How RESTED-AF Could Be The Key To Better Health

Sleep. It's the key to life. Without it, we can't function and when we're well-rested we can conquer the world. Lack of sleep increases stress, makes us irritable and cranky, and worst of all can lead to terrible health consequences ranging from heart disease to obesity. 

SO WHAT TO DO?

Optimizing your sleep is the key, and it starts with your nightly routine. Turning off your phone and computer an hour before you go to sleep and not eating before bed are two important things you can do right now to get better sleep.

If you've got that covered but still need to get to sleep faster and stay asleep longer, then it's a good idea to look for ways to induce sleep. That's why we created RESTED-AF.

RESTED-AF is a pharmacist-formulated, scientifically proven, sleep aid to improve the speed at which you fall asleep and the rate at which your body reaches R.E.M. RESTED-AF allows you to fall asleep faster and requires less sleep because the quality of your sleep is drastically improved.

The scientifically proven ingredients in RESTED-AF maximize recovery, enhance your sleep, and help you get the most benefits out of your training and nutrition. 

Benefits of RESTED AF

• Naturally calms your brain
• Adapt to stress more efficiently
• Reduce anxiety
• Enhance feelings of calmness and tranquility
• Improve all parameters of sleep
• Improve memory and cognitive abilities
• Improve serum testosterone

HERE ARE KEY INGREDIENTS THAT HELP YOU GET BETTER SLEEP:

Gamma-aminobutyric acid: Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a naturally occurring amino acid that works as a neurotransmitter in your brain. Neurotransmitters function as chemical messengers; GABA is considered an inhibitory neurotransmitter. 

Its mechanism of action is to block or inhibit certain brain signals and decrease activity in your nervous system. It does this by attaching to a protein in your brain known as a GABA receptor, producing a calming effect.

This helps with feelings of anxiety, stress, and fear. GABA’s natural calming effect on the brain has led to countless claims about the use of GABA supplements to reduce stress. Too much stress is linked to poor sleep, a weaker immune system, and a higher risk of depression, among other things.

Changes of alpha/beta wave ratio values after administration of water (control), L-theanine, andγ-aminobutyric acid(GABA) measured by electroencephalogram (EEG).

References:

• Biofactors 2006;26(3):201-8.
• J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 2011;57(1):9-15.
  
  

L-Tyrosine: Tyrosine is an amino acid that is naturally produced in the body from another amino acid called phenylalanine. Tyrosine is a popular dietary supplement used to improve alertness, attention, and focus. It produces important brain chemicals that help nerve cells communicate and may even regulate mood. It is also found in chicken, turkey, fish, dairy products, and most other high-protein foods.

Tyrosine helps make several important substances, including:

• Dopamine: Dopamine regulates your reward and pleasure centers. This important brain chemical is also important for memory and motor skills.
• Adrenaline and noradrenaline: These hormones are responsible for the fight-or-flight response to stressful situations. They prepare the body to “fight” or “flee” from a perceived attack or harm.
• Thyroid hormones: Thyroid hormones are produced by the thyroid gland and are primarily responsible for regulating metabolism.
• Melanin: This pigment gives your skin, hair, and eyes their color. Dark-skinned people have more melanin in their skin than light-skinned people.

Supplementing with Tyrosine is thought to increase levels of the neurotransmitters Dopamine, Adrenaline, and Norepinephrine. By increasing these neurotransmitters, it may help improve memory and performance in stressful situations. Studies show that Tyrosine can help maintain your mental capacity when taken before a stressful activity.

Mean Accuracy (in %) as a function of load (1-back vs. 2-back) and condition (Placebo vs. TYR). The asterisk indicates significant (*p < 0.05) effect of TYR on the 2-back task. Vertical capped lines atop bars indicate SE of the mean.

References:

• J Psychiatry Neurosci. 2007 May; 32(3): 224
• J Nutr. 2007 Jun;137(6 Suppl 1):1539S-1547S
• Physiol Rev. 2014 Apr; 94(2): 355–382.
• Pigment Cell Melanoma Res. 2012 Jan;25(1):14-27
• Front Behav Neurosci. 2013; 7: 200.

L-Arginine: L-Arginine is a conditionally essential amino acid found in the diet. It is a dietary supplement used primarily by athletes because it is the amino acid that directly produces nitric oxide via the nitric oxide synthase enzymes. Nitric oxide helps your blood vessels relax and expand, which is important for regulating your blood flow.

References:

• J Am Coll Cardiol. 1998 Nov;32(5):1336-44.

L-Ornithine: Ornithine is one of the three amino acids involved in the Urea cycle, alongside L-Arginine and L-Citrulline.  These amino acids appear to reduce elevated ammonia levels when supplemented, and preliminary evidence suggests an ergogenic role due to this.

References:

• Biopsychosoc Med. 2013 Feb 18;7(1):6

Safed Musli (50% saponins): Safed Musli (chlorophytum borivilianum) is a rare herb long used in traditional Indian medicine as an aphrodisiac and adaptogen (a botanical that improves the body’s ability to adapt to stress whether physical, chemical, or biological). Research shows that Safed Musli improves serum testosterone, sperm count, and sperm motility. It has also been shown to relieve stress. Research demonstrates that all parameters of sleep were improved in controlled research studies.

References:

• Ayu. 2013 Jul;34(3):273-5. doi: 10.4103/0974-8520.123118.
• Pharmacologyonline 1: 320-328 (2009)
• Indian J Exp Biol. 2007 Nov;45(11):974-9.
• Integr Med Insights. 2012;7:7-14
  
  

Valerian root extract (root) 0.8% valerenic acids: Valerian is an herb native to Asia and Europe. Its root has been used to promote relaxation and sleep since ancient times. Valerian root contains a number of compounds that may promote sleep and reduce anxiety.

These include Valerenic acid, Isovaleric acid and a variety of antioxidants. Valerian has received attention for its interaction with Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA), a chemical messenger that helps regulate nerve impulses in your brain and nervous system. Researchers have shown that low GABA levels from acute and chronic stress are linked to anxiety and low-quality sleep. 

Valerenic Acid has been found to inhibit the breakdown of GABA in the brain, resulting in feelings of calmness and tranquility. This is the same way anti-anxiety medications like Valium and Xanax work. Valerian Root also contains the antioxidants Hesperidin and Linarin, which appear to have sedative and sleep-enhancing properties. Many of these compounds may inhibit excessive activity in the amygdala, a part of the brain that processes fear and strong emotional responses to stress.

Plasma corticosterone levels in the control, physical stress with vehicle (PS-V) group, PS with Valerian Officinalis extract (PS-VE) group, psychological stress with vehicle (PCS-V) group, and PCS with VE (PCS-VE) group.

References:

• BMC Complement Altern Med. 2014 Dec 11;14:476
• Neuropharmacology. 2009 Jan;56(1):174-81.
• Am J Psychiatry. 2010 Oct;167(10):1226-31 

L-Theanine: L-theanine is an amino acid found most commonly in tea leaves and in small amounts in Bay Bolete mushrooms. It is found in both green and black tea. Most known for helping people relax, L-theanine has many other potential health benefits, including:

• Anxiety and stress relief: A hot cup of tea can help anyone feel more at ease, but research suggests it may be the most beneficial for those dealing with high levels of anxiety. Other scientifically controlled studies found L-Theanine reduced stress and anxiety in people who were experiencing stressful situations.
• Increased focus: Paired with caffeine, L-Theanine may help increase focus and attention. Research indicates that combining L-Theanine and caffeine helps people focus better during demanding tasks. Participants in the research felt more alert and less tired. This combination acts quickly. Research shows that the effects can be felt in as little as 30 minutes.
• Better immunity: Some research suggests that L-Theanine may improve the function of the body’s immune system. One study published in the journal Beverages found that L-Theanine could help decrease the incidence of upper respiratory tract infections. Another study found that L-Theanine could help improve inflammation in the intestinal tract.
• Blood pressure control: L-Theanine may be beneficial for those who experience increased blood pressure in stressful situations. Recent research on people who normally experience higher blood pressure after certain mental tasks found that L-theanine helped control this blood pressure increase in those groups. In the same study, the researchers noted that caffeine had a similar but less beneficial effect.

References:

• Asia Pac J Clin Nutr 2008;17 (S1):167-168
• Nutritional Neuroscience Volume 13, 2010 - Issue 6
• Beverages 2016, 2(2), 13

Mucuna pruriens (std to 98% L-Dopa) Mucuna is a tropical legume that’s very rich in L-Dopa, is the precursor to Dopamine, Norepinephrine, and Epinephrine. It can promote healthy neurotransmission function and enhance your mood and immune system. 

The mechanism of action for Mucuna is by increasing Dopamine in the brain. This neurotransmitter is responsible for modulating a number of cognitive functions including mood, hand-eye-coordination, and others.

Mucuna can be a powerful tool to improve memory and cognitive abilities. Research shows that L-DOPA was able to prevent the decrease in testosterone levels.

This is thought to be due to Dopamine’s ability to inhibit Prolactin (a hormone responsible for lowering the levels of luteinizing hormone and testosterone). Mucuna Pruriens (a natural source of L-DOPA as mentioned above) was shown to increase testosterone levels in infertile men from ages 25 to 40.

References:

• J Young Pharm. 2011 Apr;3(2):119-24
• Fertil Steril. 2009 Dec;92(6):1934-40

If you love getting a great night's sleep and want to wake up Refreshed-AF, click here.