AGD Digital (2024)

29/08/2023

What should you do before taking supplements:

Some people will start buying supplements the moment they’re motivated to start training or start training again.There’s a better approach, because in most cases these supplements will end up not being used and they will sit there in a closet for years. What you want to do before buying any supplements is to focus entirely on improving the things around your training and your training itself. This could be your diet, your sleep, testosterone optimization if you’re a man, lifestyle optimization. Once all those things are done, then you can think about adding supplements in. Personally it took me 2.5 years of obsessive training before I bought anything.

25/08/2023

The best supplements everyone can take
Here are the best supplements that everyone should take:
- Creatine: 5 grams a day will boost strength, muscle size and brain function
- Vitamin D to optimize testosterone levels and just energy levels in general
- Caffeine: as long as it doesn’t perturb your sleep and you don’t become too tolerant
- Beta alanine: this is more for longer types of exercises like cardio or longer sets in the gym
- protein powder is not really necessary if you have a good diet

Of course there are a lot more supplements out there, but do your research before doing anything.

22/08/2023

3 creatine myths debunked
1. You need to do a loading phase
Doing a loading is not necessary and will most likely just make you lose money. You can do a loading phase if you want and it will help you reach full creatine saturation faster, but you can achieve those same results after taking it for 3 weeks at regular dose.

2. Monohydrate isn’t the best version
Monohydrate is the best and cheapest form of creatine. Other forms of creatine don’t provide more benefits and can even work worse for some of them and usually they will cost more or the same amount.

3. You have to cycle on and off
Cycling on and off creatine doesn’t bring any more advantages when it comes to muscle building, so you can take it continually. The only advantage maybe is that you’ll save some money.

18/08/2023

What barriers to entry are there?

Competition in a very saturated market
Finding a manufacturer willing to accept a small order

15/08/2023

How can you take caffeine or pre workout safely ?

Caffeine is safe as long as you don’t abuse it or are dependent on it. For best results, drink around 1–2 cups, 45–60 minutes before your workout. Keep in mind that many prefer to exercise on an empty stomach, and some people are more sensitive to caffeine than others. Therefore, it's best to listen to your body and find an amount that's comfortable for you. Also don’t consume it after a couple hours before bedtime as it may perturb your sleep

11/08/2023

Why is vitamin D so important ?

Vitamin D helps regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body. These nutrients are needed to keep bones, teeth and muscles healthy. A lack of vitamin D can lead to bone deformities such as rickets in children, and bone pain caused by a condition called osteomalacia in adults

08/08/2023

For what use is beta alanine ?

Beta-alanine enhances performance by increasing exercise capacity and decreasing muscle fatigue. It also has antioxidant, immune-enhancing and anti-aging properties. You can get beta-alanine from foods that contain carnosine or through supplements.

04/08/2023

Why is turkesterone debated ?
Turkesterone is a form of ecdysteroid which is a hormone found in many insect and plant species. The role of Turkesterone is to regulate reproduction and to release chemicals that allow them to repel predators.

The main source of Turkesterone is natural which is obtained from the AjugaTurkestanica plant. This plant is cultivated in Central Asian countries, mostly in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. There are other food sources you can obtain Turkesterone from such as yams, quinoa, and spinach but they only have a small number of phytoecdysteroids like Turkesterone. This is why most people nowadays use Turkesterone supplements to help them with bodybuilding.

Turkesterone supplements are not allowed for everyone because they may trigger behavioral changes and changes in blood circulation. Turkesterone use started back when they made insecticides out of it, later on, they discovered Turkesterone is a non-toxic chemical to humans which also exists in some foods that mammals consume such as spinach.

Is Turkesterone a Steroid?
No, Turkesterone is found naturally in plants therefore it’s not a synthetic compound like anabolic steroids. It wouldn’t revoke you from any competition but you should beware since there are not so many studies available on Turkesterone.

Turkesterone chemical structure is similar to testosterone but it surely doesn’t work like it. In theories, Turkesterone does not bind to the androgen receptors and it is not made up of testosterone either. Because of this, Turkesterone has no substantial effects on the body’s hormone levels.

Turkesterone supplement users claim that it works within a week by providing them with improvements in performance and physical strength. The results may vary from person to person, some may take a little bit longer than others. Within a month, Turkesterone affects muscle growth, which may be noticeable as we speak

01/08/2023

Why mass gainer is bs

You do have some pros and cons with this. A while ago they used to be a big part of the market and manufacturers were trying to make it bigger and bigger, with more and more calories every time. So it got to a point where you had one where you had 4000 calories in one shake, but the thing is that the scoop was a giant one, so.

The pros of mass gainer is that you can get a whole bunch of calories cheaply, but the downside is that those calories are usually not the highest quality and they’re filled with carbs, not to say that carbs are bad, but you’re better off eating fats and protein. Plus one of the things you should keep in mind is that you’ll never get the same results by adding mass gainer or drinking those shakes to fill the calories. You’ll always get better results by eating all your calories in whole foods.

28/07/2023

Can you overdose on supplements ?

Any ingredient in a multiple vitamin supplement can be toxic in large amounts, but the most serious risk comes from iron or calcium. Additional risks are associated with large or toxic doses of calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin A.

25/07/2023

How does fadogia agrestis increase testosterone ?

Researchers posited that the saponins present in fadogia may have assisted in stimulating greater endogenous production of testosterone by elevating luteinizing hormones (LH) levels. Luteinizing hormone is produced by the pituitary gland and helps to maintain testosterone levels.

21/07/2023

How much does it roughly cost to start a company like this?
Usually to have all the branding done, the testing and everything can cost up to 15.000 dollars to start, but it can go as low as 3.000 dollars.

Setting up a business name and corporation
$150 - $200
$175

Licenses and permits
$100 - $300
$200

Insurance
$100 - $300
$200

Business cards and brochures
$200 - $300
$250

Website setup
$1,000 - $3,000
$2,000

Initial inventory
$5,000 - $10,000
$7,500

Professional labeling
$300 - $500
$400

Initial marketing budget
$500 - $1,000
$750

Total
$7,350 - $15,600
$11,475

18/07/2023

What are the cons of starting a supplement company?

- Competition is very high, since the market entry is pretty easy a lot of people will get into it
- Regulations, the labeling and branding can be pretty hard.

14/07/2023

Trends that shape the supplement industry?

Rising incidence of Alzheimer’s, depression, and anxiety is driving demand for supplements that provide mental health support and stress reliefStrong demand for supplements that contain collagen peptides, support immunity such as Vitamin D, and taste good, such as fruit-flavored gummy vitaminsGrowing awareness about health, fitness, and sports nutrition

11/07/2023

Challenges faced in the supplement industry?

Compliance with stringent regulations on labeling and claims of health benefits. Competition from lower-priced botanicals imported from China. Lack of information on the proper and safe use of supplements

07/07/2023

How are supps controlled

Dietary supplements are regulated by the FDA ( food & drug administration ) as food, not as drugs. However, many dietary supplements contain ingredients that have strong biological effects which may conflict with a medicine you are taking or a medical condition you may have.

04/07/2023

How many people are vitamin D insufficient ?

About 35% of Africans, 40% of Europeans are deficient and about 50% of Americans are deficient.

30/06/2023

How many people are magnesium insufficient ?

Up to 50 percent of the US population is magnesium deficient. Vitamin D can't be metabolized without sufficient magnesium levels, meaning Vitamin D remains stored and inactive for as many as 50 percent of Americans. So about half of Americans are deficient in magnesium and thus in vitamin D, which can lead to lowered energy, fatigue, not sleeping well, bone pain or achiness, depression or feelings of sadness

27/06/2023

Some stats of supps companies

- 77% of Americans take at least one supplement.
- The U.S. Supplements industry has an average profit margin of 38%.
- There are over 29,000 different dietary supplements available to U.S. consumers.
- 25.59% more women use supplements than men.

23/06/2023

What are the pros of starting a supplement company?

- Profit margins can range from 40 to 75%.
- There is a high demand for supplement, especially with the awareness for health
- You can work from home, which would decrease monthly costs.
- You can improve lives, by making people stronger and healthier.

20/06/2023

What to look for in a manufacturer?

Usually you want to look for a manufacturer that doesn’t only put your label on an already existing formula and then gives it to you. You should have the ability to make your own custom formula based on the science you find and the product you want to make. You want to have a formula based on the needs of your ideal athlete.

A supplement brand has to have his ideal customer and what does that customer need? What does he look like, what does he do with his time,... Every supplement company has a specific type of client, that creates a brand and you need a specific formula based on what your ideal customer wants.

You want your manufacturer to have a proven track record. You want them to be approved and if they are very friendly and helpful that can push you to go for them, because they seem more trustworthy.

16/06/2023

Recovery explained

Supplements, recovery shakes, massage therapy, stretching, cryotherapy, ice bathing, among others, all claim to promote faster and more effective recovery. Invoking the term is another type of fallacy called “(definitional) ambiguity.” It is misleading or vague language used to deliberately deceive and/or make a claim easier to defend. For example, the words fast and faster, when applied in the context of human movement, have lucid definitions, such that if a trainer assured you that their exercise program could help you run a “faster marathon,” you could accept or reject their claim based on the common definition. However, “recovery” has no clear operational definition or even end point. For instance, does “recovery” include all facets of biological function, or is it specific to the musculoskeletal system? What about recovery of immune function, hydration, or psychological wellbeing? By itself, the term is ambiguous and can be interpreted to serve any number of functions from person to person. When ambiguous wording is used in a claim, the door is left wide open for a definitional retreat when the claim is challenged. By contrast, good science writing is precise and pointed, invoking terms that have common and agreed-upon meanings.

13/06/2023

Taking pre and pump together

Yes, you can take pump and pre workout together, doing so is one of the most popular supplement stacks. Understanding what each product offers is important for knowing how and when to stack the two supplements together. Usually if you add too much of the ingredient of pre, it will kill the pump and if you add too much of the ingredient of pump, it will kill the effects of pre. You have to find the right balance between both.

09/06/2023

The best sleep supps

The best sleep supplements you can take are the following:
- Magnesium threonate ( 200 - 400 mg )( not to confuse with other forms of magnesium )
- Glycine ( 3 - 5 grams )
- L-theanine ( 400 mg )
- Apigenine ( 2.5 mg )

06/06/2023

Are multivitamins necessary

Multivitamins are not a ticket to optimal health. In fact, evidence that they improve health for most people is inconsistent. In some cases, they may even cause harm. If you have a nutrient deficiency, it's best to supplement with that specific nutrient

02/06/2023

3 advantages of T supps

Testosterone supplements will give you advantages that you get when you have higher testosterone, meaning that the 3 biggest things that will increase are:
- Higher s*x drive for sure
- Bigger competition mindset
- You will have a higher drive to hit the gym, accomplish goals,...

Also you might realize your body language has kind of changed, it'd be more open, more relaxed,...

30/05/2023

Are brain power supps good ?

Supplements are loosely regulated in the U.S., so there’s no guarantee they do what they claim to do. The studies done by manufacturers aren’t always well-designed. And some supplements might contain ingredients at doses that could be harmful. “They might even be tainted with contaminants like heavy metals that can be dangerous,” she adds.

Better ways to boost brain health

Someday researchers might identify a blend of ingredients that does wonders for your gray matter. But in the meantime, there are more effective ways to keep your brain healthy:
Diet. Nutrition is one of the best ways to protect your brain, Smith says. She recommends a diet rich in produce with healthy oils from olive oil, nuts and seeds and fatty cold-water fish. “Aim for a colorful diet, with dark leafy greens, as well as orange and red fruits and veggies,” she says. “Colorful foods contain antioxidants that may protect the brain.”

Limit alcohol. “Too much alcohol can increase the risk of cognitive decline,” she says.
Physical activity. “Regular exercise has a strong association with the prevention of cognitive problems,” Smith says. “Try to get at least 150 minutes of activity a week.”

Sleep. Being sleep-deprived is linked to cognitive decline, so prioritize your slumber.

Socialize. Social interaction is closely tied with maintaining cognitive function as we get older. “Try to spend time with others and limit isolation,” Smith advises. “Whenever you can, share meals with friends and family.”

Treat health problems. Chronic health problems like Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure can increase the chances of cognitive decline and dementia. To lower your risk, work with your doctor to manage any illnesses.

“As we’re living longer and our population is aging, more people are concerned with protecting cognition,” Smith says. There’s no magic pill, but healthy lifestyle choices can do a lot to benefit your brain.

26/05/2023

Why is magnesium so important

Magnesium plays many crucial roles in the body, such as supporting muscle and nerve function and energy production. Low magnesium levels usually don't cause symptoms. However, chronically low levels can increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and osteoporosis.

23/05/2023

How to get results for supplement companies with facebook ads?
All brand owners want to maximize their budget and get the most from Facebook marketing campaigns. Don’t you?

Tip 1 - Build trust
Use your Facebook business page to educate your audience by providing valuable and credible information. Osteo Bi-Flex has a business page with nearly 60,000 followers. The page proudly highlights their achievements, such as being ranked as the number one joint supplement brand most recommended by pharmacists for 13 years running by U.S. News. They also educate and inspire their audience through engaging videos and building positive brand connections.

Tip 2 - Make an offer or deal that is both visually appealing and hard to resist
Use Facebook posts to make offers or deals to your audience, so that they keep coming back to your page. Osteo Bi-Flex makes good use of offers that customers can avail through online stores or physical retail outlets. They also offer seasonal savings such as their "new year, new you" advertising campaign for the new year.

Tip 3 - Leverage the power of storytelling
The best ads tell a story that your target audience can completely identify with. It goes without saying; inspirational visuals are a key element to engagement. Here’s an example of a successful post from the same brand, Osteo Bi-Flex.

Notice they’ve taken cognizance of consumers who complained that tablets were too big to swallow!

Facebook is a wonderful place to advertise because... it allows you to finely target your audience by location, age, gender, interests, connections, relationship status, languages, education, workplaces. What you post on your business page can be boosted as an advertisement to reach your target audience through paid services.

Get granular with Facebook Pixel. By far, one of Facebook's most powerful capabilities is the Facebook Pixel tool. It works by triggering cookies that track users who interact with your web page and your Facebook ads. The data that Facebook pixel provides can be used to:
Create better Facebook ads for your customers
Target Facebook ads more strategically to people who are more likely to convert
The desired result is what every supplement brand owner hopes for: more ROI through improved Facebook ad conversion rate.

Here’s what you can do with Facebook Pixel:
Re-target your visitors using Facebook Pixel. There are times when your customers have abandoned their shopping cart or lingered over a product page without purchasing. How can you re-target these potential customers on Facebook? Facebook Pixel can target such customers and create recall by repeated advertisements as they browse the internet. Retargeting ads to your most relevant audience, those who have already shown interest and engaged with your web page, is likely to yield higher ROI.

Use lookalike audiences. No more educated guesses to create new targeting prospects. Facebook Pixel allows supplement business owners the ability to build lookalike audiences based on the existing customer profile. Facebook will automatically create a new audience that is similar to the source audience, and therefore equally as likely to purchase your product. How simple is that?

19/05/2023

Some facts

What is the average revenue of a client in a supplement company?
About 100.000 income per year

How many employees does a supplement company have?
About 25

What is the average profit margin in a supplement company?
On average 38%

What is the toughest thing about being in the supplement industry?
The competition is very high and getting off the ground is very hard.

What scares supplement brands the most?
Not getting enough clients to cover expenses

AGD Digital