REFERENCES- BLACK BOX - RELAX

Relax is specially formulated with stress-reducing ingredients that help fight fatigue and can boost mood and exercise performance. They can also aid in improving cognitive function so you can stay on top of your game every day.

Rhodiola Rosea

Rhodiola rosea (also known as golden root or arctic root) is an herb found in cold and mountainous areas of Asia and Europe. Traditionally, it has been used in northern European countries and Russia as a natural way to treat fatigue, anxiety and depression. The roots of R. rosea contain two main active ingredients, rosavin and salidroside. These are known as adaptogens because they help the body “adapt” to stress and fatigue.

Studies have found that supplementation with R. rosea can improve symptoms of fatigue, anxiety, and stress. It has also been found to improve brain function, when compared to placebo in physicians and military cadets. In addition, several studies have found that Rhodiola can improve exercise performance.

5-HTP

5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is an intermediate chemical that the body makes when converting tryptophan into serotonin. Tryptophan is an essential amino acid, meaning that the human body cannot make it, so we must get it from food. 5-HTP does not naturally occur in our food, but it can be supplemented from the seeds of the Griffonia simplicifolia plant. The more 5-HTP in the brain, the more serotonin can be made.

Serotonin is an important neurotransmitter that plays a role in regulating sleep, mood, and more. Low serotonin levels can lead to mental health disorders like depression and anxiety.

L-Theanine

Gamma-glutamylethylamide (L-theanine) is an amino acid found only in green tea leaves. One study by Hidese et al. found that L-theanine supplementation improves cognitive function and stress-related symptoms when compared to a placebo in healthy adults. It also helped improve sleep latency, meaning participants that took L-theanine fell asleep faster than those who did not.

L-dopa

Levodopa, or L-dopa, is used by the body to make the neurotransmitter dopamine. It is typically given as a treatment for Parkinson’s disease, in which there are low levels of dopamine in the brain.  L-dopa may also have antidepressant effects as a result of increasing dopamine levels.

Naringin

Naringin is a natural compound found in citrus fruits with several benefits, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Oxidative stress caused by inflammation can lead to fatigue, and naringin may help alleviate this.

Grape Seed Extract

Grape seed extract (GSE) has been found to have numerous benefits, including improving cognitive function in aging adults. This is because GSE contains polyphenols, which are powerful antioxidants that stop oxidative stress and damage. In fact, drinking grape juice has been shown to provide cognitive benefits in middle-aged and older adults.

Piperine

Piperine is the main bioactive compound found in black pepper and is responsible its distinct taste and smell. In traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, piperine was used to treat everything from the flu, muscle pains, fevers, migraines, and more. Now, studies have found that this compound has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, which may help prevent fatigue and keep energy levels up. 

References

  1. Darbinyan V, Kteyan A, Panossian A, Gabrielian E, Wikman G, Wagner H. Rhodiola rosea in stress induced fatigue--a double blind cross-over study of a standardized extract SHR-5 with a repeated low-dose regimen on the mental performance of healthy physicians during night duty. Phytomedicine. 2000 Oct;7(5):365-71. 
  2. Shevtsov VA, Zholus BI, Shervarly VI, Vol'skij VB, Korovin YP, Khristich MP, Roslyakova NA, Wikman G. A randomized trial of two different doses of a SHR-5 Rhodiola rosea extract versus placebo and control of capacity for mental work. Phytomedicine. 2003 Mar;10(2-3):95-105.
  3. Cropley M, Banks AP, Boyle J. The Effects of Rhodiola rosea L. Extract on Anxiety, Stress, Cognition and Other Mood Symptoms. Phytother Res. 2015 Dec;29(12):1934-9.
  4. Edwards D, Heufelder A, Zimmermann A. Therapeutic effects and safety of Rhodiola rosea extract WS® 1375 in subjects with life-stress symptoms--results of an open-label study. Phytother Res. 2012 Aug;26(8):1220-5.
  5. Lekomtseva Y, Zhukova I, Wacker A. Rhodiola rosea in Subjects with Prolonged or Chronic Fatigue Symptoms: Results of an Open-Label Clinical Trial. Complement Med Res. 2017;24(1):46-52. 
  6. National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. Dietary Supplements for Exercise and Athletic Performance. 29 Mar 2021. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/ExerciseAndAthleticPerformance-HealthProfessional/
  7. Mount Sinai. 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP). n.d. https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/supplement/5-hydroxytryptophan-5-htp
  8. Hidese S, Ogawa S, Ota M, Ishida I, Yasukawa Z, et al. Effects of L-Theanine Administration on Stress-Related Symptoms and Cognitive Functions in Healthy Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Nutrients. 2019;11(10):2362.
  9. StatPearls [Internet]. Gandhi KR, Saadabadi A. Levodopa (L-Dopa). 30 Apr 2021. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482140/
  10. Bell L, Whyte AR, Lamport DJ, Spencer PE, Butler LT, Williams CM. Grape seed polyphenol extract and cognitive function in healthy young adults: a randomised, placebo-controlled, parallel-groups acute-on-chronic trial. Nutr Neurosci. 2020;1-10.
  11. Calapai G, Bonina F, Bonina A, Rizza L, Mannucci C, et al. A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Clinical Trial on Effects of a Vitis vinifera Extract on Cognitive Function in Healthy Older Adults. Front. Pharmacol. 2017;8:776.
  12. Gorgani L, Mohammadi M, Najafpour GD, Nikzad M. Piperine – The Bioactive Compound of Black Pepper: From Isolation to Medicinal Formulations. Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf. 2017;16(1):124-140.