posted January 28, 2000 12:59 AM            

Jon

posted January 28, 2000 11:45 AM            

Please read this excerpt from the EF newsletter on the benefits of Soy protein.

Soy Protein Isolate benefits for Bodybuilders

Animal research suggests some great advantages of using soy protein
isolate as a bodybuilding supplement. Research has shown that the
isoflavone daidzein found in soy-protein isolate might have a gender
specific normalizing effect on sex-hormone production. Lab animals
experienced testosterone and growth hormone excretion as well as muscle
growth in males, while the female animals experienced a decrease in these
hormones and fat loss.

Daidzein, which is concentrated in Mass Quantities Chrysin Deluxe, is also
found in Mass Quantities Soy Isolate Deluxe. Daidzein is a key isoflavone
found in soy that acts as a potent phyto-estrogen. It is structurally a
very weak "pseudo-estrogen" (about 1000 times weaker than the body's
primary estrogen estradiol). This is good news to the bodybuilder because
weak estrogens like daidzein will compete with stronger estrogens like
estradiol for available receptor sites to "bind" to. By binding to the
receptor sites daidzein then "blocks" the stronger estrogens from binding
to and activating receptor sites. With the daidzein isolflavone attached,
estrogen receptor sites remain inactive. This inactivity further minimizes
the negative effects of estrogen in the body. Many researchers believe
this effect is the reason soy protein is linked to a reduction in the risk
for many forms of breast, endometrial, and prostate cancer. This mechanism
works similarly to the prescription drug Nolvadex (tamoxifen citrate)--an
anti-estrogen staple in the bodybuilding community.

This research also indicates that the soy-protein isolates may reduce
nitrogen loss and keep you in a positive nitrogen balance to better
facilitate muscle growth. The human body can only repair and build
muscles when it has a positive nitrogen balance.

Of particular interest to the bodybuilder is Soy Isolates high
concentration of the amino acids glutamine and arginine. These two aminos
are extremely important to a body builder for their ability to release
growth hormone, aid in immune system functions, and for their ability to
speed muscle cell recovery.

Table 1. Glutamine (per 100g)

Soy 10.5g
Milk Protein 8.8g
Whey 4.9g

Many bodybuilders understand the importance of the essential amino acid L-
glutamine to their muscle building supplementation. What many
bodybuilders don't know is that soy protein isolate has the highest
concentration of glutamine among protein sources-over twice that of whey
protein! (7) Glutamine has been used for years in hospitals to speed
muscle cell recovery and improve maintenance of muscle mass during periods
of starvation, infection, and exercise trauma. (8) Glutamine
supplementation has been shown to promote muscle glycogen accumulation,
which has been linked to an increase in muscle protein synthesis. (10)
Glutamine has also shown the ability to increase muscle cell volume
through the process of cellular hydration. (11) Glutamine supplementation
in as little as 2 grams per day has been shown to increase plasma growth
hormone levels. This increase in growth hormone has been shown to help
shift the fuel for muscle from glucose to fatty acids. (9) Research has
suggested that a bodybuilder should consume between 8 - 15 grams of
glutamine each day. Supplementing 3-5 grams of glutamine 3 times per day
has been shown to elicit a positive response without stimulating the
excretion of glutamine in the urine.

Table 2. Arginine (per 100g)

Soy 7.6g
Beef 6.3g
Egg 5.8g
Cassein 3.7g
Whey 2.9g

L-Arginine is another important amino acid with respects to body building.
Arginine plays several roles in the body such as fighting mental and
physical fatigue, but its main job is to assist with growth. This amino
acid promotes the release of two highly anabolic hormones, insulin and
growth hormone. Arginine promotes gains further by assisting in recovery
from post workout muscle trauma through its ability to speed tissue
healing. This amino acid aids in the detoxification of the liver by
removing ammonium from the body. Arginine has also shown the ability to
lower LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood. Arginine is
used in the medical treatment of angina, congestive heart failure, male
infertility and wound healing. Soy isolate protein contains higher
amounts of this important amino acid than any other protein source.

As a hard training bodybuilder, your body needs protein every 2 -2 1/2
hours even if you may not think you need it. The human body does not
store protein long term as it does for fat and carbohydrates. Instead,
your body holds amino acids in three pools that provide the body's
necessary protein for fuel. These pools are constantly in a state of flux
and are replenished either from dietary protein or the breakdown of
muscle. It is extremely important to keep these amino acid pools topped
off through the feeding of protein every 2 - 2 1/2 hours. When feeding
stops, there is a fall in protein synthesis and a rise in protein
breakdown. This translates into a loss of lean body mass after extended
periods without protein.

Soy Protein Isolate for Dieters

For years, bodybuilding gurus have recommended the use of soy protein for
pre-contest bodybuilders who need to shed body fat while keeping as much
lean muscle as possible. Normally when the body is forced into a low
calorie diet program, it reacts by slowing down your metabolic rate. This
will make it increasingly more difficult to lose body fat. Soy-protein
isolate helps lessen this effect through several different pathways.
First, soy-protein isolate has been found to enhance endogenous production
of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroxin (T4), and triiodothyronine
(T3). Thyroxin is the main player in the regulation of your metabolic
rate. The more thyroxin you have the faster your metabolism will be.
A faster metabolism insures that more of the food you eat will be used as
fuel and less will be stored as fat, an important advantage to any dieter.

Another way soy accelerates fat loss is with its unique concentration of
amino acids. Soy-protein isolate has the highest concentration of amino
acids in what is called the "critical cluster". This cluster of amino
acids contains the three branch chain amino acids (BCAA's) and two
essential aminos - glutamine and arginine. These critical amino acids
help a bodybuilder spare muscle while losing body fat during a pre-contest
diet. Any time you diet, your body tries to break down muscle glycogen in
an effort to provide the body with more calories. In fact, your body will
often try to use broken down muscle for fuel before it uses stored body
fat. This is called muscle catabolism or muscle breakdown. These three
branch chain amino acids are the first amino acids that are used for fuel
when your body begins muscle catabolism. If you have a high amount of
these branch chain amino acids in your diet, your body will first use
these for fuel before it breaks down your stored muscle.

The Health Benefits of Soy Isolate

Now that we know that soy is a quality protein source, what health
benefits can soy protein bring to its consumer? The intake of soyfoods
has long been associated with a reduced risk for certain cancers.
Research has suggested that phytic acid and protease inhibitors, two of
the nonnutritive compounds in soybeans, contribute to the observed
anticarcinogenic effects of consuming soy. (1) Residents of the United
States and the United Kingdom, as a whole, consume the smallest amounts of
soyfoods but have the highest instances of breast and prostate cancer.
Japanese residents in comparison are the largest consumers of soyfoods and
have the lowest instances of these cancers. (3) Researchers point to the
isoflavones genistein and daidzein, which are found exclusively in soy and
soy protein isolate, as the major components behind soy's anti-
carcinogenic effects. (2)

Soy protein isolate has shown the ability to promote bone health, which in
turn aids in the prevention of Osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a chronic
disease characterized by a decrease in bone density, which results in
abnormally porous and fragile bones. It has been suggested that a high
protein diet may increase the excretion of calcium in the urine, which can
lead to this health condition. Studies have shown that not all proteins
have the same effect on calcium excretion. Compared with animal protein,
soy does not result in an increased loss of calcium in the urine thus
promoting a more optimal calcium balance. (4) In addition, the
isoflavones in soy protein have been shown to increase both bone mineral
content and bone mineral density which will improve the health of
abnormally porous bones. (5)

Soy protein isolate has shown the ability to effectively lower LDL
cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood. Experts agree that
these cholesterol-lowering effects can be achieved through the consumption
of as little as 25 grams of soy isolate protein each day. The experts
point to the high levels of the amino acid arginine for this lipid
lowering effect. (6) LDL cholesterol is one of the primary factors behind
progressive atherosclerosis. This medical condition is caused by the
progressive build up of plaque that clogs blood flow in the arteries.

posted January 28, 2000 09:31 PM            

the taste is so smoth that you can mix it with anything yogurt, fruits, milk and it won't alter the taste that much.

This way you don't get tired of taking it.

posted January 28, 2000 09:45 PM            

There protein mix has no carbs and 50 grams whey.

There meal replacement low carbs, 50 grams whey.

posted January 28, 2000 09:48 PM            

It mixes real good
PB and CHOC is very tasty
I dont really like orange creamsicle though

posted January 29, 2000 07:29 PM            

Just remember this, use 8 / 10 oz with Actisyn. No more (God, I won't want to drink anymore than I have to) and no less (God, I don't want it to be think also!)

Off season I drink N-Large for the calories. It tastes far better then anything else I've tried.