BODYBUILDING NUTRITION BASICS

Chemistry?!? Are your eyes glazed over yet? It happens…yet if you’re interested at all in the therapeutic use of essential oils, a little primer on their chemistry can be very useful. Not only will you better understand how and why essential oils work, but the great importance of using natural, high-quality oils - oils that are pure, properly distilled, AND smell nice - will be made clear. It’s not just an aromatherapy sales pitch; essential oils with exceptional bouquets have different chemical make-ups than flat or otherwise uninteresting oils. The differences can significantly affect the healing potency of therapeutic applications for you, your family and/or your clients. Much of the time, you can discern the difference of therapeutic value between two oils just by their aroma - one needn’t always have the proof of fancy, expensive machines to make an educated choice.

So what is it that makes an essential oil different than every other oil we’re familiar with? They don’t feel the same, they don’t act the same, and they certainly don’t smell the same. Essential oils and the so-called “fixed” oils (you may also know them as carrier or base oils - like Sweet Almond, Apricot Kernel, Evening Primrose, etc) are distinctly different in their molecular structure. While both essential and fixed oils share common basic atomic elements of Carbon and Hydrogen, that’s really where the similarity ends. Fixed oils are made of triglyceride structures - three long chains of carbon atoms, with hydrogens bonded at various places. The length of the chains and the position and number of hydrogens define the nature of the oil; if hydrogens are bonded to every available location, the oil is “saturated’, for example. One missing hydrogen is “mono-unsaturated’, more than one is “poly-unsaturated’. The long chains and relative consistency of the molecular structures makes fixed oils “oily’, and does not allow them to evaporate quickly.

Volatile oils are another matter - volatile oils do easily evaporate, due in-part to their smaller, more complex structures. Essential oils are a sub-category of volatile oils, essential oils being specifically those volatile oils that have been distilled directly from plants (rather than laboratory made, or from another otherwise “inorganic” source). Essential oils still have a core structure of linked carbon and hydrogen atoms, but they come in a great variety of shapes including short chains, rings and multiple-rings hooked together. Each of these core structures will have what is known as a “functional group” attached - a sort of “molecular sub-unit”. Despite their seeming complexity, though, essential oils are still very compatible with mammalian biology - their atomic structure allows them to penetrate into the deepest regions of our bodies, and even to the centers of our cells.

The therapeutic action of an essential oil is primarily determined by the “functional groups” found in the molecules that make up that oil. An essential oil is actually made up of many individual molecular constituents. Each of these natural chemicals is formed of a carbon-hydrogen structure with a functional group attached. It is the combination of the base structure AND the attached functional group that makes a single, unique molecule. And MANY of these unique molecules combine to form ONE essential oil.

The extremely complex nature of essential oils becomes apparent from this description. There are an almost infinite number of molecular combinations that can be formed from the building blocks of chains, rings and functional groups. And any SINGLE essential oil is made of many, sometimes even hundreds of these molecular combinations. Yet while this may sound complex, you needn’t know ALL the chemical details to use oils therapeutically. It IS helpful to know that each oil is made of many molecular forms, that all the molecules within each oil exert some biologic effect, and that it is the SYNERGY of ALL these molecules together that create the sum total of an oil’s therapeutic action AND its aroma. Nearly every laboratory study comparing complete, pure essential oils to one singled-out molecule that was thought the “active ingredient” shows the essential oil to be more active.

The essential oil with the most perfect balance of natural chemical constituents will have the finest aromas and the most potent therapeutic action. Many factors in an essential oil’s production affect this balance. These include where the plant was grown, soil and climate conditions, time of harvest, distillation equipment, as well as the equipment settings and skill of the distiller. This can give you an idea as to why two varieties of the same oil can smell so different: The wonderful aroma of a fine essential oil will contain an array of notes in a lovely balance, telling you that all natural components are present in the correct amounts.

To best understand this, we’ll examine Lavender essential oil; more than fifty individual molecules have been identified in pure lavender essential oil. The aromatherapist must remember that ALL of these chemicals found in pure and natural lavender oil work together to produce a therapeutic effect. For example, the linalool molecule is antiviral and antibacterial; the linalyl acetate is emotionally calming; other major components including cineol, limonene, pinene and others are all noted for specific biologic and aromatic activity. It is the combined, balanced, synergistic action of these chemicals that make pure, high-quality lavender such a great healer. No one chemical can be singled out and used to give the same profound results as the complete pure essential oil.

What does this mean to the lay-practitioner? That it’s important to find a nice smelling lavender oil! Each of the individual chemicals has a distinct smell, talked about in terms of “notes” within the overall lavender aroma. A precise amount of each will create a certain Lavender aroma. Some Lavenders are more sweet (and therefore more relaxing), others are more herbaceous (and more anti-microbial). There can be significantly different aromas from the same species of plant, even when the essential oils are of the highest quality. It is most often the essential oil that smells the most “true” to you that will be the most beneficial. Your senses can naturally detect what is good for you and what is not, if you’re willing to listen to them impartially.

For the most therapeutic benefit, it is always best to use true, carefully-made essential oils. To do this, find a source that is dedicated to supplying only the highest grades of oils. Examine their product’s aromatic quality and business practices and so that you are comfortable with their dedication to your health. Listen to your intuition and your own nose; they won’t lie to you! With experience, your ability to discern between subtly different grades of oils will become more astute. And you’ll understand what it is about the oil, chemically, that makes it unique.

For more on the wonderful therapeutic potential of aromatherapy and essential oils, visit The Ananda Apothecary of Boulder, Colorado.

Shirley Arnold Fitness alternative medicine, aromatherapy, disease, essential oils, Fitness, health, illness, natural health, natural medicine, Science, wellness

Why So Many Are Sick

All of us have experienced sickness one time or another, some to a larger degree than others. It is widely accepted that the body’s own immune system, a complex network of specific cells created to ward off sickness and disease, is greatly compromised when we eat a poor/acid-causing diet, side-step exercise, surround ourselves with environmental toxins, create continuous stress and have unkind attitudes/thoughts about oneself and others. All of these choices lead to toxic build up in the body. At a certain level, the body can no longer juggle such an overload, resulting in weakened defenses and possible disease.

Using Essential Oils for Immune Support

In these modern times, many are familiar with the stress-relieving qualities of aromatic essential oils and for certain oils, awaken a fatigued body or mind. Well-established research indicates that essential oils are dynamic antimicrobials. Such characteristics are helpful in supporting a fully functional immune system; stress and non-beneficial microbes are known to weaken the immune system’s army of defenses. Few are aware that essential oils can actually strengthen the capacity of the immune system directly to fight off foreign invaders.

Fighting off Disease

Using essential oils to affect the immune system directly is gaining ground in research arenas. For the past two decades, promising research has pointed to the anti-inflammatory properties of essential oils. There is growing evidence that most diseases stem from inflammation. Recent research is currently looking at specific immune mechanisms that are enhanced by essential oils.

Helping the Bs and Ts

At the Laboratoire de Botanique in France (2006) researchers were able to identify that Melaleuca alternifolia was able to regulate the amount of inflammatory-causing secretions found in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). In so doing, natural anti-inflammatory agents, known as cytokines, were still able to be created and thus boosting the body’s ability to protect and restore itself. This in itself is quite a finding, especially for individuals suffering from conditions associated with chronic inflammation.

Inducing Natural Killer Cells

Once a pathogen gets into the cells, it is looking to replicate and destroy tissue, often resulting in painful infections. A branch of the immune system is designated to engulf cellular invaders and send lymphocytes (T cells) to destroy these foreign bodies. At Jeonju University, Korea (2008), researchers found that niaouli essential oil (from an Australian evergreen) was able to enhance the effect of cell-mediated immunity (one of two major branches of the immune system). Researchers support clinical use of niaouli essential oil to control infectious diseases.

Redirecting the Immune Response

The Institute of Neurobiology and Molecular Medicine in Italy (2008) found that Eucalyptus essential oil actually stimulates a component of the immune system known as macrophages. These immune cells are one of the primary defenses against pathogens invading our human cells. Using in vivo (in rats) and in vitro trials, they were able to pinpoint that eucalyptus essential oil does indeed mimic our natural immune response. Researchers propose that such findings may drive develop of a new family of immune-regulatory drugs/treatments altogether. This could be quite helpful for those who have weakened immune systems due to contracted diseases and effects of chemotherapy.

Conclusion

Our remarkable immune system is highly complex and important to our well-being. A strong and balanced immune system is required in order for life to exist on an enjoyable and sustainable level. Results of very recent studies indicate that essential oils could be a new branch of medical treatments for those with compromised immune systems. As conventional pharmaceuticals decline in their effectiveness, it is helpful that science has identified qualities in essential oils that are effective against disease-causing pathogens.

The author has made available reports on specific anti-microbials such as juniper essential oil and other therapeutic aromatics.

Julie Manchester Fitness alternative health, alternative medicine, aromatherapy, disease, essential oils, family, Fitness, health, home, illness, natural health, wellness, women

A beginner bodybuilder would be wise to follow sound nutritional practices for long-term success. Eating right will give you ample energy that will help you last each workout session. The only path to long-term muscle and strength gain is through adequate rest and eating sufficient amounts of calories daily. Not eating the right foods at the right time will just decrease your potential growth and render all your hard work useless.

Bodybuilders don’t always get the best nutritional advice, according to Catherine Ratzin Jackson, author of “Nutrition for the Recreational Athlete”. She explains that bodybuilders source these advices from tips provided by magazines and nutrition stores’ experts. These sources may mean well in giving out advices, but most of the time, these sources do not bother to be as precise in giving out information. Take these advices with a grain of salt. Get your facts about nutrition right. Here is some nutrition basics accepted and followed by professional bodybuilders.

1. Avoid rapid weight loss. Rapid weight loss can result in the loss of lean body tissue and make it very difficult to increase muscle size and strength. Extreme weight loss often results from starvation or low-calorie diets, and may result in electrolyte imbalances, water and important lean body mass. High protein, low-fat diets can be harmful to your health and may prevent you from achieving your ideal body weight.

2. Use calculations to determine your protein requirements. Protein is essential for building strength, but you won’t be able to achieve any results with your bodybuilding routine if you’re eating too much or too little protein; the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of protein is 0.8g/ kg per day for sedentary individuals, and 1.0-1.5 g/kg for athletes. You will need to start reading the nutrition labels of different foods to make sure you are getting enough protein in the diet.

3. Quality counts. Eating quality food - wholesome, unprocessed food - as often as possible is an important part of your bodybuilding program. Eating nutrient-rich foods from plant and animal sources will help you achieve your goals faster; avoid counting solely on meal replacements and supplements that leave you feeling hungry and are not metabolized as efficiently as real food.

4. Exercise caution in taking supplements. It is now widely acceptable to use supplements for performance enhancement. Supplements are a great help to any athlete but they do cause some negative side effects, especially if abused. Supplements are designed to be added, or supplement, our nutrition program. Supplements are by no means created to replace proper diet and exercise.

5. Pay attention to the foods you eat before and after your workout session. These are your primetime muscle building periods, so it’s essential to keep track of what and when you’re eating. Maintain a food log if necessary so you can become more conscientious about your food choices and get the timing right.

Barry M. Newman Fitness body building and forming, body health, Fitness, herbal remedies, natural health, sports nutrition