Health & Wellness Articles

How Inflammation and Inflammatory Diseases Can be Addressed by OPCs

By Jayna Locke

Many diseases are based in inflammation. Why? A July 2006 article in MIT News that describes new research into the link between inflammation and disease states fairly simply: “When an infection occurs, immune cells flock to the area and secrete large amounts of highly reactive chemicals to combat the invader."

This would seem to be a beneficial natural defense mechanism of the human body. But, the article goes on to say, “these inflammatory chemicals also attack normal tissue surrounding the infection and damage critical components of cells, including DNA. During chronic inflammation, that damage may lead to mutations or cell death and even to cancer and other diseases."

While researchers are working diligently on grappling with the causes of disease, there is still so much that modern science has yet to understand about this complex process. But the fact that inflammation itself can lead to cell mutations and to disease is a fundamental notion that the average person should simply understand. Moreover, since just about everyone experiences inflammation of one kind or another, and for some it is severe and chronic, we need to know what we can do about it.

OPCs, which are a collection of natural compounds, offer one non-pharmaceutical approach to inflammation. OPC stands for Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins, and while you may not be able to pronounce it, you’ll recognize the seemingly mundane components, which include grape seed, red wine, and pine bark extracts. These components contain bioflavanoids that assist in the strengthening of blood vessel walls, and provide powerful antioxidative and anti-inflammatory benefits. For this reason, people with inflammation based health issues, including arthritis, joint pain, fibromyalgia, and other inflammatory diseases tend to see significant results.

Isotonix® OPC-3™, in particular, contains Pycnogenol®, a patented form of pine bark extract that is grown without pesticides or toxic solvents and is processed using a validated manufacturing process. OPC-3 also contains citrus bioflavanoids and bilberry extract, which have positive effects on vision and histamine release. Thus, it offers broad-based health benefits while providing a preventative measure against disease.

The compounds in OPCs are nothing new, and the research on these flavanoids has been going on since the 1930’s when Nobel Prize winning researcher Albert Szent-Györgyi made some key discoveries concerning the roles of certain organic compounds, especially vitamin C, in cell oxidation. Just as fascinating is the origin of his interest in this area of research: the 1534 expedition of French explorer Jacques Cartier on the St. Lawrence River in which many crew members died of scurvy. On the advice of a native American, Cartier and his remaining crew members had consumed a tea made from pine bark and pine needles and survived. Szent-Györgyi not only had a fascination with the effects of organic compounds like pine bark and vitamin C on disease prevention, but he also lost both his wife and daughter to cancer. Thus, he devoted a considerable amount of time researching the origins of disease.

Outstanding Safety Record of OPCs

OPCs have been used in Europe under medical supervision for over 30 years with no reports of adverse effects. Over one million people worldwide utilize these valuable bioflavonoids daily. OPCs have been tested time and time again for safety by conventional, scientific methods at leading research centers worldwide including the Pasteur Institute. OPCs have been found to be non-toxic, non-antigenic, non-teratogenic, non-mutagenic, and non-carcinogenic.

Market America's OPC-3^TM

OPC-3^TM contains a combination of oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs) from sources that include grape seed, red wine and Pycnogenol® pine bark extracts. These powerful ingredients are the best medically researched components available.

The red wine extract contains flavonoids called leucocyanidins from the skin of red grapes. Leucocyanidins are bioflavonoids with powerful antioxidant properties crucial to their role in supporting the circulatory system. Pycnogenol® has been evaluated in more than a hundred studies, with a total of more than 2000 participants, demonstrating significant benefits for a strong cardiovascular system and healthy lipid and sugar metabolism.

OPC-3^TM also contains bilberry and citrus extracts, which are known to have positive effects on vision and histamine release. OPC-3 combines powerful OPC species which exert specialized health benefits for every part of the body. Together, this combination of OPC is superior to any OPC on the market in active ingredients and isotonic capability. This powerful formula is delivered to your system in an isotonic solution that maximizes absorption.

OPC-3^TM has a pleasant natural grape flavor, is a vegetarian product, and mixes instantly when added to water. This product should be taken on an empty stomach for the fastest, most effective delivery of the active ingredient.

Each capful of OPC-3^TM contains 125 milligrams of bioflavonoids, of which 75 milligrams are oligomeric proanthocyanidins in an isotonic-capable base. That means that the OPC-3^TM active ingredients are delivered in the highest concentration to the small intestine, where most absorption of nutrients occurs.
 
How OPC-3^TM Works

Our bodies are made up of billions of molecules held together by electromagnetic forces. These chemical bonds are created with paired electrons. Free radicals, which are unstable molecules that have lost an electron, seek to replace the lost electron by randomly attacking nearby molecules and extracting desired electrons.

One free radical can damage a million or more molecules in a chain reaction referred to as radical propagation, which leads to oxidative stress. Uncontrolled oxidation is very destructive. It is analogous to effects we see in our environment, such as the rusting of metal, the rotting of meat, the browning of apples or the hardening of old rubber.

Oxidation in our body by free radicals is thought to be responsible for premature aging, wrinkling of skin, hardening of arteries, stiffening of joints, formation of cataracts, the initiation of cancer and much more.

We are constantly exposed to free radicals via such processes as antimicrobial activity by white blood cells, sunlight, metabolism of unhealthy diet, stress, and pollutants. Our ability to fight free radical damage effectively is compromised by inadequate nutritional choices or diets that contain limited amounts of antioxidants. Antioxidant supplementation can very effectively assists our bodies in countering the effects of free radicals.

OPC-3^TM makes available the most potent antioxidants currently known in a rapidly bioavailable form. For best results, OPC-3^TM should be incorporated into a regimen that includes a wholesome balanced diet and dietary supplements rich in vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, and selenium, to name a few essentials for optimal health.

OPC-3 is a natural food supplement that should be taken for a lifetime.

Ordering

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• Getting Your Questions Answered 
  
  If you have any questions about OPC-3, heart health, weight management, or supplementation for improved health, please send me an email. I will find the answer for you.

Thank you for reading. All comments are welcome. I look forward to providing you with more health tips in the future.

To your health!

Jayna Locke
email: jayna@newvitalitynews.com
tel no.: 952-913-6813
toll free msg center: 1-800-556-6436
web: www.newvitalitywellness.com and www.newvitalitynews.com

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