POLLEN FLOWER

Pollen Flower provides relief for many prostate-related issues that are experienced by the majority of men over 40-years of age. The main ingredient is rye pollen. All possible allergens and impurities are removed by a very sophisticated and complex process.

Pollen Flower can yield prostate health benefits within weeks, rather than the months which are typical of other nutritional supplements for prostate health.

The Advantages of Pollen Flower

A Natural Approach to Maintaining Prostate and Urogenital Health. Non-Allergenic and Non-Toxic.

It is very common for the prostate gland to become enlarged as a man ages. This condition is known as BHP, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia. The vast majority of men will eventually have symptoms of an enlarged prostate

• Pollen Flower has been shown to provide the following benefits:
  • Reduction in prostate congestion
  • Decrease number of nighttime bathroom trips (urinary frequency) urinary urgency and hesitancy
  • Improved ability to fully empty the bladder (via relaxation of urethral smooth muscles); also helps women with bladder control issues
  • Inhibition of the binding of 5-alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) to prostate cells
• Pollen Flower can yield prostate health benefits within weeks, rather than the months which are typical of other nutritional supplements for prostate health.
• Saw Palmetto and other supplements marketed for prostate health have no impact on reducing the volume (or size) of an enlarged prostate. Pollen Flower does! (In Japan, pollen extracts are one of the preferred treatments for enlarged prostate.)
• Pollen Flower has a calming effect upon spasms of the musculature of the smooth muscles of the urethra and bladder neck. It improves contractibility of the bladder and reduces inflammation. Because it exerts a broad effect upon the tissues of the urethra and the bladder, Pollen Flower offers benefits to women as well as men. Women experiencing an involuntary loss of urine when laughing, coughing, lifting a heavy object, or sneezing, or find themselves being woken from a deep sleep to urinate, will benefit from taking Pollen Flower to enhance and promote better bladder control.
• Pollen Flower is also a potent antioxidant, immune system enhancer, liver protector, and has energy/anti-fatigue effects. Pollen Flower has been used in clinical settings to promote better wound healing, shorten convalescence time after surgery, and enhance sports performance. Athletes at risk as a result of excessive use of male hormone precursors (e.g., DHEA, androstenediol) may be helped by Pollen Flower.

Pollen Flower Description

Pollen Flower is a specialized extract designed for the purpose of promoting urogenital health. It is a proprietary combination of water-soluble and lipid-soluble fractions prepared from a defined set of flower pollen sources. The main ingredient is rye pollen. All possible allergens and impurities are removed by a very sophisticated and complex process. The active ingredients are standardized according to proprietary amino acid and phytosterol content profiles, which assures you a consistent product every bottle, every time. There have been no reported serious toxic or allergenic reactions for decades, and no issues of intolerance. Caution is advised for those using flower pollen extracts from unknown origins.

Pharmacology of Pollen Flower

Pollen Flower was developed through a proprietary process that requires the pollen of 10,000 plant tops to produce one kilogram of extract. All possible allergens and impurities are removed, and then a very sophisticated process is used to extract out the hydrophilic and the lipophilic fractions, both of are active in genitor-urinary tract issues. For example, the lipophilic fraction has demonstrated an inhibition of the 5-alpha-reductase (responsible for the production of DHT) as well as the cyclooxygenase pathway, which is involved in the inflammatory process. The hydrophilic fraction has demonstrated anti-proliferative actions against the prostate cells. In other words, it helps to defend the prostate against problematic cell growth.

Mechanisms of Action

• Relaxes smooth muscles, and helps facilitate voiding of the bladder and reduce residual urine
• Improves bladder contractility (and control)
• Inhibits prostate epithelial and stromal cell growth
• Inhibits the arachidonic acid cascade, which is involved in inflammatory processes
• Potent antioxidant properties
• Reduces the effects of cadmium (a suspected inducer of prostate enlargement)
• Protects the liver from some toxins
• Enhances immune system function

The following properties of pollen extracts serve to help protect the prostate from enlargement:

• Inhibits the formation of DHT by inhibiting alpha-reductase enzyme activity
• Improves the clearance of DHT and its end products from prostate cells
• Effectively increases zinc levels in the prostate, and zinc exerts a major impact upon the clearance of DHT. (Taking zinc orally will not necessarily increase levels of zinc in the prostate.)

Reduces the binding of DHT to its prostate cell receptor site (alpha 1-receptor)

PYGEUM AFRICANUM

Pygeum africanum is a large evergreen tree found in central and southern Africa. The extracts from the Pygeum bark contain several compounds thought to be helpful in prostate enlargement. Pygeum extracts have been used for more than 30 years in France, Germany, and Austria for patients suffering with prostate enlargement. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a nonmalignant enlargement of the prostate that occurs in most men over 60, can lead to urinary frequency and nocturia (waking up at night to go to the bathroom). Frequent interruption of sleep leads to daytime tiredness. The pharmacologic use of plants and herbs for the treatment of BPH has been growing steadily and a well-known herb used for this purpose is saw palmetto. The extract of the African prune tree, Pygeum africanum, is one of several herbal agents used by many men who have BPH.

What's in Pygeum africanum?
The extracts from pygeum include beta-sitosterol, other plant estrogens, triterpenes, and certain compounds known as ferulic acids.

SAW PALMETTO

Saw Palmetto: supports healthy prostate function, improves body strength, supports healthy hormonal balance and healthy immune function, increases libido.

Saw Palmetto (Serenoa serrulata) is native to the West Indies and the Atlantic coast of North America. Native Americans and early Amercan settlers used the berries to treat problems associated with the reproductive system, genitals and urinary tract. It has been widely used in Europe and Canada for years, and more recently in the United States. There is much research and documentation that supports the benefits of Saw Palmetto for prostate and the urinary tract. Nearly 50% of men over 50 will experience benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), an enlargement of the prostate. Saw Palmetto may be as effective in treating BPH as prescription medication. A clinical trial conducted in France reported that the number of times men had to urinate at night decreased by 45%, and urine flow rate increased by 50%. In another study, 1300 men that suffer from enlarged prostate were given Saw Palmetto extract for 12 weeks, the participants noted the following: 1) less nighttime urination 2) increased urine flow and volume. In addition, an analysis paper on the clinical trials of Saw Palmetto published by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that men given saw palmetto were twice as likely to report an improvement in symptoms than those given a placebo. Plant part used is the berry, and the active constituents are free fatty acids and sterols that are standardized to 85-95%.

Our Saw Palmetto is standardized to 85-95% fatty acids

Research Indicates:

• May support healthy prostate function
• May improve body strength
• May be beneficial for both sexes in supporting healthy hormonal balance
• May support healthy immune function
• May increase libido

PUMKIN SEED OIL

Pumpkin seed oil has been used in combination with saw palmetto in two double blind human studies to effectively reduce symptoms of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). Researchers have suggested that the zinc, free fatty acid, or plant sterol content of pumpkin seeds might account for their benefit in men with BPH. Studies have shown that pumpkin seed extracts can improve the function of the bladder and urethra, this might partially account for BPH symptom relief.

QUERCETIN

Quercetin may be the strongest of natures anti-inflammatories. Numerous studies have shown it effective in treating a wide range of prostate related problems. A recent published study demonstrates quercitin provides long-term symtomatic relief with few side effects to men that are afflicted with nonbacterial prostatitis.

RESVERATROL

Resveratrol is a compound produced by many plant species and is thought to be helpful in reducing serum lipids and may have favorable cardiovascular implications. It is produced by Vitis vinifera and labrusca grapes and is found in grape products including red and white wines. Resveratrol has been proven effective in extending life up to 30% and is key in the prevention of many heart disease.

Resveratrol is studied by nutritionists and biochemists because of its potential as a cardioprotective compound. Resveratrol belongs to the phytoalexin class of phytochemicals and functions as a moderate antioxidant, quenching free radical damage. The compound has also demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties.

In humans, studies are underway to determine health benefits of resveratrol in heart disease. Preliminary research results demonstrate that resveratrol may have anti-infective, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. According to studies involving mice, resveratrol seems to reduce the occurrence of skin tumors.

SELENIUM

Is a potent antioxidant important in promoting and maintaining prostate health.
L Selenomethionine is the form use in this formula. It is a highly absorbable and bio-available form of Selenium.

ZINC PICOLINATE

Zinc helps tissues grow and repair themselves. In addition to helping heal wounds faster, zinc is probably the most important mineral for keeping the immune system strong. Too little zinc can lead to a drop in infection-fighting white blood cells, which can increase your risk of getting sick. On the other hand, too much zinc may interfere with the workings of another trace mineral you need: copper. As with most minerals, high intake may prove toxic, and too much zinc can damage the immune system. Take no more than 90 milligrams of zinc per day

Zinc Picolinate is the form use in this formula. It is a highly absorbable and bio-available form of Zinc

SOY ISOFLAVONE EXTRACT 40%

Soy Isoflavones effectively Reduce Risk of Heart Disease.

SOY ISOFLAVONES have been in the news recently for their known help in lowering cholesterol and reducing the risk of heart disease. This supplement is also important for prostate health. The main constituents in soy that are helpful are genistein and daidzein. These are NOT "Phytoestrogens" as many so-called experts will allege as there is no estrogen, or testosterone, progesterone, DHEA, melatonin in any plant.

Studies on prostate health and isoflavones have been published in journals such as Prostate, Journal of Endocrinology and many others. The proof is overwhelming.

Isoflavones have what you need, not only for prostate health, but to also to prevent high cholesterol and heart disease.

LYCOPENE

• Lycopene is an open-chain unsaturated carotenoid that imparts red colour to tomatoes, guava, rosehip, watermelon and pink grapefruit.
• Lycopene is a proven antioxidant. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals, which may damage the body's cells.
• Research shows that lycopene in tomatoes can be absorbed more efficiently by the body if processed into juice, sauce, paste and ketchup. The chemical form of lycopene found in tomatoes is converted by the temperature changes involved in processing to make it more easily absorbed by the body.
• In the body, lycopene is deposited in the liver, lungs, prostate gland, colon and skin. Its concentration in body tissues tends to be higher than all other carotenoids.
• Regular high consumption of fruits and vegetables is recommended as part of healthy eating.

LINUMLIFE - FLAX LIGNANS

LinumLife is an extract from flaxseed that is highly concentrated in lignans. LinumLife provides between 10 to 30 times more lignans than whole flaxseed or other flax ingredients.

The main lignan in flax is secoisolariciresinol diglucoside, or SDG. When ingested, micro-organisms in the colon convert SDG into enterodiol and enterolactone, the so-called mammalian lignans. These are the body’s own active forms of lignans.

Characteristic for phytoestrogens, lignans can weakly bind to estrogen receptors. A sufficient level of these lignans can compete with natural estrogen for the estrogen receptors, resulting in balanced estrogen levels in the blood. This basic mechanism has different effects in men and women.

Lignans for Men's Health

Lignans have many potential benefits for men, specifically in areas related to prostate health. A great deal of attention is being focused on benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) because it is a growing public health problem. The American Urological Association estimates that BPH affects 50 percent of men aged 50 to 60 and up to 90 percent of men over the age of 80. Simply stated, BPH is a condition where the prostate becomes enlarged. This can be a problem because the urethra, the tube carrying urine from the bladder to outside the body, runs through the prostate (see illustrations). A growing prostate can pinch off the urethra and cause uncomfortable symptoms, like a frequent and overwhelming urge to urinate, and painful urination. The exact cause of BPH is unknown, but male hormones seem to play a role. In the body, testosterone is converted to a more potent form called dihydrotestosterone or DHT. Normal, healthy prostate cells require DHT for growth. However, it is thought that too much of this hormone can cause abnormal growth—leading to BPH. Therefore, compounds that interfere with the conversion of testosterone to DHT could reduce a man's chances of developing these diseases.

Lignans have been shown to block the action of the enzyme that converts testosterone into DHT.2 Lignans may also reduce the amount of testosterone available for the body to use. In the average male, only a small amount of testosterone roams free in the blood. Most testosterone is bound to a protein called SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin). People who consume large amounts of lignans have been shown to have increased blood levels of SHBG.3 An increase in SHBG leaves less testosterone available to stimulate prostate cell growth.

Lignans and hair loss

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most common type of hair loss in men and women. AGA can be defined as a testosterone dependent process.

When a hair is shed, the active form of testosterone (DHT) initiates the miniaturization of hair root and follicle. Lignans balance DHT levels and thereby prevent hair follicles from being miniaturized.

STINGING NETTLE ROOT (URTICA DIOICA)

Stinging Nettle root is an herb with stinging hairs found in the United States mostly in forests, mountains, weedy, undisturbed areas and roadsides. Extracts of the stinging nettle roots have been used in Germany for the therapy of prostate disorders and rheumatoid arthritis.

What's in Stinging Nettle?

Extracts from stinging nettle contain a number of substances including caffeic acid, malic acid, polysaccharides and probably many other compounds including lectins, lignans, and phytosterols.

Stinging Nettle benefits

Stinging nettle has been shown to inhibit the body from making certain inflammatory chemicals known as prostaglandins. Stinging nettle’s root may affect hormones levels and proteins in the blood that carry sex hormones (such as testosterone or estrogen). One study described later found the combination of stinging nettle and saw palmetto was as good as finasteride (Proscar) in reducing symptoms of prostate enlargement. Stinging nettle appears to also have antioxidant properties.

As men age, their ratio of estrogen to testosterone increases, making it important to inhibit the effects of estrogens, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), and dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

Stinging Nettle root helps to inhibit the proliferation of prostate cells in response to estrogen and SHBG.

The prostate gland also benefits from Stinging Nettle root. In Germany, Stinging Nettle root has been used as a treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlargement of the prostate gland) for decades. A metabolite of testosterone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT) stimulates prostate growth, leading to enlargement. Stinging Nettle root inhibits the binding of DHT to attachment sites on the prostate membrane.

Stinging Nettle root extracts also inhibit enzymes such as 5-alpha Reductase that cause testosterone to convert to DHT. It is the DHT metabolite of testosterone that is known to cause benign prostate enlargement, excess facial hair, and hair loss at the top of the head.

BORON

Help protect the health of the prostate gland.

CHRYSIN

Chrysin (5,7- Dihydroxyflavone) is a potent bioflavonoid found in the plant Passiflora coerula, a member of the passion flower family. Chrysin is the most powerful of several flavonoids that have been tested and found to exhibit anti-estrogenic activity in-vitro by inhibiting the aromatization process. This product has been shown to have a significant effect in modulating the response to stress. It binds to receptors in the brain known as the benzodiazepine specific receptor sites. As a result, Chrysin can aid athletes in dealing with the stress of training.

DIM (DI-INDOLYL METHANE)

DIM (Di-Indolyl Methane) increases the good estrogen metabolites and decreases the bad estrogen metabolites

Supplementing the diet with DIM and eating cruciferous vegetables increases the specific aerobic metabolism for estrogen, multiplying the chance for estrogen to be broken down into its beneficial, or "good" estrogen metabolites. These "good" estrogen metabolites are known as the 2-hydroxy estrogens. Many of the benefits that are attributed to estrogen, which include its ability to protect the heart and brain with its antioxidant activity, are now known to come from these "good" metabolites.

When DIM increases the "good" estrogen metabolites, there is a simultaneous reduction in the levels of undesirable or "bad" estrogen metabolites. These include the 16-hydroxy estrogens

Greater production of these "bad" estrogen metabolites is promoted by obesity and exposure to a number of manmade environmental chemicals. These "bad" estrogen metabolites are responsible for many of estrogen's undesirable actions in women and men, including further unwanted weight gain.

CAT’S CLAW

Cat's claw, also known as una de gato (its Spanish name), is a high-climbing, woody vine that grows profusely in the upper Amazon regions of Peru, Columbia, Ecuador, and other South American countries. At the base of the plant's leaves are two curved thorns that resemble the claws of a cat (hence its name); these allow the vine to climb up trees and other vegetation into the forest canopy. The herb's botanical name, Uncaria, is from the Latin uncus, for "hook."

Two species of cat's claw are harvested for medicinal purposes, Uncaria guianensis, used mainly in Europe, and Uncaria tomentosa, commonly imported into the United States. Among the herbal practitioners of South America, the two species are considered interchangeable.

For hundreds of years, people in the Amazon basin have used cat's claw to treat a broad range of ailments, ranging from arthritis, and stomach and liver disorders to skin conditions and even contraception. Traditionally, the herb's primary medicinal form has been a decoction, or crude extract, prepared by boiling the inner bark of the stem and parts of the root.

Scientific interest in cat's claw centers on the plant's immune-boosting and anti-inflammatory properties.

In recent years researchers have identified two separate subspecies of U. tomentosa, which have important differences in their chemical properties. One contains mainly pentacylic alkaloids, substances responsible for the most well-researched effect of cat's claw, namely immune stimulation. The other type of U. tomentosa contains tetracylic alkaloids, which affect the brain and central nervous system and actually counteract the immune-stimulating effects of the pentacylic group.

Health Benefits

In the mid-1990s, once it became known that cat's claw had potential value for the treatment of serious conditions such as arthritis, and even HIV infections, it became one of the top-selling herbs in the United States. Unfortunately, this enthusiasm was not backed up by much clinical evidence. Very few well-designed clinical trials with human subjects have been done on cat's claw, but some laboratory and animal studies have been conducted.

Most of the anecdotal evidence (word of mouth only) indicates that it may help to improve inflammatory problems such as osteoarthritis (OA) and prostatitis, immune disorders such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and situations in which a stronger immune system is desired, such as HIV. On the other hand, some herbal researchers also point out that long-term use of cat's claw might overstimulate the immune system and do more harm than good for some of these conditions.

According to a 2001 article in Alternative Medicine Review, cat's claw also warrants further research because of the worldwide concern over viral diseases. Although these areas have not been fully explored, some experts believe that cat's claw may eventually have potential in fighting chronic viral infections such as AIDS, and also in combating immune-related conditions associated with aging.

Specifically, cat's claw may help to:

• Reduce inflammation. In several laboratory experiments, cat's claw has been shown to demonstrate anti-inflammatory effects; few clinical studies of these properties have been conducted, however. One small four-week trial, reported in the 2001 Inflammation Research journal, found that 30 people with OA of the knee had significant relief from pain during daily activities but no easing of nighttime pain or pain during rest; the control group had no pain relief at all. A number of other inflammatory conditions are also being investigated in association with cat's claw, including allergies and asthma, Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, bursitis, and tendinitis.

PANAX GINSENG

This supplement is widely taken to help your body deal with stress. Ginseng also increases stamina and energy and has even shown to increase testosterone levels. When you consider it also has a positive effect on blood flow, it's easy to see why ginseng would have a valuable effect to maintain an erection.

Used in the Orient for hundreds of years and reputed to aid virility and improved sex life. Research showed it to increase testosterone levels whilst reducing prostate size.

L ALANINE L GLYSINE AND L GLUTAMIC ACID

Research has shown that these 3 Amino acids taken in combination are capable of dramatic improvement in BPH. These amino acids were tested in a double-blind study of patients with enlarged prostates. Half of the patients were treated with the combined amino acids the others with a placebo (completely inactive pills given for comparison purposes). 93% of the group taking the amino acids experienced a reduction of prostate enlargement and 95% experienced fewer problems in urination.

EVENING PRIMEROSE OIL

Support Prostate health.

Native to North America, the evening primrose is a tiny and short-lived wildflower and not a true primrose. When Europeans found it and took it to Europe, its purported healing properties for skin diseases and flesh wounds quickly earned it the name "King's cure-all." Evening primrose is now grown in 30 or more countries, and the oil pressed from its seed is marketed as a nutritional supplement and as a great source of linoleic acid. Evening primrose oil, however, is a source not only of linoleic acid but also of another kind of fatty acid called gamo-lenic acid (also known as gamma linolenic acid, or GLA). This fatty acid, normally manufactured by the body from linoleic acid, is important in many ways. It is transformed by the body eventually into eicosanoids, hormone-like chemicals that include the prostaglandins. Prostaglandins help control such processes as inflammation, blood clotting, and cholesterol synthesis.

ORGANIC FLAX OIL

Flax has been used for thousands of years for food, clothing and linen but only recently have studies uncovered the nutritional benefits of Flax. With high levels of Omega-3 Fatty Acids, lignans and fiber, Flax provides nutritional benefits that are important to overall health. Flax Oil is nature's most potent source of Omega-3 EFAs . Studies show that Omega-3 EFAs support cardiovascular health and joint flexibility.*

When looking at flax products, it is important to recognize the nutritional differences found in various flax products, be it Flax Oil, Flax Lignans or Flax Fiber. Supplementspot Nutrients works hard to guarantee their flax products are the highest level of quality in the industry.

Omega-6 Fatty Acid or Linoleic Acid has been recently shown to significantly educe the risk of stroke.

BORAGE OIL

Borage Oil is nature's best source of GLA.

Borage Oil is nature's richest source of the nutritionally important Omega-6 fatty acid GLA. Clinical research shows that Borage Oil, with its unusually high GLA content, maintains healthy moisturized skin joint flexibility and prostate health by reducing inflammation. In Japan, medical claims have been made for its use in maintaining healthy skin function and cholesterol levels.

MARINE LIPID CONCENTRATE DHA EPA

One of the healthiest low-fat proteins is fish.

Ocean fish body fat is rich in the omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA. These fatty acids block the conversion of arachidonic acid to these potentially damaging products and, as a result, have multiple health benefits. In fact, increasing dietary DHA and EPA may alleviate the symptoms of arthritis and other types of inflammation; it also decreases the tendency of platelets to trigger blood clots, and, in turn, reduces the risk of stroke. And over the past year, researchers showed that increasing your intake of DHA and EPA can dramatically reduce your risk of cardiac arrest because of abnormalities in heart contraction rhythm.

But some of fish oil's health benefits appear to be unrelated to its ability to block the arachidonic acid metabolism. For example, DHA appears to play a critical role in the development and function of the human brain and retina. As a result, DHA supplements are routinely added to pediatric formulas used to replace human milk.

Fish do not make DHA and EPA but obtain it from algae that form the bottom of the ocean food chain. In algae, these omega-3 fatty acids act to keep the membranes of the plants flexible and fluid at cold temperatures. Thus, fish that live in cold water are better sources of these omega-3 fatty acids than fish from tropical regions.

BIOPERINE

In Studies (Black pepper - piper nigrum fruit extract) increases absorption of other nutrients from 30 to 250% via process called thermogenesis.

Recent studies have shown that it can greatly increase the bioavailability of other compounds – such as vitamins, minerals and herbal substances.