Wednesday, May 29, 2013

The BodyScience Endurance Fuel Stack


The team at BodyScience (BSC) have put together a 3 step fuel range for endurance athletes.  This range covers all nutritional requirements including magnesium, electrolytes, a carbohydrate matrix and protein.

SPECIAL!!!

 

EVELYN FAYE NUTRITION IS OFFERING 20% OFF OUR ALREADY LOW PRICES WHEN YOU PURCHASE THE FUEL SERIES STEPS 1, 2 & 3

 

RRP $119.85

NORMALLY @ EVELYN FAYE $105.85 

NOW $84.70

 

STEP 1: MAGNESIUM


Magnesium is renowned as "the great relaxer" offering athletes relief from muscle cramping, muscle tightness and general fatigue.  The majority of Australians are magnesium deficient and so supplementation of this essential mineral is important... especially for those undertaking endurance training.

BSC magnesium uses a blend of different forms of Magnesium including chelate, phosphate, aspartate and malate.  Having these differing forms of magnesium allows our body to absorb them well and they are not associated with having the laxative effect of other forms of Magnesium.  Additional to the magnesium is a blend of Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAA) which assist in muscle tissue healing

Total Magnesium per serve is 348mg.

General dose:  Take 2 tsp daily before bed
Pre-event loading:  Take 2 tsp 2x daily


STEP 2: ADVANCED ENDURANCE SPORTS DRINK


This is the core product in the range, covering hydration and energy.  It has a complex blend of carbohydrates allowing for immediate energy as well as lasting energy with a total of 22g of carbs per serve. 

We also have our electrolyte blend of sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium in their citrate form which helps maintain muscular alkalinity.  Electrolytes ensure our body is hydrated and that muscular tissue can continue to contract and relax in a rhythmical fashion. 

They have also added a small amount of BCAA in this formula to help prevent muscular breakdown whilst undertaking long training sessions.

General Dose: Approx 1 serve per hour of exercise... this will vary immensely between athletes depending on what exactly they are training for.

STEP 3: RECOVERY PROTEIN


This product is designed to be taken within 30min of finishing your training session.  It provides the body with carbohydrates and protein, in the ratio which has been clinically researched as the most effective for muscle repair in endurance athletes.

If you go for a big ride on a Saturday morning and then feel wrecked for the remainder of the day; or if your legs feel heavy after a session and your struggling to come back night after night for another session then this product is essential for you!

Dose: 4 scoops in water immediately after exercise
Can also be used as a "breakfast" before training where food may be causing discomfort.

SPECIAL!!!

 

EVELYN FAYE NUTRITION IS OFFERING 20% OFF OUR ALREADY LOW PRICES WHEN YOU PURCHASE THE FUEL SERIES STEPS 1, 2 & 3

 

RRP $119.85

NORMALLY @ EVELYN FAYE $105.85 

NOW $84.70


Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Colostrum and Athletic Performance


Colostrum is a food which kick starts our growth and development in life, it is what we are first fed when we enter this word, it provides us with the ultimate blend of nutrients, immune factors and growth factors; it is no wonder then that the benefits of consuming this food is now being investigated for elite athletes and the wider community in general.

Colostrum has a unique blend of immune and growth factors not present in any other food.  The growth hormone factors found in bovine and human colostrum are identical except that bovine colostrum is more concentrated. 

 Colostrum can help:

• Increase strength and endurance
• Build lean muscle mass
• Burn body fat
• Boost immune function
• Shorten recovery time
• Accelerate healing of injuries

Increasing Strength & Endurance
A 2002 study from the University of Tasmania, reported that eight weeks of colostrum supplementation resulted in an improvement in cycling performance. These findings were presented at the Pre-Olympic Sports Medicine Conference in Brisbane (Coombs et al., 2000). Compared to their initial performance eight weeks earlier, the group taking 20 grams of colostrum per day completed the time trial 158 seconds faster whereas the group taking whey protein improved their performance time by only 37 seconds.

Building muscle & Burn fat
According to a study conducted in Finland, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), a protein found in colostrum,  induces protein synthesis, which leads to an increase in lean muscle mass without a corresponding rise in fat tissue.
Researchers found that exercisers who received 20 grams per day of colostrum had increased serum concentration of essential amino acids compared to those receiving placebo. This led to increased muscle protein synthesis, resulting in faster recovery time following maximal exercise. (Mero, A, et al. (2005) Protein metabolism and strength performance after bovine colostrum supplementation. Amino Acids 28(3):327-335).
Colostrum is the only natural source of IGF-1, which can improve muscle regeneration in injured muscle, and promote tendon healing. Additionally it increases muscle glycogen storage and improves the conversion of fats into energy, giving us more energy to train and assisting weight loss.

Boosting immune function
Strenuous exercise associated with athletic training and competition places a tremendous strain on body systems, including the immune system.  Following strenuous exercise there is a significant reduction in white blood cell count and Natural Killer Cell activity.  Natural killer (NK) cells are an integral part of the body’s immune defences, seeking out and killing foreign or infected cells. This decrease in NK activity indicates an increased susceptibility to infection following strenuous exercise.
Many studies have confirmed that colostrum supplementation boosts various immunological processes in the body thus preventing infection or reducing symptoms of viral and bacterial infections. A recent study (2006) by Dr. C.M. Shing and colleagues at the University of Queensland found that supplementation with low doses (10 grams/day) of bovine colostrum protein concentrate (CPC) over a period of normal and intense training by highly trained road cyclists significantly increases important immune variables.

Supplementing with Colostrum:

The usual recommended dosage of colostrum is 10 g daily. In studies of colostrum as a sports supplement for athletes, the much higher dose of 60 g a day was used.

 At Evelyn Faye Nutrition we have colostrum available in both capsule and powder form.
REDBAK Perform B-IgG 60 caps $15.95 ($25 off RRP)
with the mention of this post! 
For that price its worth trying!

 

Recent research on colostrum have come to the following conclusions:

 
Immunoglobulin from bovine Colostrum effectively reduces and prevents viral and bacterial infections in immune deficient subjects: bone marrow recipients, premature babies, AIDS, etc.
New England Journal of Medicine

Human clinical study: Immune factors in cow Colostrum, when taken orally, are effective against disease-causing organisms in the intestinal tract. Ingestion of bovine Colostrum’s immunoglobulins may be a new method of providing passive immunoprotection against a host of gut-associated disease causing antigens (viral and bacterial).
Dr. R. McClead, et. al.; Pediatrics Research

Colostrum stimulates the lymphoid tissue providing benefits in aged or immunodeficient people. Nature has used the oral route for the development of the immune system since the origin of mammals (safe and effective). Oral administration of immunofactors is simple, inexpensive, free of side effects and may be vastly beneficial in veterinary and HUMAN medicine, to correct immunodeficiency.
Drs. Bocci, Bremen, Corradeschi, Luzzi and Paulesu; Journal Biology

Cartilage Inducing Factor-A, found in Colostrum, stimulates cartilage repair.
Drs. Seyedin, Thompson, Bentz, et. al.; Journal of Biological Chemistry

IGF-1, found in Colostrum, stimulates bone and muscle growth and nerve regeneration. Also found: topical administration to wounds resulted in more effective healing.
Drs. Skottner, Arrhenius-Nyberg, Kanje and Fryklund, Acta. Paediatric Scandinavia

 

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Improving your Iron status

Iron deficiency impairs red blood cell development resulting in a decline of oxygen delivery to the cells of your body, this leaves your feeling tired, weak and out of breath as well as looking pallor. 

Additional to the obvious symptoms; Iron deficiency can lead to imbalances in enzyme function, hormone production and detoxification.  During stages of development such as pregnancy, teenage years or in young children you may also notice sub-optimal growth and development.


Could you be Iron Deficient?

  1. Do you feel tired?
  2. Do you feel weak?
  3. Do your skin, nails and gums appear pale?
  4. Do you become out of breath quickly?
  5. Do you have difficulty concentrating?
  6. Does your pulse race?
  7. Do you get heart palpitations?
  8. Is your menstrual cycle irregular?
  9. Do you have cold hands and feet or get numbness?
  10. Do you suffer restless legs?
  11. Are you irritable, feel sad or depressed?
  12. Is your immune system suffering?
  13. Have you ever been diagnosed with anaemia?
If you answer YES to 5 or more of these questions it is worth your while to visit your health care practitioner to investigate further.

You may be at higher risk of Iron Deficiency if:

  • You are pregnant
  • You are very active
  • You have digestive issues which results in reduced absorption of nutrients.
  • You are vegetarian or vegan
  • If you have heavy menstrual bleeding or have suffered blood loss as a result of injury or chronic bleeding.
  • Teenagers
  • Medications such as Aspirin, ant-acids and proton pump inhibitors.

Increasing Iron in your diet and improving your absorption of this nutrient:

  1.  FOOD~ We get greatest absorption of Iron found in animal products including beef, pork, lamb, liver, turkey, chicken, oysters, sardines and salmon.  Vegetarian sources of iron include kelp, molasses, brewers yeast, pumpkin seeks, cashews, dandelion greens, prunes and dates.
  2. VITAMIN C~ Combining the above foods with food rich in vitamin C will help our bodies to increase the Iron absorption; increase capsicum, broccoli, kale, parsley, kiwi fruit, oranges, lemons and strawberries.
  3. FOODS WHICH REDUCE ABSORPTION~ These are not foods which are un healthy for us, rather, if your iron levels are low avoid eating them at the same time as an iron rich meal.  This includes eggs, dairy, tea, coffee, red wine, soybeans and tofu.

Supplementing with Iron.

This topic is controversial and confusing for the consumer.  Most GP's will recommend the supplement range Ferro-Grad; unfortunately this Pharmacy branded product is poorly absorbed and is commonly associated with side effects including constipation and nausea. 

BUT... NOT ALL IRON IS CREATED EQUAL!!

Please when looking into taking Iron supplements go to your local health food store or visit your naturopath for advice.  We have HEAPS of supplements which are well absorbed and well tolerated so you can get the most out of your supplement without any of the side effects :-) 

Brands which we highly recommend at Evelyn Faye Nutrition include Eagle, Bioceuticals and Ethical Nutrients.

Liquid Iron supplements such as Spatone or Floradix are great for maintenance of Iron levels but are not high enough dose to correct deficiencies.