COGNITIVE HEALTH + METABOLIC… How does it work?
Taroeva was founded on the belief that placing our customer’s health, safety and wellbeing should be at the heart of everything we do. And this ethos has been our core value in the pursuit of developing bio-active nutrition that can make a difference to our lives today; it's not just about longevity, but feeling healthier as we age.
We don’t want you to just take our “word for it”, we want you to be totally informed before choosing to use our products. In this article we will explain the ins & outs of our product, how it helps you on your wellness journey, along with clinical trials and scientific studies to back all claims.
COGNITIVE HEALTH + METABOLIC
So what is our COGNITIVE HEALTH + METABOLIC blend and why is it improving the biological health of not just Australian’s, but also our customers globally?
As always, the secret to our success is to keep our products simple, focusing on the things that actually work. The COGNITIVE HEALTH + METABOLIC blend contains three synergetic ingredients (NMN, a-GPC & Lion’s Mane), delivered at an optimal dose that translates into real bio-active benefits. There’s no need to complicate our product by adding multiple low dose ingredients that offer minimal nutritional and wellbeing outcomes.
The main focus of this blend is to capitalise on the incredible Metabolic and Longevity benefits of NMN, by adding powerful cognitive compounds to maximise overall Brain health and Nervous system function.
Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN)
NMN is considered as a key component to increase NAD+ levels within our bodies. As we age, our NAD+ levels decrease, leading to DNA breakdown, lower levels of energy, age related weight gain, amongst many other signs of ageing. Supplementing with NMN supports longevity by supporting and boosting your NAD+ levels.
Alpha-GPC
Alpha-GPC is a supplement that increases the brain levels of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter, this is important for memory and learning. Supplementing with Alpha-GPC supports cognitive health, memory, and Isometric strength.
Hericium Erinaceus (Lion’s Mane)
Lion’s Mane benefits are numerous and span physical, cognitive, and mental health. The extract is a great source of natural bio-active compounds, which are health-promoting chemicals, exhibiting, anti-microbial and antioxidant activity, and anti-inflammatory effects, along with supporting heart and overall brain health.
Potential Benefits :
Anti-aging via NAD+ production
Energy production
Cardiovascular health
Cognitive health & Mental alertness
Supporting sleep quality & Circadian rhythm
Metabolic support, Muscle recovery
Increased growth hormone secretion
Anti-inflammatory
Nervous system health
Oxidative stress reduction.
What is Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN)
NMN supplement is gaining popularity as an anti-ageing and energy-boosting supplement. But what exactly is NMN, and how does it work? Here we will explore the basics of NMN supplement, the science behind it, its potential health benefits and how to use it effectively.
Let's start with the basics. NMN stands for Nicotinamide Mononucleotide, a naturally occurring compound found in our bodies. It is a precursor to NAD+, which plays a vital role in energy metabolism and cellular function.
But what exactly does that mean? Well, NAD+ is a coenzyme that is crucial for various biological processes. One of its primary functions is DNA repair. Every day, our DNA is subjected to damage from various sources such as UV radiation, chemicals, and oxidative stress. Without proper repair mechanisms, these damages can accumulate and lead to mutations, which in turn can contribute to ageing and the development of diseases.
Aside from DNA repair, NAD+ also plays a critical role in cellular energy production. Our cells rely on a process called cellular respiration to generate energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). NAD+ is a key player in this process, acting as an electron carrier in the electron transport chain, which ultimately leads to the production of ATP. Without sufficient NAD+, cellular energy production can be compromised, leading to fatigue and decreased overall energy levels.
Let’s Take a Closer Look
NMN is not just a bystander in the production of NAD+. It actively participates in the synthesis of this essential coenzyme. As we age, NAD+ levels naturally decline, which can impact overall health and energy levels. This decline is believed to be one of the contributing factors to the ageing process itself. By supplementing with NMN, we can potentially boost NAD+ levels and counteract the effects of ageing.
Research has shown that NMN supplementation can have numerous benefits. In addition to its role in DNA repair and cellular energy production, NMN has been found to improve insulin sensitivity, enhance mitochondrial function, and promote healthy ageing. It has also shown promise in protecting against age-related diseases such as neurodegenerative disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and metabolic disorders. Furthermore, NMN has been studied for its potential anti-ageing effects. Research suggests that NMN can activate certain proteins called sirtuins, which are known to play a role in longevity. By activating these sirtuins, NMN can help promote cellular health and extend lifespan.
It is important to note that while NMN shows great promise, further research is still needed to fully understand its mechanisms of action and long-term effects. Additionally, it is always advisable to consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new supplement regimen. Once ingested, NMN is absorbed in the small intestine and enters the bloodstream. From there, it is transported to various tissues, including the liver, skeletal muscles, and brain. Within these tissues, NMN undergoes a remarkable transformation. It is enzymatically converted into NR, a process that is crucial for its subsequent utilization in NAD+ synthesis. This conversion from NMN to NR is facilitated by the enzyme nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT).
Once converted into NR, this precursor molecule is efficiently taken up by cells through specific transporters. Inside the cells, NR is converted back into NMN through the action of another enzyme called nicotinamide riboside kinase (NRK). Now, with NMN back in action, it can be utilized as a substrate for the final step in NAD+ synthesis. Through a series of enzymatic reactions involving NMN adenylyltransferase (NMNAT), NMN is converted into NAD+, the coenzyme that is essential for numerous cellular processes. This intricate biological pathway ensures that NMN is effectively utilized to produce NAD+, allowing for the potential benefits associated with NMN supplementation.
In conclusion, NMN supplement, short for Nicotinamide Mononucleotide, is a compound that acts as a precursor to NAD+. NAD+ is essential for DNA repair and cellular energy production. By supplementing with NMN, we are able to boost NAD+ levels and improve overall health and energy levels.
NMN Dosage
According to the latest clinical trials with NMN supplements, the optimal and safe dose of NMN for 40-65 years old is 500 mg/day to 1000 mg/day. Most of the NMN trials with humans were conducted with these amounts and showed no side effects.
We recommend starting at 500mg per day in the morning on an empty stomach for the first 4 weeks, and then adjust if needed.
Further Reading
There are plenty of clinical studies regarding NMN and its many benefits (please check out our “About” page for further study links)
Below is a link for the most recent clinical human study to date.
Role and Potential Mechanisms of Nicotinamide Mononucleotide in Ageing (April 2024)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10917541/
What is Alpha GPC
In recent years, nootropics, have gained popularity among people looking to improve their mental performance.
The key to this is Acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter, or brain chemical, that plays a role in many key aspects of brain function, such as memory, thinking, and learning. Studies around the use of Alpha GPC (L-alpha-glycerylphosphorylcholine) have shown to increase levels of Choline, an essential nutrient that can be converted into Acetylcholine.
Alpha-GPC is a supplement that assist in increasing brain levels of Acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter, that is important for memory and learning. Neurons that produce Acetylcholine are some of the first neurons lost in Alzheimer’s disease, and theoretically, taking Alpha-GPC can compensate for that loss. Research studies suggest that Alpha-GPC can improve cognition health in humans.
Let’s Take a Closer Look
Dietary supplements that can increase Choline levels and reduce the breakdown of Acetylcholine include Alpha-GPC (L-alpha-glycerylphosphorylcholine) and citicoline. However, Alpha-GPC is typically higher in Choline content per unit weight and are more easily absorbed than other forms. Which is great news as Choline is an essential nutrient that can be converted into higher levels Acetylcholine, improving cognitive and brain health.
What is Acetylcholine; it is a molecule that functions as a neurotransmitter (chemical messenger) in your body. This means it relays messages from your brain to your body through nerve cells. It’s produced from Acetyl coenzyme, which comes from the sugar molecule glucose, and Choline, with the help of an enzyme called Choline Acetyltransferase.
It has many important functions in the body and plays a role in muscle movement, thinking, working memory, and many other brain functions. Low Acetylcholine levels have been linked to learning and memory impairments, as well as brain disorders, such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Because Acetylcholine plays a role in brain functions, supplements that increase Acetylcholine levels have gained interest as nootropics, natural or synthetic substances that may improve your mental performance.
Acetylcholine, as the name suggests, is made from choline which can be found in foods such as eggs, liver, seeds vegetables and legumes. Once ingested, choline readily crosses the blood-brain barrier and is taken up by cholinergic nerve terminals via sodium-dependent uptake channels. Once Acetylcholine is formed in the brain, it is involved in the formation of memories, motivation, arousal and attention. It makes sense to boost brain choline levels and more specifically consume choline-rich ingredients such as Alpha-GPC before mental exertion and exercise. This is why Alpha-GPC is a popular ingredient in pre-workout and enery drinks. It is often combined with other ingredients that activate the brain such as caffeine. Research of Alpha-GPC over the last 30 years has shown that it plays a pivotal role in brain function.
Acetylcholine can’t be taken as a dietary supplement. However, supplements that increase the release of Acetylcholine, such as Alpha-GPC supplementation, with the ability to inhibit the breakdown of Acetylcholine can boost Acetylcholine levels and cognitive performance.
Alpha-GPC Dosage
For everyday use, we recommend a dose of 300 mg for the first 4 weeks, and then to increase to 600mg if you decide you would benefit from more.
When taken at recommended dosages Alpha GPC is well tolerated. For most adults the range of acceptable dosage is relatively broad; a cumulative daily dosage of 300-1200 mg is safe and efficient.
As is the case with all supplements, it is wise to start with the lowest possible effective dose and build gradually as needed.
Further Reading
There are plenty of clinical studies regarding Alpha GPC and its many benefits (please check out our “About” page for further study links)
Below is a link for the most recent clinical human study to date.
Choline supplements: Alpha-GPC (March 2023)
What is Hericium Erinaceus (Lion’s Mane)
Lion’s mane, also known as Hericium erinaceusis, a mushroom with a history of both medicinal and culinary uses in Asia and Europe. Medicinal mushroom use dates back to 450 BCE when Greek physician Hippocrates discovered the potential anti-inflammatory properties of fungi as well as its role in wound cauterization.
The potential benefits of lion’s mane mushroom are numerous and span physical, cognitive and mental health. The mushroom is a source of natural bio-active compounds, which are health-promoting chemicals found in certain foods and plants. As a result, it exhibits disease-fighting properties, including anti-cancer, anti-microbial and antioxidant activity.
Let’s Take a Closer Look
Lion’s mane contains a number of bio-active compounds found in the lion's mane fruiting bodies (the part we recognise as the mushroom) and mycelium (the mushroom’s root-like structure), that may have beneficial effects on the body.
These bio-active compounds in Lion's mane include polysaccharides, erinacines, hericerins, alkaloids, and lactones. These compounds help protect the body from damage caused by free radicals and inflammation, along with promoting the growth and regeneration of nerve cells. In particular, Lion’s mane has been linked with stimulating a protein known as Nerve Growth factor (NGF), Nerve Growth factor is essential for brain health and neuron conductivity and for the maintenance of the basal forebrain cholinergic system, Neuron conductivity refers to the ability of nerves to transmit impulses through the nervous system.
The brain’s ability to grow and form new connections typically declines with age, which may explain why mental functioning worsens in many adults over time.
Lion’s mane has been linked with stimulating a protein known as Nerve Growth factor (NGF), additionally, studies have found that lion’s mane may help protect against Alzheimer’s disease, a degenerative brain disease that causes progressive memory loss. Previous studies attribute this activity to bio-active compounds in the mushroom that boost the neurotrophins, which promote neuronal survival, neurite outgrowth and dendritic branching. These include Nerve Growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin 3 (NT3) and neurotrophin 4/5 (NT4/5).
BDNF in particular, is highly expressed in the adult central nervous system and is critically important for the function of neurons located in areas of the brain involved in memory processing such as the hippocampus and the cortex. Dysfunction of the BDNF pathway has been linked with several neurodegenerative and neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, Huntington's disease and Rett syndrome.
A 2020 study of people with mild Alzheimer’s disease found that supplementation with 1 gram of lion’s mane mushroom daily for 49 weeks significantly improved cognitive test scores compared with a placebo. The ability of lion’s mane mushroom to promote nerve growth and protect the brain from Alzheimer’s-related damage may explain some of its beneficial effects on brain health.
Recent Research has also found that lion’s mane mushroom extract has anti-inflammatory effects that can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. Other studies have found that lion’s mane extract can also help regenerate brain cells and improve the functioning of the hippocampus, a region of the brain that processes memories and emotional responses.
Researchers believe that improved hippocampus functioning may explain the reductions in anxious and depressive behaviours when using these extracts.
Lion’s Mane Dosage
There’s no standard dosage for lion’s mane mushrooms. The safest, most beneficial amount depends on factors like your age and overall health. You may want to talk with a doctor about the right dosage for you, in saying this the most common usable dosages are ranging from 250 mg - 750mg.
We recommend starting at 300mg per day for the first 4 weeks, and then adjust if needed.
Further Reading
There are plenty of clinical studies regarding Lion’s Mane and its many benefits (please check out our “About” page for further study links)
Below is a link for the most recent clinical human study to date.
The Acute and Chronic Effects of Lion’s Mane Mushroom Supplementation: A Double-Blind, Parallel Groups, Pilot Study (Nov 2023)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10675414/
