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Herbal Sports Supplement- Leucine For Fat LossA couple of studies have found that leucine (and leucine is found in many herbal sports supplements) supplements could help promote fat loss and reduce muscle loss. This is good news for bodybuilders and dieters, but is also of great potential to all of us as we age. After the age of 40, we gradually lose muscle mass, which has implications for our overall health as we get older, contributing to physical debility in the elderly. "A natural balance exists in adults between muscle breakdown and buildup. After a meal muscle loss slows down and synthesis doubles. However, as we get older this balance is upset and muscle breakdown begins to dominate. Annual muscle loss for people over 40 can be as much as two per cent. The researchers established that muscle loss does not slow down after feeding in older animals, so there is excessive loss." (Source: www.nutraingredients.com) So for older fitness enthusiasts and bodybuilders, an herbal sports supplement containing leucine might be particularly beneficial. French researchers have found that "a leucine supplemented diet restored a more youthful pattern of muscle-protein breakdown and synthesis." (Australian Healthy Food) Leucine is an amino acid that our bodies don't produce, but which is found in protein, including meat, and soy beans. As well as contributing to growth and development in childhood, leucine is used for nitrogen equilibrium in adults. It also helps in the growth and repair of muscle tissue, the production of growth hormones, regulates energy, and is used in wound healing. And a study done by Brazilian researchers found that there were significant decreases in the amount and percentage of body fat in a group of rats who were fed a leucine supplement, compared to the control group. They did not find a difference in the muscle mass, although we know from the French research that there is an improvement here, at least in restoring optimal levels of muscle mass breakdown (ie, reducing the tendency for that to increase as we age). Even though this study was done on rats, the researchers believe that the small to moderate amounts of leucine used that produced benefits means there is clinical significance for people.
The Brazilian research is interesting for all bodybuilders and fitness enthusiasts who are concerned about their body fat ratio, and want a lean, muscular look. Because it promotes fat loss in active people, without affecting muscle. Professor Donald Layman, of the University of Illinois, says that to get leucine's metabolic effects, you need about 9 or 10 grams of leucine. The average American diet contains about 4 or 5 grams. So an herbal sports supplement containing the appropriate amounts of leucine will help achieve a leaner, more defined look. For more information on amino acid herbal sports supplements, click here.
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For bodybuilding, herbal sports supplements containing leucine help in muscle recovery. The French and Brazilian researchers didn't find that it increased muscle mass, but did suppress the increase in peptidase enzymes and protease units that lead to breakdown of contractile muscle tissue, and that is why it prevents age related muscle loss.
(C) by Rebecca Prescott, 2003-2008. All Rights Reserved.
