System-Six Reviewed

5-HTP or 5-Hydroxytryptophan is an amino acid that occurs naturally in the body. It leads to an increase in levels of serotonin - a neurotransmitter which regulates behavior and mood, and melatonin – a hormone linked with the normal sleep pattern. 5-HTP is used in System-Six because it is known to reduce anxiety and depression as it is an antidepressant. It is used in the treatment of insomnia, migraine and Fibromyalgia which causes pain in the muscles, tendons and ligaments, severe fatigue and disturbed sleep. It also assists weight loss by reducing appetite. It is found in small amounts in cheese and white meat. Using the supplement in excess can cause side effects like heart valve disease, nausea, etc. and hence it is essential to seek medical advice before using it.

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- There are a number of different names by which cayenne can be referred to. Bird pepper, red pepper, guinea pepper are a few of them. Cayenne is a kind of red chili pepper, which is hot in nature. It is mainly used for the purpose of cooking and medicines. Cayenne is one of the most widely used ingredients to add spice in the dishes. Sichuan cuisine uses a lot of cayenne in its sauces. It can be used in a lot of different forms. Powdered, flakes, dried and fresh are the most commonly used forms of the cayenne. A lot of vinegar based sauces use cayenne as the main ingredient to add hotness to the sauce. Another very important use of cayenne is for medicinal purposes. Cayenne helps in improving blood circulation and other circulatory related health issues.

Choline protects our livers from accumulating excess fatty build up as well as acting as a neurotransmitter within our brains.

Chromium Picolinate is another aid in weight loss but as also been proven to prevent acne, increase life span, mood enhancement and boosts energy.

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, native to Southeast Asia, is a tropical fruit which belongs to the citrus family. This Indian and African fruit is extremely popular for its extract hydroxycitric acid. Without suppressing your appetite or stimulating the brain, this acid acts as an effective weight loss supplement. It not only provides the required energy but also improves the signaling system of the body. When the signaling system gets better, the brain is informed by the body that it is full. This system is not very active in obese people, which is why they eat a lot. Garnicia Cambogia extract of hydroxycitric acid is more effectual when used with chromium. The intake of chromium in western countries is very low, due to which people become diabetic or obese.

Ginger Root- Ginger is a very popular spice and has been used for culinary purposes for ages. Besides the widespread use in the cuisine of many nations, several traditional medicines, including the Indian and Chinese medicinal practices, have used this Zingiber officinale, as the Latin name goes, for its pain relieving, anti allergenic and anti inflammatory activities. Further uses have been noted for treatment of various ailments of the digestive tract, such as diarrhea and nausea, but also as general stomach settlers. While the use of the ginger root extract has been used in ginger beer and ginger ale beverages, the use as dietary supplement or component in nutritional supplement concoctions is relatively recent. The volatile oils of the ginger root extract have been noted for the antibacterial, analgesic, sedative and antipyretic properties.

Gotu Kola is one of the many common names given to the herbaceous annual plant called Centella asaitica. It is mainly found in countries like India, Sri lanka, Northern Australia, Malaysia, Iran, Indonesia, Melanesia and a few more on the Asian continent. This plant is used as a herb in traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic medicine as well. It has slender stems that interconnect one plant to another. The leaves of this plant are long stalked and green in color. It has reniform leaves with rounded apices and is smooth in texture with palmately netted veins. The rootstocks which grows vertically down has rhizomes on it. Their color is creamish and are often covered with root hairs. The plant which is harvested manually matures in about three months, including the roots.

Green Tea Extract- For thousands of years, Green Tea has been used for the purpose of medicine in countries such as China and India. The leaves of the Camellia Sinensis plant are allowed to dry after being lightly steamed. The leaves are steamed as the properties of the plant are retained through this procedure. The extract has a number of varying health benefits, inclusive of properties that assist the body in fighting cancer and body protecting antioxidant effects. Green tea also offers protection against digestive and respiratory infections. It reduces health affecting LDL cholesterol, increases the levels of HDL cholesterol that is good for the body. Along with keeping control of the content of blood sugar in the body, it also helps burn fat in the body by boosting the metabolic rates.

Guarana- The active constituent of guarana is caffeine, which means that it should not be used alongside ephedrine as either a dietary aid or in order to stimulate performance. The American Food and Drug Administration has not tested its effectiveness or its purity as they do not class it as a drug. Guarana has many other names including Brazilian cocoa and may be a constituent of non alcoholic drinks imported from South America. Because of possible adverse reactions it is not recommended for anyone with a heart condition or who has kidney disease, high blood pressure or who suffers from anxiety.

Inositol is a carbocyclic polyol found in fiber rich food items such as bran, wheat or legume. Even though it is a form of sugar, it works differently from glucose. With the help of several nutrients and vitamins like B6 and B12, inositol controls fat accumulation in the liver. It is also effective in the treatment of diabetes, low blood cholesterol levels and liver problems. This essential component helps in the formation of cell membrane that allows passage of molecules in and out of the cells. It also affects the signaling molecules of the body and is important for pleasure (serotonin) activity of the brain. Some of the good sources of inositol are kidney beans, cereals with bran content and fruits like oranges and cantaloupes.

L-Carnitine , a naturally occurring non-essential amino acid which boosts its own production when combined with Vitamin C. L-carnitine transports fatty acids like triglycerides into the mitochondria and converts it into energy. Its antioxidant properties are believed to affect the heart muscles positively. L-cartinine deficiency is a rare case. However, fatigue, muscle-cramps and pre-mature aging are some of its deficiency signs. L-carnitine is highly found in dairy products and red meat. In foods like legumes, nuts, grains, fresh fruits, vegetables and cereals although the level of L-caritine is not high, it promotes production. L-carnitine is not known to cause any toxic effect, but an overdose of carnitine i.e. 1000mg daily can cause diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea and vomiting. Research prove that adding L-carnitine to our daily diet increases metabolism promotes weight loss and maintains a healthy level of blood glucose.

L-Tyrosine is a proteinogenic polar amino acid, deemed not essential because it can be synthesized by the human body. As a member of the amino acid group that is being used by cells to build proteins, this building block derived its name from the Greek word tyros, which means cheese, because it was discovered in the cheese protein casein. L-Tyrosine can be synthesized from phenylalanine and can be found in foods high on protein, like soy products, poultry, cheese, bananas, dairy products and several seeds, including the sesame seeds. The unique phenol functionality and the occurrence in proteins that belong to the signal transduction process, make this amino acid different. Tyrosine can be converted by tyrosine hydroxylase enzyme into levodopa, a psychoactive drug that is used, among other uses, for clinical treatment of Parkinson’s disease. It is also involved in the synthesis of dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine.

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.

Pantothenic Acid is actually a part of the Vitamin B complex, namely Vitamin B5 and is deemed an essential nutrient. It has a critical function in the synthesis and metabolism of core nutrients, such as fats, proteins and carbohydrates, and it forms the coenzyme – A, also called CoA, most notable for the role in oxidation and synthesis of fatty acids and pyruvate. The Greek origin of the name Pantothenic Acid already states that this Vitamin is found nearly everywhere, with prominent amounts in eggs, meat, legumes and whole grain cereals. In health and fitness circles the dietary supplement is very popular for its energy producing role, but also for the ATP process and for the maintenance of cholesterol and triglycerides levels in the body.

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 is a chemical element and a trace mineral deemed essential to human nutrition. It is found in many food sources, like beef liver, turkey, chicken breast, roast beef, white bread, whole eggs, rice, oatmeal, pasta, Brazil nuts, tuna and many others. Just recently a correlation between selenium, Vitamin E and cancer prevention has been scientifically proven. This essential trace element nutrient is nevertheless toxic in excessive doses, but is vital as a cofactor where antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase is required. Besides the belief that selenium may have a role in prevention from cancer, it has been observed that population in HIV and AIDS stricken countries where the soil is deficient in selenium have larger outbreaks than areas where selenium is sufficiently present. Other uses, such as in prevention from recurrence of tuberculosis, have been recommended by researchers.

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.