SUPPLEMENTS FACTS

ENERGY & FOCUS BLEND

Caffeine

Caffeine is a very common beverage used around the world. It is very healthy as it is enriched with quality nutrients and antioxidants. Research has shown that people who drink coffee have a very low risk of getting some diseases.

What are the benefits of coffee?

Studies have shown that coffee acts as an energy booster (1, 2). Coffee boosts one’s energy due to the presence of caffeine (3). The caffeine inhibits the action of adenosine (4). This boosts the level of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and norepinephrine, resulting in firing of the neurons (5, 6). This stimulant effect of caffeine raises a person’s energy levels, and mood.

Caffeine burns the fat off a person’s body: caffeine has the capability to boost a person’s metabolic rate by at least 4 percent (7, 8). Research has also shown that with caffeine, an obese individual may lose as much as 10 percent fat while lean individuals may lose as much as 29 percent (9).

Caffeine also improves on physical performance: Caffeine is a stimulator of the nervous system. It also signals the emulsification of fats in the body (10, 11). Caffeine causes an elevation of the blood level of epinephrine (12, 13). Epinephrine is a fight-or-flight hormone that prepares the body for physical action. Apart from raising the levels of epinephrine, caffeine also stimulates the release of triglycerides from the fat tissues thus improving on physical performance.

Research has shown that caffeine reduces one’s risk of having a type 2 diabetes: Type 2 diabetes is a chronic health disorder. Millions are affected by it globally. Type 2 diabetes is characterized by an increase in blood sugar levels, or an inability to secrete insulin. Studies have shown that people who take caffeine (especially through coffee), have a very low risk of type 2 diabetes. Their risk is reduced by as much as 67 percent (14, 15, 16, 17 and 18).

Other health benefits of caffeine include protection from Alzheimer’s disease (19, 20); lowers the risk of Parkinson’s disease by as much as 32 to 60 percent (21, 22, 23 and 24); and drastically minimizes the risk of colorectal and liver cancer. Liver cancer is the third major cause of cancer-related deaths in the world while colorectal cancer is the fourth (25). Studies have shown that the risk of liver cancer in caffeine drinkers is reduced by as much as 40 percent (26, 27).

Phenylethylamine HCL

Phenylethylamine is a substance naturally present in the body and the brain. It is similar to a hormone. It acts as a neurotransmitter that strengthens one’s attention, focus and goal-oriented behavior. Phenylethylamine also has mood-elevating effects. Because of these attributes, it may enhance a person’s sense of well-being, and cognitive performance.

It should also be noted that phenylethylamine amplifies the actions of many brain chemicals such as norepinephrine, serotonin, acetylcholine and dopamine. Hence, it is believed to minimize the rate at which the body and the brain age, lengthen a person’s life span, and also extend the health span.

Adequate phenylethylamine supplementation improves mood, stamina, mental clarity, joy, motivation and libido.

Glucomannan fursultiamine

Glucomannan is derived from the roots of konjac, known more commonly as elephant yam.

It is present as a supplement, can be combined with food, an also forms a component of drink mixes.

This supplements makes up 40 percent of the dry weight of elephant yam. Also, it serves as a food additive, alongside its use as a dietary supplement.

Glucomannan is an excellent water absorber, and is a very thick dietary fiber.

The amount of liquid absorbed by this supplement is such that if a small amount of glucomannan is added to water, it turns the water to gel. These unique properties are believed to play a role in weight loss.

One of the major health benefits of glucomannan is in weight loss.

Glucomannan is a dietary fiber with a high water-solubility.

This supplement is believed to promote weight loss in a number of ways (28):

It has very low calorie content
It acts as a roughage, filling up the stomach and reducing food intake
It delayes emptying of the stomach, thus contributing to a high degree of satiety (29).
It also inhibits fat and protein absorption (30).

Glucomannan also feeds the good gut bacteria, converting it to short-chain fatty acids such as butyrate. Studies have shown that this protects against fat accumulation in some animal studies (31, 32).

L-Tyrosine

Tyrosine is an aromatic amino acid. Tyrosine is present in large quantities in poultry products such as eggs, and chicken. It is also present in cheese. The brain utilizes tyrosine as a precursor to catecholamines (epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine). The various health benefits of L-tyrosine include:

It replenishes the cognitive resources used by the memory centers
Thyroid hormones are built from the L-tyrosine molecules.
Tyrosine increases the levels of dopamine in the brain
Tyrosine boosts performance during stress periods
Clinical trials have shown that tyrosine may improve the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in humans. Impaired neurotransmitter energy production may predispose a person to this disorder.
Tyrosine also helps in the treatment of depression and Parkinson’s disease.

THERMOGENESIS BLEND

Green tea extract

Green tea is consumed the world over. The extract of green tea is its concentrated form with just a capsule having the same amount of active ingredients as is present in a cup of green tea. Green tea extract is rich in antioxidants. Studies have shown that these antioxidants boost brain, liver and heart health, and even reduces the risk of cancer (33). Some of the health benefits of green tea extract include the following:

It is rich in antioxidants known as catechins. These antioxidants offer protection against oxidative stress and increases the antioxidant capacity (34).
It boosts heart health via reduction of blood pressure, and improvement of blood fat levels. This action is carried out by catechins (35). These also reduce inflammation and inhibit fat absorption in cells.
Studies have shown that green tea extract affects the brain positively. It also boosts the memory and may help protect against diseases of the brain.
Green tea extract helps with weight loss. This it does by increasing the amount of calories that the body burns via thermogenesis. Thermogenesis refers to the process by which the body digests food and released heat through burning of calories. This process is enhanced by green tea (36).
Studies have shown that catechins present in green tea extract may help minimize inflammation caused by liver disorders such as non-alcoholic liver disease (37, 38).

Raspberry ketones

Raspberry ketones are responsible for the aroma of rasp berries. It is present in minute amounts in raspberries, cranberries and kiwis. It has been used a components of soft drinks, ice cream, and even cosmetics.

The molecular structure of raspberry ketones is similar to that of two known fat burning compounds. They can cause the emulsification of fat from isolated fat cells, and release adiponectin, a hormone.

Studies have shown that raspberry ketones can safeguard against fatty liver and weight gain in animals. A study has also shown that it has the potential to improve skin elasticity and increase hair growth when administered topically (39).

Yohimbe bark

Yohimbe is an herb supplement. It is derived from the bark of the Pausinystalia johimbe.

Yohimbe works by acting as antagonists against the alpha-2 adrenergic receptors (40). These receptors inhibit erections. Thus, it is believed that yohimbe treats erectile dysfunction by antagonizing the receptors that prevent erections (41).

Looking at weight loss, studies have shown that yohimbe causes greater weight loss and reduction in body fat (42). However, there is still need for more research before a conclusion can be drawn on the weight loss benefits of yohimbe.

LIPOGENIC BLEND

Kola nut

Kola nut has a lot of health benefits, most of which are attributed to its high caffeine content. This caffeine raises energy level and reduces hunger. Other health benefits attributed to this nut include:

Skin diseases
Infections
Ulcers
Morning sickness
Toothaches
Depression
Headaches
Intestinal disorders
Constipation
Low sex drive
Dysentery
Asthma
Visual disorders

L-Carnitine

L-carnitine is an amino acid derivative that occurs naturally. It plays vital roles in energy production by ferrying the fatty acids into the mitochondria of the cells (43, 44). The mitochondria as we know is the cell’s powerhouse, and it creates useful energy from these fats. L-carnitine can be produced by the body from methionine and lysine. The body also requires vitamin C to enable it produce sufficient amount of L-carnitine.

The main role of L-carnitine in your body is the production of energy and mitochondrial function (45, 46 and 47).

Within the cells, L-carnitine helps in the transportation of fatty acids to the mitochondria from where they can be converted to energy. The muscles stores 98 percent of the body’s L-carnitine. Minute quantities are found in the blood and in the liver (48, 49).

Recent research has shown that L-carnitine may play a role in maintenance of heart and brain health (50, 51).