| Bodybuilding supplements are substances
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| | further into to DHT and estrogen.
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| taken by bodybuilders or athletes [1]
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| | To date most prohormone products have not
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| involved in weight training, football,
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| | been thoroughly studied, and the health
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| baseball, track or any other sport to aid
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| | effects of prolonged use are unknown.
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| in the building of muscle mass or aid fat
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| | Although initially available over the
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| loss. Supplements may also be used to
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| | counter, in 2004 their purchase was made
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| improve sports performance and improve
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| | illegal without a prescription in the US,
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| recovery from athletic events.
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| | as it now is in almost all countries and
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| Amino acids and proteins Bodybuilders
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| | sporting bodies.
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| often take a powdered form of protein,
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| | Creatine Creatine monohydrate is an
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| the essential building blocks for
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| | organic acid naturally occurring in the
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| muscles, as a supplement as it is
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| | body that supplies energy to muscle cells
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| necessary to consume large quantities and
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| | for short burst of energy (such as
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| protein shakes are convenient. The most
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| | lifting weights) via creatine phosphate
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| commonly consumed type is whey protein
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| | replenishment of ATP. A number of
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| since it is a naturally complete protein
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| | scientific studies have proven that
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| and is a rich source of branched chain
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| | creatine can increase strength , energy ,
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| amino acids (BCAAs), containing the
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| | and muscle mass in addition to reducing
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| highest known levels of any natural food
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| | recovery time. Also, recent studies have
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| source. It is also very quickly absorbed
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| | shown that creatine improves brain
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| by the body and metabolized.
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| | function , improves recognition memory ,
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| Casein is the richest in glutamine, and
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| | and reduces mental fatigue . It increases
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| has casomorphin which help release aminos
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| | what is known as cell volumnization as it
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| over a long time. Soy protein is also
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| | draws water into muscle cells, making
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| naturally complete, however due to
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| | them larger. This intracellular retention
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| isoflavones (phytoestrogens) that may
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| | should not be confused with the common
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| exhibit estrogenic activity in people,
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| | myth that creatine causes water retention
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| some bodybuilders avoid it. Many people
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| | (or intercellular water retention).
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| also will use egg (white) protein, as it
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| | Although some have theorized that
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| is a lactose- and dairy-free complete
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| | creatine is harmful to the kidneys (due
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| protein. Protein powder is generally
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| | to primary renal elimination via
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| consumed immediately after exercising, or
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| | creatinine) this has not been proven in a
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| in place of a meal. As muscles are
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| | scientific study.
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| primarially made of protein, increasing
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| | Thermogenic Products Thermogenics is a
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| the intake of protein in the diet allows
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| | broad term for any supplement that the
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| muscles to repair themselves and grow
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| | manufacturer claims will cause
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| more readily.
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| | thermogenesis – resulting in an
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| Glutamine Glutamine is the most abundant
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| | increased metabolic rate, increased body
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| amino acid found in human muscle and is
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| | temperature and consequently (the promise
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| supplemented as supplement manufacturers
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| | of) an increased rate in the burning of
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| claim the body's natural glutamine levels
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| | bodyfat. Until recently almost every
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| are depleted during anaerobic exercise
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| | product found in this supplement category
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| and therefore may cause a deficiency.
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| | was comprised of the "ECA stack":
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| Glutamine is not an essential amino acid
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| | ephedrine, caffeine and aspirin (however
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| which means the body can naturally
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| | these were normally found in their herbal
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| replenish its own stores. It is argued
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| | form of Ma Huang, Kola nut or Guarana,
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| that supplementation by bodybuilders may
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| | and white willow bark, respectively).
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| still be required as deficiency may lead
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| | However, on February 6, 2004 the Food and
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| to a weakened immune system and wasting
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| | Drug Administration (FDA) banned the sale
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| of muscle tissue. Many bodybuilders
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| | of ephedrine and its alkaloids and
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| supplement with glutamine. It plays a
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| | manufacturers were forced to look for
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| vital role in protein synthesis. It is
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| | alternatives.
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| sold as a micronized, instantly soluble
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| | Nowadays, the "ECA" stack is more likely
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| powder.
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| | comprised of bitter orange or Citrus
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| Branched chain amino acids Amino acids
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| | aurantium (containing synephrine) instead
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| are the building blocks of protein –
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| | of the ephedrine. To date the
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| the body breaks consumed protein into
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| | effectiveness of this new combination is
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| these in the stomach and intestines.
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| | far from conclusive.
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| There are three branched chain amino
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| | Testosterone Boosters There are several
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| acids (BCAAs); each has numerous benefits
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| | naturally-occurring plants and vitamins
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| on various biological processes in the
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| | as well as synthetic chemicals that
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| body. Unlike other amino acids, BCAAs are
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| | supplement companies claim may produce an
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| metabolised in the muscle. Some claim
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| | increase in testosterone levels. However,
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| that BCAAs have an anabolic
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| | the validity of many of these products is
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| anti-catabolic effect on the muscle
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| | questionable due to a lack of valid
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| (build muscle/work against muscle
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| | scientific research showing their
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| breakdown). For more information on this
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| | effectiveness at this time. The most
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| visit the articles on each of the
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| | commonly taken supplements of this type
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| specific aminos: leucine, isoleucine, and
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| | are ZMA and Tribulus terrestris.
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| valine.
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| | A relatively new drug/supplement marketed
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| Meal Replacement Products (MRPs) Meal
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| | as 6-OXO is gaining popularity as a
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| Replacements Products (MRPs) are either
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| | testosterone booster.
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| pre-packaged powdered drink mixes that
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| | Nitric Oxide Stimulators Many studies
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| you mix with water, milk, or juice and
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| | show that nitric oxide (NO) acts as a
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| then drink; or bars that you eat.
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| | signaling molecule that plays a vital
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| Both are consumed in the place of a
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| | role in causing the relaxation of the
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| whole-food meal. Generally MRPs are high
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| | smooth muscle tissue that makes up the
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| in protein, low in fat, have a low to
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| | walls of blood vessels. NO freely crosses
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| moderate amounts of carbohydrates, and
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| | the endothelial cell membrane into the
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| contain a wide array of vitamins and
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| | smooth muscle tissue of the blood vessels
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| minerals.
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| | to facilitate vasodilation.
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| The majority of MRPs use whey protein,
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| | Promoters argue this allows more blood
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| calcium caseinate or micellar casein, soy
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| | and oxygen, and hence more nutrients to
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| protein and Egg albumin as the protein
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| | be delivered to muscle tissue, while
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| source. Carbohydrates are typically
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| | increasing waste removal – aiding
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| derived from maltodextrin, oat fiber,
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| | muscle growth. This is called active
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| brown rice, or wheat flour. Some also
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| | hyperemia.
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| contain flax oil powder as a source of
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| | However, NO supplements do not actually
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| essential fatty acids (EFAs).
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| | contain nitric oxide but the amino acid
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| MRPs can also contain other ingredients
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| | arginine and other precursors such as
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| that are deemed beneficial to
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| | citrulline, Pycnogenol, L-aspartic acid,
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| bodybuilders. These can include, but are
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| | and ginsenosides – which the body uses
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| not limited to creatine monohydrate,
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| | to synthesize NO.
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| glutamine peptides, l-glutamine, calcium
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| | NO supplements are at this time very
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| alpha-ketoglutarate, additional amino
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| | controversial. While nitric oxide does
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| acids, lactoferrin, conjugated linoleic
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| | give a noticeable increase in "pump"
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| acid (CLA), and medium chain
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| | (muscle swelling during exercise), there
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| triglycerides (MCT).
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| | exists little evidence to prove its
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| Prohormones Prohormones are precursors to
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| | effectiveness.
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| hormones - and were most typically sold
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| | Also, most NO supplements also include
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| to bodybuilders as a precursor to the
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| | creatine and high levels of mild
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| natural hormone testosterone. This
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| | stimulants like caffeine, the workout
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| conversion requires naturally occurring
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| | intensifying properties of such may be
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| enzymes in the body. Side effects are not
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| | responsible for gains seen with NO
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| uncommon, as prohormones can also convert
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| | products.
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