Clear explanation of liposomes, nutraceuticals, nootropics, extra virgin, and fermentation

What is an adaptogen?

An adaptogen is a substance that works positively with the body to restore balance (homeostasis) during stress. As a result, the effects of stress can gain less of a foothold in the body, so they cause less discomfort. Modulating stress affects various systems and functions in the body. This includes hormones, neurotransmitters, mood, and sleep. Adaptogens are usually herbs. The following three criteria are used to identify an adaptogen:

1. It produces a nonspecific response and increases an individual’s resistance to a wide range of harmful stimuli.
2. It results in a normalizing response when exposed to physiological, emotional, or mental stressors.
3. It is non-toxic and does not cause substantial changes in a person’s physiological, emotional, or mental state when that person is not stressed.

What is a nutraceutical?

The term nutraceutical is a combination of the English words “nutrition” and “pharmaceutical.” It describes a large group of products that come from food but also have special health effects. Just like herbs, vitamins, and minerals, nutraceuticals fall under the umbrella term dietary supplements. Well-known examples of nutraceuticals are palmitoylethanolamide, R-alpha lipoic acid, and N-acetyl cysteine.

What are nootropics?

A nootropic is a dietary supplement (or a substance with another classification) that specifically affects brain function. A nootropic supplement often consists of a synergistic formulation, but it can also be a substance used on its own. There are 6 classifications for nootropics.

1. Medicines
2. Substances that have nerve-protective and brain-protective (neuroprotective) effects
3. Substances that stimulate blood flow to the brain
4. Substances that specifically modulate neurotransmitters
5. Specific nutrients from herbs and foods
6. Adaptogens

What is the blood-brain barrier?

In danger, the brain uses several protective mechanisms. For external threats, the skull provides protection. For internal threats, the blood-brain barrier provides protection.

The blood-brain barrier is literally the boundary between the bloodstream and the brain. It can be seen as a border crossing where necessary substances are selectively allowed through and harmful substances are kept out.

This can be decisive for the function and effectiveness of dietary supplements. Differences in the form of the same substance can already make a difference. For example, magnesium threonate or liposomal magnesium is absorbed into the brain better than magnesium citrate.

What is a liposome?

Liposomes are a kind of hollow little sphere. The advantage of liposomes is that, as carriers of active substances, they make dietary supplements more effective. Active ingredients such as R-alpha lipoic acid or vitamin C can be enclosed inside. This is done through microencapsulation. The end result is so-called nanocapsules with phospholipids on the outside and an active substance inside.

In addition to liposomes, there are various ways to encapsulate an active substance, including:
micelles, fat droplets, nano-emulsions, and polymer matrices.

What is fermentation?

Fermentation is a natural process in which microorganisms are used to make a food product. Bacteria, molds, or yeasts convert substances into a product during the fermentation process. As a result, acidity, taste, smell, and/or appearance change. Common examples of fermented products are kefir, beer, and sauerkraut.
Fermentation is something different from rotting, even though these terms are sometimes used interchangeably. Rotting means that cells in food break down under oxygen-rich conditions. Fermentation, by contrast, is a form of chemical conversion under oxygen-poor conditions.

What does extra virgin mean?

The term extra virgin (also called extra vierge) comes from the olive oil industry, but it can also be applied to other oils. In essence, extra virgin means that the oil is unrefined and cold-pressed. Extra virgin product variants are therefore known as premium products because their quality and nutritional value are better than in variants that are refined or heated. Other conditions for the term extra virgin are that the oil is not fermented or purified.