Leukic Supplementation

This popped up in one of my searches for more supplement information for you all. It was an interesting read.

Do muscle building supplements really work? Or, are they an easy way for the supplement companies to make millions of dollars annually?

Unfortunately we all look for the easy way to help us build the body we dream of. Some go beyond supplements and on to steroids. The bodybuilding magazines encourage us to buy these wonderful muscle building supplements. The latest ‘Mr. Whatever‘ assures us that he used them to build his fantastic physique. The magazines are full of ads to seduce us into buying these ‘wonderful aids’… but how many really work and how many can actually cause us harm. Remember the magazines make money by selling advertising…it is in their interest for you to spend your money on so called muscle building supplements.

The views of many experts vary considerably. Some of course have vested interests in such products. The more honest of them will tell you that very few body building supplements actually do what they claim. Sometimes you need to take huge amounts to show any improvement at all – this makes the cost prohibitive. Read the views of such people as Will Brink, Tom Venuto, Shawn LeBrun etc.

The main consensus among the genuine experts is that very few muscle building supplements have any benefit at all. Creatine is one that works for many people, As does protein. For some, glutamine may have some benefits.

Why not try good, old fashioned food like chicken, turkey, beef, fish, eggs, milk nuts and of course plenty of fruit, vegetables and water.

Ron Kehoe is a 73 year old from the UK who practises what he preaches. He has trained with weights for over 55 years. He also plays golf, paints and runs his own internet business. A picture of health and happiness see him at http://www.happyfitandhealthy.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ron_Kehoe

Posted by leukic_blogs at 11:47 PM | Permalink | Comments

Nutritional supplements can play a key role in the health of children and adults. Many people feel that they don’t get enough vitamins and minerals through their daily intake of food and, therefore, turn to supplements to fill in the gaps. LeukicDietary supplements come in a variety of sizes, potencies and, of course, health claims.

Vitamins, minerals and supplements are considered to be a preventive step by building up the bodies own defenses to combat and avert colds and illnesses. Vitamin C, Calcium, vitamin E and many other supplements are considered to be beneficial in thwarting off the ill effects of common colds.

Nutritional supplements and bodybuilding supplements are taken by some sports enthusiasts as a way to enhance their performance.

Losing weight is not something one can do overnight. A carefully planned weight loss program requires common sense and certain guidelines. Unfortunately, there's a lot of mis-informantion floating around and lots of desperate people are easily duped and ripped off. The leading experts now recommend that people who want to lose weight start increasing their physical activity. Just being more active in general (such as climbing the stairs instead of taking the elevator, moving around instead of sitting still, sitting up instead of lying down as well as showing some excitement and enthusiasm instead of boredom), are things that more effectively burns calories and reduces body fat.

It’s always best to consult with your physician when starting a new vitamin and supplements regime. There are many different companies Leukic that offer supplements and Vitamin Supplements to choose from as you focus on your physical and health goals. Choose from only the best providers of coral calcium products that offer great prices. That way you’ll be guaranteed quality and they can even be shipped right to your door.

Posted by leukic_blogs at 7:02 AM | Permalink | Comments

Despite the amount of press that steroids and prohormones usually receive you’d think that these were the only two substances that bodybuilders were using. But nothing could be further from the truth. There are dozens if not hundreds of compounds available that modern bodybuilders have at their fingertips to boost their muscle-building abilities and fat loss. The following are some of the more popular drugs that you’ll find in gym bags these days.

Estrogen blockers (i.e. Tamoxifen)

Estrogen blockers are a perfect example of using one drug to reduce the side effects caused by another drug. Even though steroids are relatively safe, they may cause side effects in certain individuals. One of the most unsightly of these is called gynecomastia. Essentially males also have receptors for the female hormone estrogen in their bodies, and one of the highest concentrations is found in the nipple region. As one of the breakdown products of steroids is estrogen, the increased levels of the female hormone can activate the estrogen receptors in the nipple region. The end result is the development of feminine-like breasts. The term “bitch tits” is often used as the growth may actually start to look just like women’s breasts. In most cases the condition will clear up after termination of steroid use, but in some cases the growth will need to be surgically removed.

Although some bodybuilders rely on luck or surgery to deal with gynecomastia, the smart ones turn to estrogen blockers. As the name suggests, estrogen blockers are compounds that block the feminizing effects of estrogen in the male’s body. The exact mechanism of action is unknown but it is believed that the drug binds to estrogen receptors preventing the real hormone from activating the cells.

Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). Although steroids may accelerate muscular growth, there is one part of the anatomy that they may actually shrink – the testes!

Following the old saying “use it or lose it” steroids often cause the body to shut down it’s own natural production of testosterone. After a period of time the testes begin to atrophy (shrink) because of a lack of use. In most cases they’ll begin remanufacturing testosterone when the steroids are stopped, but depending on the length of the cycle and the individual’s genetics, recovery may take weeks if not months. To combat this bodybuilders have once again turn to pharmacology.

Human chorionic gonadotrophin is a hormone only found in the placenta of pregnant women. It doesn’t seem to play much of a role for women, but for bodybuilders it has one appealing property; it mimics the action of luteinizing hormone (LH) in the body. LH is a pituitary hormone that once released, signals the testes to begin manufacturing testosterone. Hopefully you can now see why HCG would be an important drug for bodybuilders who are coming off long steroid cycles.

Diuretics (i.e. Lasix)

One of the most difficult tasks facing competitive bodybuilders is getting that “shredded” look for competition. But even when they experience significant fat loss and manage to drop their body fat percentages down to two or three percent, there is often a thin layer of water blurring the muscularity, giving that dreaded “smooth” look. Years ago saunas and wearing four layers of clothes were the usual choices for shedding water, but things have “evolved” and as with most things in bodybuilding now days, the solution for many is found in a pill bottle.

Diurectics are drugs that stimulate the body to lose water. Most work by blocking the actions of the water-conserving hormone, aldosterone. The most popular diuretic for shedding water is Lasix which can be taken in pill or injectable forms. Lasix and other diuretcis are very effective for shedding water, but they also cause the body to excrete important substances called electrolytes. These electrrcally-charged ions such as sodium, potassium, and chlorine, play vital roles in modulating various metabolic systems including, muscle contraction, nerve conduction, and heart beat. A number of individuals have died from diuretic overdosing over the years.

Thyroid Drugs (i.e. Cytomel). Compare pictures of competitors today with those from the 1970’s or 1980’s and you’ll see two important differences. First of all today’s contestants are carrying a lot more muscle mass. Bodybuilders are also much more ripped onstage. While steroids and growth hormone have probably contributed the most to the increased muscle size, the lower body fat levels are usually the result of thyroid drugs.

The thyroid gland is located in the middle of the lower neck, just below the larynx (voice box) and slightly above your collarbones. The thyroid gland produces two primary peptide hormones called tetraiodothyronine (thyroxine or T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). Both these iodine-containing hormones are essential for life and have many effects on body metabolism, growth, and development.

Bodybuilders refer to the thyroid gland as the body’s “furnace” since one of its primary functions is the regulating of metabolism and temperature. The two primary disorders of the thyroid gland are hypothyroidism (low levels of thyroid hormones) and hyperthyroidism (thyroid hormone levels too high). It’s the drugs that are used to treat hypothyroidism that have become popular.

When levels of T3 and/or T4 are insufficient the body’s metabolism slows down and the individual gains weight, usually in the form of fat. Thyroid drugs such as Cytomel are very effective at reversing this condition. These drugs are used to drop bodyfat percentages to the low single digit range. The big disadvantage of thyroid drugs is that they often leave the individual dependent on them. Once you depress the thyroid’s ability to manufacture its own hormones, they may never return to normal levels. Numerous tales are told of male competitors and female fitness contestants ballooning up after coming off their fat loss thyroid medication. In most cases the only treatment is to go back on the drugs and stay on.

Posted by leukic_blogs at 9:27 PM | Permalink | Comments