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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.

An ingredient found in tea, L-theanine is the key reason behind tea’s ability to smooth out and calm the caffeine’s speedy, jolting punch of energy without reducing its accompanying mind-energizing, focus-building, and fat-burning features. It relaxes the body and calms the mind without causing drowsiness – a feature that has been found to improve sleep quality in volunteers during a study performed in Japan.

The subjects were given 200 mg of theanine daily and wore devices around their wrists that recorded sleep patterns. The L-theanine didn’t cause the subjects to sleep longer, but it did cause them to sleep better. Recovery from exhaustion, sleep quality, and refreshed feelings were all enhanced – making the subjects feel like they had slept longer than they actually had.

Another benefit of L-theanine is that it leaves people in a better mood – improving the volume of amino acids, elevating seratonin and suppressing glucocorticoids – stress hormones that can play a role in depression as well as negatively affect memory and learning.

Acetyl L-Carnitine is an amino acid that the body uses to turn fat into energy, Acetyl L-Carnotine may improve the ability of certain issues to produce energy – particularly in the brain. A natural super antioxidant, it supplies energy by facilitating the transport of fatty acids into the mitochondria – the energy-generating portion of the cell.

The ability of Acetyl L-Carnitine to increase the mitochondria’s ability to generate Adenosine Triphosate makes it particularly beneficial to heart-muscle cells - which require a constant source of energy. It promotes the production of acetylcholine, a key neurotransmitter that is used to activate muscles.

Clinical studies have also shown it to improve cognitive ability, memory, and mood. When used it conjunction with alpha lipoid acid – the Acetyl L-Carnosine boosting mitochondrial activity while the Alpha Lipoic Acid serves to protect it from the resulting free radicals the energy production process creates – the result is a potent combination which may result in a significant step in fighting age-related decline.

Some of the highest natural sources of Acetyl L-Carnitine can be found in foods such as red meat, fish, cheese, and chicken.

Found in highest concentration in Spinach, Alpha-Lipoic Acid's ground-breaking discovery of this antioxidant’s potent health benefits, alpha lipoic acid’s unique capabilities are due to its dual solubility – acting in both water-soluble and fat-soluble domains within the cells and tissues. This allows is to be easily absorbed and transported into many organs and systems within the body including the brain, liver, and nerves. When combined with the antioxidants Vitamins C and E, the body’s ability to combat free radicals is notably enhanced as lipoic acid recycles and regenerates them – prolonging and improving their protective capabilities. It amplifies the benefits of the important antioxidants glutathione and Coenzyme Q10 and actively protects cellular mitochondria, the energy-producing factories of cells, from being damaged by oxidative stress – ensuring that energy production in the body remains efficient.

As well known and widely studied its antioxidant benefits are, the recent discovery of its ability to reduce elements contributing to metabolic syndrome – a series of risk factors that often precedes type 2 diabetes, has once again thrust alpha lipoic acid into the spotlight and reexamined for possible weight loss and diabetic benefits. The release of a review of various experimental studies showed that alpha lipoic acid reduces blood pressure as well as insulin resistance – providing significant improvement in overweight type 2 diabetics within four weeks of supplementation. This ability to lower blood sugar levels has made it a popular supplement by body builders as a way to further drop fat levels without losing muscle mass.

Nutrient-rich brown algae is high in potassium, calcium, B-Vitamins, and as Iodine – an essential nutrient that helps balance hormones and protects against thyroid issues. Studies have shown that brown algae can help regulate carbohydrate metabolism. It helps manage appetite in a manner similar to Fiber, since it works by keeping your body feeling full. The Fucoidan content in brown algae also makes it a powerful anti-inflammatory.

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