after a workout. Additionally, the high-glycemic carbohydrates stimulate the release of the anabolic hormone insulin, which aids in muscle recovery and growth.

Comsume at least 0.5 grams/kg of high-glycemic carbohydrate after a workout when you are trying to gain lean mass. Bananas and honey are both good choices after a work-out.

Protein:

Whey protein is quickly absorbed and has an overall anabolic effect on muscle, as demonstrated in a study of young males (6). In this study the men who supplemented with whey protein and creatine increased their strength to the greatest degree; those who supplemented only with whey (1.2 g/kg/day) also improved significantly more than the placebo group.

Supplement with 0.5 grams/kg of whey protein after your workout.

BCAA:

The rationale is the same as the above; take 3-6 grams in a post-work out shake.

Example of a Good Pre-Work Out Shake for a 170 lb Man: 1.5 oz (scoops) whey protein, 1.5 medium bananas (in chunks, frozen for a thicker shake), 5 grams BCAAs, ice or water as desired

*Do not add a fat source to your post-workout shake. Fat delays the emptying of stomach contents into the small intestine; you want the nutrients to reach your small intestine as quickly as possible*

You gain improve your gains with smart and consistent use of sports supplements. Though the supplements above are by no means an exhaustive list of all useful supplements, the most important and useful and effective ergogenic aids were included. When you are training to add lean mass, be sure to fuel your workouts 1) Take your pre-workout supplements 30-45 minutes before you begin training; and 2) Take your post-workout supplements within 30 minutes of completing your resistance training.

1. Cribb PJ, Hayes A. Effects of supplement timing and resistance exercise on skeletal muscle hypertrophy. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2006 Nov;38(11):1918-25.

2. Kerksick CM, Rasmussen CJ, Lancaster SL, Magu B, Smith P, Melton C, Greenwood M, Almada AL, Earnest CP, Kreider RB. The effects of protein and amino acid supplementation on performance and training adaptations during ten weeks of resistance training. J Strength Cond Res. 2006 Aug;20(3):643-53.

3. Blomstrand E, Eliasson J, Karlsson HK, Kohnke R. Branched-chain amino acids activate key enzymes in protein synthesis after physical exercise. J Nutr. 2006 Jan;136(1 Suppl):269S-73S.

4. Escobar J, Frank JW, Suryawan A, Nguyen HV, Kimball SR, Jefferson LS, Davis TA. Regulation of cardiac and skeletal muscle protein synthesis by individual branched-chain amino acids in neonatal pigs. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2006 Apr;290(4):E612-21.

5. Volek JS, Duncan ND, Mazzetti SA, Staron RS, Putukian M, Gomez AL, Pearson DR, Fink WJ, Kraemer WJ. Performance and muscle fiber adaptations to creatine supplementation and heavy resistance training. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1999 Aug;31(8):1147-56.

6. Burke DG, Chilibeck PD, Davidson KS, Candow DG, Farthing J, Smith-Palmer T. The effect of whey protein supplementation with and without creatine monohydrate combined with resistance training on lean tissue mass and muscle strength. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2001 Sep;11(3):349-64.

Jean Jitomir is a Registered Dietitian, light weight bodybuilder and Exercise Nutrition PhD student. her department specializes in sports ergogenic aid and muscle hypertrophy research. Read more about her at:

http://www.jeanjitomir.com

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The best supplements for heart health should address as many of the major controllable risk factors for developing heart disease as possible. There are numerous health heart supplements, but only a few may actually be beneficial.

The major risk factors for heart disease that are controllable include obesity, stress, unhealthy cholesterol levels, high blood pressure and physical inactivity. Although physical inactivity is not something that the health heart supplements can address, it can be advantageous to take supplements that are designed to increase energy. Many people find that after a day of work and commuting, they are just too tired to be physically active. Often this is related to poor quality diet during the busy workday. It takes some self-motivation, but the right health supplements can help.

Some herbs, minerals and vitamins that increase energy levels and stabilize them throughout the day include Green Tea, folic acid, magnesium, vitamin C and the B vitamins. These nutrients serve many unique functions in the body, but all are necessary for energy levels adequate to improve physical activity levels. The best supplements for heart health should contain adequate quantities of each of these.

There are many other vitamins, minerals, amino acids and other nutrients that are important for overall health. If your daily diet does not include everything your body needs to function efficiently, then you will have low energy levels. While focusing on a healthy diet is of utmost importance for health, heart supplements can provide some extra insurance. In addition, a complete daily vitamin and mineral supplement designed for your sex and your age group should insure that you get all of the essential nutrients that you need on a daily basis.

Stress is one issue that the best supplements for heart health will address. Stress in our lives is unavoidable. Chronic or long term stress caused by frustrating jobs, money problems and/or troubled personal relationships may be unavoidable. Often it is impossible to change these situations, but it is possible to change the way you respond to them. Chronic stress can also lead to depression, which often accompanies heart disease. Gingko Biloba and Sam-E have been shown to relieve the symptoms of depression and have been used as complementary therapies for patients with heart disease. Gingko Biloba, when combined with ginger, has been shown to reduce anxiety, caused by chronic stress. The best supplements for heart health contain Gingko Biloba and Sam-E.

In addition to physical activity, meditation and other stress reduction techniques, people under consistent stress need extra vitamin C. Vitamin C is needed by every cell of the human body. It cannot be produced by the human body, so it must be obtained from food or supplements and quantities in the blood stream are quickly depleted. This is one reason that many of the better health heart supplements contain vitamin C and the reason that dosage recommendations are typically for three times a day, rather than just once per day. If a person takes a mega-dose of vitamin C once a day, the body will use what it needs at the time and excrete the rest. The better choice is to split the dosage into three reasonable quantities. In this way, the body will have adequate vitamin C levels throughout the day, keeping energy levels consistent.

Controlling Cholesterol and Blood Pressure Naturally

You may have seen news articles and information from alternative health care providers maintaining that unhealthy cholesterol levels can be controlled naturally. Prescription medications (statin drugs) designed to inhibit the production of cholesterol within the body can also inhibit the production of Coenzyme Q-10. This enzyme can be created by the human body when overall nutritional levels are good, but when production is inhibited, muscle death (including the heart muscle) can occur.

When statin drugs were originally patented, the designers recommended adding CO Q-10 to the mixture, but the manufacturers never followed through with this recommendation. They simply added the warning that muscle pain, particularly in the legs, should be reported to your doctor. It is the opinion of many health care professionals, including this writer, that once deep muscle pain is felt, there could already be a problem.

It is not necessary to include CO Q-10 in health heart supplements, as long as statin drugs are not being taken and nutrition is good. The best heart health supplements contain ingredients that will lower levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol naturally. These include rutin, policosanol, inositol and, once again, vitamin C.

Blood pressure can also be controlled naturally, with proper diet, exercise and stress reduction techniques. Grape seed extract has been used to maintain normal blood pressure levels and the best health heart supplements contain this ingredient as well. Not all supplements are the same. To learn more about the best supplements for heart health (containing all of the botanicals and nutrients mentioned in this article) please visit Heart Health Diet Tips.com.

Patsy Hamilton was a health care professional for over twenty years before becoming a health writer. Currently she is writing a series of articles about heart health. Read more at http://heart-health-diet-tips.com