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| Ginkgo Phytosome |
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Review
Summary |
Staying smart is something most people are concerned with at some point or another. It may be that you are facing a tough exam, or that you are getting older and are starting to see some changes in your memory or ability to learn. Back in the day you would probably consult a holistic practioners to give you some kind of formula to help us boost you brain power, but people are very lucky these days, because there are plenty of formulas lining the aisles of our local health food stores, as well as being available through online on retailers.
But it can be really difficult to figure out which formula is right for you, and which ones are effective. So, people will often go with a product that has a know brand name, like Solaray, or one that uses an extract, like Ginkgo, which has been associated with augmenting brain health and memory. Solaray Ginkgo Phytosome is a product that rolls these two aspects into one product. It is advertised as being able to help support brain health, as well as augment short term and long term memory. Ginkgo Phytosome is an element that is used in many products, but is it the right ingredient to effectively and quickly increase your brain health? Let’s take a look and see.
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| Ingredient At A Glance |
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Solaray Ginkgo Phytosome contains: Ginkgo in the form of Ginkgo Biloba Phytosome.
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| Ingredient in Focus |
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As its label suggests, the main element in this Solary product is Ginkgo Phytosome. This is an element that catches many consumers’ attention, because Ginkgo has achieved name recognition as a memory enhancer. This tends to happen with a few elements. For example, Hoodia has become associated with weight loss, while Ginseng is a known sexuality enhancer. But while each of these extracts has done well in research studies in their areas of expertise, Ginkgo has not. The fact is that many of the initial studies conduced on Ginkgo where done by developers of supplemental formulas themselves, which is not necessarily bad, but it helps if they are backed up by independent studies as well.
Ginkgo is used to increase circulation to the brain, which in turn helps it get more nutrients, thereby helping the brains cells do their jobs better. But when Ginkgo was tested in independent studies, it did not do as well as expected. In the American Medical Association journal, an article reported that Ginkgo actually failed to augment user’s memory or cognitive function. However, it did do quite well in terms of augmenting heart health and increasing access to antioxidant support. In terms of heart health, it was shown to be able to stop the arteries from becoming blocked by sticky platelets.
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| Side Effects and Alternatives |
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According to this retail site and this developer, Ginkgo Phytosomes are the answer to your cognitive issues, but they actually failed to mention that Ginkgo has some fairly significant side effects, including the following: bleeding, nausea, diarrhea, headaches, faintness, heart palpitations and agitation. According to consumers, these side effects often caught them off guard. In realty, if you want to increase circulation to your brain, there are other research proven elements available that may not come with so many side effects.
For instance, Vinpocetine has been shown to be able to help deliver more nutrients and oxygen to the brain, and as a result, it has done quite well in research studies. In fact, in many studies it was shown to be able to enhance cognitive function on its own. But it is often used with other extracts, like Alpha GPC and Phosphatidylserine. Each of these extracts have been shown to be able to significantly increase user’s memory in research studies. In fact, Alpha GPC showed great results in not only increasing short and long term memory, but also in boosting focus, reasoning and alertness as well.
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| Positives |
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• Formulas containing this ingredient may be found on sale at some retailers
• Price breaks may be available for multiple order of some such formulas
• Supplements containing this ingredient may be available through a variety of retailers
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| Negatives |
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• Ginkgo has underperformed in research studies
• Single extract formulas may not be the best options, especially if the extract is not proven to be effective
• Ginkgo has side effects like gastrointestinal issues, headaches, weakness and unusual bleeding and bruising
• May not affect neurotransmitter activity
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| Final Thoughts |
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Ginkgo Phytosome is an element that has gained a lot of attention, because it is advertised as being a supped up version of Ginkgo. However, according to recent research, Ginkgo is not the heavy weight cognitive enhancer that many people think it is. In fact, extracts like Vinpocetine, Alpha GPC and Phosphatidylserine have consistently outperformed it in research studies.
Savvy consumers and some experts are now suggesting that we look for these extracts in our cognitive enhancers. There are some really well crafted multi spectrum products out there that offer formulas that can address all the reasons for cognitive decline, instead of just one, as is the case with products like Solaray Ginkgo Phytosome, which just contains Ginkgo Phytosome.
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| Our
Editors Choice:
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Week
of: Tue Aug 31st, 2010 |
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Neurostin® -
Neurostin™ is a blend of non-prescription ingredients that were carefully formulated to reverse and prevent the depletion of the nutrients your brain needs to perform optimally. This is a very well received product that customers speak highly of. The unique formula of Neurostin™ provides your body with all the necessary building blocks to make choline which is the most vital component needed by the cells that comprise both short and long term memory. The formula has also been proven to produce both oxygen and blood flow to the brain which decrease and reverse the effects of deterioration. Neurostin is one of the few formulas that regulates the levels of homocysteine which is key in preventing both long term memory loss and Alzheimer’s. This is an awesome overall formula that enhances overall brain function, sharpness and clarity Click Here to read our full review. |
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