Consumer Labs Information
Huperzine A
It is a club moss called Huperzia Serrata
It is an alkaloid similar to that have caffeine
according to research it could enhance memory skills and is a brain booster
works by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase
causes ACH in the brain to rise!
may also protect nerve cells from damage
Placebo controlled double blind study using Huperzine A for 8 weeks showed that 60% of treated participants showed improvements in memory, thinking, and behavioral functions compared to the 36% of the placebo treated group.
Also in different study enhanced the memory and learning performance in individuals -->
Vitamin B12
Foods that have B12
Clams cooked have 84.06
Beef liver has 67.34 mcg
Salmon Sockeye coocked 19.55 mcg
Tuna coocked 3 oz has 9.25 mcg
Beef top loin has 4.82 mcg
2.4 mcg (2.8 prego/lac) is RDA
Probably do not need as much as B12 as you think you may need. If you are fatigue, tingling sensations, MTHFR gene, pernecious anemia/
B12 makes the genetic material in the cells, deficiency may lead to nerve damage, low sperm count. Symptoms may lead to fatigue, depression, and tingling in the arms and legs, weakness, loss of balance or trouble walking. B12 deficiency makes you more likely to get an infection because of low white blood cell count.
Deficiency is defined as below 200pg/ml but below 500 pg/ml you may experience symptoms.
higher levels have been shown to minimize cognitive decline.
if you have low stomach acid or taking proton pump inhibitors you are more likely to be deficient.
cyanocobalamin is better absorbed for supplementation.
dose of 500 mcg given sublingually or orally has been show to be effective. 1000-5000 mcg orally is better for true deficiency.
400mcg per day may prevent heart disease, and tx asthma, fatigue, and male infertility but no reliable evidence.
oral supplementation is better than B12 injections.
try not to get ones with sugar substitute such as mannitol, sorbitol, sucralose, or surgar itself.
MitoQ and CoQ10
MitoQ may be more beneficial than CoQ10 but those with kidney issues may want to proceed with caution.
Rhodiola Rosea
MAy reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety
may help prevent physical or mental fatigue and improve athletic performance
When choosing supplements look for a root extract contatining at leasat 3% rosavins and or 1% salidorsides which will help insure activity of the herb
The Salidoriside component is what contains the anti depressive effects
adaptogen similar to ginseng
also known as golden root or rose root
Depression
Study showed that doses of 340 mg and 680 mg taken daily for 6 weeks improved most symptoms of depression including insomnia and emotional stability while those treated with placebo experienced no benefit. No side effects
Another study compared it to Zoloft and showed that it had less of an effect but also had less side effects reported.
May help with anxiety
How it works
Not exactly Sure, may inhibit MAO activity but unclear with research
Physical and Mental Fatigue
Limited evidence.
Showed that it can improve mental fatigue measured by short term memory, concentration, and ability to calculate.
Another study using 50mg of same extract given twice daily to students during a period of exams showed that the student improved a measure of hand eye coordination by 50% and decreased self reported scores of mental fatigue compared to placebo. They also had less of an increase in heart rate during a physical fitness test compared to placebo.
Subtopic
Top Picks from Consumer Labs
Nature's Way Rhodiola Rosea is a 250 mg of extract in a single vegetarian capsule
better taken in 2 servings
Solaray Super Rhodiola of 500 mg with water or meal.
Subtopic
Garlic
Can reduce Serum Cholesterol by about 4-5%. It lowers the triglyceride component of choldersterol by 6-22%. Kwai Brand of Garlic Powder may reduce it to a greater degree
Slow atherosclerosis
may prevent colds
Garlic extract may prevent insect
aged garlic may reduce blood pressure in hypertensive individuals. 2 600 mg of aged garlic and 1.2 mg of SAC (S-allylcysteine) reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure by an average of 10 mm HG and 5.4 MM Hg
may prevent gastric and colorectal cancers
Swanson Best Garlic
Ashwagandha
Summary: Studies show that ashwagandha may help reduce anxiety, improve physical and cognitive performance, and have other benefits. Look for a root powder or a root extract containing respectively at elast 0.3% and 1.5% of withanolides -Key maker compounds which may also play a role in the herb's activity. Daily dose for a root powder is typically 1-6 grams for extracts it is 500 mg to 1,500 mg. A daily dose should provide at least 6 mg of withanolides --typically between 10 mg and 30 mg has been used in most studies.
Ashwagandha is an herb grown in india. Roots contain withanolides which are compounds thought to be responsible for some of the bers effects.It is considered indian ginseng because it is thought to have similar adaptogen qualities such as modulating the immune system and supporting the body response to stress.
Applications:
Anxiety and insomnia benefits:
Can reduce anxiety and stress, fatigue, improve motivation and concentration in those who received 300 mg of ashwagandga root extract twice per day plus a daily multivitamin daily.
Reduced depression symptoms with those that took ashwagandha extract with 2 to 6 250 mg of tablets per day for total dose of 500-3000 mg for 6 weeks.
For sleep and insmonia it improved likely because of reduced stress.
Infertility and hormones and vitality.
Placebo controlled clinical study in men with low sperm count found that a capsule increased sperm concentraion volume and motility dramatically. Also had a big increase in Serum Testosterone. A 14.7% increase in tesosterone levels was also achieved in a study among overweight men aged 40-70 years in australia five for 8 weeks however there was not a difference compared to placebo.
2 month study in women ages 21-50 with 300 mg of ashwagandha extract after eating twice per day had significant improvements in overall sexual function including arousal, lubrication, and satisfaction compared to placebo. It is containing 5% withanolides.
Thyroid function improved with those that had subclinical hypothyroidism defined as mildly to moderately elevated TSH levels and normal levels of T3 and T4.
Cognitive performance improved with small study. 2 250 mg capsules with water each morning for 12 days significantly improved cognitive performance and reaction times compared to placebo.
improved with immediate and general memory, executive function, sustained attention, and information processing speed compared to placebo.
physical performance
Small study in healthy men and women ages 18-25 found that a daily dose of 500 mg of ashwaganda root extract taken 1 hour after a meal for 2 months significantly improved measures of physical performance and cardiovascular endurance including velocity while sprinting, leg muscle strength, and Vo2max compared to placebo.
Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic effect:
May have ant inflammatory and analgesic properties that was demonstrated in a small but well controlled study in India. Pain stiffness and disability were reduced at both 250 mg and 150 mg of extract.
Another one showed 450mg of ashwagandha root, 50 mg of zinc, and 100 mg of guggul and 50 mg of tumeric taken 3 times daily for 3 months showed significantly reduced pain among patients with OA.
Top Pick was Nature's Way Ashwagandha
Side Effects can include:
Mild to moderate side effects include headache, sleepiness, nausea, gastrointestinal upset, vomiting, or diaarhea have been reported in some clinical studies.
It is a Night Shade so allergic reactions such as a rash, itching, nausea, wheezing, or difficulty breathing.