The Official Aminogen Blog

Aminogen Now Certified Halal

 Aminogen has now been certified halal by the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA).

 

Just what is halal?

The term halal means “lawful.” Products certified halal are deemed permissible by Islamic law, which requires specific sanitation procedures to be followed when obtaining and processing foods and ingredients, and forbids the use certain substances, like pork, pork byproducts, intoxicants and some synthetic substances.

 

What does this mean for Aminogen?

This means that customers who choose halal products can add Aminogen to their list.  It can be confusing to know how certain products, like supplements, figure in with specific dietary guidelines, so hopefully this will allow shopping halal a little bit easier.

This certification also gives manufacturers working with Aminogen added ingredient value and flexibility. And with the growing interest in halal products -  from both Muslim and non-Muslim consumers - it only makes sense.

You can search a database of halal certified products on IFANCA's site.

UPDATE 5/12/11

IFANCA's database is down at the moment, although you can still visit their main website. I will let you know when the database is back!

Nutraceuticals Spotlight: Aminogen and Sarcopenia Applications

Whether you're worried about losing lean muscle, or you're formulating a new product for same, you don't want to miss this new Nutraceuticals World article.   I'm excited to see a great publication like NW covering this issue!

 

Here's a quote:

"Adequate protein intake is essential for muscle mass maintenance, however, upwards of 40% of Americans, age 70 and older, do not consume enough quality protein. “The body produces fewer endogenous digestive enzymes as we age, meaning that our ability to break down traditional sources of protein (from meat and fish) and absorb amino acids may be compromised,” explained Triarco’s Dr. Anderson. “Nitrogen retention, which is a measure of how much protein is conserved during digestion, can therefore also be affected. Additionally, poor digestion of protein can cause uncomfortable symptoms such gas, bloating and constipation, which can discourage older consumers from getting all of the protein they need.

...Much of what makes Aminogen a great addition to a bodybuilding whey protein…is what also makes Aminogen ideal for older adults wanting to maintain their lean muscle mass,” he said. “Plus, Aminogen’s ability to triple the rate of protein absorption and reduce symptoms of incomplete protein digestion make it ideal for tablet and capsule applications that older adults can take with their regular meals and snacks, in addition to their whey protein."

What Protein Industry Experts Are Talking About Now

"Listen in" on a conversation between industry experts as they discuss the latest in protein research, nutrition issues and product innovations in this recent article from Natural Products Insider.

I had the honor of participating in the conversation.  I was excited to talk about the Aminogen study as well as the growing evidence that protein (and its more basic units -  amino acids and the biopeptides made up of these amino acids) influences a number of metabolic processes and can truly impact our health.

Read the complete article to get a better sense of what this will mean for protein consumers like you!

Aminogen for Cardiovascular Applications

"Triarco Industries announced today new clinical findings which suggest Aminogen® may help support measures of cardiovascular health, such as cholesterol and triglyceride levels. An earlier clinical study, published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, found that Aminogen® significantly lowered C - reactive protein (CRP), an indication of cardiovascular inflammation, by 10 percent.  Taken together, Triarco scientists say these results may position Aminogen® as a strong player in the booming cardiovascular health market."

Natural Products Insider Explores Enzymes, Aminogen and More

Enzymes: Catalysts for Healthy Living," an article in the January issue of Natural Products Insider, includes some good inside information on the enzyme industry. 

It also features some quotes from Triarco President Rodger Rohde Jr.:

 

“One of the biggest myths there may be about digestion is that everything that you eat will be absorbed. The fact is that the body’s ability to absorb the foods, beverages and supplements that we take depends on our age, the quality of the product, what other products are taken with it, gastrointestinal transit time and so on. In order to benefit from the foods and nutrients we take in, we must break them down properly during digestion and absorb them.”

 

 

  

 

Want to know more? Be sure to check out NPI's article, and read some of our previous posts on the effects of gastrointestinal transit time and aging on protein absorption. 

Further reading:

Prebiotics, Probiotics and Digestive Enzymes

Enzymes Not Included: Why Adding Aminogen Makes Sense

 

Oh, and speaking of myths... have any of your own? Let me know what have you learned about protein and nutrition along the way and how that's changed your health habits and goals.

Aminogen Supports Dieters in Struggle to Lose Fat, Keep Muscle

That's the latest headline in Aminogen news, you can read the complete press release here.

How exactly does Aminogen encourage fat loss and, at the same time, promote muscle?  It's an important question because after all, isn't that what you really mean when you say you want to lose weight? 

What you really want is to lose FAT, while keeping or even increasing your lean muscle.  There are all sorts of health reasons for maintaining muscle.  And it's that combination of less fat and more lean muscle that gives your body the healthy, attractive shape you want. 

So here's how Aminogen factors in.

We know that protein on its own:

Promotes weight loss because it increases satiety (you feel fuller, longer)

Effects hunger-regulating hormones like ghrelin, PPY and leptin

Supplies amino acids important for muscle growth and metabolism

Now, add Aminogen into the mix and three things happen:

You can absorb that satiety-promoting protein three times as fast

You can absorb 100% percent more amino acids, and 250% more branched-chain amino acids than if you consumed that protein alone

Your increased levels of key amino acids can affect whether your body stores the energy from your protein as fat or burns that energy by putting it to work in your muscles

The first two effects are pretty straight foward.  Aminogen helps your body to absorb more protein, and absorb it more quickly, making you feel full and feeding your lean muscle the amino acids they need to stay strong.

Let's take a look at the third effect.  Different amino acids have different jobs within the body. 

One branched-chain amino acid that plays an important role in metabolism is leucine.  Leucine actually helps to guide energy away from fat cells, and into muscle, where it can be used.

In the published clinical study, Aminogen increased levels of leucine from whey protein by 230%.  In other words, subjects who took their protein with Aminogen had 230% higher levels of leucine than subjects who did not take Aminogen with their protein.

That's a lot of leucine working on behalf of your fat loss. 

Why not simply take leucine in a capsule, then?

Protein with Aminogen has benefits stand-alone amino acids do not:

Satiety and hunger control, as mentioned above

Increased luceine levels from the protein you are already consuming

Cardiovascular benefits proven in clinical study (this is an important one since so many of us diet, in part, to lower our risk of obesity, metabolic syndrome, and the cardiovascular dangers associated with those conditions.)

Bottom line: if you are taking protein to lose weight and stay in shape, make sure that protein contains Aminogen.

Aminogen Research Highlighted

A recently published clinical study on Aminogen, which found the patented enzyme tripled the rate of whey protein absorption, is highlighted in January's issue of Functional Ingredients Magazine(scroll down to bottom of page.)

The study has recieved quite a bit of attention in the industry, which makes me curious... as a consumer, do you research supplements before you buy them?  Which websites and resources do you use to do your research?  Let me know by adding your comment or voting in this month's poll!

Aminogen and Sarcopenia

A recently published clinical study on Aminogen suggests that the patented enzyme may be beneficial when it comes to sarcopenia. 

Sarcopenia, from the Greek for "vanishing flesh," is the loss of muscle mass assocated with aging.  What many people may not realize is this muscle loss can actually begin by around age 40, with an average loss of 1/3 of a pound of muscle each year. By age 80, an individual may have lost up to 50 percent of their lean muscle mass.  And this can have a big impact on health.

Because adding Aminogen to protein triples the rate of absorption and increases amino acid levels by 100% - and BCAA levels by 250% - it may help to build and maintain lean muscle. 

Additionally, improved protein absorption can reduce the digestive discomfort some people experience on a high-protein diet.  This makes Aminogen a great addition to protein nutrition for older adults, who may be less able to digest protein as their bodies produce fewer digestive enzymes. 

You can read the press release on Triarco's website for more details.

Aminogen at Mr. Olympia

If you plan on attending the Mr. Olympia 2008 weekend in Las Vegas, Nevada this September 26th and 27th, be sure to stop by the Aminogen booth  - #1203.

What I find great about the show is that even if you are not a bodybuilder, there is so much you can learn from bodybuilders about diet, discipline, and transforming your body.  Check back soon for more on that topic, plus a report from the show.

Introducing the Highest Dose of Aminogen Available in a Protein Powder

Although I rarely go into great detail about specific brands of protein, this one is truly Aminogen News worthy. 

Introducing Monster Milk, a great tasting power-packed protein powder from CytoSport delivering 500 mg of Aminogen.  Monster Milk contains 50 grams of protein (whey and casein) along with a powerful dose of Aminogen to ensure digestive ease and maximum amino acid absorption.

You can try it out in Chocolate, Strawberries N' Cream or Vanilla Cream.  I personally love Strawberries N' Cream...