How to Apply the Creatine Protein Supplement

The creatine protein supplement is a based upon the naturally occurring creatine, which occurs in certain foods, and within the human body. The creatine in the human body is primarily found in the muscles and act as a supply source of energy to the muscles. The acid was discovered as a component of skeletal muscle in 1832. This organic acid is furthermore not found in vegetables, and is primarily found in meat.

During strenuous workouts, the creatine protein supplement is especially helpful to the user in that it aids in the production of Adenosine Triphosphate, otherwise referred to as ATP. This source of energy is used by the body, and specifically the muscles particularly during short bursts of activity. This is therefore not completely recommended for the endurance sports person, as a different sort of energy production and requirement is needed for those long and arduous activities that they participate in.

The creatine protein supplement is available in a variety of forms and applications, which represents a great advantage for the user, as certain forms may not provide as beneficial results as others, which means that if you do take the creatine protein supplement in one form, and you do not realise the benefits thereof then you should try another form. The forms that are available vary from the monohydrate, to capsules and powder form and even available in that of the liquid form.

The process within which the creatine protein supplement functions is essentially based upon the amount of water that the supplement pulls from across the body and transfers to the muscles. Therefore should you be using this supplement it is vital that you drink plenty of water and remain hydrated so that the supplementation process can run correctly as well as to avoid any potential side effects that may result due to dehydration.

The process of supplementation can be conducted via either before or after your exercising routine or both, however you only need five grams per day. If you take the creatine protein supplement before the workout then the benefits related thereto are that it provides you with additional energy which enables you to work out a little longer or with greater effort. Whilst supplementing after the exercise or work out regime will encourage faster muscle repair.

There are side effects associated with the intake of this supplement, none of which are life threatening, but the importance of remaining hydrated and drinking lots of water must be reemphasized as dehydration is definitely not an ideal situation to find yourself in. It has furthermore been analyzed and accepted by the European Food Safety Authorities, which are relatively strict in terms of supplements and related products. The creatine protein supplement offers value and a fast track in strength training on a completely natural basis.

The Actions of Insulin With Reference to Glucose, Fat and Protein Metabolism

Insulin is a protein hormone produced by the beta cells of the pancreas, which enables the body to metabolise and use glucose. It has a major affect on the metabolism of carbohydrates and lipids, and a significant but lesser effect on protein metabolism.

Insulin enters a cell by mean of an insulin receptor, which is found within the plasma membrane. The insulin receptor is comprised of two alpha sub-units and two beta sub-units, which are linked by a disulfide bond. Insulin receptors are tyrosine-kinase receptors, meaning that their function is to transfer phosphate groups from ATP to intracellular proteins, which increase glucose transporter molecules on the outer membrane of cells, which facilitate an uptake of glucose.

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are broken down to monosaccharides in the small intestine, and absorbed from the small intestine to the hepatic portal vein. A rise in the concentration of glucose stimulates the release of insulin, which acts on cells throughout the body to stimulate the uptake, and storage of glucose. Insulin's effect on glucose metabolism varies according to the tissue destination. Insulin aids the entry of glucose into muscle, adipose and other tissue by facilitated diffusion using a glucose transporter (GLUT). For example muscle use a transporter called GLUT4. Insulin regulates glucose uptake by moving intracellular vesicles containing the GLUT4 glucose transporters to the cell surface, where glucoses enter s by facilitated diffusion. However not all tissue require insulin for uptake of glucose, the brain and liver use a different sort of non-insulin dependant transporter.
Insulin also stimulates the liver to store glucose in the form of glycogen. If glucose absorbed from the small intestine is not immediately required for ATP energy, it is taken up by the hepatocytes, which convert glucose into glycogen. Insulin activates the enzyme hexokinase, which phosphorylates glucose causing it to remain in the cell. Insulin also activates enzymes such as glycogen synthase, which is responsible for glycogen synthesis.

Fat

Insulin stimulates hepatocytes to synthesize fatty acids once glycogen stores are full. Fatty acids are taken from the liver as lipoproteins and broken down by lipase. The fatty acids are either utilized straight away or stored as triglycerides in adipose tissue. . Insulin facilitates entry of glucose into fat cell, to be synthesized as glycerol, (fatty acids plus glycerol combine to form triglycerides). When the body's store of glycogen is used, triglycerides are broken down by lipase into their component parts. Hormones such as glucagon, adrenaline and growth hormone activate lipase; these hormones are active when insulin is not present. The resulting glycerol and fatty acids are released into the blood, and travel to the liver through the bloodstream.

Protein

If insulin is present, proteins are digested, broken down into amino acids and used to synthesise the body's protein requirements. If amino acids are in excess of immediate requirements they are either used for ATP, or converted to fat for later use. In the absence of insulin (either due to lack of food or conditions such as diabetes) the body's supply of glycogen is quickly used. In order to supply the body with glucose alpha cells in the pancreas secrete glucagon, which acts on the same cells as insulin, but has the opposing effect. It stimulates the liver and muscles to release stored glycogen - glycogenolysis. Other hormones capable of stimulating glycogenolysis are cortisol, thyroxine, adrenaline and growth hormone. These hormones also stimulates glucose from non-carbohydrate sources - gluconeogenesis from either glycerol, lactate from glycolysis of red blood cells, but mainly from stored amino acids in muscle tissue. Insulin levels then rise to respond to and increased level of blood glucose.

Diabetes and Insulin Resistance

Lack of insulin (type 1 diabetes) or insulin resistance (type ll diabetes) cause high blood glucose. After a meal, even though blood glucose levels are high, cellular uptake cannot be facilitated. The body reacts by initiating glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis, which further raise blood glucose. High levels of glucose causes frequent urination as glucose in the kidney filtrate draws in water due to osmosis. Constant urination increases thirst, by increasing osmotic pressure of the blood, which directly stimulates thirst receptors. Increase in urination also increases the loss of sodium, which also stimulates thirst receptors. Glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis lead to fat loss and muscle loss, which lead to weight loss. Metabolism of fatty acids may produce ketone bodies, which can lead to breathing problems; a lowered blood PH decreased nerve firing and possibly coma and death. Therefore it is necessary to control diabetes by either medication to act as insulin, (type 1 diabetes) or by dietary and lifestyle measures (type ll). Thus it can be concluded that the function of insulin has a fundamental effect on metabolism.