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Today’s Health Upgrade: Living Longer

Your Protein Powder Might Have a Dirty Secret

The next time you buy a protein supplement, make sure you take a look at the fine print on the ingredient label. 

If you use a whey protein concentrate, you might be getting much less protein than you think. 

Whey protein concentrate is a high-quality form of protein, but because of the many loopholes in the supplement industry, it’s easy for companies to deliver a lower-quality product without your awareness.

You can think of “concentrate” as a way to grade the purity of a protein. Whey protein concentrates can be anywhere from 20 percent to 80 percent protein by weight — but you don’t always know what you’re getting.

Let’s say your protein supplement shows 20 grams of whey protein concentrate on the label. If the product uses WPC20 (whey protein concentrate that’s 20% protein by weight), the absorbable whey protein is just 4 grams — even though the label shows 20 grams.

And you won’t necessarily know what percentage is being used because your supplement label does not need to specify the type of whey protein concentrate. It’s why we encourage you to look for NSF Certified for Sport or Informed Sport products, as both require label accuracy. Again, there’s nothing bad about whey protein concentrate. But the lack of clarity can mean you’re getting less protein than you think. 

Alternatively, you could buy a whey protein isolate, which is standardized at a minimum of 90 percent protein by weight. It’s another reason why our go-to protein powder is from Momentous. They only use whey protein isolate, their products are NSF Certified for Sport and Informed Sport tested, and they are redefining the supplement category by doing things not typically done, including ten contracts with the US Military to help develop high-performance supplements that work.

If you want to upgrade your protein, all members of the positive corner of the internet receive 20% OFF with the code PUMPCLUB. You can choose their whey protein or plant protein. 

How To Manage and Reduce Anger

What’s your favorite way to calm down when anger and frustration boil over? If you like to blow off steam, it might result in a great workout — but that doesn’t mean it will take the edge off your frustration. 

Researchers found that physically stimulating activities are less likely to reduce your anger. 

Scientists analyzed 154 clinical trials with more than 10,000 participants. The trials tested how different activities affect people’s anger levels. The activities were classified according to whether they increased or decreased emotional and physical arousal. In other words, whether they were stimulating or relaxing.

Relaxing activities — such as meditation, mindfulness, and yoga — were more effective at reducing feelings of anger, hostility, and aggression. (For those keeping score, meditation was most effective.) 

In a weird twist, some activities — such as jogging — appeared to increase anger (let the anti-cardio crowd rejoice). 

Remember, what might help you mentally process the anger isn’t necessarily the same thing that helps you let it go. So, if your anger motivates you to exercise, sweat it off. But make sure you also do what’s necessary so the anger doesn’t linger and consume you.  

On Our Radar: Tooth Regrowth Is Near?

Some scientists are calling it a dental miracle. 

It appears that the first-ever tooth regrowth human trials will begin in Japan later this fall, and it could signal one of the most dramatic breakthroughs in oral science. 

Even though your teeth are made from the same material as your bones — and arguably harder because of enamel — unlike your bones, teeth cannot heal themselves or regrow. But that might all change soon if these breakthrough trials go well.

The lead researcher has been studying tooth regrowth for nearly 20 years. Scientists finally found a formula that rebuilds teeth in animals a few years ago without any side effects. Now, it’s time to see if it will work similarly for humans. The solution is a medication that blocks one gene and — by doing so — triggers a domino effect that triggers tooth growth. The study will run for about 11 months, with results set to come out late next year.

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Publisher: Arnold Schwarzenegger​

Editors-in-chief: Adam Bornstein and Daniel Ketchell