Folate (As 5-Methyltetrahydrofolate Calcium) - 400 MCG
Folate, better known as vitamin b9, is commonly used in female hormone balancing supplements as it is known to be capable of reducing many menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes and night sweats.
It can then also help to boost the production of DNA, RNA, and testosterone, enhance the metabolism of amino acids and nutrients, support the growth and repair of bodily tissues, prevent the development of anaemia and the symptoms that it causes, and promote better sexual health and functions.
The issue is, research suggests that you should only be consuming a maximum of 240 mcg of vitamin b9 a day. As this Alani Nu product contains substantially more than that at 400 mcg per serving, it is just far too strong and puts the user at great risk of experiencing side effects (1).
Chromium (As TRAACS Nicotinate Glycinate Chelate) - 120 MCG
Chromium is a metal element and mineral that is very useful in female hormone supplements as it has been conclusively proven to help improve calcium absorption, a mineral that many women will become deficient in as they age.
It can then also ease menopause symptoms and offer a range of other benefits that support optimal female health.
This includes it helping to regulate blood sugar levels and insulin sensitivity, preserve muscle and bone mass, prevent hunger cravings, blood sugar spikes, and weight gain, and boost nutrient breakdown, energy levels, sleep quality, serotonin production, brain functions, weight loss, and your metabolic rate.
Unfortunately, studies show that you need to consume at least 200 mcg for it to produce any of these effects (2). That means the 120 mcg of TRAACS nicotinate glycinate chelate present in each serving of the Alani Nu product is far too weak and is unlikely to do anything at all.
Myo-Inositol - 2 Grams
Inositol is a type of natural sugar that is claimed to help improve the health and wellbeing of all human beings in a variety of ways.
This includes regulating blood sugar and cholesterol levels and insulin sensitivity, promoting weight loss, helping treat polycystic ovary syndrome and diabetes, increasing serotonin production, improving your mood, relieving stress, and making it much easier for you to relax and fall asleep.
However, based on the science that is currently available, we are not able to confirm that virtually any of these effects will actually be produced. That means the presence of inositol in the Alani Nu product is highly unlikely to do anything for you, good or bad (3).
Setria L-Glutathione (Reduced) - 250 MG
Glutathione is a potent antioxidant that is naturally produced by the human body and is required for every cell in it to remain healthy and function correctly.
The problem is, studies have proven that the body cannot properly absorb it when it is consumed orally (4). This means it is of absolutely no use when taken in products such as this Alani Nu supplement.
3,3' - Diindolylmethane (DIM) - 150 MG
DIM (diindolylmethane) is a compound that consists of the molecules indole and methane. It is naturally found in some green vegetables, such as broccoli and kale, and is proven to help the human body keep its sex hormone levels optimal and healthily balanced, by interacting with oestrogen binding sites.
A potent anti aromatase modulator, it can prevent the body from being able to convert testosterone into oestrogen, supporting healthy testosterone levels and preventing testosterone deficiencies.
It can then even improve your sexual functions, physical performance, and overall health and wellbeing, prevent weight gain, and utilise its powerful antioxidant properties to reduce inflammation and prevent or combat a variety of different illnesses (5).
With 100 to 200 mg per day being the optimal dosage range for diindolylmethane, the 150 mg in each serving of the Alani Nu supplement actually represents a rare occasion where the product utilises a useful dose of an ingredient that has been conclusively proven to be of use.
Sodium R-Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) - 100 MG (50 MG In The Powdered Version)
Alpha lipoic acid is an organic compound structurally similar to a fatty acid that is rich in antioxidants. It is found in many of the cells throughout the human body, as well as in a range of different food sources.
It can offer a number of different health benefits, including helping convert glucose into a useable fuel source, preventing free radicals from causing inflammation or oxidative damage, improving your workout performance, and preventing you from gaining weight (6).
Like with virtually everything else in the Alani Nu product though, the issue lies in the dosage used, as a minimum of 300 mg of alpha lipoic acid is required each day to be of any use. This means both the 100 mg in a dose of the capsules and 50 mg in a serving of the powder are both far too low to be of any use.
Other Ingredients
Both the capsule and powder versions of this Alani Nu supplement contain a number of "other ingredients" beyond its active components.
The capsules contain hypromellose, silica, vitamin c, and titanium dioxide.
Hypromellose is solely used to make the vegetable capsule that the powder is contained in, and it does not offer any other health benefits of its own (7).
Vitamin c is an essential, water soluble vitamin that is one of the core building blocks of collagen (8). It can benefit the human body in countless different ways, but will likely do nothing more than make the pills easier for you body to break down and absorb in a dosage as low as what will be present here.
Titanium dioxide and silica are used to whiten a powder, improve its texture, and make it more visually appealing. However, there is evidence to suggest that the former can also cause issues with the eyes, lungs, nose, and throat if used continuously for too long (9).
The powdered version then also contains silica, as well as a long list of additives that includes citric acid, natural and artificial flavours, sucralose, acesulfame potassium, and two stability coating blends.
None of these will add any health benefits to the supplement, and they are included exclusively to help improve the texture of the powder, make it easier to mix, increase its lifespan, and give it its flavour and create a taste and texture that is enjoyable to drink.
However, some of these ingredients have also been linked to mild side effects and allergic reactions, so it is possible that they will do more than just what they were included to do, just not in a good way.
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