Your body has various energyproducing systems that are called into play during intense exercise. The first energy system to be recruited is the phosphagen system, which uses energy stored in creatine phosphate

(CP) to regenerate ATP, the molecule that directly powers muscular contractions. ATP is referred to as a “high energy” molecule, because when its phosphate bonds are broken a lot of energy is released. This energy is transferred to myosin, one of the proteins in muscle fibers, and this enables the fibers to slide past one another, resulting in muscle contraction. This system can fuel maximal exercise levels for around six seconds (1), so the supply of ATP must be continuously regenerated. The second energy system called into play is the glycolytic system. In the glycolytic system, glucose from the blood stream or from stored glycogen is broken down to lactic acid. This can supply energy at a maximal rate for two or three minutes (1,2). The third and final energy system is the aerobic system, which can supply energy for hours on end. In this system carbohydrates, fat, and protein are oxidized (burned) to produce CO2, and the energy released is used to regenerate ATP (1,3). The advantage of the phosphagen and glycolytic systems is that they are able to produce enormous quantities of energy very quickly, but they don’t last very long. The aerobic system can generate energy for long periods of time, but at a lower level.

The first two systems are known as “anaerobic,” which means they don’t require oxygen. Aerobic metabolism does require oxygen, and produces energy at a slower rate because it is limited by the rate of oxygen delivery to tissues. Weight lifting is a prime example of anaerobic exercise, and the reason you can carry on a heavy set for only 30 seconds or so is that you run out of CP (3). Weight training then is fueled almost exclusively by the phosphagen and glycolytic systems. Running and cycling are fueled mainly by the aerobic system, and can be carried on for hours. All of this is very exciting to biochemists and muscle physiologists, but what does it mean to bodybuilders and endurance athletes? How can we use this information? Answer: To specifically design our diet and supplementation program to provide the energy and nutrient profile we need for maximum performance and muscular growth. Let me tell you how. To increase your creatine phosphate energy stores, I recommend our Creatine Monohydrate™. It’s 100% pure with no fillers, and it’s effectiveness is time tested. When you want to increase cellular energy levels, think about Cap- Tri®. CapTri® is almost a miracle when it comes to delivering energy to cells. CapTri® is a specially engineered fat which contains medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs).

Regular fats and oils are made from long chain fatty acids. Fat is a great molecule for storing energy (nine calories per gram as compared to four calories per gram for carbs and protein) but has the disadvantage of being slowly metabolized. The unique molecular structure of CapTri® gets around this problem. CapTri® harnesses the energy density of fat but is able to deliver that energy as rapidly as glucose (4). CapTri® is not incorporated into chylomicrons and transported in the lymphatic system as is conventional fat, nor does it require the carnitine shuttle for entry into mitochondria. Thus Cap- Tri® skips these time consuming steps that slow down digestion, transport, and absorption of regular fats. CapTri® is absorbed directly into the bloodstream and goes to the liver where it is converted into ketone bodies (4). Ketone bodies are an immediate energy source which can be used at the same time as carbohydrates. This is in contrast to conventional fat and stored body fat, which is not used as a significant source of energy for exercise until carbohydrates are depleted.

Carbohydrate metabolism produces malonyl-CoA, a metabolic intermediate which inhibits the carnitine shuttle and thus prevents the use of long chain fatty acids for energy. Since MCFAs do not require the carnitine shuttle they are burned immediately for energy, at the same time as glucose. This has a glucose- sparing effect (4) and helps glycogen stores last longer. The longer glycogen stores last, the longer you can train before fatigue sets in. The energy from CapTri® also spares protein (4). This simply means that if CapTri® is being burned for energy, less protein needs to be burned for energy. This effect reduces protein catabolism. Finally, CapTri® does all this without contributing to body fat stores (4). Since CapTri® is burned immediately for energy, it is not stored as fat. CapTri® has a very high thermogenic effect, which means that excess calories from CapTri® which are not used to fuel exercise will be converted to body heat instead of being stored as fat. This is the secret of how Parrillo athletes consume so many calories without getting fat.

To learn more about the metabolism and biochemistry of MCFAs call and ask for our technical bulletins on CapTri®. For energy, nothing can touch CapTri®. For more information, go to our website at www.parrillo.com. Just click on “research” then click on “search publications” and enter “CapTri”. You will be flooded with a wealth of valuable information. You can also order it on the website too! Next we need to talk about a good carbohydrate source. ProCarb™ was developed specifically to fit the carbohydrate needs of athletes. It contains maltodextrin which is slowly released into the bloodstream for a uniform energy level and a gradual insulin release. This carbohydrate has proven optimal for replenishing glycogen stores (5) and the insulin profile is perfect for building muscle without storing fat. As you know, if insulin levels rise too high this acts as a trigger for fat storage. ProCarb™ is an extremely clean burning energy source which is easily digested and absorbed, without bloating, gas, or bowel residue. This makes it ideal for use during endurance activities, as well as before weight training and for carb loading. No doubt you’re aware that long, hard training sessions can actually be catabolic to muscle tissue protein stores. After carbohydrate stores are depleted and fat metabolism is at full pace, muscle tissue is broken down to release amino acids which are burned for energy.

 

This is the worst thing that can happen to an athlete. Can you imagine busting your butt in the gym for two hours a day and losing muscle? It can happen very easily if your nutrient intake is not adequate to match your training level. One study found that during a 10 mile run as much as 57 grams of protein were burned for energy (6). That amounts to about half a pound of muscle! The most important thing you can do to prevent muscle catabolism is to make sure you have plenty of other energy sources available. CapTri® and ProCarb™ both have a protein-sparing effect and are preferentially used as energy sources before protein. These are first line defenses against protein catabolism. You may also want to consider Muscle Amino, Parrillo’s exclusive branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) formula. BCAAs are the most abundant amino acids in muscle fiber proteins, and during catabolic states muscle fibers are degraded and the BCAAs are used as fuel.

The big problem is that the BCAAs (leucine, isoleucine, and valine ) are essential amino acids. This means they cannot be made by the body, so it is essential that they be obtained in adequate amounts from the diet. Parrillo Muscle Amino™ contains BCAAs in the proper ratio required to optimize muscular growth. Having an abundant pool of free BCAAs in muscle ensures that the building blocks are in place when its time to build muscle. Muscle Amino™ also provides amino acids that can be used as fuel so that existing muscle tissue won’t be broken down during catabolic states. Intense training produces a lot of metabolic waste products, most notably ammonia, which are toxic to cells and need to be eliminated. Parrillo Max Endurance Formula™ was designed to do just that. It provides aspartate, which is an intermediate consumed in the urea cycle, the metabolic pathway responsible for eliminating ammonia.

This is of special concern to endurance athletes, who generate a lot of toxic waste products during long training sessions. The Parrillo Supplement Bar™ is one of the best energy sources available for athletes. It contains CapTri®, to provide immediate energy. It provides slow release carbohydrates to help maintain blood glucose levels during prolonged exercise. It includes a high efficiency protein source with plenty of BCAAs. All of these ingredients are designed for rapid digestion and cellular uptake, and help prevent muscle protein catabolism. This supplementation program combined with the Parrillo diet will result is maximal energy delivery to cells to fuel exercise performance and muscular growth. If you’re seeking a natural advantage, give it a try. You’ll be amazed what your body is capable of if you supercharge it with the right nutrients. Before your next workout mix a scoop of ProCarb™ and a tablespoon of CapTri® in a quart of water. Drink half before the workout and half during the workout. Before your next bike race take 10 Muscle Aminos™ and 10 Max Endurance™ along with the drink above, and pack along a Parrillo Bar™ for during the race.

Parrillo Performance
(800) 344-3404 

References

1. McArdle WD, Katch FI, and Katch VL. Exercise Physiology - Energy, Nutrition, and Human Performance. Lea & Febiger, Malvern, PA, 1991.

2. Hatfield FC. Hardcore Bodybuilding - A Scientific Approach. Contemporary Books, Inc., Chicago, 1991.

3. Wilmore JH and Costill DL. Physiology of Sport and Exercise. Human Kinetics Publishers, Champaign, IL, 1994.

4. Bach and Babayan, Medium chain triglycerides: an update. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 36: 950-962 (1982).

5. Lamb DR, Snyder AC, and Baur TS. Muscle glycogen loading with a liquid carbohydrate supplement. Int. J. Sport Nutr. 1: 52-60, 1991.

6. Dohm GL, Williams RT, Kasperek GJ, and Van Rij AM. Increased excretion of urea and Nmethylhistidine by rats and humans after a bout of exercise. J Appl Physiol: Respirat Environ Exercise Physiol 52: 27, 1982.

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