The Animal Cuts Review

Alpha Lipoic Acid- In first clinical trials, alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), managed to restore full liver function to 95% of the acute and severe liver damaged patients, when administered intravenously. Curative effects of ALA have been defined by the modulative regulation in eukaryotes. Lipoic acid has shown the ability to promote and boost the absorption of glucose to cell membranes; furthermore laboratory studies have shown that it can reduce triglycerides in blood. Besides the obviously high efficacy as an antioxidant, ALA has shown to be able to prevent vitamin C and vitamin E deficiency, the use as a chelator is still in the test phase; ALA in combination with L-carnitine shows improved mental performances in tests, paired with a postponed structural mitochondrial decay, making it a candidate in combating Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

Betaine HCL, or betaine hydrochloride, is not an essential nutrient, but it helps in absorption of proteins, vitamin B12, iron and calcium and helps in the digestive tract with the protein and fat breaking up abilities. It is a supplemental source of hydrochloric acid, with a low pH level. Besides the obvious use against indigestion and heartburn, other uses have been proclaimed for betaine HCL, such as lowering the homocysteine level, helping with thyroid conditions and others. With progressing age, hydrochloric acid and digestive enzymes may decrease, with a poor digestion as a result. With betaine HCL, when taken at the beginning of a meal, proper digestion can be accomplished. Betaine HCL is most commonly provided with the addition of pepsin, a digestive enzyme.

Choline- Grouped with the Vitamin B complex, choline is deemed an essential nutrient. It is a natural amine and an organic compound, which serves several physiological purposes. Choline improves the structural integrity of cell membranes and provides signaling roles, assisting with the system of communication, which controls basic cellular activities and manages cell actions. Deemed a nootropic drug, choline as a dietary supplement is supposed to increase the cognitive behaviour and alertness. As a building block of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, choline certainly seems to be nootropic, but recently the application of choline as a nutritional supplement helping to reduce body fat because of the activity in the lipid metabolism was observed. Infant formulas that are not derived from cow’s milk are ordered by the FDA to supplement choline.

Chromium Picolinate , which is chromium combined with picolinic acid is the most easily absorbed form of chromium, an essential trace mineral that is essential to the body's production of insulin. Insulin is a hormone that stabilizes the body's blood sugar level.

Chromium Polynicotinate is a nutritional supplement designed primarily as nutritional support for certain conditions that are typical for sufferers from diabetes mellitus type 2 or age related diabetes. Recent studies have revealed that supplemented chromium can reduce high blood glucose levels, lowering or eliminating nonenzymatic glycation. Further studies reveal that supplementing chromium polynicotinate can help with depression symptoms as well as reduce systolic blood pressure elevation caused by sucrose. People with chromium deficiencies have trouble maintaining stable blood sugar levels. Chromium polynicotinate can assist in regulating the levels of blood sugar, but it also helps with the control of cholesterol, promote the fat removal process and encourage buildup of lean muscles. For these characteristics it is a popular supplement for body building and any muscle building sports enthusiasts.

Citrilene (Hydroxycitric acid)- Citrilene is derived from citric acid found in tropical plants. Citrilene suppresses the appetite and makes your feel full because of its increased production glucose and glycogen. It helps the body to make use of glycogen efficiently. It inhibits ATP-citrate lyase enzyme responsible for producing fat and effectively triggers off safe weight loss. It enhances glycogen production in the liver and converts the body proteins and fats into glucose. After the discovery of Citrilene, it is being used as a major component in several weight loss medicines. It is being used since centuries in Southeast Asian as a food condiment to make food rich and enjoyable. Since it increases the production of glucose and glycogen it could be dangerous when used by diabetic patients as it increases the level of insulin in the body.

Dandelion is the most common weed flowering plant found worldwide. The two most common species are Taraxacum officinale and Taraxacum erythrospermum, also known as the dandelion flower and the dandelion parachute ball. A flower head of such a dandelion flower is structured out of hundreds of smaller florets. These biennial or perennial herbaceous plants are native to Europe, the Northern Hemisphere. It has been found out that the flowers of dandelion contain a strong antioxidant, luteolin, which is a flavonoid with diverse properties, such as inflammation inhibitor, immune system modulator and a carbohydrate metabolism promoter. Chinese medicine has used this plant for centuries for medicinal purposes, usually in form of a tea concoction, applied as a liver detoxifying method. Other uses were listed as inflammation reduction and as a diuretic.

Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG), which is also known under the name epigallocatechin 3-gallate, is the ester of catechin, gallic acid and epigallocatechin. It is found in tea and is believed to be one of the most important antioxidants today. Epigallocatechin 3-gallate is currently investigated for the inhibitory effects on the life cycle of HIV-1 virus, the human immunodeficiency virus type 1, which causes AIDS. Although EGCG has shown significant benefits in laboratory studies, the clinical trials on humans have not been conducted yet. The antioxidant qualities of EGCG and the associated reduction of free radicals have made epigallocatechin 3-gallate a very popular supplement, especially with the body building and athletic communities. It is furthermore suggested that EGCG has therapeutic potential with several forms of cancer and in setting of liver fibrosis.

Ginger Root is a dietary supplement that is not only used as a spice but has had a positive effect on some types of arthritis and raynauds disease.

Grapefruit Extract, also known as citrus seed extract is a liquid that is derived from the seeds, pulp as well as the white membranes of grapefruit. Some scientists claim that grapefruit extract possesses antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties while others recommend it for the treatment of earache, throat infections etc. There are two ways in which grapefruit extract is prepared. One is the natural, self-made grapefruit extract which is made by grinding the seed and pulp and then mixing them with glycerine. The second method is the commercial way in which the seed, pulp, glycerine and synthetic preservatives are all blended together. Grapefruit extract is believed to have a lot of scope in the health food industry. However one has to be careful as grapefruit can have several interactions with certain drugs like warfarin.

Guarana is a South American climbing plant belonging to the genus of trees and shrubs called Maple. This plant is common around the Amazon and very present in Brazil. The fruit of the guarana plant is being used in that country to produce a diversity of soft drinks and beverages, having the double caffeine content of the coffee bean. Other nutrients that are contained in the seed besides caffeine are protein, fat and starch, but also adenine, choline, guanine, resin, tannin and xanthine, just to name a few. The cognitive effects of guarana are well documented, but the appetite suppressant qualities of guarana are relatively new. A study has proven that a combination of yerba mate, guarana and damiana leads to a tenfold weight loss quantity when compared with a placebo.

Guggulsterone- Commiphora wightii, or the so called Guggul tree is a flowering shrub or rather a small tree which can grow up to a size of 4 meters. Once very common in India, it is now there listed as endangered, but not in northern Africa or elsewhere in central Asia. It was very popular in the Indian Ayurvedic medicine, but also currently in the western medicine for treating of heart problems. The hydrocarbon secretion of Guggul contains a plant sterol, guggulsterone, which in the human body seems to act as an antagonist to the farnesoid X receptor. Furthermore, guggulsterone is active in increasing the natural thyroid production. This in turn stimulates the metabolism and may raise the body temperature, burning stored excess fat.

Inositol Monophosphate is a carbocyclic polyol and secondary messenger in eukaryotic cells, where it is crucial for several of the cellular functions, including cell growth, migration, endocytosis and cell differentiation. Myo-inositol used to be classified as the Vitamin B8, belonging to the Vitamin B complex, but further scientific studies have found that it could be synthesized by the body, therewith disqualifying it as a vitamin. Of all the functions that inositol has been associated with, mostly biological processes, like nerve guidance, serotonin activity modulation, gene expression and intracellular calcium concentration control; for the body building and athletic community the breakdown of fats and reduction of blood cholesterol seem to be most significant, besides the cell membrane potential maintenance.

L-Carnitine is produced from amino acids present in the body. It burns fat for the release of energy for the body to function and is therefore, one of the more well known agents of weight loss. L-Carnitine is also believed to have an effect in the delay of Alzheimer’s disease. Conditions, such as angina, cause insufficient production of L-Carnitine. It is commonly found in breast milk, red meat and dairy products. Low levels of L Carnitine can cause cramps in the muscles, low blood sugar and tiredness. When using supplements of L-Carnitine, a person must use suitable amounts of Vitamins C and B, along with iron supplements. Proteins from animals and other foods, rich in nutrition will assist in meeting the required levels of nutrition.

L-Theanine is very commonly found in tea and is an amino acid, biochemically related to glutamine. The psychoactive properties of theanine are derived from the ability to cross the blood brain barrier. It has been proven that theanine can reduce stress, promote relaxation and improve alertness and mood when imbibed together with caffeine, a natural combination found in any tea, especially green tea. Gamma-aminobutyric acid levels are increased, when theanine is ingested or imbibed, as are serotonin and dopamine levels. It is believed that l-theanine is aiding the immune system by strengthening the capacity of delta T cells. Laboratory tests have proven that blood pressure reduction and lowering of 5-hydroxyindoles in the brain are promoted by theanine.

Niacin, also called Vitamin B3, exists in two main forms, niacin and niacinamide. The niacin form produces a flushing and itching of the skin when taken at higher dosages and this feeling is only temporary.

Octopamine is a biogenic substance which is containing an amine group, apparently related to noradrenaline, which is a catecholamine functioning as both, neurotransmitter and a hormone. Similar to norepinephrine, which is another name for noradrenaline, octopamine may act as a stress hormone, triggering increased heart rate, energy consumption and blood flow, even the blood pressure. One side effect of octopamine is apparently the release of fat from the adipocytes, which are the fat cells where excess energy is being stored. This side effect prompted the use of octopamine as a dietary supplement aimed at weight loss, but used in combination with other stimulants. Octopamine has been discovered in the middle of the twentieth century, but the use as a fat removal agent is very recent.

PEA (Phenylethylamine) is a monoamine and alkaloid which functions as a trace amine, neurotransmitter or a neuromodulator. Phenylalanine, an amino acid, is the source from which phenethylamine, another name for PEA, is naturally biosynthesized through enzymatic decarboxylation. Compounds that are found in supplements in form of phenethylamines can be very diverse and include entactogens, anorectics, bronchodilators, hallucinogens, antidepressants and stimulants. Substituted phenethylamines are related to amphetamines, but also to dopamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine, phenylalanine and tyrosine. PEA is used by body builders and sportspeople mainly because of the stimulative effects as a neuromodulator, raising alertness, mood, concentration and focus. The additional stimulation of AMPA receptors, which boosts release of acetylcholine through the glutamatergic system, is an additional bonus of this popular supplement ingredient.

Phenylalanine, which may aid in weight loss through the feeling of satiety or fullness by taking phenylalanine with a glass of water 20 minutes before a meal.

Soy Isoflavones are antioxidants and organic compounds that are related to the flavonoids, which are secondary metabolites in plants. Derived from soybeans, isoflavones genistein and daidzein are won. These two isoflavones are able to interact with estrogen receptors, causing similar effects. Genistein, although an antioxidant, on the other hand stimulates oxidation in nitrate synthesis. This chemical substance, mainly found in plants, belongs to the group of polyphenols, together with gallic acid esters of glucose and other sugars, lignins and condensed tannins. For a short time they were classified as Vitamin P, where the health benefits are believed to be mainly with the reduction of risks of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Genistein is also believed to act inhibitory on certain substances that promote growth factors.