Staying physically fit and active is an absolute must but for most, our body starts to protest at some stage and pain and injuries can appear. Aching muscles & joints, ligament & tendon damage, electrolyte imbalances causing cramps and hydration problems are all common complaints. Most of these symptoms can be prevented though, especially with the correct use of protein, as well as a few specific nutritional supplements.
Amino acids are the building blocks from which proteins are made. So far 22 have been identified and they can be linked together to form more than 50,000 different proteins. The body continuously breaks down the proteins eaten into amino-acid complexes and free amino acids, which it then recombines to form whatever proteins it needs to maintain itself. Amino acids supply the raw materials for maintaining the genetic code (DNA), repairing damaged muscle tissue, for cell division, making enzymes, building new connective tissue and making hormones and neurotransmitters.
Not all protein foods contain the same balance of amino acids. As a reminder, protein is anything that comes from an animal - so meat, fish, eggs and dairy products, as well as nuts and seeds and soy products. Some other foods do contain protein too. Protein foods of animal origin are regarded as "complete" protein because they contain all the amino acids in an approximately ideal balance. Eggs in particular provide protein that is biologically complete. Vegetable sources vary in their balance of amino acids.
Try to include a serving of protein at every meal and snack. A cupped palmful at main meals and a level palmful at snacks. Also, if protein is eaten within 8 minutes after resistance training, this will be utilized for the repair of tissue, helping to prevent muscle pain and fatigue.
Taking a Glucosamine supplement is a must, to provide building blocks to help repair cartilage, ligament and tendon damage. This natural ingredient, mainly derived from crustacean shells, was trialed in Europe in the 1980's and was found to be effective in reducing joint pain, joint tenderness and joint swelling. Joint function and physical performance always improved with its use. Findings were observed after 4 to 10 weeks of Glucosamine administration. In these studies, 1500 mg per day was used. The results were so convincing that Glucosamine has become a first line treatment for osteoarthritis in several European countries.
Look after your digestion. You may think your digestion is good, but is it really? Can you honestly say that you feel energized after eating food? Do you experience gas, belching, acid reflux, constipation or diarrhoea? Having good digestion is really the key to good health. Your digestive system is involved with the breaking down and then absorption and utilization of nutrients from the food you eat and drink. If it's not functioning optimally, or if the foods or fuel you consume are not ideal, then your body will struggle to carry out its normal day to day functions and fatigue and illness can be the result.
Remember that what goes in, must come out; ideally within around 12 hours after consuming it. If this process is not efficient and/or if the transit time for waste matter to be eliminated is too slow, a toxic environment is produced in the intestinal tract. Our intestine is where we absorb nutrients from the food eaten. If there is accumulated waste matter built up in here, not only will you absorb the nutrients from the food eaten, but you will also absorb the toxicity created by this retention of waste matter. Yuck!
Just like the car enthusiast who keeps his vehicle finely tuned; using only the best fuel and oil, knowing this is the only way to ensure it continues to run optimally, we need to make the same choices when it comes to our body (our vehicle!). A regular tune up and "service" is vital to ensure everything continues to function as well as it can. Start the New Year off by completing a detox. There are many well structured detox packs available, that require little or no life style changes; except drinking more water. If this isn't for you, then increase your daily water intake and eat fresh raw fruits and/or vegetables at each meal. Those from the brassica family are some of the best for helping with better detoxification in the body, so a stir-fry and coleslaw are good additions to the diet. Remember that you will benefit from any improvement, so don't make excuses.
Hormones and glandular health. Stress, alcohol and recreational drugs can negatively affect sexual performance, hormonal levels and balance. As well as this, many common foods eaten on a daily basis contain residues of hormones, which enhanced the growth of that food. When we ingest this, it has a direct impact on our own hormones, mainly by increasing estrogen levels. A high estrogen level in men is not good and can shut down or affect the normal production of testosterone in the body. High serum levels of estrogen trick the brain into thinking that enough testosterone is being produced, thereby slowing the natural production of testosterone.
Another problem is high levels of an enzyme called Aromataze. Aromataze enzyme converts testosterone into estrogen in the body. Inhibiting the Aromataze enzyme results in a significant decline in estrogen levels, while often boosting free testosterone levels. Therefore, taking an agent designated as an "Aromataze inhibitor" may be beneficial for men who have excess estrogen.
One of the easiest ways to determine your existing hormonal levels is to have a hormone test. Armed with the results from this, you will be able to target any hormone specifically, whether high or low, to correct any imbalance that it showed.
Having a good mate to talk to is a must for all people, but definitely men. Statistics in New Zealand show that men aged between 25-45 have been identified as one of the groups most at risk of experiencing depression; as they are less likely to seek help, have less contact with their GPs than women, and are not likely to talk openly about issues they are experiencing because of the stigma of not coping. Symptoms of depression include finding it hard to get enthusiastic about things, emotional sadness, low self confidence and social withdrawal. Statistics show that New Zealand men who are aged between 25-45 have the highest rate of suicide by life stage, than any other group. What ever the problem, help is at hand. Look in the Personal help services of the local directory or online using a New Zealand search engine.
Many people experiencing depression may be suffering with a serotonin deficiency. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter or chemical messenger involved with a number of major regulatory processes in the body. These include sleep, mood, libido (sexual interest) & body temperature.
Serotonin is a word often associated with the use of substances like E, P & BZP, as taking these depletes this vital brain chemical. Prolonged stress, as well as a high protein, very low carb diet will also contribute to low brain levels. In the winter months many people suffer with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), also called the winter blues, which is linked to light deprivation. Studies show that the seasonal variations in natural light alter levels of the hormone melatonin, which subsequently causes reduced levels of serotonin. Working in enclosed spaces without natural light can cause the same kind of problem, with all of these creating a wide range of serotonin deficiency symptoms.
The most common symptoms relating to low serotonin are depression, carbohydrate craving & binging, sleeping problems & insomnia, compulsive obsessive disorders, anxiety & appetite changes.
Consider taking 5-HTP (5-Hydroxy L-Tryptophan), an extract from a plant seed called Griffonia, which is converted to serotonin in the brain. If your serotonin level is low, taking 5 HTP will top it up quickly. Going out side in the sunlight for 20 minutes a day will also help, as this is also needed for efficient serotonin production.
Remember depression is a symptom of something else happening in the body. The cause of this needs to be isolated, so the problem can be dealt with effectively, once and for all.
Had a good nights sleep lately? Some sleep specialists estimate that fifty percent or more of the US population suffer from sleep deprivation. Sleep deprivation is more about lack of quality sleep rather than lack of hours of sleep. This distinction explains why some people wake rested and refreshed after six hours while others are still weary and bleary eyed after nine hours.
The human body carries out many vital processes while sleeping. These include the production of growth hormones and other chemicals, the regeneration and/or repair of damaged tissues, recharging and strengthening of the immune system, preparing the body's energy stores for the next day and the removal of toxins in the body.
There are many things that need to be looked at if quality of sleep is an issue for you. These include the amount of stimulants you consume (tea, coffee & chocolate based products), when and how much of what foods you eat during the day, your nutritional stasis, your stress levels, your hormonal balance.... the list goes on.
If you have a problem with getting to sleep, consider taking a supplement high in magnesium, with co factors such as calcium and zinc. These minerals help to soothe and calm nerves and muscles, helping to promote relaxation in the body. Common deficiency symptoms of these include muscular cramps and twitches, jumping at sudden sounds and being unable to switch your brain off at night time to fall asleep.
We all consume far too many stimulants. Keep tea and coffee to no more than 2 cups a day and don't consume them past 2pm. Consider caffeine free alternatives such as caro, ecco or inka, herbal teas such as chamomile, lemon balm or rooibos (not green tea, which contains 2/3 the amount of caffeine as found in a cup of coffee).
Amino acids are the building blocks from which proteins are made. So far 22 have been identified and they can be linked together to form more than 50,000 different proteins. The body continuously breaks down the proteins eaten into amino-acid complexes and free amino acids, which it then recombines to form whatever proteins it needs to maintain itself. Amino acids supply the raw materials for maintaining the genetic code (DNA), repairing damaged muscle tissue, for cell division, making enzymes, building new connective tissue and making hormones and neurotransmitters.
Not all protein foods contain the same balance of amino acids. As a reminder, protein is anything that comes from an animal - so meat, fish, eggs and dairy products, as well as nuts and seeds and soy products. Some other foods do contain protein too. Protein foods of animal origin are regarded as "complete" protein because they contain all the amino acids in an approximately ideal balance. Eggs in particular provide protein that is biologically complete. Vegetable sources vary in their balance of amino acids.
Try to include a serving of protein at every meal and snack. A cupped palmful at main meals and a level palmful at snacks. Also, if protein is eaten within 8 minutes after resistance training, this will be utilized for the repair of tissue, helping to prevent muscle pain and fatigue.
Taking a Glucosamine supplement is a must, to provide building blocks to help repair cartilage, ligament and tendon damage. This natural ingredient, mainly derived from crustacean shells, was trialed in Europe in the 1980's and was found to be effective in reducing joint pain, joint tenderness and joint swelling. Joint function and physical performance always improved with its use. Findings were observed after 4 to 10 weeks of Glucosamine administration. In these studies, 1500 mg per day was used. The results were so convincing that Glucosamine has become a first line treatment for osteoarthritis in several European countries.
Look after your digestion. You may think your digestion is good, but is it really? Can you honestly say that you feel energized after eating food? Do you experience gas, belching, acid reflux, constipation or diarrhoea? Having good digestion is really the key to good health. Your digestive system is involved with the breaking down and then absorption and utilization of nutrients from the food you eat and drink. If it's not functioning optimally, or if the foods or fuel you consume are not ideal, then your body will struggle to carry out its normal day to day functions and fatigue and illness can be the result.
Remember that what goes in, must come out; ideally within around 12 hours after consuming it. If this process is not efficient and/or if the transit time for waste matter to be eliminated is too slow, a toxic environment is produced in the intestinal tract. Our intestine is where we absorb nutrients from the food eaten. If there is accumulated waste matter built up in here, not only will you absorb the nutrients from the food eaten, but you will also absorb the toxicity created by this retention of waste matter. Yuck!
Just like the car enthusiast who keeps his vehicle finely tuned; using only the best fuel and oil, knowing this is the only way to ensure it continues to run optimally, we need to make the same choices when it comes to our body (our vehicle!). A regular tune up and "service" is vital to ensure everything continues to function as well as it can. Start the New Year off by completing a detox. There are many well structured detox packs available, that require little or no life style changes; except drinking more water. If this isn't for you, then increase your daily water intake and eat fresh raw fruits and/or vegetables at each meal. Those from the brassica family are some of the best for helping with better detoxification in the body, so a stir-fry and coleslaw are good additions to the diet. Remember that you will benefit from any improvement, so don't make excuses.
Hormones and glandular health. Stress, alcohol and recreational drugs can negatively affect sexual performance, hormonal levels and balance. As well as this, many common foods eaten on a daily basis contain residues of hormones, which enhanced the growth of that food. When we ingest this, it has a direct impact on our own hormones, mainly by increasing estrogen levels. A high estrogen level in men is not good and can shut down or affect the normal production of testosterone in the body. High serum levels of estrogen trick the brain into thinking that enough testosterone is being produced, thereby slowing the natural production of testosterone.
Another problem is high levels of an enzyme called Aromataze. Aromataze enzyme converts testosterone into estrogen in the body. Inhibiting the Aromataze enzyme results in a significant decline in estrogen levels, while often boosting free testosterone levels. Therefore, taking an agent designated as an "Aromataze inhibitor" may be beneficial for men who have excess estrogen.
One of the easiest ways to determine your existing hormonal levels is to have a hormone test. Armed with the results from this, you will be able to target any hormone specifically, whether high or low, to correct any imbalance that it showed.
Having a good mate to talk to is a must for all people, but definitely men. Statistics in New Zealand show that men aged between 25-45 have been identified as one of the groups most at risk of experiencing depression; as they are less likely to seek help, have less contact with their GPs than women, and are not likely to talk openly about issues they are experiencing because of the stigma of not coping. Symptoms of depression include finding it hard to get enthusiastic about things, emotional sadness, low self confidence and social withdrawal. Statistics show that New Zealand men who are aged between 25-45 have the highest rate of suicide by life stage, than any other group. What ever the problem, help is at hand. Look in the Personal help services of the local directory or online using a New Zealand search engine.
Many people experiencing depression may be suffering with a serotonin deficiency. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter or chemical messenger involved with a number of major regulatory processes in the body. These include sleep, mood, libido (sexual interest) & body temperature.
Serotonin is a word often associated with the use of substances like E, P & BZP, as taking these depletes this vital brain chemical. Prolonged stress, as well as a high protein, very low carb diet will also contribute to low brain levels. In the winter months many people suffer with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), also called the winter blues, which is linked to light deprivation. Studies show that the seasonal variations in natural light alter levels of the hormone melatonin, which subsequently causes reduced levels of serotonin. Working in enclosed spaces without natural light can cause the same kind of problem, with all of these creating a wide range of serotonin deficiency symptoms.
The most common symptoms relating to low serotonin are depression, carbohydrate craving & binging, sleeping problems & insomnia, compulsive obsessive disorders, anxiety & appetite changes.
Consider taking 5-HTP (5-Hydroxy L-Tryptophan), an extract from a plant seed called Griffonia, which is converted to serotonin in the brain. If your serotonin level is low, taking 5 HTP will top it up quickly. Going out side in the sunlight for 20 minutes a day will also help, as this is also needed for efficient serotonin production.
Remember depression is a symptom of something else happening in the body. The cause of this needs to be isolated, so the problem can be dealt with effectively, once and for all.
Had a good nights sleep lately? Some sleep specialists estimate that fifty percent or more of the US population suffer from sleep deprivation. Sleep deprivation is more about lack of quality sleep rather than lack of hours of sleep. This distinction explains why some people wake rested and refreshed after six hours while others are still weary and bleary eyed after nine hours.
The human body carries out many vital processes while sleeping. These include the production of growth hormones and other chemicals, the regeneration and/or repair of damaged tissues, recharging and strengthening of the immune system, preparing the body's energy stores for the next day and the removal of toxins in the body.
There are many things that need to be looked at if quality of sleep is an issue for you. These include the amount of stimulants you consume (tea, coffee & chocolate based products), when and how much of what foods you eat during the day, your nutritional stasis, your stress levels, your hormonal balance.... the list goes on.
If you have a problem with getting to sleep, consider taking a supplement high in magnesium, with co factors such as calcium and zinc. These minerals help to soothe and calm nerves and muscles, helping to promote relaxation in the body. Common deficiency symptoms of these include muscular cramps and twitches, jumping at sudden sounds and being unable to switch your brain off at night time to fall asleep.
We all consume far too many stimulants. Keep tea and coffee to no more than 2 cups a day and don't consume them past 2pm. Consider caffeine free alternatives such as caro, ecco or inka, herbal teas such as chamomile, lemon balm or rooibos (not green tea, which contains 2/3 the amount of caffeine as found in a cup of coffee).
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