Yet again, another top news source reports alarming side effects of acetaminophen, and this time children are the ones suffering the ill-effects. This past Spring, a Danish study showed that certain heart-related deaths were a result of these same over the counter pain medications. Ever-increasingly, society is taking serious note of the proven toxic side effects of pain medications such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Whether it be asthma, allergies, damage to internal organs (kidneys, liver), stomach bleeding, cardiovascular issues, and even death, these common pain medications are proving to be of far more concern than natural alternatives that are only now becoming more accepted (e.g. non-toxic, natural anti-inflammatory, StayActiv).
These new findings regarding acetaminophen were posted in an article on Bloomberg’s site on August 13th, entitled: “Tylenol Use Linked to Asthma, Other Allergies in Teens.” Nearly 323,000 children between 13-14 years of age, from 50 different countries, participated in this International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood. They all answered questionnaires about their use of acetaminophen and history of wheezing, nasal congestion and recurrent, itchy rashes.
The findings showed that the risk of having asthma was nearly 250% higher among frequent users, and 43 percent higher among medium users than those who never took acetaminophen. The study also found an association with frequency of use and severity of asthma symptoms. Frequent users of acetaminophen were 275% more likely to say when taking acetaminophen, that their wheezing was so bad it disturbed their sleep and limited their speech.
You might wonder what is considered “frequent” use? Take note: It’s probably less than you would think! “Medium” users of acetaminophen were those who had only taken the drug at least ONCE during the prior year, and “high” (frequent) users were those who reported taking acetaminophen at least once a month for the past year.
Also reported, frequent users of acetaminophen were twice as likely to have rhinoconjunctivitis compared to kids who never took the drug, while medium users had a 38 percent greater risk. For eczema, frequent users had a 99 percent increased risk, while medium users had a 31 percent increased risk.
Also included in the report was research regarding another study that followed 1,065 women during pregnancy, and for three years after their child was born. Between ages 1 and 3, about 7.7 percent of children had experienced wheezing. Children who had taken one to three tablets of acetaminophen in the past month were 88 percent more likely to have asthma, while children who had taken four tablets were over 7 times more likely to have asthma.
“These two studies further contribute to what appears to be mounting evidence of an association between acetaminophen and asthma and potentially other allergic diseases,” said Matthew Perzanowski, an associate professor of environmental health sciences at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. As stated in the Bloomberg article.
The article presents the question, “So what should parents do?” Truly, what are parents to do as pediatricians continue to recommend these medicines for fevers and pain? Ibuprofen was not included in this study, however the article states that experts have traditionally recommended acetaminophen to asthmatic patients since ibuprofen can bring on or worsen asthma symptoms. According to medical experts, the safety profile of acetaminophen was thought to be better than ibuprofen…(sounds like trying to pick a lesser of two evils).
“Yet limiting the use of acetaminophen is probably a wise idea,” said Dr. Andy Nish, an allergist at the Allergy and Asthma Care Center in Gainesville, Ga. “My personal opinion is it would be reasonable, particularly in families that had the tendency toward allergic diseases such as asthma, hay fever and eczema, to use acetaminophen judiciously, and perhaps consider the use of an alternative,” Nish said.
More alarming facts found in this study, and in the attached article include:
- Researchers believe acetaminophen may impact the development of asthma by altering the body’s immune response and by lowering the levels of glutathione in the lungs, which is involved in detoxifying the body.
- Other research has found that children with asthma have lower levels of glutathione in the lungs than those without asthma.
- Asthma rates have been climbing in developed nations over the last 30 years.
- Previous research found using acetaminophen during the first year of life increased the chances of having asthma at age 6 or 7.
According to one of the doctors quoted in the article, children who have asthma or who will go on to receive an asthma diagnosis may develop more colds and respiratory illnesses, or may seem to have worse colds, than other kids. And colds can cause fevers, which may prompt parents to give acetaminophen.
As Dr. Andy Nish recommends, considering alternatives to acetaminophen and ibuprofen is a smart idea. StayActiv is a natural, non-toxic pain reliever and anti-inflammatory compound that offers a safe alternative to these other toxic medications. Made from natural compounds and thoroughly researched at major universties for safety and effectiveness, StayActiv has been shown to be as effective as other common pain releivers in reducing pain due to inflammation. And it does so without any of negative side effects.
A natural alternative such as StayActiv can give people a sense of relief knowing that there is something they can use that will not trigger the onset of asthma and allergies, or exacerbate symptoms. There ARE safer, smarter choices…StayActiv.
For the full article and more information on where to find the study, go to: http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/642092.html
August 25th, 2010
The media was just recently flooded again with more articles on the risks of over the counter (OTC) pain killers and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
As seen on the news, and posted on both ABC and CBS websites, a large study just came out last week showing that some of the most popular pain pills are associated with a higher risk of heart-related deaths in healthy people.
As stated on ABC News Health section on June 8, 2010, “Danish researchers investigated the health records of 1,028,437 “healthy” people over the age of 10, which they collected from 1997 through 2005, and found some pain pills were linked to more heart-related deaths than others.”
“People taking ibuprofen — sold under the brand names Advil, Motrin, Nuprin — had a 29 percent increased risk of strokes. A popular drug in Europe called diclofenac, or Voltaren, was associated with a 91 percent increased risk of heart-related deaths, and the now-defunct drug rofecoxib, or Vioxx, was linked to a 66 percent jump in heart-related deaths.”
The article stated that this is the latest in a series of studies going back nearly 10 years, including several from a research group that Dr. Jerry Avorn, professor at Harvard Medical School and chief of pharmacoepidemiology and pharmacoeconomics at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston is involved in. “This recent study makes it clear that naproxen is the safest NSAID in terms of cardiovascular risk, and that drugs like rofecoxib (Vioxx) and diclofenac (Voltaren) significantly increase the risk of heart disease,” said Dr. Avorn.
Vioxx was pulled from the market in 2004 because of studies showing a higher rate of heart problems in patients taking the drug versus a placebo. The study found that taken at the highest doses, Voltaren was associated with a double risk of a heart attack, and Vioxx with a triple risk.
“While Vioxx was pulled from the shelves — long after such data was widely available — diclofenac (Voltaren) is still in widespread use, for no good reason,” said Avorn.
By “healthy,” researchers chose study subjects who had not been admitted to Danish hospitals for five years and had not taken prescription drugs for any serious condition in two years. About 45 percent of those included in the study had taken nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDS — the type of pain pill studied — at least once during the period of the study, often taking them for a two-week period.
Mentioned in the CBS News online article, The study reinforces advice given by the American Heart Association (AHA) in 2007 which advised doctors of a link between NSAIDs and heart failure.
“I find this new study reassuring because it endorses the recommendations we made using a large body of actual clinical evidence,” said Elliott M. Antman, also professor at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston who wrote the AHA statement.
“Doses examined in this new study were very similar to doses that patients are likely to encounter both at the over-the-counter level (OTC) and the prescription level,” added Antman. “For patients regularly taking an NSAID now – whether it’s a prescription or OTC – it is advisable to discuss with your physician why it was originally recommended or prescribed, whether you need to continue taking it, and at what dose.”
In the United States, all NSAIDs have carried a warning since April 2005 about the excess risk of cardiovascular problems, but the level of risk has not been quantified. The lead author of the study from Denmark wrote that this was the first time to their knowledge, that a report showed specific cardiovascular risk among healthy individuals. Dr. Steve E. Nissen, vice chairman of cardiology at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland feels that these studies that have been out are observational, and are not randomized trials. He is currently conducting a randomized trial on the very topic to better pinpoint how much NSAIDs influence cardiac risks.
These recent articles present another case for safe alternative pain relievers such as StayActiv. StayActiv offers the same benefits in relieving pain and inflammation, but in a safe and natural form that does not cause any health risks to heart, liver or kidneys, along with avoiding any stomach discomforts. StayActiv also will not slow down protein synthesis as NSAID’s do, which is key to muscle and tissue healing. Therefore, StayActiv promotes healing while also relieving the pain, instead of just masking pain, as so many OTC pain killers do. With its potent but safe blend of Alpha-GEE™ and other homeopathic pain and inflammation extracts, StayActiv has proven itself to be an effective, healthy and natural alternative to many OTC and prescription pain-relieving drugs.
To see more of the articles listed above, and more information on the study itself, go to:
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/PainManagement/popular-pain-pills-increase-risk-heart-deaths/story?id=10859432
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/06/09/health/main6563907.shtml
June 18th, 2010
“Sooner or later the dreaded ‘I’ word becomes part and parcel of virtually every athlete’s vocabulary. If you’re exploring your physical limits, or your sport involves the risk of impact, it’s only a matter of time before injury strikes, delivering a double whammy. Quite apart from the pain and discomfort of the injury itself, there’s the frustration and depression of seeing your hard-earned fitness gains slip away as each inactive day passes. Hardly surprising then that athletes seeking to return to training as soon as possible frequently turn to painkillers, and particularly to anti-inflammatory medication. However, contrary to popular belief, this type of medication can cause potentially serious side effects, and new research indicates that it may even slow down healing and increase susceptibility to injury in the longer term,” writes Andrew Hamilton.
“There is no doubt that NSAIDs can help you return to training and competition more rapidly, and provide effective pain relief in the process. It is also true that the new generation COX-2 inhibiting NSAIDs are much less risky in terms of gastric health. However, every silver lining has a cloud and NSAIDs are no exception! Although more research is needed, there’s genuine concern that (aspirin aside) NSAIDs may impair injury healing, especially of bone and ligament. And COX-2 NSAIDs may present more of a problem in this respect than traditional NSAIDs. However, to date there’s little evidence about the possible effects of NSAIDs on soft tissue injury healing.”
“Injuries involving ligaments or bone are more problematical because some evidence indicates that COX-2 NSAIDs could seriously delay and impair healing, leaving you more vulnerable to re-injury.”
“On the other hand, if you have a sensitive stomach, a traditional NSAID may cause gastric problems, especially when taken for extended periods of time, and even these NSAIDs appear to delay healing.”
The above excerpts were taken from an article on “Peak Performance, Sporting Excellence” which is an online publication from the UK. To read more of this article, please click on the following: What all athletes need to know about pain relief medication
December 18th, 2009
Holistic Dentist Dr. Carey O’Reilly uses StayActiv to treat his patients suffering from pain and inflammation associated with their dental work.
StayActiv, a natural alternative to NSAIDs, was initially developed to provide pain relief and promote muscle recovery for athletes and people living active lifestyles, without the negative side effects typical of NSAIDs such as upset stomach, and more serious health risks of ulceration/bleeding, liver and kidney failure. Through an ATP Accelerator, StayActiv has been designed to promote the healing process where the inflammation begins, as opposed to inhibiting the COX pathways (as is the mode of action of many NSAIDs). In addition to athletes and active people experiencing the benefits of StayActiv, many practitioners are recognizing the advantages of offering this safe, non-toxic pain relief product to their patients, including doctors, chiropractors, physical therapists, and even dentists! A holistic dentist from the West Coast, Dr. Carey O’Reilly, DDS has been using StayActiv as a common treatment for his patients suffering from pain and inflammation associated with their dental work.
Having a more natural approach in his practice of the prevention and treatment of problems with the teeth, and gum disease, Dr. Carey O’Reilly offers his patients StayActiv as a natural alternative to Ibuprofen and Tylenol for post procedure recovery to ease pain and discomfort. Many times if Dr. O’Reilly notices that a patient has any anxiety or fear leading up to a procedure, which is a real issue for many, he will offer StayActiv as an option to take before the appointment. In this case StayActiv will act as a calming aid in anticipation of any pain that may be encountered during the procedure, even general cleanings.
Practicing general dentistry since 1984, Dr. O’Rielly adopted a holistic approach in 1998, after he was faced with his own health challenges. A 1985 graduate of the University of Southern California Dental School, Dr. O’Rielly went on to develop a regional network of eight dental practices. After a decade of hard work, stress and exposure to environmental toxins, his health became affected. Because of this he started to investigate toxicity issues in the practice of dentistry. His insightful knowledge of the field came about through years of study and experience, initiated by his own work-related health challenges. Through a growing interest in health conscious dental care, he associated with several specialized holistic/cosmetic practices. As a result he was exposed to a comprehensive range of experience and methodologies in the field. All of this has contributed to his skill as a practitioner and to his understanding of the role that the mouth plays as the gateway to the body.
“I am always looking for ways to increase my ability to provide adjunctive support to my patients,” said Dr. O’Reilly. “After meeting Mark Faulkner, Principal for StayActiv, at the Natural Products Expo in Anaheim, CA back in 2008, I was very impressed and excited to learn that StayActiv is a natural, safe product that I could use for the relief of pain and inflammation associated with my patients’ dental procedures,” said O’Reilly.
Dr. O’Rielly likes the fact that StayActiv can contribute to post procedure recovery by easing discomfort, and can help patients with gingivitis and gum disease whose gums are inflamed. Patients with temporomandibular (TMJ) pain and discomfort have also used the StayActiv cream topically on that joint for relief. Some of Dr. O’Reilly’s patients have responded so favorably to StayActiv’s effect on pain that they’ve bought the product for their own personal use for the relief of pain experienced during hip replacement and shoulder surgeries, sports related injuries, and chronic arthritic pain, such as in the knees.
Ranging in the age of children to 93 years of age, Dr. O’Rielly’s patients are generally very health-minded. They typically eat organic foods and attempt to stay educated about current health issues. They appreciate Dr. O’Rielly’s conservative approach and his perspective on dentistry as part of the continuum of healthy living. Dr. O’Reilly also sees people who are health-challenged because of his reputation for sensitivity to their specific needs. One aspect of this is his use of bio-compatible dental materials, and also his focus on dental nutrition.
For more information on Dr. O’Reilly’s holistic dental practice, visit:
http://www.a-zholisticdentistry.com.
November 20th, 2009
At only 37 years of age, Female Champion Powerlifter Priscilla Ribic was just inducted into the International Powerlifting (IPF) Hall of Fame in New Delhi, IN this past weekend, on November 1, 2009. This amazing and exciting achievement makes Priscilla the second American woman inducted into the Hall of Fame, with only eight other world-wide recipients before her. This day was special as Priscilla was recognized for her many accomplishments in the sport of powerlifting, including 4 IPF Open World Championship titles, 8 IPF Open World Medalist titles, 2 World Games Medalist, 10 times USAPL National Championship Winner, 10 times IPF World Team Member and USAPL American & National Record Holder. She has a total of 7 IPF World Records, and was ranked #1 IPF Female of All-time from 2004-2009. This ranking also entitled Priscilla to the “highest ranked female” by Wilks formula in the United Sates history for any IPF affiliate. She was inducted into the North American Powerlifting Federation (NAPF) Hall of Fame in 2007.
For someone this active, and who needs to be in her best physical condition to compete at such high levels, Priscilla can’t afford to let injuries stand in her way. However, Priscilla was plagued with an injury over this past year that could have significantly set her back for months, or longer. She has a herniated disc in her spine that was causing her grave pain. By taking StayActiv, Priscilla was able to continue to train while also allowing her body to recover and heal at the same time. She eased off on her competitions for a couple months, but was able to maintain her fitness level pain free by the proper physical therapy and stretching, and by taking a natural supplement that rids the body of pain and inflammation while also supporting the healing process.
Unlike common NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), StayActiv does not mask the pain, rather it safely relieves pain without the common side effects typical of NSAIDs such as upset stomach, and more serious health risks of ulceration/bleeding, liver and kidney failure. Through an ATP Accelerator, StayActiv is designed to promote the healing process where the inflammation begins, as opposed to inhibiting the COX pathways (as is the mode of action of many NSAIDs). By taking StayActiv, Priscilla has been able to train and stay fit through her injury with a decrease in pain, while also allowing her body to naturally heal on its own. Too often athletes will take an NSAID so that they can continue to perform their sports activity even with an injury, but what they don’t realize is that they are preventing the body from its natural healing process.
A study at The University of Nebraska has shown that StayActiv also supports a reduction in the build-up of lactic acid in muscles. This is a feature that many athletes and other active people can appreciate, especially those in high-intensity work-outs that hit a wall after the muscles have been working hard, and there is a limited supply of oxygen. This is when lactic acid is produced at such a rapid rate that the tissue has difficulty processing it, and results in lactic acid build-up. This is where an athlete then experiences muscle fatigue and cramp-like pains. Taking StayActiv can help stave off lactic acid build-up and alleviate this pain.
To find out more about Priscilla and her upcoming competitions, you can go to: www.CON-CRET.com or www.littlepowerhouse.com.
November 9th, 2009
“What They Haven’t Told You about Advil and Tylenol”
If you’re taking pain-killers to get through the day, then set your alarm for this flash news update. The side effects of these drugs could be doing more damage than you planned. If you are a weekend warrior or living an active lifestyle and find yourself suffering from aches and pains, then this new product info will provide a great sigh of relief. StayActiv is a new safe, non-toxic natural pain reliever and anti-inflammatory that also accelerates recovery…be pain free naturally!
Tune in this weekend, Saturday, September 19th at 10 a.m. EST, as Mark Faulkner, Principal of ProMera health, talks to Danielle Lin about pain management and the benefits and concerns of taking pain medications. He goes into great detail about the health risks associated with common over the counter (OTC) pain medications and introduces a natural alternative to these medications; StayActiv. Mark will discuss the benefits of StayActiv, how it originated and its ingredients. He will describe different peoples’ experiences who have discovered StayActiv, and explain why its a healthy alternative worth taking!
The Danielle Lin Show addresses issues that make a difference in your life. This dynamic weekly program features environmental editorials and nutrition news through interviews with various representatives in the natural supplements industry and the world of alternative medicine.
As an expert in scientific/chemical manufacturing, Mark Faulkner established ProMera Health with two other partners in 2007. Mr. Faulkner’s work experience includes medical diagnostics for Abbott Laboratories and he co-founded Aegis Analytical Labs, a forensic sciences and doping control company providing toxicology and consulting services to sports organizations, corporations, and medical examiners. Mr. Faulkner graduated from the University of Dallas and is currently living in Nashville, Tenn. He is board president of the Williamson County Drug and Alcohol Council, board president of Camp Marymount, chair of the Centerstone Ambassador’s Council, a member of the Leadership Council of the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) and on the Board of Trustees of Aquinas College along with numerous other civic and charitable involvements. Mr. Faulkner has given numerous talks on, and led University-based studies and trials studying the effects of performance enhancement and wellness compounds.
To tune into this insightful interview, you can hear The Danielle Lin Show on the following stations, to be aired this coming Saturday, September 19 at 10-11 a.m. EST. You can also go to the website at www.daniellelinshow.com to access the podcast starting on Monday, September 21st.
List Of Current Stations:
KTLK Los Angeles, CA
KSRO Santa Rosa/San Francisco, CA
KNRS Salt Lake City, UT
KENI Anchorage, AK
KELA Centralia, WA
KYNS San Luis Obispo, CA
KWON Bartlesville, OK
WGIR Manchester, NH
WGIN Rochester, NH
WGIP Exeter, NH
September 18th, 2009
Before a new FDA approved drug appears on the pharmacy shelf, it goes through a long process of testing that takes an 
average of 12 years. It also costs about 350 million US dollars to move that new drug from the scientific laboratory to the consumer’s reach. Once a company develops the new drug, it undergoes about three and a half years of laboratory testing before applying to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for further testing in humans. This strict regulatory process can be grueling and financially taxing for a company eager to get its product to market. Yet, having a mandated approval process offers consumers the reassurance of knowing that the non-prescription or prescription drug they have been encouraged to take has the FDA seal of approval, and therefore must be safe. But, is it really safe?
Americans want to trust their doctors, the medical community and the government that the drugs they are taking for treating disease, relief of medical conditions and/or for pain management are going to give them significant benefits that outweigh any health concerns. Unfortunately, there are often many associated risks with these drugs, and also many harmful side-effects that are later discovered after these drugs have gone through the lengthy, intensive FDA approval cycles…things that just are not manifested until released to the wider public. Vioxx, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), is an example of one of these drugs that resulted in disappointment, mistrust and in some cases, hysteria after the manufacturer, Merck pulled the drug off the shelves. Marketed to treat osteoarthritis and acute pain conditions, Vioxx was approved by FDA in May 1999. The drug gained widespread recognition with over 80 million people taking the prescription drug based on their physicians’ recommendations for relief of arthritis and other conditions causing chronic or acute pain. In September 2004, Merck & Co. withdrew the drug from the market based on risks of heart attack and stroke. This had a major impact on the medical field and the public since it was one of the most widely used drugs to be charged with causing serious health risks, especially after having had a market presence for five years. Why was this health concern not detected or considered earlier in the FDA approval process?
More recent news involving Acetaminophen puts FDA and one of their “approved drugs” in the spotlight again, as well as the drug manufacturers who make Tylenol, Vicodin and Percocet, and other pain relief and cold medications with this harmful drug present in the ingredients.
As cited in a recent WSJ article by Melinda Beck, “Taking Pains with a Painkiller”, July 8, 2009, “This isn’t the first time the FDA has grappled with the acetaminophen problem. In 2002, an advisory panel recommended that over-the-counter products containing the drug be clearly labeled on the front of the package. But it took until December 2006 for the FDA to propose such a rule, and until April 2009 for it to go into effect.” Meanwhile, acetaminophen has been linked to 56,000 emergency room visits, 26,000 hospitalizations and 458 deaths during the 1990s (stated by the FDA). In 2007, a report from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that the pain relief medication was also the likely cause of 1,600 acute liver failures each year. These statistics make it very difficult for the consumer, as well as manufacturers, to fully trust in the FDA approval process initially described above as being effective in determining safety.
What’s the alternative? There are natural supplement and homeopathy companies that deliver safe and highly effective over the counter (OTC) drugs for the same medical conditions and pain relief, minus the negative side-effects and health risks linked to FDA approved medications. They may not be government regulated, since such products are not currently required to receive FDA approval, but many follow best practices in safety and manufacturing, have received compliance under drug and supplement standards, and most of all, these more natural products aren’t killing people! Some of the biggest advantages to those who have made the switch to natural/holistic supplements, is the low hassle of finding a solution to your ailment(s), without needing an insurance card or written prescription from a doctor’s office, and finally due to the ease of mind knowing that the substance you are ingesting is natural, rather than of synthetic compounds with levels of high-toxicity.
However, is this enough assurance for people who are familiar with the traditional protocol? There are many Americans spending billions of dollars annually on natural supplements and natural products known as an alternative to more common FDA approved drugs. Still, some are concerned that there’s no guarantee that all of these “natural” alternatives are safe either. The consumer should review the information on packaging regarding claims and ingredients and any drug interactions with other medications. They also should investigate what type of safety and toxicity testing has been done by the manufacturer, and any QA / QC guidelines that are in place (i.e. quality assurance / quality control).
As FDA-regulated products continue to pop up in the news with harmful findings that have been discovered after-the-fact of approval, it’s a perfect time to consider safe, effective alternatives. Many who have given up on the old standards due to health concerns or because they found that the common pain meds just didn’t work as well, are now happily pain free and/or content knowing they have choices of products that are non-toxic to the body and completely safe.
July 17th, 2009
If you are a competitive athlete, then you know what it’s like to push yourself to the limit. When you do this, you then, in turn, tend to experience unpleasant soreness and muscle fatigue. As they say, “no pain, no gain!” During strenuous exercises such as strength training, weight lifting, sprinting, or any other form of high-intensity and/or speed workout, the body demands elevated levels of energy. However, our bodies are wired so that we can only sustain these extreme activities for short periods of time before we need to slow down, catch our breath and recharge our energy stores. When the muscles are working hard during exercise, and there is limited supply of oxygen, lactic acid is produced at such a rapid rate that the tissue has difficulty processing it, and this results in lactic acid build-up. This is where an athlete then experiences muscle fatigue and cramp-like pains. Imagine if you were able to reduce lactic acid build-up during vigorous exercise, and the body could maintain intensity for longer periods of time before experiencing the burn, and/or feeling physically depleted?
Before considering this possibility, let’s look at how lactic acid build-up happens, and what’s called the “energy pathways” for exercise. Having a better understanding of these energy pathways can also help an athlete put proper eating and training plans in place to improve his or her performance. Diet is extremely important for the athlete since nutrients including carbohydrates, proteins and fats convert into energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). As foods are broken down in the body, they release energy in the form of ATP, and muscles contract. Of course each nutrient has unique properties that determine how it gets converted to ATP, with carbohydrates as the main contributor to fueling moderate to high intensity forms of exercise, fats providing energy for low intensity activities for longer lengths of time, and finally proteins helping with muscle recovery and repair. The body is not capable of storing ATP very well or for very long, and therefore it is necessary that we create this usable energy throughout exercise.
The two major energy pathways in which the body converts nutrients to energy are aerobic metabolism (with oxygen) and anaerobic metabolism (without oxygen). During forms of exercise where the body has adequate fuel and oxygen, such as long distance running, biking and hiking, etc, muscle cells can contract continuously without experiencing fatigue. This is when the body is receiving energy from aerobic metabolism. It’s during quick, high-intensity work-outs that anaerobic metabolism is being utilized, and there is a limited supply of oxygen. Lactic acid is a by-product of the anaerobic energy pathway, a process which provides energy to muscles by partially breaking down glucose without the need for oxygen. Under these strenuous anaerobic conditions, the cells continue to produce waste (lactic acid) that cannot be absorbed and therefore accumulates in the muscles as build-up, and causes that muscle soreness and fatigue. Since this pathway is short-lived, and the athlete can’t sustain the same level of intensity, he/she is forced to eventually ease off and rest to relieve symptoms of the lactic acid build-up by increasing oxygen intake through the aerobic pathway. This is where the athlete experiences a metabolic threshold. It is believed that our bodies go back and forth during exercise from aerobic to anaerobic metabolism in this threshold.
Many athletes have found creatine products such as CON-CRET to be beneficial in giving them the strength, endurance and muscle recovery that they need for their physically demanding workouts, but some are finding additional benefits in another supplement called StayActiv to help stave off the unpleasant and challenging side-effects of lactic acid build-up. Offered as a natural alternative to NSAIDs, StayActiv is most known for its ability to provide pain relief and promote muscle recovery for athletes and people living active lifestyles. But a study at the University of Nebraska has also shown that StayActiv supports a reduction in the build-up of lactic acid in muscles. This study showed that after 2-hours of strenuous exercise, lactic acid levels were reduced by more than 50% with StayActiv usage. The effects of StayActiv on lactic acid production appear to be a direct result of accelerated production of ATP for the cell which thereby allows maximum cell function and recovery. So, why allow lactic acid build-up to hold you back, when you could have greater success with your sprints, reps and/or overall recovery? It’s worth a try, don’t you think?
July 17th, 2009
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July 16th, 2009
