The Keys to a More Healthful Life

Metabolic health can be very broadly described as how well our bodies produce and use energy. In essence, each of the trillions of cells in our bodies is like a small energy factory, converting fuel — usually glucose and fat — into a usable form of energy the body can use (typically a compound called ATP).

Along those lines, a properly functioning, efficient and effective metabolism is one of the keys to a more healthful life. Said differently, metabolic wellness — also referred to as metabolic fitness — plays a tremendous role in how our bodies look, feel and perform. In fact, metabolic fitness can profoundly impact:

• Energy levels
• Focus, concentration and attention
• Mood
• Appetite and weight management
• Endurance and performance
• Circulation
• And more

One way that metabolic health can be assessed is by looking at carbohydrate metabolism. More specifically, healthy blood sugar levels can reflect metabolic wellness. After all, glucose (aka blood sugar) represents much of the fuel used by the cells to produce energy. Along those lines, maintaining healthy blood glucose levels is a foundation for metabolic fitness and wellness.

There are multiple factors that can influence carb management and glucose metabolism. For example, regular physical activity, healthy stress management and proper sleep (quantity and quality) all play a role in promoting healthy blood glucose metabolism. Then, of course, there’s diet, and there’s little question that a healthy diet is important for metabolic wellness and an overall more healthful life. After all, as the old saying goes, “You are what you eat.”

The Challenges of a Low-Carb Diet

When it comes to carb management, a simple guideline is to consume a diet based on minimally processed, whole foods with a carbohydrate intake appropriate to one’s activity levels and unique health status. Another way of saying that is that carb-controlled diets are very effective for metabolic fitness.

While there’s more than one way to skin the cat, low-carb diets — such as the ketogenic diet, which limits carbohydrate intake to less than 20 - 30 grams per day — are an effective tool for carb management. Consider, for example, that by its very nature of severely restricting carbohydrate intake, the ketogenic diet forces the body into a state of ketosis where it shifts away from carbohydrate metabolism and becomes heavily, if not exclusively, reliant on fat metabolism to meet its fuel needs.

While low-carb diets can be useful for carb management, they don’t come without challenges. If you’ve ever “gone” low-carb or “done” keto, you know that they’re generally not exactly welcomed by the body. In other words, there tends to be a rather rough adaptation period that’s almost like a rite of passage, or initiation phase, intended to weed people out.

Of course, if you’re able to make it past the early stages, you likely know that low-carb and ketogenic diets can be very challenging to stick to over the long haul, whether you’ve fallen off the wagon or seen others do so.

Perhaps more importantly, very-low-carb diets like keto, although effective for carb management in the short-term, may impair metabolic wellness in the long-term. Metabolic fitness is really about the flexibility to shift between fuel sources -- fat and carbs — as needed, and by their very nature, carbohydrate-restrictive diets, such as the ketogenic diet, can eventually hinder carbohydrate metabolism.

You can think of it this way: Use it or lose it. That is, if the body no longer has to process carbohydrates, the metabolic machinery involved in carbohydrate metabolism will slowly but surely be downregulated. Another way of saying that is that it will wither away, and the body won’t be very good at carbohydrate metabolism when they are reintroduced.

Bottom line, while low-carb diets can be an effective tool for carb management, not only are they difficult to follow, but they might also have a negative effect on metabolic fitness over time.

How IC-5 Can Help with Carb Management

A healthy diet, regular physical activity, stress management and good sleep all play a role in promoting healthy blood glucose metabolism and metabolic wellness, which are important for energy levels, mood, appetite management, physical and mental performance, healthy aging and more. But even when people put effort toward optimizing their diet and lifestyle, targeted supplementation can be an effective way to augment these positive changes. In other words, even if you’re doing everything “right”, you might still benefit from certain key nutrients and ingredients that can provide support for carb management and metabolic wellness.

IC-5 is a combination of 5 research-backed ingredients designed to support metabolic wellness and healthy glucose and energy metabolism.^{Footnote †} For example, when taken with a carbohydrate-containing meal, IC-5 was formulated to help support the body’s ability to use glucose for energy, and when used consistently along with a healthy diet and exercise, it may assist with weight management and may help maintain blood sugar levels already within a normal range.^{Footnote †}

IC-5 may also be used as part of a ketogenic lifestyle to promote metabolic wellness whether it’s used occasionally during carbohydrate-refeeding periods or cheat days, intermittently when carbohydrates are reintroduced, daily alongside targeted carbohydrate consumption or routinely to support the body’s normal carbohydrate metabolism.

Here are five key ingredients in IC-5:

• Berberine—Berberine has become increasingly popular as people seek natural compounds that may help support metabolic wellness. Research has shown that supplementation with berberine supports healthy glucose metabolism, and it may do so by activating an enzyme called AMPK, which supports the transport of glucose into cells to be used for energy.^{Footnote †}
• Cinnamon bark extract—Numerous studies have shown that cinnamon may have a beneficial effect on maintaining healthy blood sugar levels. For example, cinnamon may affect the activity of certain carbohydrate-digesting enzymes, and that may assist with healthy insulin function and blood glucose metabolism.^{Footnote †}
• Chromax^® (chromium picolinate)—Chromax^® is a patented form of chromium picolinate that is different from other forms of chromium because of its stable structure and superior absorption. Chromax^® is a clinically substantiated ingredient that may assist with weight loss while helping maintain lean muscle mass (i.e., lose the fat, not the muscle). Chromax^® has also been shown to promote metabolic wellness by supporting healthy glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity.^{Footnote †}
• Benfotiamine—Benfotiamine is a fat-soluble version of vitamin B1 that may assist with healthy glucose metabolism and may help maintain healthy advanced glycation end (AGE) product activity. Normal AGE activity is important for healthy aging.^{Footnote †}
• Naringin—Naringin is a citrus bioflavonoid (i.e., polyphenol) with well-known antioxidant properties that may assist with healthy glucose metabolism and insulin function.^{Footnote †}

IC-5 Nutrition & Ingredients

IC-5 is a unique blend of 5 ingredients that support healthy carb metabolism and glycemic balance.^{Footnote †} IC-5 is also designed to be taken with carb-containing meals to help support healthy blood sugar metabolism and to help support the body’s ability to use glucose for energy.^{Footnote †}

Here are five key ingredients in IC-5:

• Berberine—Berberine is highly regarded for its ability to support healthy carb metabolism and glycemic balance. One way Berberine supports carb metabolism is by activating an enzyme called AMPK, which supports the transport of glucose into cells to be used for energy.^{Footnote †}
• Cinnamon bark extract—Research shows that cinnamon is highly effective when it comes to supporting healthy carb metabolism and glycemic balance by supporting healthy insulin levels and activity of carbohydrate-digesting enzymes.^{Footnote †}
• Chromax^® (chromium picolinate)—Over 35 human clinical trials have provided evidence that Chromax^® provides powerful nutritional support that promotes healthy carbohydrate metabolism and insulin sensitivity, healthy craving, appetite and weight management when combined with a healthy diet and lifestyle, vibrant energy levels, brain health and more.^{Footnote †}
• Benfotiamine—Benfotiamine helps support carbohydrate metabolism and the body’s ability to use glucose for energy.^{Footnote †}
• Naringin—Naringin is a citrus flavonoid that may help support healthy carbohydrate metabolism and a healthy insulin response.^{Footnote †}