Good Health or Good Bodybuilder?

“I predict that bodybuilding will become the chief form of systematic exercise and physical activity, and that it will come to be looked upon as one of the greatest forces in the field of preventative medicine.” — Joe Weider, 1950


When Joe Weider famously wrote those words over six decades ago the United States economic engine was running full speed ahead as a result of the boost it received from World War II, the general health of the American public was a relative non-issue, and the outside world’s view of the bodybuilder was one of respect and admiration as they saw men who were the personification of what dedication to training, nutrition, and hard work could achieve.


Fast forward to present day and what we find is a world that’s vastly different. The American economy is in recovery from a financial collapse of the magnitude that hadn’t been seen since the Great Depression, the health of the population has precipitously declined as some form of chronic disease affects over half of the population, and the worldview of the bodybuilder has gone from admired to ostracized. But perhaps the thing that Joe would find most troubling is how the health of the modern bodybuilder has declined in the pursuit of taking their physiques to heights that defy logic. In today’s world, and in today’s current landscape of bodybuilding, is it possible to be in good health and still be a good bodybuilder?


If we’re trying to analyze what changed, and where things began to shift we can’t do it without addressing what’s going to be the first thing everyone wants to scream out. “It’s the drugs!” And there’s no denying that there is a great deal of truth in that statement. With each passing decade it seems that competitors are required to up the ante in the freak factor department which seems to go hand-in-hand with the “up the dosage” mentality.


If we look back to the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, during the Pumping Iron era, if you used anabolic steroids year round you were considered the exception, not the rule. Most competitors, including Arnold who was the reigning Mr. Olympia, only used anabolic steroids precontest, and even that was still probably less than or equal to what most local and regional level competitors use today.


Now, in the era of Get Big or Die Trying, in order to be competitive at the Junior and National level competitions it’s not uncommon for a competitor to use four or more anabolic steroids all in the hope of potentially cracking the top ten. I’m not saying that we should abandon anabolics, but maybe we should start to reevaluate the approach so that future generations don’t think putting in all of their chips is the only option for getting a seat at the table.


It’s a lazy and unfair argument to cast all of the blame on anabolic steroids. I believe that a great deal of the blame for why we’ve seen so many tragic and untimely deaths, many of them due to heart disease, is due to the bodybuilding diet. In order to build the tremendous size we see from today’s competitors it requires an enormous amount of food to meet nutritional needs and fuel growth. Building a championship physique – or even a decent gym physique, for that matter – requires substantial amounts of protein, plenty of healthy (ideally) fats, and a surplus of carbohydrates, and therein lies the problem.


Carbohydrates in any form – simple or complex – cause blood sugar to rise. That means that the standard bodybuilding diet of six meals per day causes a near constant elevation in blood glucose levels. When blood glucose levels are constantly elevated something called glycation occurs in the body.


Glycation occurs when excess blood sugars bind with protein or lipid molecules causing what are known as advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) to form. Once AGEs are formed they become Weapons of Mass Deterioration in the body. AGEs deposit themselves in tissues throughout the body and once they reach their destination there is no way to remove them. Buildup of AGEs leads to deterioration of joints, eyes, the brain, and most importantly to the bodybuilder, the heart.


AGEs don’t damage the heart directly. They do their work much more discretely, by glycating LDL cholesterol particles. In the body we have two forms of LDL cholesterol particles; we have normal large particles, and small damaging particles. Under normal circumstances large LDL particles transport cholesterol through the blood delivering it to cells in need before being taken up and disposed of by the liver.


However, once an LDL particle becomes glycated it changes in size from large to small. Because they’re no longer normal size, the liver is unable to properly dispose of small LDL particles and they remain in the blood before ultimately becoming deposited in our arterial walls. Now, imagine the amount of damaging glycation that occurs in a 250 plus pound bodybuilder eating six meals per day and consuming thousands of grams of carbohydrates – day after day, week after week, year after year. We are literally creating the perfect environment for the development of heart disease, and most of us are doing it for decades.


Is it possible for us to simultaneously maximize our health and our physiques? Or is this just the price we owe to the Iron Goddess for her allowing us to set foot in her domain?


There’s a scene in the movie Gladiator where Russell Crowe is standing in the

arena and he screams out to the crowd, “Are you not entertained?” It’s one of the most powerful scenes in the movie as he challenges the morality of a blood thirsty crowd enthusiastically anticipating death. He’s essentially asking them, at what point does enough become enough? I believe we need to ask ourselves the same question. Bodybuilders are our own form of modern day gladiators battling it out onstage in front of cheering crowds for their entertainment, and far too many of us are still paying the ultimate price. Is this just the nature of the beast or is it time to change for our sake and the sake of future generations?

10 facts every man should know about his prostate

Every year, 35,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in the UK, making it the most common type of cancer in men.

Yet according to a survey carried out by the Prostate Cancer Charity, two-thirds of British men don't have a clue what their prostate actually does.

Knowing the symptoms of prostate cancer can help to catch it early, when treatment success rates are at their highest.

Read our 10 basic facts about the prostate, prostate cancer and tips for prevention, with Dr Tom Stuttaford, an expert in prostate cancer and vice-president of Prostate UK.
1. What is the prostate?

Only men have a prostate. The role of the prostate is to make seminal fluid, which is mixed with sperm to make semen.
2. What does it look like?

It is a walnut-sized gland situated just below the bladder between the root of the penis and the anus.

In older men with prostate problems it may swell from the size of a walnut to that of a plum.

If the prostate grows too big, urine flow may be weaker.
3. How do I know if my prostate is healthy?

Urine flow is a good indicator of prostate problems. If your once proud stream of urine has dwindled to a feeble trickle, you'll need to see your GP.

There are a variety of reasons for a change in the pressure of urine flow, such as a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate, called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or prostatitis – inflammation or infection of the prostate.

Prostate cancer doesn't always affect the urinary stream until the disease is advanced, so it isn’t a reliable indicator on its own.

Symptoms to look out for are getting up more at night to urinate, dribbling before or after urinating, and a weak urine flow.

Less common symptoms include pain in the testicles, problems getting an erection, pain when ejaculating, pain when passing urine and blood in the urine.
4. Is age a factor?

Prostate cancer usually affects men over 50 and approximately half of this age group also show signs of prostate enlargement. According to Cancer Research UK, the largest number of cases is diagnosed in those aged 70 to 74.

One in 25 men (3.8 per cent) will die from the disease and around 7 in 10 newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients now survive beyond five years. Prostatitis can affect men of any age.
5. What is a PSA test?

If your GP wants to rule out prostate cancer he will probably suggest that you have a PSA test. This is a blood test that measures the level of a protein called Prostate specific antigen (PSA). PSA is produced in the prostate gland and found in small amounts in the blood.

A raised PSA level can be a warning sign of the presence of prostate cancer. It can also indicate other problems that aren't cancer - three out of four men with a raised PSA level will not have prostate cancer. However, the higher the PSA level, the greater the likelihood of a cancer being present.
6. Is there a genetic link?

Look at your family tree. Has your father, grandfather, uncle or brother had prostate cancer? If this is the case, then you have a greater risk of developing the disease.

It’s hoped that in the future genetic profiling will be developed in order to identify men with a high risk.

Tell your doctor if any family members have had the disease so you can be given regular blood tests to monitor your PSA.
7. Eat more

Try to eat six portions of brightly coloured fruit and vegetables a day. Include three portions of oily fish a week, such as salmon, herrings, mackerel or sardines, which are rich in vitamin D and essential fatty acids, omega-3 and omega-6.

There is evidence that selenium, a trace mineral, helps lower the risk of prostate cancer by combating cell damage. Selenium is found in broccoli, Brazil nuts, seafood, asparagus, brown rice and onions.

Selenium can also be taken in supplement form and works best when combined with vitamin E and zinc.

Mediterranean men have a lower prostate cancer rate and this is believed to be down to a diet rich in fruit and vegetables, garlic, olive oil, fish and tomatoes.

Tomatoes contain a bright red pigment called lycopene, a powerful carotenoid antioxidant, which helps to repair damaged cells.

According to an American study of 47,000 men over six years, those who had at least 10 servings a week of tomato-based foods were up to 45 per cent less likely to develop prostate cancer.
8. Eat less

There is also a clear link between obesity and cancer – putting on those extra cuddly pounds around your waist doubles your risk of dying of cancer.

Reduce your fat intake and replace saturated fats with monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.

Saturated fats are found in found in meat, some margarines, crisps, chips, and many processed foods.

Lower salt intake and drink moderately. Avoid too much cured meat such as smoked dishes, or processed hams, as they may contain carcinogens, a substance that may promote or aggravate cancer.
9. Drink plenty of the right stuff

Japanese and Chinese men have very low levels of prostate cancer and green tea is thought to be one reason why. This is because it's rich in polyphenols, which have antioxidant properties.

Alcohol and fizzy drinks are rich in sugar, which can pile on the pounds. Instead, you should try to drink six to eight glasses of water each day to help flush out the kidneys and keep the body hydrated.
10. Be active

Exercise helps to balance hormone levels, prevent obesity and boost the immune system. And it's never too late - studies have shown that exercise is still beneficial for men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer and are receiving treatment for it.

Scientists in Boston found that maintaining a healthy weight and diet helps cancer sufferers live longer. Results of the trial, involving over 900 men, showed that overweight men with prostate cancer doubled their risk of death in the five years after the study, compared to men who maintained a healthy weight. Buy steroids

How Steroids May Be Beating Your Prostate Into Dysfunction

Ask any teenager the effects of steroids, and his mainstream media brainwashing will likely cause him to respond with the three most commonly cited side effects. The first side effect mentioned will likely be liver damage. We all know that injectables don't affect liver function much, and even orals cause rises to levels, which are still typically acceptable.

In most healthy males, only long-term abuse of anabolic steroids leads to liver damage. The second side effect he'll recall is acne. While this is unavoidable as skin receptors do react to anabolics, many topical and oral medications exist which can mostly alleviate this problem. This third side effect - harder to determine without a very invasive examination - is prostate damage. Do steroids really cause prostate damage?

For decades, scientists have cited prostate enlargement as a side effect of steroid use. The media has run with this assumption and declared steroids cause prostate cancer. In reality, this is not the case. It is correct that the prostate enlarges when androgens are present in the body. DHT or Testosterone inserted into the body will bind to receptors in the prostate, and new growth will occur as a result. However, once the bodybuilder stops the cycle, the prostate returns to regular size.

There are only two periods of life in which the prostate is enlarged. The first occurs during puberty when the body is producing obscene amounts of testosterone. After that, the prostate remains a constant size for the next 25 to 40 years. As men reach their 40's and 50's, prostate growth does begin again in all men. For men in this position, Dutasteride or Finasteride can help with prostate size reduction as well.

Therefore the average steroid user in his 20s or 30s will experience an enlargement of the prostate, but it will typically be nothing to become alarmed about. This does present an interesting set of risks for steroid users age 40 and above. Their prostate may begin growing naturally. Coupled with anabolic steroid use, real problems can occur.

If you are over age 40 and using steroids, annual prostate exams are essential. Males under the age of 22 should not use steroids. Not only because their prostate may be enlarged, but also because their bodies are already producing levels of testosterone sufficient for muscle growth. Toying with levels at this age can lead to a lifetime requirement of hormone replacement therapy.

Exercise and Prostate Cancer

University Prostate Center and the VA Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina evaluated 190 men who underwent biopsies for possible prostate cancer. When they looked at the results, and accounted for factors such as age, weight, race, body mass index, PSA, and several others, they found that those who exercised the equivalent of three to six hours of walking per week were less likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer. More specifically, compared with their more sedentary peers, these men were two-thirds less likely to have a biopsy positive for prostate cancer. In addition, men who exercised the equivalent of only one to three hours of walking each week had an 86 percent lower risk of having an aggressive form of the cancer.

One of the latest studies conducted an 18-year study in which they evaluated 2,705 men who had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. They found that men who were involved in three or more hours of vigorous exercise had a 61 percent lower risk of prostate cancer-specific death when compared with men who exercised less than one hour each week.  Among men who walked at a normal to brisk pace for more than 90 minutes each week had a 46 percent lower risk of dying from any cause when compared to men who did not walk as much.

Exercise is beneficial not only for helping to prevent prostate cancer, but also for improving quality of life following prostatectomy. In a recent Canadian study, 60 men who were scheduled for radical prostatectomy were interviewed two weeks before and four weeks after surgery regarding their level of physical activity. The researchers found that men who had higher levels of physical activity during the year before their surgery had lesser declines in health-related quality of life both before and after surgery. This finding suggests that declines in health-related quality of life after radical prostatectomy may be reduced or avoided in men who participate in exercise before surgery.

Exercise also appears to help men who undergo external beam radiation for prostate cancer. In a study from the University of Dundee, experts evaluated radiation toxicity data for 65 men who were treated with radiation therapy over a four-week period. Thirty-three men were assigned to a control group and 32 participated in 30 minutes of walking at least three times per week during treatment. Among men who exercised, there was a significant difference in mean toxicity scores regarding rectal side effects when compared with controls, but there was no significant difference regarding bladder side effects. These findings suggest that men who exercise may experience less severe rectal side effects during radiation treatment for prostate cancer.

What Your Erection Says About Your Health

Erectile dysfunction is rarely an isolated problem. It can be a warning sign of greater threats to men's health.

Once upon a time, erectile dysfunction was thought to be all in your head, the result of a psychological problem. Now we know that notion is for the most part false and that, more than a problem limited to having an erection, erectile dysfunction is almost always a warning sign of a more serious medical issue. In fact about 70 percent of erectile dysfunction is probably related to diabetes, kidney disease, and heart disease. And it can be traced to several other illnesses affecting men's health as well.

This is why, sexual performance aside, if you have erectile dysfunction, you should see your physician.

What Your Erection Says About Men's Health

Knowing the connection between erectile dysfunction and these other men's health issues will help you be proactive about your well-being:

    Heart disease. Since the penis is made up of blood vessels and spongy tissue, a problem with blood flow to the penis usually means there's already a problem with blood flow to other parts of the body that's gone undetected. Emerging science shows that erectile dysfunction can indicate other types of vascular or arterial disease, such as heart attacks and stroke. Studies have shown that men who have erectile dysfunction and no history of heart attack go on to have heart attacks sooner than their counterparts without erectile dysfunction.
    One such study, published in the journal Obstetrical & Gynecological Survey, looked at more than 1,400 men and found a strong association between erectile dysfunction and coronary artery disease in men. The researchers also concluded that the presence of erectile dysfunction in younger men was a strong risk factor for a future coronary event.
    It would be a good idea for anyone with erectile dysfunction to get screened for their cardiovascular risk factors, including cholesterol and blood pressure. In fact, when those underlying issues are corrected, many times the erectile dysfunction itself improves or could resolve.
    Diabetes. One of the worst complications of uncontrolled diabetes is nerve and blood vessel damage. Because both these functions are critical to maintaining an erection, it's not surprising that diabetes is tied to erectile dysfunction - men ages 45 and younger should know that erectile dysfunction is actually a significant warning sign of diabetes. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases estimates that men diagnosed with diabetes often experience problems with erectile dysfunction 10 to 15 years earlier in life than ED typically strikes. And overall, the incidence of ED among men with diabetes is high - according to a recent study of 555 Italian men with type 2 diabetes, about 60 percent had some form of erectile dysfunction, a much higher rate than among the general population. The study found that factors that can help control diabetes, such as good exercise and diet habits, were also helpful for erectile dysfunction symptoms.
    Thyroid diseases. The thyroid gland produces hormones that impact functions throughout the body. So when the thyroid gland is producing too many or too few hormones, your ability to get an erection can be affected. Erectile dysfunction is both a symptom of too much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism) and too little thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism). For hyperthyroidism, other symptoms to look for include anxiety, irritability, shaky hands, unexplained weight loss, rapid heart rate, and diarrhea. For hypothyroidism, expect to experience fatigue, listlessness, a slow heart rate, constipation, and weight gain.
    HIV. A review article that looked at the results of many studies of men with HIV found that rates of erectile dysfunction were higher among those in the HIV-positive community than in other men. The reasons for the higher rates of erection problems aren't completely known, but researchers theorize that it might be a combination of hormonal changes and psychological issues.
    Other health conditions. Erectile dysfunction can be tied to other health problems, including kidney disease, alcoholism, multiple sclerosis, other endocrine disorders, and neurologic disease. 

In each case, the disease can affect one or more of the mechanisms that affect the formation of an erection. For your sexual health and your overall health, you owe it to yourself to find out what's behind your erectile dysfunction and get the treatment you need.

The 6 Pillars of Prostate Health

The 6 Pillars of Prostate Health are a total plan for wellness and living a life of maximum prostate health and prevention. The foundations of the 6 Pillars are based on over 200 international studies over 15 years.

The 6 Pillars bring together a plan not just for prostate health, but a plan for total health and wellness based on nutrition, weight control, lifestyle, natural treatments, hormone management and a healthy sex life.

   
The Prostate Diet: Cancer experts estimate that our food choices account for up to 90 percent of cancers of the prostate, breast, pancreas, and colon.  Making changes to your diet can significantly lower your risk of getting prostate disease.  In The Prostate Diet you will find meal plans, recipes, supplements and the 10 Foundations of The Prostate Diet; a total diet, supplement and eating plan for inflammation management, cancer prevention and prostate health.  In order to make informed nutrition decisions you also need to know what foods and additives to avoid and what supplements can actually contribute to prostate disease.

Exercise and Weight Control: Both exercise and weight loss can have a significant impact on prostate health.  Men who have prostate cancer have more than double the risk of dying of the disease if they are obese than if they were of normal weight.  Some specific exercises are also great for prostate disorders and reduce your risk of prostate cancer, prostatitis and BPH while others such as Kegel exercises can also aid in sexual health and stamina.

Lifestyle: Smoking, sleep patterns, some medications and alcohol all can affect your prostate.  

Natural Management: Natural prevention and treatment approaches for prostate health include acupuncture, biofeedback, homeopathy, hormone restoration, massage, reflexology and stress management techniques. 

Hormone Balance: Hormone management and hormone balancing play a major role in prostate health.  According to the World Health Organization “diet might influence prostate cancer risk by affecting hormone levels.” Learn all about the major male hormone players and what you can do to keep them in balance; and keep you free of prostate disease.

Sex and ED (Impotence): Sex is generally healthy for your prostate but can you have too much of a good thing? 

How to Improve Prostate Health

The prostate is a small gland found in men, near their bladders. Many men experience prostate problems, and as they get older it is important to watch for signs of prostate cancer. There are many lifestyle changes that can be made in order to protect yourself from issues with your prostate. Be sure you know about any family history with cancer or prostate problems. Improve prostate health by eating healthy foods, keeping your weight in check and visiting your doctor regularly.


    1. Eat well. Make sure your diet includes a variety of fruits, vegetables, lean protein and whole grains.

•         Include foods with a lot of lycopene, such as red peppers and tomatoes. Lycopene is what makes fruit and vegetables red, and has been proven as a cancer-fighting ingredient.
•         Eat fish with high levels of omega-3 acids, including salmon and tuna. These foods will help your prostate as well as your heart and immune system.
•         Increase the amount of soy you eat. The properties of soy, which is found in many vegetarian dishes, fight cancer. Trading cow's milk for soy milk is one way to get more soy into your diet.

    2. Lose weight. If you are overweight, get yourself on a diet and exercise plan that will get you in a healthy range. Maintaining a healthy weight will keep your prostate healthy.
    3. See your doctor regularly. Have your prostate examined every year.
        Talk to your doctor about any issues in your family history as it pertains to your prostate.
        Discuss any symptoms you have experienced, including incontinence, impotence or if you have noticed an enlarged prostate.
    4. Take zinc supplements. Most men do not get enough zinc in their diets, and supplements can help keep your prostate healthy. Zinc deficiencies have led to enlarged prostates.
        Take 50 to 100 milligrams of zinc per day to reduce an enlarged prostate.
        Be sure to discuss any supplements you are taking or thinking about taking with your physician.
    5. Perform kegel exercises. Tighten the muscles around your scrotum and anus for a few seconds, then release. Do this exercise in 10 repetitions 5 times a day to improve your prostate health.
    6. Try taking saw palmetto berry. This supplement has received mixed reviews from users and the medical field, so talk to your doctor before you try it. Some people believe it reduces inflammation and prostate enlargement.
    7. Avoid alcohol. Limit the amount of caffeine you consume. Try to have only 1 cup of coffee per day. 

Homosexuals Have Poorer Health Than Heterosexuals

People straight, consisting in a heterosexual marriage, characterized by better health and fewer sick compared with the same-sex couples, according to a new study, a team of scientists from Michigan, USA.

In a series of statistical analyses of the last time doctors were able to prove that married people have traditionally had the best state of the cardiovascular system, immune system better and less prone to inflammation, compared to unmarried people. However, the new analysis argues that the benefits of the marriage can only get a pair of traditional orientation.

Large-scale study was conducted with the participation of more than 700 thousand people participated in the National Health Interview survey between 1997 and 2009. Approximately 3330 people identified themselves as "gay, married". Marriage could be officially registered, and could be a civilian, as today in the U.S. are allowed same-sex unions are not everywhere.

Scientists have formed a group of the same number of people that are similar in terms of income, education, social status and position in society. After that, doctors compared the data for health representatives of these two groups.

The results were quite surprising. Say that representatives of gay marriage are sick more often - is to say nothing. In addition to increasing the chances getting HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, which are among gay men are usually elevated in every 3 to 4, compared with the average rates, the researchers also found a growing risk for a variety of non-communicable diseases.

In particular, doctors have revealed the risk of off-scale (110% more than in the intervention group) in diseases of the cardiovascular system, the growth of inflammatory markers in the blood, and high probability of sudden death.

Interestingly, the non-traditional health representatives of unions was even weaker than the health of unmarried middle-aged people. Experts have tried to explain this by the fact that same-sex marriage today is still not approved and even censured in society, resulting in a homosexual always felt by some pressure from the public and under stress. Likely also that the observed phenomenon is influenced by many factors, which are not yet fully understood.