Protein Shakes – What they really do…

Protein shakes are a vital source of protein for athletes and sports personnel, enabling them to keep fit. However often in a gym or recreational environment you may hear that they ‘help you get wedge’, this is partly true as they do aid muscle development, but there are also good and bad side effects that I intend to explore.

The most common source of protein infused into these drinks come in egg, whey or soy form. A bottle can amount to approximately 200-300 grams of protein, and roughly 800-1200 calories.

The bones store 99% of the calcium in the body. Due to high levels of protein in the body the content in the blood becomes more acidic, and in order to stabilise the pH of the blood the body compensates by taking calcium away from the bones. This often occurs from a prolonged use of protein shakes, resulting in a condition called Osteoporosis.

On the labels of the protein shake tubs it should be recommending drinking plenty of water, this is due to the protein having a direct impact on the hydration process of the body. From research carried out by the Department of Nutritional Sciences in America where body-building is a very large industry, they have been able to observe that the shakes boost nitrogen levels in the body, affecting the kidneys, kidney stones can occur from the accumulation of calcium in the body. The problem can be avoided by drinking 8-10 glasses of water daily.

People who are lactose intolerant (inability to digest the sugar lactose) should be aware that the protein shake could cause side affects due to their allergy. These side effects can be severe bloating and stomach cramps. As whey is a by-product of milk, these shakes should be avoided if you are lactose intolerant.

Liver damage can be caused when the liver cannot assimilate protein in the body. Diarrhoea can be a side effect of consumption as the protein can lead to elevated enzyme levels in the digestive tract. Although there is no scientific evidence people who have consumed protein shakes have often been found to suffer from acne. However the contents of the shake can cause hormonal changes and allergic reactions in the skin.

When exercising or strength training the muscles rely on the bodies protein, fats and carbohydrate stores to fuel the workout. After an intense workout taking a protein shake helps to restore the protein stores in the body and enables the body to promote lean muscle gain. The processes of catabolism and anabolism, tearing down and restoring muscle tissue are the two single processes that lead to the body building muscle.

Relying on an all protein diet reduces the bodies’ ability to properly digest fats and carbohydrates. Protein is found naturally in many everyday foods, such as fish, meat and nuts. It is essential to keep a balanced diet with or without protein shakes in order to keep the body healthy and functioning properly. For men it is recommended that they consume 55 grams of protein daily, and for women it is recommended that they consume 45 grams daily.

So to conclude, taking protein will not cause all of the above side effects and conditions, it is the over-use and reliance upon the products that will cause the body problems. I hope everyone using or going to use protein shakes uses them in a healthy manner, incorporating the shakes into their current diets, which should help you get fitter in the long run.

Will We Ever Find A Cure For The Flu?

Currently a seasonal flu vaccination can be given that targets a specific type of influenza. The problems associated with this are that every year the virus has the ability to alter its shape, effectively making a new strain and the old vaccination ineffective. Through thorough research from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) in the US a new ‘Universal’ flue vaccine is being developed. The aim of this is so that once a patient is vaccinated and followed up with a few booster jabs, it will provide life-long immune protection. They have done this by targeting the part of the virus that doesn’t change its shape, the stem, and the head shape changed shape as the virus develops.

The shape of the Hemagglutinin (HA) head changes as the virus develops. HA is a protein that covers the surface of influenza, and it made up of two regions. The head region sticks out and is the part that antibodies recognise. The stem is hidden away and buried amount the other molecules.

In normal flu vaccines the following processes occurs:

1)      A vaccine containing a small part of the seasonal flu virus is injected.

2)      In response to the vaccination, the body produces antibodies. These molecules recognise and remember the shape of head of the viruses spike as shown in the above image.

3)      ‘Memory cells’ are formed that remember the shape of the HA head. If the vaccinated patient re-encounters the virus, these cells will recognise it and wipe it out.

4)      As each year the virus alters its DNA, it forms a new HA head shape. Therefore the memory cells are no longer effective in wiping out the virus.

In the new ‘Universal’ vaccine the following processes occur:

1)      A vaccine containing DNA that codes for the influenza HA protein is injected to prepare the immune system.

2)      The HA protein is presented to antibodies in the absence of the full virus, allowing them to get a full look at the virus, and in particular the stem which is usually hidden away. As the stem tends to stay the same across influenza strains the antibodies remember the shape of them alongside the shape of the head..

3)      ‘Memory cells’ are formed that recognise the head and stem of HA. Even if a different influenza strain infects the patient, these cells can be recognised through the stem region, allowing sufficient protection to be provided.

4)      A dose of a seasonal influenza vaccine is injected at a later date to act as a ‘booster’ jab. This stimulates further antibody production, giving the body a greater immune protection.

Eventually through excellent research into immunisations, maybe one day a cure to the flu will be developed, and in due course cures for any new developing viruses that could harm us. Unfortunately for now we will just have to continue getting injections seasonally…

Marfan Syndrome.

Marfan Syndrome is a genetic condition that affects the body's connective tissues, it is inherited from parent genes meaning that the condition is hereditary. Connective tissue provides the structure and support for organs in the body, it acts as a framework for growth and development by providing sufficient support and strength to cartilage, tendons, heart valves and blood vessels. The symptoms and severity are different for every sufferer.

What causes it then? It is caused by a defect in a genetic code that forms the structure of fibrillin, contributing to the structure of elastic fibres and ultimately connective tissue. As the condition is hereditary sufferers have a 50% chance of passing the disorder on to children. Many of you reading this will probably not have heard of Marfan Syndrome, that is because it is a relatively rare disorder and only affects about 5 people in every 100,000.

The condition affects mainly 5 parts of the body, such as the skeletal system, eyes, cardiovascular system, lungs and central nervous system (CNS).

Visibily the effect on the skeletal system can be seen from a relatively early age, the patient’s arms, legs, fingers and toes may seem out of proportion to the rest of their body, this is knows as Arachnodactyly. In addition their spine may become curved, known as Scoliosis, and the abnormal indentation or protrusion of the sternum may occur, known as Pectus Carinatum. Some people with Marfan Syndrome may have speech disorders resulting from high palates and small jaws, this can relate to the early stages of Osteoarthritis.

The disorder can also seriously affects the eyes and vision. The most common problem for patients is having a lens dislocation, this is where the lens (the transparent structure at the front of your eye) falls into an abnormal position. Sometimes eye problems take time to appear, only after the weakening of the connective tissue that has caused the detachment of the retina. Glaucoma, which is a condition where increased pressure in the eyeball can cause permanent loss of vision if untreated can also stem from Marfans, although this extent of vision loss is extremely rare. Early diagnosis can be detected by an Ophthalmologist or Optometrist using a Slit-lamp Biomicroscope.

The most common visible sign associated with Marfan Syndrome involves the failure of the bodies cardiovascular system. This can lead to unexpected fatigue, shortness of breath and angina all because of inadequate circulation.

The heart’s valves are affected, especially the Mitral valve which becomes weak and flaccid, can not close tighty and affectively, thus allowing blood to leak backward across the valve resulting in a Mitral Valve Prolapse (MVP). Having an MVP increases the workload on the heart and may lead to symptoms such as feeling over-tired, and palpitations of the chest. Over an extended period of time and exposure to MVP the heart muscle may weaken and enlarge, which is known as Cardiomyopathy, which unfortunately leads to heart failure. A similar prolapse can occur to the Aortic Root as it can dilate and become stretched (Aortic Aneurysm) causing a leak, this often presents the patient with pain radiating down the back in an almost tearing sensation. This is a surgical emergency and must be attended to immediately to prevent further damage.

The lungs are also affected in Marfan Syndrome, by the process of Pneumothorax, which is where there is an abnormal collection of air or gas in the chest that separates the lung from the chest wall and may interfere with normal breathing. In the process air escapes from a lung and occupies a the Pleural Cavity (Above the abdominal muscles), causing the lung to become partially collapsed and causes a sharp pain and shortness of breath in the chest of the patient, if not treated it can lead to death.

Biologists know how detrimental the central nervous system (CNS) is to a bodies function and that how if the CNS is affected the body the neurological brain activity can decrease significantly.

Dural Ectasia is the weakening of the connective tissue of the Dural Sac, the membrane that encases the spinal cord. It may cause lower back pain, headaches and neurological signs such as weakness and loss of bowel and bladder function. As Dural Ectasia is not visible on the body if a patient usually has these symptons an X-ray of the lower spine will need to be participated in. If Dural Ectasia is allowed to develop the activity of the CNS can become severely affected.

Regular checkups by a cardiologist are required to monitor the health of the heart valves and the Aortic Root, so that the process of Aortic dilation can be minimised.

Hopefully you can see that the degenerative process of connective tissues causes a large extent of problems within the body with varying severity and different problems for each sufferer. With the continued work of medical researchers and extensive research into the condition hopefully there may be one day a treatment to this condition.