Health Benefits of Probiotics

Have you ever heard the word probiotics only to not know what it means? Probiotics have started to become exceptionally popular. The information in this article is designed to help you understand what probiotics are, why they are beneficial. Also, important is for who are probiotics good for.

Have you ever heard of good bacteria? In essence that is what probiotics are. Your digestive system has over 400 different active healthy bacteria. The most common of these good bacteria are acidophilus and bifidobacterium bifidum, which are the most abundant healthy bacteria for digestive health. You may find these two ingredients in the best probiotics. These good bacteria are needed to keep your digestive system in balance. Poor amounts of healthy bacteria or probiotics cause health problems like headaches and poor or painful digestion. For any person struggling with their digestion know how uncomfortable these issues are.

L acidophilus works by supporting the production of acidphilin, lactic acide, and hydrogen peroxide which combined challenge the harmful pathogens that cause major damage within your body. Removing harmful pathogens boots your immune system, supports proper digestion, prevents poor breath, fights tumor and cancer causing pathogens, and helps with the ability to digest dairy products.

The goal of all probiotics, including bifidus and acidophilus is to support your digestive system to function properly. When you digestive system starts to lose it health increasing these good bacteria is essential to getting your digestive health back.

Many people suffer from candida, a disturbing digestive problem. If so then probiotic supplements are essential for regaining your health. The best probiotics prevent the yeast from continuing to grow and increase the effectiveness of the immune system. One thing to keep in mind that antibiotics destroy probiotics in your digestive system. The problem with antibiotics is that they do get rid of harmful bacteria and can cause problems with the good bacteria as well. Proper good bacteria is so important as 70% of the power of your immune system resides in your digestive system.

You body is in constant struggle from outside pollutants. Toxins from the environment, food, and stress reek havoc on digestive health which makes taking a probiotic as part of any healthy daily routine.

Probiotics are now becoming a staple supplement just as a multivitamin. Just like a multivitamin delivers the vitamins and minerals your biological processes need on a daily basis, probiotics deliver the essential healthy bacteria that your gut needs on a daily basis. Taking a probiotic supplement is now becoming part of many people's daily routine.

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What is Animal Pak by Universal Nutrition

The #1 selling training pak in the world for twenty three years straight. Since 1984, more competitive bodybuilders have cut their teeth on the Animal Pak than any other bodybuilding supplement in history. Why? Simple. Animal Pak gets the job done. It works. First time. Last time. Every time.

Nature, in all her ingenuity, has designed the human body as the ultimate performance machine. Fact is, since the dawn of mankind, our bodies have changed very little. When it comes to feeding our muscles, we still need the nutrients we get from our diets. But when it comes time to grow our muscles in a freakish way, we need the right combination and mega-doses of essential amino acids, carbs, vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids (EFAs). Only Animal Pak has what you need. You’re the kind of primal beast who trains with Animal intensity. You need plenty of the above, plus that little something extra only Animal Pak provides. That’s why we’ve also loaded the Animal Pak with performance optimizers such as PAK, IGF colostrum, nucleotides, lipotropics, L-arginine, Protogen A, eleuthero, and the like. In every pak, you’re blasted with a dizzying array of over 55 key ingredients which are delivered in the right amounts at the right time, every time.

Each of the 11 tablets included in each pak has been specifically formulated to deliver the goods. By taking the Animal Pak, you prevent the formation of nutritional gaps. Why should you care? The greater your training intensity, the faster and larger these gaps grow over time. When this happens you eventually hit a plateau. You stop growing. Maybe you’ve already hit this wall. To make matters worse, if you take other supplements, these same gaps begin to render those expensive supplements useless. Many of today’s supplements rely on enzymes and other substances in your body to “activate” them. Nutrititional gaps mean these key activators may not function at all, so you may be wasting all of your hard-earned money on supplements that won’t or can’t work.

Consider the Animal Pak as the cast iron skillet of your supplement program, your body’s first line of defense. If you train with weights, then you absolutely need to train with the Animal Pak. Remember, while most supplements have come and gone, precious few have stood the test of time. When you’re ready for the best, step up to the most trusted name in serious bodybuilding nutrition: Animal Pak.

Eating for Weight Loss - 5 Small Meals

What are Healthy Bacteria Probiotics?

Probiotics have become increasingly popular especially as people are living longer and the stress that Americans put on their bodies. Probiotics are living healthy bacteria that are essential microorganisms found in your digestive system. Probiotics have been labeled "good bacteria" or "friendly bacteria" as not to confuse with most people's idea that all bacteria are harmful to your health. You many not know that probiotics are found in the food we eat.

There are many reasons why probiotics are paramount for healthy living. First, probiotics support the prevention of illness that attacks many American's immune systems. Second, probiotics restore the healthy bacteria (flora) back into your gut for optimal digestive functioning. Also, probiotics have bring the body back into balance from stress, poor diet choices, and physical activity.

Probiotics by definition are "live microorganisms, which, administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host." When looking at probiotics, it is important to understand that there are many different strains of probiotics needed for optimal health. Some of the top products on the market have over 16 active stains of different probiotics in their supplement formulations. Each strain plays an active role in your digestive and overall health.

Probiotics are not prebiotics which are non-digestible food substances that enhance the functioning of healthy microorganisms already found in your colon. Probiotics and prebiotics work together in your digestive system in a synergistic relationship.

One of the more common ways for people to get all the different strains of probiotics that they need is through high quality supplements. Probiotics can also be found in yogurt, certain milk products, miso, soy milk products, and tempeh. New, products have probiotics fortified during the preparation period when not found originally with the product.

Probiotics are made up of the good bacteria in your gut. Most probiotics come from two different groups of probiotics called Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium. One of the most common probiotics is Lactobacillus acidophilus which is one of many different strains of probiotics. Some other probiotics like Saccharomyces boulardii are yeasts and not bacteria.

Stress, poor diet choices, physical activity, and the medications we take all reduce the number of healthy bacteria or probiotics in our digestive system. Your body is at risk for illness, digestive functioning issues, and reduced effectiveness of your immune system when probiotic levels are low in your gut. This is the main reason why probiotics have become popular in reason years, as almost all Americans found into at least one category for why probiotic levels can be low.

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10% Off All Orders at LiveLeanToday.com

10% Off All Orders at LiveLeanToday.com It has come to our attention that people were getting an error message while checking out from out last newsletter. The error has been fixed and our site has always and continues to be 100% secure for online shopping. You can verify that LiveLeanToday.com is both Hacker Safe and GEO Trust Secure by clicking on the logos on every shopping cart page. We are offering 10% off all orders for the support of your valued customers when you use coupon code 100. Go to Shop Live Lean Today 10% Off All Orders, use coupon code 100 20% Off SciFit Products, use coupon code 2002

10% Off iFlora with 16 Multi Strain Probiotic More positive strains means more posivite results with iFlora Complete Acidophilus Formula. IFlora contains up to 8 times more strains and 12 times the number of viable cells per gram than found in most probiotics. 10% Off All Orders, use coupon code 100 20% Off SciFit Products, use coupon code 2002

Animal Pak the Most Complete Multivitamin Universal Nutrition Animal Pack delivers the next level of nutrition that competitve bodybuilders and people who strength train at least 4 times a week. Serious weight lifting athletes still find nutrition gaps and loss of performance with regular multi vitamins. Serious athletes need more. 10% Off All Orders, use coupon code 100 20% Off SciFit Products, use coupon code 2002

Ephedra Plus Caffeine Ultimate Weight Loss Combination

Chinese ephedra (ma huang) comes from the dry herbaceous stems of a primitive family of plants known as ephedracae. Three species of ephedra are grown in China and recognized in the pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic Republic of China and the Chinese material Medica. This herb is one of the oldest and most widely used Chinese herbs. M Huang has been used for thousands of years in traditional Chinese medicine as a primary component of multi herb formulas that are prescribed to treat bronchial asthma, cold and flu, coughing, and wheezing, fever, chills, lack of perspiration, headache, and nasal congestion. It has, therefore, been no secret to the Chinese that there are a diversity of significant benefits to be derived from the other approximately 99% of ephedra plant that does not contain ephedrine alkaloids.

Thanks to modern science and proprietary nutraceutical know how, Hi Tech has now mastered the specifics of these beneficial ephedra constituents, which have been isolated, extracted, and standardized to create Hi-Tech's Thermo-Z brand of ephedra extract for its remarkable benefits in weight loss dietary supplements.

Ephedra + Caffeine: The Holy Grail of Weight Loss

The weight loss benefits of ephedra have been known for centuries. In fact, studies show that ephedra + caffeine can more than double the rate of weight loss compared to a placebo. Recent developments in the field of weight management have demonstrated the efficacy of using pharmacological agents, both instead of and in addition to, diet and exercises. Specifically, many studies have focused on the effects of increasing sympathetic nervous system stimulation in order to increase basal metabolic rates, thereby providing a long term therapeutic option for thermo genesis. Because low metabolic rate is a characteristic of being overweight, and sympathetic activity has been shown to increase this metabolic rate, a role for sympathetic stimulation in the field of weight loss has a well established physiological rationale. Unfortunately, however, the economic advantages of synthesizing and marketing these treatments have rapidly overshadowed the need for adequate research to assess their efficacy and safety.

Most of the early investigations on the use of ephedra, caffeine, and aspirin (ECA) combinations concentrated on the effects of ephedra and caffeine stimulate weight loss by increasing the sympathetic nervous system. Both ephedra and caffeine stimulate weight loss by increasing the sympathetic tone of various resting tissue beds, notably fat. It has been shown that both ephedra and caffeine (lesser degree) are capable of mimicking a sympathetic response when given alone. However, when given in combination, there is a synergistic increase in the level of thermogenesis, such that the stimulated levels are greater than the added sum of the separate effects of caffeine and ephedra given alone. The exact mechanisms of this enhanced action are still being researched.

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Beta Alanine 2000 Greater Endurance Canyoneering or Hiking

Zylene Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Zylene different?

Zylene is one of the few products on the market that has the correct ratio of herbs and minerals. By having the correct ratio of herbs and minerals, Zylene helps provide an accumulative and synergistic effect to get the maximum fat burning, appetite suppressant and increased energy in one pill. In addition, our product is manufactured by one of the top licensed pharmaceutical labs in the country; therefore, Zylene is of pharmaceutical quality.
What is Zylene and what does it do?

Zylene is a natural dietary supplement. It is made of herbs and minerals and is 100% natural. Most importantly, our proprietary formula contains a time tested proprietary blend of natural ingredients. It helps oxidize fat, increase your energy and it acts as an appetite suppressant to help control your hunger.
How much and when to take Zylene?

This may be different for everybody. We are all individuals and you may react differently to the dosage (you can take up to 3 capsules per day). Adults take one (1) or two (2) capsules before breakfast and, if needed, one (1) or two (2) capsules at mid-afternoon. Try not to take any later than 5PM; this may interrupt your sleeping. We recommend starting with one capsule of Zylene in the morning and gradually increase the dosage to a second in the mid-afternoon. Based on the desired effect, you may want to increase the serving to three capsules daily.
*Note: some people may feel nauseous when taking Zylene before meals. If this happens, simply take the pills during or after meals.
I am on medications, will Zylene affect this? (High blood pressure, antidepressants, and thyroid medications)

We recommend that you ask your doctor if you are currently taking any medications.
We do have clients that take Zylene with their physicians approval and are getting great results. If you need to give your doctor a list of ingredients.
Will I gain the weight back when I stop taking Zylene?

Everyone’s body acts differently when stopping a weight loss program. We encourage everyone to eat a healthy diet and exercise when taking or concluding any weight loss regimen.
What are the ingredients in Zylene?

For a list of Zylene ingredients, please click on the ingredients tab.
How much weight can someone expect to lose?

There is not a precise scientific answer to this question. It is generally recommended that a healthy weight loss result in only losing 1 to 2 pounds per week, as health and safety risks may occur with larger increments of weight loss. The amount of weight loss will be affected by many factors including, but not limited to: program compliance; amount of dosages; individual body composition; type and quantity of food consumed; level of physical activity; and even personal commitment.
Should vitamins and minerals be taken with Zylene?

Yes, absolutely. We strongly recommend that you take a good multi-vitamin such as Nutravex and or a multi-mineral such as Biozyte whether you are using Zylene or not. It is almost always good practice to take a good multi nutirient.
How many capsules are in each bottle of Zylene?

There are 62 capsules in a bottle. We recommend taking one (1) to two (2) pills per day and gradually stepping up your requirements should you desire. This way, the bottle will be a one month supply. For the average person, this allows a 1-month supply to get excellent results. Some people will require more tablets to get the same results.

SciFit Products 20% Off for the Next 48 Hours

SciFit Products 20% Off for the Next 48 Hours

Now, for just the next two days receive 20% off all Scifit products when you use coupon code 2002. Plus, if you order today all orders over $75 will receive a free bottle of Once Daily Multivitamin.

SciFit has long been one of leaders on the cutting edge of sports and health nutrition. Sci-Fit offers over 600 products to fit every athlete, no matter what the sport or level of competition.

Featured Products: Kre-Alkalyn 1500, Beta Alanine 2000, Hunger Strike, Kreation, & SER 5

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EcdySterone 300 Clinically Outperformed Steriods with No Side Effects Sci Fit’s EcdySterone 300 is a product that finally offers the necessary dose of 20-Beta-Hydroxyecdysterone (a.k.a. ecdysterone) to achieve the numerous benefits uncovered through years of scientific testing. Sci Fit is one of the first companies to utilize advances in standardization techniques now available that enable production of a high dosed product that costs less than the steroids it clinically outperformed!

Ephedra Free Weight Loss Sci-Fit’s Thermal Cuts (Ephedra Free) is a natural formulation which may enhance energy levels, improve mental alertness, and increase fat utilization. If you are looking to use a safer ephedra free fat burner, Sci-Fit’s Thermal Cuts (Ephedra Free) is the product for you.

New Sci-Fit Supplement ReviewSci-Fit Nutrition has been a leader in the sport and nutrition science industry for years. Scifit recently released new products on the cutting edge designed to support athletes, fitness enthusiast, and people needing to lose weight the competitive advantage they need to be successful. Sci Fit understands what the weekend warrior to the stay at home mom need to achieve their health and fitness goals. Listed below is a review of new products by Sci-Fit.

Thermal Cuts

Scifit has released an all natural blend of herbs designed to increase energy, enhance the focus of the mind, and increase your ability to utilize and burn more fat. Thermal Cuts was formulated to offer a safe and effective weight loss solution that is ephedra free. What makes Thermal Cuts so effective is 8 optimized fat loss and energy boosting herbal ingredients. With Sci-Fit’s Thermal Cuts you will feel your body’s increase in energy as you burn away fat from your body.

Training Paks

With Sci Fit Training Pak you get the exact right blend of essential nutrition your body needs for optimal performance. Training Pack is the perfect nutritional starter for any male or female athlete. The more physical activity you do the more your body craves vital nutrients to rebuild and perform. Training Pak delivers in each pack a complete vitamin and mineral profile, creatine monohydrate, glutamine, and essential whey protein to rebuild muscle tissue. The best part of Training Pak is that you can get the nutrients you need in a simple and easy to take serving once a day. »MORE

Core Abdominal Lean Strength Exercise

Alpine Climbing and Fitness

I have written before in this publication about indoor rock climbing and its fitness benefits. Now I want to turn my attention to the sport of "alpine climbing" and its variations, and how this activity can become a part of a fitness lifestyle that is truly in concert with what we call the "inner athlete." Another term for alpine climbing is simply "mountain climbing". Though most people would think of mountain climbing as something that would involve a very high peak and trekking through snow to get to the top, the purpose of this article is to show the value of participating even in less extensive climbs that test fitness and require some planning, but can be done in a short period of time or even over the course of an afternoon. As a personal trainer I was always looking for things that would effectively motivate my clients to adhere to a fitness program and reach their goals. Whether the goal was weight loss, building muscles, toning up their bodies or having more energy, I knew that the "Inner Athlete" that we mention frequently on our website exists in everybody, so it was up to me to find an activity that allowed a client's version of that inner athlete to come out. Training to get their body fit enough to climb a mountain was frequently the ticket. It is a very simple idea: get your body from the bottom of the mountain to the top, and once you are up there, enjoy the view and the fruits of your labor. A lot of clients were really intrigues by the idea, so we built their cardio programs and resistance training programs around it.

As I write this article, recently I have been riveted by the current Discovery Channel series "Everest, Beyond the Limit". The series follows the journey of a group of climbers led by a professional guide as they attempt to reach the summit of the world's highest mountain. In the series, viewers are treated for really the first time with EXACTLY what it looks and sounds like way up at those rarely traveled altitudes. In addition, a TV series has never before focused on the actual life these climbers lead as they spend almost 2 months on the mountain itself, getting used to the altitude and building the specific fitness required to achieve the summit. The hardship these people endure to reach their goal is almost beyond the understanding of most people, as the prolonged exposure to the increasing altitudes of Everest causes the climbers' minds and bodies to gradually shut down and stop working properly. It is enough to make even a pretty experienced fitness professional and adventurer like myself question the value of doing something that extreme to my body. Even having done some alpine climbing myself, including summiting Oregon's Mt. Hood (11,249ft) and Washington's famous Mt. St. Helens (8,364 ft), I still found it tough to imagine wanting to put my body through something so tortuous. The altitudes on the mountains I have climbed are only around 1/3 as high as those on Everest (29,035ft)

That's not what this article is about, however. Only a few thousand people in the entire world have ever stepped onto the summit of Everest, but virtually anyone can find a "climbing" adventure that suits their fitness and personality. The experience of the thrill of climbing is something that is realistically within anyone's means when actually trained for. Most people have just never really considered it possible or know where to start. Looking beyond the extreme nature that is present on Everest, the sport of "mountain climbing" can be participated in by almost anyone with a solid basic level of fitness. There some real and absolutely extraordinary fitness benefits that extreme climbers have achieved by the time they are done on Everest, and a version of those benefits are within the reach of "normal" people. These are people who may want the adventure of climbing a mountain to motivate them, but can realistically be achieved on a much smaller scale attainable by virtually anyone.

Physiologically, climbing is one of the most effective aerobic activities that can be performed. The steady state effort required to train for and perform climbs builds tremendous fitness in the heart and circulatory system. It is also typically low impact and easy on the joints which makes it an activity that virtually anyone can perform at some level.

Psychologially, climbing has a typically very simple appeal: getting to the top of a mountain feels good and is a very easy goal to define. "I made it to the top" is a very attractive thing to feel. Everybody wants to feel a sense of accomplishemnt in their lives, and too often our fitness success or failure is defined by the weight scale. All shapes and sizes of, people can climb, and the mountain doesn't care what size you are, it only cares if you made it to the top of it or not. So, best of luck in your climbing adventures, no matter at what altitude you finish!

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Zone Training for beginners to maximize workouts

Like Training programs that are based upon maximum heart rate, Anaerobic threshold (AT)-based training zones are relative to varying levels of intensity, each of which serves different training objectives. Each of these zones develops essential physiological functions that contribute to good health and improved fitness, especially the possibility of weight loss. So you should never limit your training to a single metabolic zone, although you may exercise predominantly in one zone for a given time in order to reach specific training objectives.

Except for rank beginners or people with health related limitations, all levels of intensity are appropriate to ensure maximum cardiovascular development and results. How much and how often you work in each zone will depend on your athletic goals and your current level of fitness (continue reading for a more detailed description of the zones and their primary applications).

Let's look at the volume of the different zones that should be performed weekly. As a rule of thumb, 60 to 65 percent of your total workout time should focus on Zones 1 and 2; 30 to 35 percent on Zones 3 and 4; and about 5 percent on Zone 5. But you need not incorporate all zones into a single workout. In fact, you'll get better results from designing a range of different workouts throughout the week - including long, easy ones in Zones 1 and 2, and shorter, tougher ones that occupy more time in Zones 3, 4 and 5.

ZONE 1: Warm-up Heart-rate range: 60 to 70 percent of AT.

Training objectives: Encourage blood flow and burn fat.

What's happening: This is almost a pure aerobic state, which you can maintain almost indefinitely without experiencing any rise in blood lactate.

Feeling: Comfortable to talk and breathe through your nose.

How long: 10-minute warm-up progressing to higher intensity zones for 45 minutes or longer. Depending on your fitness level, you may need to start with a shorter workout and build up to 45 minutes, or do several shorter workouts throughout the day.

Zone 1 basics: This is a good place to launch your fitness program if you are a beginner or returning to exercise after taking off several months or more. It develops basic exercise technique, endurance and an aerobic base. Ideally, if you are new to exercise, or returning to training after a long break, you should stay in Zone 1 for about six weeks before moving up in zones. Zone 1 is also a good place to recover from tougher workouts.

ZONE 2: Aerobic Development

Heart-rate range: 70 to 90 percent of AT.

Training objectives: Build aerobic efficiency and maximize fat burning at a higher caloric rate.

What's happening: A small rise in blood lactate occurs, yet the body can process it without buildup.

Feeling: You can still converse and may have the urge to go faster. Breathing deepens a bit.

How long: 30 minutes (beginner); 90 minutes or longer (advanced).

Zone 2 basics: Before developing your lactate tolerance or increasing your AT, you should fully develop your "aerobic base," and this is a great zone for moving that effort forward. Noticeable improvement in this zone generally takes about six weeks of consistent training. But don't worry: As you become more efficient and fit, you'll be able to work out faster in every zone. For fit people, Zone 2 is also a good place for active recovery.

ZONE 3: Aerobic Endurance Heart-rate range: 90 to 100 percent of AT.

Training objectives: Increase endurance. Here, you push your AT up to higher intensity by training your body to tolerate more lactate in the blood.

What's happening: As intensity increases, not all lactate produced in the cells can be shuttled back into the metabolic cycle. Lactate levels in the blood begin to rise and, with time, fatigue sets in.

Feeling: Breathing becomes noticeable, but not too difficult; conversation is restricted to short sentences.

How long: 20 minutes (beginner); one hour or more (advanced).

Zone 3 basics: Building endurance at your AT through long intervals (four to 10 minutes) at threshold range will help raise your AT and slowly develop your body's tolerance of lactate. This training adaptation also allows your body to burn fat more efficiently. The idea here is to rest between intervals with your heart rate recovering in your aerobic zone and then increase intensity again up to your threshold.

ZONE 4: Anaerobic Endurance Heart-rate range: 100 to 110 percent of AT.

Training objectives: Increase athletic ability by improving lactate tolerance. Here you're pushing AT and VO2 max (your body's highest ability to utilize oxygen), challenging the heart to work longer, and increasing cardiac output (more blood is being pumped with each stroke, thus requiring fewer strokes per minute).

What's happening: Your body switches into primarily using glycogen or carbohydrate to fuel its need for energy, and your blood-lactate levels dramatically increase.

Feeling: Breathing becomes heavy, difficult and uncomfortable. You may also experience "muscle burn" because of lactate buildup.

How long: Five minutes (beginner); 30 minutes (advanced).

Zone 4 basics: Run at an aerobic pace, then speed up or increase resistance until your heart beats at 110 percent of your AT range. Maintain this level for one to four minutes. Reduce the pace until your heart returns slightly below AT, but not completely back to the aerobic zone. Then repeat the interval.

ZONE 5: Speed and Power Heart-rate range: 110 percent of AT to MHR.

Training objectives: Increase athletic ability by improving neurological response, exercise mechanics, speed and muscle power.

What's happening: Your body is burning the last remaining fuel (glycogen) in your muscles and cannot sustain this maximum effort for more than a few seconds without succumbing to exhaustion.

Feeling: Extremely difficult and uncomfortable. You'll feel breathless and may hear pounding in your chest. You'll feel an intense desire to slow or stop.

How long: Typically several seconds.

Zone 5 basics: Your work here consists of sprints and very intense, short intervals (up to one minute). Although you can come in and out of Zone 5 several times during the course of a single workout, spending more than 10 percent of your total workout time in this zone increases your risk of injury. If you've done a significant amount of Zone 5 work, be sure to add recovery time (meaning a day or two of rest or working in Zones 1 and 2) before returning to Zones 4 and 5.

Progress Makes Perfect By using your AT as a marker for aerobic exercise, you can base your training on a highly individualized fitness parameter, without having to guess about percentages of MHR. This lets you take advantage of every exercise session, knowing you are making the most of your time and energy. And as your fitness improves, so will your AT - one of the best indicators of cardiovascular health, fitness and overall vitality.

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What is Ecdysterone with How Ecdysterone Works

What are you trying to obtain? You might want to build yourself a more athletic body-- maybe even one with deep muscular cuts of muscle, perhaps a chiseled six-pack, and possibly even some ripped legs? Or, how about simply improving where you are at right now in terms of health, muscle-gain and fat-loss?

For starters, this is going to take some work. But, what good is hard work if it's not producing maximum gains in both strength, fat-loss, and health? Not as good as it could be!

The research and development of anabolic supplements has yielded some amazing results in recent years and the scientific breakthroughs show no signs of diminishing. Of course creatine, glutamine, protein and multi-vitamins are standard issue in an athlete's arsenal. Beyond the basics, we've witnessed the development of Prohormones, ZMA, and Isoflavones such as Methoxyisoflavone. Clearly, we've seen remarkable advances in anabolic supplementation in the past five years and now another breakthrough has been released.

Prepare yourself for what could be the single most important
advancement in bodybuilding since steroids...

The future of supplementation is here!

Ecdysterone is a powerful compound to say the least and based on the research, it can definitely help you maximize your genetic potential. Best of all, it's proven safe and effective for men, women, and even teenagers! In fact, ecdysterone may just be the next herbal extract to create a revolution in the health, fitness, and bodybuilding world.

What is it and where does it come from?

It's known by other names of course, the technical name is 20-Beta-Hydroxyecdysterone and other common names are: ecdisten, ecdysone, isoinokosterone, 20-hydroxyecdysone and ecdysterone. Interestingly, it was first discovered in insects acting as an invertebrate polyhydroxylated sterolic growth hormone. Actually, insects depend on it for their survival. Could there be some correlation between insects superior strength ratio and this compound? What would the effects be on vertebrates such as mammals? If we had the proportionate strength of an ant, for example, we could easily pick up a car.

Even if a fraction of this power could be available through ecdysterone supplementation, the idea of supplementing with "bug juice" just isn't too appealing. Luckily, it's not obtained through insects for supplementation! It happens to exist as a compound in the herbs Rhaponticum/Leuzeae and Cyanotis vaga, and is therefore a naturally occurring phytochemical. Phew! Until recently; however, it was not easily available. Although Ecdysterone has been known and tested in Russia since 1988, it never received much attention because there existed no cost-effective way to extract it. Russian researchers and scientists had a very pure version developed, but it was costly...$20,000 per kilogram. The only other choice was Suma extract, which contained so little ecdysterone that it would have been ineffective as a viable ecdysterone-supplementation option. Within in the past year (2000), companies specializing in the extraction of high potency compounds from herbs have developed a way to extract concentrated ecdysterone at a standardized up to 97%! The breakthrough technology, in-vitro cell cultivation, provided the needed purity and concentration of ecdysterone to make it a viable option for economical supplementation. This is great news for anyone wanting to increase lean muscle mass, decrease fat and improve performance. So, bodybuilders, fitness enthusiasts and athletes listen up, the scientific data behind the "Steroidal Holy Grail" is simply incredible!

What does it do and what scientific studies give evidence to support this?

Scientists have performed over 50 studies on ecdysterone to conclude one resounding agreement: Ecdysterone is safe and it improves nearly every bodily function...without side effects. What else does it do? Two words: Muscle Growth. Ah, what the heck, here's a few more...

Research-backed ecdysterone supplementation properties:

Ecdysterone Highlights:
* A Drastic Increase in Lean Body Mass
* Increased Endurance
* Stimulates Metabolism
* Improves Nerve Function and Enhances Erythropoiesis (the development of mature red blood cells (erythrocytes))
* Maintains Healthy Blood Sugar
* Reduces Adipose Tissue
* Improves Nearly Every Bodily Function Including Brain and Liver
* It's Safe and Effective for Men, Women, and Even Teenagers
* Prevents the Loss of Muscle Mass while Promoting Growth of Muscle Fibers

Not to mention:
It does all this with absolutely no reported side effects, making it safe beyond reproach.
* No Negative Side Effects
* No Virilization
* No Conversion Into Estrogenic Compounds
* No Liver Toxicity
* No High Blood Pressure
* No Testicular Shrinkage
* No effects on the hormonal system in mammals including humans
* Incredibly Low Toxicity Levels (Over 4,000 times that which a person should consume)

Complete List:
* Increases protein synthesis
* Improves nearly every bodily function
* Stimulates protein synthesis in nervous tissue and increases nerve function
* Increases growth anabolicly in vertebrates including humans
* Increases total protein and glycogen content in muscles
* Increases myofibrilar proteins more efficiently than the anabolic steroids Methandrostenolone, the most potent steroid, Dianabol
* Suppresses hypoglycemia while powerfully supporting healthy blood sugar levels
* Perfect glycemic regulator leading to constant energy and feeling of well-being
* Stimulates incorporation of glycogen into proteinaceous tissue such as liver and muscle
* Pushes nutrients into muscle and organ tissue yielding better muscle growth and repair
* Stimulates the phospholipids that are linked to enormous health benefits when stimulated
* Cell membrane stabilizing properties
* Analgestic properties and a potent antioxidative effect
* Vastly increases athletic performance by increasing work capacity, body-weight, lung capacity, and VO2 max while also increasing exhalation of CO2.
* Increases lean muscle tissue and reduces adipose content
* Reduces fatigue and apathy, yet increases speed and strength
* Promotes a positive nitrogen balance and maintains a greater rate of protein synthesis

How does it possibly exhibit all of these above positive effects with little or no negative side effects? The secret lies in the compound itself.

How Does Ecdysterone Work? The single most important factor in maximizing muscle growth is environment. Ecdysterone works to create the "perfect" muscle-building environment in the body, among other positive effects. The perfect conditions for creating the perfect muscle building environment include maintaining a positive nitrogen balance and increasing protein synthesis along with intelligent, consistent exercise and a balanced diet rich in protein. It's long been understood that if the body was able to maintain the perfect anabolic environment, maximum muscle growth would occur.

Maintaining positive nitrogen balance and increased protein synthesis without also incurring hormonal side-effects was the trick. This is why researchers became so enthralled with ecdysterone when Doctor Burdette in 1963 found that ecdysterone enhanced the rate of protein synthesis. This was the beginning of over 50 studies showing the remarkable effects of ecdysterone on the body while simultaneously showing now side effects. Now, with the increased economical availability of pure concentrated ecdysterone, the picture is finally becoming more complete.

Learn more about the benefits of Ecdysterone on Clayton South's Health Facts.

Studies

Ecdysterone has been tested for its effects on work capacity, immune function, lean body mass and fat loss, among other variables in a number of scientific studies. The vast majority of research indicates an increase in test subjects' lean mass. Results were further improved when ecdysterone was consumed with protein.

Increase Protein Synthesis and Invoke Positive Nitrogen Balance

Studies conducted in the Soviet Union in 1988 showed ecdysterone helps "increase hepatic protein synthesis and subsequently promote positive nitrogen balance!" How does this lead to more muscle mass? Simply: "the more nitrogen your body maintains and the greater rate of protein synthesis, the more mass, period." How, exactly, does ecdysterone do this? V. Smetanin, researcher of the Smolenk State Medical Institute in Russia speculates that ecdysterone decreases urea concentration in the body and increases hemoglobin levels by increasing a process called erythropoiesis. Erythropoiesis is the development of mature red blood cells. This leads to a stimulation of the anabolic process in protein metabolism, which in turn leads to a positive nitrogen balance in the body.

Increase Lean Muscle Mass While Reducing Body Fat

The most often quoted ecdysterone scientific study was published in Scientific Sports Bulletin by S. Simakin in 1988. The objective of Simakin's famous study was to determine the effect of ecdysterone on muscle tissue mass and fat mass, while testing for hormonal changes in the subjects. For the study, three control factors were used: a placebo, protein, and ecdysterone with protein. The results were significantly in favor of the third factor. Of the 78 highly trained male and female athletes who consumed just protein, they showed only a slight increase in muscle mass for the 10 day period of time. Those who used a placebo lost a slight amount of lean muscle, while those who used protein plus ecdysterone showed a 6-7% increase in lean muscle tissue with nearly a 10% reduction in fat! Let me say that again: A 10% reduction in fat and a 7% increase in lean muscle tissue in just 10 days! Safety testing was conducted during the same time period which showed no difference in hormonal balance. Wow, if ecdysterone plus protein can do this for highly trained athletes, just think what it can do for the average person!

It's interesting to note the amount of Ecdysterone these Soviet Studies used. According to Derek Cornelius, "Most of the experiments used 5 mg per kilogram of body mass per day as the dosage." To find out how much you would need to take to supply this same amount of ecdysterone, use this equation:

MG/KG X Your Weight = Dosage:
In Kilograms: 5 mg X 78 kg = 386
In Pounds: 5 mg X 170lbs / 2.2lbs = 386

So, the average person should consume 300-600 mg of ecdysterone per day to meet this dosage. This compound is so non-toxic that this is a perfectly safe amount to consume. Syntrax Syntrabol is currently the only product that supplies enough mg of ecdysterone (200 mg per capsule) to effectively supplement at the 600 mg level.

Increase Stamina, Endurance, and Energy

Ecdysterone was tested in another study performed in 1986 by B.Ya Smetanin. For this research, 117 highly trained speed skaters between the ages of 18 and 28 were tested for work capacity, body weight, lung capacity and VO2 max. The results speak for themselves: all of the said parameters increased as well as an increase in the O2 pulse max and an increase in the exhalation of CO2. Basically, they received more oxygen to their cells! This equates to decreasing recovery time, maximizing performance, permitting optimal muscle anabolism and maximum fat reduction. It also means the athletes using ecdysterone compared to those on a placebo experienced increased stamina, endurance and energy.

That's not all! A study conducted using 112 athletes performed by B.G. Fadeev in Russia showed some very impressive overall results. However, by this time, the results should come as no surprise. 89% of those who supplemented with ecdysterone versus a placebo reported less fatigue, greater performance, more motivation, greater speed, and improved strength. How long did it take before these athletes reported these effects? Months? Weeks? No, five days. To make matters even better, no adverse side effects were reported.

Who needs it and what are some symptoms of deficiency?

Bodybuilders, athletes and fitness enthusiasts will find the extra gains in lean muscle mass and reduction in body fat very beneficial. Based on all the research, Ecdysterone looks to be not only incredibly effective as a performance enhancer on all facets, but also very safe. Since it is not a required nutrient, there are no symptoms of deficiency. However, if you would like to experience more energy and strength gains in less time than you've probably ever experienced, grab some ecdysterone and protein because you are the perfect candidate! Check out the section below to learn more on side effects and recommended dosages.

How much should be taken? Are there any side effects?

What about side effects? That's the best part! As you already know by now, research studies show no negative side effects, no hormonal interactions, and a very low toxicity level for ecdysterone. When tested by ICN Biochemicals on December 31, 1998, a complete safety test was performed to determine the toxicity. The data showed the amount of ecdysterone one would have to take in order to reach toxicity. The amount? 6400 mg/kg! In other words, an average 170lb person would have to take 494,528 mg of the compound to reach this point! This is 4,121 times as much as the recommended dose.

So, as you can see, it's very safe with an incredibly low toxicity. Furthermore, endocrine testing showed that ecdysterone caused no effect whatsoever on the mammalian hormonal system. Testing was measured on testosterone, cortisol, insulin, ACTH, growth hormone, and leutinizing hormone. The data not only shows ecdysterone to be extremely safe, but effective as well! The recommended dose of ecdysterone is 80-120 mg per day and upwards of 400-600 mg per day. We've even heard reports of people receiving amazing results working up to using as much as 1200 mg safely per day. Bodybuilding.com recommends Syntrax Syntrabol for higher doses of ecdysterone because each capsule contains ecdysterone standardized for 200 mg, the highest potency on the market. Remember, ecdysterone should be taken with protein-rich meals for best results!

Republished from Clayton South's Health Facts.

Stay Motivated and Lose Weight by Training Like an Athlete

One of the challenges to people who are looking to improve their fitness is staying motivated until they reach their fitness goals. With about 9 in 10 people wanting to change their appearance (make that: lose weight) as their primary objective, getting all the way to the target weight and keeping those extra pounds off can prove to be much more difficult than some had originally bargained for.

One of the big obstacles that people face is the fact they have been out of shape for years when they decide to finally do something about their fitness, and once they do start working out, the fact that the results that they seek may take awhile and can feel like hard work will test their motivation to the limit. One of the big reasons people hire personal trainers is that, in addition to the education they can receive from a professional instructor, the trainer can create workouts that are consistently fun and engaging as well as an atmosphere of support. And this can keep a person taking on their fitness motivated all the way to the finish line.

As a personal trainer myself, I believe that one of the best tools to keeping a person really motivated all the way to their goal and target body weight is to set very specific guidelines as to what that goal is, and have the person working out be very excited about what reaching that goal can mean to them. If a person wants to lose 20 pounds, we will discuss in detail what losing 20 pounds can do for their life and how they will feel and be different when they get there. And we come back to this reason over and over again during the period of working toward that goal.

One thing that I found, though, in my career as a trainer is that frequently just having a goal about weight loss is insufficient to keep a person motivated all the way to the end. The reason is that the process of weight loss in a healthy way can be a slow one. Even if a person had a great week of training and eating well, their body may not have changed a lot anyway. That can leave them with a feeling of being unsuccessful, even though everything that they did that week was positive and will benefit them in the long run. So, I was left with the problem of having a person doing everything they need to be doing really well and actually feeling like they were successful even if they hadn't lost a lot of weight in a particular week.

The key is to get all people in the process of improving their fitness thinking like athletes, even if on a smaller scale than someone training for the Olympic Games. I believe that all people have the ability to experience their athleticism on some level, even those that have been out of shape for some time, and when they make a connection to their bodies that allow for this, they can get hooked on that experience and want more of it. They will see that improving their fitness itself feels good and can be fun on its own, and that it would be something they would enjoy doing whether they were losing weight doing it or not. Once a person gets to this level, the irony is that they will lose all the weight they want anyway because they are actually at a point where they will stick with the exercise.

A few years ago, I had the opportunity to be a trainer in a couple of "weight loss" competitions sponsored by a local TV station here in Phoenix. Each of the two years that I participated, I worked with a person who was competing against three others to see who could make the biggest successful lifestyle change over a 5 month period. What the other trainers and I found over the length of the competition was that the people who ended up losing a significant amount of weight were the ones who got to the point that they realiozed that the weight loss was actually secondary in motivation to them feeling fit, athletic and healthy for the first time in a long time. All of the trainers worked with their clients using some techniques that were athletic in nature, similar to how an athlete on a sports team would train, with jumping and running drills, using medicine balls, playing basketball, etc. All of the successful participants said that once they realized they like feeling like they were athletes, they knew they would stick with the program for the rest of their lives.

I use the term "inner athlete" to describe this way of thinking, and I know that it works. Rather than having a client do just cardio, we may set a goal to have them do their first ever 5k road race in 3 months, and their cardio trains them for that in addition to helping them lose weight. Or they want to do a great hike in the coming summer, or their kids are now playing sports and they want to be able to play with them, so I do sports drills with them so they build the skills that any athlete at any age would want to have. These are the things that people like having whether they are losing weight or not, and the fact that this type of exercise helps them lose weight makes it all the better.

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Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Science with Zrii

Where did Zrii come from? From a powerful fusion of the past and present.

For centuries, Ayurveda has identified amalaki as a potent source for better body, mind, and spirit. In fact, it has all but been worshipped over millennia, and still has a holiday dedicated to it. The other ingredients also have long been considered sources for improved health and wellness.

But for the wellbeing of you and your loved ones, a long history is not enough to prove its worthiness. That’s why Zrii backs up this deep tradition with the latest science.

For example, many contemporary scientific and nutritional studies have shown that amalaki deserves its 5,000-year-old great reputation. There is a substantial amount of research showing that amalaki has an incredible nutritive range, full of phytonutrients with potential only now being discovered, and that it does indeed have potential to improve health and wellbeing.

Ancient wisdom and modern science also came together in our formulation team. This group was made up of award-winning Western doctors, world-renown Ayurvedic physicians and scholars, as well as PhDs in chemistry and modern nutrition.