Ask The Expert - May 2008

Welcome to the Ask the Expert Archive for May 2008. Please feel free to browse through all the questions that have been asked by our customers and answered within this month. Remember if you have a question, click here and ask the Team. We welcome any questions related to Mens health and Supplements, and you can be sure that if we don’t know the answer we will research it for you and e-mail over as soon as we can.

Q. I am having an issue with my girlfriend who is claiming that I am taking too much protein. Can you please inform her that this is impossible?

A. We have to agree with your girlfriend this time. It is possible to take too much protein. Your body uses up all the protein it needs and the excess is removed as waste product. Your kidney and liver will be overworked with the excess protein and though it might be a problem to you in the short run, it might be in the long run. It is also rather expensive to indulge in protein your body does not need.

Q. I keep on hearing about free radicals in my gym. What are they and what is so dangerous about them?

A. In scientific terms, free radicals are unstable oxygen atoms. An atom contains a nucleus that is made up of protons and neutrons and circling around it are electrons. If one of the electrons gets pulled away from the nucleus we have a free radical.

Free radicals are dangerous as they can cause oxidation in the body and have been linked to aging, various cancers, coronary heart disease and more. Excessive free radicals can be harmful to weight lifters.

Q. What can I do to fight free radicals in my weight training?

A. It is essential when body building to fight free radicals with antioxidants. Working out increases the number of free radicals in your body. This will in turn leave you feeling sore, weak and more prone to injury and illness. If you are weight training, it is essential to take anti oxidant rich foods or anti oxidant supplements to keep your body in a more balanced mode.

Q. What is Glutamine and what can it do for the weight trainer?

A. Glutamine is one of the essential amino acids in the body. It is produced naturally in your body but there are times that the body’s needs for glutamine is greater than its ability to produce it. It is important to the weight trainer as it helps in increase protein synthesis, increase nitrogen breakdown, decrease muscle breakdown, enhance immune functions and also decrease the recovery time after a workout.

Q. I have been told that glutamine supplements are excellent for me as I train, however I have a few medical issues and would like to know if you know who should avoid using glutamine?

A. It is great to see someone interested in side effects of supplements. At Miracles for Men we believe that anyone performing any type of serious workout should consider taking glutamine supplements. It has also been shown to be useful for those going through stressful events or trying to fight the effects of colds or the flu.

However, people with kidney problems, cirrhosis of the liver, Reye’s syndrome, pregnant women, or breastfeeding women should not be taking Glutamine. The rule of thumb is if you have or think you have a medical condition, consult your doctor before taking any dietary supplement.

Q. Does Glutamine occur naturally and how much of it should I take in a day?

A. Yes. Glutamine is naturally produced by your body. It can also be found in food like spinach or raw parsley. If you eat healthy doses of these foods every day, your Glutamine supplement intake need not be very high. A normal amount is 5-10 grams a day while others take 10-25 grams a day. It would be a good idea to start with a low amount and see how you’re your body feels.

Q. Is glutamine a safe supplement?

A. Since glutamine occurs naturally in your body, we at Miracles for Men have found that it is very safe. It does not cause shifts in amino acids in your body and as long as one sticks with the recommended dosage, you should have little to no side effects.

Q. Which is a better supplement to use? I only have a set budget and would like to just get one or two in order to start out and trying to figure out whether to get glutamine, creatine or whey protein.

A. First Miracles for Men would like to commend you for considering some of the best sports supplements. As to which one is your best option, that depends on what your needs are. Whey protein, Creatine and Glutamine work very well together. In your choice think of Creatine giving you the energy to build muscle mass, while Glutamine and Whey Protein will give you the raw materials to make your muscles.

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