Recently we sat down with the CEO and owner of Species Nutrition - Dave Palumbo, and were fortunate enough to have Dave answer some questions we frequently get asked here at i-Supplements. Hopefully these answers from IFBB Pro Dave Palumbo can give all of you a better insight about Species Nutrition supplements. We like to thank Dave for taking the time to answer these questions and for our great relationship we have had with Species over the past couple of years.
1.) After so many years as a competitive bodybuilder, what made Dave Palumbo finally start his own company? Answer: I fulfilled all my goals on the stage and then it was time to move on. I have no interest in competing anymore because I know I can’t be better than my previous best. As the years passed and I helped more and more people to achieve their own personal successes, I realized how much money I was putting in the hands of other supplement companies that had products that didn't even fulfill the exact requirements I had for my clients. It was only logical that I put together my own line of supplements that would fit all the needs of my diet requirements and give my clients a place to ensure that they got the highest quality products.
2.) How did you arrive at the name “Species”?Answer: I was at an airport ready a magazine that dealt with Charles Darwin and his "theory of natural selection" and I realized that bodybuilders were merely more evolved humans-- a new "species" of sorts!
3.) Why did you choose to use no stimulants in your weight loss products “Somalyze and Lipolyze”?Answer: Whereas most fat burning formulations on today’s market depend on stimulants such as ephedra (rarely seen today), caffeine, and synephrine, I reject the premise that the only effective way to burn fat is to “stimulate” the body into submission. While stimulants do increase metabolic rate, they also increase the production of catabolic (muscle wasting) hormones such as cortisol. As cortisol levels rise in the body, lean muscle tissue is broken down, immune system function is suppressed and dangerous abdominal belly fat deposition is increased.
Remember, the quantity of lean muscle in the body is highly correlated with the basal metabolic rate (BMR). Less muscle means a lower BMR! If stimulant-based fat burners are used to help shed unwanted body fat, there’s a very good chance that, once they’re discontinued, metabolic rate will be significantly lower and the predisposition to gain unwanted body fat will be significantly higher.
If this scenario wasn’t bad enough, consider this: stimulants raise blood pressure, increase heart rate, and increase anxiety levels. Therefore, individuals with a history of heart disease, high blood pressure, or brain chemistry abnormalities should certainly steer clear of these compounds.
4.) Will you ever incorporate stimulants or make a stimulant-based product?Answer: I realize that much of the population relies on stimulants (too much) and there is a place for them in the market; however, despite the pleadings by my company executives, I have no current plans to release a stimulant-based product.
5.) What makes Isolyze so different from any other whey isolate protein? Answer: Isolyze is a highly purified cold--filtered whey protein isolate that contains 27g protein per 29g scoop, with no fat, no carbs (and no lactose). Given all those "no" ingredients, it still tastes amazing! If you can make a high quality whey isolate, taste good, you know you have best seller!
6.) What advantages does Macadamia Nut Oil have over the other healthy fats?Answer: Macadamia nut oil has the highest concentration of monounsaturated fats (oleic acid) than any other available oil. This incredible omega-9 fat, oleic acid, has documented cancer preventative and heart protective properties. In fact, it’s considered the gold standard for reducing inflammation and restoring health to our internal environment. Macadamia nut oil is so high in monounsaturated fats (84-85%) that it even surpasses extra virgin olive oil (65-74%).
How about this interesting fact? Our hunter-gatherer ancestors ate an equal balance (1:1 ratio) of linoleic acid (Omega-6) to alpha linolenic acid (Omega-3) essential fatty acids (EFAs). Junk food, rampant vegetable oil use, and the feeding of grain to food animals (even fish) have resulted in our current consumption ratios rising to a scary 20:1 ratio.
What’s the best source of essential fatty acids (EFAs) that delivers an equivalent amount of Omega-6 to Omega-3 fats? Flax seed oil, you might suggest? The answer is a resounding, NO! Flax seed oil, while being a healthy source of Omega-3 fats, has a very low percentage of Omega-6 fats. Macadamia nut oil has the perfect ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3 fatty acids, 1:1.
With regard to cooking, macadamia nut oil has an extremely high smoke point (410 degrees), which means it’s excellent for stir-fry and baking. Olive oil has a much lower smoke point (325 degrees or less) and it degrades when used in cooking.
Finally, macadamia nut oil has a sweet buttery taste, is resistant to oxidation, and is extremely high in vitamin E (four times higher than olive oil) making it the ideal heart-healthy, performance-enhancing, fat.
7.) With the low-carb lifestyle so popular, why does Species have a carbohydrate supplement in Carbolyze?Answer: Bodybuilders still need carbs to build muscle in an offseason scenario.
Carbolyze is mainly used pre and post workout when speed of absorption and glycogen replenishment is vital. Being both a high molecular weight and high glycemic carbohydrate, Carbolyze gets absorbed quickly, spikes insulin secretion better than any carbohydrate replacement drink on the market. If that weren't enough, Carbolyze mixes easy (with a spoon) and tastes great (banana and fruit punch flavors)
8.) Many liquid creatine products have gotten a bad rap. Why did you choose to make Crealyze, which is a liquid creatine supplement?Answer: Remember, any administered creatine should be SOLUBLE, STABLE, and BIOAVAILABLE! When creatine monohydrate is administered in powder form, it loses most of its effect because only 35% is bio-available and the rest is either (1) rapidly deactivated (turned into creatinine) by the highly acid conditions in the stomach or (2) passes through the GI tract without ever being absorbed due to its insolubility (inability to dissolve in solution).
CREALYZE is a liquid creatine monohydrate supplement which is soluble, stable, and bio-available. It's so unique that it's protected by certified U.S. Patent #5,973,005. When 1oz of CREALYZE is mixed with 8oz of water, the solution is rendered completely soluble providing a crystal clear solution that's ready to drink. Each serving of CREALYZE contains 3 grams of 100% solubilized creatine monohydrate. That means more strength, greater endurance, and incredible pumps!
9.) What is the ultimate goal for Species Nutrition?Answer: The SPECIES line of products will continue to champion original thinking and will carry that thought process to its logical conclusion in the form of an entire line of unique supplements that will strictly adhere to my core nutritional beliefs and teachings.
10.) What are the future plans (marketing, supplements, etc.) for Species Nutrition?Answer: SPECIES is going to continue to grow in all aspects of the company. Our distribution network across the globe is increasing daily and we're continually releasing new products to enhance, improve, and diversify the SPECIES line. Look for our new multi-mineral formula (MINERALYZE), protein pudding (PROTOLYZE) among many new products to debut in 2010.versify the SPECIES line.
