by Dan-N on August 26, 2011
Well, it is about time! A new site has launched that provides information and advice on finding the best organic supplements. Guess what it is called? Wait for it… Best Organic Supplements (BOS)!
Finding the Best Organic Supplements at Best Organic Supplements
Wow, that name is so easy to remember, even I will have a hard time forgetting it. Best Organic Supplements has created a number of tests that they apply to any ingredient from any manufacturer. By applying these quality test to supplements, BOS is able to certify supplements that pass the test as BOS Certified -
BOS Certified
by Dan-N on November 23, 2010
Spirulina
In the supplement and natural food industry, everyone is always trying to find the next big superfood. Of course, there was the Acai Berry – a gem from the Amazon Rainforest. Noni and Mangosteen are more tropical fruits that lay claim to being a super food. However, not all superfoods are new and come from a tropical rainforest, in fact one of the healthiest superfoods has been growing in the water for 3.5 Billion Years!
Spirulina – The Oldest Superfood in the World
Spirulina is one of the world’s oldest plants. The microalgae grows in both fresh and sea water and may be the most nutrient rich food in the world.
Here are some of the highlights on Spirulina:
- 65% Protein By Weight
- 97% Digestible Protein (beef is about 20%)
- A Complete Protein (contains all essential Amino Acids)
- 100x the Vitamin A of Carrots
- 50x the Iron of Spinach
- 10x the Beta Carotene of Carrots
- 7x the Calcium of Milk
- 6x the Protein of Eggs
- 3x More Iron Than Beef
- Excellent Source of GLA
If You Are Going To Space – Take Spirulina!
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by Dan-N on August 10, 2010
Wow we are publishing a lot of articles on Resveratrol! It is not intentional, there have just been a slew of published studies on resveratrol released this summer.
The latest study, published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (yes it really is as exciting as the name makes it sound), shows that a relatively low dosage of resveratrol in humans can have significant health benefits.
Best Resveratrol Dosage Much Less Than Previously Reported
Husam Ghanim, PhD, of the University of Buffalo found that a dosage of 40 milligrams of resveratrol, taken once a day for six weeks, was able to reduce inflammation in test subjects. Inflammation in humans can lead to heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes – so anything that reduces inflammation is of great interest.
In the study, Dr. Chanim took twenty volunteers and broke them into two even groups of ten. One group received a placebo pill for 6 weeks. The second group received a Polygonum cuspidatum extract (Japanese Knotweed) pill that contained 40 milligrams of resveratrol.
Fasting blood samples were taken throughout the study and here are the results…
“Results showed that resveratrol suppressed the generation of “free radicals” — unstable molecules known to cause oxidative stress and release pro-inflammatory substances into the blood, resulting in damage to the blood vessel lining.
People taking resveratrol also showed suppression of the inflammatory protein tumor necrosis factor, or TNF, and other compounds that increase blood vessel inflammation and interfere with insulin action, causing insulin resistance and the risk of developing diabetes.”
- WebMD, Resveratrol May Slow Aging in Humans, By Bill Hendrick
As for the placebo group – they showed no change in blood levels.
Why This Resveratrol Study is Significant
There are three elements that we believe make this study significant. First, the study was done with humans. Human studies are always more significant that mouse studies (sorry to any mice readers we have). Second, the study used only 40 milligrams of Resveratrol. This shows that resveratrol can be effective in a relatively small dosage. Third, the study used a Japanese Knotweed extract and this therefore lends credibility to resveratrol supplements currently on the market that are made with Japanese Knotweed.
So, is 40mg the Best Resveratrol Dosage for Humans?
Not sure. First, a much larger study would need to be done to draw really significant conclusions on the best resveratrol dosage for humans. Second, it is possible that something else in the extract was helping along with the resveratrol. Third, it would be interesting to see if 100mg or 200mg produces even better results.
In the end, this study does not prove that any one dosage of resveratrol is best – but it does put to rest the claim that you need to be taking mega-doses of resveratrol (400mg and up) to see any health benefits. In addition, the best way to avoid resveratrol side effects is to take the minimum amount required to produce positive results.
Resveratrol Update – 10/8/10
As you know we try to keep things non-commercial here on the blog, but our friends at Perfect Supplements sent us samples of their Perfect ResGrape (200mg 99% Trans-Resveratrol per serving) and it is amazing. We said if we mention this to our readers, we need to give them an incredible coupon! They came through – 15% off the Perfect ResGrape! Just Click Here to Learn More and Order and enter COUPON CODE: SECRET15 at checkout for the exclusive savings!
Additional Resources:
“An Antiinflammatory and Reactive Oxygen Species Suppressive Effects of an Extract of Polygonum Cuspidatum Containing Resveratrol.” J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2010 Jun 9.
by Dan-N on July 29, 2010
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have conducted a study in mice that shows a promising new way to treat Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s Disease. The study focused on the role that Sirtuin, a protein in the body. played in neurodegenerative diseases. What they found was activating sirtuin suppressed the disease and that destroying sirtuin made the disease much worse.
Sirtuin – The Longevity Protein and Key to Health?
In our article on Resveratrol Health Benefits we define and explain Sirtuin . The Sirtuin gene has been shown to have some strong possible connections with longevity and health. In our discussion on Resveratrol we focus on its ability to increase Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), but there are 7 different Sirtuin genes in the body. This research shows that stimulating Sirtuin production can have significant health benefits.
Gizem Donmez and Leonard Guarente of MIT were able to modify mice to make them more prone to developing Alzheimer’s disease. They then activated sirtuin in one group and saw that the progression of Alzheimer’s was suppressed. A second set of mice had their sirtuin destroyed and the Alzheimer’s progressed at a much faster pace.
No. We know some resveratrol companies will now start claiming that resveratrol can stop Alzheimer’s, and that would not be accurate.
Researchers not involved in the study agreed. “We think it is a scientifically compelling story that ties the sirtuins to the biology of Alzheimer’s disease,” said Dr. Dennis J. Selkoe, an Alzheimer’s expert at Harvard Medical School. But the therapeutic implications, Dr. Selkoe added, “remain quite up in the air.”
-Potential Found in a New Approach to Alzheimer’s, New York Times, 7/23/10
One problem is that resveratrol does not pass the blood-brain barrier at this time, so this study could not be replicated with resveratrol. In addition, the study was done with mice and not humans.
Sirtuin Research – A Field to Watch
We believe it is an exciting time for Sirtuin Research. Much more research has to be done, but the idea of activating Sirtuin to reduce disease risk is an area that should be actively explored.
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