US Sports Strength and Conditioning: Why You Should be Taking JNX SPORTS THE SHADOW! PRE-WORKOUT

 

The Shadow! Pre-workout can help maximize your workout by potentially enhancing your mental focus, maximizing your force output, increasing blood flow, and decreasing muscular fatigue.

Ken Yu

When it comes to pre-workout, there are so many out there to choose from, but look no further. Let’s break down why JNX SPORTS THE SHADOW! Is the next pre-workout you should try. 

Mental Focus

This pre-workout will provide you with 350mg of caffeine, 500mg of tyrosine, and 5mg of olive leaf extract to help keep you in the zone.

Caffeine has been clinically proven to boost athlete performance in both aerobic and anaerobic training.  Caffeine will directly affect your central nervous system by blocking your adenosine receptors leading to increases in neurotransmitter release such as dopamine, norepinephrine, glutamate, and adrenaline, thereby boosting energy levels, motor unit firing rates, and mental focus [1].

L-Tyrosine is an amino acid found in various foods such as meats, fish, eggs, nuts, beans.  This compound has been shown to increase dopamine levels in the brain which can lead to increase in cognitive function in both memory and lateral thinking.  One study demonstrated that subjects taking tyrosine were able to exercise longer in a heated environment [2][3].

Olive Leaf Extract as known as oleuropein is found in olives and may be responsible for heart and brain health of those who eat a Mediterranean diet. This compound has been shown to be anti-inflammation, antioxidative, and may be linked to lower rates of cancer, and fatty liver disease. There have also  been many promising studies on using it to help prevent cognitive decline for those with Alzheimer’s disease [4]. 

JNX Sports The Shadow! Pre-Workout

Designed for hardcore users, The Shadow!® is the next step in the pre-workout evolution.

Combatting Muscular Fatigue

This pre-workout will provide you with 2000mg of Beta Alanine, 1000 Mg Taurine, and 750mg of L-Leucine to help prevent your muscles from fatiguing too early. 

Beta Alanine may help delay muscular fatigue during high intensity exercise by helping create carnosine which acts as an intramuscular buffer against acidity build up in your muscles [5]. 

Taurine may help you improve your muscular strength by reducing muscle fatigue from  oxidative stress. Taurine plays a beneficial role in your metabolism, glucose regulation, energy levels, anti-inflammatory modulation, and antioxidant actions [6][7]. 

L-Leucine is arguably the most important branched-chain amino acid (BCAA), because you lose more of it while exercising. Leucine supplementation has been shown to greatly increase muscle mass, help with fat loss, and prevent muscular fatigue [8]. 

Muscle Pump Or Nitric Oxide Agents 

This pre-workout will provide you with 2000mg of L-Citrulline and 600mg Betaine Anhydrous to help increase blood flow to your muscles, which can improve exercise performance and muscular growth. 

L-Citrulline is an amino acid found primarily in watermelon that is converted to L-arginine which promotes the synthesis of nitric oxide which is primarily responsible for  that “pumped” feeling [9]. 

Betaine Anhydrous is a naturally-occurring derivative of the amino acid glycine which can improve exercise performance by increasing rates of creatine synthesis, elevating levels of blood nitric oxide, and promoting fluid and thermal homeostasis [10].

B Vitamins 

As an added bonus, this pre-workout provides you with Vitamin B6, Vitamin B9 (Folate), and Vitamin B12. This group B vitamins are required for healthy functioning of your metabolism, neurological function, blood cell creation and repair and synthesis of your DNA [11]. 

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7777221/ 
2. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00421-011-1921-4
3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25598314/ 
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4227229/
5. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27797728/
6. https://jissn.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12970-021-00438-0
7. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34039357/
8. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10418071/ 
9. https://link.springer.com/article/10.2165/11596860-000000000-00000
10. https://jissn.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12970-018-0247-6 
11. https://juniperpublishers.com/jojph/JOJPH.MS.ID.555642.php

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ken Yu

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The Often Overlooked Value of Organic

We understand there's one big hold up in going organic: the price. It's so expensive. 

However, there are ways today to get your healthy, organic ingredients for less. For starters, we offer 100% organic ingredients in all of our meals. As we covered before, the value of not only the quality of the food, but to have these meals chef-prepared and delivered to your door is how we price our service. We do everything for you... and save you money along the way

Now what if we told you that the extra price you pay for organic ingredients... is worth it simply just for your health.

It's important to understand the nutritional value of organic ingredients. For instance, according to the Environmental Working Group, celery, peaches, strawberries, apples, blueberries, nectarines, bell peppers, spinach, kale, cherries, potatoes, and imported grapes are doused heavily in pesticides. The USDA said that US farmers sprayed an alarming 57 million pounds of glyphosate (a chemical in weedkillers) on crops in 2009. Glyphosate winds up inside inside of our veggies and produce and has been linked to metabolic damage, infertility, obesity, learning disabilities and even birth defects. Ugh.

Research on organic foods show that they are lower in nitrates, a compound that can be carcinogenic once ingested.

Now that's just pesticides. We also don't serve any of "the bad stuff" — no preservatives, GMOs, hormones, antibiotics, and we're entirely soy and gluten-free as well.

Is it the taste you're worried about too? Organically grown foods tend to taste richer and more flavorful. Balanced soil produces healthy, strong plants. Heirloom varieties, (think tomatoes) especially benefit from this style of farming. Research shows that healthier soil grows stronger organic plants with increased levels of vitamin C, iron, magnesium, and phosphorus.

* * * *

The ingredients we use in our meals are viewed through a very specific lens: Will this food increase our performance and our quality of life or not? Very simple. Very effective.

Your meals only include ingredients that are proven by research to optimize your mind and body. Ingredients with Integrity. That's one of our mottos.

Lastly, your subscription with us at Factor 75 also goes towards supporting the local farmer. We source all of our ingredients from local organic farmers in the Chicagoland area with Testa Produce being one of our longtime partners.

We know this may be a lot to take in, but when you have an extra moment, download our full guide on Going Organic (PDF). 

BPI Sports Presents: MEET THE KETOS: THE BPI KETO LINE

It’s been called the keto diet, the ketogenic diet, the low-carb diet and the low carb high fat (LCHF) diet. Whatever you call it, a ketogenic diet works if you can stick to it. When you are on a low-carb diet, your body produces ketones in the liver to be used for energy, thus the name ketogenic diet.

In contrast, when you eat a diet high in carbs, your body will produce glucose and insulin. Glucose is easily and readily converted to ATP to be used by the body for energy. Insulin is produced to help process the glucose flooding your blood stream. When glucose is readily available for your body to use as a primary source of energy, fats are no longer needed and are stored. By lowering your carbohydrate intake, you force your body into a state of ketosis, where it will seek out fat stores to burn in place of carbohydrates.

Ketosis is the natural process by which the body burns fat stores to help your carbohydrate deprived body survive. When in a state of ketosis, your body will begin to break down the fats in the liver to produce ketones for energy.

When beginning a ketogenic diet or taking your current keto routine to the next level, BPI Sport’s line of keto supplements can help to give you the added edge you need to reach your goals. Supplementing with the BPI keto line is an easy and convenient way to support your keto diet.

KEEPING UP WITH THE KETOS

BEST PRE WORKOUT™ — This ketogenic pre-workout supplement helps transition the body from using glucose for fuel to burning fat for fuel. It contains both medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) and beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) salts.

KETO BOMB™ — Get instant and sustained energy from electrolytes and MCTs in this first-ever, ketogenic creamer. Keto Bomb™ comes in two delicious flavors: French Vanilla Latte and Caramel Macchiato.

KETO WEIGHT LOSS™ — By combining caffeine, BHB salts, MCTs and guarana, Keto Weight Loss™ is designed to increase energy, boost endurance and enhance focus.

KETO AMINOS™ — This ketogenic amino acid formula delivers MCTs, BHB salts, and citrulline. MCTs promote energy, BHB salts support performance and citrulline helps promote blood flow.

KETOGENIC INGREDIENTS

BHB Salts — What the ketosis community call exogenous ketones, BHB salts consist of sodium, potassium and beta-hydroxybutyrate.

MCTs — Medium-chain triglycerides are saturated fatty acids that may have many health benefits, including improved weight management.

Citrulline — After supplementation, the amino acid citrulline is converted to arginine in the kidneys. Arginine helps improve blood flow.

Guarana — A plant in the Maple family that has high concentrations of caffeine, making it very popular as an energy and weight loss supplement.