Maximize Lean Muscle Mass By Increasing The Anabolic Effects Of Exercise!
Power Drink fills a gap that's been overlooked by all the other supplement companies. While they're absorbed in what to use before and after training, and rightly so, they're missing one of the most important opportunities for maximizing the results you get from training.
Taking supplements in and around training is one of the most efficient and productive
ways to use nutritional supplements. That's because the body is most receptive to these
supplements under the stress of exercise. As such, it makes good sense to be fully
prepared to maximize the anabolic and fat burning effects of exercise by using the right
nutritional supplement array before, during and after exercise.
I formulated MD+ Exersol to be the complete exercise solution and as such, to take the
guesswork out of what supplements to use before, during and after training. Resolve
and Resolve Competition to get your body ready and able to train, Power Drink to
sustain and support your energy and metabolism while you work out, and Amino to
maximize protein synthesis and make use of the post workout anabolic period.
While all three formulations are cutting edge and make Exersol unique, it's Power Drink
that fills a glaring gap in training supplements. And I'll explain why.
You Don't Have to Break Down to Build Up
We all know that during training muscle is broken down. Most people believe that this
breakdown is a necessary part of training. After all you have to break muscle tissue
down before you can build it up. Don't you? Unfortunately that's one of the most
stubborn of training myths.
Muscle breakdown isn't what provides the adaptation stimulus for increasing muscle
size. It's the microscopic damage done to the muscle cell structure and the subsequent
adaptation to that damage that determines the muscle building response.
You don't have to break down the muscle at all to get this response in full force. In fact
doing so is counter productive. The more muscle you keep from breaking down, and the
more you increase protein synthesis, the better the results from your training. Taking
Power Drink while you're training will put you miles ahead of everyone else who just
uses water or at best a carbohydrate, low protein drink.
Power Drink, because of its effects on increasing protein synthesis and decreasing
protein breakdown, is a powerful anabolic and anticatabolic product. As well, Power
Drink increases cellular hydration and the utilization of amino acids and creatine by
working muscle.
As if that wasn't enough, Power Drink, because of its positive effects on the fat burning
hormones and mechanisms actually allows you to burn more body fat while you're
training.
And with the other ingredients included in Power Drink, such as the dipeptide carnosine
and citric acid, which among other things are efficient buffering agents, you can train
harder and longer and know that you have a powerful ally that will help you make good
use of all that hard work.
Besides a hefty dose of high quality protein, Power Drink also contains several anabolic
and cytoprotective amino acids and peptides, electrolytes and other ingredients that
help maximize the anabolic and fat burning potential of training, and much more.
The formula contains no carbohydrates or fat except for glycerol, which does not raise
either glucose or insulin levels appreciably, and ribose, which increases the reformation
of ATP and other important cellular compounds. The glycerol, along with the taurine,
plays a vital part in keeping the muscles hydrated and thus in an anabolic state.
The bottom line is that Power Drink is a research driven training drink that provides the
nutrients necessary to increase muscle size and decrease body fat. And by providing all
the necessary ingredients to feed working muscles and shift the use of body fat as the
energy source for training, Power Drink dramatically increases the positive effects of
training, allows you train longer and harder, and increases recovery.
Ingredients in Power Drink and Their Effects
Power Drink contains several ingredients that maximize the training effect. I've listed
some of them below, along with a brief explanation of what they do.
Protein and Amino Acids
The protein and amino acid composition in Power Drink is unique and the resulting
amino acid array maximizes protein synthesis and minimizes muscle catabolism.
One serving of Power Drink (44 grams) contains over 30 grams of whey protein isolate,
a "fast" protein that results in high systemic amino acid levels. The same properties that
make whey protein a bad choice as a nighttime protein make it an excellent choice as a
training protein since it can be taken continuously all through the training session. And
the whey protein isolate is the best choice since it decreases the bloating and flatulence
often seen with high protein intake.
The whey isolate has a direct effect on increasing protein synthesis, and at the same
time increases systemic levels of the potent anabolic hormones and growth factors,
including insulin, testosterone, growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I).
As well the whey protein in Power Drink encourages the formation of the glutathione
and increases the body's antioxidant and immune capacity, which in turn translates to
increases in training efficiency and recovery.
Branched Chain Amino Acids
The protein formulation contains close to 9 grams of branched chain amino acids per
serving - the whey in Power Drink is approx 25% BCAAs, the glutamine peptides
contain over 11%, and there's an extra 500 mg of leucine, which has been shown to be
an important regulator of protein synthesis.
Glutamine and Glutamate
Power Drink contains lots of glutamine, some as glutamine peptides (Power Drink
contains 3 grams of glutamine peptides per serving), the fastest absorbable form, and
the rest in a slower absorbed form as part of the whey protein.
L-Glutamine, the most abundant free amino acid in muscle, has several important
effects in the body and favorably affects growth hormone levels, protein
synthesis, cell volume, muscle catabolism and gastrointestinal and immune function.
However, excessive amounts of glutamine are not necessary to obtain these effects and
in fact may even be counter productive. That's because of the introduction of the extra
amine group that has to be detoxified as glutamine is metabolized to glutamate and in
turn to 2-oxoglutarate - the crucial TCA cycle anapleurotic intermediate that is
responsible for increased TCA cycle flux and ATP formation, as well as anabolic and fat
burning effects.
So, Power Drink also contains glutamate (glutamic acid), an amino acid that is also
important when it comes to increasing anaerobic and aerobic energy, and minimizing
ammonia buildup. One 44 gram serving of Power Drink contains over 7 grams of
glutamine and glutamate.
Also Power Drink doesn't contain any free glutamine but rather contains peptide bonded
glutamine that is stable in water.
Arginine
Arginine and other ingredients in Power Drink, increase GH, IGF-I and insulin secretion
and response, thus providing a synergistic anabolic effect on muscle and canceling out
insulin's lipogenic and anti-lipolytic effects. In other words you get all the good anabolic
and fat burning effects from the synergism and none of the bad.
Arginine also increases nitric oxide formation, which is felt to have a beneficial effect on
blood flow in muscle and thus enhance nutrient and oxygen delivery, buffering and the
clearing of metabolic by products, and increasing protein synthesis.
Power Drink contains over 1200 mg of arginine, 500 mg in free form, 66 mg bound up in
peptide form, and 640 mg in the slower release form as part of the whey protein.
Taurine
Taurine, a sulfur-containing amino acid and the second most abundant amino acid, and
the most abundant free amino acid, found in skeletal muscle tissue, has many
properties that can enhance the training effect, including it's abilities to increase growth
hormone as well as its antioxidant and anabolic
effects. Taurine has also been shown to have insulin like effects and to help control cell
volume. The volumizing effect on muscle cells is felt to lead to an increase in protein
synthesis.
Several studies have suggested
that it may also help to alleviate muscle cramps occurring during and after exercise. But
there's more to the story.
A recent study on rats has shown that oral taurine supplementation may increase
muscle performance and reduce muscle injury caused by exercise.1 The aim of the
study was to determine if increasing muscle levels of taurine would decrease free
radical damage after exercise-induced injury. The authors found that first of all taurine
levels rose in muscle after supplementation, and secondly that running performance
was improved by the taurine supplementation. Thus it appears taurine supplementation
may facilitate exercise performance and reduce some of the counterproductive muscle
injury caused by exercise.
Another recent study also in rats showed that taurine is useful for reducing physical
fatigue and muscle damage during exercise training, presumably due to its antioxidant
effects and the beneficial effects that taurine has on metabolism and on muscle and
cardiac functions.2
And as if that weren't enough, there is some evidence to show that taurine may
enhance training further by decreasing training induced fatigue. A recent paper has
shown that Na+-K+-ATPase activity is depressed with fatigue, regardless of training
state, suggesting that this may be an important determinant of fatigue.3 Another recent
paper associated fatigue and training with reduced Ca2+-ATPase activity.4 Previous
studies have shown that taurine stimulates Na+-K+-ATPase activity and also the
pumping rate of the Ca2+-activated ATPase pump.
While the evidence is circumstantial at present and a direct study linking the two
research findings needs to be done, it's quite possible that supplemental taurine,
besides all the positive effects we know it has, may also reduce exercise induced
fatigue.
Because of all these properties, taurine (1000 mg per serving) is an integral part of
Power Drink.
Other Amino Acids
Several amino acids are present in substantial amounts in the combination of the whey
protein isolate and the glutamine peptides (see amino acid arrays of both below).
For example Power Drink contains over 2200 mg of proline per serving. Proline, one of
the main components of collagen and thus tendons, ligaments and joints, is important
for musculoskeletal health. As well, proline is important in DNA and protein synthesis, and for the immune
system. Decreases in serum proline (and alanine - there's over 1600 mg in Power
Drink) levels have been noted in prolonged exercise. Part of this is likely due to the
gluconeogenic properties of both amino acids.
Power Drink contains almost 3000 mg of lysine, an amino acid important for stimulating
GH secretion (in concert with other amino acids including arginine and glutamine) and in
optimizing protein synthesis.
There's also about 3500 mg of aspartic acid per serving. Aspartic acid (aspartate) has
been shown to enhance both aerobic and anaerobic muscle capacity. A recent study
found that the supplemental use of aspartate and asparagine can decrease exercise
fatigue.5
Power Drink also has significant amount of other amino acids, including about 1100 mg
of each of the neurotransmitter precursors phenylalanine and tyrosine.
Citric Acid (Citrate)
Citric acid has a number of useful functions, such as increasing the absorption and
bioavailability of several nutrients, including creatine, calcium and magnesium. As well,
it has antioxidant properties and adds some tart flavoring to Power Drink.
However, its most useful function is related to the effects it has on increasing the supply
of mitochondrial citric acid increases the flux of the Citric Acid Cycle (also known as the
TCA Cycle and Krebs Cycle).
It's important, however, not to take in excessive amounts of citrate, a practice that's
becoming more common among bodybuilding and power athletes. Supplemental citric
acid or citrate ends up in the cytoplasm of cells and thus its fate depends on the amount
present and activity level.
Cytosolic citrate, the citrate that is a result of using oral citrate, differs somewhat from
mitochondrial citrate in that mitochondrial citrate, in the right amounts, can increase
TCA cycle flux and is an anaplerotic TCA cycle intermediate. Cytosolic citrate, in smaller
amounts, can be translated into pyruvate (via the actions of malate dehydrogenase and malic enzyme) and then enter the TCA cycle either as acetyl-coA or oxaloacetate, depending on many circumstances.
However, excessive amounts of cytosolic citrate may be counter productive as
cytoplasmic citrate (via the acetyl-coA and malonyl-coA axis) has antilipolytic and
lipogenic properties. In other words it can decrease the breakdown and oxidation of
body fat, and acts as a stimulus for increasing fat production. Also high levels of citric
acid and/or citrate commonly cause gastrointestinal upset.
There's just over 500 mg of citric acid in one serving of Power Drink. Just enough to get
the useful effects, as a buffering agent and in stimulating TCA flux, but not enough to
upset your stomach, or accumulate in the cytoplasm and produce counter productive
changes in fat metabolism.
Creatine Monohydrate, Phosphorus, Ribose and Sodium
Power Drink contains several ingredients that maximize phosphocreatine (PC) levels in
muscle, including creatine monohydrate, the creatine precursors (arginine, glycine and
methionine) and other amino acids that increase the utilization and effectiveness of the
creatine in increasing tissue PC levels. are supplied in Power Drink.
As well, by providing some of the raw material that is used in forming ATP, including
phosphorus and ribose, and the increased stimulus for ATP formation, Power Drink
increases both Aerobic and Anaerobic ATP production and salvage.
Sodium is also important for increasing creatine uptake in muscle and some studies has
been found to be important for creatine uptake into relatively insulin insensitive muscles
such as the soleus.6
Carnosine, Citrate, Phosphorus and Creatine
Acid, or H+ ions are produced as you exercise, especially when you push the envelope.
The buildup of these ions results in an intracellular proton load that comes from both the
formation of lactic acid and it's subsequent dissociation, and the production of ATP
when there's a lack of oxygen available to the muscle cells - anaerobic ATP production.
While generally true, it's also felt that lactic acid is produced locally under situations
where there is enough oxygen, that is under aerobic conditions.
Overall, however, the end result can be an accumulation of H+ ions that is thought to
increase muscle fatigue and interfere with muscle contraction.7
The intracellular buffers that are capable of contributing to this enhanced buffering
capacity are phosphorus, carnosine, citrate (citric acid) and creatine. All of these
ingredients are an integral part of the Power Drink formula.
Carnosine, a dipeptide (histidyl-alanine) and a potent antioxidant and buffering agent, is
found in the highest concentration in muscle and brain, where it is felt to support and buffer these tissues.
Carnosine is also believed to decrease both central and peripheral fatigue. In the brain it
is also used to synthesize neurotransmitters which are involved in fatigue. In muscle,
carnosine decreases exercise fatigue and contribute to recovery.
Electrolytes and Minerals
Studies have shown that replacement of water, electrolytes, especially sodium and
potassium, and certain minerals (which also act as electrolytes) while exercising has a
beneficial effect on strength, exercise intensity and endurance. Besides replacing
various nutrients that are affected by exercise, these substances also have potential
beneficial training effects. For example, magnesium, calcium and potassium are
important in protein synthesis, muscle contraction, energy production and metabolism.
Glycerol or Glycerine
I added glycerol to the present Power Drink formulation because in lower doses it can
have beneficial effects without any adverse effects on low carb dieting. Glycerol has
several possible roles in increasing the effects of exercise and exercise efficiency.
Glycerol, and creatine and taurine, are predominantly present in the intracellular space
and as such all three have distinct volumizing effects. Increasing intracellular volume is
considered to increase protein synthesis and thus to have anabolic effects.
Glycerol also results in an increase in body water that has been theorized to result from
a glycerol mediated increase in water reabsorption in the distal tubules and collecting
ducts of the kidney. So in fact the use of glycerol can result in both increased
intracellular and extracellular fluid volume. Since both glycerol and creatine have
volumizing effects, the use of both compounds together may have an additive anabolic
effect on muscle cells.
Besides the above effects, glycerol may also have some beneficial effects on athletic
performance due to its osmotic action. Recent research has shown that when a glycerol
and water mix is used as a hydration beverage before training or competition
performance improves. Thus glycerol-induced hyperhydration by delaying the adverse
effects of dehydration, reduces the thermal burden of exercise8.
The bottom line in all this is that glycerol can be useful and may provide some anabolic
effects. Also by helping to combat dehydration, and by supplying energy either by being
converted to glucose or being oxidized along the same pathway as glucose glycerol
supplementation may help fight fatigue during periods of intense training.
Xylitol
Xylitol, glycerol, and ribose make up the bulk of the carbohydrate content of Power
Drink, and increase its palatability. But there are other reasons why both of these were
included in the formulation.
Studies have shown that xylitol affects metabolism in different ways than sugars and
most other carbs and as such not impacting on insulin or fatty acid oxidation.9,10 As well,
other studies have shown that xylitol may improve nitrogen balance, increase fat
oxidation and decrease carbohydrate oxidation (likely spares glycogen) as compared to
glucose (likely secondary to a decreased insulin response).11,12
Summary
Power Drink, with its many natural ergogenic ingredients, and for many reasons, is the
ideal training drink.
The bottom line is that Power Drink will:
- Maximize the anabolic and fat burning effects of exercise.
- Maximize protein synthesis and decreases muscle breakdown during
training and anytime it's used.
- Maximize energy for training through both anaerobic (maximizing ATP and
phosphocreatine levels in muscle tissue thus increasing anaerobic stamina
and power) and aerobic pathways (maximizing TCA cycle flux by providing
anapleurotic amino acids, increasing gluconeogenesis, and maximizing the
use of fat as the primary aerobic fuel).
- Decrease both peripheral and central fatigue.
- Replace and replenish nutrients and fluid lost through exercise.
- Prevent muscle cramps.
- Increase training time and efficiency.
- And Enhance recovery.
Amino acid profile of Glutamine Peptides - wheat protein hydrolysate
Amino acid g per 100 g hydrolysate-
| L-Alanine | 1.8 |
| L-Cysteine | 0.9 |
| L-Aspartate | 0.2 |
| L-Glutamate | 3.2 |
| L-Phenylalanine | 4.8 |
| L-Glycine | 2.8 |
| L-Histidine | 1.6 |
| L-Isoleucine | 2.6 |
| L-Lysine | ... |
| L-Leucine | 5.6 |
| L-Methionine | 1.1 |
| L-Asparagine | 1.9 |
| L-Proline | 12.3 |
| L-Glutamine | 29.0 |
| L-Arginine | 2.2 |
| L-Serine | 4.4 |
| L-Threonine | 2.0 |
| L-Valine | 3.0 |
| L-Tryptophan | ... |
| L-Tyrosine | 2.5 |
|
|
Whey Protein Isolate Amino Acid Profile Per 100g of protein
| L-Alanine | 4.9g |
| L-Arginine | 2.0g |
| L-Aspartic Acid | 10.9g |
| L-Cystine | 2.7g |
| L-Glutamic Acid | 18.0g |
| L-Glycine | 1.7g |
| L-Histidine | 1.7g |
| L-Isoleucine | 6.1g |
| L-Leucine | 9.6g |
| L-Lysine | 9.1g |
| L-Methionine | 1.8g |
| L-Phenylalanine | 3.0g |
| L-Proline | 5.8g |
| L-Serine | 4.7g |
| L-Threonine | 7.8g |
| L-Tryptophan+ | 1.9g |
| L-Tyrosine | 3.2g |
| L-Valine | 5.1g |
|
References
- Dawson Jr R, Biasetti M, Messina S, Dominy J. The cytoprotective role of taurine in exercise-induced
muscle injury. Amino Acids 2002;22(4):309-24.
- Manabe S, Kurroda I, Okada K, Morishima M, Okamoto M, Harada N, Takahashi A, Sakai K, Nakaya Y.
Decreased blood levels of lactic acid and urinary excretion of 3-methylhistidine after exercise by chronic
taurine treatment in rats. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 2003 Dec;49(6):375-80.
- Fraser SF, Li JL, Carey MF, Wang XN, Sangkabutra T, Sostaric S, Selig SE, Kjeldsen K, McKenna MJ.
Fatigue depresses maximal in vitro skeletal muscle Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity in untrained and trained
individuals. J Appl Physiol 2002 Nov;93(5):1650-9.
- Li JL, Wang XN, Fraser SF, Carey MF, Wrigley TV, McKenna MJ. Effects of fatigue and training on
sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) regulation in human skeletal muscle. J Appl Physiol 2002;92(3):912-22.
- Marquezi ML, Roschel HA, dos Santa Costa A, Sawada LA, Lancha AH Jr. Effect of aspartate and
asparagine supplementation on fatigue determinants in intense exercise. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab.
2003 Mar;13(1):65-75.
- Willott CA, Young ME, Leighton B, Kemp GJ, Boehm EA, Radda GK, Clarke K. Creatine uptake in
isolated soleus muscle: kinetics and dependence on sodium, but not on insulin. Acta Physiol Scand.
1999 Jun;166(2):99-104.
- Parkhouse WS, McKenzie DC. Possible contribution of skeletal muscle buffers to enhanced anaerobic
performance: a brief review. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1984;16(4):328-338.
- Lyons TP, Riedesel ML, Meuli LE, Chick TW. Effects of glycerol-induced hyperhydration prior to
exercise in the heat on sweating and core temperature. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1990; 22(4):477-83.
- Natah SS, Hussien KR, Tuominen JA, Koivisto VA. Metabolic response to lactitol and xylitol in healthy
men. Am J Clin Nutr 1997;65(4):947-950
- Diabetologia 1982 Jun;22(6):480-482 The effects of xylitol on the secretion of insulin and gastric
inhibitory polypeptide in man and rats. Salminen S, Salminen E, Marks V
- Georgieff M, Pscheidl E, Moldawer LL, Bistrian BR, Blackburn GL. Mechanisms of protein conservation
during xylitol infusion after burn injury in rats: isotope kinetics and indirect calorimetry. European Journal
of Clinical Investigation 1991; 21(2):249-58.
- Hamberg O. Regulation of urea synthesis by diet protein and carbohydrate in normal man and in
patients with... Relationship to glucagon and insulin. Dan Med Bull 1997;44(3):225-241
Order today using our 100% secure server and get it at the lowest prices in the world with our fast, inexpensive 2 - 3 day shipping! NOBODY beats our overall price!
616 Grams $59.99 $39.99 |
| Fruit Punch | [Order] | In Stock |
Buy Fast. Feel Secure. Pay Later!sm
Details
Learn more about Creatine Monohydrate.
Check out other Fat Loss Products.
