The Leucine Factor Diet

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO THE POWERFUL AMINO ACID THAT SUPERCHARGES YOUR METABOLISM If your goal is to improve strength and vitality, sugar is the kryptonite that will hold you back. Fortunately, nature has provided the ultimate anti-sugar: leucine. This book reveals the amazing ability of leucine to combat the harmful effects of sugar, burn deep levels of fat and rapidly build muscle. With advice on getting started, building a personalized plan and successfully reaching your goals, The Leucine Factor Diet offers you a path for becoming healthy, strong and lean. Author Dr. Victor Prisk, an orthopedic surgeon, champion gymnast and bodybuilder, teaches how to optimize the leucine content of your food while creating nutritious and delicious meals. With detailed information on dietary supplements, resistance exercise and medical awareness, The Leucine Factor Diet brings together all the key elements to successful muscle building. Whether you are a competitive athlete or weekend warrior, this book has everything you need to take your fitness to the next level.

Emerging research suggests that high protein diets may have a role in preventing obesity, sarcopenia, diabetes, and optimizing muscle mass and bone health. Evidence is mounting that these benefits may be in part due to the amino acid leucine (leu) and its unique ability to stimulate muscle protein synthesis (MPS). Current dietary protein recommendations for protein quantity and quality are defined as the minimum daily amount to prevent deficiencies of limiting amino acids and increases in plasma amino acids are regarded as 0́8excess0́9 or inefficient use of amino acids due to increased amino acid oxidation. This view does not account for the meal responses of MPS associated with intracellular signaling in response to increasing plasma leu. The goal of this research was to elucidate the physiological role that leu plays in complete meals and to determine if the meal distribution of protein or leu is important for optimization of muscle mass. My hypothesis was that optimum MPS would equate to maximum signaling response of the kinase known as mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and directly related to post-prandial plasma leu concentration. Ultimately, the leu content of individual meals and the number of meal per day with sufficient leu to increase MPS will influence muscle mass, lean body mass and long term body composition In vivo work with purified solutions established that leu has a regulatory role for initiating MPS by activating mTOR and there is a clear threshold of leu required to increase plasma leu and stimulate MPS. In order to test the role of leu in complete meals we examined the duration and peak activation of MPS and mTOR signaling in response to complete test meals containing 10, 20, and 30% of total energy from wheat and whey protein (6.8 and 10.9% leu) respectively. We determined that whey increased plasma leu, mTOR signaling, and MPS more than wheat at all protein intakes. Stimulation of MPS after meals last for 3 hours with a peak at 90 minutes, however plasma leu and mTOR signaling remained at a plateau for 3 hours before decreasing. Meal leu content and the increases in postprandial plasma leu were closely associated with peak activation of mTOR signaling and MPS but did not determine the duration of protein synthesis which demonstrated a refractory response to the constant elevations in plasma leu. Experiment 2 examined the potential to use leu to predict the quality of individual proteins to stimulate mTOR signaling and MPS. Adult rats were adapted for 2 weeks to a meal-feeding protocol with complete diets containing 16% protein but with different leu contents using wheat, soy, egg, or whey proteins (6.8, 8.0, 8.8, and 10.9% leu). Animals fed egg and whey significantly increased plasma leu and MPS whereas animals fed wheat and soy did not. The leu content of the meals predicted mTOR signaling and peak MPS responses and were closely related to changes in plasma leu. These findings support the hypothesis that there is a meal leu threshold for increasing plasma leu. While experiment 2 provided proof of concept that there is a meal threshold for leu stimulation of MPS, the critical outcomes are changes in muscle mass or body composition. This study tested the hypothesis that long-term meal-feeding of isonitrogenous/isocaloric diets with 16/54/30% of energy from protein/carbohydrates/lipids, respectively, using protein sources (wheat, soy, egg, whey) with different leu contents could produce body composition and muscle weight outcomes in relation to the changes in postprandial MPS and plasma leu observed in the previous experiments. Based on the leu threshold observed in the previous experiment, the diets were designed such that animals fed egg and whey proteins would receive sufficient leu during each of the three meals to achieve three stimulations of MPS per day as opposed to animals fed wheat and soy proteins with lower leu contents that would achieve the leu threshold only at the larger dinner meal. After 11 weeks of meal-feeding, body composition, lean body mass, and gastrocnemius muscle weights were positively related to the leu content of the diet and reflected the ability of the respective diets to increase postprandial plasma leu and MPS. Finally, we tested the hypothesis that long-term distribution of protein/leu could make a difference in body composition by feeding isocaloric/isonitrogenous meals containing whey protein evenly distributed to achieve the leu thresholds at each of 3 meals (ED-Whey) daily or unevenly distributed over 3 meals (UD-Whey) with only the dinner meal exceeding the leu threshold. The ED-Whey treatment with evenly distributed leu produced multiple stimulations of MPS throughout the day and larger gastrocnemius muscle weights compared to the UD-whey that only achieved stimulation of MPS at a single meal. While muscle mass was larger in the ED-Whey treatment, total lean body mass was not different between groups. This may have been due to the large protein (i.e. nitrogen) content of the dinner meal in the UD-Whey group producing a shift in lean body mass deposition to the liver and visceral tissues, which were larger in the UD-Whey group. In summary, the leu content of complete meals is an important regulator of MPS and produces different body composition outcomes with long term feeding of diets differing in leu contents and leu/protein distribution. These results cannot be explained by limiting amino acids and are not accounted for by current protein quantity and quality recommendations.

The publication is broad in scope and coverage, starting with the history and nature of sorghum and millets and dealing with production, utilization and consumption. It provides extensive information on the nutritional value, chemical composition, storage and processing of these foods. In addition, the anti-nutritional factors present in these foods and ways of reducing their health hazards are discussed. The authors have described formulations of various popular foods prepared from sorghum and millets and their nutritional composition and quality, and they have compiled many recipes for the preparation of foods from regions where sorghum and millets are important dietary staples.

Nutrition and Skeletal Muscle provides coverage of the evidence of dietary components that have proven beneficial for bettering adverse changes in skeletal muscle from disuse and aging. Skeletal muscle is the largest tissue in the body, providing elements of contraction and locomotion and acting as an important contributor to whole body protein and amino metabolism, glucose disposal and lipid metabolism. However, muscle loss, atrophy or weakness can occur when there are metabolic imbalances, disuse or aging. This book addresses the topic by providing insight and research from international leaders, making it the go-to reference for those in skeletal muscle physiology. Provides an understanding of the crucial role of skeletal muscle in global metabolic homeostasis regulation Delivers the information needed to understand the utilization of crucial supplements for the preservation of skeletal muscle Presents insights on research from international leaders in the field

Containing 45 papers written by outstanding international authors from 14 countries, this three-volume compendium brings together the elements needed to understand the factors which influence the utilization of amino acids. The wide-ranging topics include descriptions of metabolic pathways and mechanisms of the biological utilization of amino acids, as well as factors that influence amino acid bioavailability in enteral and parenteral nutrition. The use of amino acids to improve the quality and safety of the diet is presented. Also discussed are amino acid precursors of biogenic amines and the role of amino acids in atherosclerosis, cancer, and immunity. Scientists from many disciplines will benefit from this broad overview.

This is the first volume in a 2-volume compendium that is the go-to source for both research- and practice-oriented information on the importance of branched chain amino acids in maintaining the nutritional status and overall health of individuals, especially those with certain disease conditions. Over 150 well recognized and respected contributors have come together to compile these up-to-date and well-referenced works. The volumes will serve the reader as the benchmarks in this complex area of interrelationships between dietary protein intakes and individual amino acid supplementation, the unique role of the branched chain amino acids in the synthesis of brain neurotransmitters, collagen formation, insulin and glucose modulation and the functioning of all organ systems that are involved in the maintenance of the body’s metabolic integrity. Moreover, the physiological, genetic and pathological interactions between plasma levels of branched chain amino acids and aromatic amino acids are clearly delineated so that students as well as practitioners can better understand the complexities of these interactions. Branched Chain Amino Acids in Clinical Nutrition: Volume 1 covers basic processes at the cellular level, inherited defects in branched chain amino acid metabolism, and experimental models of growth and disease states.

Amino Acid Metabolism, 3rd Edition covers all aspects of the biochemistry and nutritional biochemistry of the amino acids. Starting with an overview of nitrogen fixation and the incorporation of inorganic nitrogen into amino acids, the book then details other major nitrogenous compounds in micro-organisms, plants and animals. Contents include a discussion of the catabolism of amino acids and other nitrogenous compounds in animals, and the microbiological reactions involved in release of nitrogen gas back into the atmosphere. Mammalian (mainly human) protein and amino acid requirements are considered in detail, and the methods that are used to determine them. Chapters consider individual amino acids, grouped according to their metabolic origin, and discussing their biosynthesis (in plants and micro-organisms for those that are dietary essentials for human beings), major metabolic roles (mainly in human metabolism) and catabolism (again mainly in human metabolism). There is also discussion of regulatory mechanisms for all these metabolic pathways, and of metabolic and genetic diseases affecting the (human) metabolism of amino acids. Throughout the book the emphasis is on the nutritional importance of amino acids, integration and control of metabolism and metabolic and other disturbances of relevance to human biochemistry and health. Completely revised edition of this comprehensive text covering all the latest findings in amino acid metabolism research Written by an authority in the field Covers new advances in structural biology Clear illustrations of all structures and metabolic pathways Full list of recommended further reading for each chapter and bibliography of papers cited in the text

Branched-Chain Amino Acids—Advances in Research and Application: 2013 Edition is a ScholarlyEditions™ book that delivers timely, authoritative, and comprehensive information about Valine. The editors have built Branched-Chain Amino Acids—Advances in Research and Application: 2013 Edition on the vast information databases of ScholarlyNews.™ You can expect the information about Valine in this book to be deeper than what you can access anywhere else, as well as consistently reliable, authoritative, informed, and relevant. The content of Branched-Chain Amino Acids—Advances in Research and Application: 2013 Edition has been produced by the world’s leading scientists, engineers, analysts, research institutions, and companies. All of the content is from peer-reviewed sources, and all of it is written, assembled, and edited by the editors at ScholarlyEditions™ and available exclusively from us. You now have a source you can cite with authority, confidence, and credibility. More information is available at http://www.ScholarlyEditions.com/.

The three different types of muscle tissue found in the animal kingdom are cardiac, skeletal, and smooth. The muscle cells are not only complex but also fascinating. In recent years there has been substantial advances in our understanding of muscle cell biology, especially in areas of molecular anatomy, basic physiology, understanding disease mechanisms, and therapeutic targets. Consequently, this book mainly focuses not only on the biology of myocytes, but also on all-encompassing disciplines pertaining to muscle tissue, such as fundamental physiology, molecular mechanisms of diseases, muscle regeneration, etc. for all three types of muscle, namely, skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle. As a result, the goal of this book is to consolidate the recent advances in the area of muscle biology/diseases/regeneration covering a broad range of interrelated topics in a timely fashion and to disseminate that knowledge in a lucid way to a greater scientific audience. This book will prove highly useful for students, researchers, and clinicians in muscle cell biology, exercise physiology/science, stem cell biology, developmental biology, cancer biology, pathology, oncology, as well as tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. This quick reference will benefit anyone desiring a thorough knowledge pertaining to recent advances in muscle biology in the context of health and disease.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “Harley’s intelligent and innovative approach to health and fitness inspired me to get excited about working out again. I have more energy, more knowledge, and I am hands down in the best shape of my life–thanks to Harley.”—Halle Berry Having helped shaped some of today’s hottest bodies, one of America’s most sought-after diet and fitness experts, Harley Pasternak, the bestselling author of The Body Reset Diet, here shares his revolutionary five-week program that will help you lose weight and get fit without feeling hungry or deprived. One of the easiest programs to follow, the 5-Factor Diet incorporates • 5 meals a day with 5 core ingredients in each recipe • 5-minute meal prep for more than 100 recipes • 5 short workouts a week Complete with delicious and quick meal ideas, easy-to-follow shopping lists, and detailed workout photos and instructions, The 5-Factor Diet is the key to your health and happiness!