Product review: M5 Extreme Posted by Mike Furci (12/22/2010 @ 9:18 am) M5 Extreme,just another expensive product that can’t deliver what it promises. There are so many ingredients in this product; some of them are worthless and some are not. Most of the evidence concerning the efficacy of the ingredients in M5 Extreme is anecdotal, which is completely unreliable. A few ingredients have been studied using the double blind method, which is very reliable, but there are too few subjects and they were not young healthy adolescence or athletes. I have a huge problem with this, because these companies extrapolate data and draw conclusions about something unknown. Some of the main ingredients: The names of the proprietary blends are hilarious. Vasodynamic Force – These ingredients are worthless. Are they harmful? No. They’ve been around since the eighties, and shortly died out because they didn’t work. Now they’re being marketed for completely different purpose. Any company with any type of integrity would not use such products. For more info: Peddling nitric oxide products with voodoo science Catechotropic Surge – Although products like Bacopa Monnieri Extract has been shown to improve cognition, (Calabrese , Gregory, Leo, Kreamer, & Oken), how do we know it’s pure, the right dose, or if will work for young healthy athletes. Myosmotic Infusion – Many companies market magnesium creatine chelate (MCC) as being the best creatine product out there for gaining size, strength, speed, etc. because of its absorption ability. But when it comes down to it, good old reliable creatine monohydrate (CM), one of the most studied supplements on the planet, is still king. A study in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research found plain CM and MCC were similar in performance tests, suggesting that the proposed mechanism of entry (absorption) of MCC is no better than CM when 2.5 g of CM is administered and performance is measured as work. Another ingredient in this infusion, Betaine HCL, is a naturally occurring substance can be recommended by doctors as a supplemental source of hydrochloric acid, especially for those that may suffer from hypochlorhydria, a deficiency of stomach acid production. Betain HCL should always be taken at the start of a meal containing protein! If taken without food, stomach burning may result. I don’t see this anywhere on the product label. If you don’t have a low acid output in your stomach, why take this product? Posted in: Creatine, Product review, Supplements Tags: benefits of creatine, best product reviews, consumer product reviews, Creatine, creatine facts, creatine kinase, creatine levels, creatine monohydrate, creatine supplements, is creatine safe, male enhancement product reviews, negative effects of creatine, product reviews, should I take creatine, side effects of creatine
Q&A with Mike Furci Posted by Mike Furci (02/22/2010 @ 9:20 am) In my Q&A column posted in January, I discuss the NCAA legality of Tribex and Hardcore ZMA and drug tests, whether or not kids and teens will stunt their growth if they lift weights and use creatine supplements, and I share some fan mail from a wellness chiropractor. Q: Mike Nice job on the recent health article. I’m a wellness chiropractor and I’m always looking for ways to communicate ideas of health to people. I never in my life thought I would use Bullz-eye.com as a professional reference, but you did a bang up job writing in simple, but not watered down language. Do you have links to some of your other works? And, do you have a good form of your recent article that I can hand out (I’d rather not direct conservative clients to bullz-eye.com’s bikini page for nutritional advice. That said, what you wrote needs to get out everywhere in America! Evan (Dr. Hughes) Concord Family Chiropractic A: DR. Hughes Thanks so much for your kind words. I understand as a business owner not wanting to offend any clients. Being considerate and service oriented is lacking in for too many businesses. I am glad to hear that there are some people out there as considerate as you. However, I do feel Bullz-eye.com?s ?bikini? features are very tasteful. Offensive, risqu? content, which I understand is subjective, is something Bullz-eye.com?s partners have always wanted to stay away from. I appreciate you taking the time to visit B-E.com and reading my articles. I’m attaching several articles you can use as hand outs. Mike
Posted in: Arms, Creatine, Men's Health and Wellness, Protein, Specific workouts, Supplements, Testosterone boosters, Weight training, Xternal Fitness, Xternal Furci Tags: benefits of creatine, big biceps, build bigger biceps, bulging biceps, Creatine, creatine facts, creatine monohydrate, Headlines, huge biceps, is creatine safe, ncaa drug testing, negative effects of creatine, should I take creatine, side effects of creatine, Tribex, Tribex Gold, Ways to get bigger biceps and triceps, Weight training, weight training routines, weight training workouts, ZMA
Soy lecithin, hormone replacement, high fat diets and HFCS Posted by Mike Furci (01/01/2010 @ 9:08 am) Mike weighs in on the pros and cons of hormone replacement therapy, soy lecithin, creatine and HFCS. He also reminds us that while there is a lot of good information on the internet, it’s important to research and consult with experts before using a product. Just because a product is legal doesn’t mean it’s safe or that it works. Here’s a sample from the article: Q: Hi Mike, I was doing some research on HGH in my downtime, and the use of it to treat chronic conditions and developmental issues. Now, I came across this website http://www.rajeun.net/ as a result of my surfing. I had a look at the eight-point anti-aging program this guy has sorted out for himself and thought to myself, ?Gee Justin, be pretty cool if that worked, right?? Now some of it sounds like the usual bunkum; EDTA chelation seems to fit into that category for example. But — and it’s a big but — in your opinion, if this guy keeps at what he’s been doing, does he have a routine that might give him an advantage over the rest of us when it comes to staying healthier for that bit longer? And following up, if you yourself wanted to go about living for a very long time, would you go down the same path this dude is going down? In closing, respect for all for your time and encouragement Mike, a whole heap of people appreciate your attitude and your efforts in keeping guys fitter, healthier and happier. Best regards. A: Justin, When it comes to living longer, does it give him an advantage over us? I don’t think there is enough evidence to answer that question. One thing is for sure, your quality of life definitely improves. Men who properly use hormone replacement therapy show an elevated sense of well-being and mood. If it didn’t work, it wouldn?t be such a huge business. There are anti-aging clinics popping up all over the world. There are parts of his program however, that are a little suspect. Two that jump out at me are EDTA chelation for getting rid of metals in the body, and taking Vermoc to get rid of parasites. My advice to Ellis is to get the hell out of that God-forsaken toilet of a country. Another part of his program that I take exception to is his endorsement of using Erythropoietin or EPO. EPO is a drug used in the clinical setting to increase hematocrit (red blood cell) levels. EPO is a natural substance produced by the kidneys that stimulates bone marrow to manufacture red blood cells. This drug, if used improperly, can result in death — as seen with Olympic athletes trying to gain an edge in endurance events. Low hematocrit levels can be caused by many different conditions including blood loss, chemotherapy, HIV or nutritional deficiencies. Obviously, if the cause is nutritional, you’d want to use supplements, not a drug. Just because your hematocrit is low normal, it is no reason to jump on EPO. What Mr. Mexico doesn’t understand is that the drugs he is on, especially testosterone, increases your hematocrit levels. I believe Ellis’ site is a little on the irresponsible side. Mike
Posted in: Anti-Aging, Creatine, Foods products, Hormone replacement, Men's Health and Wellness, Nutrition, Supplements, Testosterone boosters, Xternal Fitness, Xternal Furci Tags: artificial sweeteners, benefits of creatine, Creatine, creatine facts, creatine monohydrate, danger of high fructose corn syrup, dangers of high fructose corn syrup, fats, Fructose, fructose intolerance, high fat diets, High fructose corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup dangers, high fructose corn syrup health issue, Hormone replacement therapy, Human Growth Hormone, is creatine safe, Male hormone replacement therapy, Natural hormone replacement therapy, negative effects of creatine, polyunsaturated fats, should I take creatine, side effects of creatine, soy allergies, soy foods, soy lecithin, soy lecithin allergy, soy oil, soy products, what is high fructose corn syrup
Testosterone boosters, vegans, creatine and multivitamins Posted by Mike Furci (10/24/2009 @ 9:46 am) Are taking multivitamins necessary? do they work? How does a vegan get leaner? Should they be eating soy? Are testosterone boosters safe and effective? Which ones should I take and what’s the best way to take them? Below is a sample of the recent Q&A column on www.bullz-eye.com. Q:Mike, I?m currently taking a multivitamin because I?m trying to change my health for the better. Is this a good choice? Should I be taking other supplements? A:Sergio, Short answer No. Multi vitamins are a waste because the absorption is so poor. Some vitamins and minerals compete with one another making absorption even worse. What I take: Vitamin D (most important) 10,000iu per day, Vitamin A once per week 5000iu, CoQ10 100mg/day, Omega 3 fish oil, CLA, and cook with coconut and olive oils. I recommend reading my article “Daily consumption for optimum health”, and below are a few other websites to consult. vitamindcouncil.org westonaprice.org vitamin-d-max.com (this is where I purchase vitamin D) vitacost.com (this is where I get omega 3, CLA and CoQ10.) therabiotics.net (this is where I get my probiotics)
Posted in: Anti-Aging, Creatine, Diets, Foods products, Nutrition, Protein, Supplements, Testosterone, Testosterone boosters, Vitamins/Minerals Tags: benefits of creatine, best multivitamin, best multivitamin brands, Creatine, creatine facts, creatine monohydrate, daily multivitamin, daily multivitamin mineral supplement, Detrimental effects of soy, herbal testosterone boosters, is creatine safe, multivitamin, Multivitamins, natural testosterone boosters, negative effects of creatine, should I take creatine, side effects of creatine, side effects of soy, soy, soy beans, soy isoflavones, soy milk, soy oil, soy products, soy protein, soy side effects, soy supplements, Testosterone boosters, Vegan diet, vegan food, vegans, when to take multivitamins
Creatine monohydrate Posted by Mike Furci (04/25/2007 @ 1:58 pm) Creatine is one of the most studied supplements there is. It came under in the late 90’s because of unfounded concerns with dehydration and cramping. These concerns were put to rest after many researchers found no link between creatine and dehydration among athletes. After literally hundreds of studies there appears to but no negative side effects associated with creatine usage at all. What many people don’t know is that creatine is found naturally in the food we eat. It is found in high levels in red meat. As a matter of fact, this is the main reason why many people who eat red meat regularly don’t seem to get good results with the supplementation of creatine. Creatine does, however, yield great results for most people. Creatine will work very well for about 30 to 40 percent of the people who use it. Another 30% of the people who use it will claim good results. But unfortunately, about 30% of all creatine users report almost no effect at all. Many of these people may be getting it in their diets. When taking creatine, use 20 grams per day for the first seven days as a loading phase. Do you need to load up? No, but your muscles will reach their saturation point quicker. After the loading phase, use 10 grams a day for five more weeks. Take the next three to four weeks off, and start again. Creatine hit the market about 15 years ago and has been one of the top selling supplements since. It’s popularity is due to one reason — it works. Creatine works by giving the muscle cell what it needs to store ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate). ATP is the energy source our muscles use for heavy-duty, short-term workloads, the type used in weight training, sprintning, wrestling, etc. Creatine has been shown to increase strength in most people by 10%. Endurance athletes will find the use of creatine to be a waste of time because it does not affect that energy system. |