Chronic, low-grade metabolic acidosis has been implicated as an underlying cause of a variety of conditions with adverse effects on health, in particular the catabolic effects on skeletal and muscle tissue. Metabolic acidosis is a state in which the blood pH is low (under 7.35) due to increased production of H+ by the body or the inability of the body to form bicarbonate (HCO3-). It is well documented that the composition of the diet can affect the body’s acid-base balance due to the ability of specific foods to produce acid or base as a result of the their digestion and metabolism; and by manipulating diet this balance can be tilted in favor of net acid accumulation (lower pH) or net base (higher pH). Foods high in mineral salts and organic acids, namely most fruits and vegetables, tend to increase pH.

In addition high sodium chloride intake can also induce mild metabolic acidosis. Consumption of most vegetable foods on the other hand increases bicarbonate production due to the metabolism of dietary organic acids/alkali salts (e.g. sodium citrate, potassium citrate, potassium gluconate, etc.). It has been reported that chronic metabolic acidosis induces muscle protein breakdown, and that correction of acidosis reverses the effect. Indeed, because of the attendant low grade chronic acidosis, habitual ingestion of typical net acid-producing diets might chronically sustain a slightly increased state of protein breakdown and consequent nitrogen wasting that can be considered a tonic "normal" state in adult humans, accounting for the normal progressive decrease in muscle mass (sarcopenia) as adults get older. Normal age-related decline in kidney function can increase the severity of diet-dependent acidosis thus amplifying acid induced muscle wasting in older individuals.

It is also possible that skeletal muscle hypertrophy induced by resistance training may be attenuated since a positive nitrogen balance is necessary for muscle hypertrophy, which can be difficult to achieve. The increased protein intake required for optimal muscle adaptation could be negated by the acidifying effect of dietary protein unless countermeasures are taken to ensure a net dietary alkaline load instead of an acid load. In order to bring acid-base balance towards a more alkaline state consuming a diet high in alkaline/base producing foods compared to acid producing foods is necessary. When dietary protein intake and consumption of processed foods high in sodium chloride (salt) is low, the usual content of the diet or moderate increases in base producing vegetables and fruits can usually suffice. However as protein intake increases it is necessary to consume increasing amounts of these foods to offset endogenous acid production, which can be difficult to achieve because it is often inconvenient to consume large amounts of vegetables and fruit, especially since the nutritionally quality of these food has deteriorated profoundly in recent decades. In fact, according to some sources, it takes 5 servings of vegetables to equal 1 serving of vegetables 50 years ago. Metabolix Green Plus with MSM compares to 5 to 7 servings of vegetables daily! Furthermore, we conducted a controlled study to demonstrate the pH raising effect of this product on a group of athletes undergoing resistance training. Our results indicate that this product can indeed help maintain acid-base balance while consuming a high protein diet.

Metabolix Green Plus with MSM is a concentrated powerful formulation containing an alkaline forming blend of ingredients including green grasses, vegetables, sprouted grains, herbs, and MSM (methyl-sulfonyl-methane) to help balance your body's pH. MSM is a naturally-occurring form of dietary sulphur found in fresh raw foods but is quickly lost from food when it is processed, cooked and/or stored. MSM helps build collagen to maintain healthy joints and connective tissue. This is also why MSM increases flexibility (good for yoga), hastens recovery time from sore muscles, and is excellent for recovery from athletic injuries. MSM may also enhance digestive absorption of nutrients by improving the function of cells lining the gut as well as delivering nutrients to cells throughout the body.

Metabolix Green Plus with MSM is the perfect complement to Maximum Protein