GABA Supplement

GABA, or gamma-aminobutyric acidm, is the most important natural neurotransmitter found in the brain.  Discovered in 1950, GABA was researched and tested before it ultimately gained the reputation as a chemical that could induce relaxation, analgesia, and sleep.  Studies have been conducted, two specifically, regarding the use of GABA and its effect on relaxation and immunity to stress.

The first study was conducted with 13 participants.  The study set out to look at the relationship between GABA intake and brain wave activity.  The results showed that the GABA had greatly increased brain alpha wave activity within 60 minutes of being orally administered (it had also, in turn, decreased beta waves).  These results indicated that GABA not only increased the propensity for relaxation, but, also decreased overall anxiety levels within the experiment’s participants.

The second study looked at participants whom were placed in a “stressed out” mental state.  This was done by asking them to cross a swaying bridge.  The volunteers were divided into two groups; a placebo group and a group who was administered GABA treatments.  Immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels in the saliva were tested throughout the experiment (lgA inhibits relaxation).  In the end, it was determined that lgA levels were significantly higher in the group that had received GABA, when compared to the placebo group.  The conclusion indicated once again, that GABA could be used as a natural relaxant within 60 minutes of oral consumption.

Taking GABA supplements, usually in the amount of 2-5 grams daily, has also shown to help in other self improvement efforts (for many individuals).  In addition to its stress reducing abilities, GABA is speculated to be beneficial for weight loss and fat burning; at type of 24/7 metabolism booster, some believe.  It has also proven to increase blood Human Growth Hormone levels (HGH) in various studies.  This is important to many body builders, as increased HGH levels typically lend to increased strength and muscle density.  Since it is difficult for the supplement to cross the blood brain barrier, however, many skeptics have dispelled that the supplement is overly effective within the realms of weight loss or HGH production.

What is the best way to decide whether or not GAB A supplementation is for you?  Consult a physician and try it!  GABA has worked wonders for thousands of people worldwide.  While its effects have been proven to reduce anxiety and increase relaxation, there is also a lot of evidence to argue that GABA may be just as beneficial for insomnia, weight loss, and body building.

GABA can be found it most health food and dietary supplement stores.  Recommendations on dosage can be found directly on the GABA supplement label.  However, it is highly recommended that you start off with a light dosage – typically less than 1-2 grams.  To this point, few studies have been conducted on GABA effects and long term supplementation.  Furthermore, you should note that there is no “standard dosage” for GABA within the health and dietary supplement industry.  GABA side effects, though very mild, have also been noted.  Starting out small and gradually building your way up is the best way to go when using GABA supplement s.

By: Paul Guenther

Are Hot-Rox Worth the Hype?

It appears so.  In a direct review from bodybuilding.about.com, Bio-Test Hot-Rox seem to stack up pretty well against other fat burners:

Pros

• Mobilizes stored body fat & increases body fat burning
• Suppresses appetite
• Increase thyroid hormone secretion and raises metabolism
• Enhance T4 to T3 thyroid conversion
• Increases testosterone in males

Cons

• Not good for use during bulking cycles due to appetite suppression effects

Description

• No need to cycle off product, it does not exert its benefits through beta receptor stimulation.
• The product has a cumulative effect-the longer you stay on it, the better it works.
• Results are not dependent on excessive or increased dosages.

St. John’s Wort – Use for Depression

Did you know that a common herb, right here in the United States, can be used to treat depression. Trials and tribulations over the years have proven, again and again, that St. John’s Wort is effective against depression in many people. An article from Better Homes & Gardens will help you understand:

If you’re interested in trying St. John’s wort, you need to know a few things. (Besides how it got that strange name: “wort” is Old English for “plant” and the “St. John’s” may come from when the plant’s flowers bloom — around the Feast of St. John in late June.)

While no prescription is required, and its is sold at health food stores and nutrition centers, products labeled St. John’s wort can vary significantly in strength. Doctors recommend three daily doses of 300 milligrams of an extract containing 0.3 percent hypericin. (The hypericin content is how the herbal extract is measured, although a number of chemical components may combine to make St. John’s wort work.)

The herb won’t work for everyone. It has proven effective only for people with minor or moderate — not severe — depression. And no one should switch from doctor-prescribed antidepressants to St. John’s wort without first talking to your doctor.

Possible Concerns
Be aware of these unresolved questions about St. John’s wort: Some doctors say it can increase sensitivity to the sun for some people, and that, because of how the herb might work, people taking St. John’s wort should avoid foods high in a substance called tyramine — foods like red wine, dried meat, and cheese. Other experts, however, say there is no evidence that St. John’s wort has ever caused sun-sensitivity in humans, and point to studies that refute the tyramine problem.

The Bottom Line
Most important, even people who might be helped by St. John’s wort need to be patient; its effects are mild. You should take it for at least six weeks before judging whether it’s helping, Bloomfield says. Those searching for new help with their depression can perhaps afford to be patient: The proper St. John’s wort dose costs $10 to $30 per month. For the thousands who say the herb has helped them — and who were accustomed to paying hundreds of dollars per month for antidepressants — that’s a bargain.

What is Vitamin E for?

You hear people talk about it.  People take it all the time.  It’s good for a lot of things, right?  Here’s an overview of what you can expect from Vitamin E Supplementation:

Vitamin E

Function: Acts as an antioxidant and is involved in the stabilization of cell membranes

Deficiency Disease: None

Symptoms Include: Anemia, weakness, difficulty walking, and fibrocystic breast disease

Toxicity Symptoms: Enhances the effects of anti-clotting medication.

Significant Sources:
Plant oils, green leafy vegetables, nuts and seeds.

A little bit about Vitamin A

For those unfamilliar with Vitamin A, here’s a brief overview:

Vitamin A

Function: Involved in the maintenance of healthy cornea, skin, bone and teeth, hormone synthesis and the immune system.

Deficiency Disease: Hypovitaminosis A

Symptoms Include: Anemia, night blindness, diarrhea, and kidney stones.

Toxicity Symptoms: Nosebleeds, abdominal cramps, dry skin, blurred vison and immune system over-reactivity.

Significant Sources:
Retinol: fortified milk, cheese, eggs and liver.
Beta-carotene: spinach, leafy greens, broccoli, carrots, sweet potatoes and pumpkin.

Good Vitamins for your Hair!

How do you choose good vitamins for healthy hair growth?  This selection, taken from eHow, will show you just that:

Step 1
Use amino acids. An amino acid is a type of protein and proteins are essential for growth and repair of the body. For vegetarians, nuts, seeds and soy products are great sources of amino acids. For meat eaters, animal proteins, such as meat and dairy, have the highest amounts of amino acids.

Step 2
Take Vitamin B-6. B-6 is an assistant to protein and aids in the building tissue. B-6 can be found in raw fruits and vegetables. The B-6 vitamin is dissolved when food is cooked.

Step 3
Get vitamin E. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that is a major factor in scalp circulation. This wonderful vitamin can be found in leafy greens, nuts and soy beans.

Step 4
Eat vitamin B-3. Vitamin B-3 is also known as niacin which promotes scalp circulation. This vitamin can be found in fish, chicken and turkey. Ask your hairstylist for information on shampoos that contain niacin such as The Revivogen Scalp Therapy or Nu Hair.

Step 5
Take a shortcut. If your have dried and damaged hair, cut off the unhealthy locks and get a fresh start. Discuss with your hair stylist about your wish for growing a healthy head of hair. Your stylist may be able to suggest a vitamin fortified leave-in conditioner to reverse the damage effects done to your hair.

Diet Pills – Information

No professional would tell you that diet pills are an ideal solution. However, the stress that modern life puts us through means that they are sometimes a necessity.  The best diet pills tend to be a much healthier alternative than some brands.

Remember that it is so important to know what you are putting into your body, whether talking about food, drink or medicine. Use this site as a complement to your own research, and always remember to consult your doctor.

How to use Protein Powder in Muscle Building

Protein powders are a very popular supplement of choice for many bodybuilders, weekend warriors and just regular people walking the streets. They come in various flavors and they can be easily engineered into a diet plan. Although they are generally regarded as a weight loss supplement, there’s more to them than that.

Step 1
Get a shaker cup. Shakers cups are used to mix shakes in when you are on the road, at the office or at the gym. They are usually 32 ounces, and have a lid that snaps or screws down on the top. They have a screen inside them that helps do the mixing.

Step 2
Use protein powder in a calorie-restricted diet. When you are trying to lose weight, have a protein shake mixed with water in the middle of the afternoon in place of a candy bar or a junk food snack. This can hold you over with quality nutrients. Also, protein has a high thermic effect on the body, meaning it takes more calories to break it down than it takes to break down fat and carbohydrates.

Step 3
Eat multiple meals a day and alternate whole food meals with protein shakes. This will keep your metabolism revving, give you sustained energy levels and also keep your muscles from wasting away by giving them a constant supply of nutrients. To make it a balanced meal, have a piece of fruit with your shake.

Step 4
Use protein powder in a post-workout shake. When you are done working out, your muscles are depleted of glycogen and they are damaged from lifting heavy weights. It is at this time that a fast absorbing shake can help replenish your glycogen and start the rebuilding process. Use whey protein powder as it gets digested easily in the system and use a fast absorbing carbohydrate like grape juice. You can also just add some honey to your shake or eat some raisins with it.

Step 5
Make high-calorie smoothies to bulk up. If you are following a high-calorie diet and are trying to pack on some extra weight, you can make high-protein smoothies by adding in berries, bananas, nut butters, mango, pineapples and chocolate milk. You would need to make these in a blender.

Benefits of using Creatine

Want to get big with Creatine?  AllStarHealth.com has an idea of how you can accomplish this.  They explain the benefits of creatine…

Creatine is a non-protein amino acid manufactured by the body in the liver, kidneys and pancreas using the amino acids arginine, glycine and methionine. Creatine is then carried to the heart, brain and skeletal muscle, where it assists in the production and regeneration of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the major source of energy at the cellular level. When more ATP is available, more cellular energy is available, hence creatine’s well-known benefit of increasing the work capacity of muscle.

Since creatine’s introduction as sports nutrition supplement, it has been the subject of more inaccurate media stories and uninformed reporting than just about any other type of dietary supplement. But creatine is an entirely natural and safe compound for healthy people. About 1-2g of creatine is synthesized by your body daily, and another 1-2g is supplied by diet. Dietary creatine is found mainly in meat and fish, although creatine supplements themselves are not made from food ingredients. Creatine monohydrate powder is by far the most popular form of supplemental creatine in use. It is inexpensive, tasteless and very easy to use.

Whether from food or supplements, dietary creatine is absorbed in the small intestine and dispersed via the bloodstream to all the musculature in the body. Creatine is then either used or stored by muscles to regenerate ATP, especially during short bouts of intense exercise such as in weightlifting or football when there is a sudden demand for large quantities of energy. Although popular with athletes and bodybuilders, creatine is widely used by many other types of athletes and even non-athletes as well.

Creatine Benefits All Types of Muscle

Taking creatine supplements has been shown to help boost exercise performance in certain activities involving short bursts of intense exertion such as sprinting, jumping, basketball and weight lifting.¹ Creatine has also been shown to help recovery from exercise, both speeding muscle repair and easing pain and soreness.² Other types of muscle benefit from creatine, too. Congestive heart failure involves a gradual loss of function involving primarily the heart muscle but also other structures. One study of congestive heart failure treatments used creatine in addition to traditional medical therapy and showed major improvement in symptoms as compared to a placebo group.³

Using Creatine Supplements

A typical recommended dosage of creatine supplements for purposes of exercise enhancement is as follows: an initial “loading phase” of one week consisting of 5 grams of creatine taken 4 times daily, followed by a dose of 2-5 grams daily to maintain creatine levels in the muscles. Consult your physician before beginning the use of creatine supplements, and do not take more than the recommended dose.

Taking creatine supplements typically causes weight gain and increases muscle volume, but it is important to note that most of this is attributed to water retention. Additionally, there is no benefit to consuming more than the recommended amount, as the body can only absorb so much creatine. Once the body has absorbed the maximum amount of creatine, any excess is excreted in the urine unused. Some people do not receive any benefit from creatine supplements, although it is unclear as to why.

Creatine is best absorbed when taken with a food containing carbohydrates, such as fruit or oatmeal. Creatine Supplements are available in liquid, powder and pill form. Micronized creatine is simply processed into a very fine powder for more efficient absorption. Choose creatine monohydrate, as the majority of creatine research has been conducted on this form of creatine.

Treat Tourette Syndrome with Vitamins

Tourette Syndrome Naturally

Tourette Syndrome is a spectrum tic disorder that involves multiple muscular tics and at least one vocal tic. A person with Tourette Syndrome can usually feel urges building that can only be relieved by certain vocal sounds or muscle contractions. Most commonly, motor tics will appear as repetitive blinking, squeezing the eyes shut, wrinkling the nose, shrugging the shoulders, grimacing or quickly tilting the head. Vocal tics include barking noises, throat clearing, and other sounds.

Tourette Syndrome (TS) is often accompanied by other disorders, such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obsessive/compulsive disorder (OCD). TS and OCD have actually been genetically linked, but both are not always present. It is believed that OCD and ADHD can develop or become worse because of the presence of Tourette Syndrome. People aware of their tics generally become obsessed with controlling them and find it very hard to sit still or pay attention.

Tests can be done to see if there are physiological reasons for the tics to manifest. Tests generally are ordered to check for seizures and hypothyroidism. TS is often misdiagnosed as autism because of the similarity of behaviors.

Parents of children diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome can be desperate to find help. This is especially true because ADHD and OCD symptoms can be very debilitative in a school setting. Children with Tourette Syndrome often have major trouble concentrating, controlling outbursts, staying on task and writing.

Tics can usually be controlled for an extended period of time, much like refusing to scratch an itch. But, eventually a giant outburst must occur and the itch must be scratched. Parents of children with Tourette Syndrome that report good behavior at school often have a terrible time at home with behavior, anxiety, control and opposition.

People with tics generally do best if they are in a supportive environment. The perception of the severity of tics seems to be far more important for development than the actual severity of tics. There are no medicinal treatments for Tourette Syndrome that do not have adverse side effects, so behavioral, psychological and cognitive therapies are more beneficial in most cases.

Treating Tourette Syndrome naturally is something that many parents are looking into. The tics and symptoms can come and go, so it may be hard to tell if your treatment is working as planned. Additionally, symptoms can get worse all the way up to age twelve and can possibly get a lot better through adolescence. Most adults still have very mild tics, but most don’t even notice them.

So if your child is young and you are treating symptoms, you may be back and forth between thinking that it is really working and thinking that it is not working at all, but it could just be the natural progression of the disorder. You could be helping a lot more than you know, even when symptoms continue to worsen.

Treating TS behaviors and symptoms with vitamins and supplements can be a natural way to help your child minimize the trauma, anxiety and depression that can occur because of the stress and unwanted behaviors caused by TS. You can regulate anxiety and stress causing hormone cortisol by taking vitamins E, B and C. You can lessen neurosensitivity by supplementing with DHA fish oils. Most children and adults with Tourette Syndrome are deficient in vitamin C, which is responsible for keeping serotonin levels in check. You may want to supplement with vitamin C powder to get a high enough dose of vitamin C to be effective. As always, talk with your doctor before starting a vitamins and supplements regimen.

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