Back in the 1980s, one of the more popular bodybuilding supplements was medium-chain triglycerides (MCT). I got my introduction to MCT supplements when a well-known trainer in Cincinnati sent me a bottle. Although he sent me a bottle of MCT, he didn't provide precise … [Read more...]
A Growth Hormone-Releasing Supplement That Works? by Jerry Brainum 12/21
Growth hormone is one of the key anabolic hormones produced in the body. As the name implies, growth hormone (GH) is involved with growth processes that occur in both bone and muscle. But it does far more than that. In bodybuilding and athletics, GH has earned an almost … [Read more...]
Are Your Supplements Contaminated? by Jerry Brainum 5/21
More than two-thirds of Americans ingest some kind of food supplement. Surveys of supplement users have found that 84% of them are confident that the supplements they ingest into their bodies are safe and free of toxic impurities. Indeed, the Dietary Supplement and … [Read more...]
The Truth About Carnitine by Jerry Brainum 1/21
Many athletes and bodybuilders ingest carnitine supplements because of its reputation as a "fat burner."This notion does have some basis in fact, since carnitine is indeed required for the transport of fatty acids into the mitochondria portion of cells, where the fatty acids … [Read more...]
Testosterone-boosting supplements: What’s the evidence for them? by Jerry Brainum 10/19
Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) continues to be a major controversy in medicine. TRT is controversial for a number of reasons. While nearly every medical doctor accepts the fact that women undergo major hormonal changes with, or more specifically after menopause, which … [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...]
The Truth About Fat-Burner supplements: How safe are they? by Jerry Brainum
Of all the food supplements available today, the most popular are so-called "fat-burning supplements." The reason for this is that fat-burning supplements (FBS) appeal not only to bodybuilders and athletes, but also to those not involved in bodybuilding or sports who want to … [Read more...]
Vegan Diets, Peanut Butter, Testosterone Boosters and more: Notes From A Science Conference by Jerry Brainum
In past issues of Applied Metabolics, I've discussed the findings presented at various science and nutrition conferences. Such conferences are ostensibly held in often exotic locations to present new information and studies that have not yet been published in … [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...]