Science Behind
Less than a decade ago, FlyFit joined forces with a team of nutritionists and wellness experts from Van Eeghen Functional Ingredients (est. 1642) with the ambition to develop science-based health supplements to help you be at your best.
Led by FlyFit’s proven science technology, the uniquely curated wellness products allow people to benefit from key active ingredients proven to combat stress, dehydration, inflammation and fatigue
FlyFit supplements contain amongst others 2 important ingredients of which one is patented: fruitflow® and electrolytes
One of the best ways to enhance your performance is to optimise your blood circulation.
The patented fruitflow® WSTC II (water soluble tomato extract) helps maintain normal platelet aggregation contributing to healthy blood flow. FlyFit’s Fruitflow® is a natural ingredient made from bioactive compounds found in the jelly around tomato seeds. Tomatoes are crushed to a paste and then the skin and seeds are removed. The compounds are then extracted from the clear juice and concentrated to create Fruitflow® Tomatoes have natural anti-thrombotic effects.
Healthy blood circulation is essential for good health and with its unique properties, FlyFit, with Fruitflow® can help keep blood flowing smoothly as part of a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. FlyFit with Fruitflow® is a great way to start the day and works within three hours of drinking it, remaining in our blood for up to 18 hours.
The ingredient has been evaluated by EFSA and granted the first approved Article 13.5 (proprietary) health claim by the European Commission in 2009, which confirmed Fruitflow® helps maintain normal platelet aggregation contributing to healthy blood flow. It’s been developed by scientists, is respected by leading doctors and has over a decade’s worth of extensive research and a series of controlled clinical trials.
(EFSA is the European Union’s independent Food Safety agency that provides scientific opinions and assesses risks in the food chain)
There are a surprising number of lifestyle, environmental and hormonal factors that can impact anyone’s blood flow throughout the day – by making their platelets sticky and their blood harder to pump. The factors include poor diet, over or under exercising, smoking and alcohol. Sticky platelets that cause clotting can arise at any time. They are also programmed to respond to stress, which means they become stickier if there’s too much fat or sugar in the blood, during intense exercise, in sedentary lifestyles and even if it gets too cold.
FlyFit with Fruitflow® is ideal before long periods of immobility such as long journeys, hospital stays or during lengthy periods sitting at home or at the work desk. Recent laboratory work has shown that FlyFit’s Fruitflow® can reduce the platelet activation caused by airborne particulate matter by approximately one third in healthy subjects and in subjects with an underlying cardiovascular problem. Fruitflow® also provides improved recovery between training sessions, enabling more effective training. The sooner you recover, the sooner you can go out training again, and the more you train, the better you get.
Nitric oxide, found naturally in our bodies, helps to calm blood platelets, allowing blood to circulate smoothly, and keeps blood vessels relaxed, helping control blood pressure. Unfortunately, most people start producing less nitric oxide from the age of 40, and earlier than that if they have consistently high blood sugar, do little exercise, are overweight, pregnant, or smoke.
Team Sunweb Pro Cycling have added Fruitflow® to their nutritional programme – which they believe helped give them a performance edge and two top 10 placings in the general classification at the 2018 Giro d’Italia.
Studies in elite rowers & recreational runners have shown that a supplement containing Fruitflow® reduces the toxic effects of exercise by more than half, and Team Sunweb have felt the difference.
Important factors to consider:
Lack of activity, stresses of life, unhealthy diet, pregnancy, intense training, diabetes, air pollution.
Hydration regulation (Electrolytes)
Our products are made with electrolytes for complete hydration. Electrolytes play an essential role in keeping your body healthy.
Around 60% of your body & 75% of your brain is made up of water. Your body loses 2-3 litres of water during an average day, which needs replacing to maintain normal function.
FlyFit is using Sodium, Magnesium, Potassium and Chloride in tiny particles that naturally carry electrical charges. They serve many roles to help the body maintain proper functioning. When you sweat, electrolytes play key roles in keeping water balanced both inside & outside of cells so that your muscles and organs can continue to serve you properly. Your body loses vital minerals and electrolytes that need to be replaced for healthy recovery and lasting performance.
Several factors come into play when determining electrolyte losses, such as: fitness level, activity duration, and environmental factors. During conditions in which both temperatures and humidity are high, the body works harder, thus increasing internal body temperature (thermoregulation). With this increase, the body needs to release heat (through sweat), and electrolytes can be lost at a greater rate. During strenuous activities in which sweating may be greater, it is essential to replace electrolytes through fluids and be aware of signs of dehydration.
Dehydration has several negative impacts on athletic performance, and perhaps you’ve even experienced extreme symptoms such as muscle cramps and fatigue. But even if you don’t feel a difference, as little as 2% dehydration can result in a decrease in performance.
Product info and ingredient claims FlyFit Immunity
Health benefits and the nutrients which have a positive role.
1. Protection against oxidative stress with antioxidant nutrients (*): The trace elements zinc, selenium and manganese and the vitamins ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), tocopherol (Vitamin E) and riboflavin (Vitamin B2). Scientific rationale *(see add. A).
2. Blood flow and circulation: A natural tomato extract does maintain a healthy blood flow and circulation in the presence of air pollution. It is ideal to be taken in anticipation of long periods of immobility, such as long journeys or during lengthy periods sitting at home or at a work desk. A healthy cardiovascular system is one with no constrictions in the blood vessels and with smoothly flowing blood avoiding dangerous blood clots.
3. Tiredness and fatigue (*): The vitamin B-complex (B2, B3, B6) contributes to reduce tiredness and fatigue. Scientific rationale *(see add. B).
4. Immunity (*): The following nutrients do contribute to the normal function of the immune system: Zinc, Selenium as well as Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin B6. Scientific rationale *(see add. C). [Energy: B-vitamin complex (B1, B2, B3, B6) and Manganese.]
(*) All listed vitamins, minerals and trace elements received official EFSA approved health claims.
Addendum rationale & scientific research
Add. A) Antioxidant nutrients: Trace elements and Vitamins.
Oxidative stress is the result of an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants. Free radicals can be formed exogeneously e.g. by pollution or chemicals as wel as endogeneously e.g. by the mitochondria during energy production. Cells can be damaged by free radicals that are considered to play a main role in the aging process and disease development such as atherosclerosis, inflammation or even cancer. Free radicals threaten the integrity of various essential biomolecules including proteins, lipids and DNA which may be chemically modified, cleaved or cross-linked.
Trace elements (Zn, Se, Cu, Mn,..) are cofactors of the related antioxidant enzymes which suppress or prevent the formation of free radicals or reactive species in cells. These enzymes are called “first line defence” antioxidants and do need specific trace elements for proper biological functioning. They are very fast in neutralizing any molecule with free radical potential. The three key enzymes are superoxide dismutase (chelates or sequester Manganese or Copper/Zinc), catalase and glutathione peroxidase (cofactor Selenium). They break down the superoxide radical, hydrogen peroxide and hydroperoxides to harmless molecules such as water.
Scavenging antioxidants include amongst others the antioxidant vitamins and are sometimes referred to as a second line of defense. They scavenge active radicals to inhibit chain initiation and break propagation reactions. They become free radicals themselves which are easily neutralised and made completely harmless by other antioxidants in this group. They include the water-soluble ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and the fat-soluble alpha-tocopherol (Vitamin E).
Literature: Oxidative stress: A key modulator in Neurodegenerative diseases. Molecules, 2019, 24, 1583. First line defence antioxidants-superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase: Their fundamental role in the entire antioxidant defence grid. Alexandria Journal of Medicine, 54 (2018) 287-293. Reactive oxygen species, antioxidants, and the mammalian thioredoxin system. Free Radical Biology and Medicine. December 2001.
Add. B) Reduction of tiredness and fatigue. The B-vitamins are necessary for converting food into energy. Lack of B-vitamins in sufficient amounts can compromise an entire sequence of biochemical reactions necessary for transforming food into energy. B-vitamins can be depleted amongst others by stress and unbalanced food intake (or too much alcohol) and this may result ultimately in a decrease of energy production. Slow energy production in the cells, is among the causes of low energy and fatigue.
Add. C) Immunity:
As humans age, the immune system evolves from the immature and developing immune responses in infants and children, through to immune function that is potentially optimal in adolescents and young adults, followed by a gradual decline in immunity (particularly adaptive processes) in older people. Age-related changes are compounded by certain lifestyle factors (e.g., diet, environmental factors, and oxidative stress) specific to each life stage that can influence and modify, in some cases suppressing, immune function. Accordingly, the risk and severity of infections such as the common cold and influenza (the most common illnesses in humans), pneumonia and diarrheal infections also vary over a lifetime.
Optimal immune function is dependent on a healthy immune system. In turn, adequate nutrition is crucial to ensure a good supply of the energy sources, macronutrients and micronutrients required for the development, maintenance and expression of the immune response. Micronutrients have vital roles throughout the immune system that are independent of life stage, and it has been determined that those most needed to sustain immunocompetence include vitamins A, C, D, E, B2, B6 and B12, folic acid, beta carotene, iron, selenium, and zinc.
Literature: Immune Function and Micronutrient Requirements Change over the Life Course. Nutrients. 2018 Oct; 10(10): 1531.
Product info and ingredient claims FlyFit Sport
Health benefits and the nutrients which have a positive role.
1. Energy (*): B-vitamin complex (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12 and biotin), Copper, Magnesium.
2. Immunity (*): Copper, Selenium, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B9 (folate) and Vitamin B12.
3. Blood flow and circulation: A natural tomato extract helps to maintain normal platelet aggregation contributing to healthy blood flow. It also provides improved recovery between training sessions, enabling more effective training.
4. Electrolyte balance (*): Magnesium and other minerals.
5. Protection against Oxidative stress (*): Copper, Selenium, Riboflavin (vit. B2) and Ascorbic acid (Vit. C). Tiredness and fatigue (*): Vitamin B-complex (B2, B3, B5, B6, B9, B12) and the mineral Magnesium.
(*) All listed vitamins, minerals and trace elements received official EFSA approved health claims.
Rationale & scientific research
Normal function of the immunity system: Moderate and even marginal copper deficiency affects some activities of T-lymphocytes and phagocytic cells adversely. Copper-related enzymes are needed for energy production of immune cells and play a role in the protection of immune cells against reactive oxygen species. For more information, see also: Immune Function and Micronutrient Requirements Change over the Life Course.
Literature: Nutrients. 2018 Oct; 10(10): 1531
Magnesium contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism and reduces tiredness and fatigue.
Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in the human body. More than 300 enzymes require magnesium in order to function properly. Magnesium is crucial for converting chemical energy from food into useful energy for our bodies, and it has unique functions in regulating blood sugar, blood vessel health, heart function, and brain electrical activity. About half of our total body stores of magnesium are found in bone, which contributes to its strength and integrity. In fact, virtually every system in the body requires magnesium for its function.
Literature: role of micronutrients in sport and physical activity. Ron J Maughan. Br Med Bull. 1999;55(3):683-90.
There has been much interest in magnesium homeostasis in athletes. Magnesium plays a number of vital roles in the regulation of energy metabolism, acting as a cofactor and activator for a number of enzymes, and is also involved in calcium metabolism and in the maintenance of electrical gradients across nerve and muscle cell membranes. Magnesium is lost in sweat in concentrations that may be higher than those in the blood, leading to concern about magnesium deficiency in athletes losing large amounts of sweat. Magnesium deficiency is often proposed as a cause of exercise-induced muscle cramps, even though there is no experimental evidence to support this hypothesis. In various western countries this idea is so fixed that sports drinks intended for athletes invariably have added magnesium, even though the same products are sold in other countries without the addition of magnesium salts. Experimental magnesium deficiency results in a variety of symptoms, but these do not include muscle cramp.
Antioxidant Nutrients: Athletes engaged in very hard physical training and sedentary individuals participating in unaccustomed exercise show signs of muscle damage in the post-exercise period, and there is evidence of free radical induced damage to muscle membranes and subcellular structures. There is some evidence for an adaptive increase in antioxidant status in response to regular exercise, and this may help protect against further damage. Supplementation of the diet with antioxidant nutrients has been proposed as a possible way of further reducing the harmful effects of exercise. Some studies suggest that the severity of muscle damage — as assessed by circulating levels of muscle-specific proteins — can be reduced by supplementation with large doses of vitamins A, C and E, but the evidence is not entirely convincing, and further information is required before any specific recommendations can be made.
Magnesium supplementation can maximize energy stores for exercise, decrease indicators of inflammation, and increase the rate of lactate clearance. While these functions of Mg can benefit exercise capabilities, research is lacking on their effects on specific performance parameters
The popularity of dietary supplements has been on the rise in recent years, especially in elite athletes. When compared to the general population, elite athletes use dietary supplements much more frequently. Magnesium (Mg), specifically, can be an important mineral to supplement if its Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) is not fulfilled by the diet. Mg makes itself important for exercise by functioning as a cofactor for enzymatic reactions in the body that play a role in physical performance. These include functioning as a cofactor for the enzyme creatine kinase, which maximizes energy stores in the muscle for anaerobic exercises, as well as functioning in glucose mobilization, glucose utilization, and lactate clearance.
Product info and ingredient claims FlyFit Work
Health benefits and the nutrients which have a positive role.
1. Energy (*): B-vitamin complex (B1, B2, B3, B5,B6, B12 and biotin).
2. Focus: Caffeine enhances mental performance, reaction time, alertness, focus and memory.
3. Blood flow and circulation: A natural tomato extract helps to maintain normal platelet aggregation contributing to healthy blood flow. Commuting, office based work, long distance travel or simply a lack of exercise lead to a drop in our bodies’ production of protective Nitric Oxide, making the blood platelets more likely to be sticky and prone to clotting.
4. Tiredness and fatigue (*): B-vitamin complex (B2, B3, B5, B6, B9 and B12).
5. Normal functioning of the nervous system, and proper brain function(*): Vitamin B1, B2, B3, B6, B12 and biotin.
(*) All listed vitamins, minerals and trace elements received official EFSA approved health claims.
Addendum Rationale & scientific background
B-vitamins are necessary for converting food into energy. Lack of B-vitamins in sufficient amounts can compromise an entire sequence of biochemical reactions necessary for transforming food into energy. B-vitamins can be depleted amongst others by stress and unbalanced food intake (or too much alcohol) and this may result ultimately in a decrease of energy production. Slow energy production in the cells, is among the causes of fatigue and tiredness.
Caffeine: A review of caffeine’s effects on cognitive, physical and occupational performance
Literature: Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, Volume 71, December 2016, Pages 294-312 Low (40 mg, 0.5 mg/ kg−1) to moderate (300 mg, 4 mg/ kg−1) doses of caffeine improve cognition. Caffeine is effective to offset physical and cognitive degradation with sleep loss.
Literature: caffeine as an attention enhancer: reviewing existing assumptions. Suzanne J. L. Einöther & Timo Giesbrecht. Psychopharmacology (2013) 225:251–274.
This review was set out to answer a number of questions to better understand the effects of caffeine on attention performance. Specifically, the types of tasks used, the caffeine dose consumed, habitual caffeine use and withdrawal were reviewed. It can be concluded that both simple and complex attention task were consistently affected by caffeine consumption. Caffeine affected both reaction times and accuracy on a variety of simple tasks, but also had the potential to enhance higher-order processes involved in the active monitoring and coordination of behaviour, such as task switching, response inhibition and interference. This is in line with neuroimaging studies that show the involvement of the brain’s dopaminergic regions in arousal, as well as higher order complex attention processes. Conclusions: Evidence shows that caffeine has clear beneficial effects on attention, and that the effects are even more widespread than previously assumed.
