One Source Nutrition Articles & Resources

Carbonation may interfere with absorption because the higher acidity of such beverages inhibits normal secretion of stomach enzymes, such as proteases, which break down protein into amino acids. Carbonated beverages also may somehow force much of the food consumed to sit in the higher part of the stomach, where the enzymes are not found, preventing the normal breakdown of protein.

If food moves more rapidly through the stomach, there is less time for enzymes to do their work. Also, if fewer enzymes are doing their work, some of the protein you've eaten may not get properly digested.

Another problem with drinking a carbonated beverage during a meal is that you may feel less satiated afterward. This was discovered in a study of patients with indigestion and constipation. Carbonated water taken with meals reduced the study subjects' indigestion and constipation, but they were less satiated than when they drank plain water with food.

Q | I have a stockpile of my favorite fat burner, which contains ephedrine. What should I do with it now that ephedrine has been banned?

A | Although ephedrine has been banned from retail sale, it's not an illegal substance. You can have your favorite fat burner in your possession and continue to take it.

The problem, of course, is that you aren't going to be able to buy more of it when you run out. Our suggestion is to start looking for an ephedrine-free substitute while you still have your stockpile. Take less of your current fat burner as you try out others to see which ones give you good, if not comparable, results.

You can also mix and match a bit. Often, a thermogenic dosage comprises more than one pill. If your current standby calls for two pills, try taking one instead, along with a half-dosage or so of a new fat burner. You may get even better results.

Q | FLEX recommends eggs as a cheap protein source, but I go through a dozen egg whites in a meal. At $2 to $3 for a dozen eggs, I don't consider that cheap.

A | We never said egg whites are cheap. We said eggs are cheap. If you eat four to six eggs per meal, including some of the yolks, you'll cut your portion cost to about 70 cents to a buck and a half (at the rate you're paying for a dozen). Egg yolks have fat in them, but much of that is healthy. Yolks are also loaded with nutrients, so when you throw away the yolks, you are also tossing away plenty of nutrients. That includes protein. Almost half the protein in an egg is found in the yolk.

Eat some of the yolks, if not all, especially if you're not really trying to cut calories. Four whole eggs have about 300 calories. Bodybuilders can certainly consume more than four in a meal.

Finally, look for less expensive eggs or consider buying in bulk. By purchasing a larger quantity, the cost per dozen may be much lower than the amount you're currently paying.

EGGSAMINATION

 PROTEIN COST PER
SERVING (IN GRAMS) CALORIES SERVING*

12 egg whites 42 204 $3
 6 egg whites, 3 yolks 30 276 $
 4 whole eggs 25 300 $1

* Based on paying $3 per dozen.

EXPERT ANSWERS BY TEAM FLEX

This column addresses nutrition questions sent to us via our Web site. To send us a query, simply go to our home page at .com, click on "Contact Us" and select "FLEX Nutrition Comments." We'll answer as many questions as we can, but we will not be able to respond to you individually.