Author: Andrew Custard

Andro supplements consist of Androstenedione, 4-Androstenediol, 5-Androstenediol, 19-Norandrostenedione, and 19-Norandrostenediol. The andros have generated an extreme amount of press over the past 2 years. This is a very popular category of supplements because of their ability to increase testosterone levels. Increased testosterone levels will help build muscle and strength and reduce body fat. A recent study in the Journal of American Medical Association showed Androstenedione significantly increased testosterone levels. There has been a lot of controversy about this, but it’s clear the science is there and the anecdotal proof is overwhelming. It is recommended to take andro supplements as an…

Weight control. Fibrous foods contribute little energy and promote a feeling of fullness as they absorb water. A diet high in fiber-rich foods can promote weight loss if those foods displace concentrated fats and sweets. Constipation, hemorrhoids, and diarrhea. Fibers that attract water into the digestive tract soften stools and relieve constipation and hemorrhoids. Otherfibers help to solidify watery stools. Appendicitis. Fiber keeps the contents of the intestinal tract moving easily, which helps prevent bacterial infection. Diverticulosis. Fiber stimulates the muscles of the digestive tract so that they retain their health and tone; this prevents the muscles from becoming weak…

Women are significantly more likely than men to suffer from bone loss, weakness, and fractures later in life—making weight training even more important for them. Osteoporosis, a condition in which bones become less dense and more fragile, affects an estimated 25 million Americans—80% of them women. This condition is often the result of aging, calcium depletion, and physical inactivity. Why Strength Training Matters for Women By age 35, women begin to lose about 1% of bone mass each year. Over a decade, that adds up to 5–7 pounds of lost bone density. After menopause, this process accelerates and is often…

Every living cell, whether plant or animal, contains iron. Most of it in the body is a component of the proteins: hemoglobin in red blood cells and myoglobin in muscle cells. Oxygen transport throughout the body is reliant on these red blood cell carriers. Red blood cells live only about three to four months, but when they die the spleen and liver break them down and save the iron. It is then shipped back to the bone marrow to be recycled. Iron also helps many enzymes in energy pathways to use oxygen, and is needed to make new cells, amino…

Both appetite and food preferences are altered across a range of mood states; preference for “junk food” and increased caloric intake is enhanced during negative moodstates whereas preference for healthier foods is increased during positive mood states. Numerous associations between mood states and emotional eating have been reported, and stress-associated eating is more common in those who are overweight or obese. Various psychological theories of emotional eating have been proposed, most of which conclude that emotional eating fails to produce any lasting benefit to psychological and mood states. Eating behavior links the internal world of molecules and physiological processes with…

There’s no doubt that training less frequently as one gets older works better. Since you don’t work out as often, you have more desire and stamina to train harder. With the hormone slowdown that occurs with age, called andropause, recuperation from hard workouts takes longer and longer. Younger athletes often train six days a week, working upper body one day and lower body the next. The feeling of recuperation and well being is present after each workout. In many cases the total workout lasts up to three hours. Then the workout and training system evolve and becomes more sophisticated. In…

A deficiency of vitamin E is quite rare. There are three main reasons why this is true. (1) The vitamin is so widespread in food that it would be very difficult to create a deficit; (2) because vitamin E is fat soluble, the body efficiently stores it in body fat and has continuous, ample reserves; and (3) the body cells may recycle their working supply of vitamin E. Cases of toxicity are also uncommon. It is being put to constant use in the body as an antioxidant. Vitamin E Functions The primary role of Vitamin E is that of antioxidant,…

We can name three crucial benefits that carrots have in the prevention and treatment of eye disorders: Preventing Night Blindness Vitamin A helps you see well in the dark. Your retina (the layer of light-sensitive cells at the back of your eye) contains large amounts of Vitamin A, especially in the tiny structures called rods that are used for night vision. If you don’t get enough Vitamin A, you develop night blindness—you can’t see well in the dark or in dim light. We all lose a little of our night vision as we grow older, but Vitamin A can help…

This is a major category in sports nutrition and one that should definitely be considered if gaining maximum muscle without adding excess fat is your goal. Meal replacements are designed to deliver a “perfect meal” — without the drawbacks of whole foods like added sugar, cholesterol, or unnecessary fats. What Makes a Quality Meal Replacement? In reality, a good MRP (Meal Replacement Product) goes beyond replacing food — it offers nutritional precision you can’t always achieve with whole meals. A quality MRP typically includes: These characteristics make MRPs excellent tools for those managing macros closely, whether for cutting or bulking…

To keep the body humming, drink at least eight glasses of water during the course of a day—more if it’s hot or dry, or when you are working out. In fact, it is especially important to drink before you begin exercising, to drink as you go, and to rehydrate after your workout. If you wait until you are thirsty to drink, you have waited too long. Most experts recommend drinking about 16 ounces of water one to two hours before exercising. One hour is the commonly accepted standard, but if you hydrate two hours before working out, it will allow…