It's no secret that there has been a not-so-subtle war on carbs being fought by “gurus” and self-purported pundits of health (i.e. low-carb and keto zealots) the last few years. And while this may have led you to eschew every miniscule morsel of carbohydrate from your diet, save for the trace carbohydrates that are in your bowl of steamed broccoli, the truth is that the body's preferred source of fuel is carbohydrates.
You read that right.
When you're busting your ass in the gym, on the field, or at home, if you’re pushing your mind and body to the limits, it not only runs best on carbohydrates but demands them. Fat can be a valuable (and necessary) source of energy for the body. But it’s best suited to low-intensity activities -- walking around the block, fasted cardio sessions, etc. For high-intensity exercise and athletics (resistance training, HIIT, field sports), carbs are king
The bottom line is that if you’re serious about pushing the limits of performance, you need carbohydrates.
Still, many of you reading this may be hesitant to fully embrace the power of carbohydrates.
That’s precisely why we created SLYN -- a product that helps utilize carbohydrates to their fullest potential supporting greater performance, muscle growth, and recovery all the while limiting fat storage.
How Does SLYN Work?
SLYN takes a multi-faceted approach to maximizing the benefits of glucose utilization via:
- Enhancing insulin sensitivity
- Increasing the activity of glucose transporters
- Upregulating the activities of enzymes responsible for glucose utilization
Collectively, this supports greater glucose sensitivity and absorption, thereby aiding glycogen repletion, which benefits overall performance, recovery, and growth.
Looking Deeper into SLYN
Momordicin®
Momordicin® is a premium-grade extract of bitter melon (momordica charantia) standardized to 15% bitter principles.
Bitter melon has been used for centuries in traditional medicine for assorted diabetes-related conditions. Studies have found that a select group of bioactives in the plant (triterpenoids, in particular) have AMP-activated protein kinase activity. Additional research both in animals as well as humans indicate clinical studies have shown that bitter melon extract from the fruit, seeds, and leaves contain that the bioactive compounds in bitter melon demonstrate hypoglycemic activity.[1]
Scientists have identified several means by which bitter melon may support glucose utilization including [1]:
- stimulation of peripheral and skeletal muscle glucose utilisation
- inhibition of intestinal glucose uptake
Essentially, bitter melon and its active components may help regulate how much glucose is absorbed following a meal, and it can stimulate glucose uptake into skeletal muscle cells in a manner similar to insulin.
Banaba Extract
Banaba (Lagerstroemia speciosa) is a tropical plant found in many parts of Southeast Asia and has been used in traditional folk medicine as a treatment for diabetes and kidney disease.
The leaves of the banaba plant are rife with bioactive compounds, the two most potent being corosolic acid and ellagitannins.
Banaba supports glucose usage and cardiometabolic health in a number of ways, including:[2]
- enhancing cellular uptake of glucose
- impairing hydrolysis of sucrose and starches (i.e. limiting the breakdown of sugars)
- decreasing gluconeogenesis
- regulating lipid metabolism
Agmatine Sulfate
A metabolite of the amino acid Arginine, agmatine is naturally produced by the body and serves as a versatile neurotransmitter and neuromodulator. It also has some lesser-known benefits in regards to glucose metabolism.
Specifically, agmatine has been noted to increase GLUT-4 transportation and mRNA expression in skeletal muscle, making it an ideal supplement to help direct glucose towards muscle cells instead of fat cells. [3,4]
GS4 Plus ®
GS4 Plus is a high-quality extract of gymnema sylvestre sold by Sabinsa -- the same individuals behind the highly reputable and ubiquitous BioPerine. Gymnema sylvestre is another plant that has been used for quite a long time to support glucose utilization and cardiometabolic health. It contains gymnemic acids which have been noted to help suppress the taste of sweetness, which may help limit how many sweet treats you enjoy during your refeed days.
GS4 Plus, in particular, has been the subject of numerous clinical trials involving healthy individuals as well as diabetics.
Gymnemic acids stimulate the pancreas and support insulin release. Insulin is a nutrient-shuttling hormone in the body that helps direct carbs into muscle cells, and it also possesses potent anti-catabolic activities that can combat protein breakdown. [5,6]
Additional research indicates that gymnemic acids may help slow glucose absorption in the blood, promoting more stable energy levels and limiting the possibility of insulin oversecretion, which could result in fat storage.
Ceylon Cinnamon
Cinnamon is one of the most common culinary spices around the world. In addition to adding a pleasant spice to baked goods, it also is commonly used to support healthy blood glucose levels
Cinnamon contains several bioactive compounds which have been noted to assist in blood glucose regulation via mimicking the properties of insulin. This, in turn, enhances glucose uptake by activating insulin receptor kinase activity, auto-phosphorylation of the insulin receptor and glycogen synthase activity.[7]
As you’ll notice, SLYN specifically utilizes Ceylon Cinnamon.
In case you weren’t aware, there are two main varieties:
- Cinnamomum cassia (also known as Cinnamomum aromaticum)
- Ceylon cinnamon or “true cinnamon” is indigenous to Sri Lanka
A crucial difference between true cinnamon and cassia cinnamon is their coumarin content.[8]
Coumarin possesses strong anticoagulant properties and can have potentially toxic effects on the liver.[9]
The coumarin content in Ceylon cinnamon is negligible and is not known to lead to adverse impacts on health, whereas the coumarin content in Cinnamomum cassia is considerably higher and comes with health risks if consumed in larger quantities regularly.
GlucoVantage®
Berberine is one of the most used and effective GDA ingredients on the market. It has been studied numerous times in humans and found to not only be effective but without serious side effect -- the same of which cannot be said of other diabetic medications on the market.[10]
As great as berberine is, it does come with limitations, notably low bioavailability, and GI distress in some individuals.
GlucoVantage (dihydroberberine) is a derivative of berberine that is 5x more bioavailable/absorbable, and 2x longer lasting (8 hours vs. 4 hours)!
GlucoVantage works via the same mechanisms as traditional berberine supplements -- AMPK activation, which helps preferentially drive carbohydrates into muscle rather than fat. GlucoVantage also aids body recomposition and fat loss by supporting carbohydrate tolerance, insulin sensitivity, and healthy blood glucose levels.
Na-R-ALA
Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) is a compound naturally produced by the body and found within every cell that plays an essential role in energy metabolism. ALA also serves as a potent antioxidant and has been noted to attenuate the damage induced by high blood sugar levels.[11]
Na-R-ALA is an “enhanced” form of ALA that offers superior stability and bioavailability, and it works through the same mechanisms as Alpha Lipoic Acid that aid glucose uptake (increased insulin sensitivity and AMPK activation). [12,13]
Takeaway
Carbohydrates no longer need to be feared as some sort of demon nutrient that causes fat gain and ruins health. The honest truth is that carbs can be your greatest ally in the war to build muscle and kick ass in the gym.
SLYN is the superior glucose utilization and nutrient partitioning aid to help muscles maximize the benefits of carbohydrates, supporting your muscle gain, performance, and body recomposition goals this year!
References
- Joseph B, Jini D. Antidiabetic effects of Momordica charantia(bitter melon) and its medicinal potency. Asian Pac J Trop Dis. 2013;3(2):93-102. doi:10.1016/S2222-1808(13)60052-3
- Stohs SJ, Miller H, Kaats GR. A review of the efficacy and safety of banaba (Lagerstroemia speciosa L.) and corosolic acid. Phytother Res. 2012;26(3):317–324
- Kang, S., Kim, C., Jung, H., Kim, E., Song, H. and Lee, J. (2017). Agmatine ameliorates type 2 diabetes induced-Alzheimer's disease-like alterations in high-fat diet-fed mice via reactivation of blunted insulin signalling. Neuropharmacology, 113, pp.467-479.
- Taksande, B., Chopde, C., Umekar, M. and Kotagale, N. (2015). Agmatine attenuates hyperactivity and weight loss associated with activity-based anorexia in female rats. Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, 132, pp.136-141.
- Baskaran, K., Ahamath, B., Shanmugasundaram, K. and Shanmugasundaram, E. (1990). Antidiabetic effect of a leaf extract from Gymnema sylvestre in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 30(3), pp.295-305.
- Shanmugasundaram, E., Rajeswari, G., Baskaran, K., Kumar, B., Shanmugasundaram, K. and Ahmath, B. (1990). Use of Gymnema sylvestre leaf extract in the control of blood glucose in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 30(3), pp.281-294
- Ranasinghe P, Jayawardana R, Galappaththy P, Constantine GR, de Vas GN, Katulanda P. Efficacy and safety of "true" cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) as a pharmaceutical agent in diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Diabet Med. 2012;29(12):1480–92. doi: 10.1111/j.1464-5491.2012.03718.x.
- Lungarini S, Aureli F, Coni E. Coumarin and cinnamaldehyde in cinnamon marketed in Italy: a natural chemical hazard? Food Addit Contam Part A Chem Anal Control Expo Risk Assess. 2008;25(11):1297–305. doi: 10.1080/02652030802105274.
- Ghosh P, Markin RS, Sorrell MF. Coumarin-induced hepatic necrosis. Am J Gastroenterol. 1997;92(2):348–9.
- Lan J, Zhao Y, Dong F, Yan Z, Zheng W, Fan J, Sun G. Meta-analysis of the effect and safety of berberine in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus, hyperlipemia and hypertension. J Ethnopharmacol. 2015 Feb 23;161:69-81. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2014.09.049. Epub 2014 Dec 10. PMID: 25498346.
- Mijnhout GS, Alkhalaf A, Kleefstra N, Bilo HJ. Alpha lipoic acid: a new treatment for neuropathic pain in patients with diabetes? Neth J Med. 2010 Apr;68(4):158-62. PMID: 20421656.
- Lee WJ, Song KH, Koh EH, Won JC, Kim HS, Park HS, Kim MS, Kim SW, Lee KU, Park JY. Alpha-lipoic acid increases insulin sensitivity by activating AMPK in skeletal muscle. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2005 Jul 8;332(3):885-91. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2005.05.035. PMID: 15913551.
- Kim J, Yang G, Kim Y, Kim J, Ha J. AMPK activators: mechanisms of action and physiological activities. Exp Mol Med. 2016;48(4):e224. Published 2016 Apr 1. doi:10.1038/emm.2016.16
