Glucose - When we began looking for a glucose source, we ran into a snag.
We wanted to include a glucose source for energy and to stimulate insulin release to help shuttle nutrients into the muscle cells.
But how could we get all of the benefits of glucose, without all of the extra calories and side-effects of excessive sugar consumption?
We knew we couldn’t use sucrose, fructose, dextrin, maltodexterin or waxy maize. All of these sources of glucose can eventually make you fat and insulin resistant (not to mention the fact that they are processed and stripped of any nutritional value). (10)
We needed something magical, something never used before in the supplement industry. So, we turned to Mother Nature and found pure organic pomegranate.
Why pomegranate? Isn’t it the same as any other sugary fruit juice?
No sir, not even close.
You see, pomegranate contains special secret sugars.
Seriously though, it’s true… scientists have yet to discover the “complex sugars” in pomegranate juice that explain its unique ability to decrease arterial plaque. (11) (more on that later)
Besides the yet-to-be-identified sugar fractions, we do know 3 unique things about pomegranate that separate it from any other fruit juice –
* Pomegranate increases insulin sensitivity and drives nutrients into muscle cells. (13-15)
* Pomegranate contains potent anti-oxidants that remove plaque from artery walls. (11, 16, 17)
* Pomegranate contains punicalagins which enhance nitric oxide (NO) production. (18)
Once we discovered the benefits of pomegranate, we basically had no choice but to use it as our glucose source. We knew it was the #1 choice for glucose replenishment, nutrient delivery and anti-oxidant value.
Pomegranate – One of a kind fruit
Although pomegranate has similar proportions of sugars as other juices such as grape, apple or orange (and a similar glycemic index) it trumps the competition with an exceptionally high anti-oxidant value. Studies show that pomegranate has 3-8x higher anti-oxidant activity than any of the above mentioned juices. (12)
Punicalagins and gallic acid appear to be the active components that increase insulin receptor sensitivity by enhancing peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR’s). Enhanced sensitivity of the insulin receptor means that insulin will drive nutrients into muscle cells more efficiently. (13-15)
Punicalagins have also been shown to increase the production of endothelial nitric-oxide synthase (eNOS), which may have a synergistic effect with the NO boosting effects of GlycoCarn (GPLC). (18)
Furthermore, a study done on diabetic patients showed that pomegranate juice was found to not only improve blood sugar control and insulin sensitivity, but actually reduce oxidation of LDL cholesterol, a benefit not typical of sugary fruit juices. (11, 16, 17)
It appears that pomegranate’s yet-to-be-indentified complex sugars and sugar containing polyphenolic tannins are responsible for this anti-atherogenic effects in humans. (11) In other words, these special “sugar fractions” appear to have the unique ability to reduce plaque within artery walls by reducing the buildup of LDL cholesterol within the arteries. (16, 17) This was highlighted in one human study where one year of pomegranate consumption lead to a 39% decrease in arterial wall thickness compared to the placebo. (16)
Anti Oxidants
Anti-Oxidants - We included anti-oxidants to enhance recovery, power and athletic performance.
Wait… you didn’t know anti-oxidants could do this? That’s fine, most people don’t.
Anti-oxidants are easily the most overlooked and underestimated substance on the supplement list. Most pre-workout formulas contain little to no anti-oxidants, but we’ve fortified PreMax with 3 super anti-oxidants -
* Organic Pomegranate (source of punicalagins, anthocyanins, and gallic acid)
* GSE Grape seed extract (standardized to 95% oligomeric proanthocyanidins)
* Tomato extract (standardized to 10% lycopene)
So what exactly is an anti-oxidant?
An anti-oxidant is a substance that inhibits pro-oxidants.
Pro-oxidants are nasty substances that damage cellular tissue, including DNA.
Essentially, anti-oxidants are compounds that sacrifice themselves to absorb the reactive and destructive pro-oxidant compounds, disabling them before they are given a chance to damage the body. If the body has insufficient anti-oxidant levels to quell the pro-oxidants, they are left to freely damage muscle and cardiovascular tissue. This can lead to reduced muscular power and quicker fatigue. (19, 20)
Recently, a placebo controlled study with male athletes showed that 400mg/day of grape seed extract significantly reduced creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and red blood cell destruction from exercise. This resulted in a 24% increase in jumping performance and a 6.4% increase in explosive power after 30 days of supplementation. (20)
Each serving of PreMax contains a 400mg of grape seed extract standardized for oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPC).
Other research has shown the anti-oxidant lycopene (from tomato extract) may protect against exercise induced asthma. (21)
And of course, PreMax includes a potent dose of freeze-dried organic pomegranate with impressive anti-oxidant ability (explained above).
