What
is VAAM (Hornet Juice)?
What is the difference between VAAM and VESPA
Sports?
What does VAAM taste like?
How much is VAAM?
Where can I purchase VAAM?
How many servings can I make out of 1 packet?
Why is VAAM different from the other electrolyte
drinks?
What other forms does VAAM come in?
When is the best time to take VAAM?
Can I mix VAAM with a sports drink?
Can I use VAAM to lose weight?
Why is VAAM not available in the USA?
Are there any side effects from taking
VAAM?
What type of sports is VAAM ideal for?
What
is the Nutritional Value of VAAM?
What is the relationship between vaam-energy.com and hornetjuice.com?
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What
is VAAM (Hornet Juice)?
VAAM, short for Vespa Amino Acid Mixture is a new type of Sports
& Fitness drink by Meiji Milk Products from Japan, who worked
with those responsible for the discovery to bring this commercial
drink to the market, incorporating a newly discovered unique balance
of 17 amino acids.
Large
hornets about 5cm long (scientific name is vesper mandarin japonica)
fly an amazing 100km in a single day. Mr Takashi Abe, a chemical
researcher working for the "Chemical Science Research Center",
has conducted extensive studies into the amazing stamina possessed
by the wasp. He discovered that wasps ingest a nutrient containing
a unique combination of 17 amino acids, secreted by wasp larvae.
(Top)
What
is the difference between VAAM and VESPA Sports Drink?
VAAM is the original hornet juice from Dr. Abe Takashi's patented
VAAM wasp saliva formula. VESPA Sports drink is only made with
hornet extract, as opposed to amino acids, and should not be mistaken
for the real thing. (Top)
What does VAAM taste like?
VAAM is a clear, lightly carbonated beverage that has a hint of
grapefruit flavor. VAAM comes in only one flavor. (Top)
How
much is VAAM?
Check out VAAM price list here.
(Top)
Where
can I purchase VAAM?
VAAM is currently only available in Japanese sports shops, pharmacies
and fitness clubs. However you may order online subject to availability.
(Top)
How
many servings can I make out of 1 packet?
One packet can make one serving however you can dilute the taste
by adding more than one serving of water. For more information
on how to use VAAM, click here. (Top)
Why
is VAAM different from the other electrolyte drinks in the market?
According to Dr. Takashi Abe, the Japanese biochemist who developed
VAAM, the concoction is not based on adding electrolytes and other
substances lost during an athlete’s performance, but instead
the amino acids in VAAM derived from Japanese giant hornets help
the body burn the energy it already has. (Top)
What
other forms does VAAM come in (aside from powder form)?
VAAM's manufacturer, Meiji Milk Products has come out with a range
of VAAM products such as VAAM Juice, VAAM Water, VAAM Jelly. VAAM-Energy.com
currently only sells the powder form. (Top)
When
is the best time to take VAAM?
VAAM is extremely versatile and is suitable to be taken before
the start of any physical activity, during any physical exertion
and at the completion of your activities. But for best results
take VAAM 0 - 30 minutes before activity. Make sure you take VAAM
on an empty stomach (usually 2 - 4 hours after your last meal
that included protein). (Top)
Can I mix VAAM with a sports drink?
You can mix VAAM with your favorite sports or juice drink. However
DO NOT MIX VAAM with protein drinks as it will lose its effectiveness.
(Top)
Can
I use VAAM to lose weight?
Yes, by all means! VAAM expedites the metabolism of fat and also
promotes better hydration of the body. Burning fat produces sweat
— and thus improves hydration, These amino acids in VAAM
can help make use of our stores of fat into energy. (Top)
Why
is VAAM not available in the USA?
VAAM contains a small amount of an amino acid called tryptophan
that is a neutral, genetically coded amino acid found in certain
foods like fish. It is essential in human nutrition. However tryptophan
was involved in a health controvery in the U.S in the late 80's.
FDA took action to limit the availability of dietary supplements
containing this amino acid because of the association between
dietary supplements containing L-tryptophan and the 1989 epidemic
outbreak of eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome (EMS) in the United
States. In the summer and fall of 1989, an epidemic outbreak of
eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome (EMS) occurred in the United States.
These
cases of EMS were traced to L-tryptophan supplied by Showa Denko
K.K. of Japan.
According
to US law, Showa Denko was allowed to sell the tryptophan produced
in genetically engineered bacteria without safety testing because
they and other companies had been selling tryptophan produced
in non-genetically engineered bacteria for years without ill effects.
It was considered that the method of production (whether via natural
or genetically engineered bacteria) was immaterial and that, since
tryptophan had already been shown to be safe, the new material
needed no testing. In effect they considered it substantially
equivalent to the tryptophan that had been sold for many years.
This
product was placed on the market, and within a few months it caused
the deaths of 37 people and caused 1500 more to be permanently
disabled (1). It took months to discover that the poisoning was
due to toxin present in the tryptophan produced using Showa Denko's
genetically engineered bacteria (1, 2). One factor that contributed
to this time delay was the fact that the product was not labeled
to distinguish it from tryptophan produced through conventional
methods.
It
was later shown that the tryptophan produced in genetically engineered
bacteria contained one or more highly toxic contaminants. The
most prominent of these, called EBT, was identified as a dimerization
product of tryptophan. It comprised less than 0.1% of the total
weight of the product, yet that was enough to kill people (1).
Based on fundamental chemical and biochemical principles, scientists
have deduced that this compound was probably generated when the
concentration of tryptophan within the bacteria reached such high
levels that tryptophan molecules or their precursors began to
react with each other (5). Thus, it appears that genetic manipulationsled
to increased tryptophan biosynthesis, which led to increased cellular
levels of tryptophan and precursors. At these high levels, these
compounds reacted with themselves, generating a deadly toxin.
Being chemically quite similar to tryptophan, this toxin was not
easily separated from tryptophan, and contaminated the final commercial
product at levels that were highly toxic to consumers.
From
the research that has been done, these facts are clear: (a) Batches
of tryptophan produced by only one company, Showa Denko, were
toxic. (b) These batches of tryptophan contained the contaminant
EBT and possibly other compounds that are highly toxic and give
rise to EMS-like symptoms when fed to rats. (c) Showa Denko had
used genetically engineered bacteria in the fermentation process
by which the toxic batches of tryptophan had been produced. (d)
Showa Denko had also cut corners in the purification procedure
used in preparing most of the toxic batches of tryptophan.
In conclusioon, the tryptophan in VAAM is safe, as it is non-genetically
engineered unlike the batches of tryptophan manufactured by Showa
Denko. (Top)
Are there any side effects from
taking VAAM?
VAAM has been in the Japanese market since 1995 and there are
no known and reported side effects (the supplements containing
the contaminated tryptophan that caused EMS in the US).
First
time users (usually runners) may experience cramping/stitches
or mild bowel urgency, but this dissipates once the body gets
used to the supplement. (Top)
What
type of sport is VAAM ideal for?
Practically any endurance sport such as:
Marathons / Triathlons / Adventure Racing / Cycling / Swimming
/ Hockey / Soccer / Rugby / Tennis / Baseball / Basketball / Aerobics
/ Aero bike / Aquarobics / Jogging / Walking / Treadmill / Swimming
/ Gym Exercise / Squash. The list goes on as to which sports it
can be used effectively in. Give it a try and see how it helps
you.(Top)
What
is the Nutritional Value of VAAM?
VAAM contains: Cane sugar, amino
acids (proline, lysine, glycine, tyrosine, threonine, leucine,
valine, phenylalanine, arginine, isoleucine, alanine, glutamic
acid, tryptophan, histidine, serine, methionine, aspartic acid);
flavoring, acidifier, sweetener (stevia, thaumatin)
VAAM
Composition:
Energy
: 42Kcal
Protein : 2.6g (as an amino acid)
Fat : 0.084g
Carbohydrate: 7.6g
Sodium : 0.77mg
(Top)
What is the relationship between vaam-energy.com and hornetjuice.com? ?
Vaam-energy.com is an affiliate/reseller of HornetJuice and VAAM from www.hornetjuice.com and www.vaam-energy.com. (Top)