Inside the Mind of Deserusan

For the record pork, chicken, and red meat do contain carnosine and you can effect your intramuscular carnosine levels by eating a "bodybuilding" diet. Most people aren’t aware of this and no supplement company will market their product with this information.

For example I’m eating about 3 lbs of chicken and 1 pound of red meat a day. The typical carnosine content for chicken breasts is about 400mg/100g and beef is about 333mg/100g that would mean I getting in about 3.4 grams of carnosine from chicken and about 5.4 grams of carnosine from chicken and 1.51 grams from beef which is about 6.9 grams of carnosine total from my diet per day.

The reason I bring this up is two fold. One, the benefits of wholefood almost always trump that of supplements and animal meats certainly help provide a suitable source of carnosine albeit the not the most efficient mode due to the fact it’s broken down into beta alanine and histidine by carnosinase. Second, it also provides other benefits like protein, gluthionine, vitamin E, etc in their natural forms.This in part why protein powders are vastly inferior to animal meats except for the fact they are convenient.

Regardless, I don’t feel high dosed beta alanine is necessary if your diet is "good" like it should be. In the case of vegans this would be different story. However, there is no doubt that some supplementation is VERY beneficial as well from a wellness perspective as well as a proven physical performance enhancer.

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Originally Posted by LakunaKoil Excellent feedback , looks like BA is a staple for a lot of people

I’ve made it a staple because it appears to fight glycation which is the cause for many age and diabetes related illnesse. It sucks that supplement companies can’t mention this because their is very strong evidence to suggest higher carnosine concentrations fights advanced glycation end products (AGEs). Here’s a good article by the Life Extension.

How Carnosine Protects Against Age-Related Disease By Edward R. Rosick, DO, MPH, MS

When I reviewed Octane I brought all of this up just because I felt it opened up a new perspective to the forum on this great supplement. This could apply to any BA product and is why I have my father taking it. He could care less about greater endurance, but does care about atherosclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease.

Since today is Valentine’s Day I thought I would take a different direction with my blog entry and focus a bit on sex. If you are alone today I’m sorry but you cannot read any further. This is not to make you feel bad for not having anyone love you on this special day, but rather the fact I didn’t feel it would be appropriate to make a blog entry about masturbation. It is what it is.

Obviously, a big part of Valentine’s Day is getting laid and you don’t think so then please exucse yourself from my blog or pay close attention. Whether you call it “making love” or “bumpin’ uglies” after that lovely dinner I feel everyone is hoping to get “some.” Luckily for me my significant other loves sex (high fives self) so if I don’t wake up with sore genitals on Friday I will consider Valentine’s Day a failure. Again, it is what it is. No, I’m not talking like burning drip type sore and waking up with a sore for those of you with your minds in the gutter. For shame! I just know the routine when a day of sexual escapades is upon me.

Believe it or not, my first introduction to the sexual arts was in the first grade. My good friend Sam’s family owned a video store and among the cinematic masterpieces was a classy title called Tush Push. Sam thought it would be a good idea to bring this to school and tell me to watch it. Now some of you are thinking, Dan you are full of shit, but this story is legit. Anyway, I brought the video home and waited until my father was doing some yard work to pop the video into the old VCR.

Well, without going into much detail let’s just say my eyes were burning after 15 minutes of some of the most hardcore porn you could imagine. I really couldn’t watch too much more because my whole view of “girl” had just changed and even at the ripe young age of six I had some dirty thoughts. That isn’t normal.

You would think the treachery would end there and I was the only child besides Sam in the Newington  Forest Elementary   School first grade class that had been exposed to such debauchery right? Well when I returned to school the next day and handed the tape over to Sam he had a shit eating grin on his face. I really didn’t know what to think with the sight of double penetration still burning in my mind. I also felt weird around the girls in the room too.

To make matter worse, a kid by the name of Jason saw our little exchange and decided to grab the porno out of Sam’s bag and pop it in the classroom VCR while our teacher Ms. Hammond was working with a small group on their reading. All of the sudden you hear “STICK IT IN MY ASS” and see the heads of 25 six year olds turn in unison towards the glowing images on the class television. At the same time you saw Ms. Hammond run over to the TV with a terrified look on her face and pulling the plug on Jason’s charade.

Ms. Hammond’s first grade class did indeed learn a lesson that day, and it certainly fell in line with the popular forum acronym, PIITB. Why I am telling you this story? I really don’t know why. Maybe it’s because losing my virginity was embarrassing and really didn’t last long enough to warrant its story be told. However, my first exposure to sex was actually good old fashioned hardcore porn.

Now some of you are thinking I was probably scarred from this experience, but in all reality I look on it as the first chapter of what I would call my sexual education. I’d say my dade received the brunt of emotional trauma when he had to sit with Sam’s parent, my principal, and Ms. Hammond and view the video so they could discuss what we saw with us but that’s just irrelevant details. For all you parents who think your kids are bad in the traditional sense can you imagine that? I think think not but let’s not stray from today’s lesson.

Your sexual education is an ongoing process but I’d say in my nearly 22 years of sexual awareness Valentine’s Day really is a day to put your sexual education to test in the bedroom. Let it all hang out and **** your loved one like your life depended on it. If you aren’t severely winded from multiple earth-shattering orgasms or not demanding the most of sexual partner then indeed you have a lot to learn.

Yeah, I sound like a chauvinist pig, but in reality, you should be showing your love and appreciation for your partner everyday outside of the bedroom. It shouldn’t take a card or dozen roses to show that you care as that is just going through the motions. Sure it’s “nice” and falls in line with our society’s preconceived notion of what this Hallmark Holiday is all about. However, I think deep down inside many you really just want some exceptional sex today. I know I do and hopefully my girlfriend doesn’t read this and realize I’m a pervert. If she does, then I’ll just blame my boy Sam from the first grade.

Leg Extensions: 150lbs x 50 x 3

Front Squats: 315lbs x 6 x 3

Hack Squats (6-0-2-2): 90lbs x 10 x 3

Walking Dumbbell Lunges: 45lb’ers x 30 paces x 2

Leg Extensions: 300lbs drop 150lbs drop 75lbs x failure x 3

 Hybrid Calf Training x 3 sets

It was nice training with a partner today. The added motivational benefit was definitely welcome so hopefully we can train again in the future. He’s never tried Hybrid Calf training so I truly feel bad for him today. The last guy I did these with was sore for a week.

Incline Dumbbell Presses: 120lb’ers x 8 x 3

Incline Dumbbell Flyes: 50lb’ers x 8 x 3

Hammerstrength Flat Bench: 360bls x 8 x 3

Freemotion Flyes: 8 x 2

Weighted Dips: BW + 45lbs x 10 x 2

Tricep Cable Extensions: 200lbs x 10 x 2

Single Arm Cable Extensions: 50lbs x 8 x 2/2

Precor Elliptical: 30 minutes.

It was ridiculously cold here today. The wind was biting and having any skin exposed for more than a few seconds was painful when exposed to the unforgiving air. On the east coast Vanessa tried out for American Gladiators and did pretty well but it is just the beginning of  a long process. It would be nice if she had a break like this as she truly deserves it. I’ll keep my fingers and toes crossed for a callback this Tuesday.

Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2008 Jan;11(1):50-4.

Growth hormone, arginine and exercise

Kanaley JA.

Department of Exercise Science, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, USA. jakanale@syr.edu

“PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To describe the effect of an acute bout of exercise on growth hormone responses and to discuss the effect of L-arginine supplementation on growth hormone responses. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent studies have shown that resting growth hormone responses increase with oral ingestion of L-arginine and the dose range is 5-9 g of arginine. Within this range there is a dose-dependent increase and higher doses are not well tolerated. Most studies using oral arginine have shown that arginine alone increases the resting growth hormone levels at least 100%, while exercise can increase growth hormone levels by 300-500%. The combination of oral arginine plus exercise attenuates the growth hormone response, however, and only increases growth hormone levels by around 200% compared to resting levels. SUMMARY: Exercise is a very potent stimulator of growth hormone release and there is considerable research documenting the dramatic growth hormone rise. At rest oral L-arginine ingestion will enhance the growth hormone response and the combination of arginine plus exercise increases growth hormone, but this increase may be less than seen with exercise alone. This diminished response is seen in both in both younger and older individuals.”

 This study caused quite an stir on the forums because most preworkout nitric oxide formulas contain a hefty dose of arginine. What upset is the fact this study overlooked a lot of research which CLEARLY shows that when arginine is combined with certain amino acids or in the presence of carbs a conclusion like this is unfounded. Here is why.

That’s the issue here few are taking into account. GH release is very sensitive to many stimuli which is why the construct of the arginine based studies is extremely flawed in the context of a normal athlete, bodybuilder, etc. No one is fasting for 12 hours before and arginine based supplement which is the point conveniently overlooked.

When combined with other aminos the effect of free form arginine is greatly diminished and is why in this study had to use a 12 hour fast to buffer the effect. I posted a link to the 1987 Ho study (that sounds funny) because it discusses the problems between elliciting and measuring enhanced GH secretion in the fed vs. fasted state. When you think about it, how many of us are ever in a fasted state let alone the fact numerous arginine based products contain carbs, BCAA (Superpump), etc which completely take you out of the fed state and blunt GH secretion at the time of injestion do to an insulin response. Pure arginine doesn’t do this and can clearly cause a autonegative feedback as seen in the Kanely 2006 study in which all subject were fasted.

That is the key here, when you have an insulin response you don’t have a GH response. When you don’t kick the GH negative feedback loop into effect which can attenuate its release while sleeping in theory GH response will still be high. Again, optimal GH secretion calls for exercising above the lactate threshold for a certain amount of time which few rarely do either as well. It also calls for an uninterrupted circadian rhythm too and healthy diet which fasting for 12 hours doesn’t seem to fit into. None of these factors were addressed Kanaley 2008 study and her generalizations without taking into the difference between the fasted and fed states is a bit disturbing to say the least.

I really don’t want to come off like an ******* with my responses (it’s hard for me and we all know that) but a fundamental knowledge of GH secretion and insulin can answer many of these questions. It really gets on my nerves when abstract get presented in such a manner because had it been read it’s entirety you could easily see the problem of the construct which is why assertions should never be made on one to three line abstract conclusion. I’ve always had a problem with this regardless of the ingredient.

Here’s an except from the conclusion of the Kanaley 2008 study which would certainly afford a mode for the further discussion as opposed to just saying preworkout arginine blunts GH response during sleep implying it’s “bad. ”

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Had this been read you could easily conclude that certain dietary elements will cause someone to avoid the pure arginine based autonegative feedback loop. It seems Ms. Jill Kanaley conveniently avoided a whole body of research to support her conclusion. Keep in mind this is her interpretation of her bibliography and not based on new clinical evidence which she participated in.

Pretty much if you follow all the research. I also think it’s reaching to discuss anything in the fasted state to be honest because none of us who are following a typical bodybuilder or even “healthy” diet are never truly fasted.

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Greatly especially if there is circulating glucose, insulin, etc. You have to understand that these fasted studies also shock the system and disrupt secretory patterns. Let’s say I eat certain meals at the same time practically everyday. My body can adjust it’s own GH secretory pattern around the insulin response from my meals.

My suggestion is that if you want to truly maximize GH output the best course of action is just following some of the basic fundamentals of a bodybuilding diet. Eating around every 3 hours, avoiding late night high GL carbs around bed time, etc. GH release just doesn’t happen while you sleep but rather in a pulsatile manner throughout the day. If you cause an extreme pulse at point X it could diminish the effect at point Y, thus decreasing the NET EFFECT of growth hormone secretion.

In all fairness, the Kanaley 2008 does have merit IF you are fasted and injesting pure l-arginine preworkout. However, if you take a look at most preworkout products they do contain carbohydrates and some even contain BCAA’s which are also insulinotropic. This outcome of this study would be much different in a real world application and thus I firmly believe both the title and conclusion are misleading.

As always, rumors spread like wildfire across the internet and more specifically, on the forums. Last week on the Muscular Development forums someone posted that IFBB Pro Lee Priest had attempted suicide after a falling out with his current girlfriend. THIS IS FALSE and Lee is ok. This is just more proof that “hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.”

You can here Lee Priest comment on the rumors and more tonight on Muscular Development NO BULL radio in an interview with Dave Palumbo and John Romano. Click the link below for access.

 http://www.musculardevelopment.com/content/blogsection/21/137/

I don’t use my blog as a platform for direct marketing of Gaspari Nutrition for numerous reasons. To me, this is an area for to express your thoughts, rant if need be, or share something with the rest of Bodybuilding.com community which you believe could be of interest of others. This is why I haven’t loaded this blog with affiliate links or tried to promote personal training or dieting services here to profit from. However, sometimes my role with Gaspari Nutrition does indeed give me cause to share something with you guys as it relates to my employment with them and so today’s story goes.

On the forums, our new NO2 product called PlasmaJet has been receiving a lot of attention which has mostly been positive. It is not yet sold on Bodybuilding.com but we have had a few members reviewing it and the results have been absolutely stellar. The majority of them has been reporting personal records on many lifts and truly been enjoying the effects. They are finding out while it is technically a NO2 product, it is the first one to actually improve physical performance in the gym in a significant manner.

Of course with the good comes the bad and we have been addressing some fairly poignant attacks regarding the inclusion of Peak ATP which we license from TSI Health Sciences. Despite my best efforts to break down some pretty dense research, the explanations would not appease those claiming to seek answers. Fortunately, since Gaspari Nutrition does respect intellectual property rights and understands the importance of utilizing the best compounds for our products we have access to some of the brightest minds in sport’s supplementation.

Adenosine 5′-triphosphate disodium salt

I’m not talking about people who lurk on forums or even authors who write for magazines. I’m talking about world renowned researchers with more published research and approved patents then you can shake a stick at. One of these great minds is Dr. Eliezer Rapaport who is the inventor of Peak ATP. Being able to interact with such an individual was an experience I will certainly not take for granted.

In today’s conference call involving Dr. Rapaport, Rich Gaspari, our COO, a representative of TSI, and myself, we were truly given an insight into PlasmaJet I never thought possible. I have to tell you it was pretty cool listening to Rich and Dr. Rapaport discuss the intricacies of the product and at times I was a bit too humbled to speak up and participate. However, I held my own and gained a much better perspective on how Peak ATP works in the context of PlasmaJet and truly improves performance to agree never seen before in any product in the nitric oxide class.

After lengthy discussion Dr. Rapaport also provided us with a nice position paper as well which you can read here.

Mr. Richard Gaspari
President and CEO
Gaspari Nutrition
501 Prospect St. Suite 107
Lakewood, NJ 08701 USA

Dear Rich,

Thank you for your time today on the conference call. Pursuant to your request, I wish to address some the questions you referenced today with respect to PEAK ATP?, and its ability to be absorbed by the body effectively when delivered in a liquid capsule formulation.

PlasmaJet is a glycerol based product containing PEAK ATP (disodium salt of adenosine 5?-triphosphate (ATP)). ATP, which is highly soluble in water, is not soluble in glycerol, we feel this benefits its stability this liquid capsule delivery vehicle in general.

Further, it is our position that ATP is stable in liquid capsules that contain the L-Arginine proprietary mixture developed by Gaspari Nutrition. After swallowing the capsules, they disintegrate in the stomach where ATP, along with the other ingredients, dissolve readily after the dilution of the glycerol (especially when athletes consume PlasmaJet with your recommended consumption of water). ATP, at a level of 200-250 mg/day, has its own buffering capacity in solution (pH 4-4.5), and it is completely stable in the gastric environment. Furthermore, it is now well established that absorption from a solution is much faster than absorption from a solid formulation, 20-30 minutes versus 30-120 minutes respectively. ATP is highly soluble in saliva or gastric juices and has its own buffering capacity, and it is completely protected from the gastric acidity of pH 1-2. The acidity of the stomach, over time at 370C, would cause a breakdown of the adenine-ribose bond in ATP. This is, however, not the case in PlasmeJet or any solid dose of ATP.

Scientific evidence suggests the disodium salt of ATP does not need to be enteric coated in order to be protected to produce significant biological effects. However, it remains my position that the optimal delivery of ATP in solid dosage form is through enteric means, the exceptions are liquid capsules as well as effervescent tablets, quick dissolve tablets and drink mixes delivered through aqueous means.

Additionally, disodium-ATP is now an approved drug in France under the brand name ATEPADENE? marketed by Laboratoires Mavoly-Spindler. ATEPADENE was approved for the treatment of subacute low back pain, which is muscular in origin. Namely, patients whereby the low back pain is a result of trauma, cancer or causes other than muscle pain were excluded. The effectiveness of ATP in this indication is attributed to the enhanced removal of lactic acid from low back skeletal muscle environment. ATP was shown effective in two large multi-sited trials, one of which was also double-blinded. Disodium-ATP was delivered orally as a solid powder in a two part hard shell capsule, which is not enteric coated. Patients took a dose of 90 milligrams disodium-ATP per day. These two clinical trials demonstrated that disodium-ATP is active without enteric coating at much lower levels than the doses recommended for PlasmaJet, for this specific indication. In addition, subacute low back pain (lumbago) is muscular in origin and the stimulation of blood flow, which is the biological basis for recovery, is a mechanism that operates after taking PlasmaJet. PlasmaJet is most likely more effective than disodium-ATP alone because of the presence of multiple mechanisms due to the action of ATP and L-Arginine in synergy. I enclose copies of the two published French papers, which clearly show that disodium-ATP need not be enterical coated to be effective in stimulation of blood flow along with the insert of ATEPADENE, the brand name of the product.

Once the L-Arginine and ATP are absorbed in the duodenum (the proximal part of the small intestine), and following established mechanisms, the increased level of blood plasma ATP and its degradation product adenosine stimulate both the uptake of L-Arginine by vascular endothelial cells and the synthesis of nitric oxide (NO), which is catalyzed by nitric oxide synthase (NOS).

The elevated NO produces an immediate vasorelaxation (vasodilation) increased blood flow to skeletal muscle resulting in enhanced disposal of oxygen, glucose and other nutrients to the working muscle, along with significant stimulation of removal of lactic acid and ammonia which are byproducts of the exercising muscle. Overall, the stimulated removal of lactic acid yields a decrease in muscle ache and enhanced recovery.

I hope this answers your questions. Please let me know if you are in need of further assistance.

Best regards,

Eliezer Rapaport, Ph.D. ”

When all is said and done, I said to myself, “You are one lucky mother****er Dan.” How many opportunities in life do you have to sit down and discuss your passions with PhD’s like Dr. Rapaport and an IFBB Hall of Famer like Rich Gaspari? Fortunately for me, occurrences like this are now a reality in my roll with Gaspari Nutrition. The future is certainly bright and it’s truly an honor to have opportunities to be in the presence of both physical and intellectual greatness.

 -What a man can be, he must be. This need we call self-actualization.
Abraham Maslow