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To be faster you have to get stronger. To get stronger you have to increase your resistance, right? Right!

You probably know that taking things like anabolic steroids and growth hormones will help build muscle mass, forget about the side effects for a momment, and think about where the “muscle-building” compounds come from? They may be right there in the kinds of food you eat!

An amino acid is a building block of protein and it controls everything about the structure and function of the proteins it affects. The amino acid Arginine, in its L form (L-arginine) is one the 20 most common amino acids, and cannot be made naturally by your body.

L-ariginine is an “active” amino acid that is caused by the hydrolysis (break down) of certain proteins. It has been used as a growth stimulant, and its ability to encourage vasodilation makes it useful in the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

L-ornithine is a basic amino acid that your body produces naturally. It is a nonprotein amino acid, so it is not ingested in foods. L ornithine is used to biosynthesize L-arginine and other amino acids, like L-proline and polyamines. Many people supplement L-ornithine because research has suggested that L-ornithine may promote muscle-building activity in the body. It does this by increasing levels of the hormones that promote growth, such as insulin and growth hormone.

Luckily, arginine can be found naturally in a variety of foods. Sources of arginine include meat, dairy, a variety of (raw) nuts including pecans, cashews, walnuts, almonds, Brazil nuts, hazelnuts, pinenuts, and peanuts, not to mention many other foods.

Many of the following meal suggestions are excellent sources of protein that may help you get stronger, faster. Eating “whole foods” rather than processed foods from a box is a key to getting the proper nutrition so that your muscles can not only form, but heal after a hard training session.

Breakfast Recipes to Start Your Day Strong

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Smoked Salmon Omelet

Try an egg white omelet with the following ingredients to give you a protein punch:

• Smoked Salmon or tuna (substitute chicken or turkey meat if you don’t like fish)
• Bacon
• Cheddar cheese
• Spinach & mushrooms
• Season to your liking: I personally like to add Himalayan Salt & Cracked Pepper.

Protein Enriched Oatmeal

Unflavored oatmeal with your favorite flavor of whey protein powder and raisins mixed in. I personally like to sprinkle ground walnuts on top. You can also add on the side, a slice of whole wheat toast with ricotta cheese and a sliced tomato.

Go Natural

Whole fruits like berries, bananas and oranges with a handful of cheese or nuts will give you a burst of energy and vitamins to help you make it through the morning. If possible, always go with raw nuts and organic, locally-grown fruits. Here’s some useful info about following a raw food diet.

10 Snacks That Keep You Energized

1. A hardboiled egg
2. ½ cup of coconut
3. Yogurt with granola and ground almonds mixed in
4. Chocolate covered raisins or peanuts
5. Half of a protein shake
6. Shrimp cocktail
7. A handful of pumpkin seeds
8. A small can of tuna with some sesame seeds sprinkled on top
9. A slice of turkey or chicken lunchmeat with cream cheese rolled up in the middle
10. Raw vegetables – ANY raw vegetables (carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes) are an excellent choice!

Lunches That Win

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Pork & Bean Sandwich

Shredded BBQ pork mixed with dark kidney beans or black beans on a bun. Add a slice of cheese for an extra boost

Tuna Salad Sandwich

Tuna with light mayo, hardboiled egg and shredded cheese on sourdough bread

Carbonator

Hamburger patty or grilled chicken fillet smothered with smoked cheese and mushrooms (no bread for this one)

Soup and Salad

Low sodium soups that are loaded with veggies and brown rice or whole grain pasta with a side salad that has nuts and cheese provide you with a variety of vitamins and fill you up without weighing you down for the rest of the day

Dinner Ideas That Build Muscle

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Your main course should always be meat or seafood, but I’d recommend that you get even more creative beyond that.

Experiment with recipes, make breakfast for dinner, or go “bunless”. You can use steak, ham, fish (halibut or salmon), lobster, turkey, shrimp or chicken. If you have a salad on the side add some sunflower seeds, pinenuts, cheese and hardboiled egg to it.

It’s important not to eat too much at one meal and store it as fat, but rather to space out small meals and snacks throughout the day so that your body can use the energy to pack on more muscle.

Related Blogposts:

• Soy Milk: The Benefits vs. The Dangers
• The Pro’s & Con’s of Colloidal Silver
• Greenhouses: Healthy for you, Healthy for the Planet
• Study: Increased Calcium Improves Children’s Bone Health
• St. Johns Wort & Depression: New Research Supports its Use

More and more our children are being left behind when it comes to health. They’re getting fatter, lazier, and now, according to new research, they’re not getting enough calcium.

New findings, published in the August edition of the journal Bone, came to the conclusion that “Increased dietary calcium/dairy products, with and without vitamin D, significantly increases total body and lumbar spine BMC in children with low base-line intakes.”

In this latest research, Michael Huncharek, Joshua Muscat and Bruce Kupelnickb analyzed the data from a total of 21 clinical trials. Totalling more than 3,800 children, the researchers set out to determine how the intake of dietary calcium would affect bone mineral content in children.

The information revealed that those children, who were not taking enough calcium at the beginning of these studies, saw a substantial increase in their total body bone mineral content (BMC). This increase measured out to be about 25x greater than that of children who had already been on a healthy diet of calcium.

Many of us would have encountered advertising on television and elsewhere, warning us of consuming a healthy diet high in calcium to ensure that we stemmed the possibility of osteoporosis. A disease of the bone, osteoporosis leads to an increased rate of bone fracture through a diminishing of our bone mineral density.

Given the possibility that there is a way to stem the risk of osteoporosis from an early age, one would imagine just why there are so many children not getting the right amount. The 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggests that each individual should consume at least 3 servings of low-fat or fat-free dairy foods each day as part of their diet.

“It’s never too early to make bone health a priority. These findings continue to support the research that shows milk is an important source of calcium which helps build and maintain strong bones, muscles and teeth in children,” said Ann Marie Krautheim, R.D., senior vice president of Nutrition Affairs for the National Dairy Council.

The Benefits of Calcium Supplements

According to work done by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), 7 out of 10 boys and 9 out of 10 girls are not consuming enough calcium needed to maintain a healthy bone density.

However not everyone is able to rely entirely on dairy products for their calcium intake. That is where calcium supplements come in to the equation. If you are unable to get the recommended amount of calcium from your diet, it may be wise to supplement your diet with added calcium.

Check out the below video of Dr. Edward Group III discussing the differences between calcium orotate and calcium citrate… and which one is better for you.

For more information about how to naturally get calcium into your diet, it is recommended for you to read the following articles about soy milk and hemp milk.

Related Articles About Calcium:

• Top 10 Food Sources for Calcium
• Calcium Orotate vs. Calcium Citrate
• USDA: Database for Measurements of Calcium in Food (PDF)

Why is it that so many children are considered to be suffering from ADHD? Nowadays, parents are so quick to prescribe medications to their children, but do we really know the longterm effects these drugs may have on the development of our children?

A new film released today investigates the downsides of ADHD drugs and how you may be doing more harm to the development of your children than you expect.

The new film by international award-winning filmmaker Kevin P. Miller is titled Generation RX. It discusses the issues surrounding the growing trend of prescribing ADHD drugs, antidepressants, and anti-psychotic medications to children and teenagers across the world.

Kevin P. Miller talks with experts in different fields of medicine, ethics and journalism, to determine if corruption between drug companies and their watchdogs actually exists in the FDA. You may be surprised at what you hear!

Generation RX focuses on the compelling stories of real families who received bad advice from their doctors, and as a result, ended in catastrophic consequences. Now they have nowhere to turn for help.

This years most controversial film discusses how thousands of children have been caught in the vortex of mind-bending drugs at the most critical stages of their development. It also examines whether we have forced millions of children onto pharmaceutical drugs for commercial profit, rather than scientific reasons.

Official Trailer for Generation RX:

The trailer for Generation RX makes you wonder if there is a growing culture of medicine and corruption here in America.

Hopefully, this documentary will provide parents with the opportunity to weigh the supposed benefits of these controversial medications against the serious risks they may pose to the development and growth of children.

Parents need to realize that there are serious risks associated with every medication you take or give to your family… But, those same risks are especially important when it involves the overall growth and development of your children. Do the proper research on all medications, prior to taking them.

Official Website for Generation RX

Related Articles About ADHD:

• The All Movie Blog’s Review of Generation RX
• Study: ADHD Drugs May Pose Danger to Children
• 7 Common Food Additives That May Alter Children’s Behavior

For centuries our ancestors have used a plant known as Hypericum perforatum, commonly referred to as St. John’s Wort, as an herbal remedy for many ailments, including mental disorders, diarrhea, nausea, ulcers and sleep disorders. But St. John’s Wort is most commonly known as a natural, herbal remedy for those suffering symptoms of depression and anxiety.

According to new research published in The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, St. John’s Wort is effective at treating major symptoms of depression. This new research backs up previous research conducted in 2005, that came to the same conclusions.

In one of the most comprehensive clinical studies of St. John’s Wort to date, researchers studied 5,489 patients suffering symptoms of major depression. Administering both placebos and St. John’s Wort extract to patients, researchers came to the conclusion that St. John’s Wort was more effective than the placebo at treating mild to major cases of depression.

List of Clinical Studies for St. John’s Wort

This isn’t the first clinical study investigating the effectiveness of St. John’s Wort for symptoms of depression. In fact, here is a short list of studies done within the last fifteen years.

1996. St John’s Wort For Depression — An Overview & Meta-Analysis of Randomised Clinical Trials
1998. St. John’s Wort in Mild to Moderate Depression: The Relevance of Hyperforin for the Clinical Efficacy
1999. St. John’s Wort For Depression: A Meta-Analysis of Well-Defined Clinical Trials
1999. Comparison of Equivalence Between the St. John’s Wort Extract LoHyp-57 and Fluoxetine
1999. Hypericum Extract versus Imipramine or Placebo in Patients with Moderate Depression: Randomised Multicentre Study of Treatment for Eight Weeks
2000. Equivalence of St John’s Wort Extract (Ze 117) and Fluoxetine: A Randomized, Controlled Study in Mild-Moderate Depression
2002. Efficacy of St. John’s Wort Extract WS 5570 in Major Depression: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial
2005. Acute Treatment of Moderate to Severe Depression with Hypericum Extract WS 5570 (St John’s wort): Randomised Controlled Double Blind Non-Inferiority Trial versus Paroxetine.
2006. The Efficacy of St. John’s Wort in Patients with Minor Depressive Symptoms or Dysthymia — A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study

It must be noted that while there is overwhelming evidence supporting the use of Hypericum perforatum, there has been a few studies with different conclusions. In fact, one major study conducted by the National Institues of Health found that St. John’s Wort made no positive impact on patients suffering from major depression.

Possible Side Effects of St. John’s Wort

It is not uncommon for people to suffer small side effects from St. John’s Wort. Some of these side effects include headaches, nausea, dry mouth, fatigue, dizziness, and/or sensitivity to sunlight.

It is also possible for St. John’s Wort to interact with certain medications, such as birth control or antidepressants, you may already be taking, so it is wise to check with your doctor prior to taking any supplement containing Hypericum perforatum.

Things to Remember with St. John’s Wort

The overall effectiveness of St. John’s Wort depends on many variables. Where does the plant come from? Was it grown in organic conditions? Is it a tablet, powder or liquid? These are all going to affect the overall purity of the supplement. The manufacturing process of any herbal supplement can decrease the overall effectiveness of the benefits you may get from the herb. In fact, it is always best to avoid any supplement in tablet form, due to the brutal manufacturing process and because tablets are harder for the body to absorb.

Hypericum perforatum should NOT be used as a replacement to therapy. Everybody is different, please consult with your family, doctor and/or therapist, prior to taking St. John’s Wort. While it does show promise for treating symptoms of depression, it can also conteract with current medications you may be taking. So, please use caution and common sense.

Bottom line on St. John’s Wort
It is very important to do the proper research on St. John’s Wort, or any supplement you take. Most importantly, know who and where you’re buying the supplement from. Look into the Better Business Bureau records for that specific company. Try to find review’s for that product online, to see what other consumers are saying. You don’t want to ingest something that is of poor quality.

Soy milk is processed from soy beans through the use of varying manufacturing processes. You can find soy milk with a wide range of fat and protein content, with fat amounts generally ranging from 1-3%. In spite of the tremendous amount of positive press that soy in general seems to receive these days, there is some cause for concern among consumers, particularly when it comes to the consumption of soy milk.

During the past few years, the benefits of soy milk and soy foods have become widely debated. All it takes is a search online to discover some intelligent arguments and clinical studies concerning the potential health dangers that are present in the soy products that American families regularly consume.

While we certainly do not want to label ALL soy products as harmful or dangerous, it is only fair to present you with some essential data representing both sides of this discussion.

The Benefits of Soy Milk

Soy Milk is considered to be a nutritious alternative to cow’s milk for many reasons. First and foremost, soy milk is 100% Lactose-Free, meaning it is a great alternative to those whom suffer from lactose intolerance.

Soy milk may also provide you with beneficial protein, calcium and essential fatty acids, which we all need to live a healthy lifestyle. Soy milk is also low in saturated fat and sodium, but high in dietary fiber.

A recent study from the National Institute of Health & Nutrition in Japan, concludes that soy protein is effective at lowering your cholesterol, which ultimately lowers your overall risk of developing heart-related issues.

Another benefit of soy milk, is the fact that it does not contain a protein called casein, unlike cow’s milk. Casein is commonly used in many different products, ranging from medicine, foods, paints, and adhesives. It is not uncommon for people to develop an allergy to casein. Parents of autistic children need to be aware of products and foods containing casein, as it is widely believed that it can contribute to gastrointestinal disorders.

The Dangers of Soy Milk

Do the benefits of soy milk sound too good to be true? Well, recent research does indicate a few downsides to the consumption of soy foods.

Unfermented soy foods have a high amount of phytic acid, which can lead to the lower absorption of certain vitamins and minerals.

Soy contains a high level of phytoestrogen, which may affect the production of sperm in men, as well as decrease the amount of testoterone in their body. The isoflavones found in soy foods also contribute to the development of thyroid disorders, breast cancer and leukemia.

Another less thought of danger, is whether or not the soy you consume is organic. If possible, you should always avoid all genetically modified foods.

The Soy Isoflavone Controversy

Soy isoflavones, also known as phytoestrogens, are routinely marketed as treatments or prevention of certain types of cancer, including prostate, breast, and edometrium.

Part of the problem with the majority of the information that Americans are receiving is that the facts have been somewhat skewed.

For example, some reports have indicated that Asian diets are heavy in soy products, and that these soy-rich diets have resulted in reduced instances of cancers. This is misleading. Asian diets are actually quite low in soy consumption, with diets incorporating healthy amounts of poultry, eggs, fish, and meats.

The amounts of soy that are being placed in foods that Americans eat are exceeding the amounts that Asians consume in an entire day or week. The danger here is that excessive consumption of soy milk, or any other soy product, can lead to the development of many different diseases. For people who have chosen to focus on eating diets that are rich in soy-based products, this presents a very real problem. Unfortunately, many people are not aware that consuming too much soy can be hazardous to their health.

Soy Research & Product Labels

If you are a person who enjoys soy products, and you have incorporated them into your regular diet, you should understand the importance of reading product labels. It is important that you do this not only for those foods that claim to contain soy, but also on all of the food products that you buy. The reason for this is that there are many foods that contain some form of soy. The only way to be sure about this, however, is to read your labels!

The best advice is to research the types of food you eat so that you can make educated decisions about whether or not they are good for you and your family. Try to stick to organic, unprocessed foods as much as possible, and always be aware of the ingredients you are consuming. Genetically Modified Foods are something that you need to steer clear of when at all possible, and unfortunately soy is a primary component in many of these types of food products.

A healthy, lactose-free alternative to soy milk, is hemp milk.

Colloidal silver has been used for centuries as a type of antibiotic that can be both ingested and used topically. However, with the advance of medical technology, more effective antibiotics were discovered and the use of Colloidal silver for health reasons pretty much came to an end.

In recent years, colloidal silver has started to make a comeback in the United States. These silver products were being marketed as an effective treatment for simple ailments like colds and flus. Some websites took it a step further, and started promoting colloidal silver products as a “cure” for more serious diseases such as cancer, diabetes, chronic fatigue syndrome, psoriasis, even for relieving constipation.

With so many bogus claims floating around about the supposed benefits of colloidal silver, the FDA issued many warnings on the medical use of colliodal silver products, and started cracking down on websites touting these outlandish claims.

Seperating Silver Fact from Fiction

Silver protein is the second most commonly found type of silver product sold to the public. Silver protein is made up of a protein binder and metallic silver particles. You should watch out for product labeling that mentions protein or mild silver protein because these products are not true colloidal silver.

Most of the colloidal silver products that you are likely to find at your local market are actually made up of ionic silver solutions. Most of the silver that is found in these types of products is dissolved as opposed to being actual particles. It is important to note that ions are not the same thing as particles. The terminology used in advertising for ionic silver solutions can be very confusing for consumers, so it is important that you thoroughly research products and their manufacturers before you decide to try any colloidal silver product.

Argyria Concerns

Clinical studies have shown that it is primarily through the ingestion of large amounts of ionic silver (100 ppm and higher) that a permanent discoloration of the skin occurs. This skin discoloration is known as argyria. In cases of argyria, the skin turns a gray to blue color, and it is a condition that is not reversible.

The majority of silver products only contain 3-20 ppm of ionic silver, an amount that has not proven to be harmful to humans. However, you should be aware that it is possible for smaller amounts of silver to result in the development of argyria in some people. If you have concerns about this, you should take the time to discuss this with your physician so that the two of you can determine your safest course of action.

Check Out this CNN Report about a Man who Developed Argyria:

Making Smart Decisions

When choosing a colloidal silver product for consumption, it is very important that you conduct a fair amount of research so that you will know what to look for on product labels. One of the most important considerations is that of water purity. The type of water used in the manufacturing process of colloidal silver has a direct impact on the quality of the product that is produced. The reason for this is fairly obvious — the use of pure ingredients results in a pure product. If colloidal silver products are made through the use of unpurified water, undesirable contaminants are likely to be present in the final product.

It’s also very important to remember that your health situation is unique to you. So before you take any supplements, not just colloidal silver products, be sure you discuss it with your nutritionist or healthcare practitioner. You want to be sure that your physiology is factored in with the other research you’ve done.