1. Anabolic (hypertrophic) substances and practices have the effect of growing tissue, such as muscle tissue or chromosomal telomeres. Anabolic pathways construct molecules from smaller units. Telomerase has an anabolic effect on cellular telomeres, repairing chromosomal material that restores the youthful cellular phenotype and vitality.
2. Catabolic (atrophic) substances and practices have the opposite effect, tearing them down via catabolic pathways. Free radicals and homocysteine have a catabolic effect on telomeres.
A prototypical anabolic steroid is testosterone.
Beta ecdysterone, an anabolic component in spinach increases protein synthesis in muscle.
Whey protein is anabolic and it activates HGH, Human Growth Hormone, which will convert to telomerase-activating IGF-1 in the liver.
The branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) leucine, isoleucine, and valine trigger muscle growth. (Leucine activates the mTOR pathway for muscle synthesis, so that it is typically taken at 1 to 2 grams immediately before or after training. Leucine is one of the three BCAAs and the one that turns on the anabolic (hypertrophic) pathway mTOR (Mammalian Target Of Rapamycin) for muscle synthesis.
Creatine monohydrate often allows athletes to break through sticking points by providing creatine phosphate to the muscle, improving muscle performance energetics. Creatine has also been shown to be life extending by about 10% in rodents, and it may also be life extending in people.
The best anabolic results are obtained using a split routine covering the body in several days, employing progressive resistance exercise along with whey protein supplements featuring branched-chain amino acids, together with creatine monohydrate.
Cortisol is catabolic and destroys muscle tissue protein to produce energy fuels. Cortisol inhibitors such as Ashwagandha (withania somnifera) are used to lower serum cortisol levels after a workout in post-workout growth accelerators.
Nitric oxide, to activate telomerase in endothelial cells, has anabolic effect on the vascular endothelium (Vasa and Hayashi)so that L-arginine (5 grams/day) and L-citrulline (200 mg/day - 1 gram/day) in the presence of nitric oxide synthase from exercise restores cardiovascular vitality and improves circulation.
Fenugreek extract, which increases testosterone levels by elevating both DHEA and Luteinizing Hormone (LH) expression to improve muscle contraction, is also a useful aid to bodybuilding. It also contains 4-hydroxyisoleucine, which increases insulin levels, so that it is taken at the conclusion of an evening workout only. Raising insulin levels lowers blood sugar levels, inducing a tired feeling, and hunger if continued. ( Use it during 2-week telomerase activation cycles, because it contains diosgenin, and the high insulin tends to open telomere t-loops for telomerase access to the telomere, especially in the presence of NAD+ substrate, obtainable from NAD supplements or < 3 grams of niacinamide (nicotinamide), which allows tankyrase 1 to remove the TRF1 telomere t-loop closure protein.
Complex, slow-digesting carbs such as fructose from fruit or carbs from vegetables are used before a workout when insulin should be low to avoid boosting fat storage.
Insulin is the body's most anabolic hormone, and is typically elevated by a post-workout shake containing whey protein taken together with dextrose (the d-form of glucose) or maltodextrin, fast carbs that elevate insulin for transporting nutrients into muscle cells immediately after a workout, to oppose cortisol's tendency to rebuild muscle glycogen catabolically at the expense of muscle fiber protein.
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