Whey Protein Isolate is virtually fat and lactose free, is extremely digestible and has a good taste. The next processing step after "concentration," using cross-flow microfiltration, is "isolation" of whey.

WPI users do not usually experience gas, bloating and diarrhea that is commonly associated with Whey Protein Concentrate. It is also an excellent choice for people that are lactose intolerant.

Whey Protein Concentrate can vary (extremely) in protein ratio of 34 to 90 grams per 100 grams of whey, dependant on quality and cost. WPC assimilates less in the stomach and intestines compared to WPI because it is higher in fat, carbohydrates and lactose. WPC is considered by many to be the most "economical" source of whey protein.

If a supplier does not clearly identify which "type of whey" protein is in the product, it would probably be safe to assume it is the "cheapest" form.

Egg White Protein is a powder that is extracted from pure egg whites. It can actually yield a higher protein value than egg whites with a P.E.R. around 3.9. Egg white protein is not very soluble and requires a blender for mixing.

Soy Protein is extracted from soy beans. Soy protein "isolate" is extracted under a slightly alkaline pH process followed by precipitation, washing and drying. By utilizing this process, soy can yield 90 percent protein, which results in "soy protein isolate"

Chrysin
Chrysin is one of the most potent, naturally occurring flavonoids. Chrysin is extracted from a plant called "Passiflora Caerulea."  It is considered to be completely natural, safe and legal to sell.

There are many different types of flavonoids with varying biological activities. A great number of them have the ability to selectively inhibit certain enzymes. One of these is the aromatase enzyme. Aromatase converts testosterone into estrogen.

A body has difficulty absorbing flavonoids and they are also quickly metabolized. It has been projected that Chrysin, taken at 1,000 to 1,500 mg daily, with doses spread throughout the day, is helpful in preventing testosterone from aromatizing.

Tribulus Terrestris
Tribulus Terrestris is a furansterol, which is an extremely foul tasting family of compounds. This plant is also commonly called puncture vine. If you purchase this compound in bulk, you better have, or plan on purchasing a capsule packing machine. Daily doses are divided into two or three dosages that total 1 to 3 grams daily.

Tribulus has it own merits for its libido-boosting and fertility-enhancing effects.

The Sports Supplement Review Third Issue states that this compound has been widely used in Asia to enhance fertility. It also states a study involving healthy individuals taking 750 mg/day of tribulus terrestris evaluated hormonal responses and revealed LH increased in males from 14.38 ml/U/ml to 24.75 ml/U/ml (a 72% increase). The free testosterone in males went from 60 ng/dl to 84.5 ng/dl (an increase of 41%). In another study including over 200 male subjects suffering from impotence (often caused by low testosterone levels) showed that many (but not all) of the men experienced an increase in LH and testosterone as well as sperm production and mobility.

Carbohydrates
There are many school of thought when comes to proper carbohydrate intake. We want to provide some basic information and encourage you to research this issue as it affects your lifestyle. There are as many different types of carbohydrates as there are ways to properly ingest it.

There are simple sugars (mono- and di-saccharides) such as those found in candy, fruits and milk. Complex carbohydrates (polysaccharides) can consist of up to 10,000 units of sugar molecules such as those found in foods as wheat, rice, cereal, pasta and potatoes. Complex carbohydrates take longer to digest because they are larger than simple sugars and absorbed more slowly to gradually change blood-sugar-levels.

While a minimum intake of carbohydrate is necessary for certain organ functions such as the brain and lungs, most Americans probably eat more carbohydrates than needed for their activity level (lifestyle). It is better to eat the "higher" complex carbohydrates in lieu of "lower" complex carbohydrates. Eat whole-wheat breads and pastas instead of white/plain pasta and bread. Eat brown rice instead of white rice. Sweet potatoes and yams are a much better source of complex carbohydrates (one of the best) instead of white potatoes (and they taste great, even without butter). Try and eat more fresh vegetables; without the dressing! There are plenty of herbal seasonings that add or increase flavor to bland foods.

Glucose polymers are an excellent, convenient source for complex carbohydrate supplementation. This can be mixed and taken during and after physical activities. It is an excellent choice for endurance athletics such as running, bicycling and soccer or those that work at long strenuous jobs.

Amino Acids
Protein is made up of 23 amino acids. These amino acids are categorized as "essential" and "non-essential" amino acids. There are "complete proteins" and "incomplete proteins." A complete protein has all the "essential" amino acids. Incomplete proteins do not contain all the essential amino acids. Meats, fish, eggs and dairy products consist of complete proteins. Vegetables and fruits are incomplete proteins. Vegetarians combine different types of vegetables in an attempt to create a "complete protein" diet. Many people speculate that vegetarians are thin (insufficient LBM) due to lower intake of complete proteins.

Ingesting excessive amounts of protein can be considered difficult for the body to process, especially the kidneys. One school of thought is to supplement the diet with amino acid supplements. Amino acid tablets or capsules are formulated for optimized levels of amino acids. Cost of these products greatly varies based on quality and contents of supplement. The other school of thought (the one we believe in) is to supplement the diet with protein powders.

There are purported benefits from optimizing intake of "specific" amino acids such as L-Glutamine and the "branched chain" amino acids: leucine, isoleucine and valine. There is continued studies being done on effectiveness of these different specific amino acids. It is worth your time to investigate the benefits from several of these specific amino acids.

L-Glutamine
Glutamine is not an essential amino acid but is considered an essential part of a nutritional program by many athletes. During high stress sessions such as intense weight training, additional glutamine supplementation may be necessary. Weight training puts the body in a "catabolic" state. Glutamine is an amino acid used by the body to correct a protein deficiency created by that catabolic state.

Glutamine regulates protein synthesis and inhibits protein degradation along with stimulating glycogen synthesis. Recovery of muscle cells from intense weight training (inducing a catabolic state) is aided by supplementing with Glutamine. Glutamine has also been shown to:

• have an important cell volumizing effect that is purported to stimulate growth;
• preserves blood pH; and
• stimulates the immune system.

There are two methods of supplementation, the first is very popular, the second is not:

• A 5 - 7 day saturation period is followed by daily maintenance doses for an 8-week period.
• Taken ½ hour prior to workout and after workout is completed.

We have come across another method of supplementation that has been very effective for powerbuilders (at least the group doing this claims). Take doses of 5 - 10 grams dependant on LBM, ½ hour prior to workout and after workout is completed. They believe the "saturation period" is not needed and it is only beneficial when taken on workout days.

Remember, muscle can only hold so much creatine (saturation). It is nothing more than "wasting your money down the toilet" to take more than the muscle can hold, not to mention possible side-effects. Be sure and take several weeks off between "cycles" of creatine supplementation.

Here are some "medical-related" links to information regarding creatine use and performance and size increases.

Ephedrine
Ephedrine is an asthma medication, a bronchodialator, which frees breathing passageways allowing for greater oxygen uptake and easier breathing. It can also increase the amount of epinephrine in the body which is one of the prime binders that cause fatty acids to be released from fat cell receptors.

A common thermogenic stack used by athletes consist of 25 mg ephedrine, 200 mg caffeine and 325 mg aspirin. This increases the body's ability to burn fat and can dramatically increase energy levels. Ephedrine is a fairly strong medication and urge that anyone considering its use should see a doctor before using it casually. Know and understand the side effects and benefits of any drug before you take them.

Here is a link to an article located at the NCBI PubMed, titled Ephedrine, caffeine and aspirin: safety and efficacy for treatment of human obesity.

Calcium Pyruvate
Pyruvate is a substance that naturally occurs in the body. Pyruvate is the foundation of the Krebs, or Citric Acid, Cycle. This cycle is the process through which the body converts glycogen to energy. Simply stated, it is how the body burns sugar and starch. This is where pyruvate plays an important role in this conversion of food to energy.

Calcium pyruvate has been the talk of scientific research and fitness buffs. A discovery was made at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, which showed that a diet supplemented with pyruvate increased fat loss by up to 48% and minimized the associated loss of body protein. This study contradicts the fact that usually when a diet is restricted to promote fat loss there is always a corresponding loss of muscle.

Preliminary research and anecdotal evidence with people (such as bodybuilders) has been promising except that some protocols called for as much as 30 grams of pyruvate daily. This volume would certainly result in upset stomach for most people. Optimal pyruvate dosages as little as 5 to 10 grams a day have been shown to produce results in recent studies.

For those people who have trouble sticking to an exercise routine, calcium pyruvate may even reduce fat without exercise, which makes it an extremely attractive "fat burner." Pyruvate may help those who maintain a strict exercise program, but have trouble losing weight, attain their goals without the nervousness and jittering side-effects of other thermogenic fat burners. A person on a strict caloric intake, such as a bodybuilder, may benefit by supplementing with calcium pyruvate, which may increase endurance by up to 20%, which can increase workout intensity.

HMB
B-hydroxy B-methylbutyrate (HMB) is a substance formed by the essential branched chain amino acid, leucine. It is found naturally in the body and also found in small quantities in certain plants (e.g., grapefruit) and animal foods (e.g., mothers' milk). HMB is purported to cause a decrease in muscle protein breakdown and increase muscle strength in size in combination with strength training. HMB can possibly increase metabolism of fat in the body.

Athletes have used HMB to aid in increasing muscle size and strength. A study was done at Iowa State University and published in the Journal of Applied Physiology in 1996 on a group of men that showed an increase in both lean body mass and strength in a dose-responsive manner. A group taking 1.5 g HMB/day gained 1.76 lbs. of lean mass and increased their total strength by 13% after three weeks of taking the supplements and lifting weights three times a week. Lean mass increased 2.64 lbs. and strength by 18.4% by subjects taking 3g/day. Women have experienced similar results.

Glucosamine
Glucosamine may aid in tendon, ligament and joint repair. Research has been done to demonstrate its effectiveness on people with osteoarthritis. While many researchers fell these studies do not provide conclusive results to warrant effectiveness of glucosamine, many people are convinced enough to use the supplement. Many athletes use glucosamine as an aid to prevent against injury and strengthen tendons and ligaments.