DNA Mito-Choice ingredients
DNA Mito-Choice is a combination of selected natural ingredients formulated and researched in conjunction with a leading neurologist. The ingredients are as follows:
Red Coffee Berry
In a recent report in Food and Nutrition Sciences, researchers demonstrated how whole coffee fruit concentrate affected BDNF levels. (BDNF is the abbreviation for brain-derived neurotrophic factor - a protein responsible for the development, differentiation, and protection of neurons in the central and peripheral nervous system and strongly implicated in cognitive and mental health.) The study involved 20 young adults (25-35 years) who were asked to consume whole coffee fruit concentrate powder followed by blood evaluations of their BDNF levels. Remarkably, BDNF levels actually doubled in those individuals taking the whole coffee fruit concentrate in comparison to those who were given coffee or a placebo.
In another study published in the British Journal of Nutrition, researchers administered a single 100mg dose of whole coffee fruit extract to a group of volunteers and observed a 143% increase in their blood values of BDNF.
Coffee Berry is a patented extract of whole coffee fruit (coffee berries) from the common coffee bean, Coffea arabica. It contains chemicals called procyanidins which are known to protect brain cells, as well as a unique profile of polyphenols that may well relate to its ability to raise BDNF so dramatically.
Curcumin
In a recent study dietary supplementation with curcumin diminished mitochondrial dysfunction, likely by decreasing lipid peroxidation, which results in an increase of ATP activity, restoration of oxygen consumption and NO synthesis in mitochondria isolated from the liver and kidneys.s. Together, these findings suggest that curcumin could be a good alternative to prevent or decrease nitrosative and oxidative stress as well as mitochondrial dysfunction during obesity and diabetes.
Curcumin boosts mitochondrial health thus reducing the amount of free radicals produced by aging or dying mitochondria. Research also shows that turmeric increases neuroplasticity. It also promotes the growth of new neurons.
How Foods High in Anti-oxidants Play A Part in Health
Our intake of antioxidants should balance the free radicals we generate. Everyone needs antioxidants to maintain good health but those who produce more free radicals than others, need additional antioxidants to counter free radicals’ damaging activity. This means that smokers, people who eat charred or nitrate-filled meats, live in a polluted environment, do high performance athletics, or are ill or under stress, should increase their antioxidant intake by eating food with high ORAC Values.
What are Orac Values?
ORAC stands for Oxygen Radical Absorbency Capacity (ORAC) and is a measure of the anti oxidant power of a food. High ORAC value foods help combat oxidation from free radicals – a biological process which is an inevitable part of living. Oxidation and the production of free radicals are an inevitable byproduct of energy production which happens in the mitochondria when ATP is produced. Along with oxygen, nitrogen is another source of volatile free radicals. Together scientists theorize that free radicals cause or accelerate human aging and cause or promote diseases including inflammation, cancer, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, macular degeneration and cataracts, among other conditions. Simply by breathing, digesting, sitting upright and running, the body expends energy, burns oxygen and, therefore, creates free radicals.
What are free radicals?
Free radicals are unpaired electrons within a cell, atom or ion. These unstable byproducts can harm other cells, including DNA, RNA proteins, fats and cell membranes, unless they are stabilized. One way to stabilize these destructive free radicals is for the cell to acquire a replacement electron. This is why anti-oxidant foods are so valuable. They provide the unstable cell with a replacement electron so that it can stop its destructive behavior toward other cells.
Why care about free radicals?
The production of free radicals is a cause of aging and may precipitate and promote many diseases. If a person counters this free radical activity or oxidative activity with sufficient anti oxidants, the effects of aging and disease processes like inflammation, cancer, arthrosclerosis and high blood pressure may be slowed, halted and, in some cases, reversed.
Magnesium L-Threonate
The magnesium threonate is a chelated magnesium which binds the magnesium with threonate. This chelation provides a form or magnesium that effectively crosses the blood brain barrier and positively impacts synapses.
The human body depends on magnesium in order to maintain various functions. Magnesium is used to form bones, while also enhancing nerve and muscle function and at the same time increasing glucose metabolism and energy.
Magnesium L-Threonate increases both the activity and plasticity of the brains’ synapses. Due to these effects, neurons are able to communicate much more effectively. This is especially evident in the hippocampus, which is the area of the brain that’s responsible for memory. This effect is due to increased cerebrospinal fluid within the brain.
Magnesium is required for ATP synthesis. ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is the main energy source for the mitochondria in brain cells. 20% of the body’s total ATP is located in the brain.
For ATP to be biologically active, it must be bound to a magnesium ion (Mg-ATP). About two thirds of the brain’s energy is used to help neurons send signals to neighboring neurons. The remaining third is used for cellular maintenance.
Once the magnesium has crossed the blood-brain barrier, it goes to work enhancing memory formation in both long and short terms. Because magnesium is involved with enzymes that speed up synaptic pathways (connections in the brain), it enhances learning abilities, working memory, long and short term memory, and even quality of sleep.
The Benefits Magnesium L-Threonate
Magnesium L-Threonate, improves synaptic activity. Due to this increased activity, users experience positive effects on various types of memory. While focusing on older subjects specifically, memory recall improved.
For those that experience chronic neuropathic pain, this supplement can help relieve this discomfort.
Magnesium L-Threonate helps to improve the strength of the bones, improve nerve functioning, while boosting mental energy.
When people are deficient in magnesium, they tend to experience an irregular heartbeat. By taking this supplement, this issue can be alleviated.
Co Enzme Q10 from Arjuna Bark
CoQ10 is the primary antioxidant the human cell provides to the mitochondria for its protection. Without this vital molecule, the level of ATP that the mitochondria produce drops, the energy that is available to that tissue decreases, and dysfunction and disease inevitably ensue. Mitochondria are most abundant in the tissues and cells of our bodies that need the most energy to function properly. These tissues are predominantly in the brain, heart and liver. These are also the tissues that synthesize and use the most CoQ10.
A deficiency of CoQ10 can lead to mitochondrial diseases and age-related oxidative stress. Several neuro-degenerative disorders such as, cancer, diabetes, fibromyalgia, and cardiovascular diseases have been associated with the low levels of CoQ10. CoQ10 can help in preventing these disorders by acting as a mitochondrial energizer. The antioxidant action of this enzyme also provides significant relief from the symptoms of these diseases.
The bark of Terminalia Arjuna is very rich natural source of Coenzyme Q10 and has no side effects like other CoQ10 supplements. Arjuna Bark is natural and safe.
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) from Algae
DHA is crucial for optimum brain development and is the most abundant fatty acid in the brain. Docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA, is a polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acid (PUFA) found throughout the body. It is a major structural fat found in the brain and eye accounting for up to 97% of the total omega-3 fats in the brain and up to 93% of the omega-3 fats in the retina. It is a key component of the heart, human brain, cerebral cortex, skin, and retina.
Mitochondrial disease (MD) generally refers to a group of disorders that are caused by mitochondria that are unable to efficiently or effectively generate energy. Some of the most profound effects of MD are seen in the brain and the muscles, while other commonly affected organs include heart, liver, nervous system, eyes, ears, and kidneys. DHA plays a crucial role in the management of MD and has a positive effect on functional parameters of mitochondrial dysfunction and related conditions such as neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, aging, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Supplementation with DHA has a mitochondrial neuroprotective effect on Parkinson’s disease and aging and brought about significant changes in mitochondria membrane phospholipid components as well. A similar pattern was noted in cardiac mitochondria.
Fatty acids such as DHA are used by the mitochondria as a source of fuel to produce ATP. DHA is one of the two most important nutrients for adequate cognitive function.
Special manufacturing plants specialize in the production and refinement of DHA from algae. The process begins with the initial algae cell culture and results in highly purified DHA oil. The microalgae are grown in fermentors and when ready are harvested and processed to extract the clear, amber-coloured oil rich in DHA.
