Ecklonia Cava Extract

About six months ago, someone came to me and asked: Have you heard of this stuff?

Today, I’m using it. Ecklonia Cava Extract is such an important supplement that the information you’re getting here today will be going into the update of our book, Bypassing Bypass.

Ecklonia Cava Extract, ECE, is derived from a specific species of brown algae found off the coasts of Japan and Korea. ECE contains polyphenols, phytochemicals found in green tea, red wine, and berries that act as antioxidants, however, these polyphenols are very unique, are not found in land based plants, and are quite possibly the most powerful antioxidants found in nature, approximately 10 to 100 times more powerful than other polyphenols. It’s ORAC score of more than 8,300.

ECE is 40% fat-soluble. Water soluble polyphenols found in land based plants have a half-life of about 30 minutes. Their antioxidant powers fall off very quickly. ECE’s polyphenols have a half life of 12 hours (24 times longer), plus they have the ability to cross the blood brain barrier and increase blood flow.

Judging ECE by its ORAC score alone does this algae a great disservice, mainly because of its unique structure. The power of an antioxidant is dependant upon its structure, consisting of rings which trap electrons and neutralize free radicals. Resveratrol has two rings. The catechins in green tea have four rings. ECE has eight rings of these polyphenols, more than any land based food, which makes it a super free radical scavenger.

Millions and millions of dollars have been spent investigating this marvelous food, and were going to let you in on what they’ve discovered.

First let’s talk about oxidation. When metal oxidizes, it rusts. Fats, like cholesterol, oxidize too, and this causes plaque in our arteries. One of the most powerful oxidants in our bodies is peroxynitrite, or as some call it: the most notorious of the free radicals.

Martin Pall, PhD performed some ground breaking research on multiple chemical sensitivity, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, PTSD, Gulf War syndrome, and a host of other conditions. Working with ECE, Dr Pall discovered it was immensely potent in reducing the radical scavenging activities of peroxynitrite, the DPPH radical (another potent oxidant), and even reversed oxidized LDL (the so-called bad cholesterol).

On top of this, Dr Pall discovered that ECE had some extraordinary anti-inflammatory properties, and inhibited the Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) responsible for high blood pressure (Angiotensin leads to constriction of the smooth muscles and arteries, which reduces blood flow and raises blood pressure).

You don’t have to imagine. We’re gong to give you the results of all this research right here.

The endothelium is a thin layer of cells lining your blood vessels. Damage to the endothelial cells restricts blood flow leading to cardiovascular disease. Endothelial cells are damaged by free radicals and low grade infections in the blood. Then along comes LDL to bandage the damage, and if oxidized, begins the build up of plaque.

A clinical study of patients with damaged artery walls showed that after taking ECE for just six weeks, the arteries began to heal, increasing blood flow by more than 50%. The healthy arteries began generating nitric oxide again, which keeps artery walls open and relaxed.

It was also discovered that ECE halted the oxidation of LDL cholesterol, which, if oxidized, damages the endothelial cells and builds plaque.

Researchers found that ECE is more effective at inhibiting the oxidation of LDL cholesterol than green tea catechins, and appears to scrub the plaque off the endothelial lining. ECE also reduces vascular inflammation by preventing oxidation, which directly affects the body's inflammatory response.

In one six week study, researchers gave 39 adults (average age 55.6) a low dose (100 mg) of ECE (the average dose is approximately 325 mg per day). Their average cholesterol dropped from 228 to 224. LDL dropped from 141 to 135. HDL rose from 46.5 to 50.7, which is highly significant, triglycerides fell from 215 to 195, and the subjects’ atherogenic index (a measure of how quickly atherosclerotic deposits are formed in the arteries) dropped 12.5%.

In a four week animal study, half were given a standard blood pressure medicine, while the other half got ECE. Both groups responded nearly the same, their blood pressures were decreased, but after cessation of treatment, the ECE group’s blood pressure rose much slower than the medicated group.

Plasmin is an enzyme that dissolves fibrin, the substance that helps blood form clots. ECE was found to inhibit anti-plasmin, and kept blood from forming clots 40 to 200 times better than standard medicines (Flufenamate and Chloramine T). ECE keeps your blood thin, but not too thin.

This is a very important point, because the viscosity of your blood, according to functional physicians, is the determining factor in cardiovascular events and stroke. ECE can keep you heart attack and stroke free.

One study found that ECE can increase the velocity of blood flow in the carotid artery from an average of 36.68 cm/sec to 40.09cm/sec.

An EEG study on brain waves of healthy middle age volunteers found that ECE compounds increase alpha-waves (producing relaxation and alertness). It was also discovered that ECE compounds prevented sleepiness in bus drivers and high school students during day time activities.

ECE has recently been found to protect neuronal cells from ischemia-induced inflammatory reactions which often occur in the aged and highly stressed brain, thus relieving symptoms of PTSD.

· substantial enhancement of acetylcholine in three brain regions related to memory formation, as compared with non-treated mice. Especially, 140% enhancement was observed in the frontal cortex that is crucial in long-term memory and associative thinking.

In rat studies, ECE showed inhibition of beta-amyloid deposition in the brain. Beta-amyloid is the same substance that accumulates in Alzheimer’s disease. The rats also learned maze challenges faster, which demonstrated improvement in short-term memory

It was found that ECE is comparable to the highly touted drug Celebrex® in the ability to reduce PGE2 by slowing down the lipoxygenase (LOX) system.

One study found ECE to naturally suppress inflammatory responses and neutralize inflammatory damage, showing dramatic improvement in both arthritis and neuralgia.

In another recent study on 40 patients with neuropathy, ECE reduced nerve pay by 40% in just four weeks with 80% of the patients responding favorably.

The enzyme DGAT affects the final step in the production of triglycerides, the nasty fats that wind up on your belly, hips, and buttocks.

In mice experiments, ECE reduced body fat (while increasing physical activity) by inhibiting DGAT by more than 50%. Obese mice lost more than 10% of their body weight in 120 days.

In a human study involving 141 young adults, their average weight dropped approximately two and a half pounds in just two weeks.

In a six month study of 31 men with ED, ECE performed better than Viagra® in all parameters (orgasmic function, intercourse satisfaction, overall satisfaction) except for erectile function, which showed ECE equal to Viagra®. The kicker is that no side effects were reported with ECE.

ECE Scores:

Orgasmic Function

Intercourse Satisfaction

Overall Satisfaction

Erectile Function

87%

74%

62%

66%

Viagra® Scores:

Orgasmic Function

Intercourse Satisfaction

Overall Satisfaction

Erectile Function

27%

44%

39%

66%

These results strongly indicate that the long-term administration of ECE significantly contributes to the neutralization of oxidative risk factors, thereby improving peripheral blood circulation around muscles and nerves involved in sexual function as well as the penile artery.

It should be noted that ECE does not work as quickly as Viagra®, and to get these benefits, ECE must be taken daily for a period of time.

After a six week study, it was confirmed that ECE can rejuvenate damaged endothelial cells to produce nitric oxide, increasing dilation of the blood vessels by 50%.

Glucose concentrations are often elevated in diabetics and aldose reductase has long been believed to be responsible for diabetic complications involving a number of organs. Many aldose reductase inhibitors have been developed as drug candidates but virtually all have failed. [Wikipedia]

ECE compounds have been found to be potent aldose reductase inhibitors, which may be of benefit for patients with metabolic syndrome, syndrome X, or diabetes.

ECE has shown to drop blood sugar quickly, and even if you cheat on your diet, blood sugar quickly normalizes.

A recent Harvard (Joslin School of Diabetes) mouse study directly implicated excessive fat deposition in the mouse pancreas as turning on the NF-kappaB inflammation pathway, resulting in full-blown type II diabetes and insulin insensitivity in the mice. It was then discovered in another mouse study that ECE reversed fat deposition in liver and pancreas cells and markedly inhibited inflammation in the pancreas.

To date, no toxicity has been found at any level. It is manufactured from edible algae, and is considered a food. There are no known drug interactions.

Algoran-FS is a new formulation using Ecklonia Bicyclis, and like all their prdocucts, it's 98% pure; a standardized 25 to 1 extract. To potentiate the product, the manufacturers have added Cordyceps Sinensis (a medicinal mushroom that's been used for over 2,000 years), Gynostemma Pentaphylum (or Jiaogulan, another Chinese herb), and Huperzine.

Originally the manufacturer planned to create Algoran-FS using both the ECE and EBE but, as noted below in our correction, the studies came back that they didn't function together as well as they'd anticipated, so this product using only the Bicyclis form.

Cordyceps Sinensis, as stated above, has been used in Chinese medicine for over 2,000 years. Here is a short-list of what it does:

Jiaogulan is something we've written about previously, but here are its highlights.

The last additive is Huperzine which is an extract from a club moss (Huperzia serrata) that comes to us from Chinese folk medicine. Huperzine strongly inhibits acetylcholinesterase, the enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine, which aids in memory and learning. In Alzheimer’s patients, there is a shortage of acetylcholine. Huperzine A is, according to researchers, a promising substance for the symptomatic treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

ECE and is often also sold under the name Seanol®, but so far, I’ve not found any version that measures up to Algoran-FS. Swanson’s version is standardized to 13%, however Swanson is now selling the Ecklonia Cava we've discovered, but then, so is Simply the Best.

The company making Algoran-FS has the most potent version available, and in addition to the pills, I’ve been buying it in bulk to add to recipes. One level teaspoon in a stir fry is a great healthy boost for the entire family. You can buy it in bulk ONLY from the manufacturer in Canada: www.eckloniacava.com.

325 mgs of ECE is equal to ten servings of fruits and vegetables. One teaspoon in your stir fry is equal to over forty servings of fruits and vegetables.

Ecklonia Bicyclis does everything listed above that Ecklonia Cava does with one exception: it's actions are targeted. This means that it just seems to go where it is needed. The Ecklonia Cava has a general effect, while the Ecklonia Bicyclis has a targeted effect.

I’ve already received lots of emails from people who’ve done a bit of research into Ecklonia Bicyclis who tell me that it’s been on the market for some time now, and it is sold in its whole form Arame, a seaweed.

As we’ve often said in the past, we Westerners love reduction. We’ve reduced vitamin C to ascorbic acid and there are many aloe products that reduce it to one or two ingredients. We’ve told you that a product works like an orchestra, all parts working together synergistically. Ascorbic acid cannot do what a C complex can do. As for Aloe, the whole form is intensely powerful with hundreds of phytochemicals working together. Having said that, the extract of EB produced by the makers of the Algoran products is not only one of the most powerful antioxidants in existence with actual lasting strength (most water soluble antioxidants work for just a short time before they’re filtered out by the kidneys), it performs better than their whole form, again as mentioned, going where it is needed most.

Eating Arame is good for us, but cannot perform as well as the extract because you could not possibly eat enough Arame to get the therapeutic benefits of the extract. To get one gram of the extract you would have to eat 11.5 kilos of the seaweed. Additionally, the extract goes directly into your bloodstream and the seaweed has to be digested first. One additional problem with eating Arame is that there are two different types. Ecklonia Bicyclis and Eisenia Arborea. When you buy Arame, you never really know which you are getting.

The Ecklonia Cava is comprehensive in its benefits while the Ecklonia Bicyclis is targeted. The new product from these people in

Canada

contains 200mgs of both. It’s a bit more expensive, expected to retail for $39.95 per 60 capsules. If you are interested, go to the Simply the Best’s site as often as possible to look for updates. And if you are using Microsoft’s IE, hit Ctr-Refresh when you get there to make sure you are seeing the most recent page.

The manufacturer, Ford-Speranza Nutraceuticals, had decided NOT to package Ecklonia Cava and Ecklonia Bicyclis together due to research results. It seems that together, these two supplements do not work as well as they do separately. Thus, right now (05/01/12) the company is producing only a pure ECE supplement with no additives. They are manufacturing right now a variety of ECE supplements with additives for s

pecific conditions, as well as a pure EBE extract. Here is a link the the company with the American distributorship of these products (which will appear on their page as they are released): Simply the Best.

Algoran AA is their latest concoction using Ecklonia Bicyclis, with lots of additional suplements and herbs, all aimed at anti-aging. The additional herbs and supplements are aimed at reducing inflammation and cutting the amount of sugar in our blood stream. We've written about many of the ingredients already at this site, such as L-carnitine, which works both in our mitochondria (the factories of our cells) making them more efficient, and works to keep neurotransmitters healthy and functioning properly. It's a bit more expensive than their other products, but is a very good product if you're starting to feel the effects of aging.