The Official Aminogen Blog

Weekend Reading: Healthy Lifestyle Trends

Reported in the American Journal of Medicine, the National Health and Nutrition Survey tracts these five factors that contribute to better health:

Maintaining a healthy body weight

Exercising at least 12 times a month

Eating five or more servings of fruit and vegetables

Not smoking

Consuming alcohol in moderation

Researchers found the number of Americans eating five or more daily servings of fruits and vegetables down 16 percent and then those exercise 12 times a month or more down 8 percent, while the number of obese increased 8 percent.

The New York Times reports on the survey as well.

How about your own personal health trend?

Would you say you have taken more or fewer of these healthy steps in the last few years?

Like Your Crazy Cousin Lou

"Americans' Weight Issues Not Going Away", says a recent Gallup Poll.

The November 2008 poll reports that 59 percent of Americans want to lose weight, while 30 percent say they are "seriously trying" to lose weight.

Interestingly, women's reported ideal weight - the weight they wish they could be - increased from a range of 134 to 138 pounds in the previous poll, to 140 pounds.

Taking into account women's actual average weight, most women would be about 20 pounds heavier than their desired weight.

Men who were asked the same question answered their ideal weight would be around 180 pounds, making the average man about 14 pounds over what they wish they weighed.

With around two-thirds of Americans overweight or obese, it looks like our weight problem is not going away any time soon.

So which category would you put yourself in, the wanting to lose weight group or the seriously trying to lose weight group? And has your idea of what your ideal weight should be changed?

Lowering C-Reactive Protein

I reported in Febuary that the published clinical study on Aminogen found Aminogen lowered C- reactive protein by 10%. 

What exactly is C-reative protein? 

Scientific American answers that question today as statin researches announce their drugs reduced C-reactive protein in a clinical study.

Unfortunately, some people experience side-effects while on statin drugs , such as muscle pain and weakness.  The study also found that taking statins was  associated with a slight increase in incidence of diabetes.  

We do know for sure is that C-reactive protein levels are an important measure of cardiovascular health, so it is definately something to discuss with your physician.

And on another note...

A presentation at the American Heart Association Scienfic Sessions reported that  music may be help to improve blood vessel function - also an indicator of heart health. 

Blood vessel function was measured by flow-mediated dilation.  Blood vessels typically dilate when we experience something positive, like deep relaxation or laughing with friends.  This dilation, and blood vessel flexibility, is thought to improve blood flow and help discourage arterial plaque from sticking to blood vessel walls.

The catch?  It only works with music you like.  Subjects listening to their favorite musc had a 26 percent increase in vessel dilation, while listening to music they disliked caused a 6 percent narrowing of blood vessels.

Aminogen, Milk Protein and Reducing Blood Pressure

An analysis of current protein research, published in the journal Nutrition, concludes that some proteins in milk, known as peptides, may lower high blood pressure. 

The authors looked at two specific peptides (amino acids grouped together) in milk: isoleucine-proline-proline (IPP) and valine-proline-proline (VPP).

Researchers found these peptides seemed to reduce systolic blood pressure by 4.8 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure by 2.2 mmHg.  This effect seemed more pronounced in people who already had high blood pressure (defined as over 140 mmHg systolic and over 90 mmHg diastolic).

It is thought that peptides IPP and VPP may decrease blood pressure by inhibiting the production of angiotensin II, a powerful vasoconstrictor in the body.  Vasoconstrictors like angiostensin II cause blood vessels to tighten, or constrict, thereby increasing blood pressure.  If the enzyme needed to produce angiostensin II, called an agiostensin-converting enzyme (ACE), can be blocked, that can stop the increase in blood pressure.  The authors in this Nutrition analysis suggest that IPP and VPP from milk may do just that.

What does this mean for those of us taking supplemental whey protein?  It's good news, because whey protein is derived from milk. 

For those of us taking Aminogen with our protein, the news is even better.  First, we already know from clinical research that adding Aminogen to whey reduces c-reactive protein, a marker of cardiac inflammation, by 10%.

Second, research has shown that adding Aminogen to whey significantly increases ACE inhibition. The peptides created by adding Aminogen to whey increased ACE inhibition by 99% in vitro. In other words, Aminogen seems to enhance whey's ability to decrease blood pressure.

So, my analysis:

Whey(milk proteins) = potential reduction in blood pressure = good.

Whey + Aminogen = proven cardiovascular benefits = enhances absorption and effects of whey = more of what's good.

Aminogen and Heart Health

February is American Heart Health Month.                                      

What does that have to do with Aminogen? 

Well, in a clinical study Aminogen was shown to actually reduce levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a naturally occurring protein in the body that signals cardiac and vascular inflammation.  In fact, some studies have shown elevated CRP levels to be a more accurate predictor of cardiac events than cholesterol levels.  While that does not mean measures of cholesterol and triglycerides should be overlooked, it does mean that many doctors now consider CRP levels an important part of an individual’s cardiovascular health assessment.

The clinical study found that Aminogen added to whey protein enhanced the protein’s ability to reduce CRP.  Whey protein alone seemed to reduce CRP levels, but the addition of Aminogen significantly increased this effect.

Of course, many people take Aminogen with their protein to help maintain a healthy weight and build lean muscle mass.  We know that maintaining a healthy weight - and losing those extra pounds if you are overweight - is important for supporting cardiovascular and overall health.

And remember, your heart is a muscle, too!  Your heart works hard, beating approximately one hundred thousand times each day to push your blood through some 60,000 miles of blood vessels.

Aminogen helps to increase the levels of amino acids available from your protein to nourish that muscle!   …  And American Heart Health Month seems like a good month to do just that.