February 2008 - Posts

• Body-building or Not, Nutritional Nitric Oxide is a Must.

  Proclaimed as the “Molecule of the Year” in 1992, Nitric Oxide (NO) or Nitrogen Monoxide is an important signaling molecule in mammals, including humans. It is of great importance to regulate numerous functions in the human body. The Nitric Oxide molecule is a free radical, having achieved great significance in the fields of Neuroscience, physiology, and immunology. There is a surge in the amount of nitric oxide (NO) supplements in the market. Most of these products are derived from the Noni plant and contain Arginine in one form or another. Arginine is an amino acid that increases growth hormone (GH) levels. Additionally, it drives the synthesis of NO, more so in people suffering with high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, and also in those who smoke. NO, taken in supplemental form through Arginine intake, further helps to enhance NO production during wound healing and oxidative stress, and is beneficial in your muscle-building quest. Most NO supplements use Arginine in the form of Arginine alpha-ketoglutarate, because this form enhances the absorption of arginine, indirectly also providing glutamine, which in turn plays an important role for body builders. Most Nitric Oxide products also offer forskolin, citrulline and inulin to further enhance the effects of NO. Besides technical applications, NO serves quite a few biological functions. Nitric oxide is produced in greater quantities in people living at higher altitudes, where it protects them from hypoxia, a medical condition characterized by lack of adequate oxygen supply to the body as a whole, or a region of the body. A high salt intake has been found to lessen NO production. Nitric Oxide is also a key vertebrate biological messenger, and it is also known as Endothelium Derived Relaxing Factor (EDRF). Nitric Oxide is utilized by the inner lining of the blood vessels to signal to the surrounding muscles to relax. Effects of Nitric oxide include blood vessel dilation, modulation of the hair cycle, and penile erections. Nitric Oxide plays a positive role in diseases and conditions such as heart disease, Sickle Cell Anemia, high blood pressure, impotence, fertility, pain relief, control of inflammation, diabetes, digestion, tuberculosis , memory enhancement, weight Loss, and wound healing. It also helps in the formation of blood clots and in the regulating of the brain, lungs, kidneys, liver and other vital organs, and is safely used in full-term babies with lung problems. Nitric oxide is toxic to bacteria and other human pathogens. Inhaled Nitric oxide has been known to help a victim of paraquat poisoning survive and recover. Nitric Oxide is also important for the regulation of most or all major classes of protein. Nitric Oxide is the molecule of life! Rich in B-sitosterol, ursolic, ghycosides, plant sterols, anthrquinoidenes, potassium, calcium, zinc, vitamin A, Vitamin C and iron, it is an important regulator for our immune system and overall health.  Nitric Oxide products can be taken twice a day on an empty stomach. However, for clear dosing guidelines, you may consult a fitness expert or find out for yourself through tolerance mapping, which entails that you start by taking small NO dosage, gradually increasing the quantity you intake to a level where you experience maximum benefits with minimum side effects. Posted Feb 28 2008, 10:57 AM by Shikha with no comments Filed under: Nitic Oxide

• Efficacy of Amino Acids: Why Are They So Important?

  Amino Acids are a group of organic molecules that are the basic element or component of proteins. Commonly referred to as the building blocks of proteins, these amino acids join together to form proteins and it is the order of these amino acids in proteins that defines the working of the genetic code or DNA. The proteins further act as the functional components of cells.  Amino Acids exist in twenty different natural forms, all necessary for human growth and function. They act as intermediates in metabolism. Of the twenty two Amino acids, humans can produce only ten as they do not have all the enzymes required for the biosynthesis of all of the amino acids. The rest must come from food. If the body does not receive the necessary amount of all ten important amino acids, it suffers severe muscle degradation. Also, amino acids do not get stored in the body like fat and starch do. A daily supply of the same is necessary! The human body is capable of producing these ten Amino acids: alanine, asparagines, aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, glutamine, glycine, proline, serine and tyrosine. The amino acids essentially required include arginine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine. The power of Amino Acids is reflected in the following crucial roles they play in the healthy functioning of the human body. Amino Acids Build cells and repair tissues; Form antibodies to combat invading bacteria & viruses; Form an integral part of the enzyme and hormonal system; Build nucleoproteins (RNA & DNA); Are oxygen carriers for the entire body; Are parts of all muscular activity, Amino Acid deficiency symptoms are weak immune system, loss of antibody production, fatigue, stomach acid/alkaline imbalance, dizziness/nausea, water retention, and infertility.  Amino Acids are found in a variety of foods, such as meat, milk, cheese, egg, whole grains, rice, corn, beans, legumes, oatmeal, peas, and peanut butter. Vegetarians must eat a variety of foods available to them in order to get enough protein. All the amino acids can be obtained from dried beans (black, kidney, northern, red, and white beans, peas, soy, nuts, and seeds. Hence, the amazing efficacy of Amino Acids lies in the fact that their adequate intake is vital for healthy muscles, ligaments, tendons, organs, glands, nails, hair and most body fluids. Moreover, the central nervous system cannot function optimally in the absence of amino acids. The power of Amino Acids needs no further exposition! Posted Feb 22 2008, 10:56 AM by Shikha with no comments Filed under: Amino acids

• They Don’t Call it “Beauty Sleep” for no Reason!

  “No day is so bad it can't be fixed with a nap”, said Carrie Snow, and it was for some reason! Such a simple statement encompasses a world of meaning. You may fuss over your diet, and exercise regularly, but are you getting your beauty sleep? You think you’re doing everything right to maintain a healthy lifestyle, then why the puffy, bloodshot eyes, dark under-eye circles and a pale washed-out complexion, and all that stress and constant feeling of tiredness? No pun intended, but let this be your wake-up call to realize the value of eight hours of sleep a night! Sleeping is indeed no mean art! It repairs and heals the human body, say sleep researchers. A full, deep, healthy and restful sleep helps resist major diseases, lose weight, think more clearly, look younger, and improve relationships and sex life.  Insomnia or sleeping disorder is caused by some obvious reasons such as anxiety, caffeine and not-so-obvious causes including medications, hormones, and confused body clocks. A restful nights’ sleep helps gain all the energy, focus, and productivity you need to live a balanced and successful life. Can’t sleep? Here are a few tips that’ll make you doze off when it’s time for bed:   Daily exercise keeps stress hormones at bay, thereby making for peaceful sleep. An active digestive system disrupts sleep, so avoid heavy meals before bedtime. The more comfortable you are, the sooner you’ll fall into deep slumber. So, dim those lights set the appropriate room temperature and ban all noise! Say no to caffeine, nicotine or any other stimulant within a couple of hours of bedtime. Create a bed time routine. Simple meditation techniques, light music, deep breathing, and thinking pleasant thoughts, all induce sleep. So, if you’re one of the millions who have racked up a heavy sleep debt through years of high-stress, stimulant-filled living, it’s time for a recoup! Simply put, you must tackle and eliminate the stubborn habits you have developed over the years that interfere with your good nights sleep. Sleep is perhaps the most cherished of Nature’s blessings. They don’t call it “beauty sleep” for no reason! Posted Feb 21 2008, 10:54 AM by Admin with no comments Filed under: sleep, beauty sleep, sleep tips, insomnia, sleep disorder, Beauty