the little yellow pill

How do we know for sure that our plant-based supplements are safe and effective?  That’s a really good question. We should always be cautious about what we take  …for ourselves and what we recommend for our loved ones. 

Let’s talk about our little yellow pill. That little yellow guy that activates the Nrf2 pathway. It’s a proven fact that it enables our body to reduce oxidative stress by an average of 40% in just 30 days. By 70% in 120 days. That’s not all it does to help us from within …but that’s what it’s known for. How it got its start in the supplement world, so to speak. You can take a look at one of the dozens of peer-reviewed studies right here. As I said …it’s a proven fact.

“Protandim Nrf2 Synergizer is the only supplement proven in a clinical study to reduce oxidative stress by an average of 40% in 30 days. It has been shown to increase superoxide dismutase levels by 30%, and catalase by 54%. When individuals were supplemented with Protandim Nrf2 Synergizer for 30 days, the age-dependent increase in lipid peroxidation was reduced to the level of a 20-year-old. This supports the scientific premise that the body is not only capable of making its own antioxidant enzymes, but also that their production can be activated by Protandim Nrf2 Synergizer to reduce oxidative stress and support the healthy aging process.”

So What Is Actually In The Little Yellow Pill?

This supplement consists of extracts from the following five plants…

TURMERIC has been used for 4,000 years in both Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine to help a variety of conditions. Current studies show that turmeric helps fight cellular stress, reduce joint discomfort and aid digestion. Turmeric is known to contain natural phenols called curcuminoids.

BACOPA has long been hailed for its ability to enhance cognitive abilities. Bacopa has been important in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries, used chiefly to enhance clear thinking and memory function. Studies suggest it provides a strong cellular defense. It is also used to improve concentration, alertness, and focus. The bacopa ingredient in Protandim is high in bacosides, the major constituent of which is the botanical compound called saponins.

ASHWAGANDHA, called the “king of Ayurvedic herbs,” is an adaptogen (a substance which enhances the resistance of an organism to various stressors) and has been traditionally used as an anxiolytic to help reduce chronic stress. Ashwagandha has also been used as a way to support memory enhancement and as a sleep aid. The primary active components in Ashwagandha are a group of chemical compounds called withanolides.

GREEN TEA is made from unfermented leaves and reportedly contains the highest concentration of powerful antioxidants called polyphenols, particularly catechins, of which epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is the most abundant. Protandim’s green tea extract contains 98% polyphenols. Green tea has been traditionally used for many health benefits, including regulating body temperature and blood sugar, promoting digestion, improving mental processes and improving cardiovascular health.

MILK THISTLE has been used for 2,000 years as an herbal remedy to support liver, kidney and gallbladder function. Several scientific studies suggest that substances in milk thistle (especially a flavonoid called silymarin) protect the liver from toxins.

These individual ingredients used in making the little yellow pill, if taken on their own, would not provide the potent synergistic effect of activating the Nrf2 Pathway as proven with our patented botanical blend. As this supplement induces the activation of the Nrf2 pathway, the production of internal antioxidant enzymes is triggered thereby stimulating the expression of a variety of cellular survival genes. Pretty amazing, right?

This supplement is 100% Vegetarian, free from gluten, wheat, dairy, gelatin, and yeast. It contains no dyes or food colorings. The vibrant color comes from one of the plant-based active ingredients – turmeric, which is intensely yellow – adding to the yellow coloring of the tablet.

 

A Common Question – Is This Supplement Approved By The FDA?

The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act defines a dietary ingredient as a vitamin; mineral; herb or other botanical; amino acid; dietary substance for use by man to supplement the diet by increasing the total dietary intake; or a concentrate, metabolite, constituent, extract, or combination of the preceding substances. Because dietary supplements are under the “umbrella” of foods, FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) is responsible for the agency’s oversight of these products. The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994, which amended the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, created a new regulatory framework for the safety and labeling of dietary supplements. In light of all of this, keep this very important fact in mind: The FDA is not authorized to review dietary supplement products for safety and effectiveness before they are marketed. 

As stated, dietary supplements are not required by law to go through the same kind of testing as pharmaceutical products. That makes perfect sense …the pharmaceutical chemicals developed in laboratories have never before been introduced to the human body. Of course, they should be fully tested for safety and effectiveness before receiving the FDA’s approval. In contrast, dietary supplements are categorized with food and therefore are made with natural ingredients that have a long history of human use.

That being said, we still need regulations to make sure dietary supplements are safe and effective. This is where the FDA does play an important role. The FDA regulates both finished dietary supplement products and dietary ingredients, but they regulate dietary supplements under a different set of regulations than those covering “conventional” foods and drug products. Under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA):

Manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements and dietary ingredients are prohibited from marketing products that are adulterated or misbranded.  That means that these firms are responsible for evaluating the safety and labeling of their products before marketing to ensure that they meet all the requirements of DSHEA and FDA regulations.

FDA is responsible for taking action against any adulterated or misbranded dietary supplement product after it reaches the market.

Give this a try. Walk into your local drug store and ask the pharmacist for the FDA approved natural supplements. The response will be “there are no FDA approved supplements. The FDA does not have that authority.”  Every single time.

Is this Nrf2 Synergizer A “Certified” Product?