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DEER ANTLER VELVET
Deer antler velvet has been used in Chinese medicine for at least 2000 years and many of the claims made about it have the support of modern research. Deer antlers are, in fact, bone which regenerates each year from the heads of male deer. The velvet is the soft covering that the antlers have before they turn bony. Overall, deer antler velvet is considered to be a powerful tonic. Among its properties, deer antler velvet stimulates the immune system, contains anti-inflammatory agents which may assist in reducing the pain and inflammation of a variety of degenerative ailments such as arthritis; is an abundate source of IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor) which is known to have anabolic (muscle-growth stimulating) properties; normalizes blood pressure; and may reduce the damaging side effects of chemotherapy drugs, while at the same time increasing their effectiveness. Deer antler velvet contains the minerals calcium, phosphorus, sulphur, magnesium, potassium, sodium, manganese, zinc, copper, iron, selenium and cobalt. Many life extension enthusiasts like deer antler velvet because of its anti-imflammatory effect on joints and because it appears to increase of IGF-1. Beginning with early middle age, one's IGF-1 declines rapidly. It is claimed that IGF-1 from deer antler velvet can help keep the fat off, keep muscles from atrophying as is normal with aging, and accelerate wound healing. Bodybuliders might find the IGF-1 boost of benefit. The highest quality deer antler velvet in the world is produced in New Zealand. That country has a national organization that has produced standards for quality in its deer antler velvet products. The Australian deer antler velvet industry also appears to have some government support. You should be aware that there is some controversy over deer and elk antler velvet from the U.S. and Canada because there is evidence of an elk-form of mad cow disease in animals raised in North America. Deer antler velvet usually comes in tablet or capsule form. Beware of so-called IGF-1 sprays made from purified deer antler velvet or from deer antler velvet processed into liposomes for liquid delivery.. There is no evidence to support that such liquid products work. |
