Fat Loss 4 Idiots Opinion

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Ecklonia Cava Extract: SuperAntioxidant?

By Mason Ballenger

ECE, or Ecklonia Cava Extract, comes from the brown algae known as Ecklonia cava. This algae lives in large colonies in the ocean, and ECE is a standardized extract of molecules derived from this water-based plant. Ecklonia Cava Extract contains phlorotannins, a unique type of polyphenols different from those found in land-based plants. Phlorotannins are thought to promote unique biological benefits within the body.

Many scientists believe that ECE is a unique type of antioxidant. They estimate that Ecklonia Cava Extract is stronger than green tea extract by a factor of 10 to 100 times. It is also 40% fat soluble, which lets its effects be spread throughout more of the body than other antioxidants. It also stays in the blood significantly longer than other antioxidant compounds - up to twelve hours, by some estimates. The ORAC value, or antioxidant score, of ECE is also very high: 8300 mol TE/100g.

Ecklonia Cava Extract has been called a "SuperAntioxidant." What is so special about this substance to warrant this label? First, it has a unique structure that makes it especially good at scavenging free radicals in the body. Ecklonia Cava Extract has up to eight interconnecting rings; the catechins in green tea extract have only four. Also, it has the special ability to cross the blood-brain barrier.

Peroxynitrite is believed to be a dangerous free radical that ECE is especially good at neutralizing. Peroxynitrite has been linked to everything from chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia to multiple chemical sensitivities, and many more conditions. Ecklonia Cava Extract also contains important inflammatory mediators, and has demonstrated neutralizing abilities towards oxidized LDL cholesterol particles.

In an eight-week, double-blind, placebo controlled study, ECE demonstrated profound benefits in a group of established fibromyalgia patients. It reduced the time it took participants to fall asleep, and increased overall nighttime sleep. It improved soundness of sleep and boosted energy levels. Study participants also reported more good days per week, reduced pain, and an improvement in their general condition.

Ecklonia Cava Extract also shows promise in aiding in weight loss and fighting obesity. ECE reduced body fat and increased physical activity in obese laboratory rats. In a study of young adults given an ECE-containing beverage, they reported increased muscle mass and lowered body fat. It also has been shown to contain compounds capable of promoting healthy cholesterol levels, providing cardiovascular protection, and scavenging free radicals in the bloodstream.

Ecklonia Cava Extract may help protect against Alzheimer's disease. Laboratory rats given Ecklonia Cava Extract showed an inhibition of beta-amyloid formation in the brain, a substance which accumulates in Alzheimer's disease. Ecklonia Cava Extract has also been linked to general improvements in brain function. Many benefits have been observed: protection of neural cells, enhancements in brain activity related to memory formation, increased blood flow to the carotid artery, as well as general improvements in memory, relaxation, and alertness.

Many other benefits of ECE have been studied. The unique compounds in Ecklonia Cava Extract have been shown to aid with a variety of conditions, such as arthritis, inflammation, allergies, asthma, erectile dysfunction, and diabetes. As this fascinating substance continues to be researched, even more benefits may reveal themselves. - 17269

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