Cathe, I would just like to say that I love your P/S series. I never knew I could get such a great workout at home. I have a question about supplements. I workout almost everyday with cardio and weights but would like a little more definition. I see many ads for supplement use. Do they really work?
Supplement questions
- Thread starter jwmcguff
- Start date
Cathe Friedrich
Administrator
Hi! I'm so glad you are enjoying the workouts. As for supplements, I do not use them and therefore cannot give any fair advice about them. Sorry that I can't be of more help to you.
LauraPinWA
Active Member
Hi there! I hope you don't mind my jumping in here, but I was wondering what kinds of supplements you're talking about. Do you mean vitamins or minerals or protein powder, or are you asking about "fat burners"? If the latter, I would really discourage you from taking them. The active ingredient, ephedra, is not good for you. I believe it's illegal in Canada, and I think it has been implicated in the deaths of several professional athletes, among others. Believe me, I know how tempting those ads for HydroxyCut and Xenadrine are--but resist the temptation. You don't need that stuff to get great results. Just eat clean and keep doing what you're doing.
Okay, enough of the public service announcement. I do think vitamins and minerals can be useful when you're dieting; when caloric intake is reduced it can be hard to get enough of everything you need, so a multivitamin is good insurance. Calcium supplements are a great idea for women who consume few dairy products. If you are a vegetarian or otherwise have trouble getting enough lean protein in your diet, a scoop of protein powder added to oatmeal or whatever can be beneficial.
I'm not a nutritionist or anything, so you should take everything I say with a grain of salt (except for the part about fat burners, because I really don't think they are safe). I hope others will weigh in with their opinions and experiences.
Laura
Okay, enough of the public service announcement. I do think vitamins and minerals can be useful when you're dieting; when caloric intake is reduced it can be hard to get enough of everything you need, so a multivitamin is good insurance. Calcium supplements are a great idea for women who consume few dairy products. If you are a vegetarian or otherwise have trouble getting enough lean protein in your diet, a scoop of protein powder added to oatmeal or whatever can be beneficial.
I'm not a nutritionist or anything, so you should take everything I say with a grain of salt (except for the part about fat burners, because I really don't think they are safe). I hope others will weigh in with their opinions and experiences.
Laura
jgoycoolea
Cathlete
I take a multi-vitamin and have 2 scoops of whey protein powder daily. I think I should also take a calcium supplement. I also think I should drink more water. Its probably as important as all the others. Jeanne
LynnFinn
Cathlete
Dear JWM...
Supplementing is not an exact science, and the jury is still out on the effects of certain herbal combinations and long term use.
Thermo-stack type drugs combine caffeine, ephedrine and aspirin (in herbal form, it's guarana, Ma Huang and white willow bark); there is some proof that this blend accelerates metabolic processes, but if you are caffeine and/or ephedra sensitive, they can be dangerous. The metabolism accelerates because caffeine and ephedra are stimulants, which causes the heart rate to elevate. Whenever the heart works harder (be it due to vigorous exercise or drugs) all the cellular processes increase. This is why drugs like Xanadrine and Metabolife can work. However, their effect is short-lived and the side effects can be extremely dangerous. I have used the EAS form of a thermal "stack", called Beta-Lean. It is time-released, and the company recommends using it for 12 weeks and then going off for a week or two. I haven't had any side effects, fortunately, but my daughter tried it for a couple of days and had scary palpitations. She has since discovered an extreme sensitivity to caffeine, and cannot even drink caffeinated beverages. You have to weigh all your options. Does drinking coffee make you jittery? Then you probably shouldn't take a thermal accelerator. If you do decide to give it a try, be very cautious. DO NOT start with the total recommended dosing. Start with one capsule (caplet) per day and watch for your body's response. And always use a well-known brand.
Another supplement gaining extreme popularity is Creatine. It is in powdered form and needs to be mixed in room-temperature apple or grape juice. Since Creatine relies on insulin to transport it into muscle cells, the sweetened juice stimulates the pancreas to release insulin, thereby assuring the transport of creatine into the muscle cells. When you exercise, (if you remember, from biology classes) the muscles utilize ATP for energy. ATP (Adenosine Tri-Phosphate) converts to ADP (Adenosine DI-Phos). The greater the amount of ATP in the muscle during exercise, the longer you can endure and usually the heavier you can lift. Once the ATP converts to ADP, however, the muscle cell must find an additional phosphate to convert back to ATP so that it can keep contracting. Creatine floods muscle cells with that additional phosphate, making more available during exercise than when you exercise without the supplement. Clear as mud, eh? Bottom line is, you CAN get additional phosphate from your diet, but hardly the amount you get from supplementing with Creatine. Despite a little bad press a few years ago, more and more research is showing that Creatine is relatively harmless. I use it and find that my endurance is greater and my ability to pump out a few extra reps is far better than when I exercised without it. There is a loading phase, where you take 20 grams per day for five days, to get the blood levels up quickly. Thereafter, you take 5 grams daily, often within the hour after exercise, when the muscle cells are most receptive. The EAS website has a lot of medically-oriented research articles re: Creatine on their website; www.eas.com . I use the MetRx brand of micronized Creatine, because the granular particles are smaller and mix more easily into liquid. Also, I have mixed it into a weak solution of Tang (the sugery kind). New research has shown that Creatine is better absorbed when taken with room-temperature liquid, rather than cold or hot.
As far as other "supplements", when you go to the eas website, you might want to take a look at something called CLA...conjugated Linoleic Acid, which is a supplement that has been proven to spare lean muscle and force the body to utilize fat for its energy source. I don't use this because it is rather cost prohibitive, but there's some interesting info out there on its use.
Above all, the best supplement you can take is a multi-vitamin (I use chewable, cuz my stomach is a wuss with regular horse pill type vitamins). Also, a calcium supplement, iron (I take it separately because dosing with iron every day gives me too much and I get constipated...so I take it every other day)and green tea extract. Green Tea and its extracts are proving to be a more powerful anti-oxidant than Vit C and E combined. It is also showing evidence of prevention of gastro-intestinal cancers. As hearty exercisers, we ALL need to be using a good anti-oxidant to prevent those free-radicals we produce after exercise from doing post-exercise damage. It is a rather complex process that I won't go into here, but suffice it to say, free radicals are not a good thing.
That's the basics. I am an RN, which shouldn't necessarily qualify me out-right, however, I've exercised for years and have read everything I can get my hands on regarding supplementation. The EAS website is now offering their newest edition of "Sport Supplement Guide" (I think its the fourth edition) absolutely free. It is a very comprehensive guide, well written and thorough. It will tell you all you ever wanted (and didn't want) to know about sport supplements. I just ordered mine, because, like everything in the medical community, things are constantly changing, and I like to stay updated.
Good luck! Hope this little diatribe helps...
Lynn
Supplementing is not an exact science, and the jury is still out on the effects of certain herbal combinations and long term use.
Thermo-stack type drugs combine caffeine, ephedrine and aspirin (in herbal form, it's guarana, Ma Huang and white willow bark); there is some proof that this blend accelerates metabolic processes, but if you are caffeine and/or ephedra sensitive, they can be dangerous. The metabolism accelerates because caffeine and ephedra are stimulants, which causes the heart rate to elevate. Whenever the heart works harder (be it due to vigorous exercise or drugs) all the cellular processes increase. This is why drugs like Xanadrine and Metabolife can work. However, their effect is short-lived and the side effects can be extremely dangerous. I have used the EAS form of a thermal "stack", called Beta-Lean. It is time-released, and the company recommends using it for 12 weeks and then going off for a week or two. I haven't had any side effects, fortunately, but my daughter tried it for a couple of days and had scary palpitations. She has since discovered an extreme sensitivity to caffeine, and cannot even drink caffeinated beverages. You have to weigh all your options. Does drinking coffee make you jittery? Then you probably shouldn't take a thermal accelerator. If you do decide to give it a try, be very cautious. DO NOT start with the total recommended dosing. Start with one capsule (caplet) per day and watch for your body's response. And always use a well-known brand.
Another supplement gaining extreme popularity is Creatine. It is in powdered form and needs to be mixed in room-temperature apple or grape juice. Since Creatine relies on insulin to transport it into muscle cells, the sweetened juice stimulates the pancreas to release insulin, thereby assuring the transport of creatine into the muscle cells. When you exercise, (if you remember, from biology classes) the muscles utilize ATP for energy. ATP (Adenosine Tri-Phosphate) converts to ADP (Adenosine DI-Phos). The greater the amount of ATP in the muscle during exercise, the longer you can endure and usually the heavier you can lift. Once the ATP converts to ADP, however, the muscle cell must find an additional phosphate to convert back to ATP so that it can keep contracting. Creatine floods muscle cells with that additional phosphate, making more available during exercise than when you exercise without the supplement. Clear as mud, eh? Bottom line is, you CAN get additional phosphate from your diet, but hardly the amount you get from supplementing with Creatine. Despite a little bad press a few years ago, more and more research is showing that Creatine is relatively harmless. I use it and find that my endurance is greater and my ability to pump out a few extra reps is far better than when I exercised without it. There is a loading phase, where you take 20 grams per day for five days, to get the blood levels up quickly. Thereafter, you take 5 grams daily, often within the hour after exercise, when the muscle cells are most receptive. The EAS website has a lot of medically-oriented research articles re: Creatine on their website; www.eas.com . I use the MetRx brand of micronized Creatine, because the granular particles are smaller and mix more easily into liquid. Also, I have mixed it into a weak solution of Tang (the sugery kind). New research has shown that Creatine is better absorbed when taken with room-temperature liquid, rather than cold or hot.
As far as other "supplements", when you go to the eas website, you might want to take a look at something called CLA...conjugated Linoleic Acid, which is a supplement that has been proven to spare lean muscle and force the body to utilize fat for its energy source. I don't use this because it is rather cost prohibitive, but there's some interesting info out there on its use.
Above all, the best supplement you can take is a multi-vitamin (I use chewable, cuz my stomach is a wuss with regular horse pill type vitamins). Also, a calcium supplement, iron (I take it separately because dosing with iron every day gives me too much and I get constipated...so I take it every other day)and green tea extract. Green Tea and its extracts are proving to be a more powerful anti-oxidant than Vit C and E combined. It is also showing evidence of prevention of gastro-intestinal cancers. As hearty exercisers, we ALL need to be using a good anti-oxidant to prevent those free-radicals we produce after exercise from doing post-exercise damage. It is a rather complex process that I won't go into here, but suffice it to say, free radicals are not a good thing.
That's the basics. I am an RN, which shouldn't necessarily qualify me out-right, however, I've exercised for years and have read everything I can get my hands on regarding supplementation. The EAS website is now offering their newest edition of "Sport Supplement Guide" (I think its the fourth edition) absolutely free. It is a very comprehensive guide, well written and thorough. It will tell you all you ever wanted (and didn't want) to know about sport supplements. I just ordered mine, because, like everything in the medical community, things are constantly changing, and I like to stay updated.
Good luck! Hope this little diatribe helps...
Lynn
LauraPinWA
Active Member
RE: Supplement questions--Thanks, Lynn!
You did a much better job of explaining this than I did.
I've read that iron and calcium supplements should not be taken together because one interferes with the absorption of the other. Do you happen to know whether there's truth to this?
Thanks!
Laura
You did a much better job of explaining this than I did.
I've read that iron and calcium supplements should not be taken together because one interferes with the absorption of the other. Do you happen to know whether there's truth to this?
Thanks!
Laura
I use supplements for othe reasons and the best advice I was ever give is "KNOW YOUR COMPANY". My general rule of thumb is that if it is sold at GNC, I DON'T buy it (they're actually settling a lawsuit now in Florida for selling products that were expired or whose contents had broken down because they were on the shelf too long). I have heard that not only is creating harmless but possibly useless = placebo effect. Ask your company to send your their research to show that a product is safe, effective and how they make sure that what is on the label is actually what it in the bottle.
I use supplements to avoid medication. I decided that after 15 years of 4-5 allergy medications a day, the warning that "consumer should decide if the potential risks of the drugs outweigh the benefits" and I decided that the answer is no. I take supplements to achieve OPTIMAL health (which aids in preventing disease)but not to enhance my physical performance. I use Shaklee and am impressed not only by the quality of the products they do make but also in their refusal to make other "trendy" products as well as to pull products for consumer safety. For example, 2 1/2 years ago, ALL crops of asian ginseng were treated with a pesticide to combat a fungus on the crop. Well, Shaklee guarantees NO pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. When they couldn't find a way around the crop fungus (which ALL companies who were selling asian gingseng products would have been using), they PULLED THEIR PRODUCTS AND NO LONGER OFFERED THEM. 2 years later the crop had cleared and only after rigorous testing did they re-introduce the gingseng product. They are the only company that I know of that pulled their product.
Hope this helps in your journey! jen
I use supplements to avoid medication. I decided that after 15 years of 4-5 allergy medications a day, the warning that "consumer should decide if the potential risks of the drugs outweigh the benefits" and I decided that the answer is no. I take supplements to achieve OPTIMAL health (which aids in preventing disease)but not to enhance my physical performance. I use Shaklee and am impressed not only by the quality of the products they do make but also in their refusal to make other "trendy" products as well as to pull products for consumer safety. For example, 2 1/2 years ago, ALL crops of asian ginseng were treated with a pesticide to combat a fungus on the crop. Well, Shaklee guarantees NO pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. When they couldn't find a way around the crop fungus (which ALL companies who were selling asian gingseng products would have been using), they PULLED THEIR PRODUCTS AND NO LONGER OFFERED THEM. 2 years later the crop had cleared and only after rigorous testing did they re-introduce the gingseng product. They are the only company that I know of that pulled their product.
Hope this helps in your journey! jen
LynnFinn
Cathlete
RE: Supplement questions--Thanks, Lynn!
Laura...
For some reason, that sounds familiar to me. I don't have anything at hand to confirm it, so I'm going to turn to my daughter, who is a pharmacy tech in Oklahoma. She works at Walgreens, and they have a wonderful cross-matching computer system that tells them what is compatible with what and what might pose potential problems. I'll give her a call tonight (she's at school right now) and ask her to check on this for all of us. It will be the most up to date info, and I'll get back to you in the next day or so.
Hugs
Lynn
Laura...
For some reason, that sounds familiar to me. I don't have anything at hand to confirm it, so I'm going to turn to my daughter, who is a pharmacy tech in Oklahoma. She works at Walgreens, and they have a wonderful cross-matching computer system that tells them what is compatible with what and what might pose potential problems. I'll give her a call tonight (she's at school right now) and ask her to check on this for all of us. It will be the most up to date info, and I'll get back to you in the next day or so.
Hugs
Lynn
LynnFinn
Cathlete
Tammy...
Hear HEAR! for Shaklee! Personally, I was an Amway distributor for many years in my more youthful times, and their vitamin line was comparable to Shaklee in purity and safety. I used them for many years with confidence.
I didn't know about the GNC lawsuit. What a crock! I rarely buy THEIR brand. Instead I stick to the tried and trues I have known will work. Nowadays, like I said earlier, I swear by the EAS line. They back up everything with concise research done by medical professionals and published in medical journals like JAMA.
It's funny, but I've come across varying opinion re: using "performance" supplementation. In some ways, some of the thinking is that, if you use performance enhancement, you are "cheating". I guess, if you want to be a "pure" athlete, then any kind of supplement should be approached with a jaundiced eye. However, I am now entering the second half of my forties, and frankly, I'll take whatever works, as long as it's safe. I guess it's like the thought process I had when I was of child-bearing status, and having my babies without any kind of pain medication. Back in the 70s, that was considered the "natural" way and the thought was you were a wuss (and might hurt your baby)if you used Demerol or (GASP!) an epidural. Well, that thinking has changed as well, and if I were having babies these days, you can bet your heinie I'd be asking(begging...screaming....<G>) for an epidural by 5cms dilatation! LOL.
I have found that "enhancement herbals" give me the edge I need on days when I'm not exactly in the right mindset for exercise. And, at the age of 46, those days DO happen more than they did at 26. So, if it's cheating, I figure, so what? In the end, my bones are still stronger, my skin taut, my muscles tight and my butt pretty well lifted, than a comparable 46 year old who never did a lick of exercise.
It has to be an individual choice!
Hugs,
Lynn
Hear HEAR! for Shaklee! Personally, I was an Amway distributor for many years in my more youthful times, and their vitamin line was comparable to Shaklee in purity and safety. I used them for many years with confidence.
I didn't know about the GNC lawsuit. What a crock! I rarely buy THEIR brand. Instead I stick to the tried and trues I have known will work. Nowadays, like I said earlier, I swear by the EAS line. They back up everything with concise research done by medical professionals and published in medical journals like JAMA.
It's funny, but I've come across varying opinion re: using "performance" supplementation. In some ways, some of the thinking is that, if you use performance enhancement, you are "cheating". I guess, if you want to be a "pure" athlete, then any kind of supplement should be approached with a jaundiced eye. However, I am now entering the second half of my forties, and frankly, I'll take whatever works, as long as it's safe. I guess it's like the thought process I had when I was of child-bearing status, and having my babies without any kind of pain medication. Back in the 70s, that was considered the "natural" way and the thought was you were a wuss (and might hurt your baby)if you used Demerol or (GASP!) an epidural. Well, that thinking has changed as well, and if I were having babies these days, you can bet your heinie I'd be asking(begging...screaming....<G>) for an epidural by 5cms dilatation! LOL.
I have found that "enhancement herbals" give me the edge I need on days when I'm not exactly in the right mindset for exercise. And, at the age of 46, those days DO happen more than they did at 26. So, if it's cheating, I figure, so what? In the end, my bones are still stronger, my skin taut, my muscles tight and my butt pretty well lifted, than a comparable 46 year old who never did a lick of exercise.
It has to be an individual choice!
Hugs,
Lynn
Lynn, great feedback. I must say that I use Shaklee's soy protein daily and make an extra drink for days like today when I (11 weeks pregnant)get up at 5:30 am to teach at 6:30, then work my full-time job from 8-4:45 and teach a step class from 5:45 to 6:45. It is interesting though how things are cyclical. I've decided to go homebirth and steer clear of epidurals and what not!
I am Shaklee biased and even more so now that the FDA has asked them to meet quarterly to help set standards for the vitamin and supplement industry. Plus, they're cheaper.
But on choice - yes it has to be individual and an educated one.
Peace Be - Jen (that's actually my real name!
PS - keep the faith and Madonna in mind! My dad started running at 45 and has run the last two Chicago marathons with me and only came in 30 after...he is about to turn 67. Since I'm adopted and it ain't genetic, I can only hope!
I am Shaklee biased and even more so now that the FDA has asked them to meet quarterly to help set standards for the vitamin and supplement industry. Plus, they're cheaper.
But on choice - yes it has to be individual and an educated one.
Peace Be - Jen (that's actually my real name!
PS - keep the faith and Madonna in mind! My dad started running at 45 and has run the last two Chicago marathons with me and only came in 30 after...he is about to turn 67. Since I'm adopted and it ain't genetic, I can only hope!
LauraPinWA
Active Member
Wow, Thanks so much, Lynn!
I have a tendency to be anemic and there's osteoporosis in my family, so I take iron and calcium supplements regularly. I've been doing the iron in the AM and the calcium in the PM as a precaution, but it'd be great to know whether that's really necessary. That's the kind of information that should be required to be included on packaging, IMO, especially since there are so many women who supplement both iron and calcium.
Laura
I have a tendency to be anemic and there's osteoporosis in my family, so I take iron and calcium supplements regularly. I've been doing the iron in the AM and the calcium in the PM as a precaution, but it'd be great to know whether that's really necessary. That's the kind of information that should be required to be included on packaging, IMO, especially since there are so many women who supplement both iron and calcium.
Laura
Thanks for all the advice. I do have a question for Lynn. It is regarding EAS products. What about Phen-Free. It contains Synephrine,which is suppose to be less stimulating and safer. Do you know anything about this. I do not have any problems with caffeine. Thanks for the advice. I would like to try one of these products.
LynnFinn
Cathlete
RE: Wow, Thanks so much, Lynn!
Laura;
I'm still waiting to hear from my daughter. She called me Friday night, but they were so bogged down at Walgreens (she works at the busiest Walgreens in Oklahoma<VBG>) that she completely forgot to ask about calcium and iron consumption. She works all weekend, so I am hoping to have an answer by Monday.
My hubby, who is also a nurse, said he seems to recall a warning about calcium and iron together and the absorption of one or the other. If I don't hear from my daughter, or if she neglects to look this question up, I will pull out our nursing pharmaceutical textbook and find out the particulars myself. In the meantime, your question has even me being more careful, as I take an iron supplement every other day, but a chewable calcium supplement twice a day. So, I've tried taking the iron in between, with several hours separating the dosing, just in case.
It's an interesting dilemma, as many OTC vitamin supplements have both iron and calcium in them together. Perhaps, if the vitamin is timed release, the iron and/or calcium gets absorbed at a different rate or in a different part of the intestine, successfully allowing for the simultaneous ingestion of both.
Any way you look at it, supplementation sometimes means an educated consumer is the best safeguard, eh?
Hugs,
Lynn
Laura;
I'm still waiting to hear from my daughter. She called me Friday night, but they were so bogged down at Walgreens (she works at the busiest Walgreens in Oklahoma<VBG>) that she completely forgot to ask about calcium and iron consumption. She works all weekend, so I am hoping to have an answer by Monday.
My hubby, who is also a nurse, said he seems to recall a warning about calcium and iron together and the absorption of one or the other. If I don't hear from my daughter, or if she neglects to look this question up, I will pull out our nursing pharmaceutical textbook and find out the particulars myself. In the meantime, your question has even me being more careful, as I take an iron supplement every other day, but a chewable calcium supplement twice a day. So, I've tried taking the iron in between, with several hours separating the dosing, just in case.
It's an interesting dilemma, as many OTC vitamin supplements have both iron and calcium in them together. Perhaps, if the vitamin is timed release, the iron and/or calcium gets absorbed at a different rate or in a different part of the intestine, successfully allowing for the simultaneous ingestion of both.
Any way you look at it, supplementation sometimes means an educated consumer is the best safeguard, eh?
Hugs,
Lynn
LynnFinn
Cathlete
JWM,
I don't know a whole lot about synephrine, except that it is contained as neo-synephrine in many OTC quick-acting nasal sprays to prevent stuffiness during colds, flu and allergy season. Based on its name, it looks like it might be a synthetic form of epinephrine, which causes cardiac excitability and vessel constriction. Thus, if you have problems with high blood pressure, any drug or herbal that can cause vascular constriction is probably not a good idea.
The Phen-Free also contains 99 mg of caffeine, which is the equivalent of about one strong cup of coffee. It also has Yohimbe, which has been shown in male test subjects to act sort of like an herbal Viagra. It also contains Saint Johns Wort, an herbal form of mood elevator and, sometimes touted as an herbal replacement for Prozac! Also, Cayenne pepper, which is also a natural stimulant. Have you ever eaten anything with hot pepper sauce or jalapenos? Notice how you start to get kind of warm, and in some extreme cases, sweat while eating this stuff? Cayenne pepper probably has the same effect as eating a bunch of very spicy food; it heats you up internally. Correct me, someone, if I'm wrong, but I believe cayenne pepper is one of the ingredients found in Capsaisin, an ingredient used in some muscle rub medicines. IE: you have a sore back, you rub some cream containg 0.5 or 1% capsaisin in it and you get one hell of a hot-cold tingle sensation that also increases blood supply to the area. So, once again, its a basic form of stimulant.
Phen-free is probably much safer than anything containing ephedrine, because all the stimulants in it are in low dose form and don't seem to have the same kind of side effects when taken according to directions.
If you're really curious, post a question on the EAS website. Dr. Jeffrey Life writes for their parent publication, "Muscle Media", which, IMHO, is the best natural bodybuilding magazine out on the US market. Dr. Life is an excellent source of info re: supplements and exercise. I was just reading a back issue last night on the effects of insulin and fat loss, and it explained more concisely to me than anything I've read before, the link between insulin, carbs, exercise and fat loss/gain.
I hope this helps!
Hugs,
Lynn
I don't know a whole lot about synephrine, except that it is contained as neo-synephrine in many OTC quick-acting nasal sprays to prevent stuffiness during colds, flu and allergy season. Based on its name, it looks like it might be a synthetic form of epinephrine, which causes cardiac excitability and vessel constriction. Thus, if you have problems with high blood pressure, any drug or herbal that can cause vascular constriction is probably not a good idea.
The Phen-Free also contains 99 mg of caffeine, which is the equivalent of about one strong cup of coffee. It also has Yohimbe, which has been shown in male test subjects to act sort of like an herbal Viagra. It also contains Saint Johns Wort, an herbal form of mood elevator and, sometimes touted as an herbal replacement for Prozac! Also, Cayenne pepper, which is also a natural stimulant. Have you ever eaten anything with hot pepper sauce or jalapenos? Notice how you start to get kind of warm, and in some extreme cases, sweat while eating this stuff? Cayenne pepper probably has the same effect as eating a bunch of very spicy food; it heats you up internally. Correct me, someone, if I'm wrong, but I believe cayenne pepper is one of the ingredients found in Capsaisin, an ingredient used in some muscle rub medicines. IE: you have a sore back, you rub some cream containg 0.5 or 1% capsaisin in it and you get one hell of a hot-cold tingle sensation that also increases blood supply to the area. So, once again, its a basic form of stimulant.
Phen-free is probably much safer than anything containing ephedrine, because all the stimulants in it are in low dose form and don't seem to have the same kind of side effects when taken according to directions.
If you're really curious, post a question on the EAS website. Dr. Jeffrey Life writes for their parent publication, "Muscle Media", which, IMHO, is the best natural bodybuilding magazine out on the US market. Dr. Life is an excellent source of info re: supplements and exercise. I was just reading a back issue last night on the effects of insulin and fat loss, and it explained more concisely to me than anything I've read before, the link between insulin, carbs, exercise and fat loss/gain.
I hope this helps!
Hugs,
Lynn
LynnFinn
Cathlete
Hey Jen...KEWL!
The Chgo marathon, eh? Granted, it isn't Boston, but it's just as exciting. I've lived outside of Chgo and work in Chgo (at the U of Chgo hospitals) all my life (it seems...LOL). Isn't it the best city in the world?
Or am I just prejudiced?
Hugs
Lynn...who needs to get shin splint pain under control if EVER I run again! In the meantime...is there a Chicago Step Aerobics marathon? I might be up for that in the future....hahahaha.....
The Chgo marathon, eh? Granted, it isn't Boston, but it's just as exciting. I've lived outside of Chgo and work in Chgo (at the U of Chgo hospitals) all my life (it seems...LOL). Isn't it the best city in the world?
Or am I just prejudiced?
Hugs
Lynn...who needs to get shin splint pain under control if EVER I run again! In the meantime...is there a Chicago Step Aerobics marathon? I might be up for that in the future....hahahaha.....
RE: Supplement questions--Thanks, Lynn!
It's true according to my pharmacist. I recently filled aprescription and purchased calcium suppliments. He told me to wait at least two hours *after* taking my medication before I took the calcium! I usually take the calcium mid-day so I won't have any problems, because I take an iron suppiment as well.
>I've read that iron and calcium
>supplements should not be taken
>together because one interferes with
>the absorption of the other.
> Do you happen to
>know whether there's truth to
>this?
>
>Thanks!
>
>Laura
It's true according to my pharmacist. I recently filled aprescription and purchased calcium suppliments. He told me to wait at least two hours *after* taking my medication before I took the calcium! I usually take the calcium mid-day so I won't have any problems, because I take an iron suppiment as well.
>I've read that iron and calcium
>supplements should not be taken
>together because one interferes with
>the absorption of the other.
> Do you happen to
>know whether there's truth to
>this?
>
>Thanks!
>
>Laura
Hi Lynn!!
I'm the same way with taking those huge Multi-Vitamins!! Where do you find chewable multis?? I've looked all over and haven't had any luck! If you could point me in the right direction, that would be hugely appreaciated!! I've stopped taking multi's because it's just too much work to crush them, and I can't swallow those monster pills!! I'd be thrilled to be able to start taking a multi again!
Thanks a bunch!
~ Nicole
I'm the same way with taking those huge Multi-Vitamins!! Where do you find chewable multis?? I've looked all over and haven't had any luck! If you could point me in the right direction, that would be hugely appreaciated!! I've stopped taking multi's because it's just too much work to crush them, and I can't swallow those monster pills!! I'd be thrilled to be able to start taking a multi again!
Thanks a bunch!
~ Nicole
LynnFinn
Cathlete
Nicole...
Believe it or not, I get a HUGE bottle of chewables at Costco; I think they're pretty much nation-wide, though not in all states, yet. They are a warehouse wholesaler, much like Sams clubs, but I like them a lot better. I got 600 chewables for $15.00, and the label lists both the RDA for kids under four and adults. My middle daughter can't take the horse pills, either, and she buys walgreens brand of chewables. Usually one a day is good enough for most adults, especially if you're eating properly. However, take note; not all chewables have iron in them. Mine don't, that's why I supplement with an iron tablet every other day.
Check out www.Costco.com to see if there's a warehouse in your area. It costs a bit more annually than Sams Clubs to join, but overall, I'm much happier with the Costco selection, pricing, cleanliness, efficiency, courteousness of the staff, etc.
Hugs,
Lynn
Believe it or not, I get a HUGE bottle of chewables at Costco; I think they're pretty much nation-wide, though not in all states, yet. They are a warehouse wholesaler, much like Sams clubs, but I like them a lot better. I got 600 chewables for $15.00, and the label lists both the RDA for kids under four and adults. My middle daughter can't take the horse pills, either, and she buys walgreens brand of chewables. Usually one a day is good enough for most adults, especially if you're eating properly. However, take note; not all chewables have iron in them. Mine don't, that's why I supplement with an iron tablet every other day.
Check out www.Costco.com to see if there's a warehouse in your area. It costs a bit more annually than Sams Clubs to join, but overall, I'm much happier with the Costco selection, pricing, cleanliness, efficiency, courteousness of the staff, etc.
Hugs,
Lynn