Supplements, Good, The Bad, The Ugly

[admin]

The Good, The Bad & The Downright Ugly.

An insight into bodybuilding supplementation.

NOTE: PLEASE EMAIL US WITH FEEDBACK ON THIS ARTICLE ADMIN@STEROIDWORLD.COM

This article is written as a guide piece. It will on occasion, contain information and personal points of view that some of you are going to disagree with and to be perfectly honest I think that is just great!. Don't get me wrong, it's not because I enjoy stirring up a hornets nest. It's just that this article is going to deal with a few truths that I am sure will irritate some of you. I have goals for this article. Firstly I want to show you how to stop throwing you money away by spending it on useless in-active supplements. Next I want it to generate controversy, That's right! I love controversy....why? because controversy by its very nature stimulates communication, personal research and a need to know the truth. Lastly I want it to help you make educated choices in regards to purchasing your own top value supplements, by letting you know what makes them good and why.

We have all at some time been totally sucked in by the hype and momentum of products that have promised much but delivered little. Some of the products I will cover in this article you may be using right now. Some are good. Some are not. If we deserve one thing as dedicated athletes and hard working individuals, it is the truth. Once we have the truth in hand we can take an educated approach to attaining our training goals. We work hard for our income, we work hard for our gains in the gym. The last thing we need to do is waste time and money investing in faceless supplement companies, whose only agenda is lining their pockets with your cash. AND they will pull any trick, fake any research and deceive you in any way they can in order to move more product. Like any other, the supplementation industry is about business, nothing else, and like other businesses some are decent and some are unscrupulous.

During this article you will hear one phrase quite often. " In terms of Basic human physiology" (and or toxicology). The reason for this repetitiveness is simple, it is the very base and structural theory that the human body is compiled from. The term and the science pertaining to it does not careless whether you are a bodybuilder, a top triathlete or a couch potato. The term "basic human physiology" simply means that the science applies to us all as human beings. Chances are good that you fit into this group as unfortunate variations to this order occur rarely.

So onward we plunge!.

To build quality muscle mass as fast as humanly possible, a couple of things need to occur. First we need to cause enough minute tears and ruptures within our muscle cells themselves to promote repair and growth. Next we need to supply enough building blocks to fill and repair those holes so the muscle recovers stronger and larger. Lastly we need sleep, around 8-9 hours per night. This gives our bodies a fair chance to complete the massive undertaking of repair so it is ready for the next workout. Oh, and just a point of interest, our muscles only repair and grow during our sleep pattern. Not in gym, not at home watching the TV, but during sleep, period. If your starving yourself of sleep don't complain about not getting the results you crave.

So, your workout has been studied and written into your training diary ( you do all have one don't you? ) and you have planed your day to guarantee yourself 8-9 hours sleep to allow for muscle growth and repair. The only weak point now can be in your diet. However, this is not a diet article, so I am not about to get into the ins and outs of the foods you are eating. I can only pray you have researched this area enough to cover the basics. On the upside I am here to tell you what supplements are out there to help you get the best results from your hard training, careful planning and research to maximize your gains and allow you to live up to your potential.

V & Ms

Ready? Lets get into it! First and foremost THE number one supplement that is all important to our progress.......A Vitamin & Mineral supplement! Hands up all those who thought I was going to say protein??......Dead wrong! The reason is pretty simple. The body requires certain components to allow it to function correctly, process certain instructions and most importantly create a atmosphere and condition ripe for the production of new muscle mass. These jobs fall to the V & Ms, the basic for all human life. You cannot possibly expect to get maximum muscular gains if your system is not running smoothly. Its like a V8 engine, sure it will run with only 6 sparkplugs, but man it will fly with 8! V & Ms are the nuts and bolts for your personal construction company, supply as many as you can! If you only have the money to buy one supplement make this the one.

So who makes the best? And why? Here is where I drop one of those nasty truths. To my knowledge and research only one manufacture makes a V & M supplement that is worth spending your money on. The company is Twinlab and the product is Dual tabs. What make these the best?? Simple Twinlab produce what is known as a bi-layered tab that understands the basics of human physiology. This means that the tab is designed to release certain V & Ms in the digestive tract by dissolving rapidly and the remainder, by dissolving slowly into the stomach. Why is this important? Well because that is EXACTLY how the human body works. Some V & Ms can only be absorbed in the tract and some in the Stomach. If the pill you are taking just goes straight to the stomach and dissolves there, at least half of the V & Ms in that pill will destroyed by stomach acid. That's at least half of your money invested straight down the drain. Ask you supplier if your V & Ms are bi-layered for different assimilation rates in the body, if he gives you a funny look or spouts some gobbledygook Just ask for Dual Tabs and sleep well knowing you have the best.

Dual Tabs by Twinlab ( show me a better product!) 120tbs for around $13.36

Proteins

Proteins! Man, when I started thinking about this section I had shivers running down my spine thinking about the mine field this is. How many arguments do we have to be subjected to? "Our protein digests faster!" "Ours has the most" "This one has extra stuff!"
SHUT UP!!! Just give me something that has human biological value and shove the rest where the sun don't shine! Again, I scream BASICS!!!!!! Get me back to basics. Here are a few more truths. In terms of basic human physiology ( I told you you would hear this a lot) Our bodies prefer only one type of protein. THE most effective type is Hydrolistates or pre-digested proteins. Pre digested proteins trigger certain reactions in the body that is most conducive to maximum muscle growth. The best form of protein is STILL Whey protein. So when looking for the best protein supplement for bodybuilding we must first look at the label to find the words "predigested whey proteins". Now I know you have all read amazing things about soy proteins......sigh, and I guess some of you have been sucked in and are at this very moment swearing all kinds of unmentionables at me and quoting PDCAAS and all kinds of new "research" proving your point. All I ask is that you study the subject of human biological value, then make up your own mind. However, the edge of absorption lies with hydrolysates. They are absorbed much faster than intact proteins and are retained more efficiently than other protein form. Anyone who understands the importance of level nitrogen retention will see the value of this. Recovery time is also reduced with hydrolysates and if all this wasn't enough, this type of protein signals the liver to produce somatomedin C, an anabolic compound that stimulates muscle growth.

Recapping, first look for products made from hydrolysates (pre-digested proteins). Then and only then, look for ion exchanged proteins, then protein concentrates and intact proteins. Remember, however, that these are only half as biologically valuable to the human body as hydrolysates. Whenever possible, all these forms of protein should be derived from egg whites and whey proteins. Try to avoid casein and soy and all protein powders made from free form amino acids. They do have a purpose, but this isn't it. Luckily, we have a good range in quality products.

The following are some that excel in this area:

Muscle Zyme by Hardbody (Hard to find, but well worth looking for, order if you can) 2.2lbs for around $28.00
Mass Fuel by Twinlab. (Great product with 50gm useable protein per serving. I divide the serves in half to get twice the value!) 3.77lbs for around $23.05
Nitro Tech by Muscletech (Outstanding product using pure science at the most
basic level - little expensive.) 2lbs for around $35 .15
ProScore 100 by Champion Nutrition (Excellent combination of concentrates and
pre-digestives) 2lb for around $29.65

Carbohydrates

Until now we have been dealing with building materials - the essential nuts and bolts of muscle construction. Now we will take a close look at fuel. Carbs! What a great word! It just sounds powerful. Everyone pretty much knows about carb requirements. Let's face it. Compared to protein science, carbs are a breeze. But if you are still unsure, here are some basics. Carbohydrates produce the fuel required for our work outs and drive our bodies through the process of recovery. Carbs provide our muscle cells with the ability to create ATP and as everyone knows, ATP is the energy molecule that splits during muscle contraction, converting ATP into ADP. ADP then flows around within the cell until it binds to a creatine molecule, once again forming ATP and the whole cycle can start over. (Of course, all of you knew this already....that's why you are taking creatine supplements!) Without the necessary levels of carbs, we not only run out of muscle fuel, but we inhibit the creation of ATP and muscle glycogen. Carbs should be consumed in regular intervals throughout the day. This helps us to keep nitrogen levels steady and avoids insulin spikes. Basic rules of carbo intake are: 1.) eat carbo foods with a low glycemic index, 2.) consume 100gms of complex carbs three hours before your workout, 3.) sip a carbo replacement drink during exercise, 4.) consume a carb replacement drink containing around 225gm immediately after exercise, and 5.) sip carbo drinks throughout the day; something containing predominately glucose polymers, but also a little fructose.

Excellent sources of carb supplements are:

Carbo Fuel by Twinlab ( one of the original formulas, still great today) 43oz for around $12.05
Carbo Plex by UniPro (great product with good carb sources) 2.4lbs for around $11.50
Hyperdrive by Metaform ( Carb and protein blend! Excellent sources and values) 1248gms for around $31.68
Carb Fuel by Prolab ( A great foundation product! With a good taste) 2.2lbs for around $28.00

Energizers

There has been a time for all of us when we need just a little push to get off our asses and actually make it into the gym. There are products that can help us do this - so let's take a look at Energizers!

To be honest, the old staple "Ace Stack" (200mg Aspirin + 200mg Caffeine + 30-60mg Ephedrine) is still pretty much the most favored energizer out there. Its popularity probably has everything to do with the fact that it not only energizes and helps us focus, but it is also thermogenic which means that it burns fat - fast! An added advantage to this formula is that the three components are accumulative and work in synergy together to increase effectiveness. The kick in this combination is the fact that it is muscle mass inactive, meaning you can burn fat while maintaining and growing muscle mass. This has been proven in many fine studies that used bodybuilders and hydromass scaling and calculations. Exactly how this combination achieves this miraculous effect compared to other components is still relatively unknown. The supplement industry has indeed some fine products for energy, but perhaps not with the full muscle sparing elements of the ACE Stack. Some components to look for in good energizers are Ephedrine (mahuang), Kola nut, Guarana, Sasparilla root, White Willow Bark, Cayenne, and Caffeine.

Some great alternative energizers are:

Therma Plex by Bio Plex ( popular product with good ergogenic base) 100caps for around $15.35
Ultimate Orange by Next Nutrition ( the original kick in the ass product, taste is a little sour, effect is great!) 1 lb for around $17.63
Ultimate Punch by Next Nutrition ( faster stronger nicer! A improved formula on the original) 1lb for around $17.63
Ultimate Ripped Fuel by Twinlab ( great therogenic! Again a improved formula from the original product )

Snake Oils

Ok people, here we go! Buckle up that seat belt - here's where the journey gets a little rough! It's time to enter the snake pit and uncover some of the "snake oils" out there. What is a snake oil? Snake oils are products that have zero value in terms of the manufacturer's claims, and in most case have no physiological value at all - neither biological or toxicological. Known as "Black" products, they are sold by manufacturers knowing full well that they have no value to hardworking athletes. Black products are those that have been disproved years ago, leaving manufacturers with large stocks of product, labels, and bottles, and no market! So the manufacturers hire some famous bodybuilder or personality willing to prostitute themselves for money to tout the value of the product, add in some dubious reports and ambiguous statistics,(after all who will check?) slap an ad in all the major mags and POW!....problem solved. Don't be fooled into thinking it's anymore complicated than this. (I've seen it first hand). Also, don't think that this practice can't happen because the controlling bodies will find out - you know all about false advertising, etc.

It costs around five thousand dollars to test and average bodybuilding product; breaking it all down into its constituents and checking whether or not the manufacturers are true to their label. Considering that there are well in excess of 500 manufacturers out there making a combined total of over 250,000 products....well, you do the math. The US Government has neither the money nor the man power to discover whether your protein powder is what the manufacturer says it is. You would be amazed at how often it's not! Most of these products are protected within the pages of the very hallowed magazines we love, many of them founded, written and edited, and most importantly paid for, by the very same manufacturers. Before you get sucked in by a fancy add in a magazine, check to see who is paying the bills. Phew! Now that's off my chest - let's get back to the chopping block!!

Colostrum

School chalk is about as ergogenic as colostrum.....hmm. Actually, that's should be the other way around: Colostrum is about as ergogenic as school chalk. The point is simple. Colostrum in any form is useless for hard working bodybuilders - in fact, it's useless for pretty much anyone except new born babes in the first 48 hours of their lives. It works like this: Colostrum is produced by mother who have just given birth. Colostrum is full of human growth factors and this is the reason supplement companies jumped on this product with such vigor. The supplement companies want you to believe that if a product contains HGFs, it must build bigger muscles, right? Hell no!! Colostrum works with new borns because for the first two days of life, their stomach is a weak alkaline environment. After this period, the babies stomach turns acidic, the same as an adult's. Mothers stop producing colostrum at this point because even Mother Nature understands that colostrum is destroyed by stomach acid. Unless you shove this stuff up your backside, there is no way it is going to survive your stomach. No matter what "they" do to it, don't buy it! Colostrum is no good, no how, no matter what the hype says!

Vanadyl Sulfate

Next on death row is rat poiso....I mean vanadyl sulfate. The reason for my slip is because after all the hype over this product, the basic fact remains that it is toxic in the human body in levels above the normal amount the body needs to operate. Touted as a great insulin regulator by the infamous journal of science (and of course insulin being closely integrated with muscle glycogen synthesis), this product was ideal for the supplement industry to get its hands on. Tests since that time, however, prove that Vanadyl does indeed regulate insulin levels...it's just that the amount required to cause this reaction also killed 50-70% of the lab rats they used to test it! Now many bodybuilders claim that by using vanadyl, they get an incredible "pump" in the gym. I am not surprised! Poisoned muscles will inflame when worked hard. Just think. When you finish that intense set that tear up all those cells, the first ingredient you feed it is a poison! Sounds logical to me.....vanadyl in any form, please! Not! Don't fall for the crap surrounding this supplement. Spend that money on some Nitro Tech or something - at least it's been proven to stimulate muscle growth.

B12 Injections

Ok, I know this one will cause a little ripple. Bodybuilders have been swearing for years about the incredible effects of B12 injections for their bodybuilding programs. But again they have fallen into the hype trap and avoided the physiological facts. REMEMBER placebo effects are real! But, the human body sees vitamins and minerals as essential elements, it also understands just how much it requires to carry out its day too day activities. Any extra amounts are broken down by the liver and sent to the bladder to be excreted. No science to date supports the myth that B12 injections improve any system, the only people that might see a different result are with people with server B class deficits. One effect that is a attained from this practice however is what is known as a "BUZZ" or HIGH, this may be the only reason bodybuilders continue to persist with this practice.

Glandular Formulas

Neat word huh? Glandulars.....to be honest it sounds a lot better and more appetizing than putting crushed animals balls on the bottle. Again this is just one more example of misdirection. Animals Balls of the common cow contain testosterone, so surely by drying them out and dicing up in to a mix with a few other pituitary glands should make an incredible anabolic concoction?. Ha hahaha!!!! Please!! Hahaha stop! Haahaa! Oh......wow how hilarious!!. If people weren't wasting their money on these products it would be the funniest most ridiculous theory yet! But sadly people do believe that these potions contain "test" that is usable in the human body and not destroyed instantly by our bodies numerous defensive systems that recognize these compounds as alien. But that is what happens. There may be a minute protein quantity in these concoctions though, but I prefer my protein sources from other parts of unfortunate beasts. " Like a good friend of mine said once, "if you believe this stuff works why waste money on buying it?? There is plenty of fresh road kill on any highway". I concur.

GHB

A while back, around the 1970s, this component ( Gamma-Hydroxybuterate) was discovered as a naturally occurring substance in the human brain. From this scientists then revealed that supplementing this product caused the pituitary gland to release growth hormone in healthy men. This fact is what the supplement companies have once again screwed to serve their own purpose. Many supplement manufactures quote the results from the original test and those that followed in their advertisements. However they all neglected to tell us that the tests were based on Gamma-Hyroxybuterate intravenous injections . What is the hormonal effect of this product if taken orally? SQWAT!. Well that is not entirely true, it puts people to sleep! So if you are having trouble sleeping you may want to try this stuff. But watch out, effects of taking it are very unpredictable and high doses can cause huge headaches, heart murmurs, vertigo and in some cases epileptic seizures and comas. But at least you will get a good nights sleep right?.

Conclusion

If I have managed to upset some of you through this article, I apologize. Its not at all because I enjoy it, its because I was once heavily involved in the industry at the most sensitive level. One day I was told to write an article on a supplement that was black as the ace of spades. My refusal brought down the powers that be squarely on my shoulders and a ultimatum was issued. I took that ultimatum and shoved it right up their arse! I hate seeing people getting ripped off! Especially me! But some people will never be turned from shitty products no matter what you show them. Their hero bodybuilder who uses it would never lie!. So here we are at he end. If anything just do me one favor.......or should I say yourself one favor. Do your OWN research, do not resign yourself to hype, ads, buddies or famous personalities. Believe your own research, train hard, be honest to yourself and become great!.

[Di@Blo]

Damn! its was a while back when I first wrote this for SW. I see a few things that could be updated, Admin let me know if I could update this ...Frikken happy to see it still here though!

[badstone]

Nice work Bro...

[old blue]

Dietary supplements are like all things in life, there are good and bad. This especially goes for supplement companies. I am in the industry and know that there are many reputable companies, but also many "snake-oil salesmen". I can't tell you how frustrating it is to work in this industry and see some of the rediculous claims made by some companies. I work for a company (I do not want to mention the name) which produces sound products and never makes rediculous claims. I see the actual lab assays and results to verify the products contain exactly what is listed on the bottle. Not all companies operate this way.

It is best to do your own research, rather than to believe everything you read. If a product appears to good to be true, it probably is. You can always try a product and determine the results for yourself. If you don't feel it works for you, don't but it again. If you are truley disappointed in the product and boughtr it from a GNC, you take take the empty bottleor partial bottle back to GNC and ask for a refund or credit. Let them know the product didn't work for you. If enough of the bogus products get returned, they will be removed from the stores. I know GNC forces all suppliers to either replace or credit for returned products, so GNC will not be out anything. Only the company which produced the product will be out, as they should be. If you like a product and it works for you, then stick with it. If you like a particular product from a given company and it has worked well for you, try other products from the same company if you are looking to try something new.

That's all my preaching for now.