As we get older and more active, life starts to take its toll. Whether it’s an old ACL injury, the pounding of your morning runs, or just the natural creaks of aging, some of us are starting to feel like the Tin Man.
Just like he needed oil, the human body needs lubricant – and the phrase “You are what you eat” has never had a more practical application.
We can do all of the stretching, massage, and compression-wearing we want, but tackling joint pain starts from the inside out. Our bodies crave good nutrition to generate and protect our connective tissue.
One company, Performance Lab, has entered the joint-health market with its new product, Flex, claiming to be a viable solution.
But can its ingredients really nourish your joints? We’ll answer this question (and more) in this comprehensive review.
Table of Contents
About Performance Lab Flex
Performance Lab offers synthetic-free, allergen-friendly, GMP-certified plant caps for their entire supplement line. Each product is third-party tested for purity, assuring no banned substances reach your shelves.
The company’s ultimate mission, human performance optimization, lead to the production of their newest product – Flex.
Performance Lab Flex promises a daily supplement for healthier joints. Flex’s all-natural ingredients guarantee a salve for aches and pains that simultaneously strengthens connective tissue.
Let’s take a closer look.
Performance Lab Flex Supplement Facts
One thing that we’ll mention is this: we’re glad that Performance Lab Flex doesn’t contain any proprietary blends.
What does this mean? Well, it means that each ingredient in this joint support supplement is clearly listed. As you can see on its supplement facts label (we’ll include an image of this below).
More good news is that it contains premium ingredients such as CurcuWIN; this is a patented and highly bioavailable Turmeric powder. So it’s much better than simply adding ‘normal’ turmeric to your meals.
Anyway, there’s more than one ingredient in Performance Lab Flex. So we’ll quickly show you which nutrients make up its supplement facts, then analyze each one for you in this section.
Each serving of Performance Lab Flex contains the following ingredients:
- 250mg CurcuWIN Turmeric
- 100mg ApresFlex Boswellia serrata
- 500mg Glucosamine Sulfate 2KCL
- 100mg Mythocondro (Chondroitin sulfate)
- 100mg OptiMSM (Methylsulfonylmethane)
- 300mcg NutraGenesis strontium
*To learn more about Performance Lab Flex’s ingredients, visit:
» www.performancelab.com «
Turmeric
Commonly used as a spice and natural dye, turmeric is an herb known for its yellow-orange hue. It’s recently come to the forefront of nutrition for its natural anti-inflammatory properties.
However, turmeric has been used in Ayurvedic medicine to combat pain for centuries.
Ironically, the compound responsible for its characteristic color, curcumin, provides the main pain-fighting benefits alongside turmeric’s other curcuminoids, bisdemethoxycurcumin, and demethoxycurcumin.
Performance Lab Flex’s formula features 20% curcuminoids, so we can expect strong anti-inflammatory activity.
These compounds act on COX-2, an enzyme responsible for pain and inflammation. By inhibiting COX-2 activity, curcuminoids block those unpleasant sensations.
According to research in the Journal of Medicinal Food, 1000mg per day of curcumin quelled the negative sensations associated with rheumatoid arthritis. As this specific type of arthritis severely affects the joints, it follows that turmeric would soothe less intense joint pain.
More bioavailable forms of turmeric, such as that found in CurcuWIN, require a smaller daily dose.
Most curcumin extracts, however, are poorly absorbed by the body. The addition of phytonutrients and turmerones in turmeric actually increases the bioavailability of curcuminoids.
To fix this problem, CurcuWIN, the extract found in Flex, offers a solution that’s over 100 times more bioavailable than average. Even more, they keep the antioxidants to protect against joint-damaging free radicals.
Boswellia serrata
Boswellia serrata is a species of Indian brushwood tree also known as Frankincense. Metabolites found in the gum resin of Boswellia are used in natural medicine to fight inflammation. In particular, 3-O-Acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid (AKBA) protects against 5-LOX, a pro-inflammatory molecule.
According to the journal Phytomedicine, taking oral Boswellia supplements significantly decreases inflammatory markers and oxidative stress within collagen. Low doses of Boswellia extract have been shown to limit the effect of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), an enzyme that degenerates the structure of collagen.
Outside of the nitty-gritty scientific mechanisms, taking Boswellia simply seems to reduce the sensation of pain. A few small studies show that around 100-125mg of Boswellia increases pain threshold and tolerance in healthy subjects. Flex features exactly 100 mg of Boswellia per serving, so it’s right in that target zone.
Glucosamine Sulfate 2KCL
Naturally found in your joint tissue, glucosamine is an amino sugar that provides the cushion between your bones. This tiny molecule forms the basis of your extracellular matrix, compounds that lubricate tissue, as well as those that stabilize the cell membrane. Research shows that glucosamine supplementation slows the rate of cartilage degeneration in athletes. Furthermore, glucosamine supplementation of 1500 mg per day significantly reduced knee pain in adults with osteoarthritis. These findings and more suggest that it’s an effective supplement for healthy joint function.
Most commercially-produced glucosamine products are pulled from shellfish. However, the glucosamine sulfate found in Flex comes from corn, continuing Performance Lab’s dedication to being vegan-friendly. Unfortunately, the clinically effective dose seems to hover around 1500-3000mg per day, which Flex doesn’t come close to. Fortunately, all of the ingredients are considered safe, so you could reasonably take a few servings to reach this threshold if desired.
Chondroitin sulfate
Similar to glucosamine, chondroitin forms another collection of molecules that make up the very fiber of cartilage. Due to the strong negative charge, it helps lubricate connective tissue by attracting water.
According to research, treatment with chondroitin sulfate modulates the function of chondrocytes, cells that make up your cartilage matrix.
By facilitating protein synthesis and folding processes, chondroitin sulfate combats the negative effects of inflammatory cytokines. Therefore, it promotes the growth and repair of critical joint tissue.
Most chondroitin comes from animal byproducts. Mythocondro, the formula used in Flex, is completely vegetarian. Trials also show an over 40% increase in bioavailability, which allows for stronger potency at a lower dosage. While around 1000mg is a standard daily dose, you’re getting more bang for your buck here. Adjusting for bioavailability, just two servings of Flex would meet that requirement.
Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM)
Methylsulfonylmethane is a sulfuric compound with a unique ability to permeate cellular membranes. Some research suggests it controls inflammation by supporting NF-κB inhibitors. These compounds mediate inflammatory responses to keep them from becoming chronic.
Additionally, this downregulation helps reduce reactive oxygen species, making MSM an antioxidant. One of its most vital benefits in Flex, however, is its role as a transporter for other nutrients. Due to its uncanny ability to get into cells, the addition of MSM makes other nutrients more available.
Strontium
Strontium is a metal naturally occurring in human bone. Supplementing with this mineral stimulates osteoblast production and inhibits osteoclasts. These two types of cells work to create and break down bone, respectively.
Experimental evidence shows that supplementing with strontium promotes osteoblast replication, effectively increasing the body’s ability to produce new, robust bone. Strong bones help prevent fracture and support healthy movement. Especially in older or highly active populations, strontium supplementation facilitates bone remodeling for longer-lasting, pain-free mobility.
*To Buy, Visit:
» www.PerformanceLab.com «
Performance Lab Flex Formula Analysis
Instead of adding superfluous ingredients, Performance Lab makes sure each nutrient bolsters the other. Lots of research shows that glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM combine to fight symptoms associated with arthritis, particularly pain, stiffness, and inflammation.
Turmeric’s anti-inflammatory properties are backed extensively by evidence, and it acts on similar inflammatory pathways to Boswellia.
As such, the two support each other to blunt painful responses to activity. The dosages may be a bit low, but clinical recommendations are largely based on alleviating arthritic pain. Plus, the inclusion of highly bioavailable compounds is encouraging.
Finally, all ingredients in Performance Lab Flex are safe and free of negative side effects. With its all-natural, herbal, vegetarian options, Flex is the closest thing you can get to a joint-saving superfood.
Who takes it?
Anyone who is health-conscious should look to Performance Lab as a brand in general. One of their primary concerns is being synthetic-free, non-GMO, and vegan/vegetarian where possible.
As far as a joint health supplement, elite athletes, military, or other highly-active populations would benefit from daily use of Flex.
The largest target population, however, is aging adults. Unfortunately, joint and bone degeneration are facts of life, but Flex can decelerate that trend.
Performance Lab Flex Benefits
Those taking Performance Lab Flex can expect the following benefits:
- Reduced pain
- Decreased joint inflammation
- Accelerated injury recovery, especially to connective tissue
- Improved range of motion
- Less joint stiffness
- Stronger skeletal and connective tissue
Any Side Effects?
Performance Lab Flex shouldn’t come with any significant side effects.
We personally didn’t experience any negative effects from taking this joint support supplement for 3 months.
Of course, everyone is different. With each person having different allergies etc. But you should be aware of your own allergies and what to avoid (if not, consult a doctor).
Ultimately, there are no ‘harmful’ ingredients in Performance Lab Flex. Each one is commonly known to be safe through countless clinical studies.
Performance Lab Flex Summary
Pros:
- Turmeric is heavily backed by research to counteract inflammation
- Both Boswellia and turmeric are all-natural, herbal remedies
- Glucosamine and chondroitin sourced from plants
- MSM, glucosamine, and chondroitin combine for a powerful, evidence-based blend to combat joint pain
- Strontium promotes healthy bones
Cons:
- Premium Price
- You can only buy directly from their official website: www.performancelab.com
Pricing
You can get 60 capsules of Performance Lab Flex from their website for just $40.
As that’s a 30-day supply, you may want to purchase more.
Fortunately, Performance Lab gives a 5% discount on two bottles and a 10% discount for a purchase of three.
Final Word
Whether you like it or not, age is going to catch up to you.
Everyone needs a good joint supplement, especially those who want to remain active.
Performance Lab Flex offers a healthy, effective option for a reasonable price. Their ingredients are safe and backed by science, and their manufacturing processes assure no banned substances.
Therefore, Flex makes a perfect addition to a whole-food diet for longevity, injury recovery, and active aging.
*To buy, visit: www.performancelab.com
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