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The Benefits of Cod Liver Oil

Sam — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:58:36 +0000

Most people remember a time when giving children a teaspoon of cod liver oil was common practice. This has largely gone by the wayside in over the past 30 years or so. Recently, however, the benefits of cod liver oil have been rediscovered and cod liver oil has made a comeback.

What is cod liver oil?
Cod liver oil is a nutritional supplement that is derived from livers of the Atlantic cod, a cold-water fish that inhabits the waters of the northern Atlantic Ocean. The livers are removed from the codfish and steamed, and the oil is extracted. Cod liver oil is a pale-yellow liquid with a slightly fishy taste that on occasion can be as pungent as the smell of rotting fish—hence the addition of flavorings such as mint or lemon to mask the fishy flavor. Cod liver oil is not the same as fish oil, another potent source of Omega-3 fatty acids that is made from the whole fish.

Why is it good for you?
Packed with Omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, and vitamins A and D, cod liver oil was often given to children in the 19th century to prevent rickets, bone deformities caused by a Vitamin D deficiency. Today, researchers have discovered other diseases and health conditions that benefit from the intake of cod liver oil, including a significant reduction in joint inflammation and pain in adults suffering from arthritis, as well relief from middle-ear infections in children. The Vitamin D in cod liver oil has also been shown to reverse osteoporosis in women. Omega-3 fatty acids are especially important in brain development in children and are effective at preventing cardiovascular disease in adults and reducing blood pressure levels caused by stress.

Do you really need it?
While cod liver oil is not considered an essential nutrient for our bodies, there are many reasons to take it. People who live north of the 42nd latitude and who do not drink milk, which is heavily fortified with Vitamin D, can benefit enormously from supplementing with cod liver oil. In fact, cod liver oil contains more Vitamin D and Vitamin A than any other food. In addition, cod liver oil is the most popular nutritional supplement in Europe, primarily because it contains large amounts of Omega-3 fatty acids.

How to take cod liver oil
Cod liver oil can be taken in the form of capsules or liquid. Some find it difficult to swallow an oily liquid and find it easier to take capsules; however, both are effective. Not all cod liver oil is created equal, though. Most cod liver oil is imported from Norway and is of a lighter grade, containing fewer vitamins. It also goes rancid more quickly. Heavier-grade cod liver oil has more vitamins but may be difficult to find in the United States.

How To Boost Testosterone Levels Naturally

Sam — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:18:54 +0000

I’m sure you already know that testosterone helps build muscle, strips off extra blubber and improves your quality of life.

After all, that’s why so many guys spend thousands of bucks a week on illegal testosterone supplements.

But did you know there are some quick and easy ways to naturally boost your testosterone levels?

Here are some tips:

#1: Eat More Fat

A low-fat diet can be murder on testosterone levels. In fact, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition measured testosterone levels in male vegetarians and compared to testosterone levels in guys who ate meat.

The guys who ate meat had higher levels of testosterone. So try to eat red meat at least once per week to boost testosterone levels.

#2: Avoid Soy.

The people who market Soy-based products have done a masterful job convincing us all that Soy is a “health food.” But nothing could be further from the truth. Soy raises estrogen levels and higher estrogen levels equal lower testosterone.

Plus, there’s an old legend that Japanese housewives who wanted to avoid having intercourse would feed their husbands plenty of soy because this would kill the man’s libido.

If you want to learn more, check out the book “The Whole Soy Story” by Kayla T. Daniel.

#3: Sleep More.

For one week, challenge yourself to get 9-10 hours of sleep. It sounds impossible because of our busy modern lives. But when you shut off the TV and shut down the computer, you’ll find it a lot easier to get those zzzz’s. And when you start to get lots of sleep, you’ll notice how much better you feel. Part of the reason is because your body releases more testosterone when you get more sleep.

#4: Eat Liver

A study done at the Mayo Clinic compared the dietary intakes of Vitamin A
among 155 sets of twin boys.

The boys who ate more Vitamin A had higher levels of
testosterone.

But perhaps the most incredible study was released in 2004. Researchers wanted
to study the effects of Vitamin A on boys who were shorter than their peers and
experiencing puberty later than their friends (both are symptoms of lower testosterone
levels.)

The boys were split up into four groups. The first group was the control group.

The second group received a testosterone supplement.

The third group received Vitamin A and Iron.

The results were surprising.

The boys were studied for nine months.

As expected, the control group showed
no change after nine months.

The boys that received the testosterone supplement grew taller and started to
experience signs of puberty.

But amazingly, the boys that received the Vitamin A and Iron also grew taller
and experienced signs of puberty just like the boys that received the artificial
testosterone.

And LIVER is chock-full of both Vitamin A and Iron. So try to eat some liver at least 2-3 times per week. Or, if you hate the taste of liver (like me), then you can take a dried liver tablet.

It gives you all the benefits of liver in a tasteless tablet form.

Train Smart, Train Hard, Go Full Force

Sam Martin

Get Stronger Faster…… Breathe

Sam — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 23:33:34 +0000

“OLD-SCHOOL” bodybuilders know how….

Reason being, I’m far more interested in classic bodybuilding rather than modern bodybuilding. (The classic bodybuilders have a better look in my opinion and were just all around healthier.)

Today’s bodybuilders are bloated, unhealthy and full of ‘roids.

So when I read that Arnold used to bring an oxygen tank into the gym, I took notice.

Here’s the deal:

Arnold found that by sucking on pure oxygen between sets of heavy leg work, he could accomplish more reps and as a result, build more muscle.

Now, I don’t know about you but I don’t have an oxygen tank and even if I did I probably wouldn’t want to wheel it into the gym.

But don’t worry, here’s how you can get the same benefits.

People always ask how long they should rest in between sets. 1 minute, 2 minutes, 5 minutes?

Instead of counting seconds between reps, focus on taking DEEEEEP breaths.

This way, you’ll be flooding your muscles with oxygen just like Arnold did.

Recommendations:

Take a minimum of 30 deep breaths in between sets. You may need 50 or more deep breaths between work sets of heavy leg work.

Try this and watch how much stronger you get.

Train Smart, Train Hard,
Go Full Force
Sam Martin
Full Force Training