22mayQAsNutritionApril07

Q&As: Ask the Nutritionist (Last updated: 30 Apr 2007)
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Q) Why is it many gyms banned wearing slippers to
train?
A) Probably because it does not reflect well on the
image of the gym. I have heard that wearing slippers
could be dangerous as weights may fall on your feet
and caused injuries. But the same thing may happen
even if you wore sports shoes. Maybe if you wear
industrial boots there could be some protective effect.
Wearing slippers may be good for training calves
were the slippers cushioned the ball of your feet and
does not restrict your heels at all.

Q) I know you highly recommend pharmaceutical
grade fish oil as the #1 choice to take Omega 3, does
that means that Flaxseed oil is useless?
A) Flaxseed oil contains about 55% alpha-Linolenic
acid (ALA) which is a long chain fatty acids. I think the
advantage in a way by taking Flaxseed oil is that ALA
has little conversion to EPA. Meaning it has NO effect
on the prostaglandins balance in the body. It allows
one to benefit from significant amount of these
Omega 3 long chain: to be incorporated into cell
membranes of the blood vessels to "relax" the blood
vessels to normalise blood pressure and to increase
the fluidity of the cell membrance which in turn
increase the mobility of the receptors. Fish Oil on the
other hand are too potent to be taken in higher
amount to achieve such an effect.

Q) What do you think of Walnut as a brain tonic?
A) I love to take raw Walnut as a snack sometimes.
But I do think the claim that it is a brain tonic is kind of
far stretch, especially as one of the explanation I
heard is that its shape is like the brain.
Walnut contains some omega 3 fat (alpha-Linolenic
acid aka ALA), making up about 10% of its total fat
content. As we know the conversion rate of ALA to EPA
is extremely low in human and conversion from ALA to
DHA is non-existence. Hence, ALA by itself should not
exert benefits on the brain in my opinion no matter
what amount you are taking.

Q) Any new supplement that you think will be
beneficial to bodybuilders?
A) I will definitely say probiotics. I seldom get too
excited over a supplement, but I think probiotics
should be in the must-have list. Probiotics are
beneficial in keeping your digestive tract in tip-top
condition. Health professional generally agreed
probiotic pills are needed to exert significant benefits.
Probiotics reduce the chance of stomach upset (very
often with high food intake) and prevent bad bacterias
from colonising the intestines (another effect of high
food intake and too much junk food intake). Probiotics
also increase peristalsis (waves of contractions) of
the intestines to speed up metabolism and
"cleansing" (seldom but this time, this word is used
appropriately). A host of scientific research supported
the health values of probiotics that is rarely seen in
the nutrition science. Many of my friends/clients
reported what I have personally experienced and
believe in: probiotics supplementation improve skin
complexion. Skin that look beamingly healthy certainly
magnify the look of healthy and a great looking
physique.

Q) Do you think it is a must to switch to low GI
sources of carbohydrate since high glycaemic (GI)
carbo are not a part of our natural diet?
A) Although high GI carbo is never abundant in natural
human diet, I believe we do not need to avoid high GI
carbs like plague. Instead the amount of carbo
together with our physical activity level on a daily basis
may be more impactful on our health.
To benefit maximally from a health state similar to the
"starvation" mode we evolved upon. This is a mode
where energy intake is near maintenance, where
insulin resistance is kept at bay, where blood LDL
cholesterol and fat level is lowered, where the burning
of body fat is going well .
We should exercise in a way where we expend as
much glycogen from our muscles. Then we reload
glucose into the muscles to near-full but never to full
tank. In this way we maximise the health benefits of
exercising and keep our body fat percentage low.

Above (Product X): Whey not
instanised properly. Float on top
after being added.

Above (Product X): After stirring
for 30 seconds vigorously in
125mL of room temperature
water. Lots of undissolved
clumps and globs....

Compare this with
Below: ISS
Research....
Complete Whey

Above (ISS Research Complete
Whey): After stirring for just 5-10
seconds vigorously in 125mL of
room temperature water. No
clumps, no globs, completely
dissolved! Super smooth! Full
details below.