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Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Looking for energy in your sports drink?

There is a difference between energy drinks and sports drinks.  Most energy drinks, if not all, contain caffeine.  Did you know companies are not required to list caffeine on food items, including drinks?  Caffeine is not a nutrient.  However some energy drinks do list caffeine content on their label. 

WARNING - look at the number of servings.  Again most energy drinks (ie Monster) have 2 servings in the container.  So double the sugar and caffeine.  There is also the hype that caffeine is good for energy and mental acuity.  No, it really isn't.

Think about your young athlete and you just have given them a Monster energy drink.  Yes they will have temporary energy, they are performing in their sport, and now their heart is going very fast.  Do you think that is good?

Have you seen professional athletes drinking Gatorade?  Did you know they put water in Gatorade so they are not getting the full force of all the sugar? 

Read the label, do the research, and have a healthy athlete.  When reading the label, know the item contains the most of the first ingredient and so on.  Also be aware of how many servings, source of sugar (sucrose is not good, fructose is), and sodium. 

A good sports drink will have potassium which prevents muscle cramping. 

If you'd like to view a couple of energy drinks and sports drinks click here.  Then go here to view what many Olympic athletes use.

It is crucial for an athlete to be hydrated during their sport.  It is important for all to be hydrated. 

Want to learn more?  Contact Mary Beth at marybeth@mamabearproductions.net

Mary Beth
www.mamabearproductions.net

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Sports Nutrition, 2000 Years Ago

Sports Nutrition has really evolved.  Two thousand years ago, meat was a staple of the athlete's diet. Even alcohol was accepted for use during training and before competition. It has been reported that marathon runners drank cognac to enhance performance in the 1908 Games, and at least one German long-distance walker is said to have consumed 22 glasses of beer and half a bottle of wine during competition!  (I guess they didn't have to walk a straight line :) )

At the 1904 Games in St. Louis, Mo., the gold-medal winner in the marathon was given only egg whites, brandy, strychnine, and a wet sponge to suck on over the entire 26.2-mile course. And in the 1952 Games in Helsinki, Finland, the average athlete consumed a high-fat diet with 40% of calories coming from fat, another 40% from carbohydrate, and the remaining 20% of calories from protein.

Then in the 1970s, researchers began studying trained athletes, and much of the initial research focused on hydration, sports drinks, and carbohydrate intake. In the 1980s, as the value of proteins and carbohydrate for recovery became clear, strength athletes began to more carefully consider their carbohydrate intake, and endurance athletes were better educated on the importance of protein consumption.

And in the past 25 years, hundreds of research studies have helped us to better understand the true value of sports-nutrition strategies. As a result, most of today's athletes preparing for competition are well versed in the benefits of proper hydration—as well as a healthful diet rich in carbohydrates and lean, high-quality protein, but with a limited fat intake. Best of all, we know that elite and recreational athletes alike can take advantage of a smart approach to sports nutrition before, during, and after exercise to maximize athletic performance.

What can you do to achieve peak performance?  Go here for simple and tasty sports nutrition.  Click here for lean muscle mass.

Here are Olympic Athletes that have used these products:

Corey Cogdell - Trap Shooter - 2012 Olympic Bronze Medal
Caryn Davies - Rower, 2012 Olympic Gold Medal
Troy Dumais - Diver, 2012 Olympic Bronze Medal
Margaux Isaksen - Modern Pentathlon, took fourth for the best Olympic result by an American athlete in the modern pentathlon.
Eleanor Logan - Rowing, 2012 Olympic Gold Medal
Keith Sanderson - Rapid Fire Pistol Shooter, 2012 Olympic Bronze Medal

Whether you're going for the gold or you (and your family) just want peak performance, choosing high end sports nutrition will provide the best for now and for your future health.

The definition of Prevention: To keep from happening.
The definition of Cure: recovery from disease.


I'm here to help.  Contact me at marybeth@mamabearproductions.net

Mary Beth Potrykus
www.mamabearproductions.net

Monday, August 13, 2012

Soy Protein, Be Careful

There is controversy on Soy Protein.  Is it bad for you?  Is it good for you? 

It's about knowing the company who makes the soy protein. 
  • Are the soy beans organic?
  • Do they rinse the soy beans with water?
  • In making the soy protein, is a cold processing system used?
You won't find this information on a label, but you should be able to find out in the company's website.  Any reputable company will provide that information. 

Non-GMO means the soy protein is not genetically modified.  A high quality soy protein will be non-GMO.  If you don't see non-GMO on the label. it is genetically modified.

Here is an article about Hexane and it may be lurking in popular Soy Protein Bars.

That is why Mama Bear Productions recommends Shaklee

Mama Bear Productions suggest:  Read the label, research the company, and look for Non-GMO on the label. 

I've used Shaklee's soy protein products for 14 years and feel wonderful!!  No hot flashes for me :).

Mary Beth Potrykus
www.mamabearproductions.net

Monday, August 6, 2012

Horse Sense

If you or anyone you know owns horses, here is some great information.

A good friend of mine is a certified equine massage therapist.  She has seen some interesting things take place in various barns. 

For example some barns have a system where chemicals are sprayed on horses to reduce flies.  This Hmmm who else is the recipient of those chemicals?  Is it getting on their food as well?  What's the cost of those chemicals?

There are other ways.  America's Horse Daily says:  Feed-through fly-control products eliminate flies in manure by keeping fly eggs from hatching with an insect growth regulator. While the regulator is bad for flies, it won’t harm your horse.  If it's bad for flies, I question what it does to the horse?  They do have other suggestions.

What if you could provide a non-toxic, biodegradable, concentrated product that keeps flies away and yet doesn't harm the horse?  How about clinical studies that prove this product is safe for horses and horse owners, would that be important to you?  And if the cost was significantly less than what you are spending now, does that sound appealing? 

I'm not a horse owner, but George and Dede Shaw, owners of Show Place Farm, are.  Here's what they have to say about Basic H2 (the product I'm referring to) “For daily shampoo, we drop a half of a capful of Basic-H2 into two gallons of warm water. Their coats are cleaner, they aren't bothered by mosquitoes, and they're less susceptible to fungus infections. Flies appear to stay about 18-24" away from a horse who's been bathed in Basic-H2. When turning a horse out into a paddock or field, we mix a quart of Basic-H2 to 3 parts water and spray the entire animal. It controls flies and mosquitoes all day.”

Isn't about time to start using high end natural products that are safe for you, your horse, and the planet?

So stop "horsing around" and call Mary Beth  at 810-813-3308 to find out more. 

Mary Beth Potrykus
www.mamabearproductions.net