Section III -- Supplements/Herbs
Part 1
Understanding ProHormones
Since the last time I wrote about Prohormones, there have been some pretty significant changes in the Pro-hormone industry. Newer forms have come out. They are supposed to be much more potent and the delivery methods have been updated and refined. This article will talk about the sublingual forms of Pro-hormones. Sublingual Pro-Hormones are now in what we call "cyclodextrin" forms. And they are supposed to be the latest and the most effective way to get the prohormone in your bloodstream. This method will skip the gastrointestinal process where most of the prohormone is destroyed. So I will try to explain what cyclodextrins are and why they are more effective than oral (swallowed) Pro-Hormone supplements. Also, I will cover some other Pro-Hormone brands and tell you a bit about how they are used.
Most of you may have heard about using Androstene nasally. A while back, East Germans were using Androstene. But when it came to getting the most out of Androstene, they needed something that could be used quickly and would begin to work quickly. So they developed a crude form of Nasal Androstene. Using Androstene nasally would allow the pro-hormone to enter the blood stream quickly through the thin nasal membranes. This would by-pass the gastrointestinal tract, eliminating breakdown, and allowing the prohormone to enter the bloodstream much quicker. So bodybuilders not being able to find the nasally used androstene, began to empty the capsules under their tongue in hopes in trying to use it subligually. This didnt pan out because of the molecules being much too large to pass through the muscous membranes. So the supplement industry has now introduced a new type of delivery system involving a unique class of carbohydrates called cyclodextrins. This type of delivery system has not been used before -- not for Pro-Hormones anyway. Cyclodextrins are end-to-end linked sugar molecules shaped like hollow cones. They're unique because the chemical properties on the outside are different from the ones on the inside. The outer structure is hydrophyllic (water-like) while the inner structure (or cone) is much more lipophilic (oil-like). Let me explain these terms with an example: If you look at Italian salad dressing you see globs of oil in a pool of vinegar. And if you stir them, they don't mix. Even if you shake the hell out of the bottle, the oil never completely dissolves in the vinegar. This is because oil and vinegar have very different chemical properties, preventing them from bonding with each other and making a homogenous mixture (a uniform solution where you cannot distinguish the oil parts from the vinegar parts) -- in this case the oil is oil-like and the vinegar is water-like. And the oil-like cone of a cyclodextrin molecule is able to hold other oil-like molecules inside of it and protect them from a water-like environment. Scientists have been using cyclodextrins for the last 20 years to deliver a number of oil-like drugs to the body that would otherwise be "unabsorbable" (like the anti-inflammatories, ibuproxam and dexamethasone). Until now, though, you've probably never heard of them because cyclodextrins have never heard of them because cyclodextrins have never been used with supplements for the bodybuilding community. But this cyclodextrin-absorption system is currently being used to enhance the effectiveness of prohormones. Pro-Hormones are oil-like molecules and they don't dissolve well in bodily fluids (saliva, mucous, perspiration, gastric juices, etc..) because they are primarily water. This makes prohormones difficult to absorb whether they are put under your tongue (subligual), snorted (intra-nasal), spread on the skin with DMSO (transdermal) or just swallowed (oral).
Unfortuneatly, only a small percentage of the prohormone is absorbed through any of these means and a significant portion is wasted, limiting the effects on hormone levels in the body. But if a Pro-Hormone is combined with a cyclodextrin, the absorption can be increased 10-fold. What is almost magical about the cyclodextrin molecule is that it allows a Pro-Hormone to remain safe and guarded in a "cyclodextrin jacket" until it contacts a membrane that it can bond with and pass through (this is what is meant by absorption). Cyclodextrins have their most powerful effects when they are used sublingually (dissolved under the tongue) because of the large absorption area of the oral mucosa (the membrane that lines the mouth).
When a cyclodextrin-prohormone complex (a prohormone inside of a cyclodextrin molecule) is placed under the tongue, it can move very easily through the water-like saliva--because on the outside it is water-like--until it reaches the oil-like membrane of the oral mucosa. Then the Pro-Hormone can be safely released to pass through the membrane and move directly into the bloodstream. This allows a large amount of the Pro-Hormone to be absorbed and a significant hormone elevation to occur in the body.
Josef Pitha at the Department of Health and Human Services demonstrated the effectiveness of cyclodextrin complexes with a testosterone molecule. He found that cyclodextrin complexes of 10mg of testosterone administered sublingually raised testosterone levels to 900% after 1 hour and they remained elevated to nearly 500% after 2 hours. (R-1,2,3) In comparison, oral administration of 200mg of normal testosterone only elevated levels to 300% (even though they used 20 times the dose of the first expirement). So the effectiveness of the sublingual-cyclodextrin delivery system is very clear. It is far more effective than oral administration even at the fraction of the dose.
But, this doesn't mean that conventional delivery systems are obsolete. Cyclodextrins give you another weapon for your bodybuilding arsenal. So now you can stimulate your hormones through both methods at the same time for an even greater anabolic effect. Here are some companies that are now selling cyclodextrin-prohormones.
Sports One
BOSS
Genex Labs.
There are two Pro-Hormone products that use something like the cyclodextrin delivery system. But they are close and the feedback has been very positive. First is from a company that we are all familiar with called Steris Labs. Yes, thats right they are the ones that make the high quality anabolic steroids. They have a Pro-Hormone product called "Impact 250". Impact 250 is a blend of 4 Pro-Hormones that have been micronized (broken up into tiny particles) and mixed in cottonseed oil. Impact 250 comes in a multi-use bottle with a rubber stopper top that you are supposed to take off and insert an eye dropper into it so it can be used subligually. Now since the product comes with the rubber stopper, some bodybuilders are pushing a hypo needle into it and drawing up the oil and injecting this solution intramuscularly. It has been deemed that since it is a cottonseed oil, it can act as injecting a steroid so that the Pro-Hormone is released into the bloodstream slowly. Steris does not condone this practice what-so-ever. I have heard users reporting good results using the solution subligually. If you are interested more information on Impact 250, visit the website at
www.impact250.com.
The second Pro-Hormone solution is from a company called VPX Sports. It is called PARADECA (LipoJect Technologies). Paradeca is a matrix of synergistic phytochemicals complexed amidst powerful intrinsic Pro-Hormones. These ingredients are uniquely packaged with an oral syringe to disperse exact dosages. Along with the dispenser is a 60cc or 120cc multiple dose vial containing a liquid suspension of the aforementioned phytochemicals and Pro-Hormones. The complex microlipid spheres contained within the liquid suspension are 45 to 55 times smaller than the diameter of the human hair. These microlipid spheres encapsulate the biologically active prohormone molecules in a multilayered liposome that can enter directly into the bloodstream through the lipid loving mucocutaneous tissue that lines the inside of the mouth. This specialized tissue's highly selective passage gateway from external to internal is further improved with the addition of capillary dialating phytochemicals. One of these phytochemicals is Ginko-Biloba which we all know is used to enhance memory by dialating the blood vessels to the brain, increasing the blood flow. These phytochemicals influence faster more efficient uptake of phospholipid microspheres into the bloodstream. These multilayered liposomes disperse a steady state of phytochemicals and Pro-Hormones throughout the bloodstream for a period of 20 hours! Here, these powerful nutrients flow directly to the heart where they rapidly disperse through the bodys complex vascular system in a matter of minutes. Even though this exclusive Lipoject Technologies process boasts absorption rates as high as an injection, the true scientific phenomena that takes place once these hormones are in the body is whats most remarkable. After entering the bloodstream, the magic of Paradeca occurs when the multilayered phospholipid naturally breaks down dispersing billions of Pro-Hormone and phytochemical molecules that cant potentially influence luteinizing action, antiaromatase activity, increase receptor affinity and also allow the intrinsic action of 19 Nor-Androstenediol and 4-Androstenediol to take place. Additionally, this process allows for a high conversion rate of the DIOLS to testosterone and nortestosterone (nandrolone). Oral (tablets, capsules, softgels)19-NorAndrostenediol and 4-Androstenediol, are NOT fat soluble and only have a 4% conversion rate compared to a 99+ % conversion rate of the fat soluble Pro-Hormones in PARADECA. Consequently, you would have to ingest 5000mg of oral 4-androstenediol and 19-nor androstenediol to achieve the same serum testosterone levels as a 200mg dose of PARADECA! Let me tell you some of the ingredients in PARADECA and how it is used.
Tribulus Terrestris L (Crypto Gold)
45% Steroidal Sapponins (LH Activator)
Proprietary Pro-Hormone Complex: 200mg 4-Androstenediol and 19-Nor Androstenediol
Alpha Lipoic Acid
Bioperine
Zinc Citrate
Methyl Sulfonyl Methane
Ginko Biloba
LipoJect Technologies:
Proprietary Liposomal Matrix
Asulfame K
alcohol and Natural Flavors
With the oral syringe, dispense 2cc (ml) of Paradeca into mouth. Let solution remain in mouth for five minutes between cheek and gums. Swallow solution. Repeat procedure upon awakening, 15 minutes prior to training, and before retiring. Wait at least 5 hours between dosages to enable the body to replenish the 3 BHSD enzyme necessary for prohormone conversion to testosterone and nandrolone. Use for 6 weeks then wait at least 4 weeks to start another cycle of Paradeca.
To find out more about this product, you can call VPX at (954)797-9759 or (800)954-7904 or look them up on the web at:
Sports Supplements | Bodybuilding Supplements | VPX Sports
Part 2
The Real Supplement Review
There is a great deal of misinformation and intentional deception being published in the form of the testing reviews and supplement review; therefore, as your Supplement Guru, I felt it necessary to put a legitimate article together called "The Real Supplement Review". However, when a supplement is listed in the top 10, I unequivocally believe that it meets the highest standards in regards to quality, and possesses the latest technological advancements in the science of nutrition pharmacology that is instrumental in enhancing one's appearance, muscle and/or performance.
While these high-tech nutrients and their delivery systems would definitely top the charts of the "Real Supplement Review", currently they cannot be discussed. There are other new nutrients/supplements that effect neuro transmission or communication between brain cells such as, 5-HTP (5-hydroxy tryptophan), hypericin, DMAE dimethylaminoethanol), L-Tyrosine, 2(3H)-furanone di-hydro, that are trying to mimic the positive effects of the recently banned Phen Fen or GHB (gamma hydroxy butyrate). As stated, this text is not all-inclusive and consequently, did not review these potentially effective and maybe dangerous substances.
In reverse order, from #12 to #1, we briefly review some of the top sports nutrition supplements:
10. Glutamine peptides - 16 times greater nitrogen retention than L-glutamine
9. Endo-Pro Plus - (Zeiss Research) The label reads "Get HARD stay HARD, you know what I mean!" As silly as that sounds, it's true. This product works above the belt and even better below the belt. Both sexes report increased muscle hardness and increased libido. The leuteininzing action of this
product seems to closely resemble a prescription hormone called HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin). In a frenzy to try to figure out what makes this product so effective, Dan Duchaine incorrectly concluded that the active ingredient in Endo Pro was Tribulus Terristris. However, contrary to
Duchaine's conclusion, it's a proprietary combination of flavonoids that make his product so effective and elusive to other supplement companies eagerly trying to cash in on Endo Pro's success. This supplement has been more successful with no advertising than products marketed with multi-million dollar ad campaigns!!!
8. Glycerol - Users report more endurance, a better pump and increased vascularity. Glycerol is already successfully being used for contest preparation in distance events, bodybuilding and fitness contests.
7. Greens Plus - No mysterious science here, it just makes you feel awesome and it's a convenient way to obtain cruciferous vegetables.
6. Meal Replacement Packets - SCSS Opti Meal, Lean Body, BetaStatin
5. Meltdown (Synephrine and Ephedrine) - Meltdown broke out of the traditional stack of Ephedrine, caffeine, and aspirin by further augmenting their stack with Citrus Aurantium. The active ingredient in this herb is Synephrine. When synephrine - an alpha andrenergic agonist is synergistically combined with ephedrine - a beta andrenergic agonist - the fat-burning effects seem to nearly double!
4. Enhanced Creatine Products (Creatine Delivery systems) Such as Met-Rx High Gear, Phosphagen HP, Hypergain, Cell-tech
These are the single best products for gaining lean mass. Creatine Delivery systems make straight Creatine obsolete. You must have phosphate present for creatine to function as it is resynthesized to
Adenosine tri-phosphate. Additionally, insulin nearly doubles the effectiveness of Creatine. Therefore, products that spike insulin and that contain insulin-mimicking nutrients are your ticket to rapid size and explosive strength gains.
3. Pro-Hormones (DIOL) products have a greater conversion rates than the (DIONES)
2. Renewtrient (furonone di-hydro) - GHB has identical intoxicating properties of 2(3H)-Furanone di-hydro. Yes you do get HIGH. Basically these substances shut down neurotransmission (conscious thought processes) by inhibiting the release neurotransmitters or brain chemicals that allow brain cells
to communicate with one another. If you try to stay awake under the influence of this product, you seem to fade in and out of consciousness and sub-consciousness. Renewtrient induces super deep stage 3 and 4 sleep patterns. Because the user stays in stage 3 and 4 sleep for many hours awakening from a
'Furamone coma-like night of sleep leaves the user super refreshed and invigorated.
1. Whey Protein Isolate - ... and the number one supplement is Whey Protein Isolate with di, tri, and quadrapeptide isolates. Because protein is the foundation of any supplement program, you should consume the highest biological value protein available.
Sifting Through the Mess - Let the buyer beware supplements.
1. Myoplex Mass - 36g sugar - stepping backwards. Didn't Muscle Media 2000 hammer high sugar weight gainers several years ago? Rating: 20 yrs. ago this product would get an "A"
2. Myoplex Deluxe Bar - 36g sugar - Sugar Nutrition or Candy Bar. Snickers bars have 25% less sugar. "Bill what were you thinking?" - Rating: NA
3. Any type of "zone" or "40-30-30" bars or powders in which the "40" refers to 40% sugar. These bars are just as bad as any commercially available candy bar. Unless you want 40 30 30 to refer to your waist size and bodyfat percentage, grab a low fat/low carb high protein nutrition bar.
4. Meal replacement packets or protein powders which blend low-grade casienate proteins, soy proteins, milk proteins, etc. or Whey Protein Concentrate products deceptively using Whey Protein Isolates' awesome nutritional statistics to promote their products. Use Cross Pro, Lean Body or Phil Kaplan's EAT. Lack of sales will cause other companies to stop deceptive advertising. When you see "68 and/or 77% better protein" on the label and it reads WHEY CONCENTRATE on the ingredient panel, THEY'RE LYING!!! They're ripping you off. Sports Pharma just lost a $50,000 lawsuit to the same company that boasts "68%" and more recently "77% better protein". Ironically, the company that should be slapped with the biggest class action suit in Sports Nutrition history for deceiving 100's of thousands of
consumers, just won a lawsuit for $50,000.
5. Pyruvate - You read the ads, "48% greater fat loss...!" Stack Pyruvate with lots of "Hail Mary's", liposuction and group therapy with Richard Simmons and this product may just work after all! Rating = F+
6. Proteins claiming to be Whey Protein Isolates such as EAS' Precision Protein. According to the label this product contains 2g of sugar per 20g serving or 10% sugar. The lowest grade Whey Protein Isolate we could find contained less than 1% sugar. BEWARE.
7. Products containing a protein/creatine mix. Protein severely hampers uptake and storage of creatine thereby lessening creatine's effectiveness. Carbohydrate/creatine mixes are significantly more effective than straight creatine and even more so than protein/creatine mixes
8. Renewtrient (furano di hydro) - Although on the "Top 10", list this product is potentially fatal if combined with alcohol or any type of sedative or depressant type drugs. Its intoxicating effects and chemical make-up are almost identical to GHB. AKA Butyrolactone, dihydro-2(3H) - furanone is a constituent of paint removers, textile aids, and drilling oils.
9. Symbiotropin, Pro HGH, Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide or 'GHRP'. Although these products are reported to stimulate Natural growth hormone levels to 'normal' levels, they cannot cause the body to produce supraphysiological (beyond one's natural output) levels of GH. Consequently, GHRP's in their current state are useless for the majority of bodybuilders and athletes who already are producing sufficient amounts of natural GH. In less than two months time the demand for this product has already burned out.
10. Regenisist, Testatropinol - Homeopathic products containing real Growth Hormone and/or testosterone, etc... The maximum amount allowable is in nanogram (1 billionth of a gram) amounts. These products are unrefrigerated and are, therefore, considered to be biologically inactive. Ingesting
biologically inactive real growth hormone in nanogram amounts no matter what delivery system is about as useful as screen doors on submarines.
11. HMB - If you want a product that has been scientifically proven to increase intra-muscular fat in the satorious muscle of a pig, this product has your name written all over it. "Experts" have countless excuses why this product does not work. Charles Poloquin states that it only works
on "elite" athletes. Others say stack it with creatine, protein, and androstenedione. One thing is for sure, stack HMB with 3 cc's of Testosterone Cypionate, 8 iu's of Growth Hormone, aminoglutethanide,and a
tenth of a cc of R insulin after a workout with 5,000 iu's of HCG and 400mg of Deca Durabolin and you'll grow like a weed. HMB does not work - Get the picture!
12. Ciwujia - is a type of ginseng that was reported to have increased fat metabolism by 43%. As a matter of fact, a company trying to market this product hired football legend, Joe Montana, as their spokesperson and spent $1.3M in an aggressive advertising campaign. Ciwujia metabolized money right
out of the consumer's pocket! Needless to say this company disappeared with a quickness. This is what happens when nutritionally and scientifically challenged individuals try to enter an arena in which they know nothing about. I rate all Ginsengs as the most over-rated/ under productive supplements in the history of supplementation.
13. HCA or Hydroxy Citric Acid may work by inhibiting the enzyme responsible for producing fatty acids from dietary carbohydrates. The key work here is MAY. MAY is not science. HCA is supposed to prevent excess dietary carbohydrates from being stored as bodyfat. Because most people are aware of how excess carbs and especially sugars are detrimental to fat loss, HCA would be of little or no value at all. Because one of the top supplement companies has come out with a meal replacement packet, a hyped up creatine product, and a nutrition (I use the term loosely) bar, all with over 30 grams of sugar, maybe they could add large quantities of HCA to their products and consumers MAY no longer get FAT. Rating = 0
14. Chinese Creatine - take your current brand of creatine and hold it under a light. If it has a crystalized, sparkly, shiny appearance, it has been manufactured improperly. This crystalized appearance generally occurs when creatine has been exposed to high temperatures for too long of a time period. VPX, EAS, and Twinlab bottle raw material creatine from the only approved drug manufacturing processed creatine in the United States. One of the components of creatine is derived from hydrogen cyanide. Improperly
manufactured creatine causes serious health consequences. Be careful - there are many name brand creatines that are from Chinese origin at a bulk price of $12.00 per kilo (1000 grams). You'll save everything but your life!
Your best bet is to carefully scrutinize all nutrition products. Always keep a high-grade protein powder, protein bar, and/or meal replacement as the foundation of your supplement program. DO NOT underestimate the value of consuming 6 lean proteins per day in 2 _ - 3 hour intervals. This is by far
the most effective strategy for attaining a lean and muscular body. When time does not permit eating a real food protein, it's time to break out a convenient protein powder or low sugar/low fat protein bar.
Creatine products should be supplement choice #2. If creatine causes you stomach irritation or bloating, simply cut back on the amount per dosage. A 100 lb. woman should take far less than the recommended 5g dose. ALL supplements must be adjusted to the person consuming them.
Next, if you are trying to burn fat and increase the intensity of your workout, muscle sparing/fat burning products such as ephedrine and the newly discovered synephrine are your ticket to rapid fat loss. Meltdown is the only product to combine these two synergistic ingredients.
Part 3
US Government/AMA SCAM
It is my opinion that the US government along with the American Medical Association is bilking our insurance companies as well as you and I personally out of BILLIONS of Dollars! Here is the scam. The USDA Food Pyramid recommends eating 6 to 11 daily servings from the bread, cereal, rice, and pasta group. Because this is the recommendation of the US Government, Americans are deceived into believing that these dietary recommendations are actually healthy. I am telling you that this type of diet is 100% responsible for American's astronomical problem with obesity, diabetes (and other blood sugar disorders), hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. Even farmers use high carbohydrate diets to
rapidly fatten cattle to prepare them for slaughter. It's ironic that our government is using this same technique on Americans, ie., The USDA Food Pyramid - eat 6 to 11 servings of starchy carbohydrates daily to fatten you up (diabetes hypertension, obesity, cardiovascular disease, etc...) to prepare you for slaughter (surgery, open heart, angioplasty, removal of extremities, bypass, etc...)!
It is no coincidence that America, the number one wheat-producing nation in the world, also recommends consuming 6 to 11 servings of wheat derived products every day. This type of health debilitating
dietary practice will also ensure that the most powerful lobbing group in the world, the AMA, will always have an overabundance of patients.
Meticulous documentation of over 3,000 VNS FAT ASSAULT clients indicates that when the amount of protein ingested either exceeds or is equal to the amount of carbohydrate, the severity of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, high triglycerides/cholesterol begin to lessen and often totally disappear.
Part 4
From the Protein Factory
THE BIG FAKE
The other day I received a free issue of "PUMP" magazine. Having shifted through all the girlie pics, I came across an ad of whey protein. This ad claimed the company had made an advancement in whey protein technology and now was manufacturing something called "CROSS-FLOW QUADRAFILTRATION" or whatever. I just had to laugh. Seems like a spin off of Cross-Flow Microfiltration. They claimed this process can isolate more protein subfractions, but seemed to have left out exactly what were those measurements. So is this ad BS, yep and let me explain how. Whey protein is manufactured at huge plants. I'm not talking about some 2 million dollar company, these plants that make whey protein are well valued at over 100 million dollars. The one company where I purchase our ion-exchange whey isolate spent over 20 years perfecting the technology. Now you're going to tell me that some company that can't even afford a full page ad in PUMP, manufactures the whey with this new process, NOT.
There are basically 3 ways to manufacture whey protein ion-exchange, micofiltration, and ultrafiltration, anything else is bullshit. Remember though, you have your different stages of each of these processes, first diafiltration, which separtes the whey from the garbage. Concentration, which makes the protein 35% to 85% protein. Isolation, which must be ABOVE 90%, (unlike the misinformed PUMP article). And lastly hydrolyzing. What the supplement companies try to do is this. Imagine if you were a farmer selling apples on the side of a road with about 10 other farmers selling apples. You have to find a way to make your apples sound better than the next guy right next to you. So you claim your apples are crispier, redder etc. do this well enough and you'll sell your apples better than the next guy. The same goes for whey protein, make your whey sound better, even though your selling the same thing.
To clear things up, I went out and looked at some of the top selling whey proteins and tried to figure out (through all the science mumbo-jumbo) what kind of whey protein they use.
Sport Pharma
Simple whey protein concentrate, I couldn't tell what kind of process because it stated on the label "Specially Filtered", which could mean nothing. It also labeled ion-exchange whey isolate next, but after calculating the protein % at a low 74%, I can guess it contains about nil isolate.
Precision
Ultafiltration and ion-exchange whey isolate. If it claims what the label states it a good protein. BUT, when precision protein first came out in Feb of 1998, I think it contained CFM whey isolate, then it somehow disappeared from the list of ingredients. I have the article in Muscle Media touting it as a high containing protein sub-fraction protein. Yes, if it did contain CFM, but not now. CFM has the highest concentration of protein sub-fractions, you cannot add protein subfractions. Here's my theory. I remember when the Precision Protein sold for like $29.99 at discount supplement dealers. Sales slumped because the price was too high, so to lower the price they had to remove the CFM whey isolate.
Designer Protein
Back in 1996 Designer listed on their label Hydrolyzed whey protein concentrate as their first ingredient. They have since changed. They now label it ion-exchange whey protein concentrate. Designers label is very hard to read. But to clear things up what whey peptides are is that they come from hydrolzyed whey proteins. You cannot buy from the manufactures whey peptides. You can buy specific whey peptides, like glutamine peptides, etc. But the only source of whey peptides comes from Hydrolyzed whey protein.
AST
This one takes the cream of the crop. I dont care how much sweetener you ad to a REAL hydrolyzed whey protein, its still undrinkable. Aspartame only gets so sweet. Well, I wont go on about this one anymore because, well just because.
Optimum
Whey protein concentrate. They dont list what kind of process, but instead list that it provides peptides. It also lists ion-exchange whey isolate, and hydrolyzed whey isolate. But the protein % is only 74%, very similiar to Sportpharma. I wouldnt be surprised if these two proteins came from the same blending facility
Life Extension CFM whey isolate
This is a good quality protein. But too bad the dumb asses mislabeled their protein and tried to make it sound better than it really is. From reading this site you should know that when you add flavoring the protein % drops. So how does the LEF protein contain 18 grams of protein in a 20 grams serving size, because that equals 90%. Which is the max protein % of CFM whey isolate. Good protein though.
Betastatin
THis isnt a protein but an MRP, but alot of people have been asking me about it. First of all, the company is ex-cybergenics, that puts up a red flag already. If you dont believe me look where they are located...and Im also right around the corner from them. The company is also know as Prosource, the mail order company. From reading this site you should know that you can either use CFM or ultrafiltration, not both, they use like a backslash so its hard to tell. The second ingredient is hydrolyzed whey peptides, sort of makes sense (good try guys). I dont believe they use hydrolyzed whey though. I dont understand why they had to put in WPC though, probably for mainly cost. They dont tell you what kind of WPC. I wouldnt buy this product, period.
Pro-Fusion
Nothing makes me laugh harder when a company advertises that WPC is higher quality than WPI. Total Joke!!The only good thing about this product is that the company that owns this line of product puts Tylene Buck in a bikini the size of 3 tissues.
HYDROLYZED WHEY PROTEIN AND THEIR FRIEND THE PEPTIDE
A couple years back, before the Protein Factory had any customers, I would troll the newsgroups and messages boards posting messages about the differences of whey protein concentrate and whey protein isolate. I would post how to find the "Protein Percentage" of a protein and what to look for. It was a great success. But since then, whey isolate powders have flooded the market. Well, this time I'm not going to make it so easy on my supplement companies enemies. I am creating a new measurement to judge the quality of a whey protein, most particularly, the weight of their peptide content. Dont worry its easy to explain.
FACT: SMALLER DI AND TRI PEPTIDES ARE FASTER ABSORBED AND PRODUCE A BETTER PHARMACUETICAL EFFECT THAN FREE-FORM AMINO ACIDS AND LARGER PEPTIDES.
Hydrolyzing any protein is the only way to produce peptides. Whey protein in particular is famous for being a hydrolyzed product. The manufacturers of whey protein hydrolyze their whey protein to give it the title "Hydrolyzed whey protein"
Ever look on the back of say.. the #1 selling whey protein powder on the market..starts with a "D". You'll see the list of ingredients. Now scroll down the list of ingredients, you'll start to see stuff like this.."B-lactoglobin ( MW 50,000 D). Did you ever wonder what the hell that means. Yea ME TOO. Well let me explain.
Whey protein concentrate (CONCENTRATE, remember that) is made up of protein sub-fractions. These subfractions are naturally occuring and require no special process to add, even though some supplement companies make it seem like they add them by listing them in their ingredients, they dont it's bullshit. These sub-fractions are as follows:
45% Beta-lactoglobulin ( MW 20,000-50,00 dalton)
20% lactalbumin ( MW 10,000-20,000 dalton)
20% Proteose Peptones ( MW 1,000-5,000 dalton)
10% immunoglobulins ( MW >100,000 daltons)
5% serum albumin (MW 50,000-100,000 daltons)
Now those numbers on the right of the protein subfractions are its molecular weight (MW). The Molecular weight is the actual weight of the protein sub-fraction measured in Daltons. These numbers represent the average ion-exchange whey protein concentrate. The greater the number, the more free-form amino acids and LESS smaller peptides the product contains. Thus, larger numbers are bad (most similar to whole foods), Smaller numbers are good (small di and tri peptides). The average molecular weight of a half- way descent whey protein concentrate geared towards bodybuilders is approximatley 20,000 Daltons. Hydrolyzed whey The number one reason to hydrolyzed a whey protein is to bring the MW down, thus making it more digestible. Hydrolyzed whey protein can be manufactured toward different levels of molecular weight. Some can average a molecular weight of 5,000, while higher quality and more expensive hydrolyzed whey protein averages a molecular weight of 500.
LETS COMPARE
Whey Protein Concentrate .......Percentage ...............Hydrolyzed Whey Percentage
>20,000 Daltons 15.67 >20,000 .73
10,000-20,000 62 10,000-20,000 1.49
5,000-10,000 5.66 5,000-10,000 1.91
2,000-5,000 13.25 2,000-5,000 7.35
<2,000 3.43 1,000-2,000 15.41
500-1,000 none 500-1,000 16.72
<500 none <500 56.39
As you can see, WPC averages a much higher MW than a hydrolyzed whey. Keep in mind that even though this particular hydrolyzed whey has an average MW of 520, some hydrolylzed whey powders can average higher. The Key is to make sure the supplement company that claims to use a hydrolyzed whey uses one with a low MW.
IMPORTANT: A good hydrolzyed whey protein will have an average molecular weight of approximately 500 daltons.
Now, say I own a supplement company and I want to make the protein more digestible and faster absorbing. What do I do, right, add hydrolyzed whey protein. Now if I wanted to rip people off I would claim to add whey peptides (which in fact are faster absorbing). But instead of buying a hydrolyzed whey with a MW of 500 Daltons (expensive to buy), I would buy a hydrolyzed whey with no concern for MW, just as long as it had some degree of hydrolysis.
Degrees of Hydrolysis
When a manufacturer makes a hydrolyzed whey protein, the powder can range from 5% hydrolyzed to approximately 30% hydrolyzed. There is no such thing as a 100% hydrolyzed whey protein. (As much as one company likes to think so AS@, and their product VP#) The more hydrolyzed a whey powder is, the more bitter it will taste! Yes the worse tasting powders are the best.
AN/TN
Pay attention because this is the key to hydrolyzed whey. AN/TN stands for amino nitrogen over total nitrogen. The higher this number is the better. Why? Amino nitrogen over total nitrogen represents the actually number of whey peptides percentage in the hydrolyzed whey product. The Protein Factory will be the first company to state what the amino nitrogen over total nitrogen is of their hydrolyzed whey powder.
Weeding out the Fakes
Take a look at the "#1 selling protein whey powder that starts with a "D". If my eyes dont lie to me I see a MW of 1,000,000. Yes 1,000,000. How the HELL do they get 1,000,000. When I first saw this I was amazed and shocked how stupid this company is. This product is as far as containing a whey peptide as my chances are of marrying Pamela Anderson. Thus, to determine a good hydrolyzed whey protein, call up the supplement companies and ask them what the amino nitrogen over total nitrogen % is and the average MW. Good Luck, I guarantee you never get a answer, just a "what the hell is this guy talking about!". The Protein Factory will offer 2 hydrolyzed products. A hydrolyzed whey isolate and a hydrolyzed whey concentrate. Keep this in mind, the hydrolyzed whey CONCENTRATE will have a higher content of peptides, even though the protein % is lower. The hydrolyzed whey concentrate is being specially manufactured for us. THe product will be available in 6 weeks.
Good Luck
Alex Rogers
Owner
I finally got off my ass and called these guys. Now I am totally impressed with what this company does. They took the time and answered all my questions, helped me place my order. I was honest with them when I told them of my training regimine, what "supplements" I was taking and was very vocal about what goals I wanted to obtain. The prices are very fair and blow away any supplement company prices. You are getting pure protein and not a lot of garbage. Learned that some of the name brand proteins are selling you nothing but a fancy label and the muscle rags that pimp them, are getting a percentage. Give them a try, you won’t be disappointed. Tell them you saw the article in the Vae Victus.
Protein Factory High Quality Proteins and Custom Formulas
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