1 in 10 Supplements Contaminated With Steroids Or Stimulants
July 31, 2008
The independent research shows that out of 152 supplements tested, 10.5 per cent contained enough illegal substances to trigger a positive drug test! The findings will be a wake-up call to British athletes who would face a two-year suspension if they tested positive for a banned substance, even if they believed the product was legal. The research will revive memories of the 1990s when numerous British athletes tested positive for nandrolone, including Dougie Walker, Mark Richardson and Linford Christie, who has always blamed the failed test on a contaminated supplement. Under World Anti-Doping Agency rules ignorance is no defence. Liz Yelling, who will compete in the marathon in Beijing, said: “These findings are worrying because athletes have a right to know that any supplements they use are totally clean .”
The study, funded by Lucozade Sport, was carried out as part of a new program called “Informed Choice” which uses a leading drug-screening company in the U.K. to ensure supplements are free of banned substances. Remember the name Informed Choice because you’ll be seeing a great deal more of them once word catches on about them over here in North America. They have recently even offered to test any supplement out there for free but with one catch: They get to publish the results of their tests to the public! If you’re a supplement company owner and your products have any banned substances in them, they’ll find it and bust your sorry ass. And as soon as the lab results come out, the Supplement Genius will be posting them faster than an Ethiopeon chasing a doughnut down a hill!
Andy Parkinson, acting director of UK Sport’s anti-doping agency, said: “What this shows is that there are no guarantees when taking supplements and athletes have to be very mindful and cautious and manage all the risks that they can when deciding to use a particular supplement.“
SOURCE: BODY OF SCIENCE
New Joint Drink
July 30, 2008
By Scott Welch
A company based in Cincinnati called ELATIONS (http://www.elations.com ) has just launched what has to be the world’s first “Joint RTD”. Yes, I guess there’s no room left for energy drinks so this company cleverly went a different direction. With 78 million baby boomers who are unwilling to grow old physically, mentally and emotionally (and who hate taking so many fucking pills), I’m willing to bet my Ron Jeremy collection that it will pay off! 
The RTD beverage is a supplement drink containing Glucosamine, Chondroitin, and Calcium for healthier joints and bones. “Our research shows that many people want healthier joints to continue their active lives, even as they get older ,” says Mike Burton, Marketing Director over at ELATIONS. “Now people can get those benefits from these attractive, portable little bottles of a refreshing, great-tasting drink that can be part of their daily routine rather than from unpleasant pills that they dread taking. “ Elations beverages are available in two flavors - raspberry white grape and cranberry apple. The bottles are sold in six-packs and individually. The ELATIONS product was originally developed and tested by Procter & Gamble (P&G). Some of the people responsible for its development started their own company and have licensed the technology from P&G.
SOURCE: PR Newswire
Skim Milk Outperforms Powerade!
July 30, 2008
By Scott Welch
According to Neil Merrett, Skimmed milk may become an unlikely new secret weapon within an athlete’s gym bag, with new research linking the product to a beneficial effect on preventing dehydration after a workout.
The Milk Development Council-funded study, appearing in the European Journal of Applied Physiology , backs similar research suggesting that skimmed milk is more effective at post exercise hydration than the commercially available carbohydrate-electrolyte drink Powerade (www.powerade.com ).
Researchers at Loughborough University’s School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, said that in trials of seven male subjects, consuming milk after exercising was found to ensure improved fluid balance to the energy drink.
Following post-exercise testing, the study found that subjects who had consumed skimmed milk had a positive fluid balance three hours after exercising, while those consuming electrolyte-fortified products were more negatively affected.
The team, led by Phillip Watson, added that while milk had been found in the study to improve fluid retention over the commercially available carbohydrate-electrolyte drink, Powerade, there were no differences in terms of the exercise capacity of respondents.
I asked Kelly "For The Ladies" McDonald (pictured below carrying two girls on his shoulders!) what he thought of these study results. Mr. McDonald pointed out something that none of the researchers considered. Here’s what he had to say:
"As is evident in the study, there were no statistical differences in terms of exercise capacity in subjects of either group. But what you must consider is how pathetic any dude is going to look drinking milk right before the big game! When it comes to sport, guys say they play for themselves but my "research" has shown that they only play For The Ladies. We call this the FTL factor for short. So if chicks see one guy drinking milk and the other guy drinking Powerade, which guy do you think they’re going home with after the game? The guy drinking Powerade of course! "
SOURCE: www.Nutraingredients.com
Phosphatidylserine Increases Testosterone And Lowers Cortisol
July 29, 2008
By Scott Welch
A study published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition http://www.jissn.com indicates that the consumption of a Phosphatidylserine (PS) can help to effectively manage exercise induced stress and promote healthy free testosterone levels.
An excessive cortisol response to exercise-induced stress has been linked to a negative training state, which could lead to overreaching or overtraining. Chronic overtraining often creates a disturbance in the anabolic-catabolic balance, which may express itself in decreased performance, injury, depressed immunity, and psychological depression. PS has been reported to be an effective supplement for combating exercise-induced stress and preventing the physiological deterioration that accompanies too much exercise. Previously, 800 mg of soy-derived PS has been reported to reduce the cortisol response to intensive resistance training by 20%.
This clinical trial investigated the influence of short-term supplementation with a moderate dose of PS (600 mg per day) on endocrine response to moderate intensity exercise on a cycle ergometer. The PS group was able to decrease mean peak cortisol concentrations by 39% when compared to the placebo group. In addition, PS promoted healthy free testosterone levels and consequently significantly improved the “testosterone to cortisol” ratio by 184% when compared to placebo. Neither PS nor placebo supplementation had an effect on lactate or growth hormone levels.
Previous findings suggested that the effect of PS on cortisol might be dose dependent. “For the first time, short-term supplementation with a moderate dose of PS showed significant results”, said Dr. Martin Purpura, Managing Member of Increnovo LLC and co-author of the study. “Preventing the negative effect of cortisol and increasing the testosterone to cortisol ratio will allow athletes to train and compete at their highest levels”. Additionally, Scott Hagerman, president of Chemi Nutra, sponsor of the study’s publication and leader in the production of PS said, “Chemi Nutra has filed a patent for PS’s effects to promote healthy testosterone levels. These exciting findings will open new markets for PS-based sports nutrition and anti-aging nutritional supplements, and we intend to pursue several very promising applications with selected customers”. One of the best Cortisol control supplements on the market is CortBloc made by MuscleLink (http://www.home-gym.com/mucocosu.html).
SOURCE: NPI Center
http://www.npicenter.com/anm/templates/newsATemp.aspx?articleid=21740&zoneid=28
Ronnie Coleman Sues Gold’s Gym?
July 29, 2008
By Scott Welch
Today I was on www.GetBig.com, which I frequent at least three times a day and a member named “ja351” posted a very interesting update on BSN spokes model and 8-time Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman. Supposedly the big Texan is suing Gold’s Gym for allegedly using his muscles to lure in members into the gym! No not the bald cartoon figure they’ve used for years on their company logo but I guess a poster they’ve circulated with his image on it. In a lawsuit filed in L.A. County Superior Court, Coleman claims Gold’s used a photo of him to advertise Gold’s … a photo that was plastered on posters. According to the website tmz.com Coleman is suing for misappropriation of image, invasion of privacy and unjust enrichment. He’s seeking unspecified damages and an injunction putting and end to the use of him on the poster.
SOURCE FOR FORUM POST: http://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?topic=226215.0
ORIGINAL STORY: http://www.tmz.com/2008/07/28/mr-olympia-rages-at-golds-gym/
Canada Considers Label Changes For Food Allergens
July 29, 2008
By Scott Welch
In Canada, we’ve got some of the strangest supplement laws of any country. For example, did you know that we can’t legally buy Yohimbe but we can buy Ephedrine in almost any health-food store? Or that Theobromine is a scheduled drug but if it’s labeled as Cocoa Bean Extract, it’s considered a supplement? Yes, these are just a few examples of the differences in the supplement laws between the U.S. and Canada but it’s SO confusing! For this reason, top supplement researchers like Don Gauvreau (www.LeanBodyRx.com) have made a fortune by staying on top of these differences and helping U.S. companies navigate their way through the ever-changing regulatory process, once they decide to enter the Canadian market.
Health Canada is now proposing a new labeling law that will finally help people suffering from food allergens. With this law, food manufacturers must list all food allergens, gluten sources, and added sulfites on labels of prepackaged foods. Strengthened regulations will provide clearer labeling rules in an effort to reduce recalls of inadequately labeled product, and chances of gluten/allergen-sensitive consumers experiencing health-threatening reactions.
“Ensuring safe foods for Canadians is a collaborative effort between government, industry and consumers,” says Minister of Health Tony Clement. “Until the regulatory amendments proposed by my department are enacted, we are asking industry to be proactive in improving labeling of food allergens and gluten sources to protect the health of Canadians.”
Researchers estimate up to 6% of young children, 3% to 4% of adults suffer from food allergies, nearly 1% of population lives with celiac disease.
SOURCE: Health Canada
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/media/nr-cp/_2008/2008_117-eng.php
Nutrition 21 Teams Up With Walgreens
July 26, 2008
By Scott Welch
Nutrition 21— the company behind most of the Chromoum Picolinate you see on the market, has inked a deal with Walgreens to supply the chain’s stores with three new chromium picolinate products under the “Finest Natural” brand and one new product under the “Walgreens Gold Seal” private-label brand. The line is expected to be released by early fall. Chromium Picolinate is a very well absorbed form of Chromium which is a micronutrient found in cheese, nuts, bread and organ meats like liver. Chromium is needed for a host of biochemical processes including glucose disposal and ATP production.
Nutrition 21 Co-Chief Operating Officer Michael Fink said that the deal “reflects the growing appreciation by retailers of Nutrition 21’s continuing commitment to develop and market proprietary and clinically substantiated nutraceuticals that address significant health care concerns.” He added that the company anticipates beginning to receive revenues from the new products by the end of the third quarter 2008.
In case you don’t know, Walgreens is the largest drug chain in America and currently operates 6,300 stores. Nutrition 21 reported $42 million in revenues for the 2007 fiscal year.
SOURCE: Nutrition Business Journal
Fish Oil Plus Red Yeast Rice Lowers Cholesterol
July 24, 2008
By Scott Welch
Okay, now the next time your aunt Shirley whines to you about her high cholesterol you can tell her to stop eating the donuts, get her ass to the gym and go eat some Fish Oil stacked with Red Yeast Rice (whatever the heck that stuff is)? A recent study published by the medical journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings found that a combination of Fish Oil supplements, therapeutic lifestyle changes and Red Yeast Rice was as effective as the statin drug Simvastatin (pictured below) in lowering LDL-C cholesterol. The group taking supplements, who were also encouraged to lower their intake of saturated fats and to increase their daily exercise, also displayed larger reductions in triglycerides and weight loss than the Simvastatin group. 
Read the full study here: http://www.mayoclinicproceedings.com/inside.asp?AID=4722&UID
ISS Research Corrects Supplement Genius!
July 24, 2008
By Scott Welch
No sooner than 2 hours after posting my last update on ISS Research and Supreme Protein did I got an email right from CEO of ISS Ron McAfee and it turns out that I stand to be corrected on a few things! Yes, I’ll be the first to admit when my facts aren’t just right and if any of you ever spot an error on this Blog, please call me out on it in the comments box under each post. Don’t hold back for fear of insulting me. That’s the real benefit of a Blog vs. a Website - it’s designed for two-way communication.
Back to ISS and the OhYeah! bar. It turns out that the smaller version of the OhYeah! bar (”the 45 gram” bar) has been worked on for years over at ISS and they never copied Supreme Protein after all. In fact, ISS had samples of this bar completed over 18 months ago! At that time, they were using these smaller bars as sample bars for consumers to try at various trade shows etc. This makes sense because I had been given a huge box of these sample bars last year and they were about half the size of the original bar. They held off on producing this “mini bar” until they knew for certain they could produce enough of their original bars and the new smaller bars to meet the demand for both. Now that’s a good problem to have! Ron also let me know that the OhYeah! RTD drink will be launching next month and thus far the pre-orders have been overwhelming. He went on to say “I think the consumers are going to be pleased with what we are about to bring to market. Should be a nice fit. ”
ISS will also be launching a brand-new website to support the bar and RTD beverage (see www.ohyeahnutrition.com). 
11 UFC Fighters Get Drug Tested!
July 23, 2008
By Scott Welch
According to a great blog I tune into everyday called “Inside Bodybuilding” (http://www.insidebodybuilding.blogspot.com) The Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) has provided the names of 11 fighters from this past Saturday’s UFC event that were tested for drugs and steroids. Tested Fighters Include: Anderson Silva, James Irvin, Tim Credeur, Cale Yarborough, Hermes Franca, Frank Edgar, Cain Velasquez, Brandon Vera, CB Dollaway, Nate Loughran, and Shannon Gugerty.
To the best of my knowledge, Anderson Silva is the only fighter on the list who has a supplement endorsement contract. Anderson is under contract with Canadian supplement company Nutrabolics (www.nutrabolics.com). Test results will be in within the next week. With the recent signing with BSN, the UFC has some serious momentum on their side for attracting new supplement users to the category. One failed drug test will drastically set the legitimacy of these guys as athletes way back once the media gets a hold of it.