If you have tried different diet’s in the past, you more than likely have heard of the Mediterranean diet. This diet is rich in Mediterranean style foods such as yogurts, olives, certain breads, fish, and lamb. While all diets really come down to a matter of calories in vs. calories out, the Mediterranean diet does have something that most others can’t offer.  Due to the higher amount of olive oil, and olives included in the Mediterranean diet, your body will get a nice little boost of Oleuropein.  Oleuropein is an amazing compound with tons of benefits that is found mainly in olive oil and the leaves from olive trees.  While the biological mechanisms by which this compound works is still being investigated, we have found a whole host of benefits that stem from increased consumption of Oleuropein.  Some of which include anti-inflammatory effects, anti-cancer effects, anti-tumor aids, antioxidant activity, blood glucose benefits, and even neuroprotective benefits!  While most of those are great, we are going to focus on a few that make it a star ingredient in GlycoShield.  

Antioxidant/Anti-Inflammatory Effects:

Oleuropein has an interesting mechanism that creates an anti-inflammatory effect, neuroprotective, and regenerative effect.  In a 2017 study that tested various effects related to oleuropein supplementation, one study suggested that it can reduce oxidative damage in the area of the brain that is most affected by neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s disease (1).  Studies also suggest that oleuropein is the ONLY anti-inflammatory component that can be extracted from olive leaves and be effective at a low concentration (2).  Why are the anti-inflammatory properties worth mentioning now, and especially in a product like GlycoShield?  Well, it is worth mentioning that the “Western Diet” that so many of us are a part of, is filled with processed food, high carbohydrates, sugars, and trans fats, which isn’t always the healthiest of options.  Numerous studies have shown that eating in this way can cause inflammation, both at the muscular level as well as within the joints, gut, and even of the organs such as liver and pancreas.  Oleuropein’s ability to cut inflammation makes it a key component of GlycoShield by preventing inflammation from occurring due to poor diet.  Not all individuals experience inflammation when eating large amounts of carbohydrates, however following the dosing guide on the label, you can ensure that your body is receiving a clinically tested dose of Oleuropein to prevent any inflammation that may occur, especially when consuming that large cheat meal!

Cardiovascular and Blood Pressure Effects:

Quite possibly the most well-known effect of Oleuropein is its ability to treat high blood pressure and create a positive effect on cardiovascular health.  This benefit of Olive Leaf Extract has been one of the top researched and studied benefits of Oleuropein in the last 10 years.  As we said before, Oleuropein has some amazing antioxidant and neuroprotective properties but it also contains cardioprotective properties as well.  Another 2017 study showed that a dosage of 60mg/kg/day of Oleuropein significantly reduced blood pressure over an 8-week period (3). Having such a profound effect on blood pressure, many individuals suggest supplementing oleuropein or oleuropein containing foods into their diet as a treatment of mild-moderate hypertension before seeking out the use of prescription medication.  One of the ways that oleuropein was found to aid in blood pressure regulation was through protection of the hypothalamus.  It was found that oleuropein protects the hypothalamus from oxidative stress and improves mitochondrial function in a biological pathway.  Because the hypothalamus is the part in the brain that controls homeostatic systems (keeping our bodies regulated properly), the introduction of oleuropein can actually benefit those who are already suffering from hypertension, not just those who are at risk for it!  With regards to exercise, oleuropein can play a big role in regulating blood pressure during and after our workouts as well.  Let’s face it, the heart is a muscle and if we don’t work it out regularly, we run the risk of having cardiovascular problems at some point in our life.  For individuals who may not be physically fit, oleuropein provides some stability with regards to blood pressure when partaking in physical activity and can help blood pressure remain regulated during that time. This is why supplementing with a clinically tested dose of oleuropein such as the amount in a serving of GlycoShield can play a bigger role than you think!

Prevention of weight gain:

As if the other properties of oleuropein weren’t enough, even more studies have been conducted on the ability of this compound to prevent weight gain, specifically fat gain from a high fat diet.  A 2014 8-week study suggests that olive leaf extract can prevent high-fat diet induced obesity as well as reduction in visceral fat weight gain and increase in plasma lipid levels (4).  Olive leaf extract does this by regulating the expression of genes involved in adipogenesis and thermogenesis in the visceral adipose tissue.  By regulating those properties, olive leaf extract can regulate both the amount of fat stored and our body temperature.  It is important to note here that while this study did not directly impact weight loss, it prevented weight gain when a high fat diet was consumed.  This makes oleuropein an especially important ingredient in GlycoShield when looking at its multi-dimensional use.  While we have mentioned that GlycoShield is a great product when it is used for recomposition and weight-loss goals, this facet makes it a great tool to prevent excess fat gain when bulking and trying to put on lean muscle mass!  We have all been there; trying to put on a few pounds of muscle before slimming down for the summer.  After consuming about 2500 calories of chicken and rice, that new pizza place is looking mighty tasty and before you know it, you’ve been eating everything in sight for the last 2 weeks!  This is where oleuropein becomes your ally in your body composition goals.  While we don’t recommend you cheat every day, with the Shielded Stack, you can if you want to!

https://www.selfhacked.com/blog/olive-leaf-extract-10-unexpected-health-benefits/

https://www.healthline.com/health/olive-leaf-extract

Studies:

1: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5392257/

2: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29099642

3: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27847271

4: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3927866/

Today, we are going to look at one of the key ingredients used in both GlycoShield and LipoShield, Hydroxycitric acid, or HCA.  HCA is derived from a small fruit called Garcinia Cambogia that grows in Southeast Asia and parts of India. Although it has been used traditionally for hundreds of years, Garcinia made a huge splash a few years ago when introduced as a “miracle’ weight loss drug.  After many trials and high expectations, many users were disappointed by the underwhelming results that followed the hype of this small fruit extract. So why did we decide to include Garcinia in our products when results have been so underwhelming? The answer is easy, the Hydroxycitric acid extracted from the fruit, when standardized from 50-60%, can be extremely potent.  Many early users that tried product may not have been weary of labels that said “100% pure Garcinia Cambogia” or “Standardized to 90% HCA”. The truth of the matter is, clinical trials that were conducted on humans that reaped the most positive benefits used a MAXIMUM of 60% standardized HCA. So, what does that mean? The bottom line is if you have not used an HCA product that is standardized between 50% and 60%, you are not only missing out on numerous positive benefits, but you may also be experiencing some negative side effects as well.  Here’s a few reasons why we include 50% Hydroxycitric Acid in our products.

#1: Studies have shown that HCA plays a key role in preventing visceral fat accumulation.

Obviously, there are no miracle drugs that completely block fat accumulation in your system but HCA does a pretty good job to prevent it.  A 2003 double blind study used a moderate dose (1000mg) of HCA or 1667.25mg standardized at 60% HCA of Garcinia Cambogia daily to test 18 individuals, while 21 individuals took a placebo pill.  The goal was to test both men and women to find out the effects that HCA had on visceral fat accumulation over a 16-week period. Results found that after the 16 weeks, not only had individuals in the Garcinia group significantly reduced visceral, subcutaneous, and total fat areas, but they also had noticed their BMI percentages changed slightly as well (1).  Individuals who took part in this study ranged from 20-65 years old and were considered to be in an overweight or obese category which meant that they would use a CT scan as well as Body indices to determine fat loss rather than just the BMI scale. At the end of the study it was found that all men in the study took in 2250 calories daily while women took in 1800 calories daily over the course of this study, but their exercise rates varied on their own personal preferences (although many suggested they lived a sedentary lifestyle).  So, what does this mean for the average individual who supplements with HCA? Well in short, when dieting and exercising regularly, supplementing with HCA can lead to the blocking of fat accumulation, throughout the body. Although the study tested the stomach specifically and saw a reduction in fat, HCA does not lead to spot reduction meaning fat can be reduced throughout the whole body. Using Hydroxycitric acid as a “damage control” supplement makes it a perfect addition to those who are bulking or cutting phase. For those who are bulking, HCA can assure that those extra calories are used for repair and recovery of the body and are not stored as fat.  In a cutting phase, it makes sure your lessened calories are put to good use and will help to remove stored fat in certain areas. This actually brings us to our next use for HCA; fat oxidation.

#2 Studies suggest HCA can improve fat oxidation.

Another 2003 study showed that supplementing with HCA during exercise increased fat oxidation in athletes as well as in untrained women (2)(3).   For athletes, the study used 250mg of HCA daily over the course of 5 days during a 1hr cycle ergometer test. The study used expired gas samples and blood analyzation to find that during the tests, fat oxidation was significantly increased while carbohydrate oxidation was significantly decreased during this test.  This study makes a case for HCA to also be an important supplement that can be used during low carb diets or individuals who are taking a ketogenic approach. By switching the bodies natural source of fuel from carbohydrates to fats, more fat can be burned during the workout, which actually can help to also increase endurance during your workouts. The tests that were conducted on untrained women also showed that HCA improved fat mobilization not only during physical exercise but also at rest.  Improved fat oxidation during rest means you have the opportunity to burn fat, before, during, and after exercise. Because we recommend taking our products before consuming a meal, this ensures that your body will either use excess fat that is consumed, or it has the opportunity to burn it throughout the day. The best part about the HPScience’s products is they can be taken with any meal, anytime and just 4 caps of GlycoShield per day is the equivalent of 250mg of HCA; the same used in the study.  This is another reason we included a 50% standardization of HCA in our products; to keep consistent with the positive studies and results of human trials.

#3 HCA has the ability to regulate appetite

This may be one of the most important reasons we included HCA into our products.  Many studies suggest that supplementing with HCA has the ability to suppress your appetite through various mechanisms.  A culmination of over 15 studies have found that HCA plays a role in numerous biological pathways and this can help to suppress appetite a well as manipulate serotonin levels in the brain (4).  These studies suggest that HCA is a primary ingredient that can inhibit ATP citrate lyase. ATP citrate lyase is an enzyme that separates citrate into oxaloacetate and acetyl-CoA. Now all this nomenclature and science talk may be confusing, but essentially by HCA inhibiting ATP citrate lyase, a signal is sent to the brain altering metabolic actions and serotonin level associated with reduced appetite increase.  The result of this serotonin increase happens rather quickly which is why we recommend consuming GlycoShield or LipoShield around meal time. By consuming the product before meals, it can also help to reduce the feelings of hunger while eating. This is just another way that the Shielded Stack combined uses HCA to help increase weight loss. A classic American’s diet is almost always filled with processed food, large amounts of sugar, and high in fat.  Couple that with cravings we get from junk food and you feel like your diet is doomed from the start. This is why controlling the cravings before they happen is key to keeping your diet on track. HCA has many studies, including numerous with human trials that concluded serotonin regulation and appetite suppression.

Despite Garcinia Camobogia’s bad rap as a “miracle drug” that helps you lose weight quick, the hydroxycitric acid derived from the fruit actually has many benefits.  When taken in the right dosage and standardized between 50% and 60% as it is in GlycoShield and LipoShield, HCA can increase fat oxidation, suppress cravings and your appetite, and help to oxidize fat.  Numerous studies have concluded the positive benefits of HCA and the proof is in the pudding with HPScience’s reviews so far. Don’t be afraid because a couple of famous TV “Doctor’s” made this ingredient go out of style.  Garcinia is here to stay for the long haul.

Sources:

1-https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4053034/

2-https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3748738/

3-https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12171433

4-https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3748738/

Here at HPS Supplements, we believe in using ingredients that are multi-dimensional, potent, and clinically backed for our customers.  That’s exactly why we’re excited to introduce this next ingredient, Berberine HCL.  

Berberine has been used for centuries and dates all the way back to ancient Chinese medicines.  Berberine is an alkaloid that is extracted from various plants, most notably a series of shrubs called Berberis.  This extract is generally a yellowish color and has also been used as a dye or coloring for foods.  Used in Glucose Dispoal Agents (GDA’s) most frequently, Berberine has a long list of positive benefits including:
• Blood sugar regulation and lipid metabolism (fat oxidation)
• Activation of AMPK (also known as the Metabolic Master Switch)
• Reduced Visceral Fat and central obesity
• Improvement of triglyceride and good cholesterol levels
• Increased glycolysis (breaking down of sugars in cells)
• Mimics the effects of diet and exercise / being in a caloric deficit
• Increase beneficial bacteria in the gut
• Decrease insulin resistance (Making the insulin more effective)
• Anti-cancer, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties
• About 50 other things we don’t have time to list off!
We are going to touch on a few of the major results you will see with berberine as it relates to our product GlycøShield.  

One of the greatest things about Berberine is its potency, even at a modest dose.  In a 2008 study, 116 patients with diabetes were given 1g of Berberine per day to test its ability to lower blood sugars.  The results of the study showed that the average resting blood sugar level decreased by 20% from 7.0 to 5.6 mmol/L or 126 to101 mg/dL (1).  For those that may not be up to date on blood glucose numbers, 126 is considered to be in the “diabetic range” whereas 101 is on the higher end of normal levels.  Essentially, after 3 months of berberine use, this study suggested that berberine, an over the counter natural supplement, is as effective as other oral type II prescription diabetes drugs. 

Although anecdotal, there are many users of berberine who post their before/after blood glucose readings online that prove supplementation of berberine can bring blood sugars back to a normal range.  Due to its potency, some type II diabetics have avoided using prescription medications such as Metformin, Glibenclamide due to the effects of berberine.  So, what does this mean?  With the inclusion of Berberine into Glycøshield, our goal is to help users keep their blood sugars in a healthy, normal range, when the meals they are consuming would otherwise elevate blood sugar into ‘diabetic ranges’; thereby eliminating the dreaded blood sugar spikes that are responsible for that sugar rush and crash, weight gain, inflammation, and other unwanted effects from high carb / sugary meals. Whether it is taken as a staple before meals containing carbohydrates or used to prevent massive spikes after cheat meals, berberine is key to keeping blood sugars regulated.

Aside from its amazing ability to lower blood sugar and regulate blood glucose levels, berberine’s main action is to activate the enzyme called AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). AMPK, in simplest terms, is the enzyme that gets energy moving at a cellular level.  AMPK is responsible for glucose uptake and fatty acid oxidation in the body while also decreasing energy consuming processes such as protein and lipid synthesis (2).  This means AMPK not only creates energy by revving up the glucose and fat burning systems, but it also is responsible for sparing proteins and healthy fats within the body!  Essentially AMPK plays a MAJOR role in the regulation of your metabolism, hence its name as the “Master Switch”.  Studies suggest that berberine stimulates AMPK activity within the body and enhances GLUT4 translocation (the insulin-regulated glucose transporter) in muscles and reduce lipid mass in adipocytes (fat storing cells) (3).  What is all this biology nomenclature saying?  Simple; berberine enhances the burning of glucose as fuel and reduces the amount of fat being stored in fat cells.  In the long term, supplementation with berberine is going to help your body burn excess glucose and fat which will help you to maintain a lean figure.  This is what we meant when we created the bullet point stating that it mimics putting your body in a caloric deficit or mimicking diet and exercise.  Berberine has the ability to put your body in a state that is very similar to someone who diets and exercises regularly. Alone, berberine and Glycøshield can mimic diet and exercise, but when combined with even a modest training routine and sensible eating, can elevate your results rapidly.  

Lastly, we want to touch on berberine’s ability to lower cholesterol in humans.  This has been studied on humans specifically and not just rats.  These studies stem from the high cholesterol western diet that so many Americans fall victim to. A 2004 study used berberine with 32 hypercholesterolemic patients and administered berberine orally for 3 months.  At the end of the 3 months, serum cholesterol was reduced by 29%, triglycerides by 35%, and LDL (bad) cholesterol by 25%!  Berberine also slows the release of free fatty acids, which can lower your overall lipid levels and prevents harmful fat from being deposited.  Since cholesterol plays a big part in a healthy heart, its important to mention that berberine can also reduce apolipoprotein B, a risk factor for heart disease by up to 15%.  As if berberine doesn’t already do enough for us, know it can directly benefit heart health rather than just factors that can improve heart health.  This golden colored ingredient may just be the golden standard for overall health supplements!

All of these benefits from berberine can improve overall health and make it much more than just something we put in Glycøshield to help you achieve the body of your dreams while still being able to enjoy your favorite foods and beverages. Berberine has so many positives that its thought of to be a key preventer of metabolic syndrome.  Metabolic syndrome is known as a cluster of medical conditions that can increase your risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.  We mentioned some of the effects earlier, but in order to be classified as someone with metabolic syndrome, you must show signs of 3 of the following (5):
• Increased blood pressure
• High blood sugar
• Excess bodyfat around the midsection
• Abnormal cholesterol 
• Abnormal triglyceride levels
Every single point on the list above can be aided directly by the supplementation of berberine.

Since most Glycøshield users will be consuming multiple servings per day, you can ensure that you are reaping the positive benefits that come along with berberine supplementation.  Even with dosages of just 500mg per day (that’s under 6 Glycøshield capsules!), you can be sure to yield all of these benefits and more.  If you are curious about the loads of other benefits that berberine can provide for you, checkout some of these articles listed below to read more for yourself!
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/berberine-powerful-supplement#section2
https://examine.com/supplements/berberine/
https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/06/22/berberine-benefits.aspx#_edn11

 
Studies: 
1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18397984
2 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2779044/
3 http://diabetes.diabetesjournals.org/content/55/8/2256.full /https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10409121
4 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15531889
5 https://www.medicinenet.com/metabolic_syndrome/article.htm#what_is_metabolic_syndrome