LIFTthyPAIN Joins Team Gamma

          Team Gamma Welcomes our Newest Member...


                                    LIFTthyPAIN

Keep your eyes posted, Greg will be doing some BIG things starting tomorrow.

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=145318101&pagenumber=

Who's Game for a 55.00 a Month iPhone Plan?

Cricket, which is well known for its pre-paid mobile plans, will start offering the iPhone 4S and the iPhone 4 next month. June 22, to be more specific, is the date that you should mark in your calendar, should you find the offer tempting.

And the exact figures are as follows: $499.99 for an 16GB iPhone 4S and $399.99 for an 8GB iPhone 4. Sure, the price for the unit itself might seem a bit steep, but that is so because a long-term commitment is not required. You also need to consider the carrier's $55 per month pre-paid plan, which gets you unlimited nationwide calls, texts, and cellular data. However, be aware that data usage is subject to Cricket's "Fair Use Policy", so you might get throttled if you generate too much traffic.

Anyone interested in getting an iPhone 4 or 4S on Cricket?

Looks like Apple is trying to dump their stock and make room for the iPhone5

The experiment begins with 2oz of POM Wonderful daily for 3 consecutive months. I'll update this periodically.

Costco 60oz bottle of POM $9.99

Mayhem Gets the Boot

After just two fights since returning to the UFC, Jason “Mayhem” Miller will be cut from the promotion. UFC President Dana White broke the news following UFC 146 on Saturday night, citing Miller’s poor performances inside the cage and a backstage incident that occurred after Miller’s loss to CB Dollaway as the main reasons for his dismissal. Miller was a coach last season on The Ultimate Fighter and fought Michael Bisping at the conclusion of the show. Miller gassed early and looked very sloppy on his feet before losing by third-round TKO, garnering criticism from the UFC brass. Miller vowed to right the ship against Dollaway at UFC 146, but lost a disappointing decision. Dana White stated that after his loss, Miller was involved in a crazy backstage incident that sealed his fate with the company. White did not want to elaborate on what exactly happened backstage, but he stated that Miller doesn’t take the sport seriously and that he should consider retirement.

Belfort out for 147

The injury plague continues for the UFC as Vitor Belfort suffered a broken hand and will be unable to compete at UFC 147 against Wanderlei Silva. Belfort and Silva, who are opposing coaches on “The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil”, first fought in 1998 when Belfort used his fast hands to score a highlight-reel TKO victory in just 44 seconds. Silva will still fight in the main event of UFC 147, but a replacement opponent has yet to be named.
Check out the video of the first fight between Belfort and Silva below:

The Ultimate Fighter, Semi Finals...

Tonight's first fight on The Ultimate Fighter featured James Vick-vs-Michael Chiesa. First off I'm not sure how Chiesa is still in this contest? his stand-up game is terrible. James Vick is clearly the better fighter and should of won this match with ease, same goes for Justin Lawrence. Coach Cruz gave Vick some bad advise, let go of his neck, Dominick what where you thinking?...BIG mistake IMO. 

The second fight featured Al Iaquinta-vs-Vince Pichel. I'm still confused on how Iaquinta won this match, am I missing something? Pichel clearly won the second round and should of won the fight. Dana, seriously...whats up? 

UFC 146, Tonight May 26th 10pm EST

Nuts Packed with Antioxidants

Hippocrates (480 BCE-370 BCE), the Father of Western medicine, had the secret of antioxidants in a healthy diet, even though he may not have known it when he said, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” He knew the power of foods from nature was both healing and preventive and emphasized that message to his followers. Though he didn’t have the scientific knowledge that foods from nature, such as tree nuts, contained powerful antioxidants, he witnessed healing taking place when patients ate pure whole foods. He recognized those foods contained remarkable elements that could not only prevent disease but also restore vigor.

Fresh, plant-based foods (nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes) do, indeed, contain powerful plant chemicals packed with antioxidants. What are these antioxidants and what can they do? While all plant-based foods contain these powerful healing elements, recent research has revealed the impressive antioxidant potential in tree nuts.

Researchers find nut benefits Intensive tree nut studies have uncovered an array of antioxidant chemicals including lignans, napthoquinones, phenolic acids, phytosterols, polyphenols, flavonoids, proanthocyanidins, and tocopherols that can reduce inflammation in the blood, lower cholesterol, act against viral invasion, and protect the body from tumor growth.

Because we now know that antioxidants can scavenge and prevent unstable molecules called free radicals from destroying our cells, we can take joy in devouring a delicious handful or two of tree nuts every day to reap the many benefits from their excellent antioxidant properties.

In a 2009-study published in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Diet, researchers tested thirteen subjects to study the effect of a polyphenol-rich diet of walnuts or almonds on the blood. The subjects fasted overnight, had blood tests, and then were given either a walnut or almond smoothie or one that contained no nuts. After a week, each participant switched to a different smoothie, and each time, blood was tested several times after beverage consumption. Researchers found a noticeable increase in polyphenols, a type of antioxidant, after subjects consumed the nut-based smoothies, but no change following the nut-free beverage. Noted were a significant increase in total antioxidant capacity and a reduction of blood oxidation in those participants consuming the polyphenol-rich nut smoothie.
Pecans have their own antioxidant story In another study conducted at Loma Linda University, meals including whole pecans and blended pecans were compared with a control meal with no nuts to test for antioxidant activity. This small trial of sixteen healthy men and women used the crossover method where participants were given each meal at controlled intervals with a week in-between. Blood levels of tocopherals, the vitamin E antioxidant, doubled in those consuming whole and blended pecans, while antioxidant levels increased 12% and 10% respectively two hours after consumption. After meals including whole pecans, LDL oxidation decreased considerably after consumption. Triglycerides decreased only after the participants ate whole or blended pecans in their meals.

Chemistry Professor Joe Vinson, Ph.D. presented his research at a meeting of The American Chemical Society in Anaheim, California in March 2011 showing that walnuts have more high-quality antioxidants than any other nuts. “Walnuts rank above peanuts, almonds, pecans, pistachios and other nuts,” said Dr. Vinson. “A handful of walnuts contains almost twice as much antioxidants as an equivalent amount of any other commonly consumed nut. But unfortunately, people don’t eat a lot of them. This study suggests that consumers should eat more walnuts as part of a healthy diet.”

To roast or not to roast After Dr. Vinson’s analysis compared the antioxidants in walnuts, almonds, peanuts, pistachios, hazelnuts, Brazil nuts, cashews, macadamias, and pecans, he found antioxidants highest in raw, unroasted nuts. Vinson says, “The heat from roasting nuts generally reduces the quality of the antioxidants. People usually eat walnuts raw or unroasted, and get the full effectiveness of those antioxidants.”
When nuts are commercially roasted in added fats, like partially hydrogenated oils that contain trans fats or coconut or palm oils that are high in saturated fats, they raise the risk of heart disease by elevating the bad cholesterol that can deposit plaque in the arteries. Commercially roasted nuts may also be roasted at high temperatures that possibly damage or reduce antioxidant levels.

Differing opinions persist regarding antioxidant loss when roasting nuts. An inquiry to the California Walnut Commission turned up this response from their nutrition consultant, registered dietician Carol Berg Sloan, “We have had independent nutrient analysis done on raw and toasted walnuts and there is no change in the nutrient profile.”

Plant chemicals in nuts improve heart health Dr. Joan Sabate, professor of nutrition at Loma Linda University, and colleagues examined 25 nut studies from other countries. Their nut research has shown that regular consumption of nuts reduces the risk of coronary heart disease in several ways: lowering cholesterol levels, improving endothelial function, lowering oxidation in the blood, and reducing lipoprotein(a) levels. The researchers focused both on subjects with normal and high cholesterol and noted that nut consumption led to a marked improvement in both HDL and triglyceride levels. Along with their exceptional nutritional qualities, nuts contain an array of phytonutrients or plant chemicals with high antioxidant capacity.
An almond study at Tufts University unveiled 20 powerful antioxidant flavonoids in almond skins. Some of the flavonoids were the same antioxidants found in familiar foods like green tea that contains catechins and grapefruit that includes naringenin. The research team tested the antioxidants separately and together on blood samples that contained LDL cholesterol. Flavonoids in the almond skins improved the LDL resistance to oxidation by 18%, but when tested together with vitamin E in the meat of the almond, the resistance to oxidation increased by 52.5%. This research illustrates the benefits of the synergy that occur in nature and the importance of eating the whole nut, including the skin.

Which nuts lead the antioxidant parade? Of all the tree nuts, walnuts, pecans, and chestnuts contain the greatest amount of antioxidants. Although peanuts are technically legumes, they are nutritionally similar to nuts. Like walnuts, peanuts are packed with high levels of antioxidants. Be sure to consume nuts whole to gain their full benefit, since much of the antioxidants are contained in the skins.
Antioxidants and plant chemicals are not the only healthful attributes of nuts. Nuts are an excellent source of protein, a quality that has placed them in the USDA MyPyramid Dietary Guidelines for Americans alongside meat, poultry, and fish. Nuts are also a powerhouse of minerals including calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc, selenium, and copper that work as a cooperative team to bring excellent health and maximum immune function to the body.

Rice Bran Oil, Gamma Oryzanol, Gamma-O

Rice bran oil is a healthy cooking oil produced from rice grain hulls. The healthiest portion of rice is the oil extracted from the otherwise unused bran, according to the California Rice Oil company. Rice bran oil was first used in Asian countries, but its use has spread because it's rich in antioxidants and healthy fats.

Appealing Flavor

 Rice bran oil is healthier than other cooking oils and adds an appealing flavor to foods, according Bill Sardi in a 2001 "Nutrition Science News" article. Rice bran oil allows foods to resist oil saturation, helping to reduce the sometimes greasy texture of fried foods. Popcorn kernels can pop even bigger when cooked in rice bran oil.

Stability
Rice bran oil has a high smoke point, meaning that the oil can be heated very high before it becomes damaged. A high smoke point allows you to deep fry foods without the use of hydrogenated oils or trans fats.

Antioxidant Profile

 Rice bran oil is a healthy oil because of its high antioxidant quality. Antioxidants fight free radicals and the oxidative damage that they have on body cells. Rice bran oil has the highest oxidative stability index value compared to other oils such as soybean or sunflower oil, according to "Food & Beverage Asia" in 2010. The antioxidants found in rice bran oil contribute to this high value. Antioxidants found in rice bran oil include vitamin E in the form of tocopherol, tocotrienol and gamma oryzanol. Gamma oryzanol is unique to rice bran oil, according to "Food & Beverage Asia." Rice bran oil ranks superior to other vegetable oils in tocotrienol content, says a 1999 "Food Technology" article.

Cholesterol-Lowering Potential

 Rice bran can be beneficial in the fight against heart disease by reducing total cholesterol levels, including the bad LDL cholesterol and triglycerides by 20 percent, according to a 2005 study by Italian researchers in "Current Topics in Nutraceutical Research." The researchers did not find an improvement in good cholesterol (HDL), but conclude that the overall reduction of unhealthy cholesterol levels is significant in reducing the overall risk of heart disease.

The Energy Drink Wars Part II

In terms of flavor I thought NOS was the best tasting energy drink on the market, until I tried Full Throttle. The berry is outstanding, so much flavor so much win! Full Throttle is another energy drink like NOS loaded with a ton a sugar and carbs. Full Throttle contains 200mg of caffeine per 16oz can. The flavor is highly addictive so be careful if your counting calories.

I've never been a huge fan of Monster energy drinks till they released Black Ice, it's sugar free and yes carb free also. The flavor is citrus similar to the original green, it comes in a very cool can with an even cooler cap. This new series come in a few different flavors and varieties. Black Ice contains about 150mgs of caffeine per can. Overall it's a great energy drink loaded with flavor, the energy levels are on the mild side but get the job done. My only complaint would be the hefty price tag.

Xyience is up next and they just launched a new Black Series with four new flavors. Cherry, Orange, Fruit Punch and Blue Frost. Xyience has been a long time favorite of mine and the UFC. All four flavors of the new black series are sugar free and are flavored very well just like their Silver Series. Xenergy contains about 200mg of caffeine per 16oz can. I highly recommend all eight flavors.

Last but not least is the ever so popular Red Bull. Why would they release a Total Zero version with a sugar free version already available? I guess when your the KING energy drink you can do what you will. Red Bull please come out with a new flavor, the original is so played out. Red Bull Total Zero contains 80mg of caffeine per 8oz can and the price tag is still ridiculous. 

Stay tuned for Part III featuring, Bawls energy, Petey's Bing, Venom and Gamma Labs PTF.

Boost Your Focus and Concentration with GL's PTF

Dr. Oz recommends Bacopa Monnieri herb to enhance memory

Dr. Oz, on his show on a few occasions, recommended Bacopa Monnieri herb for Brain health and to 
boost memory. Dr. Oz said Bacopa Monnieri will make you smarter, enhance your memory, and help 
you focus better. Bacopa herb has also been used to ease stress and helps people to focus better in 
stressful situations. It does have a tranquilizing effect, but unlike sedatives (which dull the mind) 
Bacopa Monniera improves mental clarity, focus, and mood.

Bacopa herb has been used for centuries in some countries and has been popular by the name of 
Brahmi in the the Ayurvedic system of medicine. In clinical studies, people who consumed Bacopa had 
a much better ability to retain new information. In one study conducted by the University of 
Wollongong in Australia, researchers looked at 76 adults between the ages of 40 and 65 years old and 
found that Bacopa Monnieri decreased the rate that the adults forgot newly learned information.

Bacopa Monnieri

Bacopa

Bacopa, also known as Bacopa monnieri or Brahmi is considered in traditional Ayurvedic medicine to 
possess adaptogenic, tranquilizing, and antioxidant properties Bacopa contain. Bacosides A & B are the 
active ingredient in Bacopa thought to support learning, cognition, and memory by enhancing the 
efficiency of nerve impulse transmission. Bacopa’s antioxidant properties may also offer some 
protection to brain cells from the damaging effects of free radicals. Bacopa or Bacopa monnieri is a 
classic brain and nervine tonic, included in the "Brahmi" category of Ayurvedic herbs. Bacopa helps in heightening mental acuity and clarityand supports the physiological process involved in relaxation.

Health Benefits of Bacopa

When taken as directed, Bacopa may:

• Support healthy cognitive function*
• Support attention, learning, focus and memory*
• Promote calmness, relaxation, and focus*
• Support positive mood and emotional well-being*

Bacopa Monnieri can be found in our Pre-Training Formula (PTF) for optimal focus 
and concentration.

Quercetin

A flavonoid antioxidant found in red wine, apples, onions and grapefruits, quercetin may have many benefits for bodybuilders. Preliminary studies on mice showed that quercetin has a potent effect on athletic performance, increasing energy production at the mitochondrial or cellular level. However, human trials show no such benefit from quercetin supplementation, according to the article "Will Drinking Make You Do It?" by Gretchen Reynolds. Despite this disappointing performance, quercetin may still provide many benefits for bodybuilders. The recommended intake of supplemental quercetin is 50 to 500 milligrams one to three times daily.

General Health

Quercetin acts as a natural antihistamine to help treat and/or avoid allergies, according to Life Extension Magazine. Seasonal allergies in particular can be crippling to athletes like bodybuilders, because proper breathing is essential for optimal performance. German professor and nutrition expert Stephan C. Bischoff says quercetin is a promising compound for preventing diseases. It also acts as an antioxidant, has antiviral properties and may help prevent cancer. Elevating your immune system with supplements like quercetin keeps you in the gym training hard, instead of sitting it out at home.

Nitric Oxide

According to "Natural Anabolics" author Jerry Brainum, elevating nitric oxide or NO levels increases nutrient delivery to muscles, which speeds fat burning and has an anabolic or muscle building effect on the body. Quercetin elevates endothelial function, increasing the amount of NO produced, according to Julius Goepp M.D. This effect vasodilates or expands blood vessels to deliver more oxygen to working muscles. Increased NO levels can be achieved with as little as 200 milligrams of quercetin per day, and may be attributed to increased activity of the enzyme NOS or nitric oxide synthase.

Inflammation

Quercetin has natural anti-inflammatory effects in the body, notes "Life Extension Magazine's" 2009 Report. Goepp identifies inflammation as a contributor to almost every chronic human disease. More importantly for bodybuilders is the anti-inflammatory effect for muscles and joints. Chronic lower back and joint pain can derail the fitness goals of even the strongest bodybuilders. Quercetin inhibits inflammatory cytokines like the COX enzymes, which trigger inflammation.

Woody Reviews PTF

Gamma Labs Announces Partnership with Complexity Gaming.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/gamma-labs-announces-strategic-partnership-140000324.html

From NFL Athletes to Cyber Athletes

Link to Full Review Below

http://www.forbes.com/sites/johngaudiosi/2012/05/16/from-nfl-athletes-to-cyber-athletes-gamma-labs-targeting-gamers-through-esports/

Fuel Your Muscles All Night Long

  Your body is primed to build muscle two times a day—right after your workout and during deep sleep. With the right meal or supplement before bed, you can get stronger while you doze.

THE SCIENCE: Your body releases its biggest surge of growth hormone during REM sleep. If you have ample amounts of protein in your system, you'll take full advantage of the spike and make greater muscle gains. Also, your muscles will soak up protein through the night, so you won't go into "hunger" mode (where your body can break down muscle) as quickly.

WHAT TO EAT: A slow-digesting form of protein, such as chicken or turkey, is ideal. Or try low-fat cottage cheese with pineapple chunks and an ounce of almonds for healthy fats to help slow digestion further.

WHAT TO DRINK: Look for protein powders that contain higher amounts of casein, milk protein isolate. These forms of protein digest at a slower rate and will feed your muscles throughout the night. 

Fight Back with Cherries

Besides being a good source of vitamin C, potassium and dietary fiber, cherries possess powerful antioxidants that are responsible for most of their effects. Drinking Montmorency cherry juice provides a wide range of health benefits, from improving muscle recovery to reducing inflammation in the body.

Reduces Muscle Damage

During exercise, muscle fibers are damaged and often produce symptoms such as delayed onset muscle soreness and pain. Cherries' anti-inflammatory properties might help reduce muscle damage associated with resistance exercise. Participants received cherry juice or a placebo for three days before performing resistance exercise-induced muscle damage and for four days afterward. Scientists observed that the cherry juice group had fewer muscle damage symptoms compared to the placebo group, according to a study published in the June 2006 issue of the "British Journal of Sports Medicine."

Aids Muscle Recovery

Cheery juice may aid exercise recovery. Researchers from Northumbria University in the UK studied the impact of cherry juice on inflammation and muscle damage in marathon runners. Subjects consumed cherry juice or a placebo five days before and for 48 hours following the marathon event. Scientists found that the cherry juice group had lowers levels of inflammation and muscle damage, both of which aid muscle recovery, compared to the placebo group, according to findings reported in the October 2009 issue of the "Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports."

Combats Arthritic Conditions

Cherry juice might combat arthritic conditions, such as osteoarthritis, by suppressing inflammatory pain. Researchers from Johns Hopkins Hospital examined the effects of cherries, which contain the antioxidant anthocyanins, on inflammatory pain. They found that rats receiving cherry extracts had less inflammatory pain compared to rats without cherry extracts, according to research reported in the August 2004 issue of the journal "Behavioral Brain Research."

The Pomegranate Pump

Pomegranates have been a popular fruit for millennia and were thought of in ancient civilizations as symbols of prosperity and hope. In fact, in turns out that pomegranates may be more beneficial than the Greeks and Egyptians could have ever known. Modern research is growing that pomegranate juice contains compounds that could help boost levels of nitric oxide in the body and fight heart disease. Although it's too soon to turn to pomegranates instead of traditional cardiovascular treatments, drinking pomegranate juice may be a tasty way to support a healthy heart and blood vessels.

Identification

Nitric oxide is a colorless gas with molecules containing one nitrogen atom and one oxygen atom that is involved in many important human physiological processes. Due to nitric oxide's potential to help heart disease, build muscle and dilate the blood vessels that cause erections, the journal "Science" named nitric oxide Molecule of the Year in 1992. The 1998 Nobel Prize for medicine was awarded to the three people who discovered how nitric oxide and nitroglycerine work in the body to treat heart disease.

Significance

Nitric oxide helps increase and protect the artery lining to keep your arteries from becoming clogged. The inner layer of cells, called the endothelium, releases nitric oxide, which in turn sends a signal to the smooth-muscle cells of your artery walls prompting them to dilate. Wider arteries helps increase blood flow and reduce blood pressure and can prevent blood clots. Antioxidants like vitamins A and C, which pomegranate contains, help prevent the breakdown of nitric oxide in your body, and pomegranate juice is particularly helpful at augmenting nitric oxide.

Expert Insight

Two studies published in the scientific journal "Nitric Oxide" tried to determine the effectiveness of pomegranate juice in promoting nitric oxide production. The first, from September 2006, found that pomegranate juice was more potent than Concord grape juice, blueberry juice, red wine or ascorbic acid in protecting nitric oxide against oxidative destruction and augmented nitric oxide's biological actions. The second study, published two months later, showed that pomegranate juice enhanced the effects of nitric oxide synthesis in the endothelial cells that line coronary arteries. An Italian study published in 2005 in the "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences" also examined the role of pomegranate juice in nitric oxide synthesis in artery sections with the plaque deposits. Pomegranate juice increased the levels of nitric oxide in all blood vessels, particularly in blood vessels with the most plaque buildup.