Welcome to the VPX Sports Supplement Blog

As with any nutrition protocol; pre- and during workout nutrition is ultimately individual based. In order for us to discuss this topic for the masses, we would have to sit here for hours on end, only to produce what resembles a short novel; not to mention it would probably bore you to death. In this case, the only way you are going to know exactly what will work to your body’s advantage is tried and true trial-and-error. All we can do is provide some guidelines with which you can tailor to your own personal needs.

With a Coffee house on every corner, it is no wonder that coffee has become a staple in every American’s diet. And what comes along with your mug of coffee besides cream and sugar? A hefty dose of caffeine. Well, actually, the average cup of brewed coffee contains 150mg of caffeine, this is triple the amount that is in 8 ounces of your favorite soft drink.

Ok, so you’ve just spent 45 minutes pounding it out in the gym tearing up your muscles, gulped down an extra frothy, fast-acting protein and carbohydrate drink and are on the road to muscle recovery. Considering it is only 4 pm, you have the rest of the evening ahead of you and you definitely can’t let yourself starve. You need to consume at least two more meals before your head hits the pillow and you are well aware that those two meals should not consist of fast-food and soft drinks. The recovery process does not end at the post-workout meal!

The essential amino acids are those specific amino acids that you need to consume in your diet because your body doesn’t naturally make them.  If you slept through your college chemistry class, remember that amino acids are the building blocks of protein.  So for any given protein that you consume, whether it’s beef, chicken, eggs or beans, the amount of each specific amino acid differs.  Most plant sources of protein for example do NOT have enough of the essential amino acids (EAA’s): that’s why they are incomplete proteins, and that’s why most athletes are carnivores.  We love our meat because they are full of the EAA’s.  VPX’s Power Shock™ contains the entire compliment of EAA’s.  In fact, you’ll learn that Power Shock™ is great for the muscles, the brain and overall health.

It’s just the facts, 2 out of 3 Americans are not getting the recommended amount of 25-35g of fiber per day by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

If you remember correctly, the purpose of consuming whey protein post-workout is because whey protein is immediately absorbed into the body as compared to egg proteins and/or caseins with which absorb at a considerably slower rate. For this reason, those proteins are termed "slow release." They do not actually release slowly, but because they all absorb at a slightly different pace, your body is absorbing proteins for a extended period of time, as opposed to if you consume whey protein and get your full shot of protein all at once. The fact that whey protein absorbs immediately is the catcher here. Remember that oh-so-important window of opportunity? Doesn't it make sense that if you have only an hour to get the nutrients your body needs, you would want to consume the fastest absorbing nutrients around? This is also why you should be taking your carbohydrates in liquid form, because they are readily available for use.

Revamp your kitchen - Fill your fridge and pantry with the healthiest foods and snacks; get rid of any foods that will keep you from reaching your fitness goals. Don't let your kids be the excuse to have these foods in the house. If they absolutely must have these foods, designate a cabinet just for them that is off limits to you.

Some of you may have been a little confused when you read that insulin was so important for muscle repair in the last article. Most people think of diabetes when they hear the term “insulin,” so it wouldn’t be surprising if some of you left the article with a confused look on your face. Let’s take a minute to help you to understand it a little better. First off, insulin is a hormone secreted by special cells in the pancreas in response to (among other things) increased blood glucose concentration. The primary role of insulin is to control the transport of glucose from the bloodstream into the muscle and fat cells [1]. Controlling blood/glucose levels is important in weight management, if you have uncontrolled glucose, you are likely to hold more fat, and have a better chance of getting diabetes (a disorder of carbohydrate metabolism resulting from inadequate or ineffective insulin).