Whey Protein Supplements Have Come A Long Way

This week I was chatting with a former colleague about just how much sports nutrition has changed over the years compared to what the supplement industry was like for us years ago.

This is especially true of whey protein supplements I can remember when protein powders (and there were not many of them) tasted like dishwater and were terrible in terms of how well they mixed with water or indeed milk these days that has all changed and now I probably consume more protein from sports nutrition supplements than I do protein from normal foods.

A quality protein powder supplement will mix easily with water, juice or milk with just a fork or shaker and no blender plus we are spoilt for choice with the range of flavours they come in these days.

Years ago the only way to maintain a high protein diet was to eat large quantities of tinned tuna and chicken breasts I have to chuckle when I hear people warning of the dangers of tuna from a can and the supposed high levels of mercury they contain because I used to get through at least 4 tins of tuna a day without any problems.

Of course nowadays we have protein snack bars and liquid protein shots as well as the different types of whey protein such as isolates and concentrates so the bodybuilder or athlete has a vast range of products to choose from to meet their high protein requirements with not a single tin of tuna in sight.

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IDS Liquid Whey Protein Review

Liquid whey protein shots from IDS (Innovative Delivery Systems)
is a new product that I get asked about all the time so I have been using it and monitoring my training closely to try and establish its worth compared to powdered form protein.

Each shot gives 42 grams of protein with no carbs or fat contained and I have been taking it for the past 5 weeks with an open mind as when you have been taking powdered protein for years as I have you cannot help but be a little sceptical when something that resembles a product from a sweet shop comes along sorry that is my little dig at the colourful packaging out of the way although to be fair the only thing that really matters is the product and each shot gives an impressive 42 grams of protein with no carbs or fat.

I have taken these liquid protein shots in place of my powdered protein the first day or so it felt a little strange not having my protein mixed in the the form of a pint of liquid but apart from that I have honestly felt fine and have not experienced any shortcomings in terms of strength or performance in comparison with my regular protein which if I am being honest I was expecting.

This product is aimed at people with a hectic lifestyle or who work long hours and do not get that quality protein intake every few hours well this product is a solution and now means that no matter how busy you are with your job your nutritional requirements do not have to suffer as a result.

Long term I will probably revert in the main to my favourite powdered protein but I will continue to use this liquid protein on a regular basis and especially post workout when it gives me an instant injection of quality whey protein.

The only rivals to it for sheer convenience are probably protein bars and overall I cannot really fault liquid whey protein the product seems to be competitively priced and is surely a valuable addition to your sports nutrition armoury.

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Vegetarian Sports Nutrition - Can You Achieve A High Level Of Fitness Using a Vegetarian Food Base?

By Vanessa Youngstrom

Vegetarian athletes have special needs to be able to perform at a higher level of energy than those who don’t exert themselves athletically each and every day. Vegetarian sports nutrition and calorie intake are very important to consistently help your body to perform at it’s best.

Most nutritional challenges of vegetarian sports nutrition can be met by planning ahead and having a variety of foods available at home. Variety in your vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds will assure the correct vitamins, minerals and essential amino acids in the diet.

Vegetarian sports nutrition must meet the energy needs of the athlete. Energy sources can simply be your favorite fruits, root vegetables, whole grains and green leafy vegetables.

Proteins needed for repair of tissues, building and repairing muscles, red blood cell production and just running your body, can be received from fruits, green leaves, nuts and root vegetables. Some excellent sources of protein include avocados, dates, bananas and almonds.

Protein requirements are not different for vegetarian athletes than for athletes who don’t eat vegetarian sports nutrition. Athletes should take 1.2 to 2 grams of protein per kilograms of body weight.

Our bodies also require minerals to repair and replace muscles and hormones. There are several factors that are important to the absorption of minerals and vitamins. How the foods are combined use of microwaves and incorporating the occasional fast all impact how minerals and vitamins are absorbed into the body.

Individual sources of plant protein do not supply all nine essential amino acids that meats and animal proteins do. However eating a variety of vegetables during the day will supply all nine amino acids; what one vegetable is missing another will supply.

Calcium is also essential to nutrition. Vegetarian sports nutrition should plan for sources from plants or add supplements since athletes who are low may have increased risk of bone and stress fractures.

Athletes also are at risk for iron deficiency, especially females. Iron loss is increased during heavy training. Vegetarian sports nutrition should incorporate spinach a good supply of iron, into the diet. Vitamin C also improves iron absorption. The main symptoms of iron deficiency are weakness and rapid fatigue during exercise.

Low zinc levels can also be a problem for vegetarian athletes in heavy training. Zinc sources are pumpkin seeds, pecans, split peas, Brazil nuts, rye, whole wheat, oats, peanuts, walnuts and almonds.

Vegetarian sports nutrition should include appropriate amounts of energy, carbohydrates, protein, vitamins and minerals is critical for optimal performance. Athletes who practice a vegetarian lifestyle must do a little planning to ensure the correct balance of nutrition in their diets.

Vanessa Youngstrom a nurse practitioner enjoys writing and educating on health and wellness topics. You’ll find more articles at http://www.YourHealthHere.com

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Weight Lifting Tips - Why Your Muscles Deserve More Sleep

By Jon Cardozo

Are you the kind of person that tries to get away with as little sleep as possible each night? Maybe you feel that you don't need as much sleep as the average person and you seem to get through the day quite easily with plenty of energy. However if you're starting a muscle building program, you may want to think a little harder about sleeping more each night. To understand why we have to remind ourselves how muscle grows to begin with.

I don't mean that we have to get into a technical explanation of how a muscle contracts or how it grows when you lift weights. I'll save that for your anatomy class if you're interested enough. What I do mean is that we have to remember that muscle does not grow in the gym. When you lift weights you stimulate muscle growth. The actual growth occurs after you're lifting weights not during your training session. Your body needs adequate rest and nutrition to rebuild your muscle fibers. Specifically it needs plenty of sleep since this is when growth hormone increases.

For most people 8 hours of sleep is needed. You may have slightly different needs but be honest with yourself. If you find yourself falling asleep during the day you obviously need to get more sleep. If you can try to take naps during the day as these can be helpful as well. The bottom line though is a lack of sleep can really interfere with muscle growth. Be sure to include plenty of sleep along with your diet and training regimens as part of an overall muscle building program.

If you would like to learn more about how to gain muscle naturally, visit Jon Cardozo's Web site at http://maximum-muscle-gain.com Learn the secrets to building a muscular physique and avoid the myths of the bodybuilding industry. Brought to you by Jcardozium.

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A Review Of VPX No Shotgun

No Shotgun by VPX has been causing quite a stir in the sports nutrition supplement world with favourable reviews and in some cases controversy although sometimes if the science bods start calling for a ban on a particular product then it is safe to assume that the supplement in question will be highly effective.

I have been taking this product pre workout for nearly two weeks now and I have been hugely impressed by the pumps that it gives which are among the best I have known and the general increase in energy levels this is so good that if I had to take ten supplements with me to a desert island then this would be in my list of ten.

This is a product that is worth its weight in gold for any bodybuilder or athlete who may have hit a plateau or whose gains have just dried up because No Shotgun will soon have you up and motivated again in no time at all while taking your intensity levels to new heights.

The only downside is the taste and it is fair to say that it is not the best tasting supplement out there although if you mix it with a little of your favourite dilutable squash (with water) it will be a little easier on the old taste buds in fairness this is only a minor drawback that should not discourage anyone from taking this product because overall this is a highly effective supplement that will bring both muscle gains and performance increase.

If you are thinking of trying No Shotgun just remember not to take it continuously as that will merely allow the body to become tolerant to it and become immune to its effects personally I would recommend a two weeks on and one week off cycle.

Buy VPX No Shotgun from www.BodyBuilding.com.

Have you used this product? Submit a comment!

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