Thermodynamics and Protein Folding

There are many chemical reactions that occur in the universe. These reactions can be considered non- spontaneous or spontaneous. This all depends on the entropy that is found in the chemical equation. The chemical reactions that are categorized as being spontaneous are also known as downhill; whereas the reactions classified as being non-spontaneous are known as going uphill. So what causes chemists to label these reactions in different ways? Well, we must first need to learn more about thermodynamics and entropy. By watching the video above, you should get a better understanding of thermodynamics, and how they relate to protein folding.

Sugar Solubility and Intake

In exercise drinks such as Gatorade and Powerade, sugar is the main fuel source for the body. These drinks contain simple sugars because they are absorbed into the body faster and can be used as energy faster.  Athletes depend on these simple sugars as fuel and they need them for better performance.  For example, someone who races in a sport such as swimming or track will use these fast dissolving sugars as a quick burst of energy for a sprint.  However, they must monitor their intake of the sugars; they must take the appropriate amount and take it with the correct frequency.  When someone drinks Gatorade and the sugars enter their body, they are absorbed into the bloodstream quickly.  The pancreas must pump out insulin in order to compensate for the rise in blood sugar, also known as hyperglycemia.  But the sugars dissolve so quickly that the actual amount of them is overestimated and there is always insulin left over.  This extra insulin is stored as fat in the body, which is bad for the athlete.  In order to prevent this from happening, the athlete needs to have a continuous and constant intake of these sugars so that the blood sugar will not spike and there will not be extra insulin left over in the body.  Although it is good that these simple sugars can be used as fuel quickly, a lot of athletes make the mistake of ignoring the importance of intake frequency.  

This issue is caused because of the simple sugars' solubility properties.  Fructose is the most soluble of all the simple sugars.  In solutions, like dissolves like, meaning polar compounds will dissolve polar compounds and nonpolar compounds will dissolve nonpolar compounds.  Fructose is polar so it will easily dissolve in water, a polar solvent.  In addition, it is a smaller compound so it will dissolve faster than a larger one, such as sucrose, a disaccharide. 

Casein Proteins and Solubility

Milk proteins are some of the best proteins for their nutritional and technological value. Proteins are often a big part of peoples' diets, especially because they provide the essential amino acids and are big sources of nitrogen. Milk proteins have the best nutritional value compared to other proteins because of the high content of essential amino acids. Additionally, the good digestibility can also add to the great nutritional value.

Caseins and whey proteins are the two main protein groups that are found in milk. Caseins are found in 80 % of proteins in most milk, but are isolated from milk by acid. The acid precipitation is performed at a pH of 4.6, which is where caseins precipitate and whey proteins remain soluble. Caseins are often flexible and heat stable proteins.

The other 20 % of proteins in milk is composed of whey protein. Whey proteins are also known as proteins in milk that can remain soluble after acid precipitation, which is often found in milk. The whey protein acid that is used is formally known as acid whey, or informally as sweet whey. Whey proteins are globular proteins that are soluble over a broad pH range.

Most of the time, whey proteins have been considered as a more balanced and superior alternative to casein. The amino acids that are found in whey appear at a higher concentration in whey proteins. Whey proteins are also more similar to human milk, which is why whey proteins are more often known as the replacement for humanized milk production. Another reason as to why caseins are inferior is due to the lower digestion and absorption than found in whey proteins.

In a recent study, protein solubility was measured in the pH range of 2 to 10. A mixture of sodium caseinate and their hydrolysates had minimum solubility at a pH around 4 or 5. They had the highest solubility level in alkalinic pH range, which follows the results of most studies. The results of the study proved that enzymatic hydrolysis improved solubility of their hydrolysates. The increased number of ionizable groups with an increase in hydrophilicity and net charge resulting in hydrolysates promotes hydrolysate-water interaction, thus improving the solubility. The small molecular size also inceases the solubility.

IMF is a major way of knowing whether or not something has a high solubility in water. Remember that, like dissolves like. Using this logic, the polar water would dissolve the most polar protein models. The two main determinants of IMF in a molecule are charge and size. As the charge increases, the solubility increases in water. The smaller the size of the compound, the greater the solubility of the compound in water.

Casein is made of a large amount of residues, which do not interact. There is little structure to a molecule like this. It is also hydrophobic, which makes it less soluble in water. When it is found in suspension in milk for particles, it is held togther by calcium ions. These calcium ions and hydrophobic interactions make up the molecule for casein. The isoelectric point of casein is 4.6. Milk has a pH of 6.6, so casein has a negative charge in milk, so a purified version of casein protein is insoluble in water.

Review of Electrolyte Blog Post by a Nutritionist

Original blog post: http://rackupvitamind.blogspot.com/2012/11/electrolytes.html

If you added this to your blog, it would help get your point across and help add to the content section:

Electrolytes are lost during exercise if one becomes dehydrated. One way to avoid electrolyte imbalance is to drink water during exercise. The amount and frequency needed will depend on the severity of the activity and temperature of the atmosphere. For example, you will require more fluids to remain hydrated if you are exercising outdoors in 80 degree temperatures versus exercising in an air-conditioned gym. As long as you maintain an adequate intake of fluids during exercise, your electrolytes will not become depleted.

However if insufficient fluids are no consumed, and as a result, electrolytes are lost; they will need to be replaced. One quick way is with a sports drink such as Gatorade or Powerade. These are sugar-based drinks that contain sodium and potassium, the minerals that are lost during exercise when dehydration occurs.  The sugar (carbohydrates) in these drinks act as a fuel source for the body. This is beneficial during long endurance exercise, but it will metabolize rapidly and thus require frequent replenishment.  The sole source of energy in these drinks is sugar, and for someone concerned about their sugar intake, they should consider keeping themselves well hydrated with water during their exercise. 

Drinks that contain protein and/or amino acids are not usually meant for consumption to maintain/replace electrolytes. They are frequently consumed, although not necessary, to build/maintain muscle. Someone who consumes an adequate amount of good quality protein in their daily diet will not need to consume supplemental protein drinks. However, if one has a desire to do so, they should make sure that it contains good quality protein composed of 9 essential amino acids.

One easy source of fluids, energy, electrolytes, and protein is milk. Although it is not practical for consumption during exercise due to its microbiological spoilage properties, it is a complete food source to consume after exercising.

Written by Deborah A. Gallucio, M.S., R.D.

Ms. Gallucio received her Bachelor of Science in Foods and Nutrition from Montclair State University and her Master of Science in Nutrition and Public Health from Columbia University.  She is a registered dietitian with the American Dietetic Association and has been in private practice for 31 years.

Proteins in Solutions

Proteins can often be folded into their native form, which helps determine several chemical, physical, and biological properties. These folded proteins are so small that they can actually diffuse or rotate. Proteins have a huge variety of solubility inside of different solutions. Cytoplasmic proteins have about a 35 % in an aqueous solution. Structural proteins are basically insoluble along with proteins that are present in membranes. The solubility of a protein in water is determined by its free energy when surrounded by aqueous solvent relative to in amorphous or solid conditions.

Protein molecules have a lot of interactions with their solvents. These interactions are primarily determined by the solution's surface. There are a lot of favorable interactions with water caused by charged and polar groups in protein chains. The solubility of a globular protein increases as the pH value of the solution mixture goes further and further from the normal pH. If a protein is not very soluble, detergents can be put into the solutions in order to make the proteins unfold.

Proteins in an aqueous solution are tightly bounded by a hydration layer. This hydration layer is more bounded with less mobile that is found in bulk water. It has a 10 % greater density and 15 % greater heat capacity. The interactions between the solvent water and the solute, protein would occur in the charged groups on the surface of the protein, the polar groups on the surface of the protein, and the monolayer around the protein molecule.

Instead of using a detergent, another way of increasing the solubility of a protein would be to increase the ionic strength at low values. This is also known as "salting-in". At higher salt concentrations, the solubility level of a protein would decrease; another way of saying this would be "salt-out". To increase the surface tension of the salt, then the added salt must go up. The higher the surface tension of the salt, the higher the IMF. Therefore, in water, it would be more polar, resulting in a more soluble solution.

Hydrogen Bonding in Protein

Electrostatic ions can be studied by altering the pH because proteins often become denatured with extreme pHs. Electrostatic repulsion forces the protein to denature, along the higher charge density. Ions typically cause the proteins to denature; however, in some cases, these salts that can cause the proteins to stabilize. The charge state affects the stability as well as the solubility of the proteins. Low salt concentration promote insolubility. Therefore, in most energy mixes, it is necessary to have salt in order to increase the number of electrolytes as well as create a powder that will be soluble in water. Something is likely to be more soluble in water if the nonpolar groups are replaced with polar ones. There is a lot of H-bonding in protein, so there is a lot of research on how much this H-bonding force that appears throughout the protein actually affects protein folding.

There is a lot of hydrogen bonding when it comes to proteins. Linus Pauling first suggested that hydrogen bonds would play a huge role in protein folding and stability. These hydrogen bonds occur within the protein and with the water. We can take an example and examine it in order to find out. We can take these hydrogen and water molecules being in the form of a random coil, where it is not wrapped. Another version of the same amount of molecules could be them wrapped to form a helix. The equation would look a little like this:

Random Coil <==> Helix

At first, many people believed that people the hydrogen and water molecules in the form of a helix would allow the protein to be more structured and have more stability. The helix shape provides a sense of order to the protein, which makes the entropy of it very low. The random coil shape increases the amount of disorder a lot, emphasizing its high quantity. Using Le Chatelier's Principle, anything added like solvent or small molecules would automatically push the equation to the right, into the form of a helix. There were many studies done on this, but one conclusion was drawn: hydrogen bonding is very important in stabilizing a protein. 

If the energy in hydrogen bonding that is shown in the proteins is close to the energy in hydrogen bonding between water and proteins, then the denatured state must contain the same number of hydrogen bonding between the water and protein as well as protein within itself.  

Electrolytes

In most stores, there are various numbers of drinks with different brand names and chemical formulas which will help you pick a drink. When trying to look for a nutritious drink, you often look at Gatorade or Powerade to quench your thirst. There is a reason why you know these two brands over most others and that reason can be summed up in one word: electrolytes. Electrolytes are essentially minerals that have a charge, which have the ability to transport nutrients to cells and export wastes away from the cells. These minerals are often lost after exercise. Therefore, when drinking a drink full of electrolytes, your body can replenish the nutrients it has lost. Even in terms of electrolyte drinks, some of them are sugar-based with some nutrients while others can contain a multitude of amino acids and proteins. When playing a sport, it is imperative to pick a drink that can put these helpful minerals into the body.

During repetitive and tiring exercise, the three main minerals lost are potassium, magnesium, and calcium. In order to replenish all the necessary nutrients, you must pick a drink that can help supply the body with more potassium, magnesium, and calcium. However, not that many sports drinks do so, but look for a drink that can help replace it the best. Carbohydrates can also be seen as a fuel source for the body, but taking too many is ill-advised. There is a necessary amount needed, but it should rarely exceed five percent sugar and carbohydrates for someone who is not a top athlete. The drier and hotter the conditions, the more and more carbohydrates are needed, but still, stopping at five percent would be advised. You do not want to get a drink that has more sugar than needed, so stop the search there.

Even though carbohydrates are necessary in most sports drinks, protein is not as essential. The drinks that boast protein will lower the overall damage to the muscles and promote muscle endurance, but research has been proving that amino acids are better to have in sports drinks than protein is. These amino acids can be seen in the form of Branch Chain Amino Acids, which is one of the leading ingredients in all of protein supplements. These Branch Chain Amino Acids are also known as glutamine, leucine, isoleucine, and valine. These alternatives to protein still give the benefits of the protein without actually consuming protein; thus, lowering the amount of problems that can be caused. An example of a problem with the intake of protein would be digestive issues. Look for a drink that has a good amount of amino acids.

Now that you know how to pick a energy drink, you can go to your local supermarket and do so. There are still some of you that may want to try making your own drink full of electrolytes. If you are interested, one of the easiest ways is to mix 2 quarts of water with half a cup of sugar, half a teaspoon of salt, and half a cup of orange juice. This is one way you can get the basic nutrients that any sports drink has. Please try at your own risk. If you are not willing to make your own or still too stubborn to buy from a store, chocolate milk can help to provide all the essentials that are in basic energy drinks full of electrolytes.

Finding the Perfect Protein Bar

When trying to pick an on-the-go snack, you may try to pick out a protein bar. There is a lot of decision-making that happens when trying to pick the perfect protein bar. Protein bars all have different goals and ending results, so based on what you want to accomplish, that is what you should be taking. Some of them help promote muscle growth while others try to help fat loss, which still have a lot of proteins. The six factors are total calorie count, total number of carbohydrates, presence of sugar alcohols, ingredient panel listings, dietary fat content, and the carbohydrates to protein ratio. 

We'll take a look at the first of these six important factors when choosing a protein bar. If you are looking to lose weight, then taking a high calorie protein bar might not be the best option. In order to build lean muscle mass, then taking in this high calorie protein bar might be exactly what you need to fill up the required number of calories needed for the day. Based on what you hope to accomplish, this should change your intake of calories per protein bar. 

The total carbohydrate count should be lower if you are trying to lose fat. 30 grams of carbohydrates are typically the most amount of carbohydrates you should take in depending on your diet. However, if taken after a workout, then the carbohydrate count can be higher because a person after working out should take a higher amount of carbohydrates. When trying to pick a bar for a post-workout mean, try looking at getting something that is very low in fat, while also being high in carbohydrates. 

There are many symptoms that can arise if a protein bar is taken that has a low number of total carbohydrates. Some of these major symptoms include bloating, diarrhea, cramps, and the passing of really bad gas. These issues must be looked at just in case because these are very common side effects of taking these protein bars that are low in carbohydrate count. 

Ingredients, of course, are one of the major things to look for when trying to eat any food in general. The main thing you want to look out for is sugars and high-fructose corn syrup. High-fructose corn syrup is only good in moderation, but should not be consumed regularly, making it a bad choice as a main ingredient in a protein bar. By examining the form of carbohydrates that are contained in the protein bar, you should try not to consume a lot of high-fructose corn syrup. The order in which the ingredients appear on the side help to determine how much of it is used when creating the product. When the list of ingredients appear, then the order is determined by how much of each substance is used. Therefore, the earlier it shows up on the list, the more of it was used. 

Saturated Fat Molecule vs. Unsaturated Fat Molecule

The fat content is one of the major things to look out for when deciding to buy a protein bar because you want to buy a bar that does not contain that much fat. However, it is necessary for the protein bar to contain some fat in order to slow down the release of carbohydrates into the blood steam to provide a more balanced protein bar. The saturated and trans fat should be as low as possible because these fats are not good for you. The other fats are a much better addition to your diet plan. These kind of fats that are better for you are generally used in protein bars, but not as much as in granola bars, which include saturated and trans fat as well. 

The sixth and final factor to consider when getting a protein bar is the carbohydrate to protein ratio. This basically measures the amount of carbohydrates to protein in the bar, which should be different based on your goals. If you are trying to lose fat, then a 2:1 ratio of carbohydrates to proteins, but a 1:1 ratio would work as well. If you are looking to build muscle and eat the protein bar after a workout, you want to get closer to a 1:2 ratio. 

Energy Drinks May Bring Heart Attacks

Energy drinks like Five-Hour Energy lead to heart attacks and spontaneous abortions. The energy shot has been a part of a lot of files in cases that involved serious or life-threatening injuries like heart attacks, convulsions, and even a spontaneous abortions. There are about 90 different cases with the F.D.A. There have been 13 deaths over the past four years, which is why coffee might be a better alternative than this kind of energy shot. The dietary supplements that are in this kind of energy shot are not disclosed to the public, but we will take a look into this right now. 

There are a lot of ingredients that are found in this energy shot including different vitamins, like vitamin B6, vitamin B12, niacin (vitamin B3), and folic acid (vitamin B9). In terms of safety, Five Hour Energy must address phenylketonurics, more vitamins, and niacin flush. Phenylketonurics contains the main part called phenylalanine. Phenylalanine is an amino acid that contains the formula C6H5CH2CH(NH2)COOH. A small percentage of people are sensitive to Niacin, to the point where they may experience a "Niacin Flush", described as a hot prickly feeling with reddish skin, which only lasts for a few minutes. Even though the Niacin Flush may be a big problem when diagnosing what is wrong with the Five Hour Energy Shot, phenylalanine might actually be the reason for these spontaneous abortions. 

Phenylalanine is an essential amino acid that humans definitely need in their bodies. There is a genetic disorder, formally known as phenylkenuria, which is a disorder that occurs when a person has the inability to metabolize phenylalanine. When people do not have enough phenylalanine and people who have too much of it often have similar symptoms. People who have too much of this substance inside of their blood must monitor the intake levels of protein to control the buildup of this compound. Many people believe this is one of the main reasons why these energy shots, which are filled with this substance can cause things as disastrous as abortions, are not going to be very successful in the future. This source also brings to us aspartame, a common artificial sweetener.

Aspartame is one of the other additives that Five Hour Energy has put into their drinks, in order to add flavor to the energy shot. This artificial sweetener is derived from phenylalanine. Aspartame is a sugar substitute and many other people who believe that aspartame in high doses can lead to negative signs in terms of pregnancy. There have been many studies done on this topic, but one of these studies concludes that there are no significant difference was noted over the entire 24-hour watching period. Be careful when it comes to taking in these compounds in foods. 

Moderation: Is too much protein bad?

Obviously people should know not to consume things whose ingredients they don't know for sure, right? Wrong. Many people consume protein shakes and protein powder without fully knowing the chemicals they contain, and this could turn out to be a fatal mistake. Inconclusive studies have been conducted on several products, meaning that they are not 100% safe for ingestion. Chemicals such as lead, arsenic, and mercury have been found in protein shakes, meaning that too much can become toxic and can cause severe illness or even death. Just one or two shakes of Muscle Milk contains 13.5 mcg of lead. The NY State Department of health says that toxicity of the blood begins at 10mcg/dL and will only worsen with more exposure. 

In addition to those toxic substances being in protein shakes, another potentially dangerous ingredient has raised concerns. Aspartic acid, a non-essential amino acid that can be produced by the body itself, is said to produce the sweetener aspartame, which could potentially be unsafe for the body when combined with other elements of protein shakes. Aspartic acid is used for protein synthesis, and to make other amino acids during metabolism. Additionally, it greatly aids the removal of toxins from the body. Spartame is made up of two amino acids -- phenylalanine and aspartic acid -- and an alcohol methanol. There is an ongoing debate as to whether these combined ingredients are safe for your body. 

Bottom Line: Protein shakes may work, but exercise caution while consuming them.

Big Man on Campus Killin' It

Want to learn how to become the big man on campus? Here are your basic tips:

Your diet is really important in order to become strong. Eat a lot of meat, eggs, fish, whey, and poultry. Include complex carbohydrates, vegetables, whole grains, fruits, healthy fats, fish, and olive oil in basic meals as well. If you want to be healthy to increase endurance, you should eat about 1 gram for every pound you weigh. If you are looking to increase strength and really bulk up, 1.5 - 2 grams of protein should be taken into your body. By tackling protein first, a very good diet can be built around it. A person who weighs 160 pounds should eat around 2800 calories per day while taking in 280 g of protein, 280 g of carbohydrates, and 62 g of fat.

Eating this diet may be good now, but then you may think it can take a lot of your wallet. However, eating right does not have to cost a lot of money. A smart idea is to buy a lot of stuff in bulk quantities like snacks that are very healthy. If you avoid candy bars and sugar loaded candy drinks, you can have money to pay for protein bars, Greek yogurt, fruits, vegetables, and almonds. Eggs, canned tuna, chicken, and brown rice are several foods that are nutrient-dense. Not only will eating well help the average college student, but the intake of three different high protein foods and drinks might help even more.

The first protein supplement you can drink is a Protein Shake on whey. 

The video above can help describe what is so good about whey protein. Whey protein is derived from cow's milk, a complete protein source. Also, it is one of the fastest digesting proteins available, making it one of the best to be taken in a shake because it can be used and absorbed quickly by your body. This provides faster recovery and faster results, to make it exactly what you are looking for. The best tip is to take it right after you work out because it works to promote muscle synthesis and reduce muscle breakdown. It helps to strengthen, repair, and build up protein. By taking this highly effective protein, you can lose fat, build muscle, and improve performance in a sport.

Whey can be described as the liquid remaining after cheese has been produced that is very high in nutrients necessary to build up skeletal muscle. Chemically, whey is a mixture of globular proteins which makes it rich in naturally occurring amino acids. Globular proteins are well known for their effectiveness in acting as catalysts for cellular functions, muscle growth, and increase in metabolism. Today, we will be taking a look at Parason ® UltraPure ™ Whey Protein Concentrate, a supplement that a lot of protein experts recommend.

Parason ® UltraPure ™ Whey Protein Concentrate contains about 80 % of pure unadulterated protein by weight, often found to be rich in amino acids and calcium. Those who perform consistent exercise that can be taxing on the muscles should take a supplement like this to gain protein. Naturally, after the body has performed exercises, a lot of carbohydrates in the body have been used up. This is a signal for the body to look for sources of protein. Whey Protein naturally has L-Glutamine, L-Glutathione, and Branch Chain Amino Acids. 

L-Glutamine is basically used for muscle growth. L-Glutamine is also a source of cellular energy and protein synthesis, like other amino acids are. It is often used for the recovery processes for many operations because it has no known side-effects, which is another reason why many supplements can be based off of it. In most the foods you eat today, there is a good amount of L-Glutamine, which emphasizes the necessity to have this in your body. 

L-Glutathione is another compound typically found in the protein concentrate, which is used to synthesize amino acids. It can cause proteins to synthesize and build up, as well as activate enzymes. Vitamin D helps produce L-Glutathione. Even if the body has been over-trained and overworked, L-Glutathione can work to regulate the body in order to decrease the usual symptoms. It acts the same way to prevent other big diseases because it releases the chemicals typically found in patients diagnosed with AIDS or forms of cancer. 

Leucine

Isoleucine

Valine

Branch Chain Amino Acids refers to Leucine, Isoleucine, and Valine. These are all amino acids which are rich in helping with muscle growth and support healthy muscle function. This can help increase insulin production, if taken with exercise and a diet rich in carbohydrates. These three amino acids which stimulate  metabolic pathways. In addition, a supplement that has these acids can also prevent people with autism, by regulating the genetically mutated pathways.

Chemically, Parason® UltraPure ™ Whey Protein Concentrate seems to be the right choice, but is it the right choice for you? You can decide whether or not this is what you are looking for in a protein concentrate.

Sources:

http://www.ultrapurewhey.com/whywhey.html

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/whey.html

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/big-man-on-campus-nutrition.html

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23135330

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23114462

Carmelo Anthony: This Stuff Works

A study was conducted concluding that "subclinical deficiencies of vitamin C and D have each been linked to psychological abnormalities…the treatment is safe, simple and cheap, and could have major clinical practice implications". By taking vitamins C and D, one can have a better immune system. This perfect blend of vitamins C and D can be found in Isotonix® Champion Blend Plus. With the extra nutrients and vitamins in your body, you can promote healthy muscle growth, strengthen your immune system, and get more energy than ever. 

This blend has been found out to provide the least amount of recovery time needed for the body. Basically, this blend allows for the digestion period to be shorter, so the amount of valuable nutrients that the body has to expend are less. This keeps the most amount of nutrients inside of the body. 

As you watch these two videos, two of the most common things that are said are about Pycnogenol, a fancy term for Pine Bark Extract. It is a flavonoid complex which is soluble in water, commonly found in the bark of the French Maritime Pine Tree. Through various studies, Pycogenol has been found to help out inflammatory processes by activating NF - kappa B and AP-1, which are two proinflammatory mediators. Not only does it help in this process, it also strengthens the connective tissue proteins.

Above is a graph of one of the studies conducted by researching, proving how taking pycnogenol for 5 days will reduce the amount of MMP-9 secretion by the body. By taking pycnogenol, your body activates NF- kappa B, as mentioned previously, which will slow down the secretion of MMP-9 in the body. The amount of MMP-9 will furthermore be reduced in the blood samples of the people taking pycogenol, as proven in the first graph. With the intake of pycogenol, you may be able to help your body become strong, inside and out. 

Check Out These Sites for More Info:

http://isotonixblog.marketamerica.com/study-vitamin-c-vitamin-d-mood-swings/

http://www.isotonicsonline.com/isotonic-supplements/sports-nutrition/isotonix-champion-blend/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19508901

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16441890

KooKoo for Coconut Water!

We have all experienced a cramp at least once in our life.  It is not a fun experience to say the least.  Cramps  start off as muscle spasms; when a voluntary muscle begins to contract involuntarily.  A series of these creates a cramp, which can last anywhere from a few seconds, to 15 minutes, or even longer.  Cramps are most common in athletes and older adults.  So what is the best solution to preventing and combating these cramps?

A recent study was done by Dr. Chhandashri Bhattacharya at Indiana University Southeast in New Albany.  It was concluded at the 244th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS) that coconut water is proven to relieve cramps the best.  The huge reason for this is because it has 5 times the amount potassium in it than Gatorade does.  It has 1500 mg/L of potassium, whereas Gatorade and Powerade only have about 300 mg/L.  Potassium is extremely important in relieving cramps because a low concentration of it causes hyperexcitability of the nerves that stimulate the muscles, thus causing cramps.

However, coconut water's sodium levels is where it fails.  It contains 400 mg/L of sodium compared to 600 mg/L in Gatorade and Powerade.  It also has comparable concentrations of magnesium and carbohydrates to the other sports drinks.  The low sodium levels in coconut water make it an unsuitable drink for people engaged in strenuous exercise that results in a lot of sweating.  Sweating causes a loss of more sodium than potassium, making coconut water an unsuitable drink for those engaged in strenuous exercise. It is much more appropriate for lighter exercise in preventing cramps.

For more information, visit:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120820143902.htm
http://www.medicinenet.com/muscle_cramps/page2.htm

More Effective Power Bars

Nowadays, there is just a new formula for every protein bar on the market. The best way in order to gain protein is to get the newest formula. The energy-boosting qualities of these newer bars make them better than the old ones.

There have been studies done previously on the rate at which humans can burn calories. The limit of these studies have often suggested it to be 60 grams of carbohydrates per hour for the past twenty years, but that might not be true according to Dr. Asker Jeukendrup from the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences at the University of Birmingham.

There are several different ways in order to let carbohydrates into one's body. Some carbohydrates are taken into through the intestine with the help of specific transporters. Once an amount of these are created, then the proteins become saturated, which tells the body that it is not able to use any more of that specific kind of carbohydrate.

In order to increase the total amount of carbohydrates the body can use, meals that provide different sugars that use different pathways could be a major difference in trying to increase endurance. So, these new protein bars which can provide these different sugars which lead to other pathways may be the best way to increase endurance. 

In new research, the consumption of a combination of sugars allows 105 grams of carbohydrates to be burned. This is a huge increase, a 175 % increase from what the previously held truth was. There was a test conducted with cyclists proving that glucose and fructose together in a bar allowed the cyclists that ate it to travel faster. 

Check Out for more info:

http://www.popsci.com/entertainment-gaming/article/2008-02/raising-energy-bar

Protein Shakes

Ever wonder whether or not to buy Muscle Milk or other various protein shakes? This website should help you decide which to drink depending on what you plan on doing. Whether it is bulking up or trying to gain endurance, you will be able to use our website to help determine which bars or drinks you should consume. This will be explaining the intake of protein bars and shakes.

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