Although various drugs popular with athletes and bodybuilders are frequently written about and discussed, one substance that has been popular with athletes is rarely, if ever, talked about. That substance is nicotine. Nicotine is familiar to most people and is the … [Read more...]
Is Viagra an Ergogenic Aid? by Jerry Brainum 12/23
In 1989, two scientists worked in a drug development laboratory owned by the Pfizer pharmaceutical company in Exeter, England. The scientists, Peter Dunn and Albert Wood were seeking a new drug that could treat hypertension or high blood pressure, as well as angina pectoris, … [Read more...]
ATP Supplements: Are They Worth It? by Jerry Brainum 1/23
Adenosine triphosphate or ATP is the immediate cellular energy source. Every calorie that you consume, whether it be from protein, fat, or carbohydrate, is eventually converted into ATP. It sounds simple enough, yet plays a vital role in a number of important reactions in the … [Read more...]
Ergogenic Aids: Timing is Everything by Jerry Brainum 12/19
Nutrient timing has been a big issue in sports nutrition for the past few years. Some of the most common examples of nutrient or ergogenic timing include when to ingest caffeine prior to a workout or sports event, and also the best time to ingest particular nutrients. Some of those … [Read more...]
Supplements to Boost Muscle Mass and Strength: Which Ones Work and How? By Jerry Brainum
As I've stated in various articles and videos, when I first began bodybuilding 57 years ago (which itself is interesting since I'm only 39!) I didn't exactly have a huge range of food supplements to choose from related to helping me to build added muscle mass and … [Read more...]
Carbohydrate Drinks and Anabolic Hormones during Training by Jerry Brainum
A common sight in many gyms are people walking around with water bottles that clearly aren't water. They tend to sip from these bottles throughout the workout. The contents of these bottles differ and can vary from amino acid concoctions to nutrient drinks ostensibly promoted … [Read more...]
Anabolic Failure: Phosphatidic Acid by Jerry Brainum
The pantheon of discarded and failed anabolic food supplements continues to grow. Although drugs such as anabolic steroids, without question, provide potent anabolic effects in muscle in anyone, many people who are concerned about the side effects of such drugs prefer to … [Read more...]
A Shot in the Dark (Energy shot drinks) by Jerry Brainum
When I read the story of Manos Bhargava, it made me think that I made the wrong exit on the highway of life. Manos is an Indian-born (that's India, not Native-American) businessman. He's a smart guy with a penchant for math. In 2003 he was strolling around a major … [Read more...]
Science-Based Optimal Supplement Timing and Dosing by Jerry Brainum
In past issues of Applied Metabolics, I've discussed in-depth issues related to protein timing. This relates to the idea that ingesting protein at specific times produces more of an anabolic effect in muscle compared to other times. Timing also relates to … [Read more...]
Can Viagra pump you up in more ways than one? by Jerry Brainum
The giant pharmaceutical companies, often referred to as "Big Pharma," are always looking for ways to make more money through the development of new drugs. The development of a new drug today is estimated to cost around a billion dollars. Included in this cost are … [Read more...]