STRENGTH SENSEI SUPPLEMENT REVIEW
Neuro Calm
Sleep better and perform your best with this powerful mineral
“You are not what you eat but what you absorb” was a favorite motto of Charles Poliquin. It’s an approach we’ve taken at Strength Sensei with the release of Neuro Calm, the powerful magnesium formula in the Poliquin Series of supplements.
The Oxford English dictionary defines bioavailability as “The proportion of a drug or other substance which enters the circulation when introduced into the body and so is able to have an active effect.” One reason bodybuilders prefer eggs and meat is that their protein has a high level of bioavailability compared to plant sources. There are many forms of magnesium, but we decided on magnesium malate as the primary ingredient in Neuro Calm due to its high level of bioavailability. Let’s look at some research.
A study published in the January 2019 issue of the journal Biological Trace Element Research examined the bioavailability of five types of magnesium compounds: magnesium sulfate, magnesium oxide, magnesium acetyl taurate, magnesium citrate, and magnesium malate. Among the effects evaluated were time-dependent absorption and tissue penetration.
The researchers were surprised to find that the popular compounds magnesium oxide and magnesium citrate, often used for constipation, had the lowest bioavailability. However, the researchers found that magnesium malate had a fast absorption rate, and “levels remained high for an extended period of time in the serum.”
What’s so important about magnesium?
For starters, magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in the body, and most of it is found in the bone. Magnesium is involved in over 300 essential biochemical reactions, including protein synthesis and ATP production, essential for athletic performance. Low magnesium levels can cause insulin resistance, which is associated with fat gain. Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that magnesium is involved in regulating an essential receptor in the brain involved in cognitive performance, so researchers involved in researching mental decline have taken a keen interest in magnesium.
One reason magnesium supplements are so popular is that optimal levels are associated with quality sleep.
The Rest is Up to You!
Insufficient or poor sleep quality affects your ability to perform, whether on the athletic field or working a desk job. Stanford researchers have been at the forefront of studying how sleep affects athletic performance. They looked at the effects of extended sleep on male and female swimmers, male basketball players, and women’s tennis. In all these athletes, extended sleep resulted in superior athletic performance.
As for the general population, lack of sleep will shorten your life. Large-scale research by the American Cancer Society has shown that those who slept at least seven hours a day had significantly lower mortality rates than those who slept six hours or less.
One reason for poor quality sleep is high levels of cortisol, a hormone produced by the adrenal glands. Because chronic stress increases its production, cortisol is nicknamed the “stress hormone.” Besides affecting sleep quality, high cortisol levels can cause weight gain (particularly in the abdominal area), high blood sugar, cardiovascular disease, digestive disorders, and a compromised immune system. Magnesium detoxifies cortisol, which is why it’s essential to ensure you are getting adequate levels. Estimates vary, but at least half of Americans are considered magnesium deficient.
Magnesium can certainly be acquired from food, such as nuts and seeds—pumpkin seeds are especially high in magnesium. Oatmeal, brown rice, avocados, and green leafy vegetables such as spinach are also good sources. But to ensure you are getting enough magnesium, consider Neuro Calm.
Besides magnesium malate, Neuro Calm contains several other ingredients to promote mental health and help us win our fight against stress. There’s Vitamin B6, which is involved in producing the hormone serotonin, a hormone that enhances mood, and Myo-Inositol, also known as Vitamin B8, which may boost energy levels and help prevent neurodegenerative diseases. There’s also GABA, an amino acid involved in brain function and may help calm anxiety and fear, and L-Theanine and Taurine, which can increase attention span.
In his seminars and writings, Coach Poliquin championed the cause of many supplements, and magnesium was always at the top of his list. Neuro Calm should be at the top of yours! (TSS)
For more information or to order here: Neuro Calm
