Solar Synergy™ is the newest addition to the Mt. Capra family of high quality nutrition supplements. This 7 part series looks at the several ingredients contributing to its potency and efficacy as a sports drink.

The Problem and Solution.

In the vast market of sports and energy drinks most are advertised as performance enhancing or health improving in nature. However a quick comparison of various brands and it is soon discovered that they are not so much miraculous as they are well marketed. The fact is, these caffeinated syrups do little more than over excite the nervous system and cause an inevitable crash after consumption. Unfortunately for too long, the consumer has had to suffer from an over abundance of highly processed, sugar laden, sports/energy drinks. The lineup of ingredients in these so called performance enhancing “supplements” plays like a bad detective story. In each drink, the usual suspects are rounded up (sugar, sucrose syrup, high fructose corn syrup, caffeine, artificial sweeteners/colors/stimulants, etc.) and yet each product claims “magical” performance enhancing benefits. The obvious problem is that if each drink is made with the same unhealthy ingredients, what real health benefits are there going to be? In all actuality a company can say all they want about their sugary caffeine water but I can make the same claim for a cup of stale coffee and we would both be on similar nutritional grounds (rim shot).

There are two functions of a sports drink (actually three but I’ll get to that in a moment). The first is to rehydrate the body from the effects of dehydration often brought about by mild, moderate, or intense exercise. The second, to replenish electrolytes lost by sweat and metabolic activity. Certain sports drinks handle the first function with ease because they’re composition is mainly plain water. However many miss even this simple goal by containing carbonated water which has been cited as causing a variety of health related problems. As a side note, I should mention that during my graduate research work, we found that on average around 80% of people were chronically dehydrated regardless of their level of thirst. Bottom line, you probably need more water.

The second function, that of replenishing electrolytes, is almost always either overlooked or executed poorly by the leading beverages. The discrepancy lies in the fact that the majority of the minerals found in each bottle are synthetic and exist in ratios not found in nature. For example, the potassium to sodium ratio should be around 3 parts potassium to 1 part sodium (3:1) but in almost every leading beverage I have analyzed the ratio is always 1:3, 1:4, and even 1:5. This is backwards and leans far to heavily on sodium chloride (salt) a substance which nearly everyone over-consumes.

As I alluded to earlier, there is actually a third function of sports drinks that, while rarely addressed, is absolutely crucial. I am referring to the role of antioxidants in combating the damaging effects of free radical oxidation. In a nutshell, free radicals cause oxidative damage in living organisms by disrupting a portion of DNA which then creates a new free radical. These two free radicals will then disrupt more DNA creating more free radicals, fueling a vicious cycle. The bad news is that this DNA damage is often at the root of sickness, aging, and cancer. Even worse news is that oxidation happens all the time and is difficult to avoid. But perhaps the worst news, especially for athletes, is that exercise (yes life extending exercise) creates massive amounts of free radical in the form of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). As exercise frequency and intensity increases, so does the production of ROS. Obviously, I am not advocating against exercise as it is clearly a healthy activity. However, if we are not actively combating the ROS created during said exercise, we are taking 3 steps forward to 2 steps back.

Fortunately there is hope. Although healthy sports drinks are far and few between, there is one that addresses each of the three functions discussed above. Solar Synergy™, when mixed with pure filtered water, counteracts the effects of dehydration. It also replenishes electrolytes by providing over 20 bio-organic minerals and electrolytes in natural ratios (including a healthy 3:1 potassium to sodium ratio). Solar Synergy™ also contains an impressive array of superfruits which when paired with the aforementioned bio-organic mineral/electrolyte combo, provide an antioxidant synergy that is sure to give free radicals a knock out blow.

We have just scratched the surface of the capabilities of Solar Synergy™. Next week we will begin our journey exploring each of the different ingredients and how they enhance performance, recovery, and overall wellness. Until then…

Cheers!

Joe Stout B.Sc., M.S.

Joe Stout received his Bachelors of Science degree in Human Nutrition and Food Science from Washington State University. He recently finished a Masters of Science degree in Clinical Human Nutrition graduating with top honors. He has written for various magazines and is the editor of The High Road to Health newsletter.

Now that December is here, there is no denying the fact that the holidays have descended upon us. For some, these days are filled with laughter, good cheer, and extreme excitement. For others however, (usually those older than 11) the holidays can be filled with stress.

Stress is an everyday occurrence for many of those living in the U.S. and its presence on our health is too serious to ignore. A laundry list of ailments and conditions are linked with stress such as ulcers, hypertension, depression, angina, headaches, and even the common cold. These conditions exist because stress transfers a real and negative biological effect on the different systems and organs present in our bodies. The hormone cortisol dramatically increases when we become stressed and high levels of cortisol suppresses our immune system as well as causes other negative effects.

Stress is caused by a variety of factors that are often unique to each individual situation, however stress can be exacerbated if one chooses to cope with stress in any of the following ways.

1. Overeating – Many turn to food when feeling overwhelmed with the world. This tactic falls in line with our instant gratification mentality and fails to realize that once the eating binge is over, the stress will still be present.

2. Smoking - Smokers addiction to nicotine as well as the habit of smoking gives them something to turn their mind from their stress. This again is an instant gratification habit that causes no real stress management.

3. Overspending – Many feel that spending money will make them feel better. In reality accumulating debt is the perfect way to become far more stressed!

4. Dependance on Alcohol – Although the temptation to find meaning in the bottom of a bottle may be strong during the holiday season, no answers have ever been found in over consumption of alcohol.

Obviously, simply avoiding negative forms of stress management is not the whole picture to the story of dealing with stress in a healthy way. Also important is looking at proactive and positive ways of dealing with the holiday jitters to tackle the holidays the way you did when you were a kid.

How many of you have heard the General Mills claim that Cheerios are heart healthy? Actually it would kind of hard to miss such a claim when the popular cereal box has a heart shaped cereal bowl as well as blatant claims for its cholesterol lowering abilities. Now I am all for product claims that are legitimate and well founded and Cheerios has in fact been found to help lower cholesterol because of the soluble fiber found in oats. Recently, the FDA, acting predictably, issued a statement against General Mills, criticizing the cholesterol lowering claim as reserved solely for drugs. Apparently in the bizarre world of the FDA, the only substances that lower cholesterol are pure, sweet pharmaceuticals. Anyway, General Mills got slapped on the hand and as a result, they have removed their cholesterol lowering claim. Now as I said previously, I am all for legitimate product claims, so it strikes me as odd that Cheerios is still touting heart health. Here’s why.

Pop Quiz: If I showed you this bag of salty potato chips and this bowl of cheerios, which would you guess has more salt? The chips right? Wrong, the bag of chips has a “mere” 160 mg of sodium per 1 oz while Cheerios have just shy of 200 mg of sodium per 1 oz serving!

What is going on here? How can a company claim heart health on one aspect of their product and have another aspect go completely against heart health. This would be like Snickers claiming their candy bar was heart healthy because of certain good fats found in peanuts. It just doesn’t work.

Sodium as you know is highly correlated with hypertension aka high blood pressure and for over 73 million Americans, hypertension is a very real part of life. In fact, estimates put average sodium consumption around 6000 mg per day for Americans. This is far more than a hypertensive individual (or anyone for that matter) should include in their diet.

Now I don’t know about you, but I happen to love eating Cheerios and I would love to see them eliminate sodium from their breakfast cereal. Cheerios are made from oats and oats have 0 mg of sodium naturally so why not leave it that way. Join me in contacting General Mills and asking them to eliminate sodium from Cheerios before they claim their cereal is heart healthy.

Today, September 21, 2009, is World Alzheimers Day. Alzheimer’s Disease is a degenerative brain disorder that causes progressive memory loss and decreased mental function. Alzheimer’s is prevalent in the U.S. and across the globe and its numbers are rapidly increasing. In fact, the 2009 World Alzheimer’s Report states that 35 million people worldwide are living with dementia and Alzheimer’s. This is up 10% from 2005 and the numbers of those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are expected to double every every 20 years culminating with about 115 million people  by 2050.

Although a large part of developing Alzheimer’s is genetic, there are some things you can do to lessen your chances of developing this awful disease.

Alzheimer’s Disease is thought to be caused by a variety of factors. As stated above genetic factors play a major role so the tips listed below must be applied with that in mind. Some people have much higher chances of developing this disease. Alzheimer’s is also thought to be caused/triggered by head injuries, chronic aluminum exposure,  and free radical damage. With these in mind, lets discuss 3 ways to avoid developing Alzheimer’s disease.

1. Avoid Aluminum.

You’re probably scratching your head right now thinking, “when have I ever encountered aluminum and who cares anyway?” When the  brain is exposed to aluminum chronically, Alzheimer’s Disease becomes more common.¹ Aluminum in consumer products is far more widespread than one might think. For example, antacids, deodorants, non-dairy creamer, baking powder, and table salt, all have aluminum as an ingredient. Wrapping food in aluminum foil or cooking in aluminum cookware is another way to be exposed to aluminum. Even scarier is the fact that the most likely source of aluminum exposure is through municipal drinking water. Some aluminum is in the water supply naturally and some is used in the form of “alum” to clarify the water. Either way, studies have shown that even trace amounts of aluminum can immediately enter brain tissue.²

2. Increase B vitamins.

In many cases, both thiamin (Vitamin B1) and Vitamin B12 are deficient in those suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease. Both of these nutrients play key roles in neurological pathways and if deficient levels can be replenished, damaged caused by such a deficiency could be reversed. A high quality thiamin and B12 vitamin can often remedy such a deficiency.

3. Get more Zinc!

Zinc plays a vital role in DNA replication, transcription, and repair. Zinc also happens to be one of the most commonly deficient nutrients in the elderly population. Research has suggested that zinc deficiency is a factor in Alzheimer’s development.³ A good multi-vitamin/mineral will have ample zinc to correct any deficiency.

4. Up that ORAC.

Since free radical damage and Alzheimer’s have been strongly correlated, it is absolutely essential that antioxidants are included in the diet. In a previous post, ORAC values were discussed and if you recall, the higher the ORAC the more powerful the neutralizing effect on the nasty free radical. Get your high ORAC from fruits and vegetables and vitamin C and E.

These are four simple tips that may help reduce the likelihood that Alzheimer’s Disease develops. As always, everyone should talk to their doctor before starting a new supplement/lifestyle alteration. World Alzheimer’s Day is a day to remember those suffering from this disease so why not stop by their website and tell them hello.

To your health!

Joe Stout. M.S.

1. R.W. Shin, “Interaction of Aluminum with Paired Helical Filament Tau is Involved in Neurofibriallary Pathology of Alzheimer’s Disease,” Gerontol 43 (Suppl.1) (1997): 16-23
2. J. Wlaton et al., “Uptake of Trace Amounts of Aluminum into the Brain from Drinking Water,” Neurotoxicology 16 (1995): 187-90
3. J. Constantindids, “The Hypothesis of Zinc Deficiency in the Pathogenesis of Neurofibrillary Tangles,” Med Hypoth 35 (1991): 319-23

High blood pressure, aka hypertension, is extremely common in the United States. In fact, raw stats show that over 73.6 million Americans suffer from high blood pressure.  Hypertension is known as the “silent killer” because there are no noticeable symptoms and yet is one of the greatest risk factors for both heart attacks and strokes.

The facts are that nearly 1/3 of our population have high blood pressure. The common medical response to hypertension is to prescribe drugs that can help lower the blood pressure to the normal range. The problem with this approach is that 80% of the time, high blood pressure is mild enough that it can be brought down to a normal range using natural and drug free methods.¹ And since blood pressure lowering drugs have some very serious and ugly side effects such as headaches, dizziness, impotence, kidney damage, anemia, and depression here are 7 powerful ways to lower blood pressure, naturally!

1. Lose Weight.

If you fit this category, chances are, you are tired of hearing this mantra but it could not be more vital to your health. Excess weight causes excess strain on the heart which raises blood pressure. Drop a few pounds, drop a few blood pressure points. Success!

2. Start Moving.

Another bit of advice that is frequently recommended and rarely followed. Exercise has so many healthy benefits that even if it doesn’t lower your blood pressure, it will improve countless other areas of your life. Get moving and start enjoying the virtues of a healthy life.²

3. Balance Your Sodium/Potassium Ratio.

This is a natural intervention that can drastically reduce blood pressure. When potassium and sodium are in harmony, often blood pressure is as well. Although the ideal ratio of potassium to sodium is 5:1, most Americans have a potassium to sodium ratio of 1:2, which is totally backwards. Table salt and processed foods are the biggest culprits of sodium overload. Also, a lack of fruits and veggies contributes to our paltry potassium intake. Increasing fruits and veggies and putting the salt shaker back in the cupboard (and the processed foods back in the freezer at the grocery store) will greatly help to harmonize your potassium to sodium ratio. (For an excellent source of potassium, check out Capra Mineral Whey.)

4. Increase your Vitamin D

Vitamin D plays a large role in many metabolic processes and it has been hypothesized that vitamin D regulates blood pressure. In a previous post,  it was discussed that a recent study showed more and more Americans were vitamin D deficient. With this in mind, there is more reason than ever to get out in the sunshine! Or, if you live in a cave, Alaska, or refuse to go outside, you can get Vitamin D in pill. Just make sure that you are taking vitamin D3 as this is the form of vitamin D that is easiest to absorb.  ³

5. Boost your Vitamin C intake.

Another hypertension recommendation with some loose ends to tie. Although several studies have shown a drop in BP when vitamin C was supplemented,⁴ why this happens is still unknown. More research in this area will likely uncover new findings as to why it is effective at lowering blood pressure.  A high quality Vitamin C supplement is safe to take and has other benefits than just a reduction in BP.

6. Increase Co-Enzyme Q10.

Co-Q10 is also known as ubiquinone and plays a vital role in the energy production cells known as mitochondria. Co-Q10 is an antioxidant and has been shown to cause up to a 10% reduction in BP.⁵ Co-Q10 can been safely supplemented and usually takes around 4 – 12 weeks to see results.

7. Relax.

Let’s face it, most of us are stressed out about something. Stress is just part of life right? Well it turns out that stress does more than put us in bad moods, it releases cortisol which can cause weight gain, immune suppression, and even (surprise) high blood pressure. Relaxation including deep breathing can have a seriously good effect on our blood pressure and make us feel better too!

So if you happen to be one of the 72 million Americans struggling with high blood pressure, consider these natural ways to lower your blood pressure before you travel down the road to conventional drug therapy.

To your health!

Joe Stout, B.Sc., M.Sc., ip

1. Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine pg. 524
2. Augmented blood pressure response to exercise is associated with improved long-term survival in older people. Heart. 2009 Jul;95(13):1072-8. Epub 2009 Mar 19.
3. Vitamin D status and arterial hypertension: a systematic review. Nat Rev Cardiol. 2009 Aug 18.
4. J.A. Simon, “Vitamin C and Cardiovascular Disease: A Review,” J Am Coll Nutr 11
5. P. Langsjoen, Treatment of Essential Hypertension with Co-Q10. Mol Aspects Med 15

Mt. Capra is pleased to sponsor Ben Greenfield from Spokane WA.

Ben holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in sports science and exercise physiology and is certified as a personal trainer and strength and conditioning coach by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), a certified Sports Nutritionist by the International Society of Sport Nutrition. He has authored multiple books on metabolism, nutrition and fitness and is an expert in holistic wellness management. Ben serves on the Mt. Capra advisory board as well helps formulate new and exciting products from Mt. Capra.

With over 9 years experience in coaching professional, collegiate, and recreational athletes from all sports, Ben is the owner of Pacific Elite Fitness (pacificfit.net), Director of Sports Performance for Champions Sports Medicine (champsportsmed.com), and sits on the board of directors for championship Tri-Fusion triathlon team and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He offers free fitness, nutrition and wellness content at BenGreenfieldFitness.com!

Mt. Capra is proud to sponsor an athlete like Ben Greenfield!

Ben Greenfield currently recommends:

1. Capra Mineral Whey

2. Caprotein

3. Double Bonded Protein

4. S.D.R Sports Recovery Drink with: Solar Energy

5. Caprobiotics Advanced

6. Caprobiotics Plus

7. CapraColostrum

By Joe Stout B.Sc. M.S. IP

As you read this, your body is waging an endless war against silent and invisible assassins. These assassins aren’t a new strain of swine flu, they haven’t caused any widespread panic, and no amount of antibiotics or vaccines will get rid of them. They are free radicals and they, and the oxidative damage they cause, are here to stay. Every single human on God’s green earth is engaged in this battle and the consequences of this war are linked with diabetes, hypertension, cancer and many other disease states. These microscopic hit-men (free radicals) are infinitesimally small and are continuously attacking and destroying the very foundation of our living cells, our DNA. Free radical oxidation happens everyday; when we eat, when we work, and especially when we exercise.

Free radicals cause oxidative damage and although they are invisible to the human eye, their effects can be noticed in mere minutes. Find an apple, cut it in half, then wait and within moments, oxygen molecules will attack the flesh of the apple, cause oxidative damage, and cause the apple to turn brown. In living organisms, this occurs as well. There is often a chain reaction wherein one free radical disrupts a portion of DNA which creates a new free radical. These two free radicals will then create more free radicals, fueling a vicious cycle.

So is there any hope? What can we possibly do to slow or prevent the role of free radical induced oxidative damage? First, there are some things to avoid. Although total elimination of oxidative damage is impossible, there are many lifestyle practices that if engaged in will increase damage. Some practices that speed up free radical oxidative damage are smoking, eating charred/fried foods, and overexposure to ultra-violet (UV) light, (ie sun/tanning bed). Merely avoiding these practices is an excellent way to slow down oxidative damage.

But should we really only play defense when it comes to our health? As the adage goes, “the best defense, is a good offense” and that is exactly the position we need to take to combat oxidative damage. Free radicals have a veritable foe in the oxidation war, they are called, you guessed it, antioxidants. Let’s go back to the apple analogy from earlier and instead of having the apple merely “avoid” unhealthy practices like smoking and extreme UV exposure, let’s have the apple take the offense. We will douse the apple slice with a potent antioxidant such as lemon juice and then wait for oxidation to occur. We had better have a good book to read because it is going to be a lot longer wait than before. The lemon juice is packed with ascorbic acid, (aka vitamin C) which prevents the apple from oxidizing. Vitamin C is only one of a long list of antioxidants. Others include vitamin A, vitamin E, Coenzyme Q10, glutathione, and astaxanthin. There is a much longer list than just these few, and all of these antioxidants are working to neutralize the damaging effects of oxidation. Antioxidants are literal life savers because if we didn’t have these “good guys” in our system, free radical oxidation (the bad guys) would kill us in a matter of days. It is really that crucial!

Now that we’ve got the background, let’s hear some bad news. Oxidation happens all the time. Sometimes we can avoid it, sometimes we can’t. Exercise is an area where we just can’t avoid oxidation. Free radical damage will happen if and when you exercise. But as we all know, exercise is a cornerstone of health and therefore it is an interesting juxtaposition that exercise can actually induce a life shortening process like free radical oxidation. When we exercise we generate Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) which function as free radicals. As exercise intensity increases, so does the production of ROS. The problem, as we have seen above, is that these highly unstable (reactive) oxygen species are directly responsible for causing oxidative damage during exercise. In fact, ROS has been shown to have a highly negative impact on muscle performance as well as muscle recovery. Therefore, everyone involved in a daily exercise routine must make getting enough antioxidants a priority!

The natural question at this point is “what foods have the most antioxidants?” and the answer is, “those foods with a high ORAC value.” The ORAC value stands for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity and is based on how many free radicals a specific food can absorb or neutralize. So, if a cucumber has an ORAC value of 214 and a yellow bell pepper has an ORAC value of 694 then the bell pepper has the capacity to absorb three times more free radicals than the cucumber. The higher the ORAC, the higher the antioxidant power. Simple enough.

Mt. Capra’s SOLAR ENERGY™ is the perfect choice for athletes and non-athletes who are looking for a sports recovery drink that not only refuels their electrolyte stores but also delivers an antioxidant knock-out blow to the destructive force of oxidation. SOLAR ENERGY™ contains a proprietary blend of superfoods, antioxidants, and electrolytes, the primary being Capra Mineral Whey.™

Intense exercise will always produce free radical oxidation as well as diminish the body of crucial electrolytes such as sodium, chloride, and potassium. The Capra Mineral Whey™ that is found in SOLAR ENERGY™ supplies the body with much needed bio-organic sources of over 20 minerals. Remember that bio-organic, or wholefood sourced minerals, are key. There are countless sport recovery drinks that contain nothing more than table salt and sugar water and have no natural food sources. Mt. Capra has really taken SOLAR ENERGY™ to the next level by insisting all their electrolytes/antioxidants, have a natural food source. Along with supplying key minerals/electrolytes, SOLAR ENERGY™ contains such superfoods as goji berries, wild blueberries, acerola cherries, and many more! These superfoods combined with the bio-organic minerals present in Capra Mineral Whey™ make for a powerful post-workout recovery drink. When SOLAR ENERGY™ is combined with Mt. Capra’s Double Bonded Protein™ the pair creates a synergistic muscle recovery duo that can replenish systemic electrolytes, fuel new muscle growth/repair, and stave off dangerous free radical oxidation

Mt. Capra Wholefood Nutritionals is pleased to introduce an exclusive goat milk protein formula Double Bonded Protein.™

Available only on Mt. Capra’s website www.mtcapra.com for the unbelievably low price of $19.95 for over 2 pounds!

Mt. Capra was just featured by the fine folks over at Process Heating.

You can read the article here at http://tinyurl.com/dawumk