Written by WildernessAthlete on September 16, 2011

As a scientist, outdoorsman, and athletic competitor in a variety of arenas, I have a unique perspective on the latest developments in the field of nutrition as it relates to physical activity. Wilderness Athlete provides a comprehensive cadre of products that have worked for a broad range of individuals and that have been backed by solid scientific evidence.

Individuals may purchase several types of items from Wilderness Athlete. Each one of them has a unique purpose. For example, Altitude Advantagecontains antioxidants that have been shown to lessen the symptoms of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) by ~40% when given prior to exposure (Bailey et al., 2001). These effective antioxidants have been combined by Wilderness Athlete with other herbal components such as Ginkgo Biloba, that may improve the improve delivery of oxygen to working muscle, and further attenuate the undesirable and even life-threatening symptoms of AMS (Moraga 2007). Combined with adequate hydration (3-5 liters/day), my antecedent use of Wilderness Athlete Altitude Advantage has greatly reduced the symptoms of AMS and excessive fatigue during backcountry hunting and fishing trips above 12k feet.

Realizing that “high altitude” adventure may not be for everyone, Wilderness Athlete has designed several products that can help anyone pursue a healthy and active lifestyle. For many individuals, this may mean losing excess body fat. This is usually a significant challenge since the fitness level has usually declined along with the increase in body fat. As a result, one may have to exercise anywhere from 60-90 minutes a day for 5 days/week to lose ~1 lb/week (Coker, 2009), and could be overwhelming for an overweight person wanting to improve their fitness and health. Fortunately, the combination of a progressive exercise program with the Meal Replacement and Recovery Shake from Wilderness Athlete may augment the loss of body fat when used a part of a dietary program. In fact, the same whey protein that Wilderness Athlete uses in their products (ie., Meal Replacement and Recovery,Protein Plus, Performance Bars) has been shown to enhance fat loss and preserve lean muscle in a randomized clinical study (Frestedt, 2008). Taken together, these types of benefits may enable a person to spend more time afield or enjoy an outing with friends that may have previously left them in the dust.

From backpack hunts for bears in Alaska to motorcycle enduro races in the hot summers of Arkansas, I have utilized the quality products from Wilderness Athlete and they have given me an edge in my late 40s. Please check back in the future as I provide solid scientific evidence on other great supplements like Green Infusion, and Energy and Focus from Wilderness Athlete.

Robert H. Coker, PhD, FACSM

References:

Bailey DM, Davies B, Acute mountain sickness; prophylactic benefits of antioxidant vitamin supplementation at high altitude. High Alt Med Biol, 2(1): 21-29, 2001.

Moraga FA, Flores A, Serra J, Esnaola C, Barriento C, Ginkgo Biloba decreases acute mountain sickness in people ascending to high altitude at Ollague (3696 m) in northern Chile, Wilderness Environ Med, 18(4): 251-257, 2007.

Coker RH, Williams RH, Yeo SE, Kortebein PM, Bodenner DL, Kern PA, Evans WJ, The impact of exercise training compared to caloric restriction on hepatic and peripheral insulin resistance in obesity, J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 94(11): 4258-4266, 2009.

Frestedt JL, Zenk JL, Kuskowski MA, Ward LS, Bastian ED, A whey-protein supplement increases fat loss and spares lean muscle in obese subjects: a randomized clinical study, Nutr Metab (London), 27: 5-8, 2008.

Other Reading:

The Best Hydration Drink

Symptoms of Dehydration

This entry was posted inAltitude Advantage,Energy & Focus,Green Infusion,Meal Replacement Shakes,Protein Plus +,Very topand tagged inAltitude Advantage,altitude sickness,meal replacement,performance nutrition,performance nutrition science.