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IntroductionSnacking has always gotten a bad rap, but in recent years it’s improved its reputation with both dieticians and doctors touting benefits of healthy snacks as part of a balanced diet. 86% of healthy snackers say they snack to help lose and maintain their weight, with the top factors in choosing a healthy snack being taste by 66% and low in sugar by 37%. The BalaFive Cheat Smart line brings you the best in taste while also being sugar free.BalaFive’s Wicked Caramel Popcorn tastes great and is made with botanicals clinically proven to substantially reduce body weight, body fat, and waist size. They contribute to weight management by improving the function of several key hormones that control appetite, satiety, fat burning, insulin sensitivity, and the conversion of sugar into fat. |
IngredientsSaffron ExtractSaffron Extract from the saffron flower acts via the reuptake inhibition of dopamine, glutamate, norepinephrine and serotonin. It improves memory, inhibits neuronal degeneration, has anti-oxidative properties and reduces signs of depression. Safranal, one of the main components in Saffron Extract increases serotonin concentration in the synapses, which correspondingly increases the propagation signals that influence satiety and mood. Serotonin deficiency has been linked to stress-induced carbohydrate cravings and emotional snacking. |
L-TheanineL-Theanine is a unique amino acid found almost exclusively in green tea that exerts beneficial effects on brain metabolism. L-Theanine enhances both dopamine and serotonin production which improves mood, increases satiety and alpha brain activity thus enhancing mental performances while maintaining a calm and relaxed state. |
Welltrim® IGWELLTRIM® IG is a standardized extract of the seeds of African mango, Irvingia gabonensis. It contributes to weight management by improving the function of several key hormones that control appetite, satiety, fat burning, insulin sensitivity, and the conversion of sugar into fat. WellTrim® IG also helps increase metabolic rate. The results are a reduction in percent of body fat, waist size, and hip size. |
Clinical IndicationsSaffron ExtractCrocin is the main chemical compound identified in saffron, whose scientific name is Crocus sativus. It has been used over the years in folk medicine as an antispasmodic, gingival sedative, nerve sedative, carminative, and expectorant stimulant. * It has been reported that saffron active constituents have anticonvulsant, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory effects, and also improve learning and memory.* Crocin is the actual active component involved in both the improvement of learning and memory and preventing effects of long term potentiation blocked by ethanol* and its potential in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases like AD.* In animal models, the effectiveness of crocin has been shown in antagonizing the cognitive deficits caused by neurotoxic agents like streptozocin.* Crocin improved cognition as evaluated by means of ADAS-Cog and CDR-SB in subjects with mild to moderate AD.* In a recent in vivo study, it has been demonstrated that crocin significantly modulates the levels of oxidative markers in the hippocampus, abolishing the deleterious effects of chronic stress on learning and memory.* |
L-TheanineL-Theanine is shown to have significant beneficial effects on anxiety, mood, and concentration. Individuals taking supplemental L-Theanine show improvements in mental and emotional health.In one key study, students with high school levels of anxiety manifested the classical signs including tachycardia, impaired concentration, and slower reaction time. One group of students administered L-Theanine were found to have slower heart rates, improved attention and reaction times compared to a control group of anxious students that were administered a placebo. L-Theanine also did not have the side effects of drowsiness, slowed reflexes or diminished concentration common among anti-anxiety prescribed medication.* |
An additional study assessing the effect of L-Theanine on cognitive tasks, reported that the administration of L-Theanine resulted in a significantly improved general state of mental alertness, due to the increase in alpha wave levels.* |
Welltrim® IGA double-blind, placebo-controlled human study of overweight and obese subjects concluded with those taking WellTrim® IG enjoying a reduction in body weight, body fat, waist size, fasting blood sugar, and leptin (a hormone produced by fat cells that increases appetite and weight), and an increase in adiponectin (a hormone produced by fat cells that helps reduce insulin sensitivity and weight). (CR) |
Icon Group Nutraceutical Ingredients Help Consumers Achieve Healthy Weight Management and Metabolic Wellness (WellTrim® IG)WellTrim® IG White PaperSaffron: A Spice to Help Ease Pain After ExerciseSaffron supplements can prevent muscle weakness and pain after a strenuous workoutStress, eating and the reward systemAdam TC, Epel ES. Physiol Behav. 2007 Jul 24;91(4):449-58. Epub 2007 Apr 14.Medicinal Uses and Pharmacological Properties of Crocus Sativus Linn (Saffron)Bhargava VK. International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. Vol 3, Suppl 3, 2011Looking for Saffron's (Crocus satisvus L.) ParentsCaiola MG and Canini A. 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Food Research International 43 (2010) 1981–1989Saffron in the treatment of patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease: a 16-week, randomized and placebo-controlled trial.Akhondzadeh S, Sabet MS, Harirchian MH, Togha M, Cheraghmakani H, Razeghi S, Hejazi SSh, Yousefi MH, Alimardani R, Jamshidi A, Zare F, Moradi A. J Clin Pharm Ther. 2010 Oct;35(5):581-8.Effects of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) and its Active Constituent, Crocin, on Recognition and Spatial Memory after Chronic Cerebral Hypoperfusion in RatsHosseinzadeh H1, Sadeghnia HR, Ghaeni FA, Motamedshariaty VS, Mohajeri SA. Phytother Res. 2012 Mar;26(3):381-6.Effect of Aqueous Extract of Crocus sativus L. on Morphine-Induced Memory ImpairmentNaghibi SM, Hosseini M, Khani F, Rahimi M, Vafaee F, Rakhshandeh H, and Aghaie A. Advances in Pharmacological Sciences. Volume 2012 (2012), Article ID 494367, 7 pagesAqueous Extract of Saffron (Crocus sativus) Increases Brain Dopamine and Glutamate Concentrations in RatsEttehadi H, Mojabi SN, Ranjbaran M, Shams J, Sahraei H, Hedayati M, Asefi F. Journal of Behavioral and Brain Science, 2013, 3, 315-319Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) Powder as an Ingredient of Rye Bread: An Anti-Diabetic EvaluationBajerska J, Mildner-Szkudlarz S, Podgórski T, Oszmatek-Pruszyńska E. J Med Food. 2013 Sep;16(9):847-56. Epub 2013 Aug 3.Anti-obesity effects of three major components of green tea, catechins, caffeine and theanine, in mice.Zheng G1, Sayama K, Okubo T, Juneja LR, Oguni I. In Vivo. 2004 Jan-Feb;18(1):55-62.L-theanine—a unique amino acid of green tea and its relaxation effect in humansJuneja lr, Chu DC, Okubo T, Nagato Y, Yokogoshi H. Trends in Food Science & Technology. Volume 10, Issues 6–7, June 1999, Pages 199–204.L-theanine relieves positive, activation, and anxiety symptoms in patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder: an 8-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 2-center study.Ritsner MS, Miodownik C, Ratner Y, Shleifer T, Mar M, Pintov L, Lerner V. J Clin Psychiatry. 2011 Jan;72(1):34-42. Epub 2010 Nov 30.L-Theanine reduces psychological and physiological stress responses.Kimura K, Ozeki M, Juneja LR, Ohira H. Biol Psychol. 2007 Jan;74(1):39-45. Epub 2006 Aug 22.L-theanine relieves positive, activation, and anxiety symptoms in patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder: an 8-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 2-center study.Ritsner MS1, Miodownik C, Ratner Y, Shleifer T, Mar M, Pintov L, Lerner V. J Clin Psychiatry. 2011 Jan;72(1):34-42. Epub 2010 Nov 30.Effects of l-theanine on attention and reaction time responseHigashiyamaa A, Htayb HH, Ozekib M, Junejab LR, Kapoorb MP. Journal of Functional Foods Volume 3, Issue 3, July 2011, Pages 171–178.Effects of L-theanine or caffeine intake on changes in blood pressure under physical and psychological stressesYoto A, Motoki M, Murao S, and Yokogoshi H. J Physiol Anthropol. 2012; 31(1): 28. Published online 2012 Oct 29.Effects of Theanine on the Release of Brain Alpha Wave in Adult Males.Song CH, Jung JH, Oh JS, Kim KS. Korean J Nutr. 2003 Nov;36(9):918-923. Korean.The acute effects of L-theanine in comparison with alprazolam on anticipatory anxiety in humans.Lu K, Gray MA, Oliver C, Liley DT, Harrison BJ, Bartholomeusz CF, Phan KL, Nathan PJ. Hum Psychopharmacol. 2004 Oct;19(7):457-65.L-Theanine: properties, synthesis and isolation from tea.Vuong QV1, Bowyer MC, Roach PD. J Sci Food Agric. 2011 Aug 30;91(11):1931-9. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.4373. Epub 2011 Mar 29.Nutrients and Botanicals for Treatment of Stress: Adrenal Fatigue, Neurotransmitter Imbalance, Anxiety and Restless Sleep.Head KA and Kelly GS. Alternative Medicine Review. Volume 14, Number 2. 2009. |
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