A staggering 70 per cent of Brits have tried to lose weight and many often give up on a diet plan after just a few days. However, there is help at hand with the NEW Aminoscience Metabolism Support capsules, which contain a powerful combination of amino acids, vitamins and botanicals to help support a healthy metabolism and potentially make weight loss that little bit easier.
Research estimates that more than six in 10 adults in England are overweight or obese. It’s a worrying statistic, considering that excess weight can lead to a multitude of health problems – some fatal- including heart disease, liver disease and diabetes.
Of course, to maintain weight, energy input and energy output must be balanced, however, there are some other factors at play such as genetics, gut microbiota, gender, age, hormones, physical activity levels and the proportion of muscle mass in the body versus fat mass.
New Aminoscience Metabolism Support has been scientifically formulated for metabolic support and mental and physical wellbeing, thanks to vitamin B6 for normal energy release, plus plant, green tea and green coffee bean extracts and amino acids.
Interesting new research by Aminoscience, the new evidence-backed, next-generation range of food and botanical supplements, found that nearly half (43%) of respondents had no clue about amino acids.
However, these protein-borne molecules are the second most important component of our body after water and are vital for many elements of our health from digestion, hormone health and metabolism. Essentially, amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, in food sources as well as the proteins in our body.
Speaking of their role in maintaining a healthy weight, GP Dr Nisa Aslam, a member of the independent expert panel set up by Aminoscience to help communicate the importance of amino acids in health and wellness needs, says that certain amino acids support the production of peptide-based hormones, which play a part in regulating blood glucose, appetite, and satiety.
The New Aminoscience Metabolism Support food supplement contains leucine, one of the nine essential amino acids; ‘essential meaning that it can’t be produced by the body and instead comes from the food/supplements we ingest.
“Leucine contributes to blood sugar control, as well as improving satiety and decreasing appetite,” says Dr Nisa Aslam, who adds that eating protein at every meal will have a positive influence on appetite.
“In fact, one study found that, when consumed with glucose, leucine reduced the blood glucose response and increased the insulin response. Insulin resistance inhibits how cells respond to glucose and leads to high blood glucose levels, which is thought to promote weight gain and even type 2 diabetes.”
She adds that glucagon, a hormone produced by the pancreas, has the opposite effect to insulin as it increases blood sugar and stops it dropping too low. Both glucagon and insulin are influenced by dietary protein.
Arginine is a non-essential amino acid also included in the new Aminoscience Metabolism Support capsules.
Nutritionist Suzie Sawyer and a member of the Aminoscience expert panel says that there is some fascinating clinical evidence indicating that dietary L-arginine supplementation can reduce obesity, decrease arterial blood pressure, resist oxidation and normalise blood vessel dysfunction.
The latest Aminoscience real-world research poll found that, despite amino acids playing a key role in metabolism, only 25% of Brits have heard that amino acids are associated with body weight control.
Of this 25%, nearly half (42%) believe amino acids can help with metabolism, 30% think they convert fat to energy, 24% claim they make you feel fuller while 22% say they stop you feeling hungry.
The new Aminoscience study also showed that, despite their fascinating benefits, more than half (54%) of those surveyed couldn’t name a food containing the essential amino acids.
Delving deeper into amino acids and their role alongside micronutrients in thyroid metabolism, Suzie Sawyer says that certain amino acids – such as the ones in Aminoscience Metabolism Support, were ‘positively correlated with thyroid hormones’.
“Thyroid hormones play an essential role in body weight regulation, mainly through regulating energy expenditure. Thyroid dysfunction, including hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, may lead to changes in body weight and Basal Metabolic Rate,” explains Suzie Sawyer.
“Both men and women can be affected by thyroid dysfunction but women are more affected, particularly from around the time of the menopause.
There is some evidence to suggest that oestrogen levels may have a role in thyroid receptors. Around the time of menopause, women often find they gain weight.
However, falling oestrogen levels at this time do seem to promote fat storage in the belly area (visceral fat). Visceral fat is linked to insulin.”
Other components of the new Aminoscience Metabolism Support food supplement help contribute to a healthy metabolism. B vitamins are useful as they are essential for the functioning of many enzymes including those responsible for energy production.
A recent study found that a high daily dose of vitamin B6 (80mg daily) was found to reduce fat mass and improve insulin metabolism in overweight women.
“Vitamin B6 is thought to work with leucine to lower fat storage and increase fat burning. Emerging clinical trials have shown that supplementation with this combination of nutrients stimulates weight and fat loss,” says Suzie Sawyer.
Zinc in the new Aminoscience Metabolism Support formulation also aids in healthy body weight. “Zinc is an important part of many enzymes, some of which have key roles in the formation of new proteins,” says Dr Nisa Aslam, who also adds that certain foods and drinks contribute to metabolism. This includes chilli, guarana, green tea extract and green coffee bean extract, all found in the new Aminoscience formulation.
Regardless of the role of genetics in weight gain – which we can’t change – the increased availability and relatively lower cost of calorie-dense foods have contributed to soaring obesity rates seen in the UK and elsewhere.
Energy output is governed by physical activity and metabolism. Basal metabolic rate (BMR) is the minimum energy cost of running our bodies before you add in moving around, physical work, and taking exercise.
Factors which influence BMR include body size and composition. People who are larger or who have more muscle burn more calories, even at rest.
- Gender. Males typically have more muscle and less body fat than people born female of the same weight and age, which means they burn more calories
- Age. As people get older, their amount of muscle tends to decrease and their proportion of body fat increases which reduces calorie burning.
In addition to BMR, two other factors determine how many calories are burnt. These are:
- Thermogenesis. Digesting, absorbing, transporting and storing the food and drink consumed also uses energy (calories). About 10 per cent of the calories from the carbohydrates and protein consumed are used during the digestion and absorption of food and nutrients.
- Physical activity, including walking, running, swimming, racquet sports and everyday movement, such as fidgeting, walking about, or doing chores.
Metabolic meddlers: Our thyroid hormones, stress hormones, insulin and leptin levels can contribute to unwanted weight gain, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Low oestrogen levels may also impair the function of leptin (see below) and neuropeptide Y, hormones that control fullness (satiety) and appetite.
Stress hormones: Stress hormones such as cortisol are also linked to body weight. Being in ‘fight or flight mode’ increases the release of cortisol and adrenaline from the adrenal glands.
Cortisol stimulates fat and carbohydrate metabolism which, though essential for survival, can, if levels of cortisol remain high, increase appetite and overeating. A higher cortisol response has also been associated with more visceral fat.
Insulin, leptin and other peptide-based hormones: A range of peptide-based hormones is involved in appetite, blood glucose and hence body weight. Peptides are hormones made up of small chains of amino acids.
Aminoscience Metabolism Support is ideal not only for those people requiring support with weight management but also for those looking for nutrients to support health goals such as alertness and maintaining good energy levels.
See www.nhco-nutrition.co.uk for further information.