29 replies to this topic

[Johan]

Hi everyone.

I am currently 18 years old, and I am at my last year of upper secondary school. I am 5'9" tall, and my weight is around 125 lb. I exercise a bit, though not as much as I would like. Currently I am doing 20 mins of high-intensy interval bicycle training first thing in the morning 5 days per week (weekends off), as well as walking about 40 min/day (quick pace). I have finally gotten adjustable weights, too, so I will be doing weight training 3 days/week as well.

Starting next term, I will probably do a prep year at a university or similar, followed by a 4-year education in molecular biology (netting me a masters degree). As I have not started my university studies yet, my budget is a little too low (approx. $150 of study grants per month, of which $40 is used to pay for internet) to start taking serious supplements. Therefore, I am currently only taking these supps (daily):
* Multivitamin (Friggs MultiMan) (1/day)
* Vitamin C (Friggs) (1/day)
* Omega-3 (Friggs Omega-3 Extra) (2/day)
* B Complex (Friggs B-komplex) (1/day)
* Ginseng (Friggs) (2/day)
* 2-3 cups of Bai Mu Dan white tea

Starting fall 2007, though, I will be allowed a higher study grant as well as study loans, bringing my total monthly income up to around $930. As I will have a lot of stuff to pay anyway, I can't exactly have the "perfect" regimen, but I will have more money to spend on supps than I have now, at least.

So therefore, I have made a preliminary list of the stuff I will buy (all from Beyond-A-Century(thanks, health_nutty!)), based on research as well as comments on these boards and what I've seen in your regimens:
* ALA
* ALCAR
* Benfotiamine
* Pomegranate, P40p
* Rhodiola rosea
* Ginkgo biloba
* Ashwagandha
* Resveratrol
* Green tea extract, 95+% (or should I buy the 40% one?)
* Vitamin D3
* Melatonin, 2mg time-released caps

All this would cost me around $35/month, so I guess it's pretty budget.
Is there anything that you think is missing from my list, or are there any better brands available of the supps I've listed? I'd like to buy everything from one site, so it would be nice if the supps you suggest are available on BAC). Keep in mind that I would like to keep my regimen within some kind of budget.

Any feedback is appreciated.

/Johan

Edited by namingway, 27 March 2007 - 06:54 PM.

[Athanasios]

Personally I would drop the CoQ10, as you are young and ala/alcar will boost it some anyway. I would also consider taking LEFs blueberry and pom extract instead of the pom, because, again, you are young and the amount in the blueberry extract will be enough (plus you get the blueberry AND it is cheaper).

You may want to scale into this to see the effects of each, just in case of side effects you don't like. Also, it would be less stimulating to scale into it.

Maybe start with the Benfotiamine, Pomegranate, Ala and Alcar, then in a week or two add the Ashwagandha and Rhodiola, then wait a week or two to add Ginko, then wait for Resveratrol. Something like that.

I would also consider more vitamin D.

Do you drink green tea?

Hope that helps.

[Johan]

Thanks for the input.
Dropping CoQ10 would also significantly reduce the cost of my regimen, as it is the most expensive supplement on the list.

I meant the blueberry/pom, I just forgot to write it. I guess you mean this:
http://www.iherb.com...s&pid=LEX-93806

As for the tea, yes, I did, but nowadays I drink white tea (Bai Mu Dan) as I hear it's healthier. Should I switch back to green?

[Athanasios]

I would consider drinking powdered tea, or taking an extract with your regular tea.

I provided a few papers in the full member forum that showed 150mg of EgCG per g of sencha was determined through alcohol extraction, which should mimic sencha powder ingestion. Although, when you use a water extract, it will be way less. For example, matcha water extraction gives about 0.32mg EgCG per g of leaf, where an alcohol extraction gives about 50mg EgCG per g of leaf.

http://www.imminst.o...=178&t=11475&s=

So, as you see, you would get significantly more amount of goodies from powdered tea than standard leaf tea. I would recommend drinking powdered sencha, or stick to the tea you have now while adding an extract. Here is one that Iherb has:

http://www.iherb.com...s&pid=NOW-04704

I take LEF's, but , at first glance, iherb doesnt seem to carry it.

O-cha (google will bring a result) carries a good powdered sencha, the most potent of the greens.

[Johan]

If I knew where to get powdered tea in a store here in Sweden, I would buy it right now. The tea I drink now I get for free (my mother works at a bakery shop that also sells tea). I'll add the tea extract to my list. Thanks.

[Karomesis]

I'm on a pretty tight budget right now myself Naminway, but you've got a pretty good stack [thumb]

if you can afford it, i'd highly recommend getting pyridoxamine. It's one of the few things we can really attack with current technology/supps... preventing crosslinks.

I plan on purchasing some weights and start doing weight training daily, though.

good move.

I'd also highly recommend olympic weightlifting, as it has demonstrated impressive benefits through it's total body movements and is a great mood enhancer.

while we're discussing future regimens here's my shortened version for first quarter 08.

MYO-029

ALT-711

sirtris research drug SRT501 (allegedly WAY more potent of a sirt2 activator than resveratrol) [lol]


metformin

R-lipoic acid

pyridoxamine

benfotiamine

NtBHA

[Johan]

if you can afford it, i'd highly recommend getting pyridoxamine.

iHerb doesn't have it, so I'll have to order it separately then. I remember reading a paper on how pyridoxamine isn't allowed to be sold as a supplement anymore, though. Is it still like that?

[Karomesis]

[quote]I remember reading a paper on how pyridoxamine isn't allowed to be sold as a supplement anymore, though. Is it still like that?[quote]

what you and many other people here remember is a pharma startup (biostratum) trying to get FDA approval for their "diabetic complication drug" and then proceed to get laughed at by them because their main ingredient is pyridoxamine. [lol]

http://www.islet.org...sages/41810.htm

VC's who have more money than sense....100 million dollars

pharma startup who has neither....2.6 million dollars

finding it on the internet for 15$ a bottle....priceless.


nice try though.

Edited by karomesis, 20 March 2007 - 09:06 PM.

[mitkat]

I'm on a pretty tight budget right now myself Naminway, but you've got a pretty good stack [thumb]

if you can afford it, i'd highly recommend getting pyridoxamine. It's one of the few things we can really attack with current technology/supps... preventing crosslinks.



good move.

I'd also highly recommend olympic weightlifting, as it has demonstrated impressive benefits through it's total body movements and is a great mood enhancer.

while we're discussing future regimens here's my shortened version for first quarter 08.

MYO-029

ALT-711

sirtris research drug SRT501 (allegedly WAY more potent of a sirt2 activator than resveratrol) [lol] 


metformin

R-lipoic acid

pyridoxamine

benfotiamine

NtBHA

karomesis, you should post a full stack as well. You take a lot of interesting AGE-related substances...I'd like to see your doses and reasoning behind some of the supps. I need to be converted, lol [thumb]

[Johan]

http://www.islet.org...sages/41810.htm

Yeah, that was it. Thanks for correcting me.

On a side note, what do you think about curcumin?
Also, I would like to try organic cocoa nibs. I'll check my local natural-food store on Thursday to see if they have any.

Edited by namingway, 20 March 2007 - 09:34 PM.

[Karomesis]

I'd like to see your doses and reasoning behind some of the supps. I need to be converted, lol thumb.gif

sure.

let's start with pyridoxamine, besides being one of the most potent anti glycation supps available it is also being studied for anti oxidant effects , and lipid lowering as well, suggesting that like other known life extension compounds tested in mice it is pluripotent.

http://www.ncbi.nlm....l=pubmed_docsum

http://www.ncbi.nlm....l=pubmed_docsum

http://www.ncbi.nlm....t_uids=16037308

http://www.ncbi.nlm....t_uids=10801874

and a detailed reason from Paul at morelife.org

http://morelife.org/...lements/PM.html


NtBHA

http://morelife.org/...hems/NtBHA.html (credits to Paul once again).

http://www.ncbi.nlm....l=pubmed_docsum

http://www.ncbi.nlm....l=pubmed_docsum


the toxicity of both of these is extremely low and I think the data indicates they are excellent weapons in the fight against the horrors of aging.


I can find you a bazillion studies on the other ones I mentioned like R-lipoic and benfotiamine if you want.

and considering the dramatic correlations between diabetes mellitus and the aging process, I generally assume that diabetic compounds are worth looking into as a first priority along with anything that reverses or slows down mitochondrial decay, like NtBHA and R-lipoic acid.

I also look into the potential toxcicity f the compounds and if the pros seem to outweigh the cons then I'm sold. and I also think that "an ounce of prevention" is worth 2 metric tons of cure. [glasses] i.e. the more we slow down harmful processes the better prepared we'll be to get help from stuff like this http://www.cytoritx.com/ when it becomes commercially available , end of 08 from what I hear. [lol]

[health_nutty]

Since you are on a budget you could buy the stuff uncapped. I get most of my stuff from "beyond a century". I just mix the powders with water and a bit of juice. Let me know if you have any questions.

[Johan]

Since you are on a budget you could buy the stuff uncapped.

That would be an option, but so far, I think I prefer to pay a little extra for caps because it's easier to take (just swallow a pill).

karomesis, where do you buy your pyridoxamine?

[health_nutty]

Since you are on a budget you could buy the stuff uncapped.

That would be an option, but so far, I think I prefer to pay a little extra for caps because it's easier to take (just swallow a pill).

karomesis, where do you buy your pyridoxamine?

fyi, the markup on buying caps is 2-3x in price of uncapped powder.

[Johan]

fyi, the markup on buying caps is 2-3x in price of uncapped powder.

I never realized the difference was that big. Well, that certainly changed my view of things.
Then I also have the option of adjusting dosage sizes myself if I want to, and that can be a plus. The difficulty for me, since I'm currently no expert on supplements, is what dosages are recommended for different supps (the ones on beyond-a-century) (specifically the ones on my list in my first post). Do you have any advice? Also, which supps do you recommend from BAC?

Edited by namingway, 21 March 2007 - 06:01 PM.

[health_nutty]

I would buy all the supplements you listed from BAC (I've been impressed with their quality). The only possible exception is benfotiamine. The powder is really messy, tastes very bitter, and the price difference isn't as big as some other supplements. ALA has a slight stinging (if you don't dilute it enough) which doesn't bother me at all since I dilute it with a lot of water.

As far as dosages go I generally follow the recommended dosage on the bottle (BAC tends to recommend conservative doses) unless I have done extra research to know what the optimal dose is (which is often the case).

Make sure and get the pom40p version of the pom extract.

BTW, Their 30% ginseng powder is quite potent. It was the first ginseng I really felt a significant energy boost from. Make sure you start with the recommended dosage first.

You can check out my routine in the personal supplements section:
http://www.imminst.o...=238&t=13063&s=

Let me know if you have any other questions.

[Johan]

I guess you mix the powders with water and drink them, then?

Also, as I asked earlier, what is your opinion on curcumin?

[luv2increase]

Bulk nutrition is good as well. I wouldn't have the funds of taking the millions (it seems) of supps that I take if I couldn't buy them in bulk powders. They are a godsend!

[health_nutty]

I guess you mix the powders with water and drink them, then?

Also, as I asked earlier, what is your opinion on curcumin?

Yes, I mix them with with water and a bit of juice.

I think very highly of Curcumin. I would buy it capped because it is likely to make your drink taste very nasty. I haven't actually tried it, but as much as I like curry, curry-water doesn't sound too appealing.

I actually don't take it right now because I'm trying to minimize the number of things i take. It just barely misses the cutoff for me.

[Johan]

Then I might consider buying curcumin too, along with bioperine for better absorption. It'll be exciting to see how it tastes

Do you drink a separate glass of water/juice for each supplement, or do you mix everything in one drink?

[health_nutty]

Then I might consider buying curcumin too, along with bioperine for better absorption. It'll be exciting to see how it tastes

Do you drink a separate glass of water/juice for each supplement, or do you mix everything in one drink?

I mix everything in one drink.

[Karomesis]

karomesis, where do you buy your pyridoxamine?

right here http://www.nutrition...om/pdoxjrw.html

I bought 3 bottles from them a month ago and they shipped them fast [thumb]

not too bad a price either at 15$ a bottle.

[Johan]

right here http://www.nutrition...om/pdoxjrw.html

Unfortunately, they don't ship international orders, so I can't order from them.
But here's another site that has it:
http://www.luckyvita...0011180135.html
I don't know much about them, though. Has anyone bought anything from them before? Are they reliable?

Also, after comparing BAC prices to iHerb's, I would save more than 50% if I buy from BAC, so that's my choice. Thanks a lot, health_nutty!
I'll add Vitamin D3 too. Anything else you'd recommend?
Preliminary monthly supplements costs are down to $30 now. Heck, that's $1/day [:o] I could afford that even now!

Edited by namingway, 23 March 2007 - 10:06 PM.

[health_nutty]

[
Also, after comparing BAC prices to iHerb's, I would save more than 50% if I buy from BAC, so that's my choice. Thanks a lot, health_nutty!
I'll add Vitamin D3 too. Anything else you'd recommend?
Preliminary monthly supplements costs are down to $30 now. Heck, that's $1/day [:o] I could afford that even now!

Low dose melatonin (1mg or less).

[health_nutty]

Oh and by the way, BAC does NOT have the best prices on capped supplements (multi, D3, melatonin, etc). Their prices can easily be beat by iherb etc.

[Johan]

Oh and by the way, BAC does NOT have the best prices on capped supplements (multi, D3, melatonin, etc).  Their prices can easily be beat by iherb etc.

Yeah, but unless the difference in price is very large, I think it would be easier to buy all my supps from one site. Saves shipping costs too.

What about time-released melatonin (2 mg)?

Also, I'd like to hear everyone's opinion on the following supplements:
* Glucosamine
* L-Carnosine
* Lutein
* Vinpocetine
* Pregnenolone

Edited by namingway, 24 March 2007 - 08:18 AM.

[health_nutty]

>What about time-released melatonin (2 mg)?

I remember reading some studies posted here that less than 1mg was just as effective as higher doses. At higher doses you run the risk of being very groggy in the morning. Here is a good thread:
http://www.imminst.o...hl=melatonin&s=

* Glucosamine
A lot of good research behind this one for joint pain.

* L-Carnosine
http://www.imminst.o...,and,alanine&s=

* Lutein
* Vinpocetine
* Pregnenolone
Don't know much about these

[Johan]

Thanks for the links, health_nutty. I think I will give the time-rel melatonin caps a try come autumn.

Here are some links on lutein and its benefits:
http://www.luteininfo.com/eye
http://www.nutraingr...-research-gains

And here's one on vinpocetine:
http://www.pdrhealth.../vin_0259.shtml

And a couple on pregnenolone:
http://www.thereales...com/Master.html
http://www.kombuchapower.com/DHEA.htm

I don't know how good these links are, but anyway.

I am considering buying BAC's 12% cocoa extract too, as I didn't find any organic cacao in my local store. I figure this would be a good way to get the flavonoids of cocoa without the downsides (fat, etc.) of dark chocolate. Does anyone use this extract? Is it good?

Also, I found rhodiola rosea (300 mg) at my local supermarket today (Friggs, same brand as my other current supplements), so I'll try it from tomorrow on. Quite expensive though, about $15 for 30 caps.

Edited by namingway, 27 March 2007 - 07:20 PM.

[health_nutty]

Thanks for the links, health_nutty. I think I will give the time-rel melatonin caps a try come autumn.

I am considering buying BAC's 12% cocoa extract too, as I didn't find any organic cacao in my local store. I figure this would be a good way to get the flavonoids of cocoa without the downsides (fat, etc.) of dark chocolate. Does anyone use this extract? Is it good?

Also, I found rhodiola rosea (300 mg) at my local supermarket today (Friggs, same brand as my other current supplements), so I'll try it from tomorrow on. Quite expensive though, about $15 for 30 caps.

The BAC cocoa extract standardizes for the stimulants and thermogenics in cocoa *not* flavanoids. I would rather buy regular unprocessed cocoa powder (I'm still searching for a good organic source).

The BAC Rhodiola extract is excellent and is a very good value.

[PWAIN]

The BAC cocoa extract standardizes for the stimulants and thermogenics in cocoa *not* flavanoids.  I would rather buy regular unprocessed cocoa powder (I'm still searching for a good organic source). 

You may want to try these guys, I believe they ship internationally.

http://www.tava.com.au/

They do the nibs roasted and unroasted.