As most people, I too was somewhat naïve and assumed that all professional athletes must have access to the very best of everything…including nutrition education, supplements, and even food. While this is true, to some degree, it is often not the case in other circumstances. I quickly realized that athletes are often over-exposed to products and “experts” and have a difficult time sifting through the myriad of information that is placed in front of them. They are targets, and this overwhelming abundancy of information, both good and bad, can often confuse and mislead vulnerable individuals. I have seen team trainers, strength coaches, and players unknowingly misinformed. These imprinted beliefs ultimately impact dietary behavior.

Among athletes, there is a relatively good general understanding of macronutrients (protein, carbohydrates, fats). Most have very little appreciation for the role of micronutrients (vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, metabolites, fatty acids). And, there is suboptimal compliance with a well-balanced diet, rich in fruits and green leafy vegetables. There is also a widespread assumption that megadosing with supplements (i.e. taking a supplement empirically in the absence of known benefit or documented deficiency) is always safe and beneficial.

My point is that even athletes that have achieved the highest level of success can have poor dietary/nutritional foundation and behaviors…so, you can imagine that dietary misconceptions and fallacies are prevalent among children, adolescents, recreational and amateur athletes, as well as non-athletes. A lack of individualized nutrition education and healthy dietary behaviors are pandemic.

As a physician, I prefer to practice evidence-based medicine; yet, I attempt to remain open-minded. My approach to sports nutrition can be simplified into 5 principles:

• Promote a well-balanced diet and calorie distribution
• Individual macronutrient needs
• Individual micronutrient needs
• Disease-specific (medical) considerations
• Sports-specific considerations

This physician, as well as the American Dietetic Association, Dietitians of Canada, and the American College of Sports Medicine believe that physical activity, athletic performance, and recovery from exercise are all enhanced by optimal nutrition.

It is my intent to relay accurate information pertaining to nutrition and supplementation, offer evidence-based science to support claims whenever possible, and personal experience to engage you in an educational and stimulating blog experience.

Enjoy!

Dr. Michael O’Neal

The NSF Certified for Sport Program expands upon the GMP registration and Dietary Supplements product certification programs to help add additional safeguards to products being taken by athletes, law enforcement officers and military personnel. Products certified through this program are screened for steroids and other prohibited substances.

NSF tests each batch of product certified for over 140 prohibited substances as listed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), Major League Baseball and the National Football League. These substances include: Steroids, Stimulants, Diuretics, Beta Blockers, Beta Agonists, Drugs of Abuse and Masking Agents.

The following organizations participate in NSF’s Certified for Sport® Program:

• Major League Baseball
• Major League Baseball Players Association
• The National Football League
• The National Football League Players Association
• The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport
• The Professional Golfers Association
• The Ladies Professional Golfers Association
• The New York City Police Department

For more information about the latest certified products and news, visit www.nsfsport.com, a website specifically for athletes.

*This information was obtained from: spring/summer nsf.org

“I am witness every day to professional and recreational athletes alike who are confused when they strive to optimize their nutritional status in order to enhance performance, recovery, and healing,” explained Wells. “What BodyCustom products do is take the guesswork out of supplementation.”

“What BodyCustom products do is take the guesswork out of supplementation.”

According to Wells, PNC has a Premier program that offers custom supplements made for each individual. Every product is developed to accommodate the micronutrient needs, which are determined in advance through the review of a sophisticated analysis of the blood. The test reveals the vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, metabolites, and fatty acids that are lacking. The ingredients in each pharmaceutical-grade formula then reflect the predetermined micronutrient deficiencies. In addition, the company also offers a line of four supplements that have the prestigious NSF Certification for Sport, including two proteins and two micronutrient repletion formulas.

“By joining forces with a player that is the caliber and quality of Vernon Wells, we can build an awareness for the importance of objective supplementation as a new standard for professional and weekend athletes,” commented PNC founder and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Michael O’Neal, a Board-certified physician whose list of clients include players from various MLB, NFL, NHL, NBA teams, the PGA, WBF/IBF, and former Olympians.

“Sadly, we’ve been living in an era that has seen many high profile athletes tainted by performance enhancing drugs, and the purity and efficacy of nutraceutical products is often debated. The Premier custom program seems to be the logical progression of new-generation supplementation, which is why I’ve chosen to support this development effort,” said Wells.

About BodyCustom Supplements:

The mission of the BodyCustom is to provide consumers with nutritional products that include high-quality, scientifically-validated nutritional supplements, targeting optimal health and wellness. The unique prototype for this business was developed by Dr. Michael O’Neal nearly 10 years ago during his residency training, at which time he introduced his novel philosophy of ‘objective customized supplementation’. He researched and introduced a method for providing individualized, custom nutritional supplements based upon a patients predetermined micronutrient status. Once an individual’s micronutrient deficiencies were identified by a sophisticated blood analysis, a custom product was formulated to replete the deficiencies. For six years he offered customized supplements to patients within his private practice, including professional athletes from every major sport. www.bodycustom.net.

Contacts
For BodyCustom
Kathy Jacobson, 925-683-2988
kjacobson@aol.com

JANUARY 1, 2011

Physician’s Neutraceutical Concepts (PNC) Announces a Formal Alliance with MLB All-Star, Vernon Wells, and the Launch of a Novel Custom Supplement Line.

Physician’s Neutraceutical Concepts (PNC), featuring BodyCustom products, is a physician-founded corporation offering the only true custom supplement in a multi-billion dollar neutraceutical industry, and now boasting an elite athlete spokesperson.

Unlike other mass-produced competitors, each custom product is developed to accommodate an individual’s micronutrient needs, which are determined by a sophisticated blood analysis. The test reveals the vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, metabolites, and fatty acids that the person is lacking. The ingredients in each pharmaceutical-grade formula reflect the predetermined micronutrient deficiencies of the individual.

Physician Founder and PNC Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Michael O’Neal, states that “nutrition is dynamic, so we have designed a method for more specifically addressing each individual’s micronutrient needs.” Dr. O’Neal, an award-winning, Board-Certified primary care physician, developed and implemented his philosophy of objective supplementation while serving as a preferred provider for a Major League Baseball Club. He has had professional athlete clients representing MLB, NFL, NHL, NBA, PGA, WBF/IBF, and former Olympians.

Vernon Wells, 3-time MLB All Star and Gold-glove Award winner is the athlete spokesperson for BodyCustom Products. “Professional and recreational athletes alike should strive to optimize their nutritional status in order to enhance performance, recovery, and healing”, says Wells, recent recipient of the prestigious Branch Ricky Award. “BodyCustom products uniquely take the guess-work out of supplementation”.

Testing for banned substances is offered for custom supplements developed for professional athletes. Additional BodyCustom line extensions are currently being qualified for the elite NSF certification for sport.

In an era that has seen many high profile athletes tainted by performance enhancing drugs and the purity and efficacy of neutraceutical products is often debated, a custom program seems to be the logical progression of new-generation supplementation.

Dr. O’Neal and Vernon Wells are available for television, radio, and print interviews. Please direct your requests to Mindy at mindy@bodycustom.net or (727) 271-1347.