| Q&As: Ask the Nutritionist (Last updated: 29 Aug 2005) If you have a question on supplement, nutrition or training to ask, email to questions@ultimatesg.com |
| Q) Why is eating Broccoli beneficial? They taste bad to me. A) Broccoli belongs to a plant group called Brassica, which contain a number of non-nutrient biologically active compounds that may help protect us from cancers. People who eat high amounts of Brassica have decreased risk of cancers especially those of colon and rectum (colon cancers rate in Singapore has been on the increase in the recent decade). Besides being rich in protective antioxidants, bioflavonoids and vitamins, these plants are also high in other substances that are able to prevent to slow down the growth of cancer cells. These made Brassica worth further scientific investigation. Besides, Broccoli other common Brassica genus are Cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, horse radish and turnip. Broccoli is by far the king of Brassica, being a powerhouse of many nutrients too. I know some just cannot take their grassy taste. In such cases, try the others. Q) How much Vit B13 and B15 do we need a day? A) "Vitamin" B13 is also know as Orotic acid. Orotic acid or Orotates are a substance found in abundance in milk. Human body is capable of making Orotates (aka Vit B15) from the digestion of protein. Orotates are therefore strictly not a vitamin in any way. "Vitamin" B15 is also known as Pangamic acid. It has never been classed as a vitamin in nutrition science. It is not a vitamin, nor a nutrient, nor a single substance. Whatever benefits it has been promoted with are unfounded. I would also like to include another "Vitamin"here, since we are into this topic. "Vitamin B17" (aka Amygdalin or Laetrile). It was marketed by the same questionable "inventor" who "discovered" Vitamin B15. Laetrile contains a poison called cyanide. Laetrile has been marketed as a cancer cure that extensive clinical trials have shown that it does not work. The false hope also delay patients from seeking competent medical treatment. Also documented are cases of people dying from Cyanide poisoning from taking laetrile with enzymes. Stay away from these "false "vitamins". Q) Hey, I'm interested in losing body fat. I am well awared that I should avoid white bread, but when I go to the store, I get so confused. There are so many type of different bread! Any recommendations? Thanks! What bread do you recommend is the best? A) Despite of all the bad press about bread is fattening, the common bread are relatively low in fat. When dieting, it is best to take the wholemeal that is preferably partially whole grain. The one on th left is my favourite. If you like a low sodium one, look at the one on the bottom of the Complete Whey product page. Q) When should I take slow-released protein and when should I take fast-released protein? I am confused over how should I use them to get the best results. A) First, some background on protein absorption rate. Micellar Casein has the greatest ability to form a soft protein lump in the stomach and then dissolved "slowly" in the stomach to release amino acid at a slow and steady rate up to 7 hours when asleep due to the slow down in digestive movement) to prevent muscle breakdown (i.e. anti-catabolic effect). Whey protein on the other hand is absorbed very rapidly and enter our blood circulation in a burst to cause a sudden surge in the appearance of amino acids in our blood that will drop within a short time. A study has shown that Micellar Casein can exert an anti-catabolic effect that is 34% greater than Whey. Another study has shown that police officers on a quality Casein protein supplement doing weight training gain twice the amount of lean mass compare to the other group taking Whey on the same training protocol. Casein appears to have certain advantage over whey. By delivering nitrogen (amino acids) at a slow and steady rate (rather ideal) to muscles, it does not "open" up the "valves" that decrease the efficiency our body use protein. Basically, when you take lots of whey in big servings, the body will adjust itself to break down and excrete amino acids at a much faster rate. That, increase your protein needs. Meaning the more protein you take, the more you need to maintain positive nitrogen balance. My experience with ISS's Micellar Matrix is as follow: I feel full half way drinking a serving, indicating that Micellar Casein in Micellar Matrix is indeed forming a curd effectively and it last me full for nearly 3 hours as oppose to Whey (if I take in the same way with 100g of oats during breakfast) which last me about an hour. Taking this form of protein supplement this way improve nitrogen retention without increasing your body's protein needs to maintain nitrogen balance. I believe taking Micellar Matrix twice a day will do a great job to put you in positive nitrogen balance and it is also a great dieting protein because it keep you full longer. I am actually amazed by how well it dissolved. After giving so much good press about Micellar Casein, I want to add that this doesn't mean Whey are no good. Currently, Whey price is very affordable. If you know how to take them correctly, you can still maximise their benefits. A good quality Whey is a valuable supplement post workout, but my opinion is never good to take more than 30g post training. If you want to take more than 30g of protein after training it is advisable to stack them with a meal containing natural protein as Whey has almost an instant absorption rate, so fast that even post workout your body will not be able to cope with a surge of a large amount of Whey. It is a good idea to take smaller amount since whey is so fast absorbed, I know I will sound very biased, but 18g to 30g is a good amount to take at one go. Q) I saw this vitamin E that is stated water soluble on the label, isn't vitamin E a fat soluble vitamin? A) There is a type of vitamin E that is developed to be water soluble for patient with problem absorbing fat. Water soluble vitamin E is developed for these patients. They are not needed by healthy individuals. Q) Can Pregnant women take Max DHA? Can Elderly take Max DHA? A) Yes they can. So can children. I recommend it to everyone. Q) How come your DHA formula do not have Arachidonic acid? It is included in baby powder? A) Our diet contain plenty of Arachidonic acid for example in the farm meat that we eat. Arachidonic acid give rise to eicosanoid series 2 that promote inflammation and blood clotting.There is no need to take more of it as supplement since our diet already contain way too much Arachidonic acid. Q) I thought DHA only help babies when their brain are developing? A) There is no doubt DHA promote maximal structure development in babies during their early years. But throughout our life cycle, an abundant supply of DHA will promote the production of very beneficial phospholipids that line the brain cells to improve signal transmissions between them. It is these specific phospholipids that maintain proper integrity of the brain cells status for good focus and memory which tend to decline with age. Q) How does DHA compare to Flax Oil? A) I am going to be very honest with you. Bear with me on the technical part. Flax seed contain only alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). ALA need a 2 step conversion to EPA. EPA need one step conversion to DHA. Human body have close to zero activity to convert ALA to DHA. This is why Scientists consider DHA the King of Omega 3 for the nervous system. DHA help the nervous system and the brain to function at tip top condition by improving information transfer and possibly nerve impulse (needed for intense muscle contraction). Although the flax liquid you use to purchased has 50 servings of 7.7g of ALA. The conversion to DHA is 6% from ALA to EPA and 3.8% for EPA to DHA. So ended up with 17.6mg of DHA per tablespoon consumed theoretically. Competition from the Omega 6 in our diet will further reduce the efficiency of conversion by another 40-50%. Research indicate that 1500mg of DHA is needed daily give good results to boost the nerves and brain. Q) How does DHA improve Brain Function? A) I am all excited to reveal that DHA was found to stimulate the production of Phosphatidyl Serine (PS) in some studies. PS is one of the most expensive supplement ingredient I know of that is found to improve memory and information transfer between nerve cells. I will give a full update after I review more scientific papers. Q) I have read your new release on the new fish oil you. I have been taking the regular fish oil for years and I would like to know why should I pay double the prices for your version since I can get 300caps of the regular ones at around $33? I know you won't have the guts to publish my email in your Q and A column. A) First let me give you some background on the fish oil you are currently taking. It is the health food grade version, which typically contain 180mg of EPA and 120mg of DHA within 1g of fat in a 1000mg softgel. That is only 30% Omega 3. This type of fish oil has not been molecular distilled long enough to remove the potential contaminants (e.g. PCB act like as xenoestrogen, heavy metal like lead and mercury). These contaminants once introduce into our body will stay there and accumulate over time. Therefore, it make sense to take pharmaceutical fish oil which contains 100 times less potential contaminants. Max DHA which I am marketing have further advantage over regular fish oil such that it has little EPA. EPA acts as a blood thinner which increase the time needed for the blood to clot, a potentially dangerous effect of regular fish oil. Based on my research on the recent literature, DHA is by far the most superior Omega 3, it is retained in the body longer, it has practically no toxicity, there are many research that show the a mere 1.5g of DHA per day will significantly help us to fight stress and keeping our Central Nervous System functioning at tip top condition (possibly very beneficial to bodybuilders and practically any urban dwellers). Haha, this is for you- bodybuilders, "think of regular fish oil as pro-hormones and DHA as testosterone". Although EPA can be converted to DHA, our body have very low of such activity (almost zero) that we need preformed DHA to function at our best. DHA can also be easily converted to EPA when our body needs it. Basically what I am trying to say is DHA is the King of Omega 3! Last but not least is the if you get regular fish oil you pay 23 cents for 250mg of DHA (based on 300 caps for SGD$33), but if you buy Max DHA, you pay only 20 cents (based on 180 caps for SGD$36). Let not forget that Max DHA contain 100 times less potential contaminants and is pharmaceutical grade! To read more about my research on DHA, click on the picture of Max DHA on the left. |
Above (Product X): Whey not
instanised properly. Float on top
after being added.
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....
for 30 seconds vigorously in
125mL of room temperature
water. Lots of undissolved
clumps and globs....
Compare this with
Below: ISS
Research....
Complete Whey
Below: ISS
Research....
Complete Whey
Low Sodium Bread
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.
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.
??? Where's the Fish??
 |  |  |  |  |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
CLICK HERE
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|