The main ideas behind nutritional support of fitness workouts
and athletic performance are:
- Supply rapidly absorbed forms of energy
- Replenish Electrolytes
- Replenish neurotransmitters
- Supply high levels of antioxidants
- Avoid filling the digestive tract with food or other bulk.
Human Action
Human action is the expression of incredibly complex and vigorous interactions of all
body systems. A highly trained triathelete demonstrates the impressive ability of the
human body to work skillfully, hard, and long. The basis of any exertion is the burning of
fuel. Food supplies fuel in the form of nutrients. Inside cells, mitochondria are the
basic engines that consume food molecules, release heat and store energy for the other
functions of the cell. Muscle cells use the energy to contract - the basis of all human
activity. During exertion, loses water and electrolytes through sweat and the lungs must
be replaced. Neurotransmitters are consumed at a prodigious rate and must be
re-synthesized out of nutrient substrates that are rapidly consumed. fashion clothes online store
Several nutritional theories of performance enhancement have been advocated in the past
several years. No products on the market have proven success in performance enhancement,
but several of the best ideas have gone into the design of NutraBalance and experience to
date has been positive.
Theory - Human Energy
Human action is an expression of biological energy derived from food. Living
cells are glucose-burning machines. Animals take advantage of the ability of plants to
manufacture sugar and other nutrients. The energy that supports us is locked into the
molecular bonds of a few basic fuel molecules: glucose, fructose, fatty acids, and amino
acids. The energy is released as the energy-supplying molecules are dismantled by
oxidation. Food-derived energy allows us to move, to do work by muscle contraction, and to
keep warm. Body heat is generated by the metabolic activity of every cell.
Carbohydrates and fats are the principle sources of energy, although amino acids may
be utilized as energy. Combustion of amino acids requires the excretion of nitrogen, which
is first converted to ammonia. Glutamine is the shuttle that carries ammonia
from rapidly-metabolizing tissues to the liver. The liver converts ammonia to urea,
which is delivered to the kidneys for excretion in the urine. organigramm
The energy requirement of any individual is determined by physical activity. Your
energy balances shift with variations in food intake and activity level. A healthy, active
adult will usually spend 1000-3000 Kcal per day of food energy (or approximately
33Kcal/Kg). Daily physical exercise is beneficial and tends to promote normal body weight,
with energy intake matching output. With food restriction, increased metabolic efficiency
allows the body to do better with less. This increased efficiency, induced by caloric
restriction, tends to frustrate people seeking to lose weight.
More on energy.
Antioxidants
The antioxidants are provided in generous quantities in Alpha ENF because of
their many potential health benefits. Vitamin C, beta carotene, vitamin E and selenium
scavenge free oxygen radicals. Cellular combustion can be compared to a wood stove, which
needs adequate protection to do its job without burning the house down. As we burn fuel in
our cells, some oxygen atoms are given an extra electron and become the radical, O2-. If O2- floats free of the energy engines, it may
interact with and damage other molecules.
Cell membranes are vulnerable to O2- injury; damaged
membranes disturb the function of the entire cell. Extra O2-
reacting with DNA can make the code sticky and can cause mistakes in code reading or
replication, resulting in cell mutation. The cumulative damage of trillions of random O2- encounters with critical molecules over many years contributes to
accelerated aging and cellular dysfunction. Cells contain oxygen detoxification enzymes:
peroxidases, superoxide dismutase, and catalases. The nutrients that combine harmlessly
with O2- and are referred to as "antioxidants". Vitamin C
is the cheapest, safest, and best antioxidant in town. If you can raise the amount of
Vitamin C in cells, you may soak up enough O2- to make a long-term
difference. The effect of Vitamin C is enhanced if you present three other nutrient
antioxidants alongside, Vitamin E, beta carotene, and selenium. You cannot take superoxide
dismutase (or other enzymes) by mouth and expect benefit, since it will be digested and
not arrive at the intracellular locations where it can act in a meaningful manner.
Amino Acids
Instead of proteins, free amino acids are provided. A complete set of the nine
essential amino acids is complemented by 10 of the non-essential amino acids. Both Alpha
ENF C1 and NutraBalance contain branch-chain amino acids; higher concentration in
NutraBalance is designed to enhance muscle action and growth. Leucine in particular seems
to promote muscle growth, acting in concert with insulin. The other two branch-chain amino
acids, isoleucine and valine, may also supply muscle fuel if impairment of glucose
utilization occurs. Arginine has been effective in improving tissue repair and can
be considered growth-promoting. The technique of amino acid proportioning is a frontier in
nutritional programming for athletic performance.
Problems with Proteins
One of the therapeutic secrets of Alpha ENF & NutraBalance is the avoidance
of proteins or pieces of proteins known as peptides. Proteins are the most reactive
molecules in food allergic disease. Staple foods such as milk, eggs, wheat, and meat
contain proteins that frequently causes immune responses and are the basic problem in
delayed patterns of food allergy. Protein powders sold as "body-building"
supplements are also a source of trouble. Protein powders are often made from cheap
proteins such as milk protein (casein, whey), egg white (albumin), soya proteins, or
hydrolyzed vegetable proteins.
Alpha ENF and NutraBalance avoid protein problems by providing a balanced
set of amino acids - the real nutrients derived from proteins by digestion of food. Amino
acids do not trigger immune responses. Free amino acids are much more expensive than
protein powders, but freeing the immune system from protein challenge is well-worth the
cost.
Neurotransmitters
Some of these amino acids are not destined to be included in body proteins but will be
used as neurotransmitters. Tyrosine and phenylalanine, for example, are converted to
dopamine, noradrenalin and adrenalin. Trytophan is converted into serotonin. Other
neurotransmitter substrates are not amino acids. Choline, for example, becomes
acetylcholine and is provided in Alpha ENF, even though it is not considered an essential
nutrient. Acetylcholine is the transmitter used to pass the millions of messages
per second which transfer brain movement maps into coordinated muscle movement. If the
supply of acetylcholine is low or limited, no amount of training or good intention will
avoid performance failure. Some power-down effects must be due to transmitter exhaustion. Choline
is the substrate for this transmitter. A study of blood choline levels in runners
demonstrated a 40% drop in choline levels following the Boston marathon. Thiamin is the
cofactor for this synthesis. Glycine itself is a major neurotransmitter in the
spinal cord. Glutamate is another important amino acid - neurotransmitter.
Women
Women have a larger surface area-to-mass ratio; lower bone mass; and wider, shallower
pelvis compared with men. Women have more body fat, less lean muscle mass, a gynoidal fat
distribution, a lower resting metabolic rate, and a lower red blood cell mass compared
with men. Women have an advantage in dry heat, are more at risk for osteoporosis and have
more knee problems with exertion. The difference in muscle strength between trained women
and men is a difference in muscle mass size. A major problem occurring among female
athletes is the misuse of restrictive diets to lower body fat for appearance and
performance. The outcome is an athlete who may be deficient in nutrients. The consequences
include eating disorders, anemia, amenorrhea, premature osteoporosis, and increased risk
of injuries with prolonged healing time. The use of Alpha PMX can assist in
total caloric reduction without compromising nutritional intake; the nutrient density (per
calories) can be doubled or tripled when compared with food intake.