HiPhenolic is Fantastic for Weight Loss and Blood Pressure

Obesity is often coupled with high triglycerides, high blood pressure and heart disease. This is usually called metabolic syndrome.  The exact definition of Metabolic Syndrome is the diagnosis of at least 3 of the following 5 conditions:

1. Abdominal obesity
2. High fasting blood sugar/insulin resistance
3. High blood pressure
4. High triglycerides
5. Low good cholesterol (HDL)
   
   

Almost half the population of the United States has at least one metabolic disorder--abdominal obesity.  A majority of people who have high blood pressure/hypertension are also obese.  

• 40% of the American population is obese
• 100 million people are obese
• 70% of the obese also have hypertension (co-morbidity) 

The symptoms of these disorders often overlap, and treatments for one condition can help reduce those of another.  For example, weight loss is a treatment for high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and abdominal obesity.  One of the most essential substances for reducing the risk of metabolic syndrome and losing weight is produced in your own body.

AMPK: The “On” switch for burning fat

We all know that to lose weight, we must burn off extra body fat.  But how do we tell our bodies to burn that stubborn belly fat? The key to turning on “fat burning” is an enzyme named adenosine 5’ monophosphate-activated protein kinase, or AMPK for short.
Our bodies make this enzyme, and there are five ways to increase it: 

1. Exercise 
2. Supplements and medications 
3. Diet and nutrition 
4. Fasting
5. Exposure to cold temperatures (cold plunge or cryotherapy)

Exercise

AMPK, the fat-burning enzyme, is activated in relation to how hard you are exercising.  If you are taking a gentle walk, very little AMPK will be activated and you will not burn much fat.  Intense aerobic exercise with an elevated heart rate will activate more AMPK and result in greater fat burning during exercise.  

Supplements and Medications

 

Polyphenol Antioxidants in Supplements

Polyphenols are antioxidants found in many plant foods. You can take polyphenol extracts as supplements to support weight loss and blood pressure.  Hiphenolic is a polyphenol blend with ingredients that have been proven to support weight loss, metabolism, and normal blood pressure.

Medications

Medications work best when used along with diet and lifestyle interventions.  There are seven types of medications used for obesity, high blood sugar, type 2 Diabetes, and insulin resistance.  All of these medications have their own risks and side effects.  

1. Metformin
2. GLP-1 Receptor Agonists
3. SGLT2 Inhibitors
4. DPP-4 Inhibitors
5. Sulfonylureas
6. TZDs (Thiazolidinediones)
7. Insulin
   

Diet and Nutrition

Diet and nutrition play an unestimable role in obesity and its resulting metabolic conditions. Obesity and hypertension are directly affected by your diet choices.  The Mediterranean Diet has been extensively studied and proven to reduce blood sugar levels, reverse diabetes, and aid weight loss. 

The main recommendations of a Mediterranean Diet are:  

1. Focus on plants-vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts, and whole grains
2. Use heart healthy and unprocessed oils such as Olive oil
3. Eat high-quality fish and seafood for Omega-3
4. Reduce processed foods and high-carbohydrate convenience foods
5. Stay hydrated with water and avoid sugar-laden beverages.

Foods high in polyphenol antioxidants will flip on the AMPK switch and signal your body to burn fat.  The foods with the highest amount of AMPK-activating polyphenol antioxidants are: 

• Grapefruit
• Olive oil
• Garlic 
• Onions
• Fresh leafy greens, broccoli, artichokes, and green beans
• Green and other teas 
• Berries, like blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, bilberries, etc.
• Grapes
• Pomegranate
• Apples
• Cinnamon
• Turmeric
• Pecans

Fasting

Studies show that as little as a 6-hour fast can increase your body's AMPK and fat burning. I recommend a 13-hour fast every night to increase AMPK and induce healthy changes in your microbiome and autophagy. 
Fasting can increase AMPK. Intermittent fasting or a time-restricted eating window will activate AMPK, signaling your body to burn fat. This can be challenging, or nearly impossible if you are struggling with cravings or the high and low blood sugar of diabetes or pre-diabetes.  As a starting point, try fasting from 6 pm to 7 am the next morning.

Your ability to fast is influenced by your blood sugar levels, adrenal glands, and lifestyle choices. Some people experience dizziness, fatigue, and headaches from fasting. These are signs that you may be dehydrated and that your metabolism is struggling to shift from sugar-burning to fat-burning.  Drink plenty of water and add NO SUGAR electrolytes if necessary.  If you consume electrolyte powder with sugar, you will have broken your fast and activated your insulin response. 

Exposure to cold temperatures (cold plunge or cryotherapy)

Stress is a regular part of life.  How we choose to manage our stress can cause us metabolic problems or good health.  Many people overeat carbohydrates and sugary foods to tame the effects of stress hormones.  This creates a vicious cycle that leads to weight gain.  High-sugar diets also disrupt your regular sleep cycles, which further elevate stress hormones, leading to even more weight gain.  It is a negative feedback loop that causes emotional and physical stress. 

On the other hand, we can deliberately expose ourselves to brief, low-intensity stress to improve our fat-burning mechanism.
Animal studies show that exposure to cold will increase fat burning. A 2021 study showed that young men who did cold plunges had more brown (good) fat and less white (harmful) fat than those who did not.  

Losing weight by activating your AMPK will give you both a jump-start and sustained benefits.  Weight loss is a top treatment and strategy for managing Diabetes Type 2 and high blood pressure, as well as other metabolic disorders such as NFLD and high triglycerides. 

FAQs

Where can I get polyphenols that will increase fat burning?

Many foods contain polyphenols that will activate the AMPK fat-burning enzyme.  If you already have high blood pressure and excess weight, a concentrated polyphenol supplement will expedite your results.

HiPhenolic is a powerful blend of polyphenol extracts proven to support weight loss by activating AMPK.  These powerful enzymes signal your body to burn fat rather than store it as cholesterol, triglycerides, or body fat.  For those with Metabolic Syndrome, diabetes, and high blood pressure, I recommend HiPhenolic in combination with HepatoCORE.  A 2-month trial of these plant formulas is known as the poor man’s Ozempic and will support your health, weight loss, and normal blood pressure. 

What activates AMPK for more fat-burning and weight loss?

Many foods, exercise, supplements, fasting, and cold exposure can activate AMPK. 

What is the most effective way to make more AMPK?

Exercise is the fastest activator of AMPK.  The more vigorous your exercise, the more AMPK is activated for fat burning. 

What foods are high in AMPK?

Many of the foods listed above are high in polyphenols and will activate AMPK. 

How can you trick your body into burning fat?

AMPK is known as the master metabolic enzyme and largely controls fat-burning and weight loss.   

How can I increase my AMPK levels naturally?

Eating foods high in polyphenol antioxidants, taking polyphenol supplement formulas, exercising, fasting, and cold exposure will naturally increase AMPK activity, boosting fat burning and weight loss. 

What are phytochemicals, and what do they do?

Phytochemicals are also known as phytonutrients.  Polyphenols, like those in HiPhenolic, are a type of phytonutrient.  These are essentially chemical compounds found in plants that provide health benefits to your body. These compounds have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Antioxidants are mighty warriors! Antioxidants fight free radicals, which are unstable molecules that build up and start to damage your cells. Antioxidants mitigate that damage. This is important because as cells become more damaged, we begin to see oxidative stress in the body, which can eventually lead to a slew of symptoms and diagnoses.

Phytonutrients have fascinated scientists and led to further study of the potential benefits to the human body. Ortho Molecular’s HiPhenolic uses a type of Phytonutrient called a Polyphenol. Polyphenols are rich in the antioxidants we talked about earlier. That being said, HiPhenolic is not a hodge-podge of random plants; the polyphenols that are found in this supplement have been carefully chosen based on studies of their efficacy.

Polyphenols are nature’s way of turning on an important fat-burning enzyme and supporting normal blood pressure.

Metabolaid (Hibiscus and Lemon Verbena)

One of the most interesting ingredients in HiPhenolic is Ortho Molecular’s Metabolaid®. This is a unique blend of Hibiscus and Lemon Verbena extracts. Lemon Verbena has been used in a wide variety of contexts, ranging from being a food spice to a cosmetic, as well as in traditional formulas in South America and Southern Europe. Hibiscus flower has been used in teas as part of traditional Chinese formulations to help maintain normal blood pressure levels and keep inflammation at bay. Scientists have found that combining the polyphenols from both Lemon Verbena and Hibiscus results in even more substantial benefits as they interact and activate one another to promote optimal metabolic efficiency. In 2018, a double-blind, placebo-controlled, and randomized trial studying this powerful duo took place. 56 subjects with weight management challenges were given this polyphenol combination and showed significant improvements in body weight, abdominal circumference, and body fat percentage. The conclusion of this study included the following statement: “This polyphenolic combination may be used for weight management by increasing long-term weight loss maintenance through the modulation of appetite biomarkers”. Essentially, this combination will help combat yo-yo dieting associated with intense calorie deficits, as this blend addresses appetite and, in turn, could help avoid the weight regain period that often follows caloric restriction. 

Green Coffee Beans

Joining the HiPhenolic ingredients team, green coffee beans naturally contain high levels of chlorogenic acid, another polyphenol. This polyphenol is included because of its powerful antioxidant properties. Unroasted and decaffeinated, the green coffee bean extract in HiPhenolic can provide maximized benefits of chlorogenic acid. Analyses of trials including this fascinating extract have shown benefits in maintaining blood pressure levels, maintaining optimal lipid markers, improving metabolism, reducing body weight, and improving appetite scores, among other things. This helps further HiPhenolic's goals at all levels. There is ZERO caffeine content in Green Coffee Bean extract, so you will not end up with the caffeine jitters or the slump afterward.

Magnesium

And last, but certainly not least, magnesium joins the HiPhenolic crew. Magnesium is a key nutrient for the body; it is used in protein synthesis, blood glucose regulation, and blood pressure regulation. Overall, magnesium citrate supplementation has proved helpful in maintaining healthy blood pressure and blood sugar levels. This makes magnesium a no-brainer addition. Magnesium can be linked to hundreds of symptoms and diseases. The pioneering work of Dr. Carolyn Dean has shown that there is evidence for the need to supplement with magnesium. All of these ingredients have been studied for their benefits and are utilized in ways that maximize their potential.  

Does HiPhenolic really work?

Yes, the ingredients in HiPhenolic have been proven to reduce weight and decrease blood pressure.  Medical studies are listed below. 

What is HiPhenolic used for?

HiPhenolic is used for people with metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and high blood pressure.  I recommend it in combination with HepatoCORE for a 60-day regimen. 

What is HiPhenolic supplement?

HiPhenolic is a polyphenol antioxidant supplement formula designed to support your body in healthy weight loss and normal blood pressure. The ingredients have been proven to lower blood pressure and activate AMPK, the master fat-burning enzyme.

How do you take HiPhenolic?

Take two capsules per day with or without food. If you want to accelerate weight loss and overcome cravings, I recommend adding HepatoCORE for a 90-day (3-month) supply, as the studies lasted 90 days.  

How can I lower my blood pressure naturally?

Magnesium and adequate hydration with water are the easiest and quickest ways to decrease blood pressure.

How can I get rid of metabolic syndrome?

Metabolic syndrome is the diagnosis of 3 of 5 conditions, including abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, high triglycerides, low HDL, and high blood sugar.   The treatments for each are the same: diet and lifestyle changes are the first two options and lay the foundation for successful resolution.

How can I reverse Metabolic Syndrome?

You can reverse Metabolic Syndrome with diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes. 

Does metabolic syndrome ever go away?

Metabolic Syndrome does not go away on its own.  It requires changes in your choices that lead to weight loss and more movement.

What not to eat if I have metabolic syndrome?

High-carbohydrate foods, desserts, and sugary beverages should be reduced or avoided to reverse Metabolic Syndrome. 

How do doctors treat metabolic syndrome?

The first line of treatment is diet and lifestyle changes focusing on a low-carbohydrate diet and daily movement, followed by medication if necessary. 

Concluding Thoughts

Obesity and high blood pressure are two components of Metabolic Syndrome that affect over half of the adult population.  These are lifestyle disorders that can be reversed with a targeted diet, supplements, and lifestyle changes.   If you would like a personalized plan for using HiPhenolic in your wellness journey, or want to learn more about how to support your metabolic activity, blood pressure levels and cardiovascular health, schedule a consult with me, Carly Neubert BA, NC.

Sources Used

1. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/polyphenols/#:~:text=Polyphenols%20are%20nutrients%20in%20plants,that%20provide%20specific%20health%20benefits.
2. https://www.nal.usda.gov/human-nutrition-and-food-safety/food-composition/phytonutrients#:~:text=What%20are%20Phytonutrients%3F,health%20benefits%20to%20the%20body.
3. https://www.webmd.com/diet/foods-high-in-polyphenols
4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29862395/
5. https://www.orthomolecularproducts.com/docs/default-source/pdn/ompi-hiphenolic_pdn-a-draft1.pdf?sfvrsn=e10785ff_10

Studies for Green Coffee Extract and High Blood Pressure and Weight Loss 

1. Suzuki A, Kagawa D, Ochiai R, Tokimitsu I, Saito I. Green coffee bean extract and its metabolites have a hypotensive effect in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Hypertens Res. 2002;25(1):99-107.
   
   
2. Gibbs J, Gaskin E, Ji C, Miller MA, Cappuccio FP. The effect of plant-based dietary patterns on blood pressure: a systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled intervention trials. J Hypertens. 2021;39(1):23-37.
   
   
3. Han B, Nazary-Vannani A, Talaei S, et al. The effect of green coffee extract supplementation on blood pressure: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Phytother Res. 2019;33(11):2918-2926.
4. Haidari F, Samadi M, Mohammadshahi M, Jalali MT, Engali KA. Energy restriction combined with green coffee bean extract affects serum adipocytokines and the body composition in obese women. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2017;26(6):1048-1054. 
5.  Roshan H, Nikpayam O, Sedaghat M, Sohrab G. Effects of green coffee extract supplementation on anthropometric indices, glycaemic control, blood pressure, lipid profile, insulin resistance and appetite in patients with the metabolic syndrome: a randomised clinical trial. Br J Nutr. 2018;119(3):250-258.
   
   
6. Pourmasoumi M, Hadi A, Marx W, Najafgholizadeh A, Kaur S, Sahebkar A. The Effect of Green Coffee Bean Extract on Cardiovascular Risk Factors: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2021;1328:323-345.

Studies on MetabolAid Hibiscus and Lemon Verbena for weight loss 

1. Boix-Castejón M, Herranz-López M, Gago AP, et al. Correction: Hibiscus and lemon verbena polyphenols modulate appetite-related biomarkers in overweight subjects: a randomized controlled trial. Food Funct. 2018;9(7):4037. 
2. Herranz-López M, Olivares-Vicente M, Boix-Castejón M, et al. Differential effects of a combination of Hibiscus sabdariffa and Lippia citriodora polyphenols in overweight/ obese subjects: A randomized controlled trial. Sci Rep. 2019;9(1):2999. Published 2019 Feb 28. 

Studies on magnesium and blood pressure and weight loss 

1. Institute of Medicine (US) Standing Committee on the Scientific Evaluation of Dietary Reference Intakes. Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Vitamin D, and Fluoride. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 1997. 
2. Rude RK. Magnesium. In: Coates PM, Betz JM, Blackman MR, Cragg GM, Levine M, Moss J, White JD, eds. Encyclopedia of Dietary Supplements. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Informa Healthcare; 2010:527-37.
3.  Rude RK. Magnesium. In: Ross AC, Caballero B, Cousins RJ, Tucker KL, Ziegler TR, eds. Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease. 11th ed. Baltimore, Mass: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2012:159-75. 
4.  Zhang X, Li Y, Del Gobbo LC, et al. Effects of Magnesium Supplementation on Blood Pressure: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trials. Hypertension. 2016;68(2):324-333. 
5.  Afitska K, Clavel J, Kisters K, Vormann J, Werner T. Magnesium citrate supplementation decreased blood pressure and HbA1c in normomagnesemic subjects with metabolic syndrome: a 12-week, placebo-controlled, double-blinded pilot trial. Magnes Res. 2021;34(3):130-139