New Products are everywhere!!

Time to talk more about supplements- some good, some bad, some cum-see, cum-sah.

So much as been made recently about the new hot supplements on the market, like the so-called Myo-T12 myostatin 'modulator'.

Notice it calls itself a 'modulator' and not an inhibitor.

Why? I don't know- but words are important.

The idea, of course, is to suppress myostatin, which is the chief genetic key to keeping muscle size in check. In rats, suppressing myostatin has produced bulked up rodents, that were about 40% stronger and more muscular than their non-treated brethren. The muscle babies you hear about occasionally also suffer from a deficiency of myostatin, so the idea seems to have merit.

Side effects? Who knows.... tamper too much with nature and you might get a nasty surprise for your trouble.... we'll have to wait and see.

But this is one rat who is not volunteering for this particular field trial.... so, if you've tried this very expensive product, lemme know what you think of it. Clue a brother in.


X-Factor Advanced is new, sort of.... it's actually Bill Llewellyn's Arachadonic Acid formula repackaged.

Now, there's no doubt that this stuff will work- if you work out, it will put muscle on you... assuming that you don't mind the extra inflammation, pain and the idea of putting a lot more very dangerous Omega-6 fatty acids into your blood stream than you already get in your diet.

I've used it, and it's sorta like having DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.


Muscle-Tech's Cell-Tech Hardcore strikes me as a complete over-sell.

Almost everybody knows that it's doesn't matter HOW much more creatine you take in a dose; your body's only gonna absorb what it can, and you're gonna piss out the rest.

The most I can see the 'hard-core' part'll do for ya is give your urine a nice, fruity aroma. (I like most of Muscle-Tech's products, if they just weren't so high priced.)


Bodybuilder Dorian Yates has a new line called DY... I got some samples of NOXPUMP, and it's pretty good. The effects are pretty close to what you'd expect, but I don't how it will stack up price wise against the very ample competition.... I still like Muscle-Tech's NanoVapor for a preworkout a little better. But if I can, I'd rather buy a product from Yates-- a nicer guy you won't likely meet.


Let's talk about one of my newer favorite supplements for a sec; Cissus Quadrangularis.

Cissus quadrangularis is a plant native to India and Africa, commonly used there in medicine and food. Cissus has been used for centuries by traditional healers to treat bone fractures, stomach ailments, digestive problems and ear and eye diseases. Cissus is also listed by the USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) as an edible vegetable. Recent studies have shown that Cissus naturally contains a high amount of vitamin C, carotene A, and calcium. )

ok, Ok, OK.. but here's what I like about it; a recent study of Cissus showed a 40% average increase in Testosterone levels over baseline. Now, these is all yer own natural internally-made pituitary-testes-axis stuff; (no artificial prohormone or steroid) - just MORE OF IT. Talk about anabolic, androgenic - you don't get no better than T. It is also shown to have pain relief and tendon repair qualities. Of course, more studies are needed; but I take it as part of my recovery shake, it makes my knees hurt much less; and I really recommend it. You know, if it turns out to have GH boosting qualities too, it just might make me wet.



Some Supplements in Recent Studies Showing Positive Results for Strength Gains

I was able to find some recent very interesting positive-result studies about the following supplements...

Keep in mind, some of these would theoretically require long-term use to reach full effectiveness.

Omega 3
BCAA+Glutamine
ECA
Vitamins C+E
Caffeine
Glucosamine Sulfate
Zinc
Arginine
Citrulline Malate
Acetyl L Carnitine
Lipoic Acid
Chromium Picolinate
Calcium Magnesium

and of course....

Beta-Alanine , and
Creatine (surprised?)

Interesting list, huh? I was surprised about one or two of these; the fatty acids for instance...

Aside from the ones I already use, I guess I'll try a couple of the weirder ones and see for myself.

Speaking of endurance,
I recently tried out a device that cools the air as you inhale;

it keeps your core temperature (and more importantly- your BLOOD) cool while you work out;

I have to say I was quite impressed.

I was working at 900 lbs on a leg press machine - 3 sets of 10 each-- down in the well--
normally, I'll get winded and require 2-3 minutes rest between sets....

but with this gadget, I felt like I was working much less, and between set recovery was almost immediate.

I was still breathing hard, but it felt GOOD.

It's still being tested by the University/guy who's developing it, but you can bet you'll see this gizmo around real soon.

The bottom line: KEEP your core temperature and blood COOL (around 98') and you can work out longer and harder. Now, THAT is COOL.



As in all the supplements I talk about, never mind if I like it.... If you try it, let me know how you like it!


Supplement ingredients to watch - read your labels !!

Anybody who has read this blog knows that I'm a dietary supplement fan of the highest order. I'd rather do my own research, titrate and use a supplement than take a hundred prescription drugs... I don't trust most doctors (they don't call it 'practicing medicine' for no reason, after all) to give a flip whether a drug is right for me or not; and with the drug companies pushin all kinds of poisons these days just to make a buck, well, let's just say I'd rather take the responsibility MYSELF.

With that said however, it's important to realize the importance of knowing thy ingredients! Many supplements are blends of different ingredients, theoretically working synergistically together; but sometimes this is not the case: it is up to the consumer to determine whether the ingredients in a supplement are safe and efficaceous. If a product contains L-Tyrosine, you must know WHY it's in there, and what it does. And often , you will find a product with ingredients with no good purpose for inclusion, other than filling up the label with impressive looking gobbledy-gook. Or worse - some products actually contain dangerous ingredients that will maim, cripple, kill, or just mess up yer day.

So, heres a short list of marginal, dangerous, or worthless ingredients in supplements that I have recently spotted on labels.

Remember: READ EVERY LABEL, Know your ingredients, and Caveat Emptor!

An ingredient that is sometimes found in "muscle volumizers" and "creatine-protein blends" is called Glycocyamine. The main idea behind its supplementation is that it is converted to creatine by our bodies, so taking in more glycocyamine results in higher creatine and homocysteine levels. Boosting the absorption of creatine, ok.... but, boosting homecysteine levels has been found to be VERY BAD, and the inclusion of it in these products has been shown to neurotoxic ; cause neural misfiring ; increased cardiovascular disease; increased free radicals and oxidation ; enzyme inhibition ; DECREASED muscle contraction, performance and strength. Who needs all THAT? Try adding some phosphate ( Phosphagen HP does this for you... ) and an equal portion of simple carbs and protein to a 1-10-10 ratio, and you'll be maxing out your creatine absorption.

Here's a real bad one: Aristolochic Acid, sometimes called fang ji (Aristolochia fangchi), or wild ginger (Asarum canadense). It's sold as part of some diet aids; it's supposed to be a fat burner, but all it burns is your kidneys and liver....OUT. It also causes cancer - and worse: erectile dysfunction. OH NICE!

Kava Kava (Piper methysticum) is an herb included in supplements purported to promote relaxation, to reduce sleeplessness, and to relieve menopausal symptoms. (Hopefully, that isn't a problem for you...) Whether or not kava actually does any of these things has not been adequately substantiated... although, when I tried it, it did seem to give me a kinda loopy-drowsy vibe. Kava-containing products have been associated with hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver failure in over 25 reports of adverse events recently, four of these patients required liver transplants. So, maybe the only good thing about it is you can sleep through all the operations you'll have to have.

Other dangerous ingredients in "Fat Burners" and "Diet Aids" (and there's a lot of them out there...) include ----

Chaparral, Comfrey, Germander, Scullcap, all of which are known or likely causes of liver failure;
Lobella because of its impact on the heart; and
Pennyroyal Oil because of possible liver, kidney and nerve damage.

None of these have any real effectiveness (for GYM RATS, anyway..) to outweigh their dangers.

One might also include ephedra - but NOT ME - Ephedra is certainly dangerous in the hands of idiots and those people sensitive to it, but it is also extremely effective, and, if used carefully, it's benefits certainly outweigh it's downside. (Used in the ECA stack- ephedra, caffeine and aspirin )

Also avoid HIGH DOSE herbs, mineral and vitamins in products like:

Vitamin A (in doses of 25,000 or more International Units a day)
Possible Health Hazards: birth defects, bone abnormalities, and severe liver disease

Vitamin B6 (in doses above 250 milligrams a day)
Possible Health Hazards: balance difficulties, nerve injury causing changes in touch sensation

Niacin (in slow-released doses of 1000 mg or more a day or immediate-release doses of 1500 mg or more a day)
Possible Health Hazards: range from stomach pain, vomiting, bloating, nausea, cramping, and diarrhea to liver disease, muscle disease, eye damage, and heart injury

Selenium (in doses of about 800 micrograms to 1,000 mcg a day)
Possible Health Hazards: tissue damage

Geranium (a nonessential mineral)
Possible Health Hazards: kidney damage, possibly death OR WORSE

L-trytophan (an amino acid)
Possible Health Hazards: eosinophilia myalgia syndrome, a potentially fatal blood disorder that can cause high fever, muscle and joint pain, weakness, skin rash, and swelling of the arms and legs
(Note: I take this stuff on a daily basis to help me sleep, and I love it. I've had no side effects. Your mileage may vary. Just be careful and titrate- see your doctor, all that .... )

Gentian (sold as an appetite suppressant -actually it's an appetite stimulant!! )

Carveol (sold as a fat burner - it just doesnt work worth a damn.)

Isopimpinellin (sold as a fat burner - it's a coumarin - a blood thinner... like to bleed ?)

Diiodothyroacetic Acid - ( it's a thyroid metabolite, and actually causes increases in the retention of body fat )



Now, the above list is BY NO MEANS all-inclusive; these are simply some of the ones I have seen recently. I will add more to the list as I see them or as readers send me the studies. Check your labels carefully, and if you don't know what a certain ingredient does------ , Email me, look it up, or ask somebody who knows.




Also remember to check the flavoring and sweeteners used:

AVOID Aspartame (Nutra-sweet, Equal, Spoonful)
Possible health hazards: retinal damage, anxiety, depression, confusion, headaches, forgetfulness and chronic fatigue disorder.

AVOID SOY proteins and/or soy derivatives whenever possible; unless you WANT to look like you should be wearing a tube top and heels.

( See my blog on Soy Products and Mens Health:
http://hubpages.com/hub/Mens-Health-and-Soy-Products)

( For the basics on Supplementation, see:
http://hubpages.com/hub/Supplements-for-Strength-and-Fitness

Remember: It's YOUR body.. take charge of it's care and feeding!



(Note: this post and any other posts of mine are strictly for entertainment purposes only, and are not to be taken as medical advice or any other kind of advice for that matter... see your own doctor before entertaining any ideas of using any of this entertainment for your own entertainment. If you're a minor, supplements aren't for you.. you've still got growth issues and bone development things, and this stuff could interfere with all that shit and mess you up good..... , and you shouldn't be reading this blog anyway, so don't read another word...... just go get some exercise - play some 'find the weasel' with Sara Jane, play football or baseball - or if all else fails, Nintendo- but get off the Internet. Get it? Good.)