b e t t e r, cort i s o l - c o n t rol effe cts tha n a high-carb diet can
produce, you may want to try phosphatidylserine, a soy-based
lipid. PS can help you get a better muscle-growth re s p o n s e
from your workouts by blocking some of the catabolic effects
of cortisol without your having to resort to eating a higher-carb,
insulin-stimulating diet.
P rof e s s or Th o ma s F ah ey, Ed. D., o f C al if o r ni a S t at e
University, Chico, established the ability of PS to reduce blood
cortisol during and after bodybuilding-type workouts. The study
builds on prior Italian studies that found that PS lowers cortisol
p roduced as a result of endurance exercise (cardio). It’s a
breakthrough bodybuilding supplement along the same lines as
c reatine monohydrate, especially for hardgainers, who are
usually genetically challenged because of high levels of cortisol
in the first place.
Bonus: Gary A. Martin, Ph.D., says that supplementation
with PS can benefit cognitive functions. “Some 25 human
studies have been performed with PS, of which 12 were double-
blind studies. Palamieri, et al. (1987), stated that PS benefited the
cognitive effects of vigilance, attention and short - t e rm memory.
Heiss, et al. (1993), conducted a study on 40 subjects and found
significantly greater brain activation.”
So PS will not only help you ward off the muscle-wasting, fat-
storing effects of cortisol, but it may also help your mental
sharpness during your workouts as well—and who couldn’t use a
little more laser focus in the gym? Count us in!
How we use PS:One of our favorite supplements when
w e ’ re in our X-treme Lean ripping phase is Cort-Bloc, a PS
supplement by Muscle-Link. We take three or four capsules
before we train and two capsules before bed. We don’t use it
as often in the winter, as our intensity is generally lower, but
when spring rolls around, we pull out all the stops and Cort -
Bloc accelerates our results.
5) Zinc.The body re q u i res the trace mineral zinc for
conversion of the inactive thyroid hormone T4 into T3, which is
five to seven times more metabolically active. A lack of zinc in
frankie
(Frankie)
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