Old Bodybuilding Supplements Never Die…
They just get re-purposed, lol.
A new muscle drink on the market isn’t for bodybuilders or workout fanatics: It’s aimed at middle-aged and older adults who are losing muscle naturally because of age. Ensure Muscle Health promises that its 13 grams of protein and special ingredient “HMB” will help such folks shore up muscle and muscle strength into their golden years.
HMB — beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate — has been getting a lot of attention from researchers lately because of reports that it can help preserve or increase muscle mass. But, as seems to be the case with all supplements, “there’s still a lot of conflicting evidence,” says Kate Pollock, a sports nutrition specialist in San Diego. “Some studies show it may increase muscle strength and decrease muscle damage, but other studies show no effect.”
Ah yes, HMB. The same stuff Bill Phillips once claimed “…feels like Deca.” According to the LAT article, it’s now being touted for aging couch potatoes. Lo, how the (allegedly) mighty have fallen.
Then again, considering what else is in Ensure Muscle Health Shakes…
WATER, SUGAR (SUCROSE), CORN MALTODEXTRIN, SODIUM CASEINATE, MILK PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, SOY OIL, SOY PROTEIN ISOLATE, CORN OIL, COCOA POWDER (PROCESSED WITH ALKALI), POTASSIUM CITRATE, CALCIUM BETA-HYDROXY-BETA-METHYLBUTYRATE, CANOLA OIL; LESS THAN 0.5% OF: WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, MAGNESIUM PHOSPHATE, CELLULOSE GEL, SOY LECHITHIN, SODIUM PHOSPHATE, ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS, POTASSIUM PHOSPHATE, POTASSIUM CHLORIDE, CHOLINE CHLORIDE, ASCORBIC ACID, CALCIUM CARBONATE, CELLULOSE GUM, CARRAGEENAN, SALT (SODIUM CHLORIDE), DL-ALPHA-TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, FERRIC PHOSPHATE, GELLAN GUM, ZINC SULFATE, NIACINAMIDE, CALCIUM PANTOTHENATE, MANGANESE SULFATE, CUPRIC SULFATE, VITAMIN A PALMITATE, THIAMINE CHLORIDE HYDROCHLORIDE, PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID, CHROMIUM CHLORIDE, BIOTIN, SODIUM MOLYBDATE, SODIUM SELENATE, POTASSIUM IODIDE, PHYLLOQUINONE, CYANOCOBALAMIN AND VITAMIN D3.
…it certainly can’t hurt. After all, the stuff is mostly sugar – the protein content is modest (13g/serving) at best.
It’s tough to believe this junk is being hustled as a “nutrition” drink. You might as well put a spoonful of soy protein powder in a glass of Ovaltine – same difference.
June 1, 2011
Once again it looks like someone is trying to make money on the “greatest thing ever!” I have seen quit a bit of talk about HMB lately. To some companies talk equals money.
You get people talking, then they purchase. I don’t think I would classify this as a “nutrition” drink, but what do I know.
June 1, 2011
A lot of attention from researchers lately? Really, LA times? HMB is old hat. Really old hat. No one’s been talking about it for ages – not since Bill Phillips and EAS brought it out in the mid-nineties. If you really want to learn what you can reasonably expect from HMB, read Elissa’s complete review…
http://bodybuilding.ultimatefatburner.com/hmb-review.html
June 2, 2011
Ensure muscle health OR ovaltine: it is all the same stuff. Blech!
June 2, 2011
LOL – it is nasty looking stuff, isn’t it?
And it ain’t cheap, either. Abbott must be making a tidy profit off of it.