Isagenix Health

 

Trainer: Sara Richter, MS, Director of Product Education

Women, this episode is for you! There are so many different factors that can make reaching and maintaining your goal weight difficult. Nutritionist Sara Richter discusses that “stubborn” weight you can’t seem to get rid of and why it can be so hard sometimes to get things to budge in your desired direction.

For an audio-only version of this podcast, use the player below:

 

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With its unique combination of five bioactives, Recharge NAD™ was formulated to maximize your body’s cellular energy potential and antioxidant and detoxification systems. Optimal bioactive delivery is further enhanced using advanced capsule technologies. This technology helps protect these bioactives from degradation while slowly delivering the ingredients within the GI tract for greater potential bioavailability to tissues.

Now, Isagenix has obtained results from two pilot interventions that support the healthy aging potential of Recharge NAD.

An In-House Pilot Intervention

The Isagenix Research and Science team conducted an in-house pilot study evaluating the effects of Recharge NAD on several markers of oxidative stress and detoxification in adult volunteers. Additionally, the team conducted a survey analysis on the subjective experience of these volunteers with the supplement.

Study Details

Twelve adult volunteers entered the study after providing a blood sample to measure these key healthy aging markers. Then, they were instructed to consume a serving (two capsules) each day for four weeks. They also answered a short survey questionnaire regarding satisfaction with Recharge NAD. After the four-week supplementation period, the subjects provided a second blood sample to determine the effect of the product on those markers.

Study Results

Survey responses from the volunteers indicated that Recharge NAD supplementation significantly increased satisfaction on measures of energy levels, appetite control, alertness, and well-being. Biochemically, there were increases in two major antioxidant and detoxification enzymes, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase. These enzymes are key in removing free radicals and similar compounds that otherwise can accelerate cellular aging. Particularly impressive were the statistical levels of these findings, p<0.05.

Cellular Support for Recharge NAD vs. Isagenesis – Independent Evaluation

Recharge NAD was compared against Isagenesis using three in vitro (cellular) measures associated with cellular aging: telomere length, expression of a key control point of antioxidant and detoxification systems, Nrf-2, and protection against toxins.

Compared to Isagenesis, Recharge NAD increased telomere length by an additional three percent. Second, Recharge NAD increased the expression of Nrf-2 by 30%. When cells were exposed to the toxin PCB-153, Recharge NAD afforded 73% greater protection.

Isagenix and an Ongoing Commitment to Science

Never for standing still, Isagenix’s selection of novel ingredients, products, and incorporated technologies is constantly evolving. These two pilot studies demonstrate the potential healthy aging benefits of Recharge NAD and Isagenix’s full commitment to investing in scientific research behind the company’s ingredients, products, and wellness systems.

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The post Dietitian-Approved Tips to Beat the Afternoon Slump appeared first on Isagenix Health.

   

Imagine yourself on a typical day, finishing lunch and gearing up for what should be a productive afternoon. Just as you start to tackle the next item on your list, you’re hit with a sudden wave of drowsiness that leaves you nodding off despite your best efforts to stay focused.

If you can relate to this experience, you know that an “afternoon crash” can have a big impact on your day. The afternoon crash is shown to affect elite athletes, resulting in slower race times midafternoon compared to performances at other times of the day (1).

Researchers generally refer to it as “the post-lunch dip,” when many people experience low energy, drowsiness, and reduced performance in the midafternoon hours. It’s clear that what you choose to eat for lunch can either ease your sleepiness or make it worse, but research has shown that lunch is not the primary cause of the post-lunch dip.

In part, biology is to blame. Low energy and drowsiness in the midafternoon is part of the body’s normal circadian rhythm (2). Research examining physiological measures related to sleep, such as patterns of electrical activity in the brain, show a peak in the midafternoon hours (3, 4). These measures show that body systems prepare for sleep during the post-lunch hours of the day, often causing you to feel like you need a nap.

Biology is an underlying element in afternoon sleepiness, but research has shown that lifestyle and nutrition choices play an important role, too. These choices might make the difference between a productive afternoon or an afternoon of nodding off at your desk.

These four science-supported tips can help you conquer the afternoon crash.

1. Start with Sleep

It goes without saying that too little sleep at night will result in feeling tired during the day. Unfortunately, we may not always make sleep a priority, which can have a negative impact on both our productivity and well-being (5). The first step to overcoming your afternoon slump is to ensure you’re getting the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep each night.

2. Choose a Better Lunch

Eating a large fatty or starchy meal is a common trigger that makes afternoon drowsiness much worse. Research suggests that the type of high-calorie, fatty meal you might find at a drive-thru restaurant can significantly increase afternoon sleepiness and impair the performance of everyday tasks such as driving (6). Other research indicates that a fatty or starchy lunch can negatively impact mood and cognitive performance (7). Aim for a more healthful choice by focusing on balanced nutrition and reasonable portion sizes to fuel your afternoon, instead of feeling like you need a nap.

3. Use Caffeine Strategically

Caffeine can help to boost energy levels, alertness, and focus when used moderately and strategically. However, excessive caffeine use, particularly early in the day, may make an afternoon crash worse. The typical half-life of caffeine in the body means that the effects of a big morning coffee jolt fade around the same time as midafternoon sleepiness is at its peak (8). Drinking even more coffee during the afternoon may not be helpful, either, since consuming too much caffeine late in the day can interfere with sleep at night.

Individual sensitivity to caffeine varies, but 400 milligrams of caffeine per day, or the equivalent of three to five cups of coffee is considered moderate and compatible with a healthful diet (9). Aiming for moderate caffeine use spread evenly across the morning and early afternoon hours can be a helpful strategy. Seeking other options to boost energy and focus in addition to strategic caffeine consumption can also be helpful. Something as simple as a nourishing snack or as elevated as a nootropic supplement could be the right option to make your afternoon more productive.

4. Get Moving

If your day is spent in front of a computer screen, then it’s likely that you spend a lot of time sitting. Prolonged periods of sitting can be a factor that contributes to afternoon sleepiness. Research suggests that the more breaks you take from sitting, the less tired you may feel in the afternoon. In one study, research participants who broke up periods of sitting with short, light-intensity walking for three minutes every half hour were significantly less fatigued later in the day compared to when they stayed seated for long periods (10).

While the body’s natural circadian rhythms are part of the reason why many of us feel low on energy in the midafternoon hours, diet and lifestyle choices have a big influence, too. Getting adequate sleep at night, choosing more healthful lunch options, moderating caffeine use, and breaking up your day with movement are all effective strategies to help you conquer your afternoon slump.

References

1. Monk TH. The post-lunch dip in performance. Clin Sports Med. 2005. Apr;24(2):e15-23, xi-xii
2. Bes F, Jobert M, Schulz H. Modeling napping, post-lunch dip, and other variations in human sleep propensity. Sleep. 2009 Mar;32(3):392-8.
3. Carskadon MA, Dement WC. Multiple sleep latency tests during the constant routine. Sleep. 1992;15:396–9.
4. Lack LC, Lushington K. The rhythms of human sleep propensity and core body temperature. J Sleep Res. 1996 Mar;5(1):1-11.
5. Jean-Louis G, Williams NJ, Sarpong D, Pandey A, Youngstedt S, Zizi F, Ogedegbe G. Associations between inadequate sleep and obesity in the US adult population: analysis of the national health interview survey (1977-2009). BMC Public Health. 2014 Mar 29;14:290.
6. Reyner LA, Wells SJ, Mortlock V, Horne JA. ‘Post-lunch’ sleepiness during prolonged, monotonous driving – effects of meal size. Physiol Behav. 2012 Feb 28;105(4):1088-91.
7. Lloyd HM, Green MW, Rogers PJ. Mood and cognitive performance effects of isocaloric lunches differing in fat and carbohydrate content. Physiol Behav. 1994 Jul;56(1):51-7.
8. Lelo A, Birkett DJ, Robson RA, Miners JO. Comparative pharmacokinetics of caffeine and its primary demethylated metabolites paraxanthine, theobromine and theophylline in man. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 1986 Aug;22(2):177-82.
9. U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025. 9th Edition. December 2020. Available at DietaryGuidelines.gov.
10. Wennberg P, Boraxbekk CJ, Wheeler M, Howard B, Dempsey PC, Lambert G, Eikelis N, Larsen R, Sethi P, Occleston J, Hernestål-Boman J, Ellis KA, Owen N, Dunstan DW. Acute effects of breaking up prolonged sitting on fatigue and cognition: a pilot study. BMJ Open. 2016 Feb 26;6(2):e009630.

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Most Americans seek a daily boost of caffeine to increase their energy and focus. In this episode, Director of Research & Science, Dr. Eric Gumpricht, explains the science behind caffeine, its various uses and functions in the body, and its most beneficial place in a healthy routine. Learn everything from how much you should consume daily, to which Isagenix products provide it and why, to gain a complete understanding of caffeine and how to best incorporate it into your lifestyle.

For an audio-only version of this podcast, use the player below.

 

The post How to Harness the Benefits of Caffeine appeared first on Isagenix Health.