1) Safety: Watch Out for Ginkolic Acid!

Most people aren't aware that Ginkgo leaves contain a toxic compound, ginkgolic acid. Pharmaceutical-grade Ginkgo extract must contain 24% flavonoids, 6% triterpenes, and less than 5 parts per million of ginkgolic acid. But in the US, you can't be sure how much ginkgolic acid is in your product unless it is specifically stated on the label … and most manufacturers don't list it on the label. (And the sad fact is that many Ginkgo products contain more - much more ginkgolic acid than is considered safe.)

Know what to look for

Even if the ingredients aren't on the label, it's important to learn what makes a Ginkgo biloba extract safe and effective … so you can intelligently ask manufacturers about their product and know what you're buying!

Standard Ginkgo biloba products contain 24% flavonoids and 6% triterpenes, but the label usually doesn't tell you anything about the levels of toxic ginkgolic acid.

Although Ginkgo extract must meet the standard described above, plus contain less than 5 ppm of ginkgolic acid in order to be sold as a pharmaceutical in Europe, there has been no such quality control in the US dietary supplement market. This is a major concern for consumers because Ginkgo produced for pharmaceutical use and rejected because it exceeds the 5 ppm ginkgolic acid level is often sold as a dietary supplement at inexpensive prices to unknowing consumers.

After all, supplements are not a grocery item! There is a difference in quality and, as we've seen, sometimes a difference in safety too. Even with something like vitamin E that might seem like just another commodity item … there is a wide spectrum of grades of vitamin E available to the nutritional supplement manufacturer. A synthetic vitamin E supplement (dl-alpha tocopherol) will be less expensive than a natural vitamin E supplement (d-alpha-tocopherol), but won't be as bioavailable or effective.

Play it safe

Originally, scientists issued warnings that ginkgolic acid levels have to be controlled because it was found to be an allergen that can cause severe allergic reactions in certain people. We also now know that ginkgolic acid damages DNA (a risk for cancer development) and is toxic to nerve cells and the immune system.¹⁰

In one study, mice were injected with ginkgolic acid and had significant immunological reactions that appeared in the lymph nodes. The researchers concluded that every care should be taken to guarantee the most complete removal of these compounds as possible during the extraction process. ¹¹

In fact, to the contrary, one independent examination of Ginkgo products showed that some contained THOUSANDS of times the pharmaceutical quality limit of less than 5 ppm ginkgolic acid! ¹²

It is important to not take Ginkgo products that don't meet the standard of less than 5 ppm Ginkgolic acid (5 parts of Ginkgolic acid per million)!

2) Effectiveness: Make Sure Your Ginkgo has a High Bilobalide Content to Get All the Benefits

New studies have shown that bilobalide, a unique phytochemical that is found only in Ginkgo, may prove to be one of the most significant breakthroughs in brain anti-aging. Bilobalide is a substance that recent research has shown to:

• Induce important brain growth factors
• Prevent cell death from amyloid protein—a culprit in Alzheimer's disease
• Protect mitochondria, the tiny energy factories inside cells that provide the "spark of life"
• Protect against Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative disorders
• Prolong life span
• Work synergistically with the other compounds in Ginkgo

Buying a high-quality Ginkgo supplement that contains at least 3% bilobalide is very important, since the latest research shows bilobalide to be one of the major active components of the extract.13 But most companies don't tell you the amount that's in their product.

How long should I take Ginkgo biloba extract?

Ginkgo biloba extract will continue to boost your brain power and circulation for as long as you take it. One bottle is a great start. You'll notice almost immediately that your thinking is sharper, your memory is clearer, and you have more brain power to do the things you want to do with confidence.

Recent findings that life long Ginkgo supplementation not only preserves memory, but also prevents the deterioration of the energy producing mitochondria in cells and extends the life span of animals makes taking Ginkgo every day a logical choice. The only choice.

Page 3 of 3 pages  < 1 2 3

References