PABA (Para Aminobenzoic Acid)
Important for the formation of red blood cells. Aids in the conversion of protein into energy. Necessary for healthy skin, and hair pigmentation.

Pantothenic Acid (VitaminB-5)
A vitamin which supports carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism; hemoglobin synthesis. Helps release energy from protein, carbohydrates, and fat. Needed to support a variety of body functions, including the maintenance of a healthy digestive system.

Peptide Bonded Amino Acids
Amino acids which are only partially separated from other amino acids. Usually found in chains and joined by peptide bound.

pH
Potential of hydrogen. A scale used to measure the relative acidity or alkalinity of substances.

Phenylalanine
An amino acid, one of the main ingredients to enhance brain function. It has also been used to relieve stress.

Phenylketonuria
An inherited disorder caused by a lack of an enzyme necessary to convert the amino acid phenylalanine into another amino acid, tyrosine, so that excesses can be eliminated from the body. A build up of excess phenylalanine in the blood can lead to neurological disturbances and mental retardation.

Phosphatidyl serine
A phospholipid. An ingredient which may block cortisol (a hormone which breaks down muscle cells into fuel). Also reported to increase levels of glucose, the brain's energy source. See: Phosphatidyl Serine

Phosphorous (P)
This mineral is used for bone and tooth formation, cell growth and repair, heart muscle contractions, energy production, calcium and sugar metabolism and kidney function.

Phytochemical
Any of many substances present in fruits and vegetables that have various health promoting properties. Some phytochemicals appear to protect against certain types of cancer.

Placebo
A pharmacologically inactive substance primarily used in experiments to provide a basis for comparison with pharmacologically active substances.

Pollen
Substance found in flowers and harvested by bees. Contains all 22 amino acids and 96 other nutrients. Helps boost energy and endurance.
See: ProGreens

Potassium (K)
This mineral is used for muscle contraction and relaxation, enzyme activation, heart beat, and growth.
See: Ultra Potassium; Magnesium Potassium Aspartate

Precursor
A substance which is converted to another; i.e. Beta Carotene to Vitamin A as it is assimilated by the body.

Pregnenolone
The "mother" steroid hormone from which most other steroid (sex) hormones are made, including DHEA. Has beneficial neurotransmitter effects.

Proanthocyanadins
Potent antioxidant phytonutrient found in some pine needles (pycnogenol®) and grape seeds and skins (grape seed extract), it is especially synergistic with vitamin C making them more powerful antioxidants together than by themselves. See: Grape Seed

Prostaglandin
Any of a number of hormone-like chemicals that are made in the body from essential fatty acids and that have important effects on target organs. They influence the secretion of hormones and enzymes, and are important in regulating the inflammatory response, blood pressure, and blood clotting time.

Prostate
Male sex gland located at the base of the urinary bladder. It produces a fluid that is added to sperm to produce semen.

Protein
Any of numerous naturally occurring extremely complex combinations of amino acids that contain the elements carbon, oxygen, sulfur, iron, phosphorus, and/or other elements that are essential constituents of all living cells and are synthesized from raw materials by plants but assimilated as separate amino acids.

Prothrombin
Necessary component for body's blood clotting mechanism.

Psoriasis
A chronic skin disease characterized by scaly, reddish patches.

Pycnogenol®
A natural extract from pine trees. Pycnogenol® is a powerful antioxidant and the most readily absorbed and bioavailable member of the bioflavonoid family. See: Pycnogenol®

Pygeum
Pygeum is also known as African Pygeum. It is a large evergreen tree that grows in the high plateaus of southern Africa. The bark contains three groups of active constituents: phytosterols (including beta-sitosterol), pentacyclic triterpenoids (including ursolic and oleaic acids) and ferulic esters of long-chain fatty alcohol (including ferulic esters of docosanol and tetracosanol). See: Pygeum/Saw Palmetto

Pyridoxine (Vitamin B-6)
A vitamin which supports glycogen and nitrogen metabolism, production and transport of amino acids, production and maintenance of red blood cells (hemoglobin) Essential for the body's utilization of protein. Needed for the production of red blood cells, nerve tissues, and antibodies. Women taking oral contraceptives have lower levels of B-6. See: Pyridoxine HCL

Pyruvate
A key energy metabolite for the breakdown of fuel ( glucose, fatty acids, amino acids, etc.) to energy in our bodies, pyruvate can give us increased energy, assist in burning fat as fuel, and have anticatabolic effects (such as producing alanine).