Aftermath
Aftermath helps you downshift when the gaming is done. After a hard day's work or play, it's sometimes hard to downshift for a restful night's sleep. Aftermath supports body's natural biochemical mechanisms of relaxation, allowing you to more peacefully sleep so you can compete another day.

Aftermath was formulated to include the most effective calming nutrients known. Its bi-layer release system promotes optimal relaxation immediately, and then delivers a prolonged release of nutrients that help maintain a restful state, while supporting the body's stress-repair mechanisms.

Are You Having Trouble with Stress & Insomnia?
By Patsi Krakoff, Psy. D. California Licensed Psychologist PSY 15493

Having trouble sleeping because you are excited? Or is it worry and anxiety that keeps you from relaxing and enjoying the benefits from rejuvenating sleep? Either way, if you are experiencing insomnia you know how debilitating it can be.

The brain is a wonderful amazing part of our operating system, but unlike other parts of our bodies, we lack the ability to completely control it's functioning. Not only is it the chief engineer in charge of our muscles and movements, it also controls all of our regulations of major organs such as our heart, digestion, reproduction, and breathing. The brain is also the seat of our thinking, our memories, our interpretations of events, our dreams, and to make it even more crucial, it is the center of all our emotions!

Yet we probably spend more time and energy clothing our bodies and feeding our stomachs and preparing for big events (such as competition) with little or no attention to the care and feeding of the brain. We just take it for granted! Some of us even stretch our bodies and brains to extremes by over-indulging in alcohol, stimulants, drugs, over or under-eating, and staying up late from time to time, with never a thought about the damage to that little organ upstairs in the head!

Fortunately, the body has natural built-in healing properties and has special protection mechanisms for the brain, shielding it from many of the toxins that find their way into our bodies. However, most of the stress and strain is placed there by our own thoughts and beliefs.

It is not so much the stress in our life that is extreme, but the belief we hold about that stress. Much of this comes from wanting to do good and be good: the desire for the perfect wedding is a great way to whip the brain up into a frenzy. The worry and anxiety may come from underlying beliefs that need to be explored with a professional. A good therapist or a personal life coach can be of great help in times of stress. Additionally, seeing a relationship professional prior to the wedding can be an immense help with putting a couple on the right track for a successful marriage.

There are three things that you can do to help your brain to help you to sleep better and to handle stress more naturally.

Avoid all sleeping pills and prescriptions if you can. Your body and brain have the ability to handle a lot, if you give it a chance. Too many times, we race to the doctor for a fix-it prescription, but forget that many medications are strong and have side effects. They may take care of the problem, but create additional ones because they are so strong.

Natural supplements are a wise alternative. The natural health food and supplement industry offers many products with natural herbs and ingredients that will help your brain rejuvenate without side effects. One such product is MindFX Science's Aftermath. It contains vitamin C, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, vitamin B-6, Folate, vitamin B-12, Biotin, Pantothenic Acid, Serotain, Chamomile, GABA, Passionflower, and L-Tyrosine.

These ingredients are well tolerated and processed naturally by the brain to promote healthy functioning. Taking one Aftermath pill before going to bed will promote better sleep without any adverse side effects. Upon waking, one is rejuvenated and refreshed with no feelings of grogginess. Many users report having dreams during sleep after taking Aftermath, which indicates that the healthy rejuvenating phase of sleep is obtained.

Using Aftermath before stressful events is another way to minimize feelings of anxiety*. As it does not have any strong sedative properties, there is no risk of feeling groggy or disconnected. Aftermath is clearly a natural alternative that is effective for counteracting the harmful effects of stress and anxiety. There are no known side effects.

Science and the Mind
By Patsi Krakoff, Psy. D. California Licensed Psychologist PSY 15493

Achieving and maintaining a healthy brain is becoming more of a goal for health-conscious adults. Brain health used to be primarily a concern for medical professionals concentrating on preventing and curing diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Today there exists an expanding need for finding ways to take care of our brains through good health habits and natural supplements.

In 2000, one baby boomer turned 50 every nine seconds. The U.S. Census reports that people over 50 comprise 68.2 million, or one-third of the adult U.S. population. In the next 20 years that number will increase to 115 million, a 60 percent increase.

The quality of the mind is at the core of quality of life. Perhaps the asset we wish to hold on to the most in our advancing years is our cognitive abilities, our abilities to think, to remember, to learn and to continue to meet the demands of every day life. There is some inevitability and acceptance about losing physical strength and competencies with age, but none at all when it comes to losing our mental faculties. We all want to remain young at heart, and in order to do so, we must maintain mental clarity and the ability to think.

Studies show that mental functioning starts to decline after 35 years, with great variation in subjects. There are more and more conditions (childhood autism, attention-deficit disorders and depression) that are increasing throughout the life cycle. While medical treatments are available, all require attention to health and nutrition and can benefit from natural supplements such as vitamins, and herbs.

Cognitive health, memory and learning ability, protection against the effects of stress, anti-anxiety and mood balance are all important to maintaining brain health. There are products that have central nervous system antioxidant activity, for example, that will soon be made available to the public through natural supplements from Mind-FX Science.

At Mind-FX Science , we recognize that this need for brain health and optimal mental functioning is not limited to competitive athletes. Anyone concerned about the effects of aging and stress on the brain can benefit from our three products, Maxx Impulse, NeuroCharge and Aftermath . Look at our new products page for other products being developed and soon available.

There is no magic bullet or one step to the prevention of brain disorder or diseases. A whole body approach to comprehensive health includes attention to the brain through a healthy diet, exercise, and supplements. It just makes sense. Whether a person is trying to endure the stresses and toxins of our modern life, particularly in our fast-paced cities and complex work organizations, or simply trying to survive the effects of aging, attention must be given to diet, exercise and supplements. It has long been documented that the foods we eat, at least here in North America, are not supplying us with optimal levels of vitamins and minerals. The multi-billion dollar vitamin and mineral industry is proof that Americans believe they need to supplement. Just look at the diverse brands of children's vitamins available at any supermarket, as well as those for adults, and you will know that taking supplements is a well-accepted and advised habit for your health.

In the last ten to fifteen years, advances in brain imaging techniques have made it possible to study the living brain, how we think and how we feel, at the time we are thinking/feeling it. Scientist can now map the brain and have discovered what happens when we feel good, and when we feel bad, and in what part of the brain certain emotions are located. Biochemists have furthermore diagrammed the molecular/electrolytic transmissions that occur when messages are sent and received. All this knowledge means that we are getting closer to fully understanding the complex nature of our brains, our thoughts and our feelings.

What does it mean to be "in flow?"

Flow is a term that was defined by Mihali Csikszentmihalyi, a professor of social sciences at the Peter Drucker School of Business at Claremont University. He investigated and scientifically documented this state of gratification we enter into when we feel completely engaged in what we are doing.

Many varied activities can evoke this state. Athletes may know it as "the zone." It describes the psychological components of gratification in notably similar ways. Such activities and the feelings they evoke all have similar components:

• The task is challenging and requires skill
• We concentrate
• There are clear goals
• We get immediate feedback
• We have deep, effortless involvement
• There is a sense of control
• Our sense of self vanishes
• Time stops

In order for the brain to be able to enter into this optimal state, it must be nourished and the brain nutriments essential for neurotransmission efficiency must be available through oxygen and blood flow. Any and all health habits that we can adopt to ensure better cerebral health will assist us in feeling better and being able to have optimal functioning. It makes sense to spend time and attention to exercise, diet and nutritional supplements for both our bodies and our minds. The ingredients in both NeuroCharge and Maxx Impulse enable effective nutritional enhancement of the brain. Aftermath assists in recuperation and recovery.

A recent article, "Nutraceuticals for the Mind", by Tim Wright ( Nutraceuticals World, June 2003 ), describes some of the workings of two of the ingredients in NeuroCharge , gingko biloba and vinpocetine.

Ginkgo biloba
Ginkgo biloba is also a vasodilator that has a long track record when it comes to stimulating circulation. It enhances cerebral blood circulation, inhibits the binding of platelet-activating factor to membrane receptors and provides strong antioxidant protection of brain cells or neurons against lipid peroxidation and free radical damage that destroys certain neurotransmitters. Poor cerebral blood circulation may result in short term memory loss, depression, headache, tinnitus and early Alzheimer's disease. Even before long term effects are evident in disease, poor cerebral blood circulation is evidenced in minor complaints such as brain fogginess, lack of concentration and focus, and fatigue.

A recent study showed that ginkgo biloba extract has the potential to buffer the nervous system from oxidative stress. A further study has shown that ginkgo biloba may help attention characteristics, short term visual memory, operational components and integral operator performance index in patients with asthenic disorders.

Since ginkgo is used as a pharmaceutical product in much of Europe, there are hundreds of studies conducted on the herb, most using the standardized 24% ginkgoflavonglycosides and 6% terpene lactones ginkgo biloba extract.

In terms of U.S. studies, the most recent study found that ginkgo had no effect on the memory and verbal skills in a study population of 200 people older than 60 and in good health. This study has been challenged by various groups including the American Botanical Council, Austin, TX, which presented impressive evidence based on clinical trials published in medical literature which supported the benefits of ginkgo for memory and other mental functions.

Vinpocetine
Vinpocetine has only begun to receive attention in the U.S. within the past few years. Outside the U.S., particularly in Europe, it has been used for several years in connection with brain health. Vinpocetine is derived from vincamine of the lesser periwinkle ( Vinca minor L ). It was approved by the FDA in July 1999 and hits popularity as an ingredient in brain nutraceuticals is growing. MindFX Science uses the finest grade in its NeuroCharge product.

Vinpocetine is a substance that increases blood flow to the brain, hence it is a vasodilator. Vasodilation is achieved by improving the rheological properties of blood through inhibition of platelet aggregation and by increasing the deformability of red blood cells. Blood viscosity and resistance of blood flow in cerebral vessels are reduced, allowing the circulation of more oxygen to brain cells, thereby promoting lucidity and mental alertness.

Vinpocetine also inhibits phosphidiesterase, the enzyme that breaks down ATP to ADP and AMP. Since ATP is the energy that fuels biochemical reactions, inhibiting phosphidiesterase increases ATP levels in cells. This means an increase in energy is available to neurons. Increased metabolism in neurons is indicated by increased glucose metabolism in the brain brought on by increased blood flow due to vinpocetine.

The actions of vinpocetine are both preventative and specific. Its reported anti-aeschemic activity, enhancement of blood flow and cerebral circulation are positives for maintenance of overall brain health. An increase in the rate of ATP synthesis and consumption of cerebral glucose would be considered more system specific. In both cases, the actions of vinpocetine may help in the management of Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease and both have been areas of clinical studies with vinpocetine.

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease