<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<rss version="2.0">
<channel>
<title>Latest Articles by djohnson</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/</link>
<description>Articles at Populate.NET</description>
<language>en-us</language>
<item>
<title>Creatine Ethyl Ester or Creatine Monohydrate</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Fitness/Muscle_Building/creatine-ethyl-ester-or-creatine-monohydrate.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Fitness/Muscle_Building/creatine-ethyl-ester-or-creatine-monohydrate.html</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ If you do any type of bodybuilding, weight training, or if you are trying to put on muscle mass, then you most likely already know all about creatine, but do you know the difference between creatine ethyl ester and creatine monohydrate?  Most experts and bodybuilders agree that creatine is proven to be effective in helping to safely and quickly increase muscle mass, strength, and muscle recovery.

However, while nearly everyone agrees that creatine can be helpful, not all creatine products on the market are the same.  Some are extremely effective and cause few side effects, while others have been shown to be largely ineffective.

Creatine monohydrate, which is pure, powder creatine in its most common (and cheapest) form, is the only creatine product that has been extensively tested in independent scientific studies.  These studies have proven creatine monohydrates effectiveness.  The fact is, if you want to take a conservative approach and know that you are getting your money's worth, creatine monohydrate will give you just that.

Unfortunately, creatine monohydrate is also known for causing a host of side effects.  Monohydrate has been shown to cause cramping, bloating, diarrhea, and dehydration in many users.  Creatine monohydrate is also inefficiently absorbed by the body, and most of what you ingest is turned into waste product that sits outside of your muscles.

Creatine ethyl ester HCL, or CEE, is a promising new form of creatine that is theoretically absorbed more efficiently in muscle cells.  In theory, this could cause less waste product, minimize or even eliminate side effects such as creatine bloating, and allow for a lower dosage.  

While there is much anecdotal evidence among bodybuilders that CEE is effective, the scientific evidence is still not available.  There have been no scientific studies published by unbiased, independent sources that can confirm or deny the effectiveness of creatine ethyl ester.  

Finally, there are many creatine products that seem to be largely ineffective.  Most liquid creatine or "creatine serum" products fall in this category.  Manufacturers often claim that these products are absorbed more quickly and inefficiently in the body.  However, creatine tends to break down when placed in liquid rather quickly, so buyers should use caution when considering these products.  

Whenever you are considering a creatine supplement, or any other health or bodybuilding supplement, it is important to do your research.  Since the supplement market is largely unregulated, it is easy to get caught up in the marketing hype surrounding many products.  Unfortunately, the hype is rarely ever true.

If you would like to benefit from creatine, you should ignore the hype and try out different products for your self.  With creatine monohydrate, you have a product that is scientifically proven to be effective in most people, although you may experience side effects.  With creatine ethyl ester, you have a supplement that is highly regarded in the bodybuilding world and which, although not yet scientifically studied, does have a sound theoretical basis to it. ]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Unsecured Credit Card Debt Consolidation Surprises</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Finance/Personal_Finance/unsecured-credit-card-debt-consolidation-surprises.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Finance/Personal_Finance/unsecured-credit-card-debt-consolidation-surprises.html</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 04 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ When consumers get in over their heads in debt, many of them turn to some form of unsecured credit card debt consolidation as a method dealing with mounting bills.  Unfortunately, the debt consolidation process can be extremely confusing for the average person.

Few consumers know what their options are when it comes to consolidating unsecured debt and credit cards.  As a result, many consumers are caught by surprise at some point in the process.  These surprises can often end up costing the consumer a large amount of money.

Most consumers consolidate their unsecured debt to take advantage of lower interest rates or lower monthly payments on their credit cards and other unsecured debt.  However, there are a few potential surprises to watch out for.

The first thing many consumers do not understand is that they may be risking their home.  If you consolidate unsecured credit card debt by refinancing your home or using a home equity loan, you are actually converting those unsecured debts that have no collateral into a new, secured debt that uses your home as collateral!

Many consumers opt for unsecured credit card debt consolidation to take advantage of a lower interest rate.  Most people reason that a lower interest rate means you will save money.  However, this is not the whole story!

It is possible to get a lower interest rate and still end up paying more money than you would have originally.  Consolidation through refinancing or home equity lines of credit may involve many large fees, transaction charges, or other hidden fees.  If you do not factor in the cost of all fees and charges, you may end up paying a lot more money to obtain that lower interest rate.

Yet another surprise for many consumers also seems to be difficult for some to understand, but it is a fact of life in the world of credit card consolidation.  It is also one of the most important facts to remember if you are trying to get out of debt and build wealth.  Getting a lower monthly payment does not mean that you are saving money.  

This "surprise" is actually fairly obvious to some, but absolutely mystifying to others.  The truth is that in many cases a lower monthly payment on your debt will cost you more money in the long run, even at a lower interest rate.  The longer it takes you to pay off your debt, the more money you will have to pay in interest and finance charges.

It is tempting for most people to take a lower monthly payment and have a little bit of extra spending money every month.  However, you could often save much more money and get out of debt much faster by biting the bullet now and paying as much as you possibly can towards your debt.  While you may have a little bit less cash now, once your debt is paid off you will have much more spending (and hopefully investing) money in your pocket.

If you are looking into your credit card consolidation options, it is important to get a good understanding of what will happen.  By becoming informed, you can avoid nasty surprises and make financially smart decisions with unsecured credit card debt consolidation. ]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Eliminate Debt, Watch Out for Scams</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Finance/Personal_Finance/eliminate-debt-watch-out-for-scams.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Finance/Personal_Finance/eliminate-debt-watch-out-for-scams.html</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 04 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Millions of people search for help with eliminating their debt problems online.  However, research into many of the websites aimed at "helping" people with their debt shows that many of these sites are actually misinformed, misleading, or outright scams.  Read on to find out some of the things to avoid when you are searching for help with eliminating your debt.

The number one outright scams on the web right now when it comes to debt help are sites claiming that you can "legally" cancel your debt.  These sites claim that you can get out of paying anything at all.  Most of these websites use twisted logic and conspiracy theories to justify their methods.  Of course, this sounds too good to be true because it is.  These sites are simply outright lies.

Another problem those seeking help will run into is companies using misleading advertising.  These companies are not generally outright scams or rip offs, but they can be very misleading.  For example, many debt settlement companies advertise under "debt consolidation," but a debt settlement program is not really consolidation at all!  Furthermore, many debt settlement companies do not fully inform customers what exactly they are getting into.

There is one fairly common tactic used in debt elimination scams that is probably the most trouble of all:  seemingly legitimate companies advertising seemingly legitimate services, while actually ripping customers off.  This is by far the largest problem when it comes to getting help with eliminating debt online.  Not only do they fool unsuspecting companies, but they cause the general public to become untrusting of the honest, legitimate companies who do provide helpful services to customers who need help in eliminating their debt.

While it is important to use extreme caution when searching for legitimate help with your debt, do not be discouraged by the unscrupulous companies online.  There are still many companies who provide valuable, helpful services and give honest advice to consumers who are in need of help.  The important thing is to learn how to sepArate the legitimate companies from the shady ones.

The first thing you should always do before working with a company is do your research.  Learn a little about the company.  Call and speak to an employee and ask a lot of questions.  Make sure the organization does not have a poor record with the Better Business Bureau.  

Finally, make sure that you use a little common sense.  If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is, so ask a lot of questions.  Proceed carefully, and you may find the help you need to eliminate your debt once and for all. ]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Creatine Ethyl Ester Myths and Facts</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Fitness/Muscle_Building/creatine-ethyl-ester-myths-and-facts.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Fitness/Muscle_Building/creatine-ethyl-ester-myths-and-facts.html</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 05 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ If you have heard of creatine ethyl ester, there is a very good chance that you have heard many incorrect things about this form of creatine supplement.  In this article, we will address many of the common misconceptions while presenting the facts about creatine ethyl ester.

The first common myth about creatine ethyl ester is that it does not work at all.  This misconception comes from published reports of studies of certain brands of creatine ethyl ester.  These reports state that some companies claiming to sell creatine ethyl ester were not truly selling an esterfied form of creatine.  The companies either did not attach, or ineffectively attached, the ether ester compound to the creatine, basically making it no different from creatine monohydrate.  The truth is that this just means you need to find a brand that is trusted.  In the same studies, many of the brands tested did in fact contain esterified creatine.

A second creatine ethyl ester misconception is that CEE is proven to be less effective or no more effective than creatine monohydrate.  In fact, there are no published studies that compare the benefits of creatine monohydrate directly to the benefits of creatine ethyl ester.  

Theoretically, creatine ethyl ester should be absorbed more easily in the body, allowing for lower dosage, minimal side effects, and greater benefit.  However, as no tests have been published, this is inconclusive for now.

Another myth about creatine ethyl ester is that it is more dangerous or causes more side effects than creatine monohydrate.  This is absolutely false.  

Creatine ethyl ester is essentially the same as creatine monohydrate with the exception of an attached ethyl ester compound, which allows CEE to be more easily absorbed into the body's cells.  This means lower doses of CEE are effective, and actually means fewer side effects and dangers.  

The major side effects of creatine are dehydration, cramping, bloating, and increased workload on the kidneys.  If creatine is more easily absorbed in the cells, less "waste creatine" sits outside of the cell walls.  This leads to less bloating, less work on the kidneys, and an overall reduction in side effects.

Now that the facts are in, many of your fears regarding creatine ethyl ester should be cleared up.  Now, the question is whether you should try creatine monohydrate or creatine ethyl ester.  The truth is, you should probably try both and see which you like best.  Both have been shown to be effective.  However, no studies have been done to show which form is most effective. ]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Creatine Ethyl Ester Side Effects and Benefits</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Fitness/Muscle_Building/creatine-ethyl-ester-side-effects-and-benefits.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Fitness/Muscle_Building/creatine-ethyl-ester-side-effects-and-benefits.html</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 28 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ If you do much bodybuilding or weight training at all, then you have probably already tried creatine monohydrate or creatine ethyl ester supplements.  If you have not yet tried supplementing with creatine, you should at least seriously consider it.  However, you may have heard many myths and unsubstantiated rumors about the potential adverse effects.  In this article, we will give you the facts about the scientifically proven benefits of creatine ethyl ester, as well as the documented side effects.

Creatine has been widely used for a long time, and is one of the most well studied nutritional supplements being sold today.  Many benefits of creatine have been scientifically proven in numerous studies.  These benefits include:

1.  Better muscle endurance.  Studies have shown that creatine use increases muscle endurance, allowing users to workout more intensely for longer periods of times.

2.  Increased muscle mass and strength.  This is the main reason bodybuilders and weight trainers take creatine.  Supplementation has been shown to produce faster gains in muscle size and strength.

3.  Faster recovery time.  Creatine helps muscles recover quicker after workouts, rebuilding new, bigger muscle and allowing you to workout sooner and feel less muscle soreness.

4.  Reduced water retention and creatine bloating.  Creatine ethyl ester is absorbed much more easily by the body than creatine monohydrate is.  For this reason, many believe the ethyl ester form causes much less water retention, so the weight and size you gain will be pure muscle rather than water weight.  This also may help to reduce or eliminate the bloating side effect that is often associated with creatine monohydrate.  

Now that you know the many benefits of creatine, you probably want to learn about the side effects.  Again, since creatine has been well studied, the side effects of creatine are well documented.

Creatine increases water retention in the body's cells, so dehydration is a very possible side effect.  Creatine users should be absolutely sure to drink plenty of fluids to avoid the dangerous possibility of dehydration.  

Creatine is also known to cause weight gain.  While this is considered a side effect, most people who are weight training would consider this a benefit.  Weight gain is caused mainly by the increase in muscle mass, while additional weight gain may be attributed to water retention.  Creatine ethyl ester may reduce effects associated with water retention.

Cramping and bloating are the most common side effects experienced by creatine users.  However, with the more easily absorbed creatine ethyl ester form, these side effects may be eliminated or reduced.  If you no longer take creatine monohydrate due to these adverse effects, you may benefit from creatine ethyl ester. ]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Creatine and Protein Supplements Help Build Muscle Fast</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Fitness/Muscle_Building/creatine-and-protein-supplements-help-build-muscle-fast.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Fitness/Muscle_Building/creatine-and-protein-supplements-help-build-muscle-fast.html</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 19 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Why creatine supplements and protein shakes?  For those who are weight training, bodybuilding, and trying to gain muscle mass, there are thousands of bodybuilding supplements that promise to help you build muscle fast, but which supplements really work?

In reality, there are no quick and easy shortcuts to building muscle:  hard work and eating properly are still the keys to getting bigger.  However, two supplements have been shown time and time again to help build muscle effectively, efficiently, and quickly:  protein and creatine supplements.  

Protein is one of the fundamental building blocks of muscle fiber.  In fact, without protein, your body would be completely unable to build muscle (or even survive).  Anybody who is weight training and hoping to put on muscle needs to eat a diet that is high in protein.  However, it can be extremely difficult to get an adequate amount of protein for muscle growth from diet alone.  

When weight training, it is recommended to ingest 1 to 1.5 grams of protein for every pound of body weight.  If you weigh 150 pounds, that means you should be getting between 150 and 225 grams of protein a day.  That's no easy feat when you are relying exclusively on a diet of lean and healthy foods, which you will want to do if you want to remain healthy and avoid gaining body fat while bulking up those muscles.  The solution to this problem is protein supplementation.  

Protein supplements, particularly whey protein, are effective, safe, and proven to help you build muscle fast.  Still, protein shakes should be used only as a supplement to your healthy, balanced, high protein diet.  

Creatine is another extremely effective supplement when it comes to building muscle.  Very few bodybuilding supplements ever live up to their hype, but creatine is one of the few that does.  Whether you are using creatine ethyl ester or creatine monohydrate, creatine supplements have been proven to stimulate gains in muscle size, strength, endurance, increase energy, and speed recovery from workouts.  

Creatine is also one of the most well researched bodybuilding supplements.  Creatine should not be used continuously, and you should drink plenty of water while using both creatine and protein supplements to avoid adverse side effects.

If you are looking to build a bigger, more muscular body, remember that there are no easy shortcuts.  Proper diet and weigh training are the only ways to achieve your goals.  However, protein and creatine supplements, combined with proper diet and workouts, can indeed help you see better results faster. ]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>3 Essential Nutritional Supplements for Your Health</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Health/Supplements_and_Vitamins/3-essential-nutritional-supplements-for-your-health.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Health/Supplements_and_Vitamins/3-essential-nutritional-supplements-for-your-health.html</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 20 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Nutritional supplements are an important component to your health whether you are trying to get into shape, lose weight, build muscle, ward off disease, or simply trying to lead a healthier lifestyle.  However, the dietary supplement industry is chock full of misleading hype and misinformation, making it quite confusing for the average consumer to find out what supplements are effective and essential.  Here, we will summarize some of the basic essential nutritional health supplements that would benefit most people.  However, keep in mind that if you have specific needs or goals in mind, you may need to do some additional research to find which supplements you need.  

1.  Multi-vitamin supplements.  This one is pretty well known:  most of us grew up taking our "Flinstone's vitamins."  However, as we enter adulthood, it seems that many of us forget to take our daily dose of vitamins.  A quality multi-vitamin can boost your physical and mental energy, your immune system, and help you ward off sickness and disease.  Sure, we can get vitamins from our diets, but with our fast-paced and hectic lifestyles, nearly none of us do.  

2.  Omega 3 Fish Oil supplements.  Fish oil capsules provide us with ever important omega 3 fatty acids, a type of fat that is all too often deficient in our diets.  Unless you eat a nearly daily dose of omega 3 rich sea food (and not all sea food is rich in omega 3's), then you need to be taking these supplements.  Omega 3 fats are finally understood to be crucial to maintaining good health.  Omega 3's have been shown to lower "bad" cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart attack, high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.  Omega 3's may also fight inflammation and related disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis.  Fish oil supplements have even been linked to improved mental acuity and lower risks for certain types of cancer!  If you aren't already, start taking these supplements right now!

3.  Ginseng.  Yes, the ancient Ginseng root.  It has been taken in eastern cultures since ancient times, and for good reason.  While there is a lot of hype over ginseng today, it is well deserved.  Ginseng has been proven to prevent cancer in many lab animals (although not yet in humans).  Ginseng can also increase energy and boost libido.  These benefits surely make ginseng one of the most important dietary supplements for your health.  

These are just 3 of the most important nutritional supplements for your health.  Still, there are plenty more dietary supplements that are very effective and useful for your health and nutritional needs.  If you are not currently benefiting from these health supplements, what are you waiting for? ]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Nutritional Supplements for Weight Training</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Health/Supplements_and_Vitamins/nutritional-supplements-for-weight-training.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Health/Supplements_and_Vitamins/nutritional-supplements-for-weight-training.html</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 18 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0800</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ If you are bodybuilding or weight training and are not taking any nutritional supplements, you absolutely will not even come close to reaching your full potential.  You do not need any type of steroid or pro hormones or anything like that, but natural health supplements are needed to help your body recover and build muscle efficiently and healthily.  

It is a well known fact that working out, whether it is aerobic or resistance, is very healthy and beneficial to our bodies.  However, vigorous workouts also put stress on our bodies and can take a toll, particularly if we do not have the proper nutrients and vitamins in our bodies.  We need the proper nutrients to even begin building muscle, and we also need nutrients and antioxidants to help our bodies recover from our workouts before we can even begin to try building muscle.  So what dietary supplements are absolutely essential for our workouts?  

The most basic nutritional supplement is also the absolute most important:  protein.  Protein is a basic nutrient found in many foods, and it is absolutely critical to building muscle.  Although it is found in many food sources, it is difficult to ingest enough protein from our diets alone.  If you are weight training and trying to add muscle, you should ingest about 1.5 grams of protein for every pound that you weigh.  So, for example, a person who weighs 100 lbs. should ingest about 150 grams of protein per day!  In general, whey protein is the best.  It is absorbed easily and quickly by the body, and is the perfect post workout protein supplement.   However, if you cannot take whey protein, there are other options.

Another highly effective nutritional supplement is also one of the most popular supplements today:  creatine.  Creatine occurs naturally in the body, but in very low doses.  Supplementing creatine has been proven to help add muscle mass quickly, but that is not all.  Creatine supplements also have been shown to help increase strength, energy, and recovery time from workouts.  After protein, creatine is the best nutritional supplement to add to your regimen.  Taking both protein and creatine with an effective workout regimen is sure help you gain strength and muscle very quickly.

Another incredibly popular bodybuilding supplement is Nitric Oxide, or NO.  While I wouldn't quite put this in the category of protein and creatine, if you are looking to take that next step and really increase your gains in the weight room, I would definitely recommend taking Nitric Oxide.  NO basically increases blood flow throughout your body, helping you to workout longer with less fatigue, and helping your body stay in the muscle building phase for much longer.  

By adding these supplements to your workout regimen (along with a multi-vitamin), you will be sure to see significant gains in strength and muscle.   You will also recover from your workouts much faster.  If you are not taking supplements already, this is a no-brainer:  start taking these nutritional supplements immediately. ]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>How to Choose The Right Nutritional Health Supplements</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Health/Supplements_and_Vitamins/how-to-choose-the-right-nutritional-health-supplements.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Health/Supplements_and_Vitamins/how-to-choose-the-right-nutritional-health-supplements.html</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0800</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ As our lifestyles become more and more fast-paced and our diets become more and more "fast food," our need for nutritional health supplements continues to grow.  It is no surprise then that the dietary supplement industry has experienced explosive growth in recent years, with products being marketed for everything from better health to anti aging to improving your sexual libido.  Yet, while more people are buying supplement products every day, many of these same people know very little about the products that they are taking and what these products are even supposed to do.  With the proliferation of new products available, it is important for people to learn how to choose the best nutritional health supplement for them.
  
When choosing a nutritional supplement, the first step is to determine why you want to take a supplement in the first place.  Do you want to boost your immune system and prevent getting sick?  Are you looking to stop the signs of aging, or perhaps seeking to improve your sexual performance?  Or maybe you are just looking to improve your overall health and prevent disease in the long run.  In any case, you should figure out what your reasoning is, and then find out which supplements are supposed to have the intended effect.  Research carefully to find out which claims are totally bogus and which products are most likely effective. 

Once you have chosen a dietary supplement, it is time for the hard part:  choosing a brand that you can trust.  Since nutritional supplements are largely unregulated in most countries, this can be a scary task.  But you do not have to fear, there are several steps you can take to ensure that you are buying a trusted brand and a safe, effective product.

The first thing you should always do is research the manufacturer.  Is the manufacturer a member of the Better Business Bureau or some other similar organization?  Make sure your supplements are coming from a company with a good reputation.  Find out if the company has any negative reports or complaints from consumers.  Secondly, check to see that the manufacturer has some type of seal of approval for its manufacturing processes.

When it comes to supplements, your health and safety are of the utmost importance.  Finding a product that is both safe and delivers on its promises is mission number one.  Following these steps will help to ensure that the health products you buy will be effective and safe.  With these recommendations, you should be able to easily find the best nutritional health supplements for your needs. ]]></description>
</item>

</channel>
</rss>

