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June 20, 2017 | 0 comments
You may have heard of PharmaGABA® and you may be asking yourself, what is it? Well you’ve come to the right place! PharmaGABA® is a natural form of GABA produced with the help of Lactobacillus hilgardii – a beneficial lactic acid bacteria.
PharmaGABA® has been clinically researched and shown to promote relaxation and feelings of calmness. Additionally, its relaxing qualities help to enhance sleep quality as well as mental focus and concentration. PharmaGABA is also the only natural form of GABA that is available for purchase in supplement form.
GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is naturally occurring amino acid found in the brain. It is one of the major inhibitory neurotransmitters found in the body’s central nervous system. Inhibitory neurotransmitters help to ease stress and calm excited nerves by telling the brain to relax.
Amino acid neurotransmitters are crucial for the function of the central nervous system (CNS); they have quick actions, producing responses within milliseconds. They play an important role in proper overall brain function.
GABA levels can decrease when a person is subjected to stressful conditions. Therefore, supplementation with a safe, clinically proven form of GABA, such as PharmaGABA®, may be beneficial in reestablishing ideal GABA levels.
PharmaGABA® is produced by Pharma Foods International, a company known for producing cutting edge, science-backed ingredients. PharmaGABA® is a natural form of GABA manufactured via a fermentation process that uses Lactobacillus bacteria. This fermentation processes mimics how GABA is processed in the body.
PharmaGABA’s fermentation process uses the same kind of bacteria that is used to ferment vegetables, cheese, and other traditional foods. The bacteria is fed specialized nutrients that help to produce a high level of GABA, which is then concentrated into PharmaGABA through an advanced filtration process.
This process allows PharmaGABA to make the claim that is natural form GABA. Synthetic forms of GABA are produced by using harsh chemicals. The compounds used to make synthetic GABA are regarded as noxious substances and are thus prohibited for use in foods in many countries.
GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that helps to ease stress and calm excited nerves. With PharmaGABA being a natural form of GABA, it is a great option for promoting a calm, empowered feeling.
In addition to that, PharmaGABA is highly regarded for helping to improve sleep quality. By pairing PharmaGABA with other natural sleep aid ingredients, you can help to ease your body into deep sleep (we include it in our Stay Asleep natural sleep aid supplement). PharmaGABA does this by helping to minimize the “noise” in your brain, which helps you to wind down for a full night of sleep
Taking PharmaGABA as a stand-alone product for improved mood is a good option as well.
•PharmaGABA has 8 clinical trials that back it as an effective product, making it the most researched GABA supplement on the market.
•PharmaGABA® is produced naturally with proven safety and efficacy. Synthetic GABA is produced from various toxic chemicals including succinimide, piperylurethan and fuming nitric acid, N-(β-bromoethyl) phthalimide and sodiomalonic ester, and γ-chlorobutyronitrile and potassium phthalimide. These compounds are regarded as noxious substances and thus prohibited to use in foods in many countries.
•PharmaGABA has self-affirmed GRAS Affirmation (Generally Recognized as Safe) and is approved for food use in many countries. PharmaGABA is also Non-GMO.
PharmaGABA® is Self-affirmed GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe). Additionally, it is listed in the National Health Product Ingredient Database (NHPD).
PharmaGABA has been used in foods, beverages and supplements for many years with a proven track record of safety.
There have been no reports of any side effects or drug interactions with PharmaGABA® . However, those who are pregnant and children under 6 years old should consult with physicians before use.
At Utzy we have worked with the makers of PharmaGABA to create our Stay Asleep natural sleep aid supplement. We combine PharmaGABA with other natural sleep aiding ingredients to create a powerful nighttime formula that helps you to stay asleep, all night long!
You can learn more about our Stay Asleep natural sleep aid here.
June 14, 2017 | 0 comments
You may have heard of “chelated minerals” and how they are the best minerals to take, but what are they? While the word “chelate” may sound scary and complex don’t fear! Chelated minerals are simply inorganic minerals that have been bound to an organic molecule. This is believed to lead to better absorption in the body.
We’ll dive into the technical details below
Minerals are naturally found in an inorganic state (i.e. they are free of Carbon). When an inorganic mineral is combined with an amino acid molecule, it creates an amino acid chelate. For the purposes of this article, the words “Chelated Mineral” and “Amino Acid Chelate” will be used interchangeably. This process of binding a mineral with an organic molecule is called “chelation” (pronounced ke-lay-shun).
Simply stated, chelated minerals are minerals that contain both organic and inorganic molecules that are bound together. This is crucial for absorption, as you’ll see in the video below
First off, you should know that minerals are involved in numerous different functions in body. For instance, one mineral, Magnesium, is present in every single cell in your body! Needless to say, it is a vital mineral. You can read more about Magnesium in our in-depth article here.
Why take a chelated mineral supplement? Excellent question!
Amino acid chelates (or chelated minerals) are better utilized by the body because they are better absorbed than inorganic minerals.
Your body absorbs inorganic minerals, the ones found naturally in foods and in cheap mineral supplements, poorly. These inorganic minerals are absorbed poorly because they become bound to other nutrient particles as they move through your digestive system. Once a mineral is bound to other food particles, it is essentially neutralized and is prevented from use by your body. It is then excreted from the body without being used.
In contrast to inorganic minerals, Chelated Minerals are shielded as they travel through your digestion system. This shield, made up of amino acids, allows the minerals to arrive safely in the stomach where they are easily utilized by your body. Simply put, chelated minerals have increased bio-availability.
This process is detailed more thoroughly in the section below.
When non-chelated minerals enter the body they can easily become sequestered by other nutrients and food particles as they go through the body’s digestive tract.
Once an inorganic mineral is sequestered, it is neutralized and becomes unavailable for use by the body.
Chelated minerals are processed differently by the body. They have a ring-like structure of Amino Acids that surround them. These Amino Acids effectively work as a shield to protect the mineral through the digestion process.
Once the chelated mineral reaches the jejunum (a section of the small intestine), the Amino Acid structure is cleaved off and the mineral is free to be absorbed and used by the many different organs and systems within the body.
There are no known negative side effects of Chelated minerals. They are similar to regular minerals, which are needed by your body for normal function. There are also no known interactions at this time.
You can find Chelated Minerals in many different forms. Below is an exhaustive list of the chelated minerals that are available:
There are many different types of chelated minerals that are available. The ones widely available are listed below:
•Chelated Calcium
•Chelated Cobalt
•Chelated Copper
•Chelated Iron
•Chelated Magnesium
•Chelated Manganese
•Chelated Molybdenum
•Chelated Potassium
•Chelated Selenium
•Chelated Zinc
In addition to Essential Minerals, various Chelated Trace Minerals are available. See the list below.
•Chelated Boron
•Chelated Vanadium
•Chelated Chromium
There are various different amino acids that chelated minerals can be bound to, the most common amino acids being:
•Glycine
•Lysine
•Arginine
As you can see, Chelated Minerals are a good option for those looking to increase the amount of minerals that their body is able to absorb. You can find Chelated Minerals in high quality multi-mineral, such as our Essentially-U product. Essentially-U is different from other daily multi-nutrients in that it contains the vitamins AND minerals that your body needs for optimal health.
We source our minerals from Albion®, a trusted mineral supplier located in Utah. We use their TRAACS® (The Real Amino Acid Chelate System) verified minerals. These are the gold standard for Amino Acid Mineral Chelates. They are used in the following Utzy Natural products:
•Essentially-U (daily multi-nutrient)
•Utzzz’s: Stay Asleep (targeted natural sleep aid)
•Utzzz’s: Fall Asleep (targeted natural sleep aid)
June 05, 2017 | 0 comments
Magnesium Carbonate is a white, powdery compound found in the mineral Magnesite that is well known as a health supplement - and with good effect. The active ingredient in Magnesium Carbonate is simply Magnesium, a vital mineral that plays many important roles in the functioning of our bodies.
Lack of Magnesium is a common dietary deficiency in the US, even though it is an essential mineral that your body requires. Researchers estimate that almost half of the US population has a Magnesium deficiency (source).
Magnesium is beneficial in many ways for your body. Below are a few of the major benefits of Magnesium.
Magnesium work to increase your energy levels by activating adenosine triphosphate (known as “ATP”) in the body (source). ATP is the energy currency of the cell, meaning, it’s your body’s primary molecule for storing and transferring energy in cells.
Deficiency in Magnesium leads to less ATP being activated in your body, which leads to less energy overall.
Magnesium is important for binding and activating GABA receptors, which helps to produce Serotonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that promotes feelings of well-being and happiness.
Without adequate Magnesium, we are unable to effectively activate GABA receptors. This leads to less Serotonin, which can result in feelings of stress and negative mood.
Magnesium helps to increase Renin and Melatonin production in your body, two crucial hormones that regulate sleep (source).
In addition to that, Magnesium’s calming affects (mentioned in point #2) are beneficial for helping your body to wind down at night.
Interested in a high quality Magnesium supplement? Check out our U-Mag relaxing drink mix here.
• Muscle Cramps and Spasms
• Trouble sleeping & fatigue
• Headaches
• Loss of Appetite
• Numbness or tingling
The major side effect of Magnesium Carbonate is that it works as a laxative. In fact, it is one of nature’s best laxatives!
While most people take Magnesium for it’s relaxing benefits, it can also be take for its laxative affect. For those struggling with constipation, a dose of 500 to 2000 mg daily is recommended. Start small, and then build up until the desired effect is achieved.
Besides its laxative effect, Magnesium is deemed as safe to consume (whether through food or supplement form). However, some may experience stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
Generally and hour or two before bedtime is the preferred time to take Magnesium. This way you get its relaxing benefits before bedtime, which is perfect for helping you to wind down at night.
If you forget to take magnesium at night – simply take it whenever is most convenient for you, whether that be in the morning, at lunch, or at night. You don’t have to take your supplements with food, but you may want to if taking a supplement on an empty stomach causes you a mild upset.
This is very individual and is something you’d have to try for yourself to see how you react.
Considering all of the important roles that magnesium plays in the body – it’s a good idea to consider taking magnesium supplements regularly and eating magnesium-rich foods.
Magnesium can be sourced through many different foods, below is a list of Magnesium rich foods.
•Bone broth
•Sea Salt
•Most Nuts (Almonds, Cashews, etc…)
•Brewer’s Yeast
•Cacao
•Leafy greens (such as Kale, Baby Spinach, Swiss Chard, etc…)
In addition to food sources, you can ensure adequate Magnesium intake by taking a daily Magnesium supplement. Our U-Mag Lemon Flavored Magnesium Drink is a great way to make sure that you get enough daily Magnesium. Flavored with Organic Lemon and with 400mg of Magnesium per serving, it’s a great product to consider adding to your daily routine!
June 01, 2017 | 0 comments
-Written by Dr. Allison Brager
How often have you heard the phrase “you are what you eat”? Likely to the extent that you just roll your eyes when you hear it. But emerging discoveries on our gut microbiome are showing direct links between what we eat and how we behave, this is called the gut-brain connection.
Simply put, what we eat affects how we react and adapt to stress, as well as how much and how well we sleep. So let's talk about the gut-brain connection and how it impacts our health.
First off, let's define the word "Microbiome". The word 'microbiome' is intimidating. This four-syllable word is cleverly used to describe the trillions (yes, trillions) of microbes - bacteria, viruses, fungi - currently occupying your gut.
While this may sound kind of scary, the majority of these microbes are not bad. In fact, most of the microbes that occupy your gut contribute to your general health and well-being.
Since gut heath is so impactful on overall health, it is important to try and increase ‘good bugs’ and to decrease ‘bad bugs’. You can do this by focusing on getting good nutrition, reducing your stress levels, and by making quality sleep a priority.
Did you know that 90% of the body's serotonin supply is stored in the gut? Serotonin is one of a few 'happy, feel good' chemicals produced by the body. This is why the gut is often called out body's "second brain".
Serotonin also is the largest driver of how awake we feel throughout the day and how easily we fall asleep and stay asleep at night. Serotonin is typically described as a chemical 'stimulant' but often interacts with a chemical 'depressant' - GABA - to control and fine-tune our levels of happiness as well as our depth of sleep.
These highways of serotonin and GABA line the gut and in turn, influence our behavior not only during our awake hours, but also while we sleep.
One can't argue that a quality day is a day free of stress, right? A good night's sleep often leads to a good day once you awake.
The gut-to-brain connection and sleep-to-gut connection can also protect against bad days. Because Serotonin is a 'happy, feel good' chemical and GABA helps to fine-tune the level of happiness and overall energy.
A gut full of good bacteria can help ensure that the highways of Serotonin and GABA that line the gut are primed for happiness and goodness throughout the day.
Probiotics promote the production of good gut bacteria. Prebiotics are the fuel source for probiotics. Hence, prebiotics are the catalyst for a healthy microbiome and as a recent study in mice has found, prebiotics promote healthy, quality sleep (Source).
Sleep optimizes body repair and rejuvenation and the gut is no exception to repair and rejuvenation by sleep. Fermented foods are a natural source of prebiotics and probiotics. The process of fermentation favors the production of healthy bacteria. Grab a bottle of kombucha or kimchi (or even sauerkraut!). Better yet, grab a bottle of blue-green algae kombucha for a double bang for your buck.
Antibiotics destroy healthy gut bacteria. I need not mention a well-known side effect of taking an antibiotic. In fact, in the act of spending those extra painful minutes in the 'toilet reading room,' your body's healthy gut bacteria is literally being flushed from your system.
Instead, recent studies suggest banking on prebiotics and probiotics to help protect against unforeseen illness.
In the sleep field, we have seen antibiotics disrupt and destroy the gut, while simultaneously destroying circadian rhythms of sleep and behavior in mammals. Antibiotics can set the 'body clocks' on a whacky, shift-work like schedule, leading to disrupted sleep and unusual activity patterns (including over-eating!).
Exercise is stressful on the body and our physiology. But much like how gut microbes are mostly good, exercise-induced stress is also (really) good. Exercise-induced stress actively re-wires the body, physiology, and our gut to help protect us from harmful stress or to help us adapt and recover quicker from stress.
The gut is no exception to exercise-induced adaptation. Exercise favors the production and sustainment of good over bad bacteria.
Exercise can be as simple as taking a long walk every day. However, keep in mind, that with exercise, you get out what you put in. So push the intensity (while keeping it safe) and start reaping the benefits of exercise!
As we have discussed in several posts, sleep is restoration for your body (you can read our recent article on this topic here). Sleep helps to keep our 'body clocks' on schedule. Sleep helps to repair and rejuvenate the body so we can be our best day after day. The process of repair and rejuvenation via sleep is widespread, and the gut is no exception.
If you are looking for a high quality natural sleep aid, whether it's to stay asleep or fall asleep, check out our Sleep Support System family of natural sleep aids!
Nourish your gut-brain connection, sustain your sleep-gut connection, and thrive on a fit and happy microbiome!
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Dr. Allison Brager is a neuroscientist specializing in the physiology and genetics of sleep and performance. She is author of Meathead: Unraveling the Athletic Brain, which debunks the myth of the "dumb jock" and serves as a manual for optimizing athletic performance through neuroscience. Outside of the laboratory, she is a former college athlete, Crossfit Games team athlete, and is still active in track and field: pole vault and hurdles.
Other Resources for Optimizing Sleep:
1. My book, “Meathead: Unraveling the Athletic Brain” describes several "neurohackers" for bettering athletic performance through science.
2. Podcast on How to 10x Your Sleep.
May 23, 2017 | 0 comments
We don’t get nearly enough sleep as we should. The latest research show that almost half of the US population doesn’t get sufficient sleep at night (source). This leads to many people wondering why they feel so tired during the day.
We are here to help! We compiled a list of the top natural sleep tips to help you fall asleep, and stay asleep, at night.
Our sleep tips are categorized according to their topic, we will cover everything from lifestyle decisions to beneficial supplements (and everything in-between!). Our goal is to help you sleep better!
We have broken our sleep tips up by sections:
•1-7 Before Bed Tips
•8-15 How to Increase Your Comfort at Night and Avoid Sleep Disturbances
•16-21 How Your Morning and Afternoon Impact Your Sleep at Night
•22-28 How To Optimize Your Diet For Better Sleep
•29-33 Herbs and Supplements That Help To Promote Sleep
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The things you do, or don't do, before bed go a long way towards helping to fall asleep and stay asleep.
While morning rituals might be more popular right now, an evening ritual is JUST as important. An evening ritual should consist of a loose, relaxing schedule that you follow every night.
For instance, a hour before bed you turn off all electronics, take any needed supplements, put on your favorite pajamas, write down a list of things you are thankful for, brush your teeth, and then read a book.
The key is to create a relaxing atmosphere and to be consistent. By following this routine you are telling your brain “it’s time to relax and sleep”.
Try to keep the same sleeping routine every night. Go to bed and wake up at consistent times (even on weekends). Experts recommend 7-9 hours, every night. This amount allows you to get a full night of physically restorative non-REM sleep.
This may seem like a hassle, but the payoff in sleep quality is worth it. Your fully restored brain and body will thank you.
An hour or so before before you go to bed at night write down a list of things you want to accomplish the next day. Doing this gives a twofold benefit.
First off, it allows you to empty your brain of all the activities and to-do’s that are swirling around.
Secondly, it gives you an action list for the next day. Having an actionable to-do list ready at the start of every day will skyrocket your productivity!
Creating a thankfulness journal is hands down one of the best things you can do to promote a sense of peace and calm in your life.
Keeping a thankfulness journal is simple, every day (nighttime is best for those looking to create a pre-bed ritual) simply write down 5 things you are thankful for. It can be as simple as being thankful for clothes and a roof over your head.
Write down 5 every single day. Doing this every day is so powerful because it changes your mindset. You can’t be negative and thankful at the same time.
So go ahead and keep track of all of the blessings in your life. You have more blessings in your life than you realize. You have life! You’re breathing. You can read this sentence. Be thankful. Smile.
Nothing earth shattering here. Read a classic at night. Reading before bed is fantastic because it does two things.
First, it helps to wind your brain down and makes you sleepy (especially if you are reading a lengthy or technical book!).
Second, it allows you a chance to continue to learn and grow. That is a core part of being a human. Growing and changing. So read a book a night!
A bath is a great way to relax and get ready for bed. Think about it, what’s more relaxing than taking a bath?
In addition to relaxing your body, taking a hot bath raises your core body temperature while you’re in the warm water. When you get out, your body temperature instantly drops, signaling your body that you’re ready for sleep.
Consider adding calming bath salts to your water, we suggest Herbivore Botanicals Calm bath salt blend. The Vanilla Essential Oil used in the product has a natural calming/relaxing effect on the brain and is perfect for helping you wind down at night.
Stretching is a relaxing practice that provides a myriad of benefits. Doing stretches at night is especially beneficial as it helps you to wind down and prepares your body for sleep.
Here is a link to an article with 7 stretches that will help you fall asleep fast.
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When you're more comfortable, you sleep better. Pretty simple. Here are some tips for how you can maximize your comfort.
Having a comfortable mattress that is right for your body is key. Different people prefer different types of mattresses, whether that means a softer mattress, or a higher density one. Another thing to look at is whether your bedding is too warm for you, having too warm of a sleep environment can cause issues.
Check out the mattresses by our friends at Performa Sleep. It has a special copper lining that helps to cool you and creates better circulation. They have worked extensively with top athletes to create their ultra cooling mattress. You can learn more at PerformaSleep.com.
Getting a set of premium sheets can make a big difference for your sleep. Better quality sheets provide a higher amount of comfort. People that are more comfortable sleep better. Pretty simple.
We recommend the premium sheets created by our friends over at Boll and Branch. Their sheets are created from Fair Trade™ cotton that is Organically grown. In addition to that, their sheets have a high thread count and help to provide the ultimate comfort for every season.
Dr. Christopher Winter, Medical Director at Charlottesville Neurology & Sleep Medicine, says your bedroom should be between 60 to 67 degrees Fahrenheit for optimal sleep. Temperatures above, or below, can be disruptive and cause sleep problems.
Switching your thermostat to a lower temperature is the easiest way to change the temperature of your sleep environment. Another, potentially cost saving way is to check out Performa Sleep’s mattress. It has a copper cooling lining that helps to keep you cool at night, you can learn more here.
Use aromatherapy to release calming scents into your bedroom/home. Great scents for promoting relaxation include Lavender and Clary Sage.
If you are interested in trying out Aromatherapy, you can easily get started by picking up a fan fuser model. These tend to be easy to use and affordable.
You can also go with an Ultrasonic model, these tend to be a bit more expensive but work even better. Ultrasonic diffusers often have timers, which work nicely at night: you can set the timer to go on and off throughout the night so it's not running continuously.
Light is the most potent environmental cue for our biological clocks and bodies. Light tells us when to wake up, dictates how alert or sleepy we are across the day, and can keep us up at night.
Melatonin is a sleep inducing hormone that our bodies naturally create. At night, when it starts to get dark out, Melatonin is released into our bodies to help us wind down and prepare for bed.
Research show that sleeping in total darkness increases the amount of Melatonin that our bodies release (source). The only problem is that it is our body’s release of Melatonin is highly sensitive to light. At night when your body senses light, it reduces (or even completely stops) the release of Melatonin. This leads to a host of sleep problems.
A window cover is a good way to make sure that your bedroom is completely dark. We recommend these Window Covers, which are simple to setup and does the job effectively by blocking all outside light. You can also easily take them on and off.
According to new research, the more time you spend on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc…), the more likely it is that you will experience sleep disturbances (source). Try limiting your amount of social media every day, or at least cutting it off an hour before bedtime.
Another way to reduce time spent on social media is to install a time tracking app on your phone. At Utzy we have used and recommend the app Instant by Emberify. It keeps track of your sleep, phone time, etc… It also lets you keep track of self imposed limits, a super helpful feature. You can download Instant on the App Store or Google Play.
Peaceful sleep is sleep without noise. People who live near traffic often have sub-arousal states of sleep; meaning they are asleep per se but there are hints of wakeful activity in their brains.
This happens because noise activates our body’s defense mechanism. This leads to stress hormones being released into our bodies. Our body’s defense mechanism is activated from sounds “as low” as 70 dB when awake and at 30 dB (the sound level similar to that of a whisper) when we sleep.This in turn can lead to sleep complications, lower performance, and generally lower mood.
We recommend that you check out the earplugs by our friends at Happy Ears. Their uber comfortable earplugs reduce all noise by 25 decibels (on average) lowering the volume so that you can sleep comfortably (without your body’s defense mechanism becoming activated).
Getting a white noise machine is a great way to improve your sleep quality.
A white noise machine works by producing a blanket of sound which helps mask noises that might disturb sleep at night.
The company that makes hands down the best white noise machines is Marpac. Here are their recommendations on how to use their machines
“We recommend always leaving the machine on when you sleep, because part of the purpose is to mask noises that might wake you up in the middle of the night. Many people also like to incorporate it into the before-bed routine as a way to wind down and signal to the brain that “it’s time to relax and head towards sleep.” In fact, we know some people who put their white noise machine on a timer as a sort of “reverse alarm clock” – so when the machine comes on, they know it’s time for bed.”
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Avoid visible clocks and clock watching. Keeping track of time spent not sleeping can be stressful and keep you awake. So go without a traditional ticking clock in favor of a modern clock free of LED Lights (remember, those blue lights keep you up).
An innovative new alarm clock that was recently released is the Ruggie. It’s an alarm clock that is similar to a mat. To turn it off, you have to get out of bed stand on it for 3 seconds. Genius! That’s one way to guarantee that you won’t snooze through your alarm!
In addition to that, the Ruggie can be pre-loaded with motivational speeches instead of buzzing alarm noises; that sounds like the absolute best way to take on a Monday!
Tracking your sleep is a great way to get objective feedback on how well you are resting. Though there are lots of different iPhone and Android apps for keeping track of sleep, the Beddit sleep monitor is the best. It’s a pad that you simply lay down on top of your bed, the pad has sensors that track your nighttime movements and activities.
This gives in-depth feedback on how you slept, how long you slept for, etc… You can check out the Beddit system here.
Nothing jolts your body clock awake and keeps it ticking throughout the day like 15-30 minutes of sunlight in the morning. Sleep scientists from the University of Colorado took students camping for a few weeks and discovered that our body clocks are more sensitive and stabilized by natural light compared to artificial light. Consider adding sunlight to your morning routine!
Get at least 30 minutes of sunshine daily. The sun will help balance your sleep/wake cycle. Sunshine also gives you Vitamin D, which gives you a host of other benefits.
Taking a nap in the afternoon may be a great option for keeping you well rested, but for the fact that napping may impact your ability to fall asleep later that night.
So skip the nap and stretch or take a walk instead. The light exercise will refresh your mind and will give you the mental boost you’re looking for without messing with your nightly sleep schedule.
Regular exercise improves sleep quality, and helps you to go to bed tired. A commonly held myth is that exercising within 3 hours before bed negatively impacts sleep. This is not the case for everyone. The results of a 2011 Sleep Study indicated that vigorous late-night exercise does not disturb sleep quality. So feel free to exercise at anytime during the day!
While there might not be a wrong time to exercise, is there an optimal time to workout? This article goes over the best time to workout.
Avoid caffeine after 3:00pm. Caffeine has been shown to stay in your system anywhere from 4-6 hours after drinking it. Think about it, if you drink a cup of coffee at 3:30, the caffeine from it will be active in your body up until 9:00 at night. Not good.
Even though having that iced americano may help you cruise through your afternoon, it can really mess with your ability to fall asleep later at night. Skip the coffee and consider a caffeine-free tea as an alternative.
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Vitamin B is well-known to promote energy and alertness, but do you know that it can also promote sleep? Vitamin B aids in the conversion of Tryptophan into Serotonin (source).
One lesser-known but potent source of Vitamin B (and other valuable nutrients) is blue-green algae. You can also supplement with Vitamin B via a high quality multi-vitamin supplement.
New research out of University of Purdue shows that a high protein diet can help to improve sleep quality, as well as helping with losing weight.
Better sleep combine with weights loss? Sign us up! Participants in the study ate 1.5 grams of protein per kg of bodyweight. Read more about the study here
Eat some carbs before you head to bed at night. New research shows that eating high glycemic carbs before bed shortened sleep onset (source). This means that eating fast digesting (like jasmine rice) before bed helps to, in a sense, ‘knock you out’.
Now you might be asking yourself, “didn’t you just say to eat a high protein diet is best, and now you’re saying to eat carbs before bed?”. Yes, and both are true.
While an overall diet high in protein is ideal, eating a high carb snack before bed is a great idea for inducing sleep. This research shows the importance of something called “meal timing”. Eating different foods at different times of the day can give you better results. You can learn more about nutrient timing here.
So save some of your daily carb allotment for bedtime. It’ll help you fall asleep faster!
Calcium plays a major part in the function of our sleep cycle. In a study published in the European Neurology Journal, researchers found that calcium levels in the body are higher during our deepest levels of sleep, especially during Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep.
The study concluded that disturbances in sleep, especially during REM deep sleep, can be related to a calcium deficiency. Restoration to the normal course of sleep was achieved following the normalization of the blood calcium level.
William Sears, M.D. writes: "Calcium helps the brain use the amino acid tryptophan to manufacture the sleep-inducing substance melatonin. This explains why dairy products, which contain both tryptophan and calcium, are one of the top sleep-inducing foods."
Make sure to get enough Calcium on a daily basis. the recommended daily intake for adults is 1,000 milligrams (mg) daily. You can get this naturally through foods. High calcium foods include dairy products, as well as vegetables such as kale and broccoli.
You can also supplement with calcium through taking a high quality daily multi-mineral such as our Essentially-U. Our sleep support product Fall Asleep also contains a beneficial amount of Calcium.
Chamomile is one of the oldest medicinally used herbs known to mankind. Many different Chamomile offerings have been developed, the most popular of which is in the form of tea.
There are two different types of Chamomile, with German Chamomile being the ideal variant for sleep support. In herbal medicine, Chamomile is regarded as being a mild tranquilizer and sleep-inducer. These effects may be due to the flavonoid Apigenin that binds to Benzodiazepine receptors in the brain (Source)
We include Chamomile in our Stay Asleep natural sleep aid supplement. It plays a vital role in our formula as a relaxing agent that aids your body falling into deep, restorative sleep.
Recent research shows that your gut health is directly tied to your ability to sleep throughout the night. Specifically, gut health influences your ability to get Non-REM sleep (link).
One of the best ways to take care of your gut health is to take a high quality probiotic product. In addition to that, consider adding fermented foods such as sauerkraut and kimchi to your diet.
The top source of naturally occurring melatonin is found in Tart Cherries. In addition to this, new research shows that Tart Cherry Concentrate helps to increase your body’s Melatonin stores (source). This makes Tart cherries a great option for those looking to naturally increase their Melatonin levels.
You can add Tart Cherries to your diet through a couple of different sources. One way would to buy whole Tart Cherries and to eat them raw, or mixed with other foods (such as yogurt). You can also drink tart cherry juice, just make sure that it’s concentrated juice.
Another option would be our Micro Melatonin supplement. We combine a small, gentle dose of Melatonin with natural Tart Cherry extract. In addition to helping to increase your Melatonin supplies, the Tart Cherry in our Micro-Melatonin gives a fantastic flavor to our tablet!
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Different herbal medicines have been used for thousands of years. Read more about which ones work below.
Melatonin, called the hormone of darkness, is a hormone produced in the pineal gland, that helps regulate the body's circadian rhythm. Simply put, Melatonin tells your body when to go to sleep. As we age, our bodies tend to produce less and less melatonin. This can lead to sleepless nights (source).
Consider supplementing with a high quality Melatonin supplement. One thing to be aware of is that smaller dosages tend to be better. Your body only needs a slight nudge. Check out our Micro Melatonin product, a low dosage Melatonin product perfect for those looking for a gentler result.
Over half of the US population is deficient in Magnesium (source). It is is one of the most important and well-known minerals for human health, it is naturally calming and helps relax heart, muscle, and nerve cells
Magnesium also directs many other biochemical actions of the body. This makes it a perfect mineral to take before bed. Check out our U-Mag Organic lemon flavored drink!
5-HTP short for (5-hydroxytryptophan) is an amino acid naturally created in your body by converting Tryptophan.
The reason 5-HTP is useful for your body is that, once it’s ingested, it gets converted into two important important chemicals — serotonin and melatonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter known as the “happy molecule” for its role in supporting a positive mood. Melatonin is a hormone that helps to regulate your body’s internal sleep/awake clock.
While 5-HTP can be created “in-house” (or in your body), sometimes it is best to increase your levels via supplementation. Supplementary 5-HTP is usually sourced from Griffonia Seed, which comes from a plant found in Africa named Griffonia simplicifolia.
Interestingly enough, new research shows that combining 5HTP with GABA (see below) helped to decrease sleep latency (the amount of time it takes to fall asleep) and increase sleep duration. Our Stay Asleep product includes both 5-HTP and GABA, you can learn more about it here.
GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid) is an amino acid that functions as a neurotransmitter in the human brain. GABA is known as the brain's own calming agent and is naturally produced in the body. By supporting a naturally balanced level of brain stimulation, GABA's presence within the central nervous system may help promote feelings of relaxation and calmness.
GABA is available in food form through various kinds of fermented foods (such as Kimchi and different types of cheeses). GABA is also available in a supplement form. The best form is a clinically studied, branded ingredient called PharmaGABA®. You can ready more about PharmaGABA and its benefits here. We include PharmaGABA in our relaxing sleep support supplement Stay Asleep.
L-Theanine, also simply called “Theanine”, is almost solely found in green tea leaves. It is known for inducing calming, tranquilizing effects while simultaneously improving mental alertness (source)
The best form of Theanine is Suntheanine®. Suntheanine® is a 100% pure form of L-Theanine, and is viewed as being the leading brand for L-Theanine supplementation. Suntheanine is also the most researched form of L-Theanine, with multiple human clinical trials backing it. Suntheanine® is included in our Stay Asleep natural sleep aid supplement
Have a great tip or product that you think should be on this list? Just email us at care@utzy.com and we’d be glad to hear your suggestion!
May 16, 2017 | 0 comments
Written by Dr. Allison Brager
We know that there are different stages of sleep and that each stage is important for the health of our bodies, but what types of sleep help us to recover better? Specifically, what types of sleep help us to physically recover? The answer is simple: non-REM sleep.
I honestly could not provide you with a simple definition of non-REM sleep. As a sleep researcher, I know too much about it. Thankfully, the Oxford English Dictionary has an accurate and simple definition of non-REM that I will expand on in this article:
“Non-REM sleep is the dominant kind of sleep, when brain activity is much reduced and there is no dreaming."
This definition of non-REM sleep may have you scratching your head. How could a lack of brain activity better performance? Isaac Newton once said, "for every reaction, there is an equal and opposite reaction." Sleep is no exception to the laws of nature.
For every minute that our brains are awake and our bodies are moving, our brains should be "inactive" and our bodies should be immobile. This is exactly what the sleep cycle and stages of sleep are for. This is how our bodies are restored.
During non-REM sleep, the nerve cells in our brain take turns going "offline"-- stopping communication with other nerve cells. At the same time, the cells in our body rebuild themselves, replenishing sugar, fats, and salts for the next day of use. This is the purpose of non-REM sleep. Physical restoration.
This restorative sleep is critical for our bodies. Hence, this is why 85% of our time asleep at night is spent in non-REM sleep. If you are interested in learning how to fall asleep naturally, you can read my other article here.
Here’s a surprising fact. Our bodies release muscle building hormones (such as Growth Hormone and Testosterone) when we sleep. Specifically, the release of Growth Hormone is triggered by non-REM sleep. Every time I tell an athlete that non-REM sleep activates the release of growth hormone, I get questions. It's true! Everyone seems to be interested in recovering better.
Contrary to popular belief, your body does not release growth hormone and testosterone directly after a high-intensity workout or sweat session. Your body releases growth hormone at night when you are in non-REM sleep, especially deep non-REM sleep (stage 3 sleep).
What happens if you only sleep for four hours and not the recommended eight hours? Well, then your body will only release half the amount of muscle-building hormones as shown in a famous study in The Lancet.
Ladies, we also release testosterone to help build lean muscle: there is a single cell factor (termed 'enzyme') that converts estrogen into testosterone and testosterone into estrogen. Also, the more active you are, the more testosterone you release. So there you have it, your blueprint for building lean muscle and losing body fat is to get a full night’s sleep (8.4 hours is ideal)!
Non-REM sleep is important for all types of physical restoration, not just for building muscle. non-REM sleep also triggers the release of many, many cell factors in our body to be ready for the next day; the kidneys will replenish salt stores, the brain and muscles replenish sugar and fat stores, and so on.
Even if you don't have a stressful everyday lifestyle, being awake is stressful on the body in and of itself. We build up waste products in our brains and bodies at the expense of being awake, and we use sleep to literally flush out these waste products, especially from the brain. This is exactly what happens during 85% of our time asleep. Get rejuvenated with 8.4 hours of sleep.
There are three stages of non-REM sleep that we cycle through across the night. We enter sleep in non-REM sleep and spend most of the night in non-REM sleep. We finish sleep with REM sleep (typically) but will still cycle in and out of non-REM sleep and REM sleep during the wee hours of the morning. See the chart below to help visualize your sleep cycle
This is the lightest stage of non-REM sleep. We enter sleep in stage 1. If we happen to doze off in class or in the afternoon, we enter our daze in stage 1 non-REM sleep. Buddhist monks are often said to have brain activity reminiscent of stage 1 non-REM sleep at many points of the day.
A brain state reminiscent of stage 1 non-REM sleep can be achieved over time with routine practices of mindfulness. There is some but not much physical restoration during stage 1 non-REM sleep. Stage 1 non-REM sleep is more of a gateway to deeper, restorative stages of sleep.
During stage 2 non-REM sleep, we start to lose awareness of our surrounding environment. Stage 2 non-REM sleep is famous for the appearance of "K-complexes" on brain activity read-outs. K-Complexes were discovered in the lab from when a research assistant 'K-nocked' on the door of a sleep participant.
Again, there is not a significant amount of physical restoration during stage 2 non-REM sleep but yes, nerve cells in the brain do take turns going "offline" during this time. The physical restoration process begins in the body.
This is the deepest stage of sleep. This is the stage of non-REM sleep with the most physical restoration. The brain is mostly shut off from the surrounding environment. Our bodies release muscle-building hormones, clear waste products, resupply energy stores, and make our bodies ready to go for the next day. This is the stage of sleep that we should make a priority.
The second type of sleep is Rapid Eye-Movement (REM) sleep. In pop culture, REM sleep is talked about much more than NREM sleep. This due to the fact that REM sleep is the only time of the night when we dream (which is fascinating in and of itself!)
While non-REM sleep is critical for physical restoration, REM sleep is critical for mental restoration. REM sleep is necessary for us to remember facts and skills that we just learned and for repeating this information the next day.
Non-REM sleep is for physical health, and REM sleep is for mental health. It’s that simple. We cycle in and out of non-REM and REM sleep across the night, restoring and preserving our physical and mental health in the process!
Light emitted from cell phones, tablets, and HDTVs actively suppresses the release of melatonin: “the hormone of darkness”. Melatonin is released to help us fall asleep and stay asleep, maximizing our time in non-REM sleep. Melatonin release is extremely sensitive to LED light.
Put away your technology at night and read a book as you get ready to sleep at night. Your relaxed, calm brain will thank me.
Most people are magnesium-deficient and need to supplement. In fact, research shows that half of the US population is deficient. Magnesium, particularly Magnesium Carbonate, slightly elevates levels of carbon dioxide in our blood. This reaction tricks our brain into thinking it should be asleep.
Magnesium may also reduce the chance that you’ll experience restless legs syndrome (i.e. leg twitching at night due to fatigue) and wake up because of it.
If you aren’t getting enough Magnesium, you can supplement with a high quality product like Utzy’s U-Mag. It’s inexpensive to take and insures that you get enough Magnesium every day. Did I mentioned it is flavored with Organic lemon and takes delicious? Check it out here.
To wrap this article up my simple advice is this: do whatever you can to achieve the golden 8.4 hours of sleep per night. That's over six hours of physical restoration from non-REM sleep! Your body will thank you.
If you are interested in how to get your body to Stay Asleep or how to Fall Asleep, you can ready my other articles on those subjects here. Utzy also has supplements aimed at aiding in a good night's rest, you can check them out there Sleep Support System here.
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Dr. Allison Brager is a neuroscientist specializing in the physiology and genetics of sleep and performance. She is author of Meathead: Unraveling the Athletic Brain, which debunks the myth of the "dumb jock" and serves as a manual for optimizing athletic performance through neuroscience. Outside of the laboratory, she is a former college athlete, Crossfit Games team athlete, and is still active in track and field: pole vault and hurdles.
Other Resources for Optimizing Sleep:
1. My book, “Meathead: Unraveling the Athletic Brain” describes several "neurohackers" for bettering athletic performance through science.
2. Podcast on How to 10x Your Sleep.
May 11, 2017 | 0 comments
You may have heard of Suntheanine® and you may be asking yourself, what is it? Well you’ve come to the right place! Suntheanine® is a branded ingredient made up of an amino acid called L-Theanine.
L-Theanine, also simply called “Theanine”, is almost solely found in green tea leaves. It is known for inducing calming, tranquilizing effects while simultaneously improving mental alertness.
Suntheanine® is a 100% pure form of L-Theanine, and is viewed as being the leading brand for L-Theanine supplementation. Suntheanine is also the most researched form of L-Theanine, with multiple human clinical trials backing it. Below we dig into the data behind this ingredient and whether you should consider taking it.
Suntheanine®, which is produced by Taiyo (a pioneer in green tea research), is manufactured via a enzymatic process that mimics the natural process in green tea leaves resulting in a 100% pure L-isomer-theanine. It’s not an extract of green tea, but rather is a patented enzymatic process that produces pure L-theanine.
This in-depth manufacturing process creates a highly purified L-Theanine ingredient that is more concentrated than what is found in nature. This allows you to take concentrated amounts of L-Theanine without having to drink endless amounts of green tea every day.
Suntheanine® stimulates activity in the brain known as Alpha Waves, which are associated with a relaxed but alert mental state. Along with increasing Alpha Brain Wave activity, Suntheanine also helps to reduce Beta Brain Wave activity, which is usually associated with excited/restless mindset (see chart below).
This makes Suntheanine the perfect supplementary ingredient for those looking to have more of a positive mood mindset along with focused energy.
Since Suntheanine helps to relax and calm the brain, it is a great substance to take at night to help improve sleep quality, whether that involves staying asleep or falling asleep. In a sense, it helps to wind down your brain and prepare you for sleep. With over 1/3 of the US population noting that they don’t get enough sleep at night, Suntheanine supplementation looks like a beneficial solution.
Suntheanine has been shown to act as an antagonist to caffeine, addressing the “negative” effects such as dizziness, nausea, heart racing, jitters, etc., without negatively impacting the stimulant effect of the caffeine. Suntheanine has been shown to improve focus and concentration of foods and beverages that contain caffeine, hence giving you a focused energy (source).
Additional human clinical research suggests that Suntheanine may have application diminishing normal symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), improving learning performance, heightening mental acuity, promoting concentration, and supporting the immune system (source). Please note that these statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Suntheanine has GRAS Affirmation (Generally Recognized As Safe) and letter of no objection from the FDA (with no limits on number of dosages by the FDA). Suntheanine has been used in foods, beverages and supplements around the world since 1994 with no known adverse effect.
•Suntheanine has a number of patents. Other generic forms of L-Theanine don’t have similar patents or clinical research on them.
•Most if not all of the research on L-theanine was conducted using Suntheanine brand. As such, Suntheanine is looked at as the optimal, well researched form of L-theanine.
•Suntheanine has GRAS Affirmation and FDA letter of No Objection (based on safety and toxicity studies using Suntheanine). Other brands use the Suntheanine safety and toxicity data to substantiate their safety (regardless of how their product is made).
•Suntheanine is Non GMO Project Verified.
If you are interested in trying a Suntheanine product specifically formulated for sleep support, consider our Utzy Naturals Stay Asleep natural sleep aid. You can learn more about it here. We also have an entire Sleep Support System of natural sleep aids, you can read more about them here
May 03, 2017 | 0 comments
By Dr. Allison Brager
Sleepless nights are a bane to the human existence. Shakespeare, Ben Franklin, and many other notable figures had plenty to say about it. That's why we are bringing you our best tips for falling asleep.
You may know that I have studied body clocks for the past ten years. As I have mentioned prior, our bodies and brains have sets of self-sufficient, self-operating, and self-sustaining biological clocks. These biological clocks tell us when to eat, when to wake up, when to sleep, and when we perform our best.
These body clocks are sensitive and adapt to their environments. Light is the most potent environmental cue for our body clocks, but other basic needs work just as well in cueing and re-setting our body clocks: food, exercise, and even stress. Thus, if you can plan your meals, plan the best time to workout, and plan your stress (if it’s inevitable) around certain hours of the day, your body will adjust its physiological demands accordingly. Everyone should have a bedtime routine AND morning ritual.
Bright light disrupts Melatonin release. Melatonin is the “hormone of darkness.” Melatonin release is triggered by darkness and dim light. Ever feel extra sleepy in a swanky restaurant or bar even in the absence of libations? Melatonin is released to help us fall asleep and stay asleep. I’ll say it again: put away those smart technologies, turn the TV off, and dive into a classic novel an hour before bed.
Interested in a Natural Sleep Aid for Falling Asleep? Consider our Doctor-formulated Fall Asleep Product
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Dr. Allison Brager is a neuroscientist specializing in the physiology and genetics of sleep and performance. She is author of Meathead: Unraveling the Athletic Brain which debunks the myth of the "dumb jock" and serves as a manual for optimizing athletic performance through neuroscience. Outside of the laboratory, she is a former D1 varsity athlete, Crossfit Games team athlete and still competes in track and field: pole vault and hurdles.
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Other Resources for Optimizing Sleep:
1. My book, “Meathead: Unraveling the Athletic Brain” describes many unique properties and functions of sleep tailored towards bettering human performance.
2. Podcast on How To 10X Your Sleep
3. Invest in a quality mattress. I used to trick myself into thinking my dorm room mattress was sufficient, nope. A firm mattress that has cooling properties (typically through copper lining) is best. Go check out my friends at PerformaSleep. Georgia engineers who designed a mattress for athletes and those who want to excel like pro athletes.
May 01, 2017 | 0 comments
In recent years Turmeric, the strongly flavored spice with a golden hue, has become very popular in the health and wellness community. With over 3,500 studies, Turmeric is quickly becoming one of the most researched herbs in the world. Known for its ability to help maintain proper inflammatory balance, Turmeric is well deserved of the attention that it gets.
So what makes Turmeric so special? It all comes down to a couple of unique compounds found in Turmeric. If we break down Turmeric to its molecular level you’ll see that it contains a special group of antioxidants known as curcuminoids. The most abundant curcuminoid found in Turmeric is Curcumin, which has been identified as the active ingredient in Turmeric. Curcumin is a powerful antioxidant and is responsible for the majority of health benefits attributed to Turmeric.
Curcumin is the most abundant and active antioxidant in Turmeric and as a result has received the most attention for its health promoting properties. This is why you’ll often see the words “Turmeric” and “Curcumin” used interchangeably. Keep in mind though that Curcumin is only a portion of what makes up Turmeric. If you are taking only a straight “Turmeric powder”, you may not be getting a whole lot of Curcumin, the active ingredient. This is why it is important to make sure that you buy a Turmeric extract standardized to contain Curcumin. For instance, our Essentially-U Multi-Nutrient contains Turmeric extract standardized to contain 95% Curcumin.
Turmeric’s botanical name is Curcuma longa. The plant is low to the ground and produces both a flower and a rhizome (an underground, root-like stem). The rhizome (pictured above) looks very similar to ginger; it is this root-like stem that produces the vibrant yellow colored Turmeric spice. Though it grows throughout the tropics, India is the largest producer of turmeric in the world.
In recent years Turmeric has attracted quite a bit of interest for its natural health properties, but it has actually been used medicinally for over 4,000 years. The use of Turmeric dates back to the Vedic culture in India, where it was used as a culinary spice and had some religious significance. According to ancient Sanskrit treatises and traditional Ayurvedic medicine, turmeric has a long history of medicinal use in South Asia. Analyses of pots discovered near New Delhi uncovered residue from turmeric that dates back to as early as 2500 BCE. It was around 500 BC that turmeric emerged as an important part of Ayurvedic medicine. In 1280, Marco Polo described this spice, marveling at a vegetable that exhibited qualities similar to that of saffron.
Through its antioxidant mechanisms, the active ingredient in Turmeric is Curcumin, which supports gastrointestinal (GI) health and helps to maintain a healthy cardiovascular system. Curcumin has been shown to play a crucial role in maintaining proper inflammatory balance in a variety of bodily systems due to its strong NFkB-modulating properties. Studies have shown curcumin supports the maintenance of balanced inflammation in the GI tract, promoting GI health and helping to reduce stomach lining discomfort. Curcumin has been found to provide antioxidant protection to the cardiovascular system, and to help modulate low mood and fatigue by supporting a normal immune response, reducing oxidative stress and intestinal hyper-permeability.
So what's stopping you? Try this amazing natural ingredient and start benefitting from it! We offer a beneficial amount of Turmeric in our Essentially-U multivitamin along with all of the essential vitamins and minerals that you need for daily health. We include our Turmeric in a high potency extract standardized to contain 95% Curcumin. Shop Now
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References:
Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd edition
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92752/
Plant Medicine News
http://www.plantmedicinenews.com/2016/03/whats-in-curry-and-why-is-it-good-for-you/
April 19, 2017 | 0 comments
When you think of the word “supplement”, what’s the first word that comes to mind? Sketchy? Scam? Hopefully not! At Utzy we are advocates for clean, natural products produced with transparency. That being said, reading a supplement label can be overwhelming! Where do you start? How can you tell if your supplements are legit?
The number 1 sign that your supplement might be a scam is if the product ingredient list contains a “Proprietary Blend”. Many companies hide behind proprietary blends because they don’t want to list everything in their “secret” formulas. Major red flag! The idea of putting something you are unsure of in your body is downright scary. An honest, trustworthy brand will include the ingredients and amounts of everything on their product label. If you see the words “proprietary blend”, run!
Below is an image of what a “Proprietary Blend” looks like. While the types of ingredients are listed, this label obscures the amount of each ingredient. This is usually done to hide the fact that the “blend” contains primarily cheaper ingredients (and microscopic amounts of the more expensive ingredients listed).
One major tell for supplement quality is whether the company that sells the product makes the product. When a company self-manufactures, it means that they are invested in the production and quality of the product they sell. Sadly, the majority of supplement companies use 3rd party manufacturers. This means that the brand selling the product has little to no say in how the actual product was made.
At Utzy we manufacture our own products. We have intimate knowledge of the ingredients and manufacturing processes that each product goes through. We do this to ensure the quality and effectiveness of each product.
Did you know supplement ingredients can have “brand names”? Yes they can! Most brands tend to use cheap, generic ingredients (usually sourced from China and India). If your supplement label has Trademarked or Reserved names and icons, it usually means that the ingredients in the product have been tested and have been shown to be effective. Some ingredients may even be clinically studied, which is the gold standard for efficacy.
At Utzy we use ingredients like Albion’s chelated minerals, USP-grade vitamins, and sleep ingredients with clinical trials (see Suntheanine and PharmaGABA). These ingredients have gone through scientific study to show their effectiveness. These vendors have also been around for decades and have shown themselves to be trustworthy.
A quality brand should have some sort of 3rd party testing to verify their product. Third party testing keeps everyone honest and helps to give you, the consumer, peace of mind.
One thing to keep in mind is that there is no such thing as a “GMP Certified” supplement. All supplement manufacturers are under what are called GMP’s (Good Manufacturing Practices). The FDA controls this process. While the FDA will audit and check in on manufacturers periodically, they offer no such thing as a “GMP Certification”. So if you see a supplement brand with a ”GMP Certified” icon, run! No governing body offers this type of certification.
There are quite a testing organization out there, but the big ones to look for are
•NSF and NSF Certified for Sport
•USDA Organic
•Non-GMO Project Verified
•GOED (for Fish Oil, shows sustainability)
We use NSF to test and verify our product and facility. We also use 3rd party auditors to come into our manufacturing facility throughout the year to ensure that we are up to par with all of the latest regulations.
Lastly, be on the lookout for a lengthy list of “Other Ingredients” on your supplement's label (below the Supplement Facts Box). This is where sketchy brands will hide all of their dirty secrets. Below is an example
In particular, artificial colors and flavors are two items to be on the lookout for. Also, check carefully for
•Rice Flour (filler, to make the capsule look full)
•Gelatin (cheaper, animal sourced capsules)
•Carmel color (use for color)
Interested in high quality, trusted supplements? Look no further than Utzy Naturals. We offer a complete line of trustworthy products, manufactured with integrity. With Utzy you can supplement with confidence!
