Epidemiological studies, by McKenzie and others, also suggest that dietary protein intake of up to 20% of athletes may be below levels recommended for sedentary individuals. Then there is always ambiguous quality and absorbability of a dietary protein. Just eating proteins in diet does not ensure that they will provide all essential amino acids in adequate quantities. Given vital role that proteins play in metabolic and physiological response to aerobic stresses of endurance sports, and uncertainties regarding dietary protein intake, a protein supplement like Profect®, can go a long way in improving performance.

Adequate training and a Profect diet will take endurance to its limits, to levels where aerobic metabolism stimulates release of enkephalins, human equivalent of opium. These enkephalins produce natural high that is often referred to as ‘flow’. As long as metabolism remains aerobic, mind is flooded with enkephalins and systems function in harmony. In ‘flow’ capacity seems endless and fatigue non-existent. Profect, perfect protein supplement can do that for you.

About Protica

Founded in 2001, Protica, Inc. is a nutritional research firm with offices in Lafayette Hill and Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. Protica manufactures capsulized foods, including Profect, a compact, hypoallergenic, ready-to-drink protein beverage containing zero carbohydrates and zero fat. Information on Protica is available at www.protica.com

You can also learn about Profect at www.profect.com

References

1. Tarnopolsky M.:Protein Requirements for Endurance Athletes Nutrition 200420:662– 668.

2. McKenzie S, Phillips SM, Carter SL, Lowther S, Gibala MJ, Tarnopolsky MA:Endurance exercise training attenuates leucine oxidation and BCOAD activation during exercise in humans. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2000278:E580

3.Bowtell JL, Leese GP, Smith K, et al. Effect of oral glucose on leucine turnover in human subjects at rest and during exercise at two levels of dietary protein.J Physiol 2000525(pt 1):271

4. Young VR, Bier DM, Pellett PL. A theoretical basis for increasing current estimates of amino acid requirements in adult man, with experimental support. Am J Clin Nutr 198950:80

Copyright 2004 - Protica Research - http://www.protica.com

About Protica

Founded in 2001, Protica, Inc. is a nutritional research firm with offices in Lafayette Hill and Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. Protica manufactures capsulized foods, including Profect, a compact, hypoallergenic, ready-to-drink protein beverage containing zero carbohydrates and zero fat. You can learn more about Protica at www.protica.com -- Information on Profect is available at www.profect.com

1. Recognise why you are awake. If you are too hot, cold or uncomfortable in any way, fix that problem. I often wake up thirsty, so I always have a jug of water at my bedside. Sometimes a drink of water is all that’s needed to get back to sleep.

2. Relax by breathing slowly and deeply and by concentrating on tensing and then relaxing every muscle in your body, one by one, starting with toes and working upwards to your head.

3. Keep a pen and paper by your bed so if you are worrying about things you have to do, you can write them down in a list. This way you can stop worrying about forgetting anything important. As you write each thing down, visualise it leaving your brain and lodging itself on paper where you will find it safely in morning. I find this exercise helps a lot if I have things on my mind.

If all this fails, you have been awake for over half an hour and know you are in for a long wakeful night; give up, get up, go do things. You won’t feel any worse and you will probably feel better. There is no point in wasting those hours just lying there worrying about insomnia. If you feel sleepy further into night, you can always go back to bed.

I gave up insomnia by sleeping whenever I could and getting up and doing things when I was wide awake even if it was middle of night. I decided to sleep when I could, not worry if I woke up at strange hours and not waste time tossing and turning in search of sleep. The decision to stop worrying was key to my recovery.

I was fortunate in that I was not tied to a 9-5 work schedule, most of my work was done at home or in library. All I had to do was make sure I was there for my children who were all school age.

Over a few weeks I "enjoyed" a strange lifestyle. I would go to bed at my normal time, get up at any time of night when I couldn’t sleep (usually between 3.00 am and 5.00 am) and read or write essays or do quiet household chores. Then I would get children up and see that they had breakfast and got off to school. I would then, depending how I felt, carry on working or go to bed. My alarm would be set so that I did not have to worry about being asleep when children came home from school (I never was: I think mothers have an internal alarm clock). I would sleep for as long as I needed and then get up and carry on with my day. At weekends I could sleep while children were doing homework or out with their friends.

Gradually, my night-time sleep became longer and my spells of daytime sleep grew shorter. Without any effort or worrying, I reverted to a normal sleep pattern and resumed a conventional timetable.

Several years afterwards I came across this quotation: "If you can't sleep, then get up and do something instead of lying there and worrying. It's worry that gets you, not loss of sleep". -- Dale Carnegie. I couldn’t have put it better myself!

If you have commitments which prevent you from using this "cure", I suggest you give it a try over a holiday weekend or any other time you can manage to be home for three or more consecutive days. You will not find sleep if you search for it or worry about it, relax and it will come to you.