3 Things I learned at the YPSI Functional Sports Nutrition Seminar from Dr. Bob Rakowski

3 Things I learned at the YPSI Functional Sports Nutrition Seminar from Dr. Bob Rakowski

Its been one month since the YPSI Functional Sports Nutrition Seminar with Dr. Bob Rakowski. Having an external speaker with Dr. Bob Rakowski present this seminar was a great opportunity to sit back and see what another speaker has to say. Instead of focusing on what I heard before or know I like to dissect the material and then in retrospective, ask myself two questions:

1. What was new?

2. How will I fine-tune my work based on that?

Thats an approach I take on with every new book, article or seminar. As pragmatism prevails. And my top 3 that I took away from this seminar were:

1. There are three types of and two pathways to make Nitric Oxide – In the context of sports performance nitric oxide is primarily a great facilitator especially for muscle protein synthesis. Nitric oxide – short NO – isn’t always nitric oxide though. There are three types of NO: endothelial, neuronal and inflammatory. Which all carry slightly different tasks. And then there are two pathways to make NO. First, through arginine via the enzyme NO synthase. A pathway that down regulates after age 20. Second, the production of NO from plan based nitrates. Considering the first pathway and its down regulation the second pathway is the most important to make NO for the majority of clients and athletes. So, eat your greens.

What I will fine-tune: This is another great reason to explain every client and athlete why to eat plants – vegetables and salads – daily and have a greens drink regularly.

2. The multitude of benefits of Ganoderma lucidum – Their are different names given to Ganoderma in various Asian languages. The Chinese name – Lingzhi – means “spiritual potency”, while the Japanese name – Reishi – translates as “king of herbs.” The Vietnamese name for the Ganoderma mushroom – Linh Chi – literally means “supernatural mushroom”. Ganoderma Lucidum has been recognized by practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as the highest ranked of all herbs found in the Chinese pharmacopoeia. Ganoderma has a multitude of benefits on blood sugar management, blood lipid levels, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties as well as facilitating normal GABA levels.

What I will fine-tune: I have only used Ganoderma sparingly before. And only as one adaptogen in an adaptogen rotation with highly stressed clients. Considering its multitude of benefits and Dr. Rawkoski’s results with Ganoderma its time to put it to the test in different scenarios.

3.  Fecal transplants can enhance fatloss – Clearly not the first recommendation I do or will give to any client and athlete, still a great practical way to put all the research on the gut microbiome and obesity into practice.  The gut mircobiome is all the bacteria that lives in our intestines. Dr. Rakowski uses fecal transplants in advanced cases and plateau with his patients with great success. Recent research has shown a high correlation between the microbiome and obesity which backs his results up.

What I will fine-tune: Intestinal health and rebuilding the gut is a cornerstone of my work getting clients and athletes leaner, bigger, stronger and faster. This clinical pearl vows for a greater and more frequent implementation of a „microbiome cleanse“ to bust plateaus.

Bonus: This technically doesn’t belong to this list as I know it and used this test occasionally for years. It was still a great reminder on its importance and practicality of the Lime-Challenge-Acid-Buffering-Test. Testing Acid-Alkaline-Level – or ph level which is the same – with a ph stick in saliva or urine is a test thats been around a long time. It testes the current state of the Acid-Alkaline-Balance which is an interesting test at times. The bodies ability to buffer its much more important in practice, though. To assess that, thats what the Lime-Challenge-Acid-Buffering-Test does. And the result is also a great indicator of the bodies storage of alkaline minerals such as magnesium and potassium as alkaline minerals are essential to the acid buffering system to maintain an optimal ph level, especially in times of higher stress, environmental toxin exposure and high training volume. The bodies ability to buffer acid is crucial, in maintaining high energy throughout the day and in anaerobic exercise such as strength training.

There is always something to learn. Especially in the theoretical base of a functional approach to nutrition for sports.

Picture: A view from the back at the YPSI Functional Sports Nutrition Seminar in September 2017.

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