The System-Six Review

5-HTP is short for 5-Hydroxytryptophan, which is an amino acid. As a transitional component in tryptophan metabolism, 5-HTP is also a compound which in the metabolic pathway precedes the monoamine neurotransmitter serotonin. As a dietary supplement, 5-HTP is suggested for use as an antidepressant, sleeping aid, but also as an appetite suppressant. Vitamin B6 helps 5-HTP decarboxylate into serotonin, with assistance of a lyase enzyme, namely the aromatic L amino acid decarboxylase. The theory is that 5-HTP, when ingested as a supplement, leads to increased serotonin production. While mainly being used as an appetite suppressant in the body building community, it also improves cognitive abilities, but also endurance and stamina. While there are some concerns in use of 5-HTP and MAO inhibitors in combination, sensitive users report only positive effects, that is why it was included in System-Six.

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.

Cayenne- Most of us are aware of the wonders of the hot cayenne, which belongs to the family of capsicum. This herb is mainly used for culinary and health purpose. As compared to black pepper and chilies, it contains less irritating properties. Cayenne when taken naturally works as a natural stimulant and is beneficial for pancreas, kidney and spleen. Cayenne can be taken in herbal tea form, as a natural energy booster or as a capsule to cure yellow fever. Since cayenne contains antiseptic properties it is an effective remedy for sore throats and is used as a gargle. It aids digestion and stimulates saliva and stomach secretion. It also prevents heart attack, reduces cholesterol, allows proper absorption of vitamins, improves blood circulation and effectively clears the sinuses. In the past it was used as a cure for typhoid fever, diphtheria, pleurisy and pneumonia.

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 - The popular nutritional supplement, which has been invented to treat chromium deficiency, is also a popular weight loss and muscle growth product. Due to the chromium role it plays in sugar and lipid metabolism in humans, it has been deemed helpful as a supplement, in particular with the body building communities. The argument is that chromium picolinate improves the uptake of glucose by enhancing the effect insulin has in the body, providing better blood circulation. Bad dietary habits, in particular in the United States, have lead to the population verging on the brim of chromium deficiency. Body Building aficionados really require a wholly balanced diet, which in turn requires adequate amounts of chromium be present in the metabolism, even more so if the individual is practicing a serious exercise program.

Citrus Aurantium, More commonly called "bitter orange", which is taken from unripe oranges. Research shows that citrus aurantium can increase the metabolic rate without affecting heart rate or blood pressure, breaks down fat, burns calories and may act as an appetite suppressant.

Garcinia Cambogia- Gambooge, a subtropical version of the Garcinia genus and native to Indonesia, is the local name for garcinia cambogia. It bears a pumpkin like yellow coloured fruit, which extract, together with the rind, is in India a curry condiment. Extracts are also being used in several herbal appetite suppressants, but also in some energy providing products and supplements. In the body building community, besides the weight loss properties of garcinia cambogia, the main component, hydroxycitric acid, or HCA, seems to increase the levels of lipolysis in athletes. HCA may even prove to be more effective in combined use with carnitine and pyruvate. In India, garcinia cambogia was traditionally used to treat edema, constipation, irregular menstruation and against intestinal parasites. Further uses include combating rheumatism and bowel related troubles.

Ginger Root refers to the rhizome of a plant called zingiber officinale that grows in moist and fertile tropical soil. Ginger is an underground stem extending to 12 inches above the ground. The ginger root has pungent phenol compounds and volatile oils. This is widely used as a medicine in Indian, Asian and Arabic herbal traditions. Ginger, in China is used to cure stomach upset, nausea and diarrhea since ancient times. Ginger is of great use to cure arthritis, diarrhea, Colic and heart conditions. Besides the medicinal value, Ginger is one of the indispensable ingredients as cooking spice and is also recommended to cure headaches, common cold, symptoms like flu and also painful menstrual periods. Ginger is widely used as medicine as it treats nausea, vomiting related to travel sickness, cancer chemotherapy and pregnancy. Though, there are effective medicines today, ginger root retain its position for its medicinal properties. It is also beneficial for heart disease as it reduces cholesterol and averts blood clotting. The ginger products are manufactured using dried or fresh ginger root and these are obtainable in extracts, capsules, tinctures and oils. Ginger is used in tea and in various drinks and foods.

Gotu Kola, also known as hydrocotyle, centella asiatica or indian pennywort. Gota Kola is commonly used for wound healing, and improved mental function. The most active constituents are the triterpene saponins, which include asiaticoside, brahmoside, brahminoside, brahmaic acid and madecassoside.

Green Tea Extract is currently being promoted by the health conscious community as a weight loss product, which does not do this incredible concoction of helpful ingredients justice. Many green tea extracts nowadays exclude caffeine, to avoid the associated side effects and lower the ingestion of this legal addictive stimulant. The main characteristic of the green tea extract should be the antioxidative effect, which surpasses Vitamin C twentyfold. But the other traits are not to be forgotten, it is anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogen and anti-radiation. The unique combination of green tea catechins, derivatives of apicatechin, and flavonoids, which belong to the same family, are proven scavengers of free radicals and an unavoidable addition to any dietary supplement combination, body building or weight loss as the target objective.

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.

Inositol works as a second messenger within our bodies to stimulate the release of calcium from its storage place within our bodies; it allows the transmission of neural signals to be enhanced.

L-Carnitine is chemically similar to an amino acid, L-Carnitine is responsible for the metabolism of fat in the body. It transports fatty acids into the cell’s metabolic furnace known as mitochondria. Synthesized in the liver and kidney, L-Carnitine helps the body use fat for energy. It acts as an aid in releasing tryglycerides and stored body fat into the bloodstream. With an adequate intake of L-Carnitine, you can improve the contraction of muscles, function of the heart and balance of protein in the body. As compared to the synthetic fat burning supplements that cause insomnia and addiction, L-Carnitine is a natural component which brings fat to metabolizing stations so that it can burn and produce energy. In case you have carnitine deficiency, you can have 1000mg of tartrate per day which is considered to be an effective form of carnitine.

L-Tyrosine is an amino acid taken to enhance the functions of the thyroid gland. It provides essential supplements to the body for fighting serious ailments. L-Tyrosine is a natural cure mainly for hypothyroidism and many other illnesses including protection of skin from the UV rays and depression. People suffering from hypothyroidism lack tyrosine and therefore do not respond to iodine supplements. Iodine supplements are of no use without tyrosine. Using L-tyrosine replaces vital amino acids which people having hypothyroidism lack. It produces thyroid hormones namely, norepinephrine, dopamine and epinephrine. L-tyrosine must be used by those who have a family history of under active thyroids and by those who have not got benefits from dieting efforts. L-tyrosine is taken in doses of 500mg 2 to 3 times everyday. People having high blood pressure must be cautious while taking this supplement.

Niacin is a vitamin that wards against pellagra, a disease characterized by a vitamin B3 deficiency. Niacin is made from pyridine and is often called vitamin B3 or nicotinamide, because they all three have similar formulas. Niacin and nicotinamide are comparable in make up, but only niacin works to lower cholesterol levels. The restoration of DNA is also known to be a positive side effect of taking niacin. A fairly large number of individuals, particularly those in third world countries or those suffering from alcoholism, have been shown to be lacking in niacin. Niacin is often taken as a supplement by those with high cholesterol levels, as it has been proven to lower “bad” cholesterol and raise “good” cholesterol.

Pantothenic Acid, commonly called Vitamin B5, it is a water-soluble member of the vitamin B complex. Pantothenic acid is involved in adrenal gland function and is required to fight stress.

Riboflavin, an easily absorbed micronutrient, is also known by the name of Vitamin B2. It plays a key role in maintaining the health of animals as well as humans. A wide variety if cellular processes require this vitamin. It plays a key role in energy metabolism, just like other B vitamins. It is the kind of micronutrient which required for the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, fats and ketone bodies. There are a lot of food products that are a good source of Vitamin B2. Matured soybeans, yeast, mushroom, livers, kidneys, leafy vegetables, milk, cheese, almonds are such products that are rich in this vitamin. But riboflavin does get destroyed if exposed to light. Riboflavin is a non toxic vitamin. Hence, there is no harm in taking it orally.

Selenium , an essential mineral that is toxic at high dosages. Selenium plays an important function in the antioxidant enzymes that protect cells against free radicals. Selenium also promotes proper thyroid hormone metabolism.

Spirulina, unicellular blue - green algae, is one of the earliest photosynthetic life forms on earth. This micro-organism is rich in vegetable proteins, vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, enzymes, lipids, phytochemicals and essential amino acids. Since it is very easily digestible and provides a balance of necessary nutrients, it has become a potential source of probiotic, whole food. For instance, the blue colored pigments called phycocyanin are known to combat cancer. For these reasons, Spirulina is also considered to be a beneficial biochemical and medical resource. Through ages, the alga has been widely used for its nutritional properties by the indigenous people of North Africa and Mexico. But now, Spirulina is used in dietary supplements also. Commercial preparations of Spirulina are available in the form of powder, capsules, and tablets.