Before the industrial revolution, specialized diets were something employed mostly for spiritual reasons. However, with a better understanding of biology and nutrition, they have, over the past century and a half, moved from just spiritual journeys, to ways of life to optimize fitness, and build a healthier body.
That’s the idea, anyhow, but diets come and go all the time, many people cite the ineffective nature of such “fad” diets, and frankly, whether they work or not, some of them are just a miserable experience. Who can forget the absurdity of the Atkins diet, which forbade the consumption of fruit and fruit juice, as well as an absolute abandonment of carbs? Your body needs the vitamins and natural sugars of fruit in moderation, and the same moderate consumption of carbs is needed for fuel. I saw people on that diet catch a cold, and then give it back to themselves for months due to immunodeficiencies.
So yeah, a lot of these specialized diets are ridiculous, ineffective and possibly even dangerous. A lot of people not in the know would say these things of vegetarianism, too. And you know, I get that. People associate protein with meat, dairy and eggs, and forget that there are plenty of protein-rich vegetarian foods, although a higher volume is often needed, than with meat.
Meat isn’t bad for you, but a low-meat diet has its benefits. Vegan and vegetarian athletes and body builders can be legitimate powerhouses, so there’s proof that it works. But at the same time, again, it takes a lot more plant-based intake for the required amount of protein, and anyone who’s tried and failed to adhere to a vegan or vegetarian diet can attest that most people find it kind of miserable and lacking in enjoyment.
When eating becomes a chore, that can be just as mentally unhealthy as an obsession with food.
This is why vegetarianism isn’t so cut and dry, and you hear terms like “ovo-lacto vegetarian” or “pescatarian”. Ovo-lacto is pretty obvious, being vegetarianism but adding dairy and eggs. What the heck is a pescatarian diet?
Coming from the Italian root word “pesce”, meaning fish, a pescatarian diet is a base vegetarian diet that includes fish and other seafood. Most, though not all pescatarians also eat eggs and dairy to some small or large extent.
Pescatarians, therefore, do not eat beef, pork, poultry or any other animal that doesn’t live in the sea. This allows for a lot more variety in your meals, and means you can enjoy things like dairy in moderation, the lean protein of egg whites (okay, sneak a yolk now and then, I won’t tell on you), and the diversity of seafood cuisine.
On top of being a more varied and rich diet, it has a lot of health benefits. If you don’t like seafood (and there are just as many people who hate seafood as love it), this diet will obviously have problems for you, and perhaps ovo-lacto (maybe with a little poultry) is more fit for you.
Benefits of Pescatarianism
- Elimination of meats – especially red meats – reduces cholesterol, heart disease and high blood pressure.
- It brings in nutrients and vitamins that aren’t present in a pure vegetarian nor vegan diet. Vegans and pure vegetarians have to use way more supplements, or eat a whole lot of various plant-based foods to make up for this, which becomes a chore as I said.
- It’s so much easier to stick to this diet, if you like seafood. The body craves meat. Even if you adore vegetables, fruits and legumes (who doesn’t?), it’s not satisfying to not have something heavier and more protein-rich.
- It’s very sustainable, as aquaculture is far more efficient and less demanding than raising livestock. Aquaculture will play a huge role in space colonization, and in humanitarian aids to end hunger in the near future as well.
- You’ll lose a lot of weight – seafood is lean by nature. Even the fattier fish aren’t the type of fatty that much matters to our bodies.
- Omega-3 fatty acids are fantastic for fighting inflammation, helping to control diabetes, reducing the risk of strokes, losing weight more quickly and naturally, growing better muscles, and for a healthier nervous and neurological system. People who don’t like seafood take fish oil pills for this, even.
Healthy Fish – Pescatarian Food List
Let’s look at a quick list of the healthier items on the pescatarian menu.
- Trout
- Catfish
- Salmon
- Squid
- Tilapia
- Sardines
- Clams
- Oysters
- Anchovies (if you’re the one person on the planet that likes these)
- Snapper
- Scallops
- Shrimp.
These are pretty common fare, and liked by most people who like seafood at all. Well, aside from perhaps anchovies and sardines, people who like them seem to be a minority due to their pungency and saltiness.
The ones below are kind of high in mercury, which isn’t good for you, so enjoy these only occasionally as a treat.
- Tuna
- Marlin
- Grouper
- Swordfish
- Mackerel
- Orange Roughy
- Shark (if you can avoid eating sharks, please do, they’re important to the ocean’s ecosystem and are scarcely farm-raised. Swordfish is very similar, but more sustainable).
Does a pescatarian diet intrigue you? If you like seafood and lots of veggies, give this a whirl. You might just love it. To learn more about diets like this, and to get tips on cooking delicious confections that suit dietary restrictions, subscribe to my YouTube channel today!
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What Is Amino Acid Therapy?
Amino Acid Therapy for Cerebral Palsy
The contribution in the development of cerebral palsy focuses on potentially modifiable factors during the neonatal period. Studies revealed that it has something to do with the excitable protein building blocks and their role in neurological injury.
In preventing the permanent deficit of having cerebral palsy, amino acid therapy is a method of treating brain damage and early abnormality. This was created by Professor Alexander Khokhlov from Russia who is teaching biochemistry and nuerology. He also has other clinics in Cyrpus, Czech Republic, London and New Zealand.
This consists of the intravenous administration of one or more essential protein building blocks. It was performed on 84 patients that went through treatment from February 1994 to February 1996. About 39 received two courses, 20 had three sessions, 9 took four, 9 received five courses, 6 had six sessions and 1 took seven. Accordingly, a percentage of more than 50 patients were given 3 or more courses.
Amino Acid Therapy for Psychological Condition
Neurotransmitters are important chemical messengers which regulate functions in the brain, muscles, organs and nerves. Serotonin, dopamine, neropinephrine and epinephrine are the most common of its type.
People that have the neurotransmitter deficiency can have the following conditions depression, chronic fatigue, insomnia, attention deficit, anxiety, panic attacks and many more. With the application of the amino acid therapy it has helped those who are agonizing such situations. Treatments include taking SSRI or selective serotonin re- uptake inhibitors and other prescribed drugs such as Prozac, Zoloft, Effexor, Celexa or Wellbutrin.
It functions by artificially accelerating the amount of serotonin in the synapse of the nerve. This allows a temporary recovery in the chemical messaging system. The downside however, is that it does not increase serotonin levels and diminishes the stocks of NT. It happens because the SSRI class drugs bring about an augment in an enzyme called MAO.
Amino Acid Therapy for Cancer
Developed by Angelo John, a cancer scientist, he researched the role of the protein block- builders in the cancer cells. Afterwhich, he determined how it can be altered to eliminate to cause its death. Thus, his objective is to strategically and scientifically utilize the chemical reactions and supplemental responses by interfering with the five basic prerequisites namely structure, blood vessels, energy, growth hormones and functions.
Amino acid therapy works synergistically with both chemotherapy and radiotherapy. It hinders the rise of tumors and causes them to retreat. It is a six to eight month course administered to under the care of your doctor and just inside the comforts of your home.
There was a study done by Dr. Marco Rabinovitz of the National Cancer Institute where it showed that deprivation of the protein block- builders is beneficial in healing cancer. Such is an example that consists of scintifically formulated amino acids. In the otherhand, Dr. Chi Van Dang of John Hopkins School of Medicine stated that cancer cells are sugar junkies that if robbed of glucose, they will eventually pass away.
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Amino Acids that Promote Growth
Ornithine
What Is Ornithine?
This is one of the amino acids that promote growth which is derived from arginine. Large quantities of which have successfully raised growth hormone levels in some studies. Bucci, et al, studied the effect of 40, 100 and 170 mg/kg of L-ornithine HCl on 12 bodybuilders. Twenty- five percent of the subjects experienced significant increases in serum growth hormone levels at the two lower doses. In the other hand, half the subjects illustrated an increase in growth hormone at the highest dose.
Arginine
What Is Arginine?
Arginine is an semi-essential amino acid and is present in the proteins of all life forms. It is classified as a conditionally essential or semi-essential amino acid because under normal conditions the body can produce sufficient quantities of amino acid arginine to meet physiological demands. However, in times of stress conditions such as wound healing and trauma, the body might not be able to manufacture enough. In these cases, amino acid arginine becomes essential and is very important to ensure sufficient dietary intake of the amino acid to meet the increased physiological demands shaped by these conditions.What Does L-Arginine Do?
Arginine although not an essential amino acid, is a vital one. In addition to contributing in protein synthesis, it plays a number of other important roles in the body. Arginine’s primary function entails the metabolism of proteins and nitrogen. It also detoxifies ammonia formed during nitrogen catabolism of amino acids through the formation of urea. It is also a forerunner in the formation of polyamines, creatine, nitric oxide, proline, glutamate, agmatin, and the arginine-containing tetrapeptide tuftsin which is believed to be an immunomodulator. Arginine is also a glycogenic amino acid. If needed by the body, it can be converted to D-glucose and glycogen or can be catabolized to manufacture biological energy.
Arginine when taken in high doses stimulates pituitary release of growth hormones, prolactin and pancreatic release of glucagon and insulin. It is also used as an immunonutrient in parenteral and enteral nutrition to aid improvement of the immune status of those suffering from burns, sepsis, and trauma.
L-Arginine Rich Foods
Arginine is predominately manufactured in the kidney. It is a main intermediary in the Krebs-Henseleit urea cycle. A much smaller amount of this amino acid is synthesized in the liver. The normal dietary intake of arginine is 3.5 to 5 grams daily and most dietary arginine comes from animal and plant proteins. Arginine of small amounts can be found in vegetable juices and fermented foods, such as yogurt and miso. Plant proteins such as soy proteins and other plant proteins are richer in arginine than animal proteins which are richer in lycine. Arginine can also be found in dairy products, meat, poultry, nuts, fish, and chocolate. Other natural sources of arginine are brown rice, raisins, popcorn, and whole-wheat products.
Benefits of L-Arginine
Arginine has a maximum potential in preventing or reducing cardiovascular diseases, by stimulating a compound that relaxes the blood vessels called nitric oxide. It is also used to enhance memory, eliminate depression, improve sleep, control stress, prevent aging, relieve arthritis, manage allergies, promote hair growth, cure impotence, fight cancer, reduce herpes, combat fatigue, and stimulate the immune system. The normal supplemental dosage of arginine per day is 2 to 8 grams.
Does L-Arginine Help Muscle Growth?
Investigated in numerous studies with conflicting results, this is one of the amino acids that promote growth. Take for example, in one study, 6 subjects were given 6 grams of arginine. They all experienced a 100% increase in plasma levels without any growth hormone release. Other researchers administered it to 12 young and 5 elderly non-obese adults, all of whom had a body mass of less than 30. The subjects participated in three trials: resistive weight-lifting exercise with no placebo, 5 grams of arginine supplementation prior to exercise and 5 grams of oral L-arginine only.
Lysine
What Is Lysine?
Lysine is an essential amino acid which is vital to human health but cannot be synthesized by the human body. This is the reason why amino acid lysine must be obtained from your food diet. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins and proteins are greatly needed by the body for muscle growth. Lysine plays an important role in the production of a nutrient that is responsible for converting fatty acids into energy and helps lower cholesterol.What Does Lysine Do?
Lysine also shows to help the body in absorbing and conserving calcium. It also plays a vital role in the formation of collagen, an important substance for the bones and connective tissues that includes the skin, cartilage and tendon.
Insufficient lysine in the diet may cause health problems such as kidney stones that may develop other health problems including loss of appetite, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, agitation, slow growth, anemia, reproductive disorders, and bloodshot eyes. However, it is very rare to get insufficient amounts of lysine through the daily diet. Lysine deficiency would normally only apply to vegetarians and certain athletes who are in frequent vigorous exercise. Vegetarians would get the best source of lysine in legumes such as peas, lentils, and beans.
In foods such as pastries, cookies, doughnuts, and cereals, the browning reaction involves lysine. In this process of lysine and sugar being combined makes it in a way difficult for the body to absorb lysine, resulting to low lysine intake in cereals and baked goods diet. Good food sources of lysine are those foods rich in protein which includes meat, cheese, nuts, eggs, certain fish, soybeans, fenugreek seed, and spirulina.
What Is Lysine Used For?
Lysine can be used in the treatment of genital and mouth lesions caused by herpes simplex virus as well as shingles caused by herpes zoster viruses. Lysine supplements taken can speed up recovery time and reduce the possibility of repeated breakouts of the herpes infection. Amino acid lysine also improves the absorption of calcium from the digestive tract and avoids loss of calcium in the urine, which some researchers have speculated that bone loss associated with osteoporosis can be prevented through the help of lysine. In studies where lysine has been combined with arginine showed that it increases the activity of bone-building cells and improves production of collagen.
Some forms of lysine or lysine bound to anti-inflammatory medications may help ease pain following an episiotomy, a medical procedure performed during labor that is a procedure of cutting the vaginal area to enlarge the vaginal opening and facilitate delivery. Lysine of these forms may also relieve painful periods and migraine headaches.
How Much Lysine To Take
Most people need about 1 gram of lysine per day. For athletes and people recovering from major injuries such as burns may be required a greater amount.
Does Lysine Promote Muscle Growth?
One of the amino acids that promote growth, lysine may work to release growth hormone. In a study of 15 healthy male subjects, there was a
separate consumption of lysine as single nutrients did not significantly increase growth hormone compared to the baseline. In another study of normal young males, oral administration of 1,200 milligrams of L-lysine did not raise serum growth hormone levels.Glycine
What Is Glycine?
Glycine is a protein amino acid that can be found in the protein of all life forms and is important in the body’s construction of proteins. Glycine is the simplest amino acid in the body that is not optically active. In contrast to other amino acids, glycine can be found in both enzymes and proteins. Although glycine is found mostly in proteins, glycine is also found in plants. It is estimated that the normal diet should include two grams of glycine daily.What Does Glycine Do?
Since amino acid glycine can be sufficiently produced by the body to meet physiological requirements, it is considered a nonessential amino acid. However, it is of key importance in the synthesis of proteins, purines, peptides, nucleic acids, porphyrins, hemoglobin, creatine, glucose, one-carbon fragments, L-serine, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and other amino acids.
Amino acid Glycine performs as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain and spinal cord. It plays vital roles in the method of prevention for muscular degeneration, repair of damaged tissues located throughout the body, and improvement of glycogen storage. Glycine is an important amino acid because if needed, it will synthesize and convert from serine and threonine to fulfill its physiological processes.
Glycine is a solid water-soluble substance that has a sweetish taste and is also known as amino acetic acid, glycocoll, sucre de gelatine, and aminoethanolic acid. Its one-letter abbreviation when spelling out protein structures is G and its IUPAC abbreviation is Gly.
Glycine Rich Foods
Glycine can also be found in natural food sources. Natural food sources containing high amounts of glycine includes fish, beans, dairy products, and meats. Here are food sources of glycine that are based on a serving size of 100 g and the amount of glycine contained is expressed in milligrams:
Vegetable Products
- Seaweed, spirulina (dried) 3100 mg
Nut and Seed Products
- Seeds, cottonseed meal (partially defatted, glandless) 2380 mg
- Seeds, sunflower seed flour (partially defatted) 3080 mg
- Seeds, sesame flour (low-fat) 3430 mg
- Seeds, pumpkin and squash seed kernels (roasted without salt) 2410 mg
Legume Products
- Soy protein concentrate (produced by alcohol extraction) 2690 mg
- Peanut flour (defatted) 3150 mg
- Soy protein isolate (potassium type) 3600mg
- Soy protein concentrate (produced by acid wash) 2690 mg
- Soy protein isolate 3600 mg
Shellfish and Finfish Products
- Fish, cod, Atlantic (dried and salted) 3010 mg
Poultry Products
- Chicken, broilers or fryers, skin only (cooked, roasted) 3250 mg
- Turkey, all classes, skin only (cooked, roasted) 3140mg
- Turkey, young tom, skin only (cooked, roasted) 3210 mg
Beef Products
- Beef, cured, breakfast strips (cooked) 2610 mg
Pork Products
- Pork, fresh, variety meats and by-products, ears, frozen (Cooked, simmered) 3140 mg
- Pork, fresh, variety meats and by-products, ears, frozen (raw) 4400 mg
Veal, Lamb, and Game Products
- Veal, variety meats and by-products, liver (cooked, braised calf liver) 2290 mg
Luncheon Meats and Sausages
- Beef, cured, corned beef, canned 2260 mg
Egg and Dairy Products
- Egg, white (dried) 2840 mg
Snacks
- Snacks, pork skins (plain) 11900 mg
Sweets
- Gelatins, dry powder (unsweetened) 19100 mg
Beverages
- Gelatin, drinking, orange flavor (powder) 9670 mg
Does Glycine Promote Muscle Growth?
It may be the non- essentials but this is also one of the amino acids that promote growth. Glycine is contained in gelatin protein and is an important component of collagen. Although much of the early research revolved around its ability to increase strength in athletes, more recent studies have documented that it can indeed raise growth hormone levels in humans. As a matter of fact, researchers have concluded that the explanation why it has been found to increase muscle strength in many studies may be the result of its growth-hormone-boosting capabilities.
Glutamine
What Is Glutamine?
Glutamine is an amino acid that allows for improved immune system and brain function, balanced blood sugar levels, digestive tract health, and increased muscle mass.What Is Glutamine Used For?
Glutamine is used as fuel for immune system and intestinal cellular replication. Maintaining the proper levels of glutamine supports immune system activity while strengthening the intestinal lining. In addition to this, glutamine is important to replenishing glycogen (stored energy) in muscle tissue, and maintaining muscle mass and strength.
Glutamine also plays an important role in maintaining healthy brain function as a source of energy for the nervous system, a key factor in the production of brain neurotransmitters, and an ammonia detoxifier.
Does Glutamine Promote Muscle Growth?
An abundant protein block- builder, this is one of the amino acids that promote growth. Glutamine is the most copious in human muscle and plasma. It directly regulates both the production and wearing-down of protein and immune cell activity. When about nine healthy subjects consumed two grams of oral glutamine 45 minutes after a light breakfast, there were eight out of the nine that subjects experienced elevated plasma growth hormone within 90 minutes. These findings demonstrate, the study authors wrote, that a surprisingly small oral glutamine load is capable of elevating hormones for development.
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Everything You Need to Know About SARMs
Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators, also known as SARMs, might sound like something fresh out of a science fiction novel, but that’s not the case. SARMs are real, effective, and an alternative to steroids. For bodybuilders, SARMs could be the key to unlocking true muscle building potential without any of the serious side effects connected to steroid usage.
Here is everything you need to know about Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators, including what they are and why they work.
What Are SARMs?
SARMs is an acronym for Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators. A SARM is a drug that is a chemical twin to anabolic steroids. Though SARMs are thought to be new in the bodybuilding world, these drugs have been around since the 1940s. Currently, there are a few SARMs available legally on the market, such as:
- Ostarine (MK-2866 or GTx-024)
- Ligandol or Anabolicum (LGD-4033)
- LGD-3303
- Andarine (GSX-007 or S-4)
- Cardarine (GW-501516)
- Nutrobal (MK-677)
- Testolone (RAD-140)
What are those weird code names, you ask? The truth is that, while SARMs can be bought, they haven’t been approved for medical application, so no generic names have been affixed to them yet. This doesn’t mean SARMs are dangerous. More on that in the next section.
Also, some of the SARMs in the list are not literal SARMs. Cardarine is a PPAR receptor agonist; and Nutrobal is a growth hormone secretagogue, which helps with the release of growth hormones.How Do SARMs Work?
To understand how SARMs work, we need to briefly look at how hormones, namely androgens, function. Androgens are the hormones responsible for masculine qualities, like facial hair, muscles, and lower body fat levels). The best known androgen is testosterone.
The body regulates the production of androgens, because imbalances are a double-edged sword. On the positive side, the more androgens you have, the faster muscles grow. On the downside, you can suffer from acne, oily hair, cysts, elevated blood pressure, testicular atrophy, and so on. This is why steroid usage is so dangerous.
SARMs, on the other hand, only focus on muscular growth by:- Focusing on muscle and bone, not the prostate, brain, and liver like steroids
- Avoiding the breakdown of molecules, like DHT and estrogen
- Avoiding conversion into 5-A reductase, which also converts into DHT, the cause of unwanted side effects
This means at SARMs work like growth hormones without impacting the body like an over-saturation of androgen hormones would.
What Are The Benefits of SARMs?
Whether you are a bodybuilder trying to get over a plateau, a recreational gym-goer, a fitness enthusiast, or an elite athlete, SARMs have a number of benefits that greatly outweigh more controversial methods, like steroids.
SARMs can:- Increase lean body mass
- Prevent muscle loss (catabolism) during cutting
- Accelerate rehabilitation after injuries
- Decrease recovery time
- Increase fat loss
- Increase muscular endurance
- Decrease overall fatigue
- Regulate your libido
- Be used safely by females
SARMs are better than steroids for the following reasons:
- Orally taken, not injected
- No liver toxicity from methylated compounds
- Doesn’t change to dihydrotestosterone (DHT)
- Doesn’t change to estrogen
- Doesn’t inhibit HPTA or cause a reduction in LH or FSH (hormones)
- Completely legal
- Virtually undetectable
Another benefit to SARMs is that the side effects are minimal. You rarely have to worry about negative effects. However, you should always do your research on the brand of SARM you want to use to make sure no negative side effects, like suppressed testosterone, have been reported. Don’t use SARM S-23 for this very reason.
How To Use SARMs
SARMs can be used several ways, depending on your goals. Bulking, cutting, and weight loss cycles can all benefit. Most SARM formulas come in triple stacks, since many of the compounds are multi-faceted and have a synergistic relationship with one another.
For example, if you want to bulk with SARMs, you might use andarine, ostabolic (ostarine) and testolone for 12 weeks. The typical dose is 10-25 mgs a day of each SARM. You should never go above 25 milligrams per dose.
For cutting, use andarine (S-4), which has fat burning effects.
To gain strength, andarine (S-4), anabolicum (LGD), and cardarine (GW) are a triple stack that works well for recomposition. Again, the usual dosage is 12 weeks. Then, you taper off.
In short, SARMs are growing in popularity with the bodybuilding community, because this supplement has shown an ability to accelerate anabolism in muscles, prevent catabolism, accelerate recovery, and are much safer than steroids. If you’re looking for a change or want to unleash the potential of your muscles, SARMs are worth a try.
Have thoughts on SARMs? Share your thoughts!
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