|
|
A Beginner Workout Routine To Build Muscle
This outline for a workout routine to build muscle has been
devised for people just starting out in weight-training. It is
simplistic in it's approach, which is also why it is very
effective for building muscle mass.
The key to proper...
Growing Old Gracefully
Today the average duration of human life in the United States is just about 70 years for women and a little less for men. Conservative experts believe that man is really build to last about 100 years; and that medial advances and more healthful...
How to Have Your Greatest Orgasm -- Ever
Multiple Orgasms! You’ve heard of them, probably. Wondered about them, maybe. Attempted them, never -- most likely. And why not? If you can have one successful orgasm, you can have two or three or more. In fact, even if you have never been able to...
How to Supercharge your Energy Levels through Exercise
Your energy levels will depend on several factors, including genetics, nutrition, sleep habits, and emotional stress. Some of these you have no control over But there is one VERY important factor that you do have control over and that is your...
Whey Protein - Nature's Amazing Muscle Builder
Are you concerned about taking care of your body before and after strenuous activities or workouts? Do you try to avoid supplements that contain additives and possible side effects?
If you are interested in better health and improved physical...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aspartame: Killing Us By Degrees -- Part II
By Pat Thomas
This article first appeared in the September 2005 issue of The Ecologist, Volume 35, No.7. This is Part II of the series; this partexamines the chemical contents of aspartame.
Aspartame Toxic Contents
Aspartame is made up of three chemicals: the amino acids aspartic acid and phenylalanine, and methanol. The chemical bond that holds these constituents together is fairly weak.
As a result, aspartame readily breaks down into its component parts in a variety of circumstances: in liquids, during prolonged storage, when exposed to heat in excess of 86° Fahrenheit (30° centigrade), and when ingested. These constituents further break down into other toxic by-products, namely formaldehyde, formic acid and aspartylphenylalanine diketopiperazine (DKP).
Manufacturers argue that the instability of aspartame is irrelevant since its constituents are all found naturally in food. This is only partially true and ignores the fact that in food amino acids like aspartic acid and phenylalanine are bound to proteins, which means that during digestion and metabolism they are released slowly into the body.
In aspartame, these amino acids are in an unbound or 'free' form that releases greater amounts of these chemicals into the system much more quickly. Similarly, the methanol present in natural foods like fruits, for example, is bound to pectin and also has a co-factor, ethanol, to mediate some of its effects. No such chemical 'back-stops' exist in aspartame.
According to neuroscientist Russell Blaylock, the effect of aspartame's breakdown components on brain function is central to its known adverse effects.
Like monosodium glutamate (MSG) and L-cysteine, an amino acid found in hydrolysed vegetable protein, aspartame is what is known as an 'excitotoxin' -- a chemical transmitter that allows brain cells to communicate.
Blaylock has written a book about them, "Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills," and says: "Even a minute over-concentration of these chemicals causes the brain cells to become so over-excited that they very quickly burn themselves out and die."
While aspartame manufacturers say aspartame cannot penetrate the blood-brain barrier -- the tightly-walled membrane that keeps toxins from reaching the brain --Blaylock counters that a number of factors make the blood-brain barrier more porous, including exposure to pesticides, hypoglycaemia, all immune diseases (such as lupus and diabetes), Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, strokes (including silent strokes) and a whole range of medical drugs.
Under these conditions, ingesting aspartame-laced foods may cause a spike in the level of excitotoxins that directly reach thebrain, thus increasing the likelihood of adverse effects.
Each of aspartame's main constituents is a known neurotoxin capable of producing a unique array of adverse effects.
Phenylalanine
The essential amino acid phenylalanine comprises 50 percent of aspartame. In people with the genetic disorder phenylketonuria (PKU) the liver cannot metabolise phenylalanine, causing it to build up in the blood and tissues.
Chronically high levels of phenylalanine and some of its breakdown products can cause significant neurological problems, which is why foods and beverages containing aspartame must carry a warning for PKU sufferers.
But according to Dr. HJ Roberts, sensitivity to aspartame is not limited to PKU sufferers. PKU carriers -- people who inherited the gene for the disorder but do not themselves have the condition (around 2 percent of the general population) -- are also more prone to adverse effects. In Roberts' data there is also a high incidence of aspartame reactions among the close relatives of patients who cannot tolerate aspartame.
Furthermore, there is evidence that ingesting aspartame, especially along with carbohydrates, can lead to excess levels of phenylalanine in the brain even among those not affected by PKU.
Athough phenylalanine is sometimes used as a treatment for depression, excessive amounts in the brain can cause levels of the mood regulator serotonin to decrease, making depression more serious or likely.
Build-up of phenylalanine in the brain can also worsen schizophrenia or make individuals more susceptible to seizures. Moreover, a decrease in serotonin levels can result in carbohydrate craving. This could explain aspartame's lack of effectiveness as a diet aid.
DKP
DKP is a breakdown product of phenylalanine that forms when aspartame-containing liquids are stored for prolonged periods. In animal experiments it has produced brain tumors, uterine polyps and changes in blood cholesterol.
Before the FDA approved aspartame, the amount of DKP in our diets was essentially zero. So no claim of DKP's safety can be accepted as genuine until good-quality long-term studies have been performed. No such studies have been done.
Aspartic Acid
Aspartic acid (also known as aspartate) is a non-essential amino acid that comprises 40 percent of aspartame. In the brain, it functions as a neurotransmitter -- facilitating the transfer of information from one nerve cell (neuron) to another.
Both human and animal experiments have demonstrated a significant spike in blood-plasma levels of aspartate after the administration of aspartame in liquids. Too much aspartate in the brain produces free radicals, unstable molecules that
damage and kill brain cells.
Humans are five times more sensitive to the effects of aspartic acid (as well as glutamic acid, found in MSG) than rodents, and 20 times more sensitive than monkeys, because we concentrate these excitatory amino acids in our blood at much higher levels and for a longer period of time.
Aspartic acid has a cumulative harmful effect on the endocrine and reproductive systems. Several animal experiments have shown that excitotoxins can penetrate the placental barrier and reach the fetus.
In addition, as levels of aspartic acid rise in the body so do levels of the key neurotransmitter norepinephrine (also known as noradrenaline), a 'stress hormone' that affects parts of the human brain where attention and impulsivity are controlled. Excessive norepinephrine is associated with symptoms such as anxiety, agitation and mania.
Methanol
Methanol (wood alcohol) comprises 10 percent of aspartame. It is a deadly poison that is liberated from aspartame at temperatures in excess of 86° Fahrenheit (30° centigrade) -- for instance, during storage or inside the human body.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency considers methanol a 'cumulative poison due to the low rate of excretion once it is absorbed,' meaning that even small amounts in aspartame-containing foods can build up over time in the body.
The most well known problems from methanol poisoning are vision disorders, including misty or blurry vision, retinal damage and blindness.
Other symptoms include headaches, tinnitus, dizziness, nausea, gastrointestinal disturbances, weakness, vertigo, chills, memory lapses, numbness and shooting pains in the extremities behavioral disturbances and neuritis.
The EPA tightly controls methanol exposure, allowing only very minute levels to be present in foods or in environmental exposures. But Blaylock says: 'The level allowed in NutraSweet is seven times the amount that the EPA will allow anyone else to use.'
Formaldehyde
The methanol absorbed from aspartame is converted to formaldehyde in the liver. Formaldehyde is a neurotoxin and known carcinogen. It causes retinal damage and birth defects, interferes with DNA replication, and has been shown to cause squamous-cell carcinoma, a form of skin cancer, in animals. Several human studies have found that chronic, low-level formaldehyde exposure has been linked with a variety of symptoms, including headaches, fatigue, chest tightness, dizziness, nausea, poor concentration and seizures.
Formic acid
Formic acid is a cumulative poison produced by the breakdown of formaldehyde. It concentrates in the brain, kidneys, spinal fluid and other organs, and is highly toxic to cells. Formic acid can lead to accumulation of excessive acid in the body fluids -- a condition known as acidosis. The small amounts of formic acid derived from the methanol absorbed from aspartame may or may not be dangerous; there are no human or mammalian studies to enlighten us.
Part III of this series will discuss some of the problems with the aspartame safety studies and approval process.
Ecologist Online August 30, 2005
Dr. Mercola's Comment:Many health disasters, which are highlighted by horrific personal accounts found on Web sites against aspartame, can be attributed to its use. Just a few of the disasters that result from aspartame use include:<UL><LI>Cancer <LI>Hair loss <LI>Depression <LI>Dementia <LI>Behavioral disturbances </LI></UL>
But that's not nearly all. Aspartame alone accounts foras much as 80 percent of the adverse reactions to food additives reported to the FDA. Many of these reactions are very serious, including seizures and death.
A few of the 90 different documented symptoms listed in a 1994 Department of Health and Human Services report as being caused by aspartame include:
Headaches and migraines, dizziness, seizures, nausea, numbness, muscle spasms, weight gain, rashes, depression, fatigue, irritability, tachycardia, insomnia, vision problems, hearing loss, heart palpitations, breathing difficulties, anxiety attacks, slurred speech, loss of taste, tinnitus, vertigo, memory loss and joint pain.
And, according to researchers and physicians studying the adverse effects of aspartame, the following chronic illnesses can be triggered or worsened by ingesting aspartame: Brain tumors, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, chronic fatigue syndrome, Parkinson's disease, alzheimer's, mental retardation, lymphoma, birth defects, fibromyalgia and diabetes.
Is this really something you want to be eating?
More than 5,000 products contain aspartame. It's in your best interests, as well as your family's, for you to read the labels of any processed food you're concerned about.
If you want the full story on aspartame, you'll want to consider viewing Sweet Misery, a 90-minute documentary that perfectly summarizes its history. About the Author
This article is reprinted from Mercola.com, the world's #1 most visited and trusted natural/alternative health website. For a limited time only, you can take the FREE "Metabolic Type Test" to help you learn the right foods for your particular body type so you can achieve optimal fitness & health. Just go to http://www.mercola.com/forms/mt_test.htm right now to take this quick test!
|
|
|
|
|
How To Gain Weight and Build Muscle Fast |
A complete and FREE guide on how to gain weight and build muscle. Weight gain diets, bodybuilding supplements and targeted weight training for the ... |
www.gain-weight-muscle-fast.com |
  |
Build Muscle |
Can a post-exercise supplement help you build muscle faster, ... And one of the biggest debates centers on how much protein you need to build muscle. ... |
www.thefactsaboutfitness.com |
  |
Build Muscle UK - The home of free muscle building and fitness advice! |
Build Muscle UK, here we have an ever growing world gym directory, free training tips from our members and the chance for aspiring models to appear in our ... |
www.buildmuscle.co.uk |
  |
Building muscle...weight lifting routines, tips and nutrition |
Build muscle fast using weight lifting routines and muscle building tips that work. Muscle building programs and nutrition. |
www.building-muscle101.com |
  |
Health-and-Fitness - Build-Muscle Ezine Articles |
EzineArticles.com allows ezine or email list publishers to upload or download free expert content that can be used within email newsletters or websites. |
ezinearticles.com |
  |
Building Muscle Lose Fat Gain Muscle Bodybuilding Portal - Home |
Ten Eating Tips To Build Muscle Fast! ... By the time you finish reading this you will have the basics down to eating to build muscle fast! ... |
www.gainmuscleandlosefat.com |
  |
Protein by the hour: build muscle by knowing what type of protein ... |
Protein by the hour: build muscle by knowing what type of protein to eat—and when to eat it - Fuel from Mens Fitness in Health & Fitness provided free by ... |
www.findarticles.com |
  |
Run to build muscle: turn your cardio into a resistance workout ... |
Run to build muscle: turn your cardio into a resistance workout and get the best of both worlds - Cardio Clinic from Mens Fitness in Health & Fitness ... |
www.findarticles.com |
  |
Build Muscle Fast - BodyBuilding Workouts - Strength Training Tips |
The most powerful muscle building and strength increasing information. Strength training techniques and principles in this book will change your body and ... |
www.seriousstrengthtraining.com |
  |
Build Muscle | How To Build Muscle | Building Muscle | BodyBuilding |
Learn how to build muscle mass fast with these powerful muscle building articles, tips, and workout programs for building muscle from trainer and ... |
www.shawnlebrunfitness.com |
  |
build muscle on 43 Things |
William Butler Yeats. RSS 2.0 button (What is RSS?) First added to PhreeStyle's list. build muscle. People doing this: ... |
www.43things.com |
  |
Go Ask Alice!: Losing fat and building muscle mass: Can this be ... |
I have heard that it is not possible to both lose fat and build muscle mass simultaneously: ideally, a person should do cardiovascular exercise with dieting ... |
www.goaskalice.columbia.edu |
  |
Go Ask Alice!: Wants to build muscle mass through weight lifting ... |
Dear Alice, I am a twenty-nine year old woman. I am interested in increasing my muscle mass. Could you please tell me what steps to take in weight lifting ... |
www.goaskalice.columbia.edu |
  |
Bodybuilding.com - Complete Muscle Gaining Supplement Guide ... |
However, they will definately help you build muscle a lot quicker. ... You can't build muscle without it! You will want to take in about 1-2 grams of ... |
www.bodybuilding.com |
  |
Quickest muscle building techniques...Building muscle losing fat |
Ironpower's Quickest muscle building techniques...Build muscle lose fat, best foods, diet, exercise, supplements. |
www.ironpower.biz |
  |
How to Gain Muscle |
Learn how to gain muscle from your About Exercise Guide. |
exercise.about.com |
  |
How to Build Muscle |
How to Build Muscle. ... How to Build Muscle. So many of us want to lose fat, we forget about the people out there who'd like to gain a few pounds. ... |
exercise.about.com |
  |
HOW WOMEN BUILD MUSCLE |
File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML |
Your browser may not have a PDF reader available. Google recommends visiting our text version of this document. |
  |
Free weight training workouts and muscle building routines |
The all natural Optimum Anabolics Challenge is now in full swing, 9 weeks of ultimate natural training to build muscle and burn fat using the most effective ... |
www.muscleblitz.com |
  |
Build Muscle Lose Fat - Turn Fat Into Muscle - Building Muscle And ... |
Also get our special diet meal planner software, a convenient tool for meal preparation and diet evaluation for those who follow the build muscle lose fat ... |
www.trulyhuge.com |
  |
|