The new CSA
Three pillars play a fundamental role in muscle building. Training, nutrition and regeneration. All three go hand in hand and if too little attention is paid to one of them, the other two can be optimized as much as possible, but optimal results will not be achieved.
Many common supplements aim to optimize training performance or nutrient intake. However, regeneration is often neglected. No matter how hard we train and how well we eat, if our body cannot recover and adapt to it in a positive way, we will not achieve results.
The CSA was developed with the intention of improving the body's ability to deal with stress. The abbreviation stands for "cortisol suppressing agent". You had to wait a long time for it, but now this bestseller is back and even better than before.
What exactly is in it?
Phosphatidylserine - 300 mg
Phosphatidylserine is a substance with a similar structure to triglycerides. Instead of a third fatty acid, however, it contains a molecule of phosphatidic acid, together with the amino acid serine. It is produced by the body itself in small quantities and is found in nerve tissue. However, it can also be obtained from food and dietary supplements [1].
Studies have observed that the intake of phosphatidylserine could have a positive effect on the function and integrity of nerve cells in the brain. This could have a positive effect on cognitive abilities, which are often impaired by the use of various medications, age, alcohol consumption or performance-enhancing drugs [2].
In addition, some studies have observed a reduction in the release of cortisol and a reduction in perceived stress [3].
Ashwagandha extract (Sensoril®) - 300 mg
Ashwagandha is a herb with thousands of years of tradition in Ayurvedic medicine. It was used as a so-called adaptogen and is still very popular as such today. These are substances that are intended to improve the body's ability to deal with physical, chemical or biological stress factors [4], [5].
The positive properties that have been observed in studies are due to the withanolides they contain, which are structurally similar to steroid hormones [4]. For this reason, some patented extracts are standardized for their content of these withanolides. This includes the patented raw material Sensoril®, which contains 10-11 % withanolides.
In particular, studies have observed that the long-term intake of ashwagandha could improve sleep quality and reduce the perception of stress as well as clinical stress markers, such as morning cortisol levels [6], [7]. Contrary to what is often claimed, however, the cortisol-lowering effect does not occur immediately after or after ingestion, but only after the adaptogen has been taken in a sufficient dosage every day for several weeks [8], [9], [10].
For this reason, we have also decided to remove the extract from the Performance Matrix of Bulletproof EAAs and instead add a sufficient amount to the CSA. This ensures that the extract can be taken daily regardless of training and, above all, in an effective dosage.
Bacopa monnieri extract - 300 mg
Bacopa monnieri is also known as Brahmi or small fat leaf and has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries. Numerous studies have observed antioxidant and neuroprotective effects from its intake, which could have a positive effect on numerous diseases such as Alzheimer's, epilepsy, Parkinson's and other disorders of the nervous system [11].
Green tea extract (60 % L-theanine) - 285.5 mg
The green tea extract in our CSA is a natural source of the amino acid L-theanine. Studies have shown that L-theanine has a calming effect without causing drowsiness. Studies have also observed that it could reduce the subjective perception of stress and could therefore also have significant adaptogenic effects [12], [13].
Black pepper extract - 5.26 mg
Black pepper, or rather the piperine it contains, is known to promote the bioavailability of various substances. Scientific studies suggest that piperine supports the effect of withanolides from ashwagandha extract, among other things, and could therefore contribute to an improved effect [14].
