Calories – How High Can You Go?

In the same way a tablespoon measures volume, a “calorie” measures energy, specifically the amount of energy stored in carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Most reducing diets are based on restricting the amount of calories, typically to 1,200 calories a day or under. That’s a sub-par requirement, particularly for women. Here’s why: An average woman’s basal metabolic rate (BMR) is 1,200 calories a day. BMR refers to the minimum number of calories required by the body over a 24-hour period just to breathe, to pump blood through the circulatory system, and to drive all the cellular processes that support life. It doesn’t include the energy needed to do other things like move around or exercise. So you see: most diets are too low to provide enough energy to sustain vital functions, let alone other activities. Thus, the metabolism downshifts greatly – for two reasons.

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Antioxidant Recovery

By Cliff Sheats

Are you an exerciser or athlete who gets frequent colds and infections? If so, it may be time to pay more attention to antioxidant recovery.

In general terms, recovery is the process of regeneration that takes place in the aftermath of a workout. To appreciate its importance, consider what happens inside your body as a consequence of intense exercise: Energy-giving glycogen stores are depleted; muscle protein is dismantled; microscopic tears in muscle fibers occur; energy-producing compounds are lost from cells; fluid and electrolytes dwindle; disease-causing free radicals proliferate.

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Stress and Cholesterol

Did you know that stress in your life will increase cholesterol?

It’s true – and here’s why: When you’re under stress, your body produces more of the stress hormone called cortisol, otherwise known as the fight-or-flight hormone. Cholesterol is a building block of this hormone; therefore, the body must produce more cholesterol to meet the demand for cortisol. As proof, studies of accountants show that their cholesterol levels rise significantly at tax time. It stands to reason, then, that reducing stress levels through relaxation and stress management will lower your cholesterol.

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Lipotropics Revisited

Advanced Lipotropic

From years of helping people get lean, I have found that in addition to cleaning up their diet and getting in the gym consistently, faster results come when they are using “lipotropics.” Lipotropics are natural supplements that help you utilize stored fat for energy and spare glycogen. A good formulation, such as Parrillo Advanced Lipotropic Formula™, should contain all or most of the following:

Biotin

A B vitamin, biotin activates genes involved in regulating insulin and blood sugar. Biotin is required to make four key enzymes called carboxylases. These enzymes are involved in the metabolism of fats, and the conversion of protein and fat to glucose. Without biotin, the body cannot adequately metabolize fat.

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Look Into Leucine

By Cliff Sheats

Leucine is one of three  branched-chain amino acids (isoleucine and valine are the other two BCAAs.) It may be the most important because it has the unique ability to trigger protein synthesis. Leucine, which comprises about one-third of muscle protein, enters muscle cells and turns on key biochemical processes that result in more muscle protein and, thus, more muscle development. Supplementing with leucine may help maintain your protein synthesis, and could decrease muscle breakdown. Leucine also increases secretion of the anabolic hormone insulin, important for encouraging growth. Therefore, this essential amino acid is not only a building block, but it is also needed to turn on the muscle-building process.

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The Super Supplement: Glutamine

Glutamine is the single-most important amino acid for exercisers, bodybuilders, and athletes. The most plentiful amino acid in blood and skeletal muscle, glutamine serves as a building block for proteins, nucleotides (structural units of RNA and DNA), and other amino acids and is the principle fuel source for cells that make up your immune system. Glutamine is also one of the amino acids found in Parrillo’s Ultimate Amino Formula^™.

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Supplement Your Way to Anxiety Relief

No way around it: anxiety is a fact of life for everyone these days. What isn’t there to worry about? War, unemployment, the stock market, you name it. Now get this: Relief may be close as your supplement shelf.

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Fat Burners from Fat

By Cliff Sheats

Healthy Fats

From years of helping people get lean, I have found that in addition to cleaning up their diet and working out consistently, the fastest results come when people are using certain supplements in specific dosages. You know that lipotropics like Parrillo Advanced Lipotropic Formula^™ can help you utilize stored fat for energy, but did you also know that certain fat supplements have a
lipotropic benefit?

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Gaining Too Much Fat? Read This!

We’re in a fat-gaining season of the year. If you’re having trouble along these lines and want to get your physique under control, here are some suggestions.

First of all, I recommend that in addition to weight training three or more times a week that you perform at least 30 to 60 minutes of aerobics – preferably before breakfast to force your body to burn fatty acids sooner.

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Evening Primrose Oil – A Necessary Fat

One of my clients was a competitive bodybuilder who complained to me that her hair was falling out, her skin had become extremely dry, and her joints were stiff. After observing her physical characteristics, I suspected she was suffering from an essential fatty acid (EFA) deficiency. This deficiency was aggravated by a too-restrictive diet in which she had omitted fats altogether and slashed her caloric intake.

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