Dark Horse Supplement Companies to Watch 🚀

Science-Based Sleep Supplements to Trust

Earlier last week I took a giant dump on Innosupps. They are the enemy. 90% of their sales pitch is just tricking people who don’t know any better. All marketing, no science.

They pray on those of us that think a supplement can fix the fact you’re eating too many calories. They have found a way to convince people there’s a way to burn fat in your sleep by taking a miracle pill. I could create an entire series of dunking on half of their product line but that wouldn’t be helpful for you, now would it?

So today I want to take things in a different direction. Ya’ll know I’m all about sleep optimization. Better sleep can be the miracle cure to a lot of ailments. Low energy, low test, low metabolism, brain fog, shitty immune system. The list goes on.

Today we’re going to be talking about one of the dark horse players in the supplement kingdom. It’s name? Ekkovision.

Ekkovision was started in late 2021/early 2022. It’s a small but very quickly growing supplement company that prides itself on it’s science based formulas. It was started by a guy named, Emtiaz Uddin. There isn’t much online about this guy or the starter story but he’s done a great job of building his business solely through affiliates and developing best in class formulas.

These guys consistently put out top tier pre-workouts and a variety of other supplements. Because they don’t rely on advertising, you know that the product is actually good because their athletes wouldn’t partner with them if the product sucked. I’ve spent some time going through a few of their items that are frequently sold out and I started to wonder if the founder was some kind of doctor.

Did I mention they don’t markup their creatine? Taking after the Costco loss leader strategy I see.

I scoped out Emtiaz’ Linkedin and it turns out he’s just a data junkie. Spent his early career working as a data analyst. Obviously he’s just as hyper obsessed with supplements and making gains because the reviews of almost every single product are insane (from what online reviewers tend to say) and they are constantly sold out. The brand affinity customers have online far away better than 99% of companies I see these days.

If there’s any takeaway from this section, be weary of companies that pepper you with instagram ads. If they are spending that much on advertising, they probably aren’t spending as much money on R&D.

Ekko Z's to promote a good night's sleep.

Seeing as how we’re on the topic - today I wanted to do a review of one of their top sellers. Ya’ll know how much we love sleep. And Ekko has been making waves on social media with their Ekko Z’s sleep supplement.

If you’re someone who struggles with sleep and you’re doing all the right things to fall asleep, you might want to try some of the ingredients in this stack.

1. Magnesium Glycinate: Magnesium is a crucial mineral that aids various physiological processes, and Glycinate is a non-essential amino acid. This combo promotes calmness and tranquility by stimulating GABA receptors in the brain. It helps improve sleep quality by maintaining healthy levels of GABA, a neurotransmitter that promotes sleep.

2. PeakO2: A proprietary blend of mushroom strains like Cordyceps and Reishi. These 'adaptogenic' mushrooms can help the body resist physical and mental stress, ultimately contributing to better sleep.

3. L-Tryptophan: An essential amino acid that acts as a precursor to serotonin, a neurotransmitter responsible for maintaining mood balance, and melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep. By increasing serotonin and melatonin, L-Tryptophan can help improve sleep quality and mood.

4. GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid): An inhibitory neurotransmitter that reduces neuronal excitability throughout the nervous system, leading to a state of calm and relaxation conducive to sleep.

5. Lemon Balm Extract: Known for its calming effects, lemon balm extract helps reduce stress and anxiety, promoting a relaxed state of mind that encourages better sleep.

6. L-Theanine: An amino acid found in tea leaves, L-Theanine promotes relaxation and stress reduction without drowsiness, making it a good supplement for improving sleep quality.

7. Inositol: A carbohydrate found in various foods that has a calming effect on the brain. It aids in regulating serotonin and insulin, two factors closely linked with a healthy sleep cycle.

8. Valerian Root Powder: An ancient herb used as a natural remedy for insomnia. It seems to help people fall asleep faster and achieve a deep, restorative state of sleep.

9. 5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan): A naturally occurring amino acid and precursor to serotonin. As mentioned earlier, higher serotonin levels can promote better sleep.

10. Apigenin: Found in chamomile, apigenin binds to benzodiazepine receptors in the brain, exerting a sedative effect.

Each of these ingredients in Ekko Z's by Ekkovision has a role in fostering an environment that encourages deep, restful sleep. This supplement seems to target sleep improvement from various angles - from reducing stress and anxiety, balancing mood, to promoting the production of sleep-friendly hormones.

Zaddy Huberman Sleep Cocktail Vs Ekko

If you listen to Andrew Huberman, he talks about a few of these all the time. Most specifically, Magnesium, L-Theanine and Apigenin. One subtle difference I did notice between Huberdaddy’s sleep cocktail and this stack is, Andrew often cites Magnesium Threonate vs Magnisium Glycinate.

Magnesium is a critical mineral that plays a role in over 300 enzymatic reactions in the human body, including those related to the regulation of sleep. Different forms of magnesium can have distinct effects, and this includes magnesium threonate and magnesium glycinate.

1. Magnesium Threonate: This form of magnesium is designed to improve cognitive abilities, as the threonate component helps the magnesium to cross the blood-brain barrier more effectively. Research suggests that magnesium threonate may enhance memory and cognitive function and has been studied for its potential benefits in conditions such as depression and anxiety. As for sleep, while some users report improved sleep quality due to the overall calming effect on the brain, this is not its primary intended use. Side note, it DID give J some pretty savage nightmares, a known side effect.

2. Magnesium Glycinate: This form of magnesium, on the other hand, is one of the most popular forms taken for sleep. The glycine content in magnesium glycinate is an amino acid that has calming properties and can act as a mild sedative. Glycine has been directly linked to improved sleep quality in certain studies, making this form of magnesium a popular choice for those looking to improve sleep. It's also a good choice for those with a magnesium deficiency, as it's one of the forms of magnesium that's best absorbed in the body.

In summary, both forms of magnesium could potentially contribute to better sleep, but for different reasons: magnesium threonate due to its effects on brain health and cognition, and magnesium glycinate due to its calming properties.

As always - don’t just do as I say. I’m just some guy on the internet sharing his thoughts. Ensure you’re researching proper doses and actually tracking how these things affect you. If it’s an area you’re not familiar with, you can always consult your doctor the next time you ask him to check your prostate.

Until next time ya’ll.