Sports

Amino Acids

Branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) are a group of essential amino acids that comprise of 3 amino acids -Leucine, Isoleucine and Valine. They make up 35% of the total amino acid pool of the muscles. BCAAs do not go through the normal metabolic process as other aminos do, and instead reach directly to the muscles. They have a branched molecular structure that is easily broken down in the body to provide readily available energy to fuel exercise performance. Hence, they are crucial for an exercising individual.

The Role of (BCAAs)

BCAAs are in high demand during exercise, as they are rapidly used for energy. This reduces their availability for muscle repair, slowing or limiting the rate of muscle growth. After the BCAAs are used up, the body cannibalizes existing muscle tissue to obtain more BCAAs for energy use.

BCAAs Help To

Stimulate muscle protein synthesis
Prevent protein breakdown
Act as source of energy by getting metabolized in muscle
Delay fatigue and allow longer and harder workouts.
Regulate blood glucose levels
Reduce post-training muscle soreness

Whey Protein V/s a BCAA Supplement

One of the main reasons why whey protein is so effective for muscle growth and recovery is because it has a high BCAA content. However, exercise demands additional BCAAs to fulfill the dual demands of energy provision and protein synthesis. Inadequate BCAA levels post-training can lead to increased catabolism and decreased anabolism.

A stand-alone BCAA supplement, along with Whey protein, can safeguard the existing muscle tissue from being catabolized for energy as well as trigger the protein synthesis machinery efficiently. These free form BCAAs can be immediately utilized by the muscle tissue. As opposed to this, the BCAAs in Whey protein are present as peptide bonds and can be utilized after they are broken down to free form. Since this may take time, a stand-alone BCAA supplement is required to optimize anabolism post-training.

Which BCAA ratio is better: 2:1:1 OR 8:1:1?

Leucine dominant BCAA formulations with Leucine: Isoleucine: Valine ratio as high as 8:1:1 are available to boost muscle protein synthesis. However, their potential to actually elevate protein synthesis is inconclusive.

A BCAA formulation providing Leucine: Isoleucine: Valine ratio of 2:1:1 is the most clinically studied ratio till date. And although Leucine is a major amino acid for triggering muscle growth, the other two BCAAs, Isoleucine and Valine also help in energy production and delaying fatigue. Isoleucine acts as a gluconeogenic amino acid and is converted into glucose, which helps maintain energy levels. Valine is reported to help in delaying perception of fatigue. Therefore, including these BCAAs in a ratio of 2:1:1 can provide optimum benefits.

A stand-alone BCAA supplement along with Whey protein can then safe-guard the existing muscle tissue from being catabolized for energy as well as trigger the protein synthesis machinery efficiently.

All the 3 BCAAs have different effects on metabolism. Amongst these, Leucine is a crucial amino acid for energy production and muscle protein synthesis. Leucine is the sole amino acid which triggers the protein synthesis pathway, an important step for muscle repair and growth.

BCAAs on a low carbohydrate diet

A low carbohydrate diet is proven to be effective for the two most desired fitness goals - muscle building and fat loss. BCAAs become even more crucial amongst exercising individuals who are on a very low carbohydrate diet.

In such individuals they perform three separate functions – providing energy in the absence of glucose, providing an anti-catabolic effect through its protein sparing role and also causing enhanced protein synthesis (for enhanced protein synthesis, Leucine is the major contributor amongst the three). Hence it is anabolic as well as anti-catabolic.

Leucine – the star BCAA

All 3 BCAAs have different effects on metabolism. Amongst these, Leucine is a crucial amino acid for energy production and muscle protein synthesis.

Leucine is the sole amino acid which triggers the protein synthesis pathway, an important step for muscle repair and growth. Weight training primes the body for muscle protein synthesis. However, this protein synthesis is not fully stimulated and skeletal muscle remains catabolic without supplemental dietary Leucine, either alone or as a part of protein or an amino acid mixture. Leucine, therefore, is important for the muscle for maximizing anabolism and recovery.

Researchers have reported that Increased leucine intake results in greater protein synthesis signaling and therefore leads to better lean mass gains.

Whey Protein supplement with added Leucine

It has been postulated that simply supplementing your whey protein with Leucine by itself also stimulates protein synthesis significantly. Research studies comparing leucine and whey protein’s ability in stimulating protein synthesis have reported that leucine, along with low-dose of whey protein, is able to stimulate protein synthesis similar to a larger dose of whey protein alone. A whey protein product containing additional leucine therefore will provide a higher anabolic boost.

Creatine Products

Sports Nutrition supplementation is a dynamic and ever-evolving field, with new scientific literature bringing to the forefront new ingredients for optimizing performance. Creatine is among the few ingredients that has stood the test of time since it was discovered in the 1990s.

Creatine is a natural substance that is produced in the body by the liver, pancreas and kidneys. Often confused as a protein or an amino acid, it is actually a metabolite made from three amino acids- methionine, arginine and glycine. About 95% of creatine is stored in the skeletal muscle. However, intense physical activity depletes the creatine levels in the skeletal muscle. And while the body is able to generate creatine, it isn’t able to restore creatine levels to their optimum post strenuous activity. Hence, supplementation becomes necessary.

Creatine Primer

The body recognizes ATP as the energy currency to be consumed for any physical or basal activity that it does or is made to do.
Creatine exists in skeletal muslce in the form of creatine phosphate, which is an important component of ATP - CP system, the energy system used under anaerobic conditions.
This system provides quick bursts of energy for activities that cannot last for more than 20 seconds, such as resistance exercises
Creatine Supplementation is therefor effectively used by strength athletes for improving their performance

A true Ergogenic Aid

Creatine, by definition, is a true ergogenic aid. The term ergogenics refers to nutrients or other agents that help increase work capacity or generate power. Several clinical studies have shown that creatine supplementation can improve the strength and power output of the muscles. As an ergogenic, Creatine supplementation can offer the following three benefits:

Increase in Explosive Power- Leads to Greater Muscle mass and strength
Lactate Buffer- Delays Fatigue
Cell Volumizer- For Greater Muscle Growth and Faster Muscle Recovery

Strength and Lean Mass Gains for Advanced-Training Athletes

Creatine's efficacy in increasing lean muscle mass depends on training intensity and adequate nutrition. Creatine only provides the tools to increase muscle workload. Intense training and adequate intake of high quality proteins and carbohydrates are absolute pre-requisites for Creatine supplementation to work.

Creatine has been clinically shown to positively impact lean muscle mass, strength output and athletic performance.

Amongst all the forms of Creatine, two forms viz. Creatine monohydrate and Creatine HCl have scientific backing to prove their efficacy In its highly micronized form, Creatine monohydrate has a smaller particle size which makes it more soluble in water and is absorbed efficiently.

Creatine HCl is an advanced form of Creatine with improved bioavailability. The best advantage of Creatine HCl is that it is required in smaller amounts as compared to monohydrate form.

The Best forms of Creatine

One of the major concerns with Creatine supplementation is its bioavailability. Being insoluble in water, creatine is not absorbed efficiently. Which is why poor quality creatine products may cause creatine to accumulate in the stomach and cause abdominal cramps. Currently, new and advanced creatine forms such as Creatine ethyl ester, Creatine Citrate, Buffered Creatine etc. are available and claim to have better bioavailability. But with limited clinical trials, the efficacy of these creatine forms remain questionable.

Amongst all the forms of Creatine, two forms viz. Creatine monohydrate and Creatine HCl have scientific backing to prove their efficacy.

☞Creatine monohydrate

Creatine monohydrate is the most common form of Creatine used in clinical studies. In fact, it is the most well-researched ingredient in sports nutrition and has been shown to positively impact lean muscle mass, strength output and athletic performance. In its micronized form, creatine monohydrate has a smaller particle size which makes it more soluble in water and is absorbed efficiently. Hence, the quality of creatine monohydrate is critical – it has to be in its purest and most micronized form which offers the smallest particle size.

☞Creatine HCL

Creatine HCl is an advanced form of Creatine, with solubility reported to be higher than creatine monohydrate. The bonding of Creatine with hydrochloric acid (HCL) improves its bioavailability. Creatine HCL has been shown in the lab to be about 40 times more soluble in fluid than creatine monohydrate. The best advantage of Creatine HCl is that it is required in smaller amounts as compared to monohydrate form to achieve the same effects. Also, with higher solubility, Creatine HCL does not require any sugar for its delivery.

Nitric Oxide

Nitric oxide is a small, labile, lipid-permeable free radical molecule. It is synthesized from the amino acid l-arginine by NO synthase. When L-arginine is converted to nitric oxide, L-citrulline is produced as a by-product. L-citrulline can then be recycled back to L-arginine and used to increase your body’s natural production of nitric oxide.

Nitric oxide (NO) is very important in supporting mind- body wellness.

NO- vasodilator:-

Nitric oxide is one of the most important molecules for your blood vessel health, being a vasodilator plays a very important role in transport of blood, oxygen & nutrients to different parts of the body, eliminates toxins that lead to muscle fatigue.

Nitric oxide is the ergogenic category of supplements that makes it best suitable for an endurance athlete, training at intermediate to advanced level.

How Nitric oxide came into existence for the health benefits

In 1980 Robert Furchgott investigated the role of a drug called acetylcholine on vasodilation and found that relaxation of blood vessels only occurred if a special class of cells called endothelial cells were present. Behind the endothelial cells are another specialised type of cell known as smooth muscle cells. The contraction and relaxation of these muscle cells is thought to be responsible for constricting or dilating the blood vessels.

Precursors of Nitric Oxide: - L-Citrulline and L- Arginine

The main ingredients of nitric oxide supplements are arginine and citrulline. These two amino acids are known to be nitric oxide precursors of nitric oxide and therefore supplementing with arginine and citrulline can improve nitric oxide serum levels.

How Nitric oxide benefits our body: -

☞ Boost exercise, performance, recovery, and muscle gain: -

Nitric oxide reduces the amount of lactic acid produced during exercise and extends the amount of time until exhaustion. By speeding up the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the muscles under stress, nitric oxide improves their response to exercise and so increases sports performance, which helps in recovery and muscle gain

☞ Regulates blood pressure: -

Nitric oxide being a vasodilator helps to relaxes the inner muscles of your blood vessels, causing the vessels to widen, which increases blood flow and lowers blood pressure.

☞ Supports cardiovascular health:

The arteries make nitric oxide to lower blood pressure and improve blood flow to organs because it is a vasodilator, which means it widens or relaxes the arteries so that more blood can flow through, therefore lowering the pressure within the arterial system

☞ Prevent blood clots

Nitric oxide as vasodilator- improves blood flow throughout the body which preventing clots

☞ Supports CNS: -

It is even a powerful neurotransmitter; it plays a key role in the switch between Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous System responses.

NO provided provides analgesia (pain relief) and even lower blood pressure due to its vasodilatory properties

Boost your workouts or training with unique blends of Neulife Pre -workout boosters.

Pre-Workout

Vasodilation is the state in which blood vessels are relaxed (dilated), leading to an expansion of their oxygen and nutrient carrying capacity. This leads to greater blood flow, better pumps and superior nutrient partitioning. Pre-workout science has moved on from its caffeine loaded days to a more holistic approach such as the one found in VASO-RAGE^®.

PROCEL^® VASO-RAGE^® builds on our original VASO-X formula, which was specifically designed to cause large increases in Nitric Oxide (N.O) production. VASO-RAGE^® additionally includes Nootropics, Cognition/Energy compounds and Adaptogens for an unparalleled pre-workout experience.

Benefits of Pre-Workout

Increased Workout Performance and Efficiency
Get More Energy to Workout
Stimulate Metabolism
Recover Faster with Supplements
Improve Concentration and Focus

Types of Pre-Workout

Pre-workouts can be divided into two groups:

☞Those with stimulants

They act as CNS stimulants and help improve mental focus. The stimulants pretty much always include caffeine, in widely varying doses, but may include other stimulants including yohimbine, theacrine , guarana, and many others

☞Those without stimulants

Many supplement companies have developed stimulant-free pre-workouts for those who are sensitive to caffeine, simply don't want it, or who exercise close to bedtime.

The main purpose of pre-workouts is to give you the energy, endurance, and focus to perform the exercises that can help you can reach of goal.

Gainers

Muscle gain doesn’t automatically happen just by spending hours in the gym. It requires the consumption of optimum calories to support muscle repair and growth. And although most individuals are able to put in the requisite hours of training, it is the calorie intake that they falter at, ultimately leading to disappointment in terms of results.

Gainers are an easy way to add extra calories to your existing diet and are therefore, go-to supplements for those who struggle to gain lean muscle mass. These are a combination of energizing carbohydrates and muscle building protein, accompanied with essential fats. These three macronutrients contribute to the total calorie count.

Protein:Carbohydrate Ratio

While meeting calorie demands is important for muscle gain, the ratio of macronutrient sources contributing these calories is also crucial for maximizing lean gains
In gainers, most of the colories are contributed by proteins and carbohydrates.
High BV proteins are used ONLY for the prime funcation of rapairing muscle tissue and building new lean muscle when combined with correct amount of carbohydrates.
Carbohydrates, in optimum amounts, help to fulfill the energy requirements of the body.
However, excess consumption of carbohydrates increases the chance of fat mass gains.
Protein: Carbohydrate ratio is hence crucial for optimum lean mass gains.

Types Of Gainers

Based on their Protein: Carbohydrate ratio and the calories they contain, gainers are classified as below:

☞High Calorie Gainers

Usually provide 1200 calories or more per serving. They contain a 1:5 ratio of protein to carbohydrate and are ideal for ectomorphs who have higher metabolic rate.

☞Lean Mass Gainers

These contain a 1:3 ratio of protein to carbohydrates which has been seen to be optimum for lean mass gains for most individuals. They provide calories within a range of 800-1000kcals per serving.

☞High Protein GainersHigh Protein Gainers

These contain lesser amounts of carbs and have a higher protein content for those who already have an optimum metabolism but still want to gain size. The protein to carbohydrate ratio generally ranges between 1:1.5 to 1:2 with calories not going beyond 700kcals per serving.

☞The Protein

Carb ratio can be helpful to decide the right type of gainer for your body type. There are three general categories of body type.

Ectomorph: Higher metabolic rate. Find it difficult to gain muscle or fat mass.
Mesomorphs: Have higher lean muscle mass.
Endomorphs: Lower metabolic rate. Have a tendency to store body fat.

Since a majority of individuals are a combination of either Ectomorph-Mesomorph or Endomorph-Mesomorph body type, a 1:3 Protein: Carb ratio serves as an ideal ratio for optimum lean mass gains.

Right Gainer For Body Type All-round Gainers For Optimum Lean Mass Gains

While the right macronutrient ratio is required for ensuring proper lean mass gains, their type and quality is also an important factor. Low GI carbohydrates, high BV proteins and quick-digesting fat sources are desirable forms of macronutrients to be included.

Apart from meeting energy and macronutrient requirements, muscle gain also requires an additional intake of anabolic and anti-catabolic amino acids to speed growth and recovery, ergogenic aids such as creatine to boost strength, and testosterone optimizers to optimize lean mass gains.

A gainer formulation that provides all of these muscle gain requirements can provide all-round support to ensure lean muscle gains.