| VOLUME 2, Issue 1 |
| January 2007 |
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Congratulations to all the new parents of the 6 baby
boys born this January. Perhaps February will be a month for girls.
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I was saddened to see an elderly neighbour recently
hospitalized with a hip fracture for 6weeks. This compelled me to write
an article on preventing osteoporosis; an article women of all ages
should read.
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This month the back page is devoted to sports
supplement questions raised by clients. I hope this info sheds some
light.
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| Happy Reading! |
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Creatine is an extensively studied Amino Acid, naturally produced in the body
by the liver and kidneys. The results of many studies show that Creatine
improves muscle strength and muscle mass, and improves anaerobic performance.
Creatine is an intrinsic part of the energy production cycle. Creatine is stored
in mitochondria (the battery) of skeletal muscle cells where it becomes a high
energy storage molecule Creatine phosphate.
During intense exercise, this molecule moves to the cytoplasm in muscle cell
fibres and releases additional energy molecules. In this way Creatine serves as
an energy reserve in muscle cells.
Are there risks associated with taking Creatine?
In the past “Creatine loading” was popular with body builders. Mega-dosing is
an ineffective method of supplementing any nutrient and 3mg of Good Quality
Creatine (such as Endura) daily with plenty of fluid is completely safe.
Creatine draws fluid into the muscle cells. Theoretically, this may cause
fluid to be drawn away from other organs. While there is no valid evidence that
this actually occurs, it is advisable to increase your intake of fluid while
taking Creatine and not to use it immediately before a long distance event.
VLA: Cellular Health Analysis & Creatine
The VLA tool analyses body composition (Fat Mass, Muscle Mass & Cellular
Fluid).
If your active tissue (muscle) mass is low and your ATM quality index is also
low, Creatine combined with high quality protein, fluid and resistance exercise
can improve the time it takes to build muscle and subsequently burn fat.
If you are currently taking Creatine and are concerned about hydration then
VLA can assess your total body water, intracellular and extracellular fluid.
For more info
on VLA check out our website.
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There are 80,000 fractures a year in Australia, most of them, post menopausal
women with Osteoporosis and most of them preventable.
Osteoporosis is caused by a decline in calcium absorption and a rise in the
excretion of calcium. In post-menopausal women this results from a decline in
oestrogen.
Bones are actually living tissue in a constant state of turnover, formation
and breakdown. In osteoporosis the calcium from bones is sacrificed to maintain
blood levels of calcium required for nerve function, muscles and enzymes.
According to Dr Novin of the Royal Adelaide Hospital, who has been working on
osteoporosis for over 50 years; Bone-loss can be stopped by supplementation of
either oestrogen or calcium.
Why then are women being left untreated until fractures occur, rather than being
recommended supplements?
Dr Novin believes calcium supplements are cheap and therefore not of great
profit to the pharmaceutical industry who invest in researching elaborate
medication for the treatment of osteoporosis .
So why is osteoporosis on the increase when we consume so many dairy
products?
Research suggests that the type of protein in milk possibly inhibits the
absorption of the calcium that milk contains in its original form. The heating
process of homogenizing milk also destroys some of the enzymes required for
calcium absorption. Combine this with lifestyle factors that interfere with
calcium absorption such as caffeine, alcohol, high salt, soft drink and lack of
exercise and you can see why osteoporosis is increasing.
Another reason Osteoporosis is increasing is wide-spread deficiencies in
other nutrients required for calcium metabolism. These include Magnesium,
Chromium, Boron, Zinc, and Vitamin D.
According to the CSIRO 70% of Australians do not get their required daily
intake of magnesium and 4 out of 5 people are zinc deficient.
So how can you prevent Osteoporosis?
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Be conscious to have a variety of calcium
containing foods (not just dairy) including; green leafy vegetables,
tahini, seeds and nuts, sardines, salmon, beans and soy products.
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Osteoplus is available
at the centre
for $25.00.
It is a scientifically advanced formula
containing Boron,
Calcium, Magnesium, Manganese, Copper
and Zinc. |
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Reduce Lifestyle factors that contribute to
calcium excretion and bone loss such as smoking, alcohol, salt intake,
soft drinks and caffeine.
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Do weight bearing or resistance exercise
regularly to increase healthy bone formation.
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Take a calcium supplement as a safeguard,
and ensure that it includes co-factors (other nutrients required to
absorb calcium), not just calcium alone. |
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Exercise produces an imbalance between free radicals and
antioxidants. |
Antioxidants improve overall well being of the athlete, improve recovery
time, minimize injuries, improve immunity, reduce muscle fatigue and thereby
improve performance. All this besides their potentially life saving, long term
health benefits.
Antioxidants include nutrients such as; Beta-carotene, Vitamins A, E, C,
Glutathione, Lycopene, Coenzyme Q10, Selenium and polyphenols found in the herbs
and certain foods such as grape seed extract, ginkgo, green tea, turmeric and
rosemary.
What do antioxidants do?
The cells of the body continuously produce free radicals or reactive oxygen
species (ROS) as part of metabolic processes to create energy. These free
radicals are neutralized by an elaborate defense system consisting of enzymes
and antioxidants.
While there are overwhelming health benefits of moderate exercise. Higher
amounts of exercise produce an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants,
causing oxidative stress.
Oxidative stress is the damaged caused to cells by these free radicals and is
a factor in Heart Disease, Stroke, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer's disease.
Oxidative stress is also responsible for exercise-induced protein oxidation,
which contributes to muscle fatigue and Iron overload, common to some groups of
endurance athletes.
Research indicates that the best way to supplement antioxidants is to take a
compound of many antioxidants rather than mega-dosing with one single
antioxidant and to include as many as possible in the diet from fresh organic
fruit and vegetables.
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