Sports Nutrition, Hydration, Supplements, and Pain Relief

Some professional athletes may sweat away 5-8 POUNDS a game or event. It only takes losing 2% of body weight to cause fatigue and weaken performance. When you sweat you also deplete your body of sodium, a nutrient vital to the nerves that lead to muscle movement. In a 1996 case study, a professional tennis player lost up to 3 quarts of sweat per hour in a match, resulting in excruciating cramps. It was found that the player lost more sodium from sweating while playing for a few hours than he consumed the entire day.

What should you look for in a Sports drink?

1. All six electrolytes (minerals) - Calcium, Sodium, Potassium, Magnesium, Phosphorus and Chloride. When you sweat, you lose all 6 of these. Then why do most sports drinks not have all six to replace what you lost?
2. A Sodium / Potassium ratio of approx 2.2 to 1 - this has to do with the Sodium - Potassium pump and the ability of fluids to be absorbed.
3. At least 100 mg of sodium. Your body cannot absorb fluids effectively without this!
4. At least 20 - 25 grams of carbs - but a mixture of 3 types - fast burning - like glucose so you get immediate energy - a medium burning carb like fructose - and a slow burning carb like maltodextrin so you have long term energy and prevent serious blood sugar fluctuation.
5. Should not have artificial colors or flavors - they do not improve performance and can be harmful if used consistently over a period of years.
6. Should not have any "natural" herbs or performance enhancers.

There are not too many drinks out there that fit all 6 criteria - For the last 13 years NASA (US Space Program) has used this Sports Drink. NASA's astronauts were blacking out upon re entry from outer space due to dehydration. NASA did some research and discovered there was nothing on the market that would be effective. Since this was formulated NASA has used it on all flights.

Probably the most significant - yet often overlooked - phase of exercising is the post-workout recovery. This is when your level of fitness increases. And it requires more than just resting. For optimal recovery, it is important to maximize glycogen stores in muscles and amino acids to facilitate tissue repair and avoid muscle pain. And because exercise breaks down muscle proteins for energy, consuming protein after your workout is essential to building muscle mass and strength. We have a Sports Nutrition Product designed especially for muscle building and recovery in the post workout phase.

In a recent article, Ronald J. Maughan, Ph.D., professor of human physiology at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland stated: "Working on an effective recovery strategy allows your training sessions to be maintained with less fatigue and decreases the chance of injury the next time you go out to train or compete."

Proper "Post-Workout" Sports Nutrition Means Faster Muscle Building: Vanderbilt University Study Before 60 minutes of moderate exercise, 10 healthy adults were given a protein-carbohydrate supplement. One half of the participants received the supplement immediately following the workout. The second half received the supplement three hours later. The earlier group's glycogen levels increased three-and-a-half times faster than the participants in second group. Muscle protein synthesis was also three times faster in the first group.

Workout Maximizer - Support rapid recovery and repair of muscle tissue with this clinically proven formula. By combining 18 vitamins and minerals and essential amino acids, it provides the nutrients the body needs for recovery and repair, and for rebuilding muscle tissue.

If you want to win in sports, it helps to have an edge. That's why endurance and energy are critical for any competitor. Maintaining blood glucose levels helps sustain energy. In addition, getting the right amount of protein and carbohydrates before and after your workout provides essential fuel to your muscles. The longer you workout, the more protein and carbohydrates you need. Without these important elements of sports nutrition, it is difficult to finish a workout, get the full benefit of your regimen, and maintain the necessary glycogen level for the next day's workout. Of course, it is difficult to replenish these nutrients during intense exercise, making your pre-workout snack crucial to your success.

Nutrition Energy Bar - Power-up before your workout with 21 essential vitamins and minerals and 15 grams of whey and soy protein. These are low-glycemic, nutritious, wholesome, and DELICIOUS!

Before you do that extra sit-up or that extra lap, know that pushing your body to the limit can result in overexerted muscles, causing tissue damage and soreness. Consequently, you lose flexibility and range of motion. Fortunately, we have natural solutions to manage your post-workout pain.

Joint and Muscle Pain Cream - A necessity in any gym bag, salicylate-free Joint and Muscle Pain Cream is a non-greasy, topical cream that works in minutes. It offers enhanced penetration, with a patented liposome delivery system, to soothe your joint and muscle pain on contact, providing temporary relief for sore muscles, backaches, arthritis pain, and more. Safer than other brands, contains no aspirin.

Pain Relief Complex - This unique combination of clinically proven boswellia and safflower extract, relieves discomfort caused by occasional overexertion. Pain Relief Complex promotes more comfortable movement and flexibility in just a few weeks of continual use. Gentle on the stomach. Blocks both pain enzymes COX 2 and 5 LOX with no dangerous side effects. In contrast, most prescription pain medications only block COX 2, and can cause kidney and liver damage.

Joint Health Complex - 1,500 mg of glucosamine and clinically proven Cat's Claw combine to support and maintain the cushioning and lubrication in joints, giving you flexibility and a greater range of motion during activity. Most glucosamine products take 6 - 8 weeks to start working, but Joint Health Complex was shown in clinical trials to begin providing relief in as little as 1 week!

Almost 50 years ago, Dr. Forrest C. Shaklee, an early pioneer of nutritional supplements, founded a company based on unshakable values that still hold true today. These Sports Nutrition products are made for use by both professional athletes and aspiring athletes.

The company has put the sports nutrition products through the rigors of independent clinical tests so that they can not only say that they work, they can prove it.

Going beyond what was thought possible, these formulas have powered record-breaking achievements for human-powered flight and a Mt. Everest expedition. Athletes powered by Dr. Shaklee's sports nutrition products have brought home over 30 medals.