The cardiovascular system circulates blood throughout the body to supply oxygen and nutrients and to remove waste products. Each time the heart beats, blood is pumped out of the heart and into the body to supply oxygen to working muscles, or to the lungs for re-oxygenation. Heart rate refers to the number of times the heart beats per minute, and is directly related to the workload being placed on the heart.
Control of the heart's functioning is highly complex. The heart's internal electrical system controls the timing of heartbeat by regulating the heart rate and heart rhythm and aims to maintain a steady heart rate under all conditions. Other parts of the body send multiple, interacting signals for the heart to beat either faster or slower in order to respond to the rapidly changing requirements of the body.
These signals emanate from or are influenced by:
References
Variables influencing heart rate. Prog Cardiovasc Dis. Jul-Aug 2009;52(1):11-9. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19615488/
Autonomic and endocrine control of cardiovascular function. World J Cardiol. 2015 Apr 26; 7(4): 204–214. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4404375/
Cardiovascular Consequences of Cortisol Excess. Vasc Health Risk Manag. 2005 Dec; 1(4): 291–299. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1993964/
Effects of urinary cortisol levels and resting heart rate on the risk for fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events. Atherosclerosis, Volume 248, May 2016, Pages 44-50. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0021915016300739
Correlation Between Striatal Dopamine D2/D3 Receptor Binding and Cardiovascular Activity in Healthy Subjects. American Journal of Hypertension, Volume 19, Issue 9, September 2006, Pages 964–969. https://academic.oup.com/ajh/article/19/9/964/146323
The epigenetic landscape related to reactive oxygen species formation in the cardiovascular system. Br J Pharmacol. 2017 Jun; 174(12): 1533–1554. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5446579/
The cardiac sympathetic co-transmitter neuropeptide Y is pro-arrhythmic following ST-elevation myocardial infarction despite beta-blockade. European Heart Journal, Volume 41, Issue 23, 14 June 2020. https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/41/23/2168/5675548
The Role of Neuropeptide Y in Cardiovascular Health and Disease. Front Physiol. 2018; 9: 1281. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6157311/
Heat Stress and Cardiovascular, Hormonal, and Heat Shock Proteins in Humans. J Athl Train. 2012 Mar-Apr; 47(2): 184–190. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3418130/
Stress (heat shock) proteins: molecular chaperones in cardiovascular biology and disease. Circ Res. 1998 Jul 27;83(2):117-32. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9686751/
Mammalian γ2 AMPK regulates intrinsic heart rate. Nat Commun. 2017 Nov 2;8(1):1258. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29097735/
Cardiac Mitochondrial Nitric Oxide: A Regulator of Heart Rate? American Journal of Hypertension, Volume 21, Issue 4, April 2008, Pages 377–381. https://academic.oup.com/ajh/article/21/4/377/152122
Neuronal nitric oxide facilitates vagal chronotropic and dromotropic actions on the heart. J Auton Nerv Syst. 1999 Feb 15;75(2-3):136-46. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10189115/
Repeated mild exposure to low stress results in increased resistance of cells and organisms to subsequent stress exposure through biochemical adaptations that improve stress resistance. This applies to exercise, environmental and mental stress and supplements that work by inducing stress. On a cellular level, all types of stress cause similar effects.
Overpower contains botanicals that are categorized as ‘adaptogens’ – stress-response modifying compounds that increase an organism’s resistance to stress by increasing its ability to adapt. A characteristic feature of adaptogens is that they act as ‘eustressors’, or good stressors, and as mild stress (or exercise) mimetics that induce stress-protective responses.
The heart displays remarkable adaptability during acute and long-term bouts of physical exertion – the heart can increase its pumping capacity by 4-8 times as measured by cardiac output, which is driven by a 3-4 fold increase in heart rate.
Exercise stress helps your heart muscle become more efficient in pumping blood throughout your body – the heart pushes out more blood with each beat, allowing it to beat slower. With regular exercise, the blood flow in the small blood vessels around your heart improves and the heart tissue does a better job of pulling oxygen from blood.
Multiple micronutrients and their oral supplementation have been shown to have an influence on heart function – blood pressure, blood flow, heart rhythm, heart rate or heart rate recovery. These include compounds such as calcium, potassium, folate, ubiquinone and diverse antioxidants and plant based compounds.
Overpower contains five compounds with varying levels of scientific evidence to back their effects on heart rate. We’ll take a look at each of them below. As the purpose of Overpower is to enhance performance – and as the heart rate is one of the fastest physiological parameters to react to an increase in physical load, we’ve paid special attention to formulate a product that maintains a lower heart rate vs. the baseline.
Exercise clearly offers the most substantiated benefits for overall health, but timely supplementation with exercise mimetics can offer an effective adjunct to athletic activity. The complexity of heart function and control show that it might not ever be possible to mimic all of the complex molecular, physiological and health effects of exercise with other means.
It however takes significant training time to change heart rate variables and precise supplementation can augment and speed up the process. The resting heart rate-decreasing effect takes on average, three months with three training sessions per week to start. Triggering molecular events engaged by exercise through supplementation can also be utilized as a performance- enhancing method independent of exercise.
References
Exercise and Cardiovascular Health, Circulation, 7 Jan. 2003. https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/01.CIR.0000048890.59383.8D
Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Cardiac Adaptation to Exercise. Cell Metab. 2017 May 2; 25(5): 1012–1026. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5512429/
Effects of Exercise on the Resting Heart Rate: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Interventional Studies. J Clin Med. 2018 Dec; 7(12): 503. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6306777/
Trained men display increased basal heat shock protein content of skeletal muscle. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2008 Jul;40(7):1255-62. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18580405/
Physiological adaptations to interval training and the role of exercise intensity. Journal of Physiology, 17 Oct. 2016. https://physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1113/JP273196
Exercise improves mitochondrial and redox-regulated stress responses in the elderly: better late than never! Biogerontology. 2015 Apr;16(2):249-64.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25537184/
Acute exercise stress promotes Ref1/Nrf2 signalling and increases mitochondrial antioxidant activity in skeletal muscle. Exp Physiol. 2016 Mar;101(3):410-20. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26682532/
AMPK and PPARdelta agonists are exercise mimetics. Cell, Aug. 8, 2008. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18674809/
Understanding adaptogenic activity: specificity of the pharmacological action of adaptogens and other phytochemicals. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 2017. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Understanding-adaptogenic-activity%3A-specificity-of-Panossian/bda950298c31fbbdce47976ad2311f02c819eb97
One of the most profound functions of Cordyceps is its ability to stabilise heart beat and correct heart arrhythmia. The research has shown that administration of Cordyceps can lower high blood pressure, correct cardiac arrhythmia and reduce the duration of cardiac arrhythmia.
Cordyceps is officially approved in China for the treatment of arrhythmia, a condition in which the heartbeat is too slow, too fast or irregular.
The mechanism of action is thought to be the adenosine contents of Cordyceps and the activation of adenosine receptors. Adenosine is a purine nucleoside, most commonly recognized with the molecule adenosine triphosphate, or ATP. Adenosine plays a critical role in regulating cardiac function, including heart rate, contractility, and coronary flow.
In the context of exercise performance, a human study done with ‘Peak 02’ mushroom blend by Compounds Solutions, with Cordyceps as its main ingredient, recorded improvements in exercise heart rates at 21 days of Cordyceps consumption. However, there were differences in strength of the effect between participants of different fitness levels.
References
Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd edition. Chapter 5: Cordyceps as an Herbal Drug. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92758/
Adenosine Receptors and the Heart: Role in Regulation of Coronary Blood Flow and Cardiac Electrophysiology. Handb Exp Pharmacol. 2009; (193): 161–188. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2913612/
Cardiovascular protection and antioxidant activity of the extracts from the mycelia of Cordyceps sinensis act partially via adenosine receptors. Phytother Res. 2013 Nov;27(11):1597-604. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23192916/
Endogenous adenosine is an antiarrhythmic agent. Circulation. 1995 Mar 15;91(6):1761-7. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7882485/
The Effects of High and Low-Dose Cordyceps Militaris-Containing Mushroom Blend Supplementation After Seven and Twenty-Eight Days. American Journal of Sports Science 2018; 6(1): 1-7. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330284732_The_Effects_of_High_and_Low-Dose_Cordyceps_Militaris-Containing_Mushroom_Blend_Supplementation_After_Seven_and_Twenty-Eight_Days
L-DOPA, a constituent of Mucuna pruriens and a neurotransmitter precursor, has been shown to reduce excessive sympathetic nervous system activity with subsequent reduction in heart rate resulting from modulation of vagus nerve activity.
The vagus nerve is the longest and most complex of the 12 pairs of cranial nerves that emanate from the brain. It transmits information to or from the surface of the brain to tissues and organs elsewhere in the body. The vagus nerve is responsible for such varied tasks as decreasing the heart rate, sweating, muscle movements in the mouth, including speech and keeping the larynx open for breathing.
Independent of its L-DOPA contents, Mucuna Pruriens extract has been shown to have direct protective action on the heart function in an animal model. The mechanism is thought to include direct action on the heart’s upper chamber, but the exact MoA is unknown.
References
Effect of l-dopa on sympathetic nerve activity and blood pressure in the spontaneously hypertensive rat. Circulation Research. 1978;43:24–28. https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/abs/10.1161/01.res.43.1.24
The effect of heart rate on the heart rate variability response to autonomic interventions. Front Physiol. 2013 Aug 26;4:222. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23986716/
Effect of Mucuna pruriens Seed Extract Pretreatment on the Responses of Spontaneously Beating Rat Atria and Aortic Ring to Naja sputatrix (Javan Spitting Cobra) Venom. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012; 2012: 486390. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3137961/
Shilajit is reported to increase the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood, improve circulation, augment oxygen levels in active tissues and maintain adequate oxygen levels during a low-oxygen state. These effects offer a plausible reasoning for the generic cardioprotective effects it displays.
In an animal model study, Shilajit was found to reduce the heart rate in a dose-dependent manner while the doses were in the normal supplemental range. The authors speculate that ‘the probable reason for this positive chronotropic effect may be due to mimicking of adrenaline- and noradrenaline-like effect or a change in calcium ion levels’. In the heart, calcium ion is crucial for the regulation of heart contraction and intracellular signaling.
References
The effects of Shilajit supplementation on fatigue-induced decreases in muscular strength and serum hydroxyproline levels. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition volume 16, Article number: 3 (2019). https://jissn.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12970-019-0270-2
Parasympathomimetic effect of shilajit accounts for relaxation of rat corpus cavernosum. Am J Mens Health. 2013 Mar;7(2):119-27. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23060465/
Cardioprotective Effect of Mumie (Shilajit) on Experimentally Induced Myocardial Injury. Cardiovascular Toxicology volume 14, pages 214–221(2014). https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12012-014-9245-3
Effect of shilajit on the heart of Daphnia: A preliminary study. J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2012 Jan;3(1):3-5. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22529672/
Rhodiola rosea has been shown to exert multiple effects on heart function. The presumed mechanism of action of these cardiovascular effects is increased nitric oxide synthesis through the activation of the energy-sensing AMPK enzyme, which results in modulation of oxidative stress in the heart. In an animal model, Rhodiola rosea has been shown to maintain healthy nitric oxide levels and reduce oxidative stress in the heart while under low oxygen conditions.
AMPK is activated in a low ATP (energy depleted) state. The net effect of AMPK activation is to halt energy consuming pathways and promote energy conserving cellular pathways. In the heart, AMPK activation lowers the heart rate and appears to regulate the energy status of the heart cells, and maintain the heart muscle and its electrical pacemaker in optimal condition.
Another mechanism of cardiovascular action by Rhodiola is the activation of neuropeptide Y and Heat Shock Proteins. Neuropeptide Y is a stress–responsive hormone widely distributed in the central and peripheral nervous system, which acts as an anxiolytic and inhibits sympathetic activity, which results in lowering blood pressure and heart rate. Heat shock proteins are a family of proteins that are produced by cells in response to exposure to stressful conditions.
In the context of human performance, a human study recorded substantial decreases in heart rates (vs. a placebo) and noted a significant reduction in the average heart rate during the Rhodiola rosea treatment, and stated that ‘....this is very likely a substantial effect’. This result has been replicated in another study, which found that Rhodiola rosea ingestion significantly lowered heart rates at 6 minutes’ time during an incremental bicycle test to exhaustion. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study on humans found that Rhodiola enabled higher sustained workloads at 170 BPM, and improved post-exercise heart rate recovery.
References
A double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study of the stimulating and adaptogenic effect of Rhodiola rosea SHR-5 extract on the fatigue of students caused by stress during an examination period with a repeated low-dose regimen. Phytomedicine. 2000 Apr;7(2):85-9. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10839209/
The effects of an acute dose of Rhodiola rosea on endurance exercise performance. J Strength Cond Res. 2013 Mar;27(3):839-47. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23443221/
Acute Rhodiola rosea intake can improve endurance exercise performance. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2004 Jun;14(3):298-307. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15256690/
Adaptogens stimulate neuropeptide Y and Hsp72 expression and release in neuroglia cells. Front. Neurosci., 01 February 2012. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2012.00006/full
The protection of salidroside of the heart against acute exhaustive injury and molecular mechanism in rat. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2013;2013:507832. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24454984/
Oxidative stress improves coronary endothelial function through activation of the pro-survival kinase AMPK. Aging (Albany NY). 2013 Jul;5(7):515-30. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24018842/
Ginseng supplementation has been shown to have significant effect on the heart parameters such as heart rate and blood pressure during exercise and at rest, both in trained and untrained humans. Ginseng helps increase maximal heart rate and blood pressure during exercise and increases the cardiac output and blood circulation and therefore oxygen delivery to active muscles.
Similar to Rhodiola rosea’s cardiovascular mechanism of action, Ginseng increased nitric oxide synthesis through the activation of the energy sensing AMPK enzyme, which results in modulation of oxidative stress in the heart. Additionally, Ginseng compounds regulate antioxidant proteins which protect against oxidative damage triggered by injury and inflammation.
References
The effect of ginseng supplement on heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure to resistance training in trained males. Artery Research Volume 15, September 2016, Pages 6-11. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1872931216300187
Cardiovascular Diseases and Panax ginseng: A Review on Molecular Mechanisms and Medical Applications. J Ginseng Res. 2012 Jan; 36(1): 16–26. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3659571/
Effect of Korean red ginseng on blood pressure and nitric oxide production. Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2000 Dec;21(12):1095-100. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11603282/
Ginsenoside compound-Mc1 attenuates oxidative stress and apoptosis in cardiomyocytes through an AMP-activated protein kinase–dependent mechanism. J Ginseng Res. 2020 Jul; 44(4): 664–671. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7322759/
Ginsenoside Rg1 Protects Cardiomyocytes Against Hypoxia/Reoxygenation Injury via Activation of Nrf2/HO-1 Signaling and Inhibition of JNK. Cell Physiol Biochem. 2017;44(1):21-37. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29130959/
]]>The study has solid methodology, a good sample size, and included a comprehensive, 12-week randomized controlled trial featuring healthy and fit active-duty Air Force personnel. The participants were randomly assigned to either the exercise plus nutritional supplement group or the exercise plus placebo group.
According to the scientists, the nutritional supplement beverage was designed 'to support both muscle and cognitive performance’. When looking at the ingredients of said nutritional supplement beverage, it’s a protein + carb + fat source combined with a multivitamin formulation augmented with Choline, DHA and HMB.
The exercise intervention was designed ‘to enhance mission relevant strength, cardiovascular health and fitness’ and included a total body resistance circuit designed to improve strength (twice a week), a cardiovascular workout designed to facilitate active recovery, flexibility and core strength (twice a week) and a cardiovascular endurance training and high intensity cardiovascular workout (once a week). Training sessions were scheduled five days a week for the 12 week duration, with each session lasting 45 minutes. In addition, the participants were guided on proper form for each exercise by professional supervisors.
The study found that, relative to exercise training alone, thel fitness + nutritional intervention further improved working memory (+ 9.0%), fluid intelligence reaction time (− 7.7%), processing efficiency (+ 1.8%), heart rate (− 2.4%) and lean muscle mass (+ 1.5%). Out of the measured results, the improvement in heart rate is of particular interest to us at Rohtos Labs.
The authors conclude that ‘our study demonstrates that the combination of a nutritional supplement and an exercise training intervention provided physical health and cognitive gains beyond those from exercise alone.’
Enhanced physical and cognitive performance in active duty Airmen: evidence from a randomized multimodal physical fitness and nutritional intervention
]]>Saimi Hoyer from Hotel Punkaharju and Chef Sami Tallberg discuss our joint venture into progressive employee happiness and personal productivity, as well as their personal feelings on the effects of select Rohtos Labs supplements.
]]>Rohtos Labs, a provider of functional supplements for sports and wellness, announces the addition of a new elite athlete to its roster of sports partners.
Noora Honkala (28), is an Ironman and Duathlon athlete, an elite runner for Half Marathon and Marathon and the holder of national record in 50 km, 100 km, 100 mi, 6-hour, 12-hour and 24-hour events.
She is the youngest female competitor to finish the Sparthatlon, a 246 km ultramarathon classic held annually in Greece. Noora Honkala’s future goals include a rise to the top in the World Championships of 100 km and 24-hour running.
The partnership is based on regimented utilization of adaptogenic herbs and other micronutrients in Rohtos Labs “Overpower Pro” supplementation program over the full ultrarunning season, and on utilizing biomarkers and physiological monitoring to measure the efficacy of the regimen on performance and recovery parameters.
“We are excited about our cooperation with Noora as we have natural, effective and proven means to help with Noora’s performance level and recovery over the grueling ultra-long distance running season, and share the same values of professionalism and dedication to ambitious targets and clean sports.”, says Marko Mäkinen, Managing Director of Rohtos Labs.
Noora Honkala states “We are confident that Rohtos Labs products will provide significantly effective condition support for my training, off-seasons and race season. I am also excited to see how the products will modulate my stress levels during and after my hard training. Rohtos Labs is known for its use of quality ingredients and delivering on their promises.”
Rohtos Labs’ sport partners range from sports scientists and nutrition specialists to dedicated amateurs and international-level pro athletes in various endurance sports, sharing common interests in clean sport and improved performance through functional nutrition.
]]>Can the immune system be prompted to perform better with purposeful nutritional intervention?
While there is little argument that deficiency in both macronutrients and micronutrients can cause impairment of immune function, growing evidence suggests that for certain nutrients increased intake above and beyond recommended levels may help in optimizing immune functions.
Potential intervention agents include polyunsaturated fatty acids, zinc, vitamins D and E, select probiotic strains, compounds found in the tea plant, other phytochemicals, and more.
This study from 2018, published in Frontiers in Immunology provides a good overview on modulation of immune function by selected mainline nutrients.
Be active, stay healthy.
Good physical conditioning and lifestyle that includes enough exercise strengthen the immune system. This association may however have a U-shaped response curve;
intensive exercise reduces the chance of catching a cold, but very intensive exercise increases the chance for period after following such exertion. In athletes, a common observation is that symptoms of respiratory illness take place around prolonged exercise, periods of intensified training or competitions.
This study tracked the relationship between upper respiratory track infections, their severity and frequency of aerobic activity. The researchers concluded that 'perceived physical fitness and frequency of aerobic exercise are important correlates of reduced days with upper respiratory track infections and severity of symptoms’.
Feel happy, have good immune function?
Unlike the perception of being well rested, the perception of being happy may have an association with resistance to illness, independent of other physical, cognitive and character factors.
In this study, a +190 person group was assessed for ‘Positive Emotional Style’ (happy, lively and calm) or a ‘Negative Emotional Style’ (anxious, hostile, depressed), other dispositions and self-assessed health – and then exposed to a virus. The tendency to express positive emotions was associated with greater resistance to developing a cold.
Sleep well, be well?
Sleep quality is an important predictor of efficient immunity.
In this study, the researchers measured sleep duration, sleep efficiency and perceived quality of rest for 14 days, then exposed the test group to a virus.Poorer sleep efficiency and shorter sleep duration prior to viral exposure were associated with lower resistance to illness. The chance of exposure developing into a cold was associated with both sleep efficiency and sleep duration in a graded manner; less sleep, or more fragmented sleep increased the likelihood of developing a cold. The perception of being well rested was not associated with developing a cold.
Sleep is a known regulator of immune function. The body produces more growth hormone and less cortisol during sleep. Growth hormone stimulates the immune system while cortisol inhibits it.
In this study, published in the Journal of Immunology, the researchers utilized sleep as an adjuvant to virus vaccination (vs. a control group that stayed awake post-vaccination). Sleep was found to improve the immune response in various ways.
We take a look at compounds, both synthetic and natural, that may inhibit COVID-19 by looking at initial COVID-19 research and what other lipid enveloped viruses are generally vulnerable to. The role of inflammatory response and pneumonia as key symptoms of COVID-19 are also considered.
This article is solely informational and based on scientific and other references. We do not intend to provide any medical advice or recommendations.
We recommend the WHO Mythbusters website as a good resource to verify generic information on COVID-19 that is circulating on the Internet.
A full listing of references can be found at the end of this article.
Coronaviruses are so called enveloped viruses: they have a lipid bilayer to protect the protein shell of the virus. Due to their lipid coating, enveloped viruses stick efficiently onto their target cells. They also tend to survive longer than other types of viruses.
Lipid enveloped viruses are capable of adapting their surface appearance to disguise themselves and thereby bypass the host’s immune system without being detected. Examples of lipid coated viruses include Ebola, SARS, MERS, HIV, Herpes, Hepatitis C and the Spanish flu (H1N1).
COVID-19 is airborne and spreads as aerosol. The infection rate is 83% upon exposure, according to The Lancet UK Peer Reviewed Medical Journal.
The incubation period of the COVID-19 is anywhere between 1-27 days after exposure. Chinese officials have confirmed that the virus can be transmitted during the incubation period. A person may test negative, yet be able to spread the virus and then test positive later. It can take up to five testings to find out a person is COVID-19 positive.
Chinese authorities state that the official death rate is around 2%. Other sources put the figure around 1%. Chinese have also released the following, possibly conflicting numbers: 6% survival rate for those who are in serious condition and 1% survival for those in critical condition. According to WHO, 18% of the patients will go into either serious or critical condition.
R0 value shows how many people one infected person will transmit the disease to. Los Alamos National Laboratory in the US estimates the R0 of the COVID-19 to be between 4.7–6.6. R0 of 4 or higher is considered to be uncontainable. In comparison, most viruses have R0 of less than 2.
On the positive side, lipid coated viruses all share similar vulnerabilities. They cannot stand the loss of moisture, or heat or acidic environments. Alcohol or heat sterilize enveloped viruses.
The number one cause of suffering due to COVID-19 is pneumonia. Buildup of thick mucus in the respiratory system is also reported.
In pneumonia, inflammatory responses (such as expression of IL-6, IL-10 and TNF secreted proteins and signal molecules) are generally initially elevated to harmful extent. So in the context of COVID-19 it may be prudent to minimize habits and consumables that may unduly spike these immune responses.
Chinese researchers have found that a cause of death for severe and critically ill patients infected with COVID-19 is often the so-called ‘cytokine storm’, an overreaction of the immune system. These patients are found with a higher level of IL-6 in their blood. Last month, the increasing level of IL-6 was recommended as a warning sign that the patient's situation could possibly deteriorate.
Things that are shown to elevate inflammatory responses include generic inflammation, tobacco smoking, excess alcohol, high blood sugar, lack of sleep, lack of exercise, viral and bacterial infections as well as deficiencies in essential micronutrients vitamin D, vitamin C, magnesium, and zinc.
Some immune-supporting supplements that would be otherwise considered beneficial, and might show relative benefits with warding off an infection, are shown to elevate inflammatory responses and avoiding them upon infection should be considered. These include Goji berries, Royal Jelly, Reishi, Grapeseed extract and Astralagus.
Supplements that have been shown to decrease relevant inflammatory responses include, among others, blueberry, vitamin B3 (as Nicotinamide), vitamin C, Spirulina, EGCG, curcumin, resveratrol, inositol, artichoke extract, Boswellia serrata, black seed oil, Rhodiola rosea, PQQ and zinc.
In any case, one needs to consider the unknowns of modulating immune responses (immune suppression or immune stimulation) when having a novel, potent infection.
As of today, the answer to this question is unknown. However, we can take a look at compounds that might inhibit COVID-19 by looking at what other lipid enveloped viruses are generally vulnerable to.
On the synthetic side, Chinese health officials are looking at protease inhibitors to combat COVID-19. Protease inhibitors are a class of antiviral drugs that are used to treat HIV, Hepatitis C, etc. by binding to the viral protease and blocking their replication. Some natural compounds also display protease inhibiting properties.
According to an article published in The Scientist magazine, a COVID-19 patient in Thailand has been successfully treated with a combination of ‘large doses’ of flu drug oseltamivir, combined with HIV drugs lopinavir and ritonavir.
Japanese have reported that an asthma drug appears to be effective in reducing symptoms of coronavirus patients who developed pneumonia.
In order to find novel inhibitors, Chinese scientists have recently screened a compound library of over 687 million compounds against the recently solved structure of the COVID-19. After structural screening, the initial list was narrowed down using different protocols. The relevant study reports a list of 11 drug-like potential compounds, as well as one natural compound of comparable properties.
In the absence of vaccine or working standard treatment, the Chinese have employed a holistic approach and utilized and/or looked at a number of nutritional, drug and combination strategies to combat COVID-19. In addition to compounds addressed in more detail below, these include vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamins B2, B3 and B6, iron, Omega3’s, interferons, gammaglobulin, Thymosin alpha-1, Thymopentin, Levamisole, Cyclosporine A, liquorice root, baicalin, Ginseng saponins, ACE blockers, Chloroquine, Emodin, Promazine, Ribavirin, Lopinavir, Remdesivir, Nitric Oxide, Alpha Lipoic Acid and select phytoestrogens and flavonoids.
Here we take a look at some more common supplements that have been suggested across the Internet to provide help with COVID-19, its symptoms or suppression, in one way or another.
This list is by no means comprehensive. Other compounds that would deserve a closer look include Active Hexose Correlated Compound, Echinacea, select medicinal mushrooms, beta-glucans, garlic, lactoferrin, and more.
While many supplements and natural treatments are being promoted or utilized to prevent or treat the novel coronavirus, none have been proven to work, but some do display possible benefits and potential for wider utilization and development.
Some supplements have evidence for relative prevention or symptom reduction, but that’s for flu, common cold or other types of coronaviruses – nobody knows how well this evidence applies to COVID-19. As of today, the extent of these benefits is unknown – and in any case they are relative and case-specific.
ZincAlthough there is no direct evidence at this time to suggest that using zinc lozenges can prevent or treat COVID-19 in people, zinc displays anti-viral properties and was shown in a laboratory study to inhibit the replication of coronaviruses in cells.
Zinc deficiency may make you more susceptible to pneumonia and zinc supplementation may reduce the chance of death from pneumonia.
Zinc lozenges or other orally dissolving zinc formulas such as sprays containing correct forms of zinc have been shown to reduce the severity and duration of colds caused by viruses. They appear to do this by acting directly in the throat, which is why the timing and duration of use matters when treating colds in the oral cavity with zinc.
Beyond this local effect, it should be noted that supplementing with zinc would not benefit most people unless they are deficient in zinc. Deficiency is more common in elderly people due to reduced zinc absorption. In such people, supplementing with zinc may improve the chance of avoiding respiratory tract infection.
Others who may be low in zinc include people taking stomach acid reducers and ACE inhibitors as medication on a long-term basis.
Vitamin CVitamin C is vital to the function of leukocytes, blood cells that combat infections, and overall immune system health. Vitamin C is also important for iron absorption, and being deficient in iron can make you more vulnerable to infections in general.
Even for common colds, the evidence that vitamin C supplements can help is modest: taking high-dose vitamin C before getting a cold may slightly reduce the severity and duration of a cold, but there is inconclusive evidence as to whether taking vitamin C will help after or during the cold symptoms develop.
There is no evidence that taking a vitamin C supplement, even at high doses, can protect people from infection from coronaviruses.
However, high doses of intravenous vitamin C are currently being tested in COVID-19 patients in China who have developed pneumonia, but the benefit of this approach has yet to be proven.
Vitamin DVitamin D supplements, taken daily in moderate doses, may help to reduce the risk of respiratory infections and viruses such as influenza A in children and adults who are deficient or severely deficient in vitamin D.
Although there is not currently any research suggesting vitamin D supplements decrease the risk of coronavirus infection specifically, maintaining an adequate blood level of vitamin D (20 to 30 ng/mL) by getting proper sun exposure at least three times a week for about 30 minutes, or consuming vitamin D-fortified products, or taking a vitamin D supplement is a good and safe preventative measure for protecting against respiratory infections in general.
Monolaurin - Lauric acid - Coconut OilMonolaurin is a metabolite of lauric acid, a compound found in coconut oil. Monolaurin displays powerful antiviral activity against multiple lipid enveloped viruses.
There is no evidence to date that consuming coconut oil can prevent or treat coronavirus infections in people.
Researchers have proposed a clinical trial using virgin coconut oil, monolaurin, and/or monocaprin (800 mg daily) in patients with COVID-19. This proposal has been published on the Integrated Chemists of the Philippines website.
HoneyLaboratory evidence suggests honey has anti-influenza properties, but there have been no human trials to verify this.
Relatively stronger evidence indicates that honey may help with cough, which is supported by traditional use of honey for this purpose.
ElderberryElderberry extract has been shown in laboratory studies to inhibit the replication of human flu viruses, including certain strains of Influenza A and B, and H1N1.
Small, preliminary trials in people with the flu suggest that, taken within the first day or so of experiencing symptoms, elderberry may shorten the duration of the flu, but more studies are needed to verify this.
There is no evidence that elderberry extract can prevent COVID-19 or reduce symptoms in people who have been infected.
NAC (N-acetyl-L-cysteine)NAC is an acetylated form of the amino acid cysteine. In the body, NAC helps the synthesis of the endogenous antioxidant glutathione, which plays a critical role in the immune system. NAC may improve symptoms of influenza-induced pneumonia.
There is evidence that NAC may improve certain blood markers of immune system health, but there is limited evidence to suggest that NAC supplementation improves the immune system to the extent that it would reduce the occurrence of illness – or prevent coronavirus infection.
NAC supplementation aids lung function in general and may be of help in instances of mucus buildup.
EGCGEGCG, epigallocatechin gallate, a bioactive compound of green tea has been shown to inhibit proteases involved in cancer metastasis and infection by influenza virus and HIV.
EGCG has been shown to damage or alter most lipid enveloped virus particles, including HIV, HCV, influenza, and HSV. EGCG is able to bind to HIV-1 and prevent it from infecting the targeted cell.
EGCG might prove to be an inhibitor of COVID-19, of unknown potency and subject to further research.
With regards to pneumonia, EGCG may help suppress excess inflammatory responses.
SeleniumSelenium deficiency has high implications in viral infections. The selenium deficient regions are more susceptible to HIV infections in the population and HIV infection rates are the highest where selenium intake is the lowest.
Research has shown that a strain of influenza virus exhibits increased virulence when given to Selenium deficient mice.
Selenium deficiency also leads to low glutathione levels and thereby impairs the working of the immune system.
SpirulinaSpirulina, green blue algae, is available on the market as a superfood and a nutrient-dense supplement.
Spirulina displays multiple antioxidant, anti-cancer, immunomodulating, and antiviral properties. According to the Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, green blue algae contains powerful protease inhibitors.
In laboratory tests, Spirulina is capable of inhibiting several lipid enveloped viruses such as herpes and HIV.
Spirulina also inhibits select inflammatory responses (IL-6), so it may also be helpful in reducing the autoimmunity challenges caused by ongoing COVID-19 infection.
Quercetin - IsoquercetinA number of flavonoids are being investigated in relation to COVID-19 due to their antiviral properties. One of the promising ones is quercetin, or its derivative isoquercetin. Isoquercetin is a polymorphic compound that can be isolated from plants such as rheum nobile, mango, noble rhubarb and sikkim rhubarb.
Quercetin has been shown to be a long lasting anti-inflammatory substance that possesses strong anti-inflammatory capacities.
Isoquercetin has been shown to inhibit the replication of both influenza A and B viruses at the lowest effective concentration. In a mouse model of influenza virus infection, isoquercetin administered to mice inoculated with human influenza A virus significantly decreased the virus pathological changes in the lung.
Research suggests that isoquercetin may have the potential to be developed as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of influenza and COVID-19 virus infections and for the suppression of resistance in combination therapy with existing drugs.
For further reading, we recommend Examine.com’s Corona resource:
https://examine.com/topics/coronavirus/
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Zinc: a new risk factor for pneumonia in the elderly? Nutr Rev. 2010 Jan; 68(1): 30–37. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2854541/
Effect of weekly zinc supplements on incidence of pneumonia and diarrhoea in children younger than 2 years in an urban, low-income population in Bangladesh: randomised controlled trial. The Lancet,September 17, 2005. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140673605671097/fulltext
Zinc lozenges may shorten the duration of colds: a systematic review. Open Respir Med J. 2011;5:51-8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21769305
Vitamin C Infusion for the Treatment of Severe 2019-nCoV Infected Pneumonia. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04264533. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04264533
Vitamin D and Influenza—Prevention or Therapy? Int J Mol Sci. 2018 Aug; 19(8): 2419. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6121423/
Anti-influenza viral effects of honey in vitro: potent high activity of manuka honey. Arch Med Res. 2014 Jul;45(5):359-65. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24880005
RANDOMISED DOUBLE BLIND STUDY TO COMPARE EFFECTIVENESS OF HONEY, SALBUTAMOL AND PLACEBO IN TREATMENT OF COUGH IN CHILDREN WITH COMMON COLD. East Afr Med J. 2014 Feb;91(2):50-6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26859020
Honey for treatment of cough in children. Can Fam Physician. 2014 Dec;60(12):1107-8, 1110. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25642485
Inactivation of enveloped viruses in human bodily fluids by purified lipids. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1994 Jun 6;724:457-64. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8030973
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A Review of Monolaurin and Lauric Acid: Natural Virucidal and Bactericidal Agents. Alternative and Complementary Therapies Vol. 12, No. 6, Dec. 11, 2006. https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/act.2006.12.310?journalCode=act&
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Potential of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Preventive Management of Novel H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) Pandemic: Thwarting Potential Disasters in the Bud. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2011; 2011: 586506. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2957173/
Black elderberry (Sambucus nigra) supplementation effectively treats upper respiratory symptoms: A meta-analysis of randomized, controlled clinical trials. Complement Ther Med. 2019 Feb;42:361-365. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30670267
Antiviral potential of medicinal plants against HIV, HSV, influenza, hepatitis, and coxsackievirus: A systematic review. Phytother Res. 2018 May;32(5):811-822. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29356205
N-acetylcysteine improves oxidative stress and inflammatory response in patients with community acquired pneumonia. Medicine (Baltimore). 2018 Nov; 97(45): e13087. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6250560/
The role of adjuvant immunomodulatory agents for treatment of severe influenza. Antiviral Res. 2018 Feb; 150: 202–216. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5801167/
High-dose N-acetylcysteine therapy for novel H1N1 influenza pneumonia. Ann Intern Med. 2010 May 18;152(10):687-8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20479037/
Glutathione: Overview of its protective roles, measurement, and biosynthesis. Mol Aspects Med. 2009; 30(1-2): 1–12. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2696075/
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Protective effect of tea polyphenols on renal ischemia/reperfusion injury via suppressing the activation of TLR4/NF-κB p65 signal pathway. Gene. 2014 May 25;542(1):46-51. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24630969
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]]>När fight and flight har varit igång länge är det inte längre en akut stressrespons utan en kronisk och du känner dig efter ett tag mer wired and tired. Uppskruvad och trött men inte så trött att du kan eller vill sova. Det är inget bra tillstånd att vara i för den här typen av stress gör inte att du blir mer produktiv eller får mer gjort.
Det bästa är om hela dagen kan spenderas i det parasympatiska nervsystemet med bara små besök i det sympatiska. Det vill säga den stressen du utsätter dig för ska vara pang på – som ett hårt träningspass, därefter tillbaka i vila. Det är därför träning är så bra för stresshantering för du bränner av dina stresshormoner under kort tid, så att det blir en skarpare skillnad mellan din positiva stress (träningen) och din negativa stress. Att kortisol, blodsocker, puls och blodtryck går upp vid stress blir ett problem om du ofta är stressad på jobbet eller sitter passiv (och stressad) framför mobilen eller datorn.
I det här tillståndet är du egentligen trött och behöver fokusera på att varva ned och få bättre sömn. Nedvarvning och bra sömn börjar redan tidigt på kvällen genom att du släcker ned och avlägsnar dig från alla skärmar! Läs böcker, meditera, virka, måla. Om du har problem med stress i ditt liv behöver du prioritera att åtgärda det, eftersom stress är skadligt, åldrande och sjukdomsalstrande.
Ångest är en annan typ av stress som i de här sammanhangen brukar inträffa när man känner att det är alldeles för mycket, för svårt och överväldigande. Det är mer noradrenalin och kortisol going än för wired and tired-typen, så här är det inte mer sömn och återhämtning som är främsta lösningen utan att meditera, lära sig planera, sätta gränser och hantera sitt arbetsflöde så att det inte är överväldigande. Som egenföretagare är det superviktigt att säga nej till saker och absolut inte sitta och svara på mail klockan tio på kvällen. Som anställd är det viktigt att kommunicera med sin chef om något inte känns bra!
Jag har tidigare rekommenderat vitamin B6, GABA, L-tyrosin och Ashwagandha vid stress och nu vill jag rekommendera finska Rohtos Labs som har satt ihop jättefina nootropics för att hantera stress och öka sin mentala kapacitet. Deras tillskott Peace (länk till produkten) innehåller sensoril (biotillgänglig ashwagandha), avslappnande derivat från grönt matchaté, biotillgängligt tyrosin, B6 och B12. Jag måste säga att jag blev förvånad när jag testade Peace för mina ångestnivåer kan verkligen vara på topp, och när jag testar lugnande tillskott benchmarkar jag dem mot benzo. Förvånande nog hade Peace en mycket snarlik effekt, den kan verkligen ta ned ångest, i alla fall för mig.
Effekten slår till inom 15 minuter precis som ett motsvarande läkemedel skulle göra och du känner av effekten under 5-8 timmar. Rekommenderad cykling är 15 dagar i streck, en veckas paus och sen en ny 15 dagars. Alternativt 4-5 dagar per vecka.
Du kan läsa mer om Rohtos här 🙂 Det går att handla från hemsidan och de har återförsäljare i Sverige, till exempel happy food store!
Föreläser om Biohacking – här om autonoma nervsystemet
Bildcred Pernilla Lantz
RECIPE
Step 1. Boil 200gr of peeled and thinly sliced ginger for under 6 min. in abt. 0.8 dl of water (abt. 0.3 DL will be lost in the process). After six min, reduce heat to abt. 60c for 15 min.
Keep the lid on to avoid compound evaporation. After 15 min, remove ginger slices.
Step 2. Add 5 caps of Maintain, maintain heat for a while. Stir. Bring heat down.
* Recommended boiling and simmer times ensure optimal load of water-soluble fraction of ginger compounds. After adding Maintain, don't exceed 80c
Step 3. Add 7 teaspoons of GoHoney (abt. 7.5gr each). Stir
Step 4. Add 5 teaspoons of Apple Cider Vinegar. Stir
(5) The yield is about 0.5 L. Refrigerate.
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100 ml Adaptogenic Energy Drink
A superload of water-soluble fraction of gingerols
8.5 gr carbohydrates (fructose + glucose)
560 mg Eleuthero extract
140 mg Rhodiola Rosea extract
200 mg quercetin
100 mg Matcha
100 mg polyphenols, of which 40 mg EGCG
6.5 mg glucoraphanin
3 mg caffeine
2 mg theanine
5 mg piperine
Meet Ms. Jenni Kivioja, an elite MMA athlete from Finland. Jenni is currently preparing for IMMAF’s mixed martial arts World Championships which are held in November 2019 in Bahrain.
Rohtos Labs has been supporting Jenni’s training regimen with concurrent Overpower cycles in order to optimize her key body functions for competition. Based on bloodwork, we’ve seen impressive results with respect to her key hormonal parameters (growth hormone, cortisol) and with indicators of possible overtraining. Anecdotally, her muscle function while active, overall recovery and sleep have improved.
Watch Jenni’s comments from this clip. Get your Overpower adaptogen master blend from our webstore. OP for the win!
]]>The term “adaptogen” was first used in 1940 by a Soviet scientist N. Lazarev, when he described Schisandra Chinensis and other bioactive herbs with the definition: “plant-originated adaptogens that can non-specifically enhance the human body”. In 1998, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) defined adaptogen as a new kind of “metabolic regulator that has been proven to help in environmental adaptation and to prevent external harms”.
Over the last decade interest in and utilization of adaptogenic herbs has been rising fast worldwide, with sales of category leaders such as Ashwagandha and Rhodiola rosea experiencing triple-digit growth. Adaptogens have been subjected to increasing scientific scrutiny and testing. Manufacturers have released adaptogen based supplements.
Most adaptogen based products in the market focus in dealing with mental stress, which is understandable given the epidemic levels of stress in the modern society. As our body’s typical response to external stressors is similar in instances of mental and physical stress, adaptogens are also highly effective in modulating physical stress reactions. They have huge potential in dealing with the considerable physical issues that athletes and practitioners of physically demanding vocations face (on top of other daily stressors like money and relationships).
The most important characteristics of adaptogens, such as stress-protection and a stimulatory effect, are common to all herbal plants classified as adaptogens. Their effects however differ under different circumstances, as have been documented in a number of clinical studies and reviews.
One past scientific review focused on 35 clinical trials on Eleuthero in healthy human subjects, with ca. 6000 subjects, aged 19 to 72, which were performed in normal and stressful conditions: high-temperature environment, forced work, loud noise conditions, motion sickness, heavy physical burden, hypertension, mountain rescuers under forced conditions, athletes, deep-sea divers, intense mental and physical work, and factory workers under extreme working conditions. An improvement of physical and mental work capacity of test subjects was noted in all tested, highly varying stressful circumstances.
What’s more, scientific testing of adaptogen combinations has proven that adaptogens work better when they are used in combination, as their shared and unique effects are compounded with concurrent usage. We will return to this theme in our blog later.
One of the most intriguing characteristics of adaptogenic herbs is the adjustment of their effect to the specific needs of the individual and circumstances (ie. “the non-specificity” of their enhancing effect noted by the Soviet scientists). Adaptogens do not possess one specific mechanism of action, instead they respond to the needs of the body in a balancing manner. For example if testosterone levels are low, they can help raise them to normal, and vice versa. Adaptogens are sometimes described in layman’s terms as a “stress thermometers”, modulating stress responses according to the body’s needs.
We at Rohtos Labs have been focusing in utilizing adaptogens especially for natural enhancement of physical performance. Select adaptogens (as well as other herbal substances) provide a wide range of proven benefits with regards to physical performance.
Adaptogens can promote anabolic recovery. They can produce positive stress response outcomes and modulate associated steroid and other hormone expression. Adaptogens can strengthen the functioning of organ systems, promote optimal response, promote recovery of function and help regulate energy use by improving the function of the neuroendocrine system and by enhancing energy transfer on cellular level, which helps the body to utilize oxygen, glucose, lipids and proteins more effectively.
Rohtos Labs Overpower is a combination adaptogen supplement. It contains full-spectrum extracts refined from five premier adaptogens chosen for their performance-supporting effects.
The five adaptogens in Overpower are augmented by five other herbal extracts.
The herbal blend of Overpower is designed to provide performance support on a systemic, whole-body scale, with an effect over all major organ systems relevant to physical performance. We will be going through all Overpower compounds in our blog, to review their benefits and to have a look at the relevant science.
]]>CrossFit is extremely popular. Often dubbed “the sport of fitness”, CrossFit’s constantly varied and challenging workouts executed at high intensity form a training program that is ideal for conditioning and building strength effectively.
The defining characteristics of CrossFit – highly varied functional movements, high intensity and the in-built drive for progress with regards to conditioning make Rohtos Labs Overpower an ideal companion to systematic, progress-oriented CrossFit training.
Overpower’s system-wide effect and versatility make it a well-suited and convenient choice to augment one’s CrossFit regimen. Overpower is designed to excel in performance support across all fields of action. It is beneficial for both endurance and resistance training and during all phases of a workout. It supports heart function in both aerobic and anaerobic heart rate zones. It can help with oxygen intake, blood flow and lung function. Recovery is easier, so it is possible to train more – and gain more.
Mr. Kim Nystrom, aged 50, is a CrossFit trainer and a competitive athlete, and one of the best conditioned men on the continent of Europe. Kim’s level of conditioning is evidenced by the fact that he’s won five CrossFit competitions in his age group within the last year, including Athens and Rome Throwdowns in April and May, 2019.
Kim trains 4–5 days a week, up to two hours at a time. Kim has been taking Overpower since early May and is now into his second 3-week usage cycle. We’ve been field-tracking the effects of Overpower on Kim’s personal parameters utilizing the Overpower Tracking Protocol – measuring heart rates across the cycle (with an Oura Ring), doing sprint tests and having bloodwork done before and after Overpower usage.
Although Kim’s Overpower usage period has been short, the first test results are already very promising. And once more, there’s a clear subjective feeling of better recovery (partly a consequence of adaptations in muscle function during performance).
Please stay tuned for more, as we will progress through the Overpower Protocol. In the meantime, here’s a short intro clip and some initial subjective written impressions from Mr. Nystrom himself:
“I had a long-term target of being in the best physical shape of my life when I turn 50. Because of hard work, tenacity and drive that goal was fulfilled last October and can be evidenced by the five gold medals won during the past year. With a stringent training and competition schedule good recovery is extremely important to me – especially at this age. With the recent addition of Overpower I already feel my recovery has improved and I am very excited to see where this will take me.”
Helsinki, June 12th, 2019.
We’ve been continuing the field measurement of key human physiological parameters before, during and after an Overpower usage cycle.
Mr. Teemu Launonen is a highly competent physiotherapist from Finland. We’ve been tracking the development of his resting heart rate over his first three-week Overpower cycle using a Suunto Traverse Alpha device.
Over a 21 day period, and while on a daily dosage of 3 OP Alpha + 3 OP Omega capsules, Teemu’s average night-time resting heart rate has gone down from 41 to 37 BPM. This can be considered to be a biologically significant improvement, especially when considering Teemu’s starting level and overall fitness and that this is Teemu’s first Overpower cycle.
Anecdotally, Teemu’s perceived daily level of readiness and his rate of recovery from strain are much improved. The results are in line with the data we’ve been collecting from other Overpower testers and customers.
Overpower contain multiple compounds - including Ashwagandha, Eleuthero and Rhodiola Rosea, which have been scientifically proven to modulate the heart function through varying pathways.
See Teemu’s thoughts on Overpower in this short clip.
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