Lean Stack Reviewed

Acetyl- L-Tyrosine

Bioperine is an extract from the fruit of Piper nigrum L (black pepper) or Piper longum L (long pepper) that contains 95 percent of piperine. Black pepper is a common household spice. Extract from black pepper has also been used extensively as a medicine. To reach the greatest quality during the harvest, the pepper is reaped before ripening and after that is placed to dry under the sun rays. Bioperine is known for its effect to enhance the efficiency of many supplement nutrients. Bioperine acts to enhance the body’s natural therogenic activity – giving the name thermonutrient. This enhancement brings about increased metabolic rate creating demand for supple of many nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, herbals, amino acids. It sets in motion a process that brings about better digestion and faster gastrointestinal absorption.

Caffeine is the most widely available legal psychoactive stimulant drug. Also known as theine, methyltheobromine and trimethylxanthine, this xanthine alkaloid is not only found in coffee beans, but also in guaranine that is derived from guarana, mateine derived from mate, theine which is found in various teas and the kola nut, which is the base flavor of various Cola soft drinks. It stimulates the central nervous system, where it restores alertness and wards off drowsiness. Caffeine is also know to display certain diuretic properties, is an ergogenic, an atagonist of the adenosine receptors, and a cAMP levels increasing factor. It seems that caffeine helps prevent the onset of Parkinson’s disease and in the long run lowers the possibility of developing a heart disease.

Cayenne- Most of us are aware of the wonders of the hot cayenne, which belongs to the family of capsicum. This herb is mainly used for culinary and health purpose. As compared to black pepper and chilies, it contains less irritating properties. Cayenne when taken naturally works as a natural stimulant and is beneficial for pancreas, kidney and spleen. Cayenne can be taken in herbal tea form, as a natural energy booster or as a capsule to cure yellow fever. Since cayenne contains antiseptic properties it is an effective remedy for sore throats and is used as a gargle. It aids digestion and stimulates saliva and stomach secretion. It also prevents heart attack, reduces cholesterol, allows proper absorption of vitamins, improves blood circulation and effectively clears the sinuses. In the past it was used as a cure for typhoid fever, diphtheria, pleurisy and pneumonia.

Chromium Polynicotinate, which is a form of chromium, an essential trace mineral that is needed for the body's production of insulin. Insulin is a hormone that stabilizes the body's blood sugar level.

CLA has anti cancerous and antioxidant properties and studies have shown that tumor growth has been hindered with the use of CLA.

Cocoa Seed Extract, which is standardized for caffeine, tyramine, phenylethylamine and theobromine. Cocoa seed extract is thought to possibly help speed up the metabolism and provide feelings of fullness.

Conjugated Linoleic Acid.

Dandelion , also known as bitterwart, Dandelion stimulates digestion and acts as a mild laxative.

DMAE- Deanol, which is actually the product name of dimethylaminoethanol, or DMAE, has been marketed under the Deanol brand name, usually in the supplement form Deanol Bitartrate. This organic compound is apparently connected to choline and is deemed a precursor to acetylcholine, which is a neurotransmitter in peripheral, central, autonomic and somatic nervous systems. The conclusion is that DMAE is methylated to create choline in the brain and that the liver processes it into choline is widely accepted. Limited studies conducted on human test subjects have shown that Deanol Bitartrate may boost alertness and vigilance, while improving the overall emotional state. DMAE topical applications seem to reduce the signs of aging, supplementing DMAE athletes reported shorter recovery and boosted performance. As an acetylcholine precursor, DMAE is also active in muscle contractions.

Folic Acid, Folacin or Vitamin B9, as well as the natural Folate, is water soluble and an essential nutrient, necessary, among other reasons, for production of healthy red blood cells and during periods of rapid cell division as well as growth. Folate, the natural form of Vitamin B9, is found in green leafy vegetables, such as spinach and lettuces, but also in liver and liver products. The synthetic form of folic acid is being added to many cereal and bread products, but is also a very popular nutritional supplement ingredient. Pregnant women, but also humans who are involved into rapidly growing muscle tissue, for instance in body building circles, require additional levels of folic acid to the regular nutritional intake. Many multivitamin supplements contain folic acid.

Garcinia Cambogia- Gambooge, a subtropical version of the Garcinia genus and native to Indonesia, is the local name for garcinia cambogia. It bears a pumpkin like yellow coloured fruit, which extract, together with the rind, is in India a curry condiment. Extracts are also being used in several herbal appetite suppressants, but also in some energy providing products and supplements. In the body building community, besides the weight loss properties of garcinia cambogia, the main component, hydroxycitric acid, or HCA, seems to increase the levels of lipolysis in athletes. HCA may even prove to be more effective in combined use with carnitine and pyruvate. In India, garcinia cambogia was traditionally used to treat edema, constipation, irregular menstruation and against intestinal parasites. Further uses include combating rheumatism and bowel related troubles.

Ginger Root refers to the rhizome of a plant called zingiber officinale that grows in moist and fertile tropical soil. Ginger is an underground stem extending to 12 inches above the ground. The ginger root has pungent phenol compounds and volatile oils. This is widely used as a medicine in Indian, Asian and Arabic herbal traditions. Ginger, in China is used to cure stomach upset, nausea and diarrhea since ancient times. Ginger is of great use to cure arthritis, diarrhea, Colic and heart conditions. Besides the medicinal value, Ginger is one of the indispensable ingredients as cooking spice and is also recommended to cure headaches, common cold, symptoms like flu and also painful menstrual periods. Ginger is widely used as medicine as it treats nausea, vomiting related to travel sickness, cancer chemotherapy and pregnancy. Though, there are effective medicines today, ginger root retain its position for its medicinal properties. It is also beneficial for heart disease as it reduces cholesterol and averts blood clotting. The ginger products are manufactured using dried or fresh ginger root and these are obtainable in extracts, capsules, tinctures and oils. Ginger is used in tea and in various drinks and foods.

Grape Skin Extract

Grapefruit Extract, also known as citrus seed extract is a liquid that is derived from the seeds, pulp as well as the white membranes of grapefruit. Some scientists claim that grapefruit extract possesses antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties while others recommend it for the treatment of earache, throat infections etc. There are two ways in which grapefruit extract is prepared. One is the natural, self-made grapefruit extract which is made by grinding the seed and pulp and then mixing them with glycerine. The second method is the commercial way in which the seed, pulp, glycerine and synthetic preservatives are all blended together. Grapefruit extract is believed to have a lot of scope in the health food industry. However one has to be careful as grapefruit can have several interactions with certain drugs like warfarin.

Green Tea Extract is very popular with the health conscious community, mainly because of the broad antioxidant features, which are provided by the green tea catechins. It is a very popular nutritional supplement, much more popular than regular green tea, because several green tea extract products have no caffeine. Caffeine is actually contained in larger quantities in green tea than in coffee. Besides the already mentioned catechins, further polyphenols are included in the Asian tea favorite. Green tea furthermore contains carotenoids, ascorbic acid – more commonly known as Vitamin C, Minerals and tocopherols. While there are many proven qualities of green tea extracts, some lesser researched effects have been observed, like reduction of LDL cholesterol, increasing the levels of norepinephrine, weight loss and additional antioxidant qualities.

Guarana has in recent times received widespread popularity because of an energy drink. It is actually a climbing plant in the family related to maple and is native to the Amazon region, predominantly in Brazil. It is a flowering plant with big leaves, but the fruit is the most prominent component, not bigger than a coffee bean. Guarana fruit has about the double content of caffeine when compared to the coffee bean. Besides the cognitive and fatigue reducing effects of caffeine, guarana displays also other interesting properties, such as the assistance in a weight loss program; namely, guarana affects the perception of the satiation, making the person feel full sooner. Further antioxidant and antibacterial effects have been noted as well. In combination with linoleic acid, guarana has shown fat cell reduction effects in mice.

Kola Nut- The trees found in Africa have seed pods that are inherent with Kola nuts. In regions of western Africa and central Africa, Kola nut trees are commonly found and they tend to grow up to 18 meters in height which is a good 60 feet. Kola nut consists of caffeine and has acts as a powerful anti depressant and stimulant. Kola nuts importance has been realized mainly in western Africa. It is also useful in reducing indigestion, hunger and fatigue. In simple words, it functions as an aphrodisiac. According to tradition, Kola nuts are offered when someone enters their new house and it symbolizes hospitality and friendship. Kola nut can be easily found as there are several street vendors selling them at places such as the bus or train station.

L-Carnitine is chemically similar to an amino acid, L-Carnitine is responsible for the metabolism of fat in the body. It transports fatty acids into the cell’s metabolic furnace known as mitochondria. Synthesized in the liver and kidney, L-Carnitine helps the body use fat for energy. It acts as an aid in releasing tryglycerides and stored body fat into the bloodstream. With an adequate intake of L-Carnitine, you can improve the contraction of muscles, function of the heart and balance of protein in the body. As compared to the synthetic fat burning supplements that cause insomnia and addiction, L-Carnitine is a natural component which brings fat to metabolizing stations so that it can burn and produce energy. In case you have carnitine deficiency, you can have 1000mg of tartrate per day which is considered to be an effective form of carnitine.

L-Tyrosine, a non-essential amino acid that is used to build protein. It is a precursor dopamine, as well as a precursor to norepinephrine and epinephrine. The body makes L-Tyrosine from the amino acid phenylalanine. Since L-Tyrosine is a precursor of Dopamine, it may raise mental alertness, making it of great use in exercise programs.

Magnesium Stearate is coommonly used as a filling agent in the manufacture of capsules and tablets, such as vitamins, the source of this ingredient is typically bovine. However, there is an increasing number of vegetarian options in which the product specifically indicates it contains magnesium stearate from vegetable sources.

Opumtia Ficus-indica is a species of cactus which has been domesnticated for a long time. It is a very important agricultural plant in economies throughout the arid and semiarid parts of the world. Opuntia ficus-indica is also known by other names. They are Indian fig opuntia or barbary fig. The main reason behind growing the opuntia ficus-indica is its fruits. The vegetable nopales are also used for various purposes. In the culinary world, it is often referred to as the prickly pear. The large, sweet fruits called tuna are the most commercially valuable use of the species of opuntia ficus-indica. Sicily, Spain, Mexico, Ethiopia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Israel, Chile, Algeria, Morocco, Italy are some of the countries that cultivate the opuntia ficus-indica in significant quantity.

Pantothenic Acid is thought to reduce lactic acid accumulation in athletes, may improve oxygen utilization efficiency, and is believed to improve the body's ability to heal and possibly help in reducing acne

Silica is silicon dioxide, a trace mineral found in bones, teeth, skin, eyes, glands and organs. It also helps keep skin elastic. Silica works with calcium to maintain bone strength.

Stearic Acid is a saturated fatty acid that occurs in many animal and vegetable fats and oils. Stearic acid is useful as an ingredient in making candles, soaps, plastics, oil pastels and cosmetics, and for softening rubber. Stearic acid is used to harden soaps, particularly those made with vegetable oil. Even though stearic acid is a saturated fat, studies have suggested that it has little effect on blood cholesterol levels, because such a high proportion is converted to oleic acid.

Vanadyl Sulfate mimics the overall effects that insulin has on our bodies. It has also been declared to become an alternative treatment to battling diabetes.

Vitamin A is the second Vitamin that was discovered, after Vitamin B. It can be found in several forms, whereby the primary source is the natural retinol derived from animal food sources. Chemically related compounds are called retinoids and are used primarily in medicine and as dietary supplements beta-carotenes. While carotene forms stemming from dietary sources are not toxic, intake of synthetic and natural retinoid forms should be strictly limited. Vitamin A is found naturally in beef, pork, chicken, turkey and fish livers; in the sweet potato, carrot, broccoli leaf, butter, spinach, pumpkin, eggs, papaya, mango, peas, winter squash, apricot, cantaloupe melon and leafy vegetables. Vitamin A is necessary for normal reproductive capabilities, membranes, tissues, skin, eyes, normal tooth and bone development and much more.

Vitamin B12 is a water-souble member of the vitamin B complex. Requirements are in the microgram range, which is lower than the milligram range of the other B vitamins. Vitamin B12 is involved in the production of red blood cells and is usually known as the anti-anemia vitamin.

Vitamin B6contains pyridoxal phosphate, or PLP for short, as the active ingredient and is a vitamin belonging to the B complex grouping. It is functioning mainly as a co-enzyme with others in the human body, aiding in the proper function of several metabolic processes. Neurotransmitter synthesis, as well as hemoglobin and histamine synthesis are just some of the functions of PLP, hemoglobin function, gene expression and aiding in the facilitation of decarboxylation, elimination and other reactions, mainly taking place in the liver. Vitamin B6 was found to diminish by 50% the risk of Parkinson’s disease. Alternative medicine suggests the use of Vitamin B6 to combat autism, in combination with magnesium. This combination has shown effects with children suffering from attention deficit disorders. PLP also seems to show therapeutic effects for diabetic nephropathy.

Vitamin C- Perhaps the most popular vitamin, L-ascorbic acid is viewed as an essential nutrient and is required to synthesize collagen in humans. The L-enantiomer of ascorbic acid, or Vitamin C for short, is the famous ingredient of oranges and other citrus fruits. It has been said that a glass of pure squeezed orange juice provides the daily requirement of Vitamin C. While the antioxidant function is deemed important, other biosynthetic functions are of vital significance. It provides an electron for eight different enzymes, besides the aforementioned synthesis of collagen; it aids the synthesis of carnitine and neurotransmitters, synthesis and catabolism of tyrosine and the metabolism of microsome. The additional function as a reducing agent, keeping iron and copper at bay is an additional trait.

Vitamin E is the name for a group of tocopherols and tocotrienols that are soluble in fat and display antioxidant properties. The most important vitamin out of this group is alpha tocopherol, which professes the highest bioavailability, and therefore, was the most studied Vitamin E. Found in such foods as nuts, seeds, milk, wheat germ and most vegetable oils, this Vitamin is said to be perhaps the most important antioxidant in human nourishment, although this trait is not deemed the imperative reason why Vitamin E is required to be in every diet. Most clinical studies which were supposed to crown Vitamin E as the prevention from prostate cancer or cardiovascular wonder supplement have been either inconclusive or were discontinued due to poor results. Vitamin E deficiency results in neurological and neuromuscular problems, but also in failure to absorb fat.

White Kidney Bean Extract- Phaseolus vulgaris, or the common bean, exists in many varieties. One of such varieties is a popular Italian version, Cannellini beans, in the United States labeled often as white kidney beans. While several healthy ingredients warrant a healthy application of these beans, in particular the body building community is using a white kidney bean extract as a nutritional supplement for weight loss purposes. While there is no magic behind the formula, the idea behind the lipogenic effect of the white kidney bean extract seems sound. Although many people seem to dispute this particular aspect, other nutrients, like thiamine, Vitamin B6, folic acid, selenium, potassium, iron, molybdenum, as well as the high levels of protein, starch and dietary fiber, make this product a body building priority.

White Willow Bark, less commonly known as salix alba, is extracted from a plant native to Europe and parts of Asia. The great physician Hippocrates first mentioned the use of White willow extract in his writings in 5th century BC and it has been touted as a powerful supplement for several different uses ever since. It is commonly used as a pain reliever (particularly for back pain and arthritis), fever reducer, and inflammation reducer. Although aspirin was eventually invented using the same base as White willow extract, many purists and natural health enthusiasts prefer to use White willow extract, which is considered to be nature’s aspirin.

Yerba Matte- The plant of the yerba maté, as yerba matte is actually called, is a small tree or a shrub which can grow up to a size of fifteen meters. The leaves and twigs have traditionally been used to brew a tea like concoction, which is still a very popular social beverage in South America. Yerba maté contains alcaloids that are very similar to caffeine, commonly referred to as xanthines, but also elements like manganese, magnesium and potassium. The main difference between yerba maté and coffee, for instance, is the effect it has on muscle tissue, where it appears to relax smooth muscle tissue, but stimulate heart tissue and that is why it is used in Lean Stack. In other studies, yerba maté was found to work as a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, thereby professing antidepressant qualities.