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Curcumin is known to be a strong anti-inflammatory, it is so powerful that it matches the effectiveness of some anti-inflammatory drugs (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19594223) by targeting multiple steps in the inflammatory pathway, and the molecular level.  Curcumin blocks NF-kB, a molecule that travels into the nuclei of cells and turns on genes related to inflammation. NF-kB is believed to play a major role in many chronic diseases.

Manganese – A naturally occurring nutrient found in various plants and foods such as raspberries, beetroot, garlic, leeks, bananas, coconut, and almonds, manganese is crucial for bone health and thyroid function as well as a component of the powerful antioxidant manganese superoxide dismutase which scours the body, neutralizing cell damaging free radicals. It helps control the level of sugar in human blood by normalizing insulin synthesis and secretion; is an essential component of thyroxine (a hormone in the thyroid that is crucial to its health); displays significant anti-inflammatory benefits; and it plays a part in the regulation of the metabolism – activating enzymes that help metabolize cholesterol, amino acids, and carbohydrates. Manganese also helps with vitamin absorption in the body – vitamins like Vitamin B and E as well as minerals like magnesium rely on Manganese for the enzymatic reactions that are required to absorb and utilize the vitamins found in food.

Zinc – An essential nutrient required for everyday functions and optimal health – over 300 different enzymes within the human body require zinc to function normally. It ensures the proper functioning of the immune and digestive systems, helps with hormone production, growth and repair, and provides both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits to the body. Zinc is essential for proper hormone balance and immune function – even a small deficiency can increase risk of infertility or diabetes as well as increase susceptibility to infection or illness.  Its ability to stimulate white blood cell activity contributes to its ability to shorten the severity and duration of colds and other minor illnesses. Zinc has also been useful for helping obese people lose weight due to its manipulation of the ghreline hormone, which tells the body when to eat. Zinc is integral for normal muscle function and a deficiency can result in chronic fatigue.

Olive Leaf Extract – Olive Leaf Extract exhibits multiple impressive characteristics – as an antioxidant it is more potent than Green Tea, is a powerful anti-inflammatory,  promotes healthy blood pressure levels, is a good source of anti-cancer compounds and it exhibits antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal attributes.  It differs from immune boosters because it provides its own benefits rather than stimulating the immune system and making it do all the work. It acts as a buffer for the immune system, dulling or obstructing an attack, giving your immune system time to produce antibodies and finish off the attackers before they have time to spread. It also has the ability to inactivate pathogens without harming “good” bacteria – allowing your gut to keep its beneficial bacteria content intact.

Resveratrol is Classified as a polyphenol, a compound that acts like an antioxidant and found primarily in the skin of red grapes/red wine, resveratrol’s anti-inflammatory and protective benefits may be important to preserving and restoring good health.

Its effects on the sirtuin family of enzymes are a key component of resveratrol's reputation as a powerful agent in the fight against aging and oxidative damage. Sirtuin enzymes play multiple roles in processes that are key to a cell’s survival: facilitating DNA repair, reducing inflammation, and protecting against oxidative stress. The lifespan increasing benefits of a calorie-restricted diet are in large part due to sirtuins. Calorie restriction switches on the genes that activate these enzymes – ensuring survival during times of famine and food deprivation.

A particular study performed in 2006 at Harvard University tested the effects of resveratrol on middle-aged mice with high-calorie diets. While all of the mice in the study gained weight, the resveratrol group lived about 30% longer, had enhanced Insulin sensitivity, fewer fatty deposits in the arteries and liver, lower levels of inflammation, and better balance and coordination. The ability of Resveratrol to counteract the damaging effects of a poor diet, aging, and obesity can be important for anyone looking to optimize their health – but who don’t always happen to live or eat perfectly.

Found in many sources in nature, such as red grapes, peanut butter, and blueberries.

Quercitin is a plant pigment found in various fruits and vegetables with potent antioxidant capabilities quercitin helps counteract the effects of aging and inflammation. Its potent anti-inflammatory benefits can help effectively fight conditions linked to inflammation such as heart disease, arthritis, stomach ulcers, chronic fatigue syndrome, and diabetes.

Quercitin provides natural allergy relief by stabilizing the release of histamines from certain immune cells – resulting in decreased symptoms like watery eyes, runny rose, swollen lips or tongue, and indigestion.

It also helps protect against damage caused by excessive stress levels by suppressing the enzyme necessary for cortisol release, a hormone that produces the “fight or flight” response. During ongoing stress, extended exposure to cortisol can lead to protein breakdown and muscle tissue damage. This combined with its ability to positively affect blood flow and decrease susceptibility to illness after periods of heavy exercise have made it a popular supplement for athletes. In fact, researchers from the School of Applied Physiology at the Georgia Institute of Technology found that, on average, “quercetin provides a statistically significant benefit in human endurance exercise capacity and endurance exercise performance.”

Some foods with the highest concentration of Quercitin in nature are Capers, Onions, Cranberries, and Blueberries.

Berberine, touted as one of the most potent weight loss supplements currently on the market, is one of the few compounds known to activate AMPK (resveratrol is another one). One of the other ways to activate AMPK is with the hormones leptin and adiponective – hormones that are positively stimulated and increased during moderate to intense exercise, and one of the reasons behind exercise-related weight loss. In other words,  stimulating AMPK can produce some of the same weight regulating benefits as exercise and dieting. Adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is an enzyme known as the “metabolic master switch” due to its important role in regulating metabolism (1) AMPK increases insulin sensitivity by stimulating glucose uptake by muscles – inhibiting excess insulin secretion.

The importance of berberine’s influence has a direct influence on weight management. Indeed, several studies confirm that berberine intake does result in weight loss – one in particular found that treatment with berberine resulted in the loss of 5 pounds on average, compared to placebo groups. There are a number of reasons for this – number one levels can prevent weight gain. It can result in fatigue and cravings for sugar and carbs; too high and the surge of insulin is a sign that plenty of energy is readily available and that the body should stop burning fat and start storing it. Steady sugar levels result in the continuous burning of fat for an energy source as well as reduced cravings.

Berberine’s anti-inflammatory benefits also prove beneficial to cardiovascular health – encouraging healthy lining  of the blood vessels and decreasing cholesterol, LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) and triglyceride levels.

Berberine also has potential as an agent in the next wave of defense against the threat of increasing antibiotic resistance. It has a long history of use in treating infections – including some cases of MRSA. It destroys bacteria by accumulating in its cells and damaging its DNA – halting growth and ultimately causing its death.

(1) 1, 3, 20, 21, 22 Natural Medicine Journal December 2012 Vol. 4 Issue 12

Sinetrol citrus extract is a patented, proprietary blend of several polyphenolic compounds extracted from various citrus fruits including orange, blood orange, and grapefruit. It combines these bioactive polyphenols, which include narigin, hesperedin and neohesperidin, with guarana extract – whose caffeine content can boost energy and focus. Sinetrol is designed to reduce body fat levels, enhance Lipolysis, reduce waist and hip circumference, and reduce oxidative stress and inflammation. Sinetrol helps to reduce body fat percentage by inhibiting the PDE-4 enzyme, which is responsible for the breakdown of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). When a hormone like adrenaline interacts with fat cells, cAMP ensures the proper signal is sent to the enzymes- triggering the release of fatty acids from the cells into the bloodstream to be used for energy. Higher concentrations of cAMP mean more efficient fatty acid release, resulting in improved fat burning and an increase in energy levels.