Persistent coughs melt away with chocolate - 22 November 2004 - New Scientist

Persistent coughs melt away with chocolate - 22 November 2004 - New Scientist

DHEA - Part One

I was recently turned on to DHEA by a major personality in the fitness world. He recommended it because of it's testosterone enhancing and weight loss effects. I priced it out, and amazingly enough, it's ridiculously cheap, and available EVERYWHERE!

It sounded too good to be true. Red flag? Maybe...read on.

I started doing some research and found that DHEA is a hormone that is legal to purchase over the counter, yet considered a banned substance by most international sports authorities. It has been shown to increase testosterone levels, aid in fat loss, and muscle building.

There are caveats. Too much DHEA has the potential to lead to liver problems. It could increase the risk of some types of cancer. Side effects include oily skin, acne, hair loss, upset stomach, and high blood pressure.

Most research points to DHEA being safe in low dosages. I'm currently taking 50mg daily. Many athletes are taking up to 200 mg daily, but that may be pushing the safe limits. I'm into muscle....but not enough to compromise my health.

I've been on it for 2 weeks now. I'll keep you posted on my progress...

SS

Supplement Saturday - Casein Protein

Welcome to my second installment of Supplement Saturday!

Previously, we talked about the benefits of using whey protein to help build and maintain muscle.

Today we'll talk about casein protein. As stated before, we need protein to build muscle, and supplementing your protein intake goes a long way toward achieving your goals.

Casein protein is a very slow digesting protein, and is therefore not as well suited as a recovery aid. Stick with whey protein in your post-workout shake. Casein is best consumed at bedtime. The protein is digested slowly while you sleep, keeping your body in an anabolic (muscle building) state.

My personal feeling is that casein isn't an absolute necessity for those whose goal is to maintain a high level of fitness. It's a little pricey, and unless you have unlimited money supplies, you need to make choices.

If you choose to use it, take about 25 grams at bedtime.

SS

A New Beginning

The blog has undergone a face-lift and a name change, as has my Twitter account. I think it more accurately reflects the direction I'm heading.

Here's to the future!

SS

Friday - Shoulders

Time for my Friday shoulder workout. One more day to bust my ass before taking the weekend off from weight training.

I've been struggling lately with a little tendinitis in my right elbow. Trying to nurse it back to health has been iffy. It might be time to have something done about it. I'll give it the weekend to heal, then we'll see where we go from there.

Have a great weekend, and stay strong!

SS

Why Are Fruit and Vegetables Needed In A Healthy Diet?

Author: Reid Schirmer

Fruits, vegetables, and legumes (dry beans and peas) can reduce the risk of several chronic diseases. Compared to people who eat few fruits, vegetables, and legumes,people who eat higher amounts as part of a healthy diet are likely to have reduced risk of chronic diseases, including stroke and other cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and cancers in certain parts of the body.

When shopping for fruits and vegetables, choose an assortment of different types and colors to provide you with a variety of nutrients. Make sure you balance calorie intake with caloric needs When increasing the amount of fruits, vegetables, and legumes you eat and be sure to eat them in place of less nutritious foods, not in addition to them.

The fiber in fruits, vegetables, and legumes is important. Diets rich in fiber-containing foods may reduce the risk of heart disease. Many fruits, vegetables, and legumes are also rich in nutrients, such as vitamins A and C, folate, and potassium.

Eating fruits and vegetables provides other benefits, too. One is calorie control: many fruits, vegetables, and legumes are low in calories and high in volume and nutrients. So, if you're trying to lose weight, fruits, vegetables, and legumes can help you feel full without eating too many calories. Fruits, vegetables, and legumes are packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and other nutrients. They can help you get the most nutrition out of the daily number of calories you're supposed to eat. Different vegetables are rich in different nutrients, so you should aim for a variety of vegetables throughout the week, including those that are dark green and leafy, orange, and starchy.

One caution that should be noted about buying packaged (canned, dried, or frozen) fruits and vegetables is they may contain added sugars, saturated fats, or sodium-ingredients you many need to limit. There are three places to look on a package that give you clues about what is in the food: the ingredient list, the Nutrition Facts label, and the front label of the package.

Added sugars can appear on the ingredient list as brown sugar, corn sweetener, corn syrup, dextrose, fructose, fruit juice concentrates, glucose, high-fructose corn syrup, honey, invert corn syrup, invert sugar, lactose, maltose, malt syrup, molasses, maple syrup, raw sugar, sucrose, and syrup.

Article Source: http://www.sooperarticles.com/health-fitness-articles/nutrition-articles/why-fruit-vegetables-needed-healthy-diet-374256.html

About Author:

Reid is a successful freelance writer who enjoys writing about the casio ctk 4000 portable keyboard and other popular topics.

Beginning Bodybuilding Over 40

Author: Steven B

When you mention the term bodybuilding it often promotes the image of huge bulging muscles on a man or woman and then it is often associated with steroids or some other enhancement drug. Truth is very few bodybuilders use drugs and instead rely on hard work and excellent diet and nutrition to achieve their results.

So if you are beginning bodybuilding and over the age of 40 the first idea you need to get out of your head is huge monster muscles and other ideas associated with hardcore competitive bodybuilders. Using bodybuilding as your fitness tool is an excellent idea and there are countless studies that show your decision is the right one.

The first order of business is to take stock of your physical shape and it would be wise not to kid yourself. A visit to your family doctor would be a good start and he or she would know what kind of shape you are in and would advise you as to your approach. However the bottom line is you still have to do the work.

It is good practice to start slow when approaching the weights and always begin with stretching exercises before lifting any weights. As for the weights start real light and work your way up to heavier weights when you feel more comfortable and have spent some time in the gym.

It might be tempting to just start blasting the weights but it will only be counterproductive because your muscles are going to be so sore you won't be able to work out the next day or several not to mention it will not be good for your motivation.

If you can afford a personal trainer by all means that is the ideal way to approach your fitness goals. Do not look at the guys or gals in the gym and try to follow what they are doing because they might have been on a program for a long time and you will only end up hurting yourself and sabotaging your efforts.

Beginning bodybuilding over 40 is really no different than if you were 20, the difference is the recovery time and the rate of muscle growth. You can build muscle mass over 40 however you are not going to get the gains like you would if you were 20 years old, so it is wise to set realistic goals and never give up!

Article Source: http://www.sooperarticles.com/sports-articles/bodybuilding-articles/beginning-bodybuilding-over-40-200490.html

About Author:

Achieve fitness over 40 50 and beyond with the right tools and equipment!

Breakfast Protein

Once I decided that I was doing this (getting in shape), I realized that I needed to pay close attention to when, what, and how much I ate. I think the biggest problem I had with my diet.

The 'when' and 'how much' were easy. I would split my meals up such that I was eating 6 times a day. This, by itself, dictated that the portions would be smaller. I'll be honest, 6 times a day isn't always practical, and I wish I could be more religious about it...but I live in the real world!

'What' was a bit more challenging. You are probably aware of the generally accepted fact that if you want to build muscle, your body needs protein. No problem, I eat lots of protein for snacks, meals, and supplements. Breakfast presents a challenge, however.

If you eat eggs every day, then there's no problem. For me, however, a little variety is always nice. Plus, I don't always have time to prepare a cooked breakfast. Check the breakfast aisle in your grocery store, and look for high protein options. There aren't many.

Enter Kashi! Their 'GOLEAN' line of cold cereals offers a ton of protein, while keeping it healthy with whole grains, low fat, and relatively low sugar content. Add milk, and you have a VERY high protein breakfast.

My personal opinion...'GOLEAN' is the healthiest option, 'GOLEAN Crisp' is the best tasting, and I never much cared for 'GOLEAN Crunch'. Try them, I think you'll discover a tasty, healthy breakfast alternative!

SS