ENADAlert�, Available at GNC, Could Benefit Students
PITTSBURGH--(COLLEGIATE PRESSWIRE)--Feb 26, 2001--The first rule of college is that late night, or all night, study sessions are inevitable, and many students rely on caffeine and over-the-counter stimulants to make it through midterms and finals. The problem is that late night studying can leave even the healthiest college student drained of the energy needed to survive “the morning after,” when they actually have to take the exams.
According to Dr. Erik Viirre, a Research Associate for the Center for Neurologic Study in La Jolla, stimulants may actually compound this problem. “Although caffeine and other stimulants may decrease sleepiness, they do not necessarily increase alertness and cognitive function. Feeling sharp and actually being sharp are two different things, ” he said.
Dr. Viirre recently spoke at the National College Newspaper Convention in San Francisco about alertness during the college years and a new energy-producing nutritional supplement. ENADAlert�, a caffeine-free and stimulant-free compound that increases the body’s natural production of energy, is now available at General Nutrition Centers nationwide.
Interestingly, Dr. Viirre was part of a team that first investigated ENADAlert as a remedy for jet lag. He and his team designed a clinical trial to replicate a real-life jet lag-producing scenario, complete with a cross-country red-eye flight and layover, and divided the participants, giving one group ENADAlert and one group a placebo or sugar pill.
While the study itself is not conclusive and more research is needed, the results are promising. In the clinical trial, ENADAlert significantly relieved the effects of jet lag after long distance travel. Subjects performed various tests of cognitive function and motor skills prior to and following the travel route. Results demonstrated that 20-mg of ENADAlert improved reaction times by 0.6 seconds over the results obtained with placebo. According to Dr. Viirre, at 70 miles per hour that 0.6 seconds is equivalent to an additional nine feet stopping distance.
“The exhausted, cramming student compromises their concentration levels and alertness,” said Dr. Viirre. “As a result, their ability to perform well while taking an exam is diminished. Unlike caffeine, ENADAlert increases alertness and cognitive function - information-processing speed. It’s not a mood elevator, like a double latte, but it may help restore energy and cognition.”
In addition to ENADAlert, Dr. Viirre recommends other steps students can take to maximize energy and alertness during the final exam period. These include:
* Maintaining a proper diet. Try to resist sugar and soda and opt for fruits and vegetables instead. This may help maintain energy levels.
* Continue normal exercise routines. Even if a full workout is impossible, a 20-minute walk or run could increase alertness and make studying more effective in the long run.
* Take deep breaths. Stress creates a tendency to breathe shallow. Simple deep breaths (take 10) can help calm nerves for better concentration.
* Don’t deprive yourself of sleep. Try to get at least six hours of sleep on the night before an exam.
If the combination of long hours of studying for final exams has robbed you of your alertness, you may want to try ENADAlert. It is available at GNC stores nationwide. For more information on ENADAlert and GNC, go to www.gnc.com
ENADAlert is a stabilized, absorbable form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide plus high-energy hydrogen (NADH), the naturally occurring compound that initiates the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) - the energy package in our bodies’ cells. Discovered nearly a century ago, NADH, in its stabilized form, has also shown promising early results -- and is currently being studied -- for other central nervous system benefits. ENADAlert was patented and developed by New York City-based Menuco Corporation.
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