PacificCoast NutriLabs
PCNL Health Supplements
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I seldom accept health supplements to review because I don't need to. For years I have been buying from an excellent supplier of top-class supplements whom I have come to trust. However, when I was approached by PacificCoast NutriLabs, I did some research and discovered that this was an American company (based in Los Angeles) of excellent integrity with a refreshingly down-to-earth approach to enhancing health through intelligent and safe dietary supplementation.
Their website is full of the latest medical discoveries as they relate to nutrition, and although Amazon is their selling platform, there is an address and phone number on every bottle, a contact form for direct enquiries on their website, and a reassuring openness about the actual people behind the name. |
On each product bottle there is a link to a relevant ebook, available for free download, giving the sort of information that allows me to make the best possible use of a supplement, whether new or familiar. I was also impressed by their unconditional guarantee: take the supplement for a month; if not satisfied, send the empty bottle back for a full refund. It doesn't get better than that! It is also telling that I have had their products for seven weeks and they have never once chased after my reviews.
Alpha Lipoic Acid
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Alpha Lipoic Acid is something I've only recently heard about in the context of supplements. I knew it was found in yams, spinach, tomatoes and many other foods, but I thought its use was specifically targeted at diabetes and at easing certain types of nerve damage.
As I've discovered, it is the most powerful of all antioxidants, and its beneficial effects include improvements in mental function, memory, glaucoma, metabolism and even skin elasticity. It makes sense when you consider that free radicals damage our cells indiscriminately, so anything that limits the damage has got to be all-round good for us! The supplement made by PCNL comes in easy-to-swallow capsules of 200 mg. I have been taking one a day, although two a day is the recommended dose. As with everything, starting low and increasing, if necessary, seems to work for me. No stomach upsets, or any other unpleasant side effects. I take a full range of supplements because, since I left behind the train wreck of the menopause, I'm hoping for optimal health. I don't just want to feel fine, I want to feel GREAT, and taking my little capsule of Alpha Lipoic Acid is part of that strategy. As with their other supplements, the price is extremely low (a bottle will last me from 2 to 4 months) and I really applaud a company that finds a way to support the Vitamin Angels initiative. |
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L-Arginine |
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L-Arginine is a protein supplement that first came to my attention when I was looking for a muscle recovery helper. As we age into our sixties, my husband (a former international swimmer) and I remain very active and try to keep to a regular workout routine, but we have noticed that pain, fatigue and stiffness after exercise have increased to the point that one does not feel motivated to go through the motions when the after-effects of the latest workout are still lingering and one can hardly move.
We have tried other brands, but this particular formulation seems to be miles ahead. With a potency of 2,100 mg per serving (2 capsules), this is powerful stuff. The main characteristic of this naturally-occurring aminoacid is that it dilates blood vessels and so improves blood circulation. This causes many secondary benefits ranging from removing waste products (like ammonia) to lowering blood pressure. It has become the obligatory supplement for body building, to help create lean muscle, but headache and migraine sufferers also find it helpful, as do men with ED, in fact, anyone whose circulation is not optimal. My husband, who has been taking this for a month, alongside L-Glutamine (also from PCNL), reports that he gets a noticeable energy boost to the point that he has not felt the need to take the second daily dose (2 capsules again). The remarkable thing is that he has not noticed any jittery, nervous side effects. He is able to increase the duration and intensity of his workouts (be it weights, cross-training or swimming) without suffering from cramps, muscle soreness and fatigue to the same extent as before. His sleep quality has improved as well. Also important to note: this supplement is derived from plants and is, therefore, suitable for vegetarians. The current price of just over $17 US for a month's supply is incredible. If I sound enthusiastic about this supplement and this company, it's because I am. |
L-Glutamine
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L-Glutamine is one of the essential proteins that allow our muscles to function properly. It is found mostly in meat and fish and, to a lesser extent, in legumes and vegetables. Our bodies make it but in very small quantities, so we must get the majority from the food we eat. As my husband and I stopped eating meat a long time, we are always interested in ways to replenish this vital element that is easily depleted during exercise.
One of the signs of a possible deficiency is muscle fatigue and soreness after a workout. As active people who have continued to exercise, swim and generally use and abuse our muscles every day, we know all about post-exercise stiffness and the feeling that getting up from your chair and actually moving is sometimes less than desirable. So we have looked for sources of L-Glutamine and supplemented our diet on and off, to various extents for some years now. For some reason, this is one of the supplements that often comes in horse-size pills, which I have trouble swallowing. So I was particularly pleased to see much smaller, standard-size tablets in the PCNL tub. Each one delivers 1000 mg and the baseline recommended dose is two a day in a single serving. The e-book, which is available for download after purchase, has a lot of great information, including how to determine the best intake for your needs, as this can vary from 1.5 g to 15 g per day. L-Glutamine, or the lack of it, can affect our bodies in so many ways that taking it as a supplement is probably one of the best things you can do to improve your health and boost your immune system. I had gone without it for a few weeks and when I started to take the PCNL tablets (2 a day), the results were remarkable: getting up in the morning with a sense of purpose and the energy to carry out most of my ambitious plans certainly improved my mood; swimming every single day without getting to the point that my hips and legs would seize up; finishing my workout in half the time than it took previously. |
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Those were some of the changes that were evident after three weeks, and recovering an almost normal sleep pattern is now within my reach. My husband has been taking this alongside L-Arginine to increase muscle mass without the usual side effects of pain and stiffness, and the combination really works for him. At the current price of just over $14 for a 2-month supply, this is an amazing buy. Strongly recommended.
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Melatonin
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I was first made aware of the many beneficial properties of Melatonin through its relationship with the amino acid Tryptophan. Our vet prescribed a Tryptophan supplement for an extremely nervous horse we had, to help him cope in times of increased stress. It worked for him, just as Melatonin works for me. It has saved me from the vicious circle of insomnia and it has proved to be much kinder on my system than other more invasive sleep aids. What I really like is that Melatonin is not habit-forming, and does not cause the grogginess and foggy sensation so common with stronger medication.
I have been taking Melatonin every night for several years and I find that different brands don't all perform equally well. So, having found one that works for me, I have generally stuck with the same safe choice. When PCNL proposed their version of it, I was a little hesitant because it has a much higher concentration than I am used to (5 mg). Coincidentally, this happened at a time when my sleep patterns were deteriorating again due to stress and overdoing things, so I can count myself lucky that this supplement was there in the nick of time to help me. What makes Melatonin, and this particular product, different from other sleep aids is that the next morning I feel clear-minded and alert. I take it when I go to bed, then read for 20 minutes and as soon as I feel myself starting to drop off, I turn out the light and peacefully slip into Morpheus's arms without further complications. If you have ever experienced the inability to sleep, however tired you may feel, you will understand how vitally important it is to address the problem quickly and completely. This supplement is potentially a life saver. |
