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 form of Ecklonia Cava Extract I’ve found on the web that is 98% pure; a standardized 25 to 1 extract. They’ve added 5 mg of Vitamin B6 in the form of Pyridoxine Hydrochloride.

· Lower the rates of cardiovascular events after an angioplasty including heart attacks and repeated angioplasty.

Another addition is Huperzine A, 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 is 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%.

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.

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.

Simply the Best is now carrying Algoran-FS at one of the lowest prices on the Internet. Additionally, another form called Ecklonia stolonifera, which is a stronger antioxidant than Ecklonia cava, is sold in bulk form. This is the form I use (in addition to the Algoran-FS) especially in cooking. It’s salty, and slightly bitter. If enough of my readers contact Simply the Best with interest in the bulk form, they will begin selling it by the ounce. Four ounces, at 325mg per day, will last 350 days. (325 mg is just less than an eighth of a tablespoon.)