The Mantality.co.za Blog

By Krista Weger for Mantality.co.za

The Easy: Fresh from the Grocery Store Watermelon

I know what you’re thinking.  Melons?  Other than those of the, ahem, female variety, what’s a watermelon going to do for my health?  Well, fellahs, studies have it that watermelons can help you out in the sack when you do get a hold of the womanly kind.  Apparently, this juicy red fruit contains an element called citrulline, which is converted to arginine when it interacts with the enzymes in your digestive tract.  And arginine, which boosts levels of nitric oxide in the blood that in turn improves your circulation, basically delivers the same effects that Viagra does in treating erectile dysfunction.  The study, by Dr. Bhimu Patil, director of Texas A&M’s Fruit and Vegetable Improvement Center in College Station, even suggests that citrulline may prevent ED as you age.  So you might want to get a head start and stock up on nature’s Viagra now.

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Know the definition for treadmill?  My dictionary defines it as “any monotonous, wearisome routine in which there is little or no satisfactory progress.”

Coincidence?  I think not.  Using a treadmill can kill your fitness motivation faster than you can run on one.  In fact, doing the same old, same old at the gym is the number one cause of workout malaise.  And when boredom strikes, it’s easy to get disheartened by a routine workout that makes it seem like you’re going nowhere fast.  Before you lose motivation and take on a new routine as a couch potato, try changing your workout up with these great treadmill alternatives. Read the rest of this entry »

Raise your hands if this sounds oddly familiar: You’re a self-professed gym buff and your workout routine spans seven days a week. You spend every waking hour obsessing about not working out enough. You have had numerous arguments with your other half, as she is seething with jealousy about your commitment to your body. During coitus, you have tried to lift your girlfriend like a dumbbell while in the standing position. Read the rest of this entry »

Everyone’s heard about all of the great benefits of wheatgrass, but what are they specifically? One of the best things about wheatgrass juice is that it is immediately absorbed into the bloodstream and gives you immediate energy!

Wheatgrass is an energizer

The vitality obtained from wheatgrass juice is remarkable. Two ounces of fresh juice equals 3 pounds of organic vegetables in vitamins and minerals, or the equivalent of two cups of coffee. All you need to do to feel the amazing benefits of wheatgrass juice is drink two ounces of it! You’ll feel refreshed and energized throughout the day. Read the rest of this entry »

Seeing the arse-end of winter is a welcomed sight this time of year, and, it’s almost as good as seeing the front-end of spring and summer (oh, and what a front end she has). But, and I’m sure as some will testify, during the winter months it’s a little trickier to shake that excess blubber. Blubber that comes about as a result of all those creamy soups, freshly baked goodies, staying couped up indoors, and chugging back those wonderfully comforting barrels of beer.

Not to mention your body is physiologically designed to pack on a bit more lard during the winter months: to not only keep you that little bit warmer, but also due to the fact that “food” ain’t so abundant in the winter months - well at least out in the depths of the wilderness - Woolworths and other convenience stores on the other hand are certainly not shy on anything but an overwhelming carb filled nosh-fest. All only just just a card swipe away from being yours and finding a new home inside your fridge; alongside your molding, ahem, I beg your pardon, “maturing” block of cheese and some funky smelling long life milk - and that’s all if they’re lucky enough to make it the fridge before being shoveled down your gullet the second the leering eye of the public has gone. Read the rest of this entry »

Drain for brains. “Just two glasses of red a day can improve cogniition,” says Dr Clinton Wright, assistant professsor of neurology at Columbia University, New York, who found moderate wine drinkers scored significantly higher on mental acuity tests than those who didn’t drink at all. Read the rest of this entry »

The military press, deadlift and squat (amongst a couple others) are regarded as the staple of any serious weightlifter’s workout routine because the motion needed to perform these exercises use a combination of muscle groups. And because more muscles are being used, more weight is being pushed, more calories burnt, strength increases and a more efficient workout is had - and not to mention less injuries and muscle fatigue. Read the rest of this entry »

The average human being ends up sleeping for approximately 2/3’s of their life, but according to a recent US study approximately 70% are not getting enough sleep.  We all know the waffle the media propagates about how adults (18-50 years) need around 7-9 hours sleep each night - but why do we actually need that much and is it possible I need less?

Some actually do need less sleep, and if you’re one of those fortunate bastards, I hope you’re putting that extra “up” time to good use and advancing the modern world somehow by inventing useful things like; glow-in-the-dark booby tassels or biltong flavoured beer. Read the rest of this entry »

Oftentimes you just simply can’t put away enough quality calories during day to achieve the mass gains you dream of - and especially not without a little help from the likes of nutritional supplements such as protein shakes and mass gainer products. These will not only provide you with the additional proteins and carbohydrates you need but a lot of the good products are fortified with branch chain amino acids (BCAA’s), vitamins and minerals: crucial for lean muscle gains. Read the rest of this entry »

Although Pronutro is not everyone’s favourite bowl of “breakfast”, and some will say the taste is not unlike that of dusty cardboard. However, for those relegated to a high carbohydrate or bulking diet will be happy to know that a bowl of Pronutro is chock full of complex carbohydrates and will provide long-term energy and sustenance for peak muscle performance whilst lifting weights or performing intense activity, and can be made far more tasty by adding such things as Bulgarian low fat yoghurt or a teaspoon of honey. Have a look at the following nutritional values to get a better idea of the “Bokomo goodness” found in each bowl of Pronutro: Read the rest of this entry »