Primo Health Blog

Creatine & Ribose for ATP Production

By Gene Bruno, MS, MHS – Dean of Academics, Huntington College of Health Sciences 

If you’re looking for more energy to power you through your workouts, consider a dietary supplement strategy that includes both creatine, an ATP initiator, and ribose, an ATP sustainer. The combination of these two natural substances is a promising ergogenic strategy for improving athletic performance and endurance.

ATP

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is a high-energy compound which is often referred to as the body’s “energy currency.” This is truly an apt term since ATP provides a primary source of energy to power muscular activity. Although the biochemistry of ATP may seem complex, its contribution to energy metabolism can be explained simply: When the body splits off one of ATP’s three phosphates, its energy is released and the muscle cells channel some of that energy into mechanical movement.¹ Where an athlete is concerned, the goal of energy metabolism is to provide an adequate amount of ATP to power the muscles throughout the course of their physical activity. This requires the presence of creatine and ribose, natural substances which initiate and sustain ATP production.

Herbal Diuretics To Help Lose Water Weight

By Gene Bruno, MS, MHS

Do you have excess “water weight”? Do you want to reduce water retention? If you answered yes to one or both of these questions, then you may wish to consider herbal diuretics. Herbal diuretics can help promote a healthy balance of fluids in body tissues.

The Problem of Excessive Tissue Fluid

Make no mistake, excess fluid which is stored in the tissues has nothing to do with fat weight. The fluid is strictly water weight. Nonetheless, water weight is still an important consideration regarding a total weight loss program. This is particularly the case for women to tend to retain fluids in their tissues at a much higher rate than men. Even though the fluid retention may only be temporary, many women who are trying to lose weight feel discouraged when they put on an article of clothing some morning, and it feels tighter rather than looser. Psychologically, this discouragement may cause them to give up as they;re thinking, “What’s the use in dieting and exercising? I’m fatter than I was two weeks ago!” Of course it is only water weight, but they may not realize it. Hence the value of natural herbal diuretics which can help reduce the amount of fluid retention. Now, when they try on article of clothing, there is a good chance that it will feel looser rather than tighter. This may provide the needed encouragement to continue following their weight loss program.

Fish for Your Health

Fish and shellfish are low in fat, high in protein, and good sources of iodine, vitamin D, and selenium—nutrients often deficient in the American diet. Many fish are rich in “good fats,” particularly polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids. The two most beneficial types of fats, DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), have been shown to reduce inflammation and severity of heart and retinal diseases. Research shows that children born to mothers who ate low-mercury seafood during pregnancy experienced better functioning brain and nervous systems. Additionally, a diet rich in omega-3s has been shown to lower blood triglycerides and decrease the risk of sudden death from heart disease.

Quick Overview

UT Synergy™ features UTIRose™, a patented, exciting and unique compound designed specifically to support the health of the urinary tract.* UTIRose™ is a patented extract of the Hibiscus species, Hibiscus sabdariffa. UTIRose™ is high in certain organic acids and polyphenols, especially flavonoids and proanthocyanidins. 

These compounds provide microbial inhibition (especially E. coli and C. albicans) and bacterial anti-adhesive properties. In comparisons with standard cranberry extract UTIRose™ showed better inhibition of microbial adherance and much better inhibition of C. albicans.

Cranberry & UTI

By Gene Bruno, MS, MHS – Dean of Academics, Huntington College of Health Sciences

Urinary tract infections (UTI) are no fun— especially for women who are 10 times more likely than men to have a UTI because of anatomic construction of the female urinary system. As a matter of fact, approximately 20% of women have at least one UTI in their lifetime. UTI is often marked by urinary frequency, burning, pain with voiding, and, if the infection is severe, visible blood and pus in the urine. UTI are caused by gram-negative bacteria, most commonly Escherichia coli (E. coli). The best news for anyone who is suffering from UTI, and/or who tends to experience recurrent UTI, is that cranberries are the sworn enemy of UTI.

Herbal COX-2 Inhibitors

By Gene Bruno, MS, MHS – Dean of Academics, Huntington College of Health Sciences 

On September 30, 2004, the pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co., Inc. announced a voluntary worldwide withdrawal of VIOXX^® (rofecoxib), its arthritis and acute pain COX-2 inhibitor medication. The company’s decision, was based on data from a new, three-year prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial, which showed that after 18 months of use, VIOXX^® increased relative risk for confirmed cardiovascular events, such as heart attack and stroke.¹ Almost immediately commentary began about the potential for natural COX-2 inhibitors to fill the VIOXX^® void.²

It is the position of this author that natural COX- 2 inhibitors may very well provide a viable alternative to VIOXX^®. To understand why this might be so, let’s first discuss the COX-2

We live in a mercurial world, and that’s not a good thing. Although mercury (Hg) is a naturally occurring element—found in the air, water, and soil—exposure to it, even in small amounts, causes serious health problems for adults and children. Mercury has toxic effects on the nervous, digestive, and immune systems as well as on the lungs, kidneys, skin, and eyes. It is a threat to the healthy development of a fetus and young child.

Quick Overview

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) is a naturally occurring fatty acid that has been shown to be useful to support proper fat burning, healthy blood sugar levels, and to modulate inflammation. CLA also has strong antioxidant properties.*

This product is a rich source of CLA, standardized to contain a minimum 78% conjugated linoleic acid as cis-9, trans-11 and trans-10, cis-12 isomers in a 50:50 ratio.

---

The History of Basil

"Basil" is derived from the Greek word basilikon for "royal." Native to India, Africa and Asia, basil has been known:

• As a token of love in Italy
• An icon of hospitality in India
• For its medicinal use in China
• As a passport to help the deceased to enter Paradise in Egypt

Used as a botanical in embalming bodies in Egypt, basil is now prominently used in a number of the world's cuisines, including Italian, Thai, Vietnamese and Laotian. It's powerful content of antioxidant flavonoids makes it an important staple in maintaining a healthy diet.

Conjugated Linolenic Acid The Anti-Fat Fatty Acid

By Gene Bruno, MS, MHS – Dean of Academics, Huntington College of Health Sciences

Fat is evil. Fat is bad. Fat makes you fat. People follow low-fat diets to avoid excessive fat intake. People take supplements to help them reduce fat absorption as well as body fat. About the last thing you’d choose to do is voluntarily consume excess fat in supplement form right? Not if that fat is CLA.

What is CLA?

CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) is a free fatty acid that may prove to be essential to our diet. Studies show that CLA can play a vital role in reducing body fat and improving muscle tone. In the past, it was readily available in beef and dairy products, but today, it is no longer present in great quantities. To obtain about 1000 mg of CLA in food you would have to consume three pounds of hamburger, twenty-five slices of American cheese or half a gallon of ice cream. Of course the adverse effects of eating these high saturated fat foods might eclipse the benefits obtained from the CLA. Consequently, the use of a CLA supplement is a sensible alternative and may even help you reduce body fat. Researchers think that CLA helps reduce body fat deposits by promoting apoptosis (programmed cell death) in fat cells.¹