What is Sunwarrior Protein?

Sunwarrior Protein is a raw, hypoallergenic protein powder containing 80% pure protein from brown rice.

Why do you say “raw”? Does that mean it’s not cooked? What are you talking about Clément – where I come from we don’t cook protein powder!

Sunwarrior protein vanilla and hemp milk shake for bodybuilding - the ultimate healthy bodybuilding combo!

When I say raw, I mean that it’s unprocessed and never pushed through a destructive system that damages the molecules of the protein. What that means is you never have anything other than the natural goodness of the food – no additional synthetic chemicals that alter your DNA or cause cancer, give you love handles or increase your risks of diabetes.

Brown rice has long been considered as a great source of protein, fiber and vitamins. It’s also been discovered to keep cancer at bay. Check out this video of Brian Clements giving a talk on just some of the amazing health benefits of brown rice protein:

Sunwarrior is produced from a process that combines the sprouted endosperm and bran from raw sprouted whole-grain brown rice. Through this fermentation process, Sunwarrior Protein gains a perfectly balanced amino acid profile, with 9 essential amino acids and other non-essential amino acids.

So who is Sunwarrior Protein for? Should I be using it?

Sunwarrior Protein is mainly designed for athletes and bodybuilders, although it’s great for anyone wanting to maintain excellent health and a lean muscle mass. It’s for people who need protein for muscle recovery after strenuous or high-intensity exercise. Health enthusiasts and people looking for a high-quality protein source for their diets will also appreciate this protein powder for its high protein content. Sunwarrior Protein will also work great as a protein source for vegans, people with food allergies, and people who are sensitive to gluten. Sunwarrior has no animal ingredients whatsoever, making it great for the environment, great for karma and most of all – great for your health.

The Pros

Sunwarrior Protein’s got a pretty impressive (and long) list of benefits. First off, Sunwarrior is a great source of high-quality protein, which can effectively influence fat loss and lean muscle buildup whilst also improving immune-system strength! The protein powders amino acid profile equals that of other prime protein sources such as eggs, whey, and beef. I bet the carnivores out there didn’t expect that!

With a 98.2% digestion efficiency, Sunwarrior Protein is the most digestible protein on the market. It can provide your body with high levels of anti-oxidants (have you heard of those guys before?), including gamma oryzanol. Studies on gamma oryzanol have revealed that it can help lower cholesterol, heal ulcers, and boost muscle-building hormones.

Since Sunwarrior Protein is also 100% organic and gluten-free, the protein powder can be safely consumed by diabetics and people suffering from gluten allergies and food sensitivities. Brown rice protein powder is also a great alternative to whey protein powders, which may be made from dairy products.

In fact, a lot of people don’t even realize they’re gluten or dairy intolerant. Recently a friend of mine was diagnosed as having a gluten intolerance but they’d been ill for literally months before that. If you get bloated, or feel in any way negatively affected by your protein shakes or supplements, maybe it’s time for you to start trying something more natural.

Sunwarrior doesn’t contain any pollutants or chemicals that are unsafe for consumption. Once upon a time it may have seemed odd to mention this, but nowadays it’s just all too common (check the video below from Bigger, Faster, Stronger where Chris Bell investigates the corruption in the supplements industry).

Sunwarrior Protein has a neutral smell and it tastes great. The powder blends very well, producing an incredibly smooth texture when mixed – much like that of flour (check the Mike Adams review further up the page for a visual). The chocolate and vanilla-flavored variants of the powder make for an indulgent milkshake when blended with raw vanilla powder, cinnamon, hemp milk or homemade almond milk, and crushed ice.

Also, have you ever left protein dregs in the shaker overnight because you were either too tired to clean it or you simply forgot? Smells pretty bad doesn’t it? Well, Sunwarrior does not smell bad. This is because Sunwarrior has no ingredients that quickly putrify leaving a horrid smell. This is great because it means you won’t lace your shaker with that “bad taste” the next time you work out.

The Cons

So far, Sunwarrior Protein has just one potential downside: its price. At $48.95 per 2.2-lbs. pack, Sunwarrior Protein is more expensive than many other protein powders on the market.

What’s in the package?

Sunwarrior Protein is currently available in 2.2-lbs. packs (really nice bags that are friendlier for the environment and easier to carry around – check the image above) and comes in 3 flavors: chocolate, vanilla, and natural. I highly recommend you go for the chocolate or vanilla-flavored powder because they taste GREAT. Don’t bother buying the natural-flavored variant because it’s not exactly delicious… ’nuff said!

You can also get Sunwarrior Protein in a Value Pack, with 3 2.2-lbs. packs in your choice of flavors.

Each pack of Sunwarrior Protein includes whole brown rice protein, vanilla, pectin, xanathan gum, and stevia.

Is it really worth its price?

For all its benefits and its high quality, Sunwarrior Protein is in a league of its own. At its price, you’d be hard-pressed to find another brown rice protein powder that offers the same benefits.

So what’s the verdict?

Sunwarrior Protein is one of the highest-quality protein powders on the market today. With its high-quality protein content and nutritional value, Sunwarrior protein can easily be the best protein powder for bodybuilders and those looking to gain muscle mass while losing fat. Without this ‘tool’ you’ll be a step behind the rest not just in terms of reaching your personal fitness and physique goals, but in terms of long-term vibrant health.

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I think it is fairly common for many hardgainers to fall into the trap of unhealthy eating. Because they are “eating to gain weight”, they eat anything and everything, without any discrimination as to what’s in the food or what potential effects they could have on their health. In their minds, as long as it’s food, it has the potential to make them gain weight so they will eat it – lots and lots of it.

And just because they struggle to put on weight, they equate this to being immune to health risks.  This is insane. Of what use is looking good if inside you are as healthy as a 9-stone old man?

So in this post I’d like to share some of the harmful ingredients commonly found in packaged foods, because these foods are often staples of normal weight gain diets of skinny people who don’t know any better.

Most packaged grocery foods contain one or more harmful chemicals that can undermine your health. We are going to look at four ingredients here: trans fats, artificial colorings, artificial flavorings and MSG.

Trans Fats

If you eat cereals for breakfast like most people in the West, why don’t you go and take your cereal box out now. If you look at the back of the box, you’re going to find the list of ingredients. Read each ingredient out loud and if there is anything there that you cannot pronounce, chances are is that it’s not good for you.

So let’s find trans fats here. If you look at the top of the bag where it says Nutrition Facts: you’ll see ‘Trans fats’ on the left column. What number is on its right? Does it say zero?

Here’s where it gets interesting.

If it says ‘zero’, it doesn’t really mean there is no trans fat in this product. The Food and Drug Admin (FDA) allows certain amount of trans fat in the food without requiring food manufacturers to mention it in the food label!

But don’t worry, there’s one way to still spot it. Just go down and look at the “Ingredients” and look for the word: “Hydrogenated oils” or “partially hydrogenated oils” – which actually are trans fats!

Sneaky, huh?

If you don’t know it yet, trans fat is the worst kind of fat – much worse than saturated fat. It really increases the risk of coronary heart disease.

Artificial Flavorings

So now let’s look at artificial and natural flavorings. Most of the processed foods that you buy today come with artificial and natural flavorings. Basically, if you are buying something in a packet or a box, it is most likely highly processed food (what I call fake food).

Next time you go to the supermarket, go down the Cereal aisle and look for fruity cereals. You know – the ones that claim to have “fruits” in them? Pick one up and look at the ingredients list. You might see it says, “blueberry, cherry, orange, lemon” (or whatever) and some other artificial flavorings or “natural flavorings”.

Artificial flavorings are simply a mixture of chemicals that mimics the flavor of natural, real food. And they have taste and smell components designed to make processed food taste and smell like real food.

Interestingly again, the FDA does not require food manufacturers to disclose the ingredients of artificial flavors itself. And natural flavor does not really mean healthier or better flavors. Natural flavors and artificial flavors are manufactured at the same chemical plants now.

Artificial Colorings

Another element to watch out for are artificial colorings. Again, if you look at cereal labels you will often find it on the ingredient list – yellow 6, red 40, yellow 5, etc. Those are all artificial colorings which are approved by the FDA and they are derived from petroleum, acetone and coal tars.

Many of these additives were banned by the food standard agency in Europe after many parents complained that their children suffered from mood swings after consuming bright and colorful sweets, cakes and drinks. The researchers of Southampton University had warned that were at least 7 additives as harmful as lead in petrol which was banned after it proved to lower children’s IQ by 5 points.

The research in magazine called Lance found evidence that artificial additives worsen the behavior of normal children as well as those diagnosed with ADHD. Thankfully, many colorings are already banned in US even after being used for many years because they proved to be carcinogenic.

MSG

MSG, or monosodium glutamate is usually found in the “Ingredients” section. Most of the processed food has MSG, commonly found usually in canned foods, Chinese food, soups and processed meats and as a processed product.

I can go on and on about the harmful effects on this one, but the FDA has a different opinion about it. After having scientific data about safety of glutamate, it came to the conclusion in 1995 that MSG is safe for human consumption. But the FDA acknowledged that some people have short term reaction to MSG and even has a name: MSG Symptom Complex and it includes:

• headache
• flushings
• redding
• sense of facial pressure or tightness
• numbness or burning in or around the mouth
• rapid fluttering heart beat (heart palpitations)
• chest pain
• shortness of breath
• nausea
• lack of energy / fatigue

Conclusion

Don’t adopt a weight gain diet solely for the purpose of gaining weight per se, with no regard to the potential health risks you are placing yourself in. Educate yourself, read about sound nutrition principles, be aware of harmful ingredients lurking in the foods you buy, and start eating real, unadulterated foods!

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Unlike what most think, the bioavailability of protein is not just a function of the essential amino acids that are present and how they relate to the body’s requirements. It’s also dictated by the structure of the protein. Some proteins are more amenable to being broken down (digested) than others. To better understand this point, let’s discuss briefly how proteins are assembled from amino acids and the various shapes those proteins take.

There are some 20 different amino acids which are commonly identified. Each and every protein is made from these 20 amino acids put together in varying order and in varying amounts and combinations, thus providing the possibility of almost limitless combinations. That said, most proteins are large molecules that may contain several hundred to many thousand amino acids arranged in branches and chains.

The assembly of amino acids into proteins is actually determined and directed by information encoded in your genes. Each protein has its own unique amino acid sequence as specified by the gene encoding that particular protein. Protein synthesis takes place inside cellular cytoplasm and can actually reach a rate as high as the joining of up to 20 amino acids per second in a given cell. In fact, the assembly of amino acids is responsible for more than just the creation of protein. It is also responsible for the creation of peptides and polypeptides, which can be thought of as “short” or “incomplete” proteins.

The size of a synthesized protein can be measured by the number of amino acids it contains and by its total molecular mass. Some proteins may contain just a few hundred amino acids strung together, but the largest can contain close to 30,000 amino acids all chained together.

So how does a protein composed of a chain of 27,000 amino acids achieve stability? And the answer is through structure. These long chains fold in on themselves to form stable structures.

Most proteins fold into unique 3-dimensional structures. The shape into which a protein naturally folds is known as its native state — although proteins may shift between several related structures during the course of performing their biological functions.

For our purposes, there’s one primary reason for being aware of protein structure. Protein structure plays a major role in determining how readily it can be broken down into its constituent amino acids during the digestive process. In other words, it plays a major role in determining the bioavailability of the protein and its propensity to stimulate allergic responses.

How what you eat with protein affects your health

When found in nature, protein never comes by itself. Whether from animal or vegetable sources, protein comes in the presence of various fats and carbohydrates. In most cases, their presence is a non issue. But in a small number of cases, these “extras” play a major factor in determining the digestibility of the protein.

For example, some accompanying nutrients can inhibit proteolytic enzymes that would normally break down the protein, or can suppress the release of stomach acid necessary for the digestion of the protein, or simply cover the protein so that enzymes and stomach acid cannot reach it.

Determining protein bioavailability to optimize nutrition

Protein bioavailability is the sum total of the three factors we mentioned above:

1. The mix of amino acids in the protein — or in the combination of proteins eaten during the day. Remember, the shortage of an essential amino acid provides a limiting factor on how much of the overall protein can be utilized by the body.
2. The structure and size of the protein molecule. The larger and more tightly folded the molecule, the less able the body is to break it down. Large proteins that frequently undergo incomplete digestion include those found in wheat, corn, dairy, and soy. It is not coincidental that these foods are identified by the FDA as being highly allergenic. (We will discuss protein allergies more in our next newsletter.)
3. The other foods (or components in the protein source itself) that inhibit the breakdown of the protein.

Protein utilization can be measured

There are several tests for measuring protein utilization, or bioavailability, although they’re a bit like the story of the blind men describing an elephant — each one gives an incomplete picture. The blind man who feels the trunk says an elephant is like a snake. The one who feels its legs says an elephant is like a tree. The one who feels the ears says an elephant is like a giant fan. And the one who feels its body says an elephant is like a massive wall. Each one provides useful information; but each one also provides an incomplete picture.

The Kjeldahl method is the standard for measuring the total protein concentration in food. It provides the number that you normally see on nutrition labels on the side of food packages. Unfortunately, it tells you nothing about how much of that protein actually gets used by the body — which in some cases can be very little.

Biological value (BV) measures how much of the protein that you eat gets incorporated into your body tissue. It does so by measuring how much of the nitrogen in the protein you eat is absorbed by the body and then how much is excreted. The assumption is that the difference is what got incorporated into your body protein. Its weakness is that BV varies greatly depending on how food is prepared and according to what other foods were eaten in the recent diet that can alter nitrogen measurements. Although the following three methods all provide better measures of protein utilization, BV is still commonly used by nutritionists out of force of habit.

Net protein utilization (NPU) is the ratio of amino acids converted to proteins to the ratio of amino acids supplied in the protein source. Experimentally, this value is calculated by determining the amount of dietary protein you are consuming and then measuring how much nitrogen is excreted. It is significantly affected by the limiting amino acids (as discussed earlier) in the particular food.

Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER) is based on the weight gain of a test subject divided by its intake of a particular food protein during the test period. Theoretically, it is a biological assay of the quality of a particular protein, measured as the gain in weight of an animal per gram of a particular protein eaten. At one time, this was the industry standard, but unfortunately PER is based upon the amino acid requirements of growing rats, which differ noticeably from that of humans.

Protein digestibility corrected amino acid score (PDCAAS) evaluates protein quality based on the amino acid requirements of humans. This is now the preferred standard. Nevertheless, it too has holes. PDCAAS takes no account of where proteins have been digested and cannot account for proteins that are absorbed by bacteria in the digestive tract.

PDCAAS is calculated solely on the basis of single protein consumption and therefore once again does not calculate the changes in protein utilization resulting from the intake of complementary protein sources.

Improving protein utilization for optimum health

Now let’s take what we’ve covered so far and see if we can extract some benefit from it that will help us improve our ability to improve the utilization of the protein we eat. This is important for people like us who consume protein powder smoothies for muscle building.

As we’ve discussed, protein utilization is defined, to a large degree, by the limiting protein in the diet. Even complete proteins (those containing all of the essential amino acids) can still be out of balance so as to limit maximum utilization. Although dairy and egg tend to be well balanced and largely avoid this problem, they present other allergenic issues such as gas, bloating, and cramping. Meat, chicken, and fish, on the other hand, can benefit from the consumption of other proteins that help balance them out. And soy, most definitely.

Bottom line, the key to high protein utilization is to be cautious of the type of protein you are ingesting. To learn about the different types of proteins and what is the most beneficial for overall health, check out my blog about Protein Types.

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It was 12 hours straight of hiking. For someone who has never done any hiking before, that was a tough challenge. But I was able to do it, thanks to my gorgeous girlfriend, who lovingly prepared food enough to feed a whole army!

One of the stuff she did for me was these awesomely light but lush flapjacks. It wasn’t sweet compared to normal flapjacks you can buy from stores, but it was so wholesome and healthy. Best of all, it fuelled me and kept me going. They were so delicious, too!

Flapjacks are ideal for:

• breakfast on the go
• pre workout food
• post workout food
• emergency snacks (keep in your car/work drawer)

It’s also a perfect food to help you gain weight because of its complex carbs content. That is, if they are the healthy kind!

Flapjacks have a reputation for being a healthy snack. Yet when you look for them in grocery stores or supermarkets you almost always get the ones that had been made with heavily processed grains, have generous amounts of butter/margarine and loaded with refined sugars.

Yeah they’re healthy alright!

So here’s the flapjack recipe that my girlfriend used. It’s  super fast and super easy to make, and of course super healthy. This recipe will approximately take 30 minutes. It’s perfect for you if you’re always on the go.

Ingredients:

• 500 g of mixed grains (organic rolled jumbo oats, buckwheat flakes, quinoa flakes)
• 1 finely chopped apple
• 3 squashed bananas
• 1/2 cup fresh blueberries
• roughly chopped seeds and nuts
• dried fruits or raisins or dates
• 1 cup of fresh orange juice (if you’re going to buy it from the shop, opt for the Not-from-concentrate type)
• a cup of olive oil

Optional:

add your favourite supplement powder if you like. I recommend Sun Warrior Protein Powder.

Steps:

1. Pre heat oven at 180 C or gas mark 4
2. Put grains in a mixing bowl
3. Add orange juice
4. Mix in all the other ingredients (seeds, nuts, dried fruits/raisins, apple, bananas)
5. Mix it all up
6. Drizzle the oil evenly
7. Mix again
8. Spoon golf size balls onto non stick greased baking tray
9. Pop in oven for 20-25 mins, depending on how well cooked you want it to be.

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These programs have been created for women and the quantities of food are based on approximately 125-150- pound active women.  They are just samples and exact foods and quantities can be altered based on interest, size, age, and activity level.  Keep in mind these are designed for active women who are burning more calories throughout the day due to exercise/sports than a sedentary person, and require extra nutrition (calories) to recover from exercise.

Women’s Meal Program #1

Meal #1

• 3 pieces of whole fruit
• Fruit smoothie
• 16 ounces of water

Meal #2

• 2-3 servings of assorted nuts
• Flax crackers with hummus
• 16 ounces of water

Meal #3

• Burrito filled with quinoa, veggies, avocado, and greens
• Small green salad
• 16 ounces of water

Meal #4

• Vega Whole Food Health Optimizer Protein drink
• 1 baked yam with broccoli and small spinach salad
• 16 ounces of water

Meal #5

• Bowl of brown rice, kale, beans and coconut curry sauce
• Green salad with a variety of greens, seeds and nuts
• 16 ounces of water

Meal #6

• 3 pieces of whole fruits
• Fruit smoothie

Estimated Totals:

Total Calories = 3,000

Total grams protein = 120g

Total grams of carbohydrates =  518g

Total grams of fats = 50g

Total water consumption = 116 ounces (factoring in water for protein drinks too)

Women’s Meal Program #2

Meal #1

• Bowl of oats
• Green Smoothie
• 16 ounces of water

Meal #2

• 3 pieces of whole fruit
• Fruit juice or fruit smoothie
• 16 ounces of water

Meal #3

• Bowl of lentil or vegetable soup
• Large green salad with greens, sprouts, seeds, nuts, avocado with Vega EFA Oil
• 8 ounces of coconut water

Meal #4

• 2 whole-food based energy bars
• Green Smoothie
• 16 ounces of water

Meal #5

• Brown rice with steamed broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and other veggies
• Green salad with dark greens including kale, spinach, and collard greens
• 16 ounces of water

Meal #6

• Vegetable sushi with seaweed, rice, avocado, and cucumber
• Small bowl of ginger soup

Estimated Totals:

Total Calories = 2,900

Total grams protein = 135g

Total grams of carbohydrates =  482g

Total grams of fats = 48g

Total water consumption = 108 ounces (factoring in water for protein drinks too)

I’ve found that the more enthusiastic you are about supporting your active lifestyle with a sound nutritional program, and the more meaningful your reasons for doing so, the greater your success will be.

That’s just the nature of enthusiasm.  In general, the more you care about something, the harder you’ll work to achieve it.  Exercising and eating well is a lifestyle decision that allows me to live, work and play as a vegan bodybuilder.

My career opportunities, interests, and long-term goals are all dependent on my ability to stay motivated.  The harder I work, the more success I experience, and the more personal fulfillment I achieve.

What are YOUR unique reasons for wanting to build or maintain muscle?  Why do you care about it, and what does it mean to you?

————-

Robert Cheeke is a competitive bodybuilder and the 2005 and 2009 INBA Northwestern USA Natural Bodybuilding Champion. He is also President and founder of Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness, a company dedicated to supporting natural vegan bodybuilders and fitness enthusiasts. Check out his website at www.veganbodybuilding.com.

If you’re interested in muscle building tips for women, check this out: No Nonsense Muscle Building for Women.

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In this article you will see sample Meal Programs that will help you to get ripped whilst eating extremely healthy foods that will promote well-being and yes – help to keep disease and illness away. Sound like a good idea? Read on…

(By the way, if you’re a woman, Robert has also listed here some meal programs from his book that are custom made meal programs for women based on general fitness, not bodybuilding per se.)

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by Robert Cheeke

These nutrition programs are for an average 170-pound male looking to maintain and build muscle, but the themes throughout are consistent for any gender, any size; just tailor your own programs to your individual caloric needs.  These are simply examples and have not been approved by the FDA or other governing body.  They are purely based on my experiences and observations as a competitive and champion vegan athlete over the past 15 years.

Men’s Meal Program #1

Meal #1

• Bowl of oatmeal
• Green protein smoothie
• 16 ounces of water

Meal #2

• 3 pieces of whole fruit
• 1 cucumber
• 16 ounces of water

Meal #3

• Large green salad with mixed greens and Vega Omega 3-6-9 EFA Oil
• 2 artichokes and bowl of mixed beans and sprouts
• Protein drink (Vega Whole Food Health Optimizer)
• 16 ounces of water

Meal #4

• Celery sticks with almond butter
• 16 ounces of water

Meal #5

• Ethiopian food dinner (bread and beans, greens, lentils, hummus, and a variety of other dips)
• 16 ounces of water

Meal #6

• Tofu “chicken” sandwich with vegan mayonnaise, lettuce, and tomato
• Bowl of rice with peanut sauce
• 16 ounces of water

Estimated Totals:

Total Calories = 4300

Total grams protein = 175g

Total grams of carbohydrates = 675g

Total grams of fats = 100g

Total water consumption = 120 ounces (factoring in water for protein drinks too)

Men’s Meal Program #2

Meal #1

• 2 pieces of whole fruit
• Yerba mate drink
• Fruit Smoothie

Meal #2

• Whole food based Energy bar
• Assorted fresh vegetables (carrots, cucumbers, peppers)
• 16 ounces of water

Meal #3

• Burrito with rice or quinoa, greens, beans, and avocado
• Small green salad with Vega omega 3-6-9 EFA Oil
• 12 ounces of hemp milk
• 16 ounces of water

Meal #4

• 3 pieces of whole fruit
• 16 ounces of water

Meal #5

• Large green salad with steamed green vegetables and tempeh
• Bowl of carrot/ginger soup
• 12 ounces of almond milk
• 16 ounces of water

Meal #6

• 2 whole food based Protein or Energy bars
• Protein drink (Vega Whole Food Health Optimizer)
• 16 ounces of water

Estimated Totals:

Total Calories = 4,000

Total grams protein = 180g

Total grams of carbohydrates = 660g

Total grams of fats = 70g

Total water consumption = 104 ounces (factoring in water for protein drinks too)

Men’s Meal Program #3

Meal #1

• 2 pancakes with maple syrup
• Small bowl of potatoes and broccoli
• Green Smoothie
• 16 ounces of water

Meal #2

• Almond butter sandwich
• Whole food based protein drink (Vega Whole Food Health Optimizer)
• 16 ounces of water

Meal #3

• Collard green wraps with hummus or vegetable pate, beans, sprouts, and vegetables
• Bowl of lentil, bean, or vegetable soup
• 16 ounces of water

Meal #4

• 3 pieces of whole fruit
• 16 ounces of water

Meal #5

• Bell peppers stuffed with rice and seasonings
• Green salad with Vega omega 3-6-9 EFA Oil
• Bean sprouts and fresh or steamed vegetables
• 16 ounces of water

Meal #6

• Whole food based Protein drink (Vega Whole Food Health Optimizer)
• 2-3 servings of assorted nuts

Estimated Totals:

Total Calories = 4,500

Total grams protein = 160g

Total grams of carbohydrates = 760g

Total grams of fats = 90g

Total water consumption = 104 ounces (factoring in water for protein drinks too)

—————

Robert Cheeke is a competitive bodybuilder and the 2005 and 2009 INBA Northwestern USA Natural Bodybuilding Champion. He is also President and founder of Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness, a company dedicated to supporting natural vegan bodybuilders and fitness enthusiasts. Check out his website at www.veganbodybuilding.com.

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Aminoacidemia and How Whey Contributes to It

Aminoacidemia is a condition in which extreme quantities of amino acids are present in the blood. In this case, if there is nothing in the diet to account for it, it is possible that there are missing or defective enzymes in the liver, which are important for the breakdown of nitrogen containing amino acids in the body. If your system fails to properly break down amino acids, it can result to generalized hyper-aminoacidemia, and eventually to neurotoxicity and early death.

Furthermore, new studies reveal that aminoacidemia may be a contributing element in the onset of diabetes. Specifically, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has confirmed that whey’s high Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score actually guarantees a rate of amino acid delivery that is too rapid to sustain the anabolic requirement during the postprandial period (the period right after a meal). This is bad news for bodybuilders, who believed for years that excess amino acids dumped quickly into the bloodstream is a helpful condition for building muscle!

For years bodybuilders have claimed aminoacidemia as a helpful condition for building muscle, making it an effective selling feature of whey protein in the bodybuilding community. The explanation is that muscle growth is about staying in a positive nitrogen state. Due to exercise, which damages and stresses the muscle, the body is thrown into a negative nitrogen catabolic (breakdown) state. This leads to the idea to take yourself out of a catabolic state and into a positive nitrogen anabolic (building) state by consuming the fastest absorbing protein you can get your hands on — whey. And there is no question that whey protein induces a short term dramatic increase in blood levels of amino acids — i.e. aminoacidemia. Sadly, new research on the matter now show that this rational, taken as a whole, may not necessarily be true.

Looking into it, studies have confirmed the “paradox” of the highly soluble proteins found in whey and whey isolate, which, despite their high Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score, ensure a rate of amino acid delivery that is too rapid to sustain the body’s anabolic requirement during the minutes and hours after eating it — thus, not really helping in the development of muscle. To make the long story short, the latest studies find that aminoacidemia may not provide the benefit many bodybuilders think it does.

To make things worse, aminoacidemia may actually lead to acquiring long term health consequences – for example, diabetes. Despite the fact that short term aminoacidemia can actually lower blood sugar levels since it stimulates higher beta-cell secretion and a related increase in insulin levels (by as much as 40%), over time, this constant stimulation may overstress and degrade the ability of beta-cells to produce sufficient insulin when called for and may eventually, contribute to pre-diabetic and diabetic conditions in the body.

In addition, ammonia, the end result of excess amino acids being converted along with carbon dioxide and water, is toxic to the body and is a primary cause of premature fatigue. Normally, the body handles excess ammonia by converting it to urea then filtering it through the kidneys, but if the ammonia is too much, it overstrains the kidneys, which is why doctors would advise against high levels of protein intake in cases of kidney disease. And ultimately, although there are studies on the question of high amino acid levels in the blood (i.e., high protein consumption) and bone loss, the most convincing studies indicate that there is a problem.

For bodybuilders, the paradox of aminoacidemia says that the main feature of whey, its high Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score, probably generates a rate of amino acid delivery that is too rapid to sustain the anabolic requirement during the immediate hours after eating it – thus, not really helping in the development of muscle.

Whey and Intestinal Toxemia

Despite it being a somewhat, catch-all phrase that the alternative health community came up with to describe a set of conditions that occur in the intestinal tract as a result of bad dietary options, Intestinal toxemia is not a medical condition. It has three primary manifestations:

• Putrefaction, which is caused by bacterial action on undigested proteins. Guanidine, histamine, mercaptans, indol, phenyl, skato, and other organic toxins may be formed as a result.
• Rancidity refers specifically to the spoilage of fats. This can actually occur in the digestive tract itself — not just from the consumption of rancid fats in the diet. The primary concern is that rancid fats promote the production of peroxide free radicals in the body.
• Fermentation is caused by the action of bacteria and yeasts on carbohydrates. Excessive gas, increased blood alcohol levels (that’s why excess sugar can give you a hangover), and Candida hyper-growth are just three problems associated with intestinal fermentation.

Intestinal toxemia takes place when large particles of undigested food enter the small intestine and colon. This undigested food accumulated in the small intestine and colon then become a fertile breeding ground for bacteria and yeast fermentation since these parts of the digestive tract were not designed to handle excessive amounts of undigested food. These bacteria then produce harmful by-products that damage the intestines, reduce nutrient assimilation, create excess gas and bloating, and lead to persistent diarrhea. This is because proteins putrefy, carbohydrates ferment, and fats become rancid. Other than that, mild to intense stomach pains, the result of muscle cramping and excessive gas are experienced. Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Crohn’s Disease may be the eventual results should intestinal toxemia extend.

Whey protein can be a major factor in promoting intestinal toxemia. Whey contains no fiber, which is important to keep things moving well through the intestinal tract. Since it is highly processed, whey protein contains no live enzymes to break down the large whey proteins. The body actually has a difficult time breaking down the three primary proteins in whey. When combined, these problems provide an ideal environment for disadvantageous intestinal bacteria to thrive in. And since whey is very acid forming, it increases the pH level of the normally alkaline environment of the intestinal tract, thus favoring the development of harmful bacteria over beneficial bacteria.

Conclusion

I have long stopped taking ordinary and dairy-based supplements and found that my body responds best to vegan protein supplements, but my decision wasn’t just based on some random ideas. I encourage you to investigate what really is in your protein supplements and observe how they really affect you.  If you happen to have the symptoms I mentioned in this article series, try stopping your intake and then see if your symptoms stop.

For a list of the Best Vegan Protein Supplements in my opinion, click here.

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There has been some updated research on protein supplements highlighting possible health issues over certain proteins such as food allergies, intolerances, aminoacidemia, etc. If you’re taking Whey, Dairy or Soy protein supplements, you may be unknowingly intolerant or mildly allergic to them. Below is a concise account of the potential health concerns with these supplements.

Food Allergies VS Food Intolerances: The Difference?

Two of the most common disadvantages of ordinary Protein supplements is that it causes allergies and intolerances. But let me differentiate food allergies from food intolerances first.

A food allergy, or hypersensitivity, is an abnormal response to a food signaled by the immune system. Common indicators usually appear within minutes to a couple of hours after the consumption of the food in question. These include:

• Tingling sensation in the mouth
• Swelling of the tongue and throat
• Difficulty breathing
• Hives
• Acne
• Vomiting
• Abdominal cramps
• Diarrhea
• Drop in blood pressure
• Loss of consciousness, and death.

Food intolerance, however, is not triggered by the immune system, and occurs in the digestive tract, and is characterized by symptoms like gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, headaches and dark circles under the eyes.

Nevertheless, both food allergies and intolerances are characterized by the inability to break down the food in question, showing in different parts of the body.

If the protein in question breaks down enough to go through the walls of the intestine and enter the bloodstream, but allows for relatively larger proteins to enter the bloodstream and be targeted as antigens by the immune system, it is considered as a food allergy.

But if the protein is so great that it can’t pass through the walls of the intestine and the symptoms they cause manifest in the intestinal tract without involving the immune system, they are known as an intolerance.

Statistics state that only about 1.5 percent of adults and up to 6 percent of children below 3 years in the United States have a “true” food allergy. Once can make a case that almost 100% of people have a low level allergic reaction to foods such as wheat, corn, and dairy. By low level, I mean almost inestimable systemic inflammation in the body and chronic mucous production — either seen in the stools, or experienced as constant throat clearing, sniffling, and high susceptibility to allergy triggers such as dust and pollen.

So if you are experiencing these symptoms while taking your protein supplements, it is highly likely that you are actually allergic or intolerant to your protein supplement – without being aware of it!

Dairy Protein Digestion Problems

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), approximately 30 to 50 million Americans are lactose intolerant. These people cannot digest lactose, the sugar found in dairy products, and often suffer from symptoms such as gas, stomach cramps, diarrhea, and the like, according FDA.

There are also other people who are allergic to dairy products, specifically the proteins found in milk and whey. Either way, poorly digested bovine antigens (substances in dairy proteins that trigger an immune reaction) like casein become “allergens” in allergic individuals. Dairy products are the leading cause of food allergy, often revealed by diarrhea, constipation and fatigue.

So if you are taking dairy protein supplements and had been suffering from these symptoms (even mildly), you might want to try stopping the supplements and observe how you feel afterwards.

There are numerous reports of asthma and sinus infections that have been eliminated by totally excluding dairy from the diet.

Health Problems with Whey & Dairy Allergies and intolerances

Protein digestion starts in the stomach with the process known as autolytic digestion, in which enzymes present in the food itself will actually break down some 70% of the protein in the first hour if the food you eat is not cooked or processed.

After the first hour, the process continues with the entry of pepsinogen and hydrochloric acid, wherein the hydrochloric acid converts the pepsinogen into pepsin.

Pepsin then breaks down the protein even further into amino acids and their derivatives. This particular process is theoretically completed by the trypsin and chymotrypsin enzymes produced in the pancreas and released into the small intestine.

Protein digestion then continues from here, with the amino acids and related molecules derived from the dietary protein being absorbed through the walls of the gastrointestinal tract, in which the absorption rate of the individual amino acids is highly dependent on the protein source.

For instance, after whey protein is broken down, some 90% of it is absorbed quickly, whereas soy protein is absorbed much more slowly and much less completely. But combining rice and pea protein into a diet, on the other hand splits the difference — balancing soy’s longer absorption time frame with whey’s shorter absorption time frame.

This process, however, does not apply to all. Certain factors, such as how the food is cooked, whether or not the protein is denatured by processing and heat, the existence or non-existence of natural or supplemented enzymes, and the presence of other substances such as pectin can all affect the ultimate break down of the proteins. These aspects will also tell whether or not they cause allergies or are responsible for intolerances.

The top culprits on dietary proteins and protein allergies are:

• Dairy and whey
• Eggs
• Soy
• Shell fish
• And wheat gluten meat substitutes for vegetarians

But concerns about protein consumption can also cause other conditions other than allergies and intolerances. These are Aminoacidemia and Intestinal toxemia, which is what I want to talk about next. So watch out for the next instalment of this article.

Meanwhile, if you just want to get your hands on the best Protein Supplement that I recommend (and personally use) check out Sun Warrior Protein page here:

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The thing is, the older RDA standard is based on age and sex of a person, with an unclear acknowledgement that special periods such as pregnancy and injury calls for higher levels of protein — but no mention on cases of athletes or seniors, and no consideration of overall calories consumed. But then again, if you go to most protein supplement stores, the protein supplement recommendations are based on body weight ranging from 0.8 grams protein per kg of bodyweight to 1.2-1.8 g/kg. For a 70 kg adult (154 lbs) that works out to over 100 grams of protein a day — and some recommendations even state as much as 300 grams a day. Which makes us wonder, how can a 150 lb adult who weighs 300 lbs because of obesity really need the same amount of protein as a 300 lb football linebacker – given that they both supposedly “work out” each day?

The bottom line is: it’s not a matter of whether you consume so much protein everyday or not, but whether you are getting clean protein source daily such as from an all natural, vegan protein source. The fact is, most people could do with about 45-55 grams of protein per day with significantly less protein per day, which is significantly less compared to many food consumption surveys’ requirement of protein intake of about 100 grams per day (regardless of body type, sex, or exercise levels), with about 70% of that from high fat animal products.

However, people such as performance athletes, active adults, senior citizens, and people recovering from illness or injury have special needs and may have requirements that go up to as much as 70-100 grams daily. Moreover, these bodybuilders we’ve mentioned are looking to build as much muscle mass as is humanly possible. Every bodybuilder is aware of one’s own requirements when it comes to building maximum muscle mass and further improving performance. (Here’s the protein powder I consume regularly: Sun Warrior Protein. Check it out if you’re interested in using protein for muscle building)

Based on gender and age, below is the table that shows the amount of protein one should consume:

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I myself used to drink excessively and “get lashed off my tits” (as we call it here in Newcastle LOL!), but I’m happy to say that for a good few years now – I have rarely touched an alcoholic drink. I know it’s hard to believe but I dont miss it all and frankly I’ve never felt better.

Anyway… read this article and find out exactly why alcohol and weight gain don’t mix!

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by Thomas Warren

It’s no surprise that alcohol can cause you to gain weight.  It has a lot of calories.  Surprisingly though, this is not the major cause of weight gain.  In fact, drinking in moderation (1 can of beer, 1 glass of wine, or 1 shot of liquor per day) has been shown to help people lose weight in small amounts because it may slightly raise your metabolism and lead you to eat less sugar.  Where people tend to get into trouble with alcohol lies in the amount that they consume and, in the case of liquor, what they mix it with.  The real question is, when you’re trying to add to your calorie count in order to bulk up, why is alcohol a bad choice?

There are many ways to increase your muscle mass, but the most effective seems to be a combination of diet and exercise.  This is hardly breaking news.  While the basic principle is the same as that of an individual trying to lose weight, the mentality is just the opposite, with a diet that mandates calorie consumption in excess of what is burned off and workouts that focus primarily on weight lifting rather than cardio exercises.  What body-builders need to look out for is the way they incorporate more calories into their daily eating habits.  Just because a food or drink has high caloric value doesn’t mean it contains the nutrients you need to reach your goals, and empty-calorie consumables like alcohol can have adverse effects on your progress.

For starters, alcohol contains sugar, some of which turns into fat in your body.  But this is not the main offender where imbibing is concerned.  The problem lies in the fact that the majority of alcohol consumed converts to acetate, which your body rapidly consumes as fuel.  The result is a significant reduction in fat oxidation, or the amount of fat being burned by the body (not to mention any fats you happen to consume after drinking).

So where does that fat go?  Well, the fat that’s already there stays put, rather than being burned off.  Sadly, the fats you consume post-intoxication go straight to storage just where you’d expect – they make a beeline for trouble areas like the gut and the butt.  So if you’re trying to gain mass, alcohol will fit the bill, but most likely it will expand your girth in ways you you’d prefer not to.  In addition, boozing it up can lead you to eat more.  Alcohol increases appetite and if you’re like most people concerned with weight, you are probably on a pretty strict calorie count (albeit a high one).

In terms of how this affects your efforts to gain muscle, here’s the skinny on fat: it doesn’t really stop you from gaining muscle, but it can hide the muscle you have and reduce the impact of your six pack (especially if you alternate between bulking and cutting).  Alcohol consumption also causes some short-term side effects that can make your workouts less effective, from dehydration and decreased vitamin and mineral absorption to fatigue and loss of coordination.  When paired with a high-protein diet, it can also lead to kidney stones…not necessarily a detriment to body-building, but certainly uncomfortable and inconvenient.

The long and short of it is this: drinking in moderation is probably okay, but going overboard with liquor is a bad idea, even if you’re trying to gain weight.  You will almost certainly get more than you bargained for.  It can wreak havoc on your internal systems, mess with your metabolism, and cause you to add bulk in the most unappealing of areas.

Although it won’t exactly stop you from gaining muscle, it can negatively affect your ability to exercise and the results you achieve.  Further, it has no nutritional value, and you need to make every calorie count.  So while you’re bulking up, it’s probably best to avoid the beer bong at the party, or at least slow absorption by eating a big meal ahead of time.

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Thomas Warren is a content writer for Go College, one of the oldest and most trusted resources to guide students on how to finance and succeed in college.

Start a Proper Muscle Building Diet Today!

Whether you’re trying to bulk up or trying to get more lean and ‘cut’, decreasing your alcohol consumption is definitely something you need to do. But of course it’s easier said than done, so I recommend a more holistic approach to muscle building nutrition.

If you want to take your body from regular-to-ripped in the next 28-84 days with a step-by-step progressive meal plan system...

And you lack proper knowledge of how much protein, carbs and fats you should be eating each meal and clueless on when to change your calories and nutrient breakdowns…

If you’re a complete beginner to nutrition and don’t have a clue on what the best foods are to lose the first 100 pounds of fat (or you need to lose the last stubborn 10 pounds of fat)…

Or you’re intimidated by grocery shopping and are ready to cut back on all the alcohol, take-out and drive-through food…

I highly recommend you check out Empowered Nutrition Systems – a collection of done-for-you Fat Loss meal plans designed to transform your body in 12 weeks. Click the collage above to see how you too can transform you physique in the shortest possible time via optimum muscle building nutrition techniques.

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