The PricePlow Podcast

In June of 2020, PricePlow interviewed Ben Hartman of Morphogen Nutrition. They discuss Ben and Morphogen’s background, the insane formulations in their arsenal, the lack of studies on interactions between ingredients, the future of Morphogen, and more! Meet Ben Hartman of Morphogen Nutrition! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4zD6AQsdBQ

Lifestyle, training, and diet are the three overarching umbrellas that affect our health and fitness goals, and figuring out how to best balance them is unique from person to person. For instance, someone trying to lose body fat trains differently, eats differently, and goes about their day differently than a powerlifter on a strength cycle. But central in almost any fitness plan is nutrition. Although needs shift from person to person, eating nutrient-dense foods full of essential minerals, fats, and amino acids (protein) is at the root of any diet. MCT Oil: The saturated fat for training both your body and your mind! When we say “nutrient-dense” and “essential”, there is a great amount of misunderstanding. Our take is that a highly-misunderstood “essential” fat is saturated fat, and a group of these increasingly popular fats are in the group of medium chain triglycerides, which boast powerful health benefits. Otherwise known as MCT (or MCT Oil), these critically useful fatty acids are finally getting recognition like other important fatty acids. As a high-quality source of dietary fat, MCTs have a ton to offer, with evidence supporting it can yield positive effects in your training, your body, and your mind! TL;DR (Article Summary) MCT Oil, short for medium chain triglycerides, are a group of saturated fatty acids that are quickly-absorbed for rapid energy thanks to their shorter structure. Saturated fat is healthy. There is no causal link whatsoever between saturated fat and heart disease or obesity. In fact, the obesity crisis began when we collectively replaced saturated fat with omega-6 polyunsaturated fats from “vegetable oils”. (See the saturated fat discussion) The medium chain triglycerides, or “MCTs”, are a group of saturated fatty acids with “medium” chain lengths, ranging from six to twelve carbon bonds. These fatty acids caproic acid (C6), Caprylic acid (C8), Capric acid (C10), and Lauric acid (C12). (See the MCT Intro section) When supplemented, MCTs demonstrated the following benefits: Decreased appetite (through increased satiety), increased cognition, improved beta-oxidation (fat burning) rates, better gut health, and potential immune system improvements. (See the MCT oil benefits section) Due to unfavorable characteristics of C6 and C12, C8 and C10 are the preferred MCTs to supplement, with C8 having the best data in terms of beta oxidation and ketone generation. (See the MCT Supplements section) Preferred MCT Oil Products: For powdered MCT Oil, we prefer C8Vantage, which is made by NNB Nutrition and is a nearly-pure C8 formula that is GMO-Free, vegan-friendly, and has no glycemic impact since it is plated on tapioca prebiotic fiber and pea protein, bt other dairy-based options are available as well. In this post, we’re going to take a deep dive into MCTs – what they are, why they’re different, how to use them, and where you can find the best ones – both in liquid and powder form. We’re also going to look at published research focused on MCTs, which will help us paint a clearer picture of their benefits. Brace yourself for an in-depth, science-backed look at a food seemingly built for athletic and cognitive performance! MCTs – the optimal fat source for efficient energy? Before we can get into medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) and all they have to offer, … Read more on the PricePlow Blog

In late 2019, Mike and Ben interviewed Dr. Kaleb Redden, an orthopedic surgeon who is also Kaged Muscle‘s team doctor! As someone who can repair spines, enhance strength, and help you get big, it’s no wonder why Kris Gethin brought him on the team. Welcome Dr. Kaleb Redden to Team Kaged Muscle! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihCK6ZJKNCg

Are you ready to Be Amazing? Michael Yewdell is. And once you hear his story, you’ll want to join the amazing movement. Every year, countless supplement companies launch, seemingly popping up out of thin air. Some stick around, few flourish, but many vanish back into the thin air where they came from. What’s the difference between these winners and losers? Purpose. Too many new brands have no true purpose, direction, or meaning. They follow the industry trends to a tee, use cookie-cutter formulas, charge unreasonable prices, and may even use poor quality manufacturing facilities. In other words, they stand for nothing and do nothing to stand out. Easy come, easy go. Be Amazing. But today, we meet a man with a different direction. A sense of purpose. A message that means something. Listen to Mike Yewdell discuss BEAM Mike joined Ben on the PricePlow Podcast to share his story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKseKy_tJ0k Introducing BEAM: More Than a Brand, It’s A Movement A truly successful company must start with a great leader — someone with years of experience who knows how to inspire and direct others and has a passion for every aspect of the brand. Meet Michael Yewdell: a fitness fanatic, foodie, supplement industry veteran, and cancer survivor. Mike has over nine years of experience, and throughout the time he spent working with some of the biggest names in the industry, he knew there was still something missing. Mike has tried nearly every supplement. While he found some that he liked, most were well below average. The best way Mike could solve this problem was to branch out and create his own brand. Having been so involved in the industry, he knew a thing or two about branding. And he knew what was missing. Thus, BEAM was born, which stands for Be Amazing. But what most people don’t know is there’s a lot more meaning to the brand’s name than you may think. BEAM may not sound like a supplement company name, but that’s because BEAM goes well beyond supplements, health, and fitness. For many, it’s truly life-saving. BEAM: Cancer Treatment or Supplement Brand? As mentioned, Mike is not only an entrepreneur and supplement guru, he’s a cancer survivor. And as you’ll see, it was BEAM that brought Mike another chance, so now he wants to help you Be Amazing too. In 2017, Mike was unfortunately diagnosed with a rare form of lymphoma, which is a cancer of the lymphatic system. He was told not to worry, because with the advancements in modern medicine, he would be cured – his form had a 95% success rate. Mike was mentally and physically prepared for a battle, little did he know it was going to be the fight of his life. After failing three chemotherapy treatments, Mike’s cancer was winning. Some people would give up throughout this process, but not Mike – he’s a fighter and would not let anything slow him down. Hiding the fight of his life in plain sight Although admittedly starting to lose hope, Mike didn’t want anyone to feel sorry for him or know that he was hurting. He still went to work, acted as if nothing was wrong, and went to the gym because of how much he enjoys being active. Mike never wanted cancer to affect him to the point where he stopped doing what he loved, even if that meant some suffering. “When you die, it does not mean you lose to cancer, you beat cancer by how you live, why you live and in the manner in which you live.” –Stuart Scott, American Sportscaster BEAM: The Treatment That Saved Michael’s Life After several unsuccessful attempts at chemotherapy, Mike transferred to a hospital in New York, w… Read more on the PricePlow Blog

In December of 2019, Mike and Ben got together to discuss the 2019 Supplement Industry Awards. This followed our end of 2019 catch-up podcast. The categories and winners listed: 2019 Product of the Year (Non-Supplement) – SteelFit Steel Releaf 2019 Brand of the Year – Ghost Lifestyle Brand to Watch in 2020 – Glaxon 2019 Flavor System of the Year – Alpha Lion Grapermelon and Ghost Legend Limited Edition Strawberry Daiquiri 2019 Supplement of the Year – NutraBio Alpha EAA Videos 2019 Product of the Year (Non-Supplement) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gohcYxBCWA 2019 Brand of the Year https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_G_8sTqZyIE 2019 Flavor System of the Year https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wetZodoPZwU 2019 Supplement of the Year https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7SJGmGt5hs Also, don’t miss our final discussion, 2020 – Year of Retailer Exclusive Brands? You can follow-up with our more extensive 2020 Supplement Industry Awards, where you’ll notice the breakout brand happened to be the one we predicted!

The most appealing beauty of the supplement industry is its ability to innovate. While most formulas are not groundbreaking revelations, every once in awhile, we’re hit with something that completely redefines the industry. Berberine, a unique plant alkaloid that has been shown to improve the body’s response to insulin — to the point of working better than some pharmaceutical drugs — is one such exciting compound. This alkaloid has displayed some impressive abilities, specifically in the realm of insulin sensitivity, fasting glucose levels, HbA1c reduction, and nutrient partitioning. While berberine has been available as a supplement ingredient for quite some time, it wasn’t always as impactful as one would hope, since it has poor bioavailability and there are many low-quality extracts on the market. The good news is that we are on the brink of another ingredient renaissance event thanks to NNB Nutrition, an ingredient innovation company who has released a new variant of berberine. Dihydroberberine: The better part of berberine NNB Nutrition has discovered a better way to maximize berberine’s potential. In their patented new ingredient, GlucoVantageⓇ, the science-backed team is incorporating a superior form of the ingredient – dihydroberberine (DHB). Recent research suggests that this form of berberine is as much as six times better than its base form, which could potentially be huge for the body composition and anti-aging markets. Even with lower-quality extracts on the market, berberine is still effective in and of itself, and is backed by a significant amount of human research. But recent studies suggest that DHB may be what powers its insulin-optimizing abilities. If so, we will see a rise in the popularity of dihydroberberine — and thus NNB’s GlucoVantage — very soon. In this post, we’re going to dive deep into berberine – what it is, its applications, the science behind, and the potential of its hydrogen-bonded derivative, DHB. Fair warning, though – this article is going to be very science-heavy, so make sure you’ve got yourself ready to jump into some complex terminology and mechanisms! TL;DR: Berberine is a bioactive plant alkaloid often used for its anti-diabetic effects in supplements known as Glucose Disposal Agents (GDAs) or Nutrient Partitioners. When supplemented, berberine demonstrates strong improvements in fasting blood sugar, HbA1c, insulin sensitivity, and lipid profiles in both humans and animals. A landmark study of 1.5g/day berberine demonstrated identical effects to the pharmaceutical drug metformin in terms of HbA1c reduction, fasting blood glucose, and post-prandial blood glucose levels… and berberine bested metformin in terms of triglyceride reduction! Berberine suffers from two issues: poor bioavailability and low-quality extracts on the market. This has led to a new generation of supplements: Dihydroberberine is a derivative of berberine that is more bioavailable and can be taken at lower doses with greater results. Once absorbed, it reassembles back into berberine in the bloodstream. GlucoVantage from NNB Nutrition is a patented and trademarked form of pure dihydroberberine that is created from pure berberine and is lab-tested. Dosage: Standard Berberine is best dosed 3x/day at 500mg per serving, while GlucoVantage can be dosed 3x/day at 100-200mg per serving. These are best taken before meals, but can also be taken when fasting if already fat-adapted. Berberine’s most notable side effect is GI distres… Read more on the PricePlow Blog

Many consumers quickly glance at the label on a dietary supplement, blindly purchase it, and never question where it was made or if what’s listed on the label is actually in the bottle. But what if you don’t even know what you’re buying? Has the product been tested to meet label claims, where is it manufactured, and how pure really is it? Regardless of the myths that surround the supplement industry of ‘not being regulated by the FDA’, this news story will change your mind. Because this one involves a serious indictment after plenty of warning letters, strikes, and failed audits. FDA indicts major contract manufacturer in ABH Pharma After years of playing “whack-a-mole” by sending warning letters to small brands, the FDA — and now the Department of Justice — have gone after the root of the supplement industry’s biggest problem: underhanded contract manufacturers. These are the companies that are actually bottling the products, and we have long stated that they are a better “pinch point” for strict enforcement of current Good Manufacturing Practices. On January 17th, 2020, a major contract supplement manufacturer under the names of ABH Pharma, ABH Nature’s Products, and Stocknutra.com published a press release on BusinessWire issuing a nationwide recall on all lots of dietary supplements manufactured and sold between January 2013 – November 2019, after an indictment was posted in New York on December 26, 2019. Major offenses over several years The DOJ indictment, which names Mohammed Jahirul Islam (“Islam”) as the owner of the three companies, alleges that their facilities distributed adulterated and misbranded dietary supplements and unapproved and misbranded drugs. They signed a consent decree forcing Islam to destroy all dietary supplements (and drugs) in their possession within 15 days, which has now also been posted on the FDA’s website. The DOJ indictment report stated that ABH failed 6 FDA audits over the years, had warning letters dating back to 2012, and neglected to conduct at least one appropriate test for ingredient identity. The indictment itself (which is linked at the bottom of the DOJ’s report web page) includes new infractions from a November 2018 inspection. Such infractions include some egregious drug claims made on products they manufactured, such as “Whey protein in the form of protein powder can help in reducing the symptoms associated with anxiety and depression”. In addition, ABH Nature’s products had a voluntary recall in June 2017 and January 2018 due to possible salmonella contamination. “As demonstrated by the consent decree, this Office and the FDA will work tirelessly to protect consumers who take dietary supplements, ensuring that manufacturers comply with good manufacturing practices and do not distribute unapproved and misbranded drugs in violation of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.” — Richard P. Donoghue, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York A long time coming The indictment lists several inspections at the Defendants’ Edgewood, NY facility, including inspections that occurred in or about July 2012, May 2013, August 2013, November 2016, and February 2018, on top of the most recent November 2018 inspection. The FDA’s warning letter from 2012 lists seven major cGMP (Current Good Manufacturing Practice) violations, such as adulteration, mislabeling, misbranding, failure to verify finished supplements, failure to monitor, and failure to follow control processes, and failure to qualify suppliers. … Read more on the PricePlow Blog

In December of 2019, Ben visited Mike in Texas to film some videos to recap the year. But first, they sat down to catch up on their personal lives and recapped 2019 in the supplement industry. Ben and Mike Catch Up and Recap 2019 in the Supplement Industry https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6Wu9N3FIdg

On October 22nd, 2019 Australia’s TGA released “Consultation: Proposed clarification that certain sports supplements are therapeutic goods”, a document outlining proposed amendments to the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989. This proposed amendment would make most supplements under the regulation of the TGA, similar to the FDA’s drug office in the USA. We sat down with Joseph Mencel of Massive Joe’s to hear his thoughts. As a major importer, distributor, retailer, and someone with a legal background in Australia, he offers a unique point of view in the discussion. Joe is traveling so please forgive the lapses in connection. The update was later published by the Australia TGA in March of 2020. Joseph Mencel of Massive Joe’s Breaks Down the 2019 Australian TGA Update https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYbAy8XTtz4

We’re always on the lookout for supplement ingredients that could be the “Next Big Thing”, and it’s very possible we just found one for dieters. Its name is BAIBA (pronounced “BAY-buh”), and it may be able to mimic certain fat-burning processes that occur in your body when exercising – even when you’re not working out! Of course, we never suggest avoiding exercise, but research published in 2014 definitely got our attention, which is why we originally wrote this article in 2015. Four years later, we finally found a trustworthy ingredient supplier in NNB Nutrition’s MitoBurn, allowing us to pursue more research. TL;DR BAIBA (or β-aminoisobutyric acid) is an “amino acid” generated during exercise. It is involved in several healthy processes, such as the thermogenic browning of white fat and exercise-based prevention of bone and muscle loss. When supplemented, it is pro-ketogenic and increases fatty acid oxidation in the liver while protecting against fat gain and improving glucose tolerance in mice. (See the BAIBA Research section) There are two isomers of BAIBA, L-BAIBA and D-BAIBA, research shows L-BAIBA is superior for supplementation because it leads to more positive metabolic health outcomes. The preferred BAIBA Supplement ingredient is MitoBurn by NNB Nutrition. (See the BAIBA Supplements section) Suggested doses are 250-500mg, 1-2 times per day. (See the BAIBA Dosage section) There are no currently known side effects at the above doses, but because it is a new ingredient with limited human research, caution is suggested. In 2019, safety data was conducted on mice and showed L-BAIBA’s LD50 (lethal dose for 50% of animals) was well over 2,000mg/kg of body weight, which means we’re very comfortable with the suggested dose. Under DSHEA, BAIBA is by definition a dietary supplement since it covers several sections. No statements on this page are approved by the FDA and you should seek a doctor’s approval before beginning any new supplement or dietary program. This ingredient is incredibly interesting, especially to aggressive dieters, but is definitely not for the conservative or cautious user — at least until more human-based research is published. This article is science-intense, so get ready: What is BAIBA? BAIBA, or β-aminoisobutyric acid, is an amino acid generated during exercise (an “exercise-induced muscle factor”) that is not naturally found in the genetic code of any organism — it’s formed when either thymine or valine are broken down. This means that BAIBA, while an amino acid, is not a building block for proteins but rather is used as a signaling molecule within the body. Because of this, consuming it will not contribute to the development of muscle mass like traditional essential amino acids (often used for recovery during or after a workout), but it may hold promise for fat-loss – and weight loss. L-BAIBA vs. D/R-BAIBA: Which Form is Best? There are two forms of BAIBA discussed in the literature: L-BAIBA (S-BAIBA) and D-BAIBA (R-BAIBA). These two types are also referred to as enantiomers, which means they’re a pair of molecules that are mirror images of each other. You could also think of them as “right-handed” and “left-handed” notations because they are similar to your left and right hands – similar structure, similar components, but do not “map” on top of each other. Most resear… Read more on the PricePlow Blog