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Month: June 2013

Cortisol: What you need to know

Cortisol, known more formally as hydrocortisone, is a steroid hormone, more specifically a glucocorticoid, produced by the adrenal cortex. It is released in response to stress and a low level of blood glucocorticoids. Its primary functions are to increase blood sugar through gluconeogenesis; suppress the immune system; and aid in fat, protein and carbohydrate metabolism. Cortisol if often referred to as the “Stress Hormone” as although it is produced naturally throughout the day it is released in greater amounts as a response to stress. Cortisol is produced and released by the body in varied levels throughout the day. Cortisol...

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Book selection: “Strength Training Anatomy”

Strength Training Anatomy With new exercises, additional stretches, and more of Frédéric Delavier’s signature illustrations, you’ll gain a whole new understanding of how muscles perform during strength exercises. This one-of-a-kind best-seller combines the visual detail of top anatomy texts with the best of strength training advice. Many books explain what muscles are used during exercise, but no other resource brings the anatomy to life like Strength Training Anatomy. Over 600 full-color illustrations reveal the primary muscles worked along with all the relevant surrounding structures, including bones, ligaments, tendons, and connective tissue. Like having an X-ray for each exercise, the...

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Glycogen: What you need to know

Glycogen is a multibranched polysaccharide that serves as a form of energy storage. Glycogen is made and stored primarily in the cells of the liver and the muscles, and functions as the secondary long-term energy storage (with the primary energy stores being fats held in adipose tissue). It forms an energy reserve that can be quickly mobilized to meet a sudden need for glucose: muscle glycogen is converted into glucose by muscle cells, and liver glycogen converts to glucose for use throughout the body including the central nervous system. Only the glycogen stored in the liver can be made accessible to other...

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