Q: Could I get the same key nutrients in Myoplex from regular food?
A: Yes, it's possible, but would you? Myoplex is in a category of products called nutrition shakes. It's meant to be a replacement for a meal. Most of us today are so busy that we don't have time to plan, shop for, and prepare the nutritious meals we should in order to get the most out of our training. That's where the convenience of a nutrition shake is so helpful.
Q: I'm interested in trying a nutrition shake like Myoplex, but I'm lactose intolerant. Are there any products that would work for someone with my condition?
A: There are negligible amounts of lactose in Myoplex—it's 99% lactose free. We don't know why, but lactose intolerance affects about 75% of the world population but only about 20-25% of people in the U.S. Since people with this problem lack the enzymes necessary to digest milk and milk byproducts, all the lactose hangs around the colon until mercenary bacteria find it and start to break it down. The resulting fermentation and byproducts cause flatulence, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Researchers in a recent study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association found that lactose-intolerant individuals could easily tolerate small doses of lactose, i.e., around two grams. It seems that these small servings of dairy products such as hard cheese or regular milk resulted in no symptoms of intolerance. If their findings hold up in future research, a serving of Myoplex, with a lactose content of less than one gram per serving, should not pose problems to individuals who are normally lactose intolerant.
Q: May I supplement with a Myoplex nutrition shake as my last meal, right before I go to bed?
A: Myoplex is not the best choice prior to going to going to bed. As it has a mid-range Glycemic index rating, it will provoke more of an insulin response than you are looking for right before going to sleep. One of the best meals you can consume just prior to going to sleep is cottage cheese and an apple.
Q: How many servings of Myoplex should I take on training and non-training days?
A: Well, it sort of depends on how much time you have to devote to meal planning and preparation. Regular exercisers should take in six small meals a day and most people don't have time to prepare an actual meal six times every day. The recommendation is to eat at least three regular-food meals and ingest two to three servings of Myoplex daily, taking one after a workout and using the other servings in place of a meal. |
