Acai- A wonderfull and tasty antioxidant that is best taken in drink form as fresh acai starts to go bad in 24 hours and most of the benefits are not present in pill form. Acai is a great addition to help support the immune system. Do not be fooled by diet product marketers who use acai as a weight loss ingredient as it is only an antioxidant.

American Ginseng is a plant having leaves growing in a circle. The flowers are umbrella shaped and are yellowish green in color. American ginseng can be used only if it is four to six years old. Hence, it is expensive, but, is now grown on farms. American ginseng roots and the root hairs are used to make products. American ginseng is more relaxing than the Asian ginseng that has stimulating effects. American ginseng is available in water and alcohol extracts, capsules, powders and tablets. This is also obtainable in various combinations and herbs. American ginseng is not recommended for children. This herb helps in strengthening the body as well as in treating disease. These can trigger side effects and also can interact with other supplements, herbs or medications. The side effects of American ginseng include insomnia, anxiety, high blood pressure, diarrhea, vomiting, vaginal bleeding, nosebleed, headache and breast pain. Women in the stages of breast feeding or pregnancy are not recommended.

Biotin, also called Vitamin H or Vitamin B7. Biotin is a water-soluble B-Complex Vitamin that is needed for the metabolism of fats, carbohydrates and proteins.

Caffeine, is a naturally produced medicine from the seeds and leaves of many plants. It is also produced unnaturally to add to certain foods. Caffeine is termed as a medicine because it arouses the central nervous system, causing enhanced alertness. Caffeine gives most people a short-term energy boost and bump up mood. Caffeine is present in tea, many soft drinks, coffee, chocolate, and pain relievers and other over-the-counter medicines. Caffeine tastes very bitter in its natural form. However, most caffeinated drinks undergo processing to cover-up the bitter taste. You may feel caffeine’s effects for up to 6 hours though it is not stored in the body.

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.

Korean Ginseng, a perennial herb, grows in Korea and is considered as an essential element to maintain the balance of the body. It usually grows anywhere between 60 -80 centimeters. Korean Ginseng is supposed to have a sweet taste initially and later you may experience a bitter taste. It has beautiful oval shaped dark green leaves. Korean ginseng consists of ginsenosides, which helps one to deal with stress. This ingredient in Korean ginseng also helps to improve blood circulation. Other benefits of ginseng include reduction of sugar level, reduction of infections, stimulation of appetite, reduction in symptooms of migraine and many more. Panaxtriol is found to be present in Korean ginseng and hence it becomes a useful supplement for body builders and athletes.

L-Taurine , which contains cysteine and methoinine is an essential amino acid. It acts as a diuretic by maintaining the level of magnesium and potassium in our cells while purging sodium. It improves the functioning of kidney and gets rid of fluid accumulation and swelling and thus keeps our body away from toxicity. It maintains a good balance of calcium in our body and strenghtens the heart muscles too. L-Taurine is also used in the treatment of progressive eye conditions, hypertension, memory loss, cystic fibrosis and in atherosclerosis. It is often mixed in energy drinks because while working out the level of L-taurine drops in the skeletan muscle, L-taurine supplements lowers the level of exhaustion and improves endurance. Besides being found in meat and egg yolks it is abundantly found in shellfish.

Maca Root ~

Pantothenic Acid is actually a part of the Vitamin B complex, namely Vitamin B5 and is deemed an essential nutrient. It has a critical function in the synthesis and metabolism of core nutrients, such as fats, proteins and carbohydrates, and it forms the coenzyme – A, also called CoA, most notable for the role in oxidation and synthesis of fatty acids and pyruvate. The Greek origin of the name Pantothenic Acid already states that this Vitamin is found nearly everywhere, with prominent amounts in eggs, meat, legumes and whole grain cereals. In health and fitness circles the dietary supplement is very popular for its energy producing role, but also for the ATP process and for the maintenance of cholesterol and triglycerides levels in the body.

Rhodiola Rosea Extract is the extract of a plant that grows in the cold regions of the world from the Crassulaceae family. It is considered to be dioecious, which is having both male and female parts. Rhodiola Rosea is an adaptogen and that is a natural herbal medicine that increases the body’s resistance to trauma, stress, fatigue, and anxiety. It improves the mood and can lessen the effects of depression. This extract supports the nervous system and helps to significantly boost mental functions by increasing blood supply to the brain. It can also normalize the heart rate after intense exertion. Combined with moderate exercise it can aid in significant weight loss because it activates hormone-sensitive lipase, which enables the breakdown of fat stored in adipole tissue. Fat stored in adipole tissue is normally very difficult to get rid of.

Spirulina, unicellular blue - green algae, is one of the earliest photosynthetic life forms on earth. This micro-organism is rich in vegetable proteins, vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, enzymes, lipids, phytochemicals and essential amino acids. Since it is very easily digestible and provides a balance of necessary nutrients, it has become a potential source of probiotic, whole food. For instance, the blue colored pigments called phycocyanin are known to combat cancer. For these reasons, Spirulina is also considered to be a beneficial biochemical and medical resource. Through ages, the alga has been widely used for its nutritional properties by the indigenous people of North Africa and Mexico. But now, Spirulina is used in dietary supplements also. Commercial preparations of Spirulina are available in the form of powder, capsules, and tablets.

Tongkat Ali Root is a flowering plant in the family Simaroubaceae, native to Indonesia and Malaysia. Tongkat Ali roots are used in many herbal and scientific supplements. It is claimed to increase testosterone levels in users, many herbal supplements for bodubuilders contain these roots. Some scientific studies also confirm increased sexual activity in animals due to use of these roots but more research is needed to confirm this fact. In other studies, fractions of Tongkat ali extracts have been shown to induce apoptosis in breast-cancer cells and to be cytotoxic to lung-cancer cells. Historically, it is used in South East Asia for treatment of malaria, ulcer and as an cytotoxic.

Vitamin B1, or rather the Vitamin B complex, is a group of vitamins that are all soluble in water and very often coexist in food sources. While every single Vitamin from the B complex group has a name, they are very often referred to by the number added to the Vitamin B group name, like Vitamin B1, which is thiamine, or Vitamin B2, which is riboflavin. Some other compounds have been added to the Vitamin B group at some time, but were later dropped, like adenine, orotic acid or adenosine monophosphate, where later research found that they are either synthesized by the human body or simply no Vitamins. Vitamin B complex supports the metabolism rate, maintains muscle tone and skin, raises functions of the nervous system and the immune system, promotes red blood cells and cell growth and division and much more.

Vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, which is naturally found in foods such as fish, milk and milk products, eggs, meat and poultry. Vitamin B12 is important for good health, necessary for the proper digestion and absorption of foods and for normal metabolism of carbohydrates, and fat. It helps maintain healthy nerve cells and red blood cells and is needed to make DNA. Vitamin B12 is bound to the protein in food. Hydrochloric acid in the stomach releases B12 from protein during digestion. Unlike other water-soluble nutrients, vitamin B12 is stored in the liver, kidney, and other body tissues. It can take several years before signs of the deficiency appear due to poor dietary intake. Vitamin B12 functions as a "methyl donor." A methyl donor is a compound that carries and donates methyl groups to other molecules, including cell membrane components and neurotransmitters. As a methyl donor vitamin B12 is involved in homocysteine metabolism and plays a critical role in proper energy metabolism, immune function, and nerve function. Therefore, vitamin B12 is clearly an added benefit for anyone wanting to lose weight, as without it, metabolism is not at its peak potential.

Vitamin B2 is a water-soluble vitamin with no known toxic effects. Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) is necessary in the oxidative process of metabolism. It is also sometimes used to correct certain enzyme deficiencies and improve mental processes.

Vitamin B3, commonly called Niacin, exists in two main forms, niacin and niacinamide. The niacin form produces a flushing and itching of the skin when taken at higher dosages and this feeling is only temporary.

Vitamin B6, also known as Pyridoxine, Vitamin B6 is an essential vitamin to aid in the formation of healthy red blood cells and supports more vital bodily functions than any other vitamin. A water-soluble vitamin, Vitamin B6 is needed to release energy from the food we eat. Vitamin B6 cannot be stored in the body, so it must be obtained daily from either food or supplements. Vitamin B6’s role as a coenzyme involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins is what makes it important for dieters. Vitamin B6 is also responsible for the manufacture of hormones, red blood cells, neurotransmitters, enzymes, and prostaglandins. Vitamin B6 is required for the production of seratonin, a brain neurotransmitter that controls mood, appetite, sleep patterns, and sensitivity to pain. For weight loss, dieters should include vitamin B6 to increase their metabolism while rounding out a healthy diet.