The Official Aminogen Blog

Trends In Dairy Research

The Dairy Research Institute announced some of the most promising research on dairy over the last year and talks about what the organization plans to focus on in 2011.

Their statement highlights several studies that point to the benefits of whole-fat dairy. 

For example, this study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that intake of whole-fat dairy may help to reduce incidence of type 2 diabetes as it was strongly associated with:

 

Lower body mass index

Smaller waist circumference

Higher levels of HDL cholesterol

Lower triglycerides

Lower total cholesterol

Lower C-reactive protein*

Lower fasting insulin levels

 

The study measured blood levels of trans-palmitoleic acid in subjects and found that the higher the level, the less likely the subject was to develop diabetes.

 

Lead investigator Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian was quoted at heartWire saying, "Trans-palmitoleic acid is a fatty acid relatively unique to dairy foods. We don't make it in our bodies, so consuming it is the only way for it to enter the bloodstream."

 

Another study from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found certain constituents of milk fat to lower the risk of heart attacks in men and especially in women. Researchers in this study looked specifically at the effects of pentadecanoic acid and heptadecanoic acid, saturated fatty acids found in milk fat.

In 2011, the Dairy Research Institute says it plans to focus on the effects of three dairy servings per day, how these may improve metabolic health, milk's role in muscle recovery, and translating research findings into practical advice that people can use in their own quest for health.

For more on dairy protein like whey, dairy fat, and all the latest research on the benefits of dairy, you can check the Institute's news site.

*You will probably remember that c-reactive protein levels were lowered in healthy males taking Aminogen with their whey protein more than healty males taking whey protein without Aminongen.

 

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!

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.

Enzymes Not Included: Why Adding Aminogen Makes Sense

Of course, always consult with your physician before taking a supplement or changing your supplement use. 

That being said, let's get back to the question posed in my last post: why add Aminogen? After all, there are enzymes in the foods we eat, and our bodies produce their own enzymes too.

Enzymes in Food

As the article in Scientific American points out, while there are enzymes in food, these are destroyed during cooking.  And when we eat foods in their raw form, our own stomach acid can destroy them anyway. 

You see, enzymes are all very different, and quite particular about what kind of environment they will survive and function in.  They require a specific pH (amount of acidity) in order to work. The stomach is quite acidic and therefore many of the enzymes we ingest are destroyed and inactivated here.

Endogenous Enzymes

These are released by the stomach and pancreas in response to the food that we eat. They are created by our bodies for the purpose of digestion. But these have their limits as well.

First, there are genetic differences in enzyme production.  This is why, for example, some people cannot digest dairy foods and are considered to be lactose intolerant.  Their body simply does not produce the enzyme needed to break down the lactose sugar in milk.

Second, our bodies may not always release enough enzymes for the amount of food we eat.  In the case of a high-protein drink, which would have a gastrointestinal transit time of around 1.5 hours, the body may not have enough time to produce and churn out enough enzymes to break down all of that protein before it slips further down the digestive tract, where it is no longer absorbed.

Athletes and dieters should pay particular attention to this fact because they spend money on supplemental protein. Protein has been shown to be important for satiety, weight loss, improved body composition and muscle mass, but how can taking in more protein benefit you if your body does not absorb it?

Third, our production of digestive enzymes diminishes with age. Food that is not digested properly can cause symptoms like gas, bloating and constipation because they have not been absorbed properly.  This is not only uncomfortable, but it means missing out on nutrients.  And older adults need adequate protein to maintain muscle strength, immune health and more.

Adding Aminogen

So we've established why the enzymes in food and even those produced by our own body may not be sufficient for optimal digestion.

What does adding Aminogen do?

Aminogen is a patented enzyme specifically formulated for protein digestion.  It works in the digestive tract's range of pH's, so it will not be destroyed or deactivated in the stomach or small intestine.

It's been proven in a published clinical study to triple the rate of protein absorption  - take note athletes and dieters- so adding it to high-protein foods and beverages means that extra protein is not wasted.  What's more, it was proven in the same study to increase levels of amino acids absorbed from protein by 100 percent and branched-chain amino acids (important for building muscle) by 250 percent.

I often hear from people who take Aminogen that protein digestion becomes much more comfortable, too, without the gas or bloating that signals incomplete digestion.

So if if you've ever:

Experienced symptoms of incomplete protein digestion,

Spent money on supplemental protein and want to make sure you absorb the amino acids you are paying for,

Or are concerned about getting adequate protein nutrition...

I'd say adding Aminogen makes a whole lot of sense.

Strong Stomach? Digestion Goes High-Tech

How do we know what really happens when we eat?  What goes on in the dark depths of our digestive tracts?

We can feel digestion.  We can measure it on our waistlines. And we can track some of its effects through clinical studies.

But to see what goes on when we eat is difficult.  Technologies like MRIs and endoscopy are limited when it comes to providing a clear picture of digestion. The view of an endoscopic camera is obscured by food in the stomach and MRI's cannot capture the motion of digestion.

So scientists have created a high-tech model of the stomach that allows them to really look at digestion.  It will be interesting to see what kind of research comes of this project, and what we learn about nutrition.

For now, there is at least one thing that we already know for sure, something those of us who work with Aminogen are famous for saying:

It's not just what you eat that counts, it's what you absorb. 

(And you may be surprised by how much of what you eat is not absorbed.)

How well our bodies absorb nutrients depends on factors like:

The amount of time food remains in the small intestine (most nutrients are absorbed here)

How efficiently our body's own digestive enzymes are working

 

As for the first of these factors, if you have not read my post on gastrointestinal transit time and protein absorption, I highly recommend you do.

And as for the second, take a look at how enzymes break down food.

  

 

Now, after reading about nutrient absorption and watching enzymes do their job, you may ask:

If our bodies already have their own enzymes, why take Aminogen?

To which I would say: What a great question! And one that deserves its very own post...

Stay tuned.

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.

Inside the Protein Factory

Have you ever wished you could hand-pick your supplement ingredients, whip them up in a bottle, and wah-lah…. a protein made just for you!?

 

Then you have to stop by the Protein Factory, where you can do just that.

Protein Factory President Alex Rogers inadvertently began his business back in the early years of the internet.  He was someone who liked to workout, and took protein to build muscle. 

When he found he had more whey protein on hand than he could use, he went online to try and sell his surplus.  Alex found it was a great way to sell his extra protein, and he liked talking with other fitness-minded folk about nutrition.  He let people know about his own results with the various protein powders he had tried.

Ten years later, Alex is doing the same thing, on a larger scale.  His site offers information, advice, and gives customers an easy way to design their own protein blends.   Customers can choose everything from protein type – whey concentrate, isolate, soy, etc. – to flavor, to specialty ingredients like omega-3’s and, of course, Aminogen.

I was able to talk with Alex a few days ago (that's him in the picture below) and ask him what it’s like on the frontlines of the protein supplement business:

What gave you the idea to allow people to create their own formulas?

I started Protein Factory a little over ten years ago.  It really began as a result of my own search for a good protein supplement.  I started working out in college, and I knew how important protein was for building muscle and getting results.  But I had trouble digesting your typical whey concentrate, and realized it might be the lactose.

I finally tracked down a whey isolate that worked really well for me - this was before isolate was available in most places.  Well, at one point I had a surplus and got online to find out if anyone wanted to buy it, and that’s when the idea for Protein Factory really came about. And it grew from there.  I think I can say that we were one the first companies to offer whey protein isolate.

Allowing people to create their own formulas just makes sense.  It means that they can take into account their own nutrition needs and experiences, just like I did when I found a lactose-free protein worked better for me.

Who would you say is your typical consumer?

Most of our customers are 24 or older. But we get people at all sorts of fitness levels, from beginners to award-winning athletes - a real mix. 

One of our customers, for instance, is Great Lakes Regional Master’s Deadlift  winner Martin Montgomery.  At age 66, Martin's lift of 502 pounds was third all-time for his age group/weight class.

When did you get interested in bodybuilding and how did you learn what you know about nutrition?  

I have always just been into working out.  Like most people, I really started to get into it in during high school and then college. Through my own research – by taking the time to read the actual studies behind products.

What is a best-selling product right now?

Our CFM (Cross-flow Microfiltration) Whey Protein Isolate.

(Alex has a great presentation on this product; you can watch it here).

  

How do you decide which new formulas/ingredients to offer?

Well, first and foremost, we don’t follow trends, we innovate.  A lot of  companies out there invest more in the marketing of a product than the actual science, so the products can be over-hyped. Protein Factory only uses ingredients that are based on science,  and we only offer products that we believe in.

What is the most important thing to consider when creating your own formula?

Quality of ingredients, taste, and price.  You have to use quality ingredients, but if they don’t taste good you won’t use them.

What trends are you seeing in customer orders right now?  How do you think the economy is affecting supplement sales? 

If anything, we have had more customers.  In this economy, I think that is because we keep our prices as low as we can.

 What advice would you give customers on a budget?  What is the most important, supplement-wise?

                

Use a good quality whey protein mixed with slower-digesting casein.  That way you  

get the anabolic effects of a fast-absorbing protein along with the anti-catabolic protection of slower-digesting casein. 

 What are some of the craziest questions/comments you have gotten from consumers?

One customer who purchased our organic instantized whey protein told us he

gained two pounds in one hour! 

 

While I cannot vouch for his weight gain, I can say that people are definitely interested in our organic whey.  As far as I know it may be one of the only organic whey protein mixes available on the market.

Do you ever get questions about Aminogen?

Usually people want to know more about what it is and how it works. I tell them it’s a digestive enzyme that can help them get more out of their protein by increasing the amount of amino acids they absorb.

What would you tell customers NOT to do when choosing and buying supplements? What is the biggest mistake people make?

Don’t forget about taste!  It doesn’t matter how many nutrients are packed in there, if it tastes horrible you are not going to drink it.

What would you say to someone who is intimated buy all of the information out there on nutrition and supplements?

It can be intimidating.  That’s why at Protein Factory we created EZ Lab.  It helps people who want to find the best protein formula for their specific needs and goals, but are not sure how to get started.  All you have to do is enter some basic information about your body type, weight, goals, etc, and the EZ lab makes recommendations.

Where can your fans/customers meet you?  Will you be attending the upcoming Arnold?

We won't be at the Arnold, but do meet up with us on our website forum, as we will be revealing a new label line soon.

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...