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AIM BarleyLife??a
natural source of energy and nutrition
for athletes of all ages
Eating well for better performance
When eating for strength and endurance, athletes and serious sports
enthusiasts frequently make some common mistakes regarding food choices.
Protein consumption and so-called ?carbohydrate-loading? are often
misunderstood.
Just think about the last time you were traveling, and saw a sports team
gather in a restaurant for a big, juicy steak dinner that was served with
plenty of carbohydrates in the form of pasta or potatoes. All the while, the
very enthusiastic team talks about preparing for the big game the next day.
Have you ever wondered, ?Is that the best type of meal for athletes about to
undergo a very significant physical test of endurance??
Proteins and carbohydrates
Many of us with a
Western diet have the belief that we need protein in the form of meat to grow
muscles, gain strength, and develop endurance. The truth is massive amounts of
meat will not provide the above illustrated sports team with the real power
and energy they need for athletic competition. Unless you are an expert
bodybuilder, most athletes only need about 10 to 15 percent of their daily
diets to come from protein.
Protein is a poor source of long-lasting energy and the body will spend
many of hours of ?energy??plus massive amounts of water?to rid the body of
protein?s nitrogen waste (resulting in a feeling of fatigue). Furthermore,
extra servings of protein do not build muscle mass (muscles develop from
training and exercise). If that weren?t enough, extra servings of protein
cannot be stored by the body, and any excess not burned immediately as energy
will be stored in the body as fat?an undesirable result.
While a small carbohydrate meal consisting of a glass of juice or a banana
is recommended for extra energy prior to exercise, ?carbohydrate-loading? in
the form of massive amounts of pasta and potatoes is ineffective for most
athletes. Instead of producing energy, it may result in fatigue.
Some athletes resort to the carbohydrate-loaded sports drinks that are
popular today, but these may not be the best choice either. Commercially
prepared sports beverages are not only expensive, but they contain large
amounts of high-fructose or simplified sugars. This high sugar content can add
up to 50 or 80 calories per eight ounce serving. Does the athlete really need
high-fructose (simplified sugars) and all of the associated extra calories?
AIM BarleyLife? powder is available in the original
formula with brown rice and kelp, or in a certified organic formula that is
kelp-free. Convenient and easy-to-take capsules are also available for
original AIM BarleyLife?.
A healthy, well-balanced diet is best
Nutritional experts agree that the best way to ensure plenty of energy for
exercise is to eat a nutritious, well-balanced diet from a variety of whole
foods.
Following a good diet with adequate amounts of carbohydrates, protein,
vitamins, and minerals is critical for optimal performance, according to The
Vegetarian Resource Group.
The body is a self-restoring system, and will accomplish recovery after
exercise naturally when supplied with minerals, vitamins, enzymes, proteins,
carbohydrates, healthy fats and water.
AIM BarleyLife??the near perfect food
By nature, the barley plant is
about 67 percent carbohydrate and 12.8 percent protein?offering the near
perfect ratio of recommended proteins and carbohydrates. In its concentrated
juice powder form, AIM BarleyLife? is more than 20 percent protein per
serving. The barley plant also contains powerful enzymes, vitamins and
minerals, as well as chlorophyll to help the body rejuvenate itself.
Green barley leaves are bursting with vitamins, and contain all of the
protein and amino acids needed for metabolism. Green barley also contains
important minerals (such as potassium) needed for electrolyte recovery after
exercise.
As a whole food concentrate, the nutrients in AIM BarleyLife? are
completely natural to the harvested barley plant, and this makes the vitamins
and minerals easily digestible to the human body. In a highly soluble state,
nutrients are quickly dissolved by the stomach, absorbed by the intestinal
walls, and metabolized into the bloodstream to be used by the body for
immediate energy or tissue construction. Many athletes (including several
Olympic athletes) report feeling a burst of energy and renewed stamina after
consuming AIM BarleyLife?.
For the athelete concerned about fat and calorie intake, it is important to
note that a typical serving of AIM BarleyLife? is low in sugar and contains
very little fat and cholesterol. This makes AIM BarleyLife? a healthy option
since high fat content foods can produce muscle cramping and intestinal
distress that may interfere with athletic performance.
Amino acids and proteins
AIM BarleyLife? is rich in amino acids. Amino acids are the building blocks
of proteins, which are the major constituents of every cell and body fluid.
Amino acids and their related proteins are necessary for growth and metabolism
in the body. The body uses them for continual cell-building, cell regeneration
and energy production.
Essential amino acids cannot be synthesized in adequate amounts by the
body, but must be supplied by food. Laboratory tests demonstrate that AIM
BarleyLife? has an amazing profile of protein and a broad specturm of amino
acids.
Nutrition educator, Mary Ruth Swope, Ph.D. and author of the book,
Green Leaves of Barley, notes: ?All proteins are not created equal! The
body can use proteins in some foods better than those found in others.
Proteins from plant sources are very easily digested and assimilated. Not all,
however, contain the full range of amino acids required for growth, repair,
and maintenance of tissue. Barley juice powder is not among that group?it
contains them all.? (Swope 1996)
Powerful enzymes
Enzymes are known for their anti-inflammatory properties. Cooked and
processed foods are depleted of enzymes. However, in their natural state,
green barley leaves contain a multitude of live enzymes.
Enzymes are essential for the thousands of chemical reactions that occur
throughout the body, including the production of energy at the cellular level,
the facilitation of digestion, the absorption of digested nutrients, and the
rebuilding and replenishing of all that the body requires for metabolism to
occur.
One enzyme in particular, superoxide dismutase (SOD), appears in AIM
BarleyLife? at a very high level. ?SOD is one of these enzymes that increases
the efficiency of energy production.? (Swope 1996) SOD is also thought to
reduce tissue damage and slow the rate of cell destruction. It seems to
provide a natural defense against the free radicals that break down synovial
fluids. Synovial fluids protect the joints from inflammation. Low levels of
SOD have also been associated with degenerative diseases.
Chlorophyll
Muscles cannot move
without oxygen supplied by the bloodstream. High chlorophyll content foods
such as AIM BarleyLife? are excellent oxygen transporters. Chlorophyll?found
naturally and in abundance in green barley? helps to remove carbon dioxide
from the body and greatly stimulates the red blood cells. Red blood cells are
the mechanism by which oxygen is supplied to the muscles, cells and body
tissue.
In the 1940s, researchers discovered the similar properties of chlorophyll
to human hemoglobin. ?One of the most fascinating discoveries in the
biological sciences was the observation of the similarity between the green
pigment in plants and the red pigment in blood. They are nearly identical.?
(Swope 1996)
Abundance of vitamins and minerals
AIM BarleyLife? is an excellent source of vitamins?and is literally
bursting with beta carotene (vitamin A). The beta carotene content found in
AIM BarleyLife? is substantial, representing nearly two times that found in
raw carrots and 8 times that found in a raw broccoli. Beta carotene (a
precursor of vitamin A) is an important antioxidant and improves
cardiovascular health. Because beta carotene is found in its completely
natural (raw form) in AIM BarleyLife?, there is no need to worry about vitamin
A toxicity. Any beta carotene that is not absorbed by the cells and turned
into vitamin A, is simply eliminated by the body.
In addition to vitamin A, AIM BarleyLife? is an excellent source of
vitamins: B6, C, E, riboflavin, thiamin, niacin, folate; as well as minerals:
calcium, copper, magnesium, iron, phosphorus and potassium.
?Dried barley juice has a wider range, higher quantity, and better balance
of minerals than any of the foods that are commonly valued for mineral
content.? (Swope 1996)
The all-important mineral, potassium
AIM BarleyLife? is particularly abundant in potassium. The motion of
muscles during exercise involves the release of potassium. When potassium is
absent, the muscles strongly resist releasing potassium, increasing sodium
levels. Too much salt or too little potassium can result in tension and muscle
fatigue. The role of potassium is to neutralize and balance sodium levels,
which helps to lower blood pressure and aid in muscle activity. This action is
extremely important to athletes.
It is interesting to note that many commercially prepared carbohydrate
sports drinks include salt and potassium as the two major ingredients for what
is known as ?electrolyte? recovery after exercise. As mentioned earlier, these
drinks contain high fructose sugars, and can add significant calories.
Whole body health that?s easy to take
When searching for the perfect way to improve performance, athletes will
sometimes try a variety of questionable methods to build muscle or lose
weight, and may sometimes risk their very health in the process.
AIM BarleyLife? is a perfectly natural way to supplement the diet without
fear of toxic side effects. As a whole food product, the green juice
concentrate of AIM BarleyLife? is a healthful way of supplementing the sports
diet. The vitamins and minerals are natural to the leaves of the barley
plant?with the molecules of the nutrients in a near-pure state just as nature
originally made them. There are no known toxic side-effects.
For that reason, nutritionists and sports trainers consider green barley
juice to be perfectly safe for the diet. As long as your healthcare
practitioner has not forbidden you to eat a green salad, you can enjoy the
benefits of AIM BarleyLife?. Of course, those with a severe medical condition
should always consult a health practitioner.
Copyright ? AIM International, Inc. Used
with permission.
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