Myostatin and The Buff Bull

Myostatin is a protein that acts as an "off-switch" for muscle growth as noted in the following article. It is the subject of great research due to it's potential to help in the treatment of muscle-wasting diseases. Scientists are studying the Belgian blue bulls which is a breed who has a mutated myostatin gene which doesn't function properly. The result?

Wanna see a bull that deserves an IFBB card? Very Buff Bull.

The article discusses that if (when) science discovers a way to inhibit the myostatin protein in humans, it will almost surely open a black market for bodybuilders. Scary to think that Ronnie Coleman or Jay Cutler could get even bigger.

And also noted in the article, the bodybuilding supplement companies are desperately trying to cash in producing products that claim to inhibit myostatin production. The products now are just a fantasy but someday...

JP Clifford

Muscle Building and Smoking

I get asked this question a lot - "Does smoking effect my ability to build muscle?"

My answer has always been that while you can reasonably bet that smoking is going to have a negative effect on muscle building, that effect will likely be minor.

This study suggests my "minor" might actually be major.

Smoking 'Damages Body's Muscle-Building'

Yet another reason to put down the smokes, eh?

JP