Anti - oxidants
Anti-oxidants and free radicals are the hot buzz
words these days on television news shows, news paper
articles, and magazine features. Though scientists
in the health and nutritional fields have known about
them for decades, they have recently been getting
a lot of attention by mainstream media and more open
minded medical researchers. Anti-oxidants are a special
class of vitamins and other non vitamin compounds
that neutralize free radicals before they can damage
cells in our body. What is a free radical? A free
radical is a highly reactive molecular fragment that
has a single unpaired electron. The unpaired electron
wants to ?air up?with another electron.
The free radical will steal this electron from virtually
anything it comes in contact with, including our cells.
This reaction, if left unchecked, leads to a free
radical chain reaction and damage to various parts
of the cell depending on where it takes place. An
anti-oxidant can donate an electron without itself
becoming a free radical and thus can break the chain
of events leading to an uncontrolled free radical
chain reaction (8). Free radical pathology is now
believed to be linked to diseases such as cancer,
heart disease, diabetes, and dozens of other afflictions.
Without going into a long (and boring) biochemical
explanation, there are many things that cause free
radicals to be released, such as smoking, exposure
to various toxins found in air, food and water, sickness,
exercise, and stress in general.
Anti-oxidants such as vitamin E and C and other compounds
such as selenium, N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), and proanthocyanidins
(derived from grape seed extract), to mention a few,
will help recuperation from tough workouts, improve
immunity, possibly prevent certain diseases, and improve
your health in so many different ways it would take
another article to explain. A good anti-oxidant formula
made by any one of the brands I mentioned previously,
should be added to the diet in addition to the multi-
vitamin. Whey proteins can also greatly improve anti
oxidants status and is recommended.
Sports Supplements:
The topic of sports nutrition supplements, such
as: androstenedione and other Andros, Arginine, Colostrum,
CLA, Creatine, Ecdysterone, GH Supplements, Ginseng,
HMB, Myostatin Inhibitors and Tribulus, to name just
a few, is beyond the scope of this article. Each supplement
has its potential uses, dawbacks, doses and other
variables that need to be examoned on an indavidual
basis. People in the martial arts, law enforecement,
or military that want to understand these supplements
; whether or not they are worth useing, doses, types,
etc., should consider reading my ebook on the topic
of sports nutrition supplements, nutrition, and training
called Muscle Building Nutrition here:
>> Click here for Will Brink's Bodybuilding Revealed
>> Click here for Will's Fat Loss Revealed
Conclusion
The above list of foods and supplements is in no
way complete or the entire picture when it comes to
additional ways the martial artist, police, and military
personnel can improve his or her health, strength,
bodyfat levels, and recuperative abilities. However,
the information presented here can make for a foundation
of health and performance that could add a considerable
edge for those who seeks it.
(1)The way a carbohydrate effects blood sugar after
it is eaten is known as the glycemic response. The
glycemic index (GI) is a list of foods and how they
effect blood sugar. Some foods we think of as ?omplex?actually
raise blood sugar much faster than many foods we think
of as simple.
(2) The health problems related to fats is are far
more complex than most people appreciate. The pathology
of disease(s) caused by high fat intakes of the wrong
types of fat is a complex interaction between certain
fats, carbohydrates, a lack of certain vitamins and
other nutrients, free radical/anti-oxidant mechanisms,
and other factors that are poorly understood.
(3) For more information on the many benefits of the
essential fatty acids and to find out more information
about fats and health in general, read fats the Heal
fats that Kill by Dr. Udo Erasmus published by Alive
books.
(4) LNA and LA are in a 4:1 ratio in flax oil.
(5) Like fresh eggs, milk, meat, etc, all fresh unprocessed
oils will spoil (go rancid) if not refrigerated constantly
and eaten shortly after opening the bottle.
(6) All highly unsaturated oils, including flax, should
NEVER be used to cook with as this will change the
structure of theses oils making them toxic and of
little use for the purpose they are intended for.
(7) The fish oils DHA and EPA can be formed in the
human body from LNA by desaturase enzymes.
(8) It is important to note that free radical reactions
are a normal and essential part of metabolism. It
is the uncontrolled free radical chain reactions that
we are concerned with.
>> Click here for Will Brink's Bodybuilding Revealed
>> Click here for Will's Fat Loss Revealed
About the Author - William D. Brink
Will Brink is a columnist, contributing consultant,
and writer for various health/fitness, medical, and
bodybuilding publications. His articles relating to
nutrition, supplements, weight loss, exercise and
medicine can be found in such publications as Lets
Live, Muscle Media 2000, MuscleMag International,
The Life Extension Magazine, Muscle n Fitness, Inside
Karate, Exercise For Men Only, Body International,
Power, Oxygen, Penthouse, Women? World and The Townsend
Letter For Doctors.
He is the author of Priming The Anabolic Environment
and Weight Loss Nutrients Revealed. He is the Consulting
Sports Nutrition Editor and a monthly columnist for
Physical magazine and an Editor at Large for Power
magazine. Will graduated from Harvard University with
a concentration in the natural sciences, and is a
consultant to major supplement, dairy, and pharmaceutical
companies.
He has been co author of several studies relating
to sports nutrition and health found in peer reviewed
academic journals, as well as having commentary published
in JAMA. He runs the highly popular web site BrinkZone.com
which is strategically positioned to fulfill the needs
and interests of people with diverse backgrounds and
knowledge. The BrinkZone site has a following with
many sports nutrition enthusiasts, athletes, fitness
professionals, scientists, medical doctors, nutritionists,
and interested lay people. William has been invited
to lecture on the benefits of weight training and
nutrition at conventions and symposiums around the
U.S. and Canada, and has appeared on numerous radio
and television programs.
William has worked with athletes ranging from professional
bodybuilders, golfers, fitness contestants, to police
and military personnel.
|
