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How health do you want depend on how much to you do to your body. Only you take care of them then they will give you health back.
Friday, 15 June 2012
OPC Q&A
OPC’s History
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OPC-3 On the NEWS
OPC-3 On the NEWS
Isotonix OPC-3 on the news
OPC Featured on NBC
News Report on Isotonix OPC-3
Pine Bark & Pycnogenol (FOX NEWS)
Isotonix OPC-3: Is This Miracle Supplement Worth Your Money?
Isotonix OPC-3: Is This Miracle
Supplement Worth Your Money?
Last Spring, my best friend started raving about her latest health find: A miracle supplement that had cured her allergies, called Isotonix OPC-3. I shrug off a lot of her product, diet, and exercise suggestions (I love her, but she gets a little over-enthusiastic about certain health fads), but after seeing her suffer through season after season of debilitating allergies, I figured if something was good enough to cure her; it was worth looking into.
Isotonix OPC-3: Is This Miracle Supplement Worth Your Money?
With a little research, though, I became more skeptical: You can only buy OPC-3 through local distributors (pyramid scheme, anyone?!), it claims to improve several health conditions, and it ain’t cheap, either. Then again, legitimate news networks have reported on the supplement’s dramatic impact on diseases like lupus, inflammatory disorders, and even ADHD:
So what exactly is it? OPC-3 is an antioxidant supplement that claims to promote cardiovascular and joint health, maintain healthy cholesterol and blood glucose levels, and suppport normal blood vessel function. The main active ingredient in OPC-3 is oligomeric proanthocyanidins – a type of flavonoid – that’s taken from grape seed extract, red wine extract, pine bark extract, bilberry extract, and citrus extract bioflavonoids. It’s also unique because, instead of coming in pill-form, it’s a powder meant to be combined with a particular amount of water in order to create a solution that’s more easy for your body to absorb (see photos below).
It’s a mouthful, but the concept is one you’re probably familiar with: Like antioxidant-rich foods, supplements, and even beauty products, the active ingredients in OPC-3 are beneficial because they’re anti-inflammatory. According to several experimental studies, things like flavonoids, bioflavonoids, and antioxidants modify responses to things like allergies, muscle or nerve inflammation, and even cancer. The current obsession with antioxidants – found in coffee, green tea, pomegranate juice, berries, wine, and even skin creams containing reservatrol or rooibos – is based on the same science and studies.
The only downside of the antioxidant fad is that supplements and health claims haven’t been approved by the FDA, so their benefits aren’t taken as seriously as prescription drugs. Not to mention their price: Like many natural supplements, OPC-3 isn’t cheap. A 90-day supply is $69.95, and it’s not something your health insurance will cover.
We wanted to find out a little bit more about OPC-3, and why it’s different from, say, eating blueberries and drinking green tea, so we asked a few questions of Dr. Mark Lange, a scientist working for Market America, the company that sells OPC-3. We asked about everything from
First of all, why those particular sources? I read that OPCs are present in apples, pine bark, cinnamon, cranberry, green tea, and bilberry, and that chokeberry has the highest measured concentration of proanthocyanidin found in any plant.
Although OPCs are found in many plants, we know that they are highly concentrated in pine bark extract and grape seed extract. We added the three additional sources to provide a full range of plant-derived antioxdiant compounds, known as polyphenols. This unique formulation, OPC-3®, from five plant sources provides literally hundreds of diverse polyphenolic compounds conferring a variety of health benefits.
Also, only Isotonix® OPC-3® contains Pycnogenol® in isotonic form. Pycnogenol®, a patented brand of pine bark extract from France, is standardized to contain 70% procyanidins; compounds known for significant antioxidant properties. Pycnogenol®, in combination with bioflavonoids from bilberry, citrus, red wine and grape seed combine to form a unique product with regards to bioactivity in the body.
One of OPC-3’s main ingredients, grape seed extract, is a readily available supplement that’s pretty commonly used to improve circulation, and it’s also in plenty of beauty and skin products. Why not just take those supplements and use those products?
Isotonix® OPC-3® offers a broad range of benefits greater than grape seed extract alone. For example, it helps maintain healthy cholesterol levels, promotes joint flexibility, supports normal blood glucose levels and demonstrates anti-inflammatory activity.*
A lot of people don’t take vitamins and supplements, saying that they should be able to get all the nutritional value they need from their diet. Dr. Andrew Weil has written a bit about OPCs, and suggests on his website that people eat an anti-inflammatory diet rather than take OPC-3. Do you think that someone eating an optimized diet could get the same benefits? If OPCs are in apples and green tea, it seems like someone should be able to just eat a lot of those foods and get their OPCs that way.
We always encourage people to eat plenty of fresh, colorful fruits and vegetables. The reason for any good quality supplementation is to ensure that you are getting a variety of key nutrients every day and that you are getting sufficient amounts of nutrients. This is usually unattainable for most people, even the health conscious among us. Besides, how many people eat bilberries, grape seeds or pine bark in their routine diet?
By the way, Dr. Andrew Weil preaches that a daily multivitamin/mineral is a good supplement to fill the “gaps” of one’s diet. We believe that there are many more gaps in our diets than just vitamins and minerals. Numerous surveys and data bear this out. For example, the Food and Nutrition Service of the USDA surveyed teenage girls on their dietary intake. Their diet consisted of only 3% of dark, green leafy vegetables as compared to the recommended 14%. Furthermore, their diet consisted of only 5% of orange colored foods as compared to the recommended 11%. And, the government recommendations are well below what many nutrition-oriented doctors recommend.
So the isotonic formula of OPC-3 makes the body better able to absorb it, but some supplements also say they’re in a “food complex” (like New Chapter), which makes them active and readily absorbed by the body. Especially given the relative convenience of pills, can you explain a little about why OPC-3 comes in this form?
We advocate isotonic delivery of nutrients whenever possible. Since isotonic delivery of nutrients facilitates rapid and maximum absorption of all the nutrients in a formulation, it is superior to tablets or pills and provides a better bang for your buck. With isotonic delivery the stomach does not have to digest the nutrients or secrete gastric juices (including hydrochloric acid) which prevents further degradation of the nutrients. And the isotonic solution can quickly reach the small intestine for rapid absorption into the body.
A recent study published in Phytotherapy Research compared OPC-3® in isotonic form and OPC-3® in tablet form in healthy subjects. The bioactivity, or ability to act as an antioxidant, was continually measured directly from the blood over four hours. Isotonix OPC-3®’s initial antioxidant effect was delivered much faster (8 minutes versus 1 hour for tablets). Furthermore, the tablet form never delivered the same potency, or effectiveness as an antioxidant, even at the same serving size and with drinking the same amount of water.
Another benefit of isotonic delivery is it offers an alternative for people who have difficulty swallowing pills, estimated to be 40% of the U.S. population. Taking supplements in a concentrated, flavorful liquid solution is well-received by most people, especially children.
Why do you recommend taking it on an empty stomach?
When stomach contents include food, digestion is occurring – which is the slow process of breaking down food into simpler, absorbable molecules. By taking Isotonix® supplements on an empty stomach, you take advantage of their isotonic state. The body senses that nothing has to be done to an isotonic solution to digest it. Therefore it moves almost immediately into the small intestine for absorption.
Are there any supplements or drugs that should be avoided while taking OPC-3?
Generally speaking, Isotonix® OPC-3® is well tolerated and has no side effects in most people. However, before taking any dietary supplement you should first check with your doctor.
I saw that you have a lot of lab experience; what kinds of tests do you do with OPC-3, and are there any publicly available studies that myself or other consumers can view to get more info about what OPC does?
Being an advocate for quality control in the nutraceutical industry and having a PhD in analytical chemistry, “testing” is in my blood. With OPC-3 being manufactured in the US, it must be made under strict compliance with the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) now mandated by law and enforced by the FDA. Furthermore, additional in-house testing adds a second level of quality control.
Yes, there are now 3 original research studies on OPC-3® available to the public. The first, which evaluated OPC-3® Isotonix® delivery vs. tablet, I already mentioned. The other two articles evaluate the role of OPC-3® in promoting cardiovascular health. Here are the references with links:
There has been a lot of great, credible press, but the
way OPC-3 is sold makes people a little skeptical about the product (when I
googled OPC-3, the tag “OPC-3 scam” was one of the first to come up). Why is it
sold this way, and not just in drug stores and grocery stores like a lot of
other natural supplements?
Market America’s motto is “Built on product. Powered by people.®” Think about it – most people try a product, eat at a restaurant or go to a movie based upon a friend’s recommendation. Market America uses the latest in technology, social networking, and the one to one customer experience. This forward thinking business model fits with today’s lifestyle. On every street in America, brick and mortar stores are closing or vacant, while Market America’s online, personalized shopping experience is thriving.
For people who are obsessed with eating organic, the thought of consuming highly concentrated extracts from plants that might have bad chemicals on them is a little scary. Why don’t you use organically grown ingredients?
Every source ingredient of plant origin must be checked for trace levels of heavy metals, pesticides and herbicides. This is part of being compliant with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs). Even though organically grown implies freedom from trace contamination, the testing requirements remain the same. The safety and purity of our dietary supplements is of utmost importance to Market America. That is why testing procedures are in place to check and double check the quality of the supplements we sell.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Last Spring, my best friend started raving about her latest health find: A miracle supplement that had cured her allergies, called Isotonix OPC-3. I shrug off a lot of her product, diet, and exercise suggestions (I love her, but she gets a little over-enthusiastic about certain health fads), but after seeing her suffer through season after season of debilitating allergies, I figured if something was good enough to cure her; it was worth looking into.
Isotonix OPC-3: Is This Miracle Supplement Worth Your Money?
With a little research, though, I became more skeptical: You can only buy OPC-3 through local distributors (pyramid scheme, anyone?!), it claims to improve several health conditions, and it ain’t cheap, either. Then again, legitimate news networks have reported on the supplement’s dramatic impact on diseases like lupus, inflammatory disorders, and even ADHD:
So what exactly is it? OPC-3 is an antioxidant supplement that claims to promote cardiovascular and joint health, maintain healthy cholesterol and blood glucose levels, and suppport normal blood vessel function. The main active ingredient in OPC-3 is oligomeric proanthocyanidins – a type of flavonoid – that’s taken from grape seed extract, red wine extract, pine bark extract, bilberry extract, and citrus extract bioflavonoids. It’s also unique because, instead of coming in pill-form, it’s a powder meant to be combined with a particular amount of water in order to create a solution that’s more easy for your body to absorb (see photos below).
It’s a mouthful, but the concept is one you’re probably familiar with: Like antioxidant-rich foods, supplements, and even beauty products, the active ingredients in OPC-3 are beneficial because they’re anti-inflammatory. According to several experimental studies, things like flavonoids, bioflavonoids, and antioxidants modify responses to things like allergies, muscle or nerve inflammation, and even cancer. The current obsession with antioxidants – found in coffee, green tea, pomegranate juice, berries, wine, and even skin creams containing reservatrol or rooibos – is based on the same science and studies.
The only downside of the antioxidant fad is that supplements and health claims haven’t been approved by the FDA, so their benefits aren’t taken as seriously as prescription drugs. Not to mention their price: Like many natural supplements, OPC-3 isn’t cheap. A 90-day supply is $69.95, and it’s not something your health insurance will cover.
We wanted to find out a little bit more about OPC-3, and why it’s different from, say, eating blueberries and drinking green tea, so we asked a few questions of Dr. Mark Lange, a scientist working for Market America, the company that sells OPC-3. We asked about everything from
First of all, why those particular sources? I read that OPCs are present in apples, pine bark, cinnamon, cranberry, green tea, and bilberry, and that chokeberry has the highest measured concentration of proanthocyanidin found in any plant.
Although OPCs are found in many plants, we know that they are highly concentrated in pine bark extract and grape seed extract. We added the three additional sources to provide a full range of plant-derived antioxdiant compounds, known as polyphenols. This unique formulation, OPC-3®, from five plant sources provides literally hundreds of diverse polyphenolic compounds conferring a variety of health benefits.
Also, only Isotonix® OPC-3® contains Pycnogenol® in isotonic form. Pycnogenol®, a patented brand of pine bark extract from France, is standardized to contain 70% procyanidins; compounds known for significant antioxidant properties. Pycnogenol®, in combination with bioflavonoids from bilberry, citrus, red wine and grape seed combine to form a unique product with regards to bioactivity in the body.
One of OPC-3’s main ingredients, grape seed extract, is a readily available supplement that’s pretty commonly used to improve circulation, and it’s also in plenty of beauty and skin products. Why not just take those supplements and use those products?
Isotonix® OPC-3® offers a broad range of benefits greater than grape seed extract alone. For example, it helps maintain healthy cholesterol levels, promotes joint flexibility, supports normal blood glucose levels and demonstrates anti-inflammatory activity.*
A lot of people don’t take vitamins and supplements, saying that they should be able to get all the nutritional value they need from their diet. Dr. Andrew Weil has written a bit about OPCs, and suggests on his website that people eat an anti-inflammatory diet rather than take OPC-3. Do you think that someone eating an optimized diet could get the same benefits? If OPCs are in apples and green tea, it seems like someone should be able to just eat a lot of those foods and get their OPCs that way.
We always encourage people to eat plenty of fresh, colorful fruits and vegetables. The reason for any good quality supplementation is to ensure that you are getting a variety of key nutrients every day and that you are getting sufficient amounts of nutrients. This is usually unattainable for most people, even the health conscious among us. Besides, how many people eat bilberries, grape seeds or pine bark in their routine diet?
By the way, Dr. Andrew Weil preaches that a daily multivitamin/mineral is a good supplement to fill the “gaps” of one’s diet. We believe that there are many more gaps in our diets than just vitamins and minerals. Numerous surveys and data bear this out. For example, the Food and Nutrition Service of the USDA surveyed teenage girls on their dietary intake. Their diet consisted of only 3% of dark, green leafy vegetables as compared to the recommended 14%. Furthermore, their diet consisted of only 5% of orange colored foods as compared to the recommended 11%. And, the government recommendations are well below what many nutrition-oriented doctors recommend.
So the isotonic formula of OPC-3 makes the body better able to absorb it, but some supplements also say they’re in a “food complex” (like New Chapter), which makes them active and readily absorbed by the body. Especially given the relative convenience of pills, can you explain a little about why OPC-3 comes in this form?
We advocate isotonic delivery of nutrients whenever possible. Since isotonic delivery of nutrients facilitates rapid and maximum absorption of all the nutrients in a formulation, it is superior to tablets or pills and provides a better bang for your buck. With isotonic delivery the stomach does not have to digest the nutrients or secrete gastric juices (including hydrochloric acid) which prevents further degradation of the nutrients. And the isotonic solution can quickly reach the small intestine for rapid absorption into the body.
A recent study published in Phytotherapy Research compared OPC-3® in isotonic form and OPC-3® in tablet form in healthy subjects. The bioactivity, or ability to act as an antioxidant, was continually measured directly from the blood over four hours. Isotonix OPC-3®’s initial antioxidant effect was delivered much faster (8 minutes versus 1 hour for tablets). Furthermore, the tablet form never delivered the same potency, or effectiveness as an antioxidant, even at the same serving size and with drinking the same amount of water.
Another benefit of isotonic delivery is it offers an alternative for people who have difficulty swallowing pills, estimated to be 40% of the U.S. population. Taking supplements in a concentrated, flavorful liquid solution is well-received by most people, especially children.
Why do you recommend taking it on an empty stomach?
When stomach contents include food, digestion is occurring – which is the slow process of breaking down food into simpler, absorbable molecules. By taking Isotonix® supplements on an empty stomach, you take advantage of their isotonic state. The body senses that nothing has to be done to an isotonic solution to digest it. Therefore it moves almost immediately into the small intestine for absorption.
Are there any supplements or drugs that should be avoided while taking OPC-3?
Generally speaking, Isotonix® OPC-3® is well tolerated and has no side effects in most people. However, before taking any dietary supplement you should first check with your doctor.
I saw that you have a lot of lab experience; what kinds of tests do you do with OPC-3, and are there any publicly available studies that myself or other consumers can view to get more info about what OPC does?
Being an advocate for quality control in the nutraceutical industry and having a PhD in analytical chemistry, “testing” is in my blood. With OPC-3 being manufactured in the US, it must be made under strict compliance with the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) now mandated by law and enforced by the FDA. Furthermore, additional in-house testing adds a second level of quality control.
Yes, there are now 3 original research studies on OPC-3® available to the public. The first, which evaluated OPC-3® Isotonix® delivery vs. tablet, I already mentioned. The other two articles evaluate the role of OPC-3® in promoting cardiovascular health. Here are the references with links:
Accelerated Antioxidant
Bioavailability of OPC-3 Bioflavonoids Administered as Isotonic
Solution. Cesarone MR, Grossi MG, Di Renzo A, Errichi S,
Schönlau F, Wilmer JL, Lange M, Blumenfeld J. Phytother Res. 2009
Jun;23(6):775-7.
Improvement in
Circulation and in Cardiovascular Risk Factors with a Proprietary Isotonic
Bioflavonoid Formula OPC-3. Cesarone MR, DiRenzo A, Errichi S,
Schonlau F, Wilmer JL, Blumenfeld, J. Department of Biomedical Science, G
D‘Annunzio University Chieti, Pescara, Italy. Angiology 2008 Aug-Sep;
59(4):408-14.
Potential Benefits on Impairment of Endothelial Function
after a High-fat Meal of 4 weeks of Flavonoid Supplementation;
T.A. Barringer, L. Hatcher, H.C. Sasser; eCAM Advance Access published online on
July 3, 2008.
Market America’s motto is “Built on product. Powered by people.®” Think about it – most people try a product, eat at a restaurant or go to a movie based upon a friend’s recommendation. Market America uses the latest in technology, social networking, and the one to one customer experience. This forward thinking business model fits with today’s lifestyle. On every street in America, brick and mortar stores are closing or vacant, while Market America’s online, personalized shopping experience is thriving.
For people who are obsessed with eating organic, the thought of consuming highly concentrated extracts from plants that might have bad chemicals on them is a little scary. Why don’t you use organically grown ingredients?
Every source ingredient of plant origin must be checked for trace levels of heavy metals, pesticides and herbicides. This is part of being compliant with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs). Even though organically grown implies freedom from trace contamination, the testing requirements remain the same. The safety and purity of our dietary supplements is of utmost importance to Market America. That is why testing procedures are in place to check and double check the quality of the supplements we sell.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
There is only one Isotonix OPC-3: exclusive by Market America. Purchase online at shop.com.
What kind of disease will be helped by Isotonix OPC-3?
What kind of disease will be helped by Isotonix
OPC-3?
We checked so many testimonials, found Isotonix OPC-3 will help in these:
Different people has
different result. Not every people get same remarkable result. But Isotonix
OPC-3 it real helps lot of people to against the disease.
There are so many OPC outside, not every opc has same result.
Remeber: There is only one Isotonix OPC-3 - Market America
We checked so many testimonials, found Isotonix OPC-3 will help in these:
According company Internet policy we are not allowed to put the list here. If you have interesting please contact us directly.
There are so many OPC outside, not every opc has same result.
Remeber: There is only one Isotonix OPC-3 - Market America
These are actual unsolicited testimonials in our files. They are not to be considered as a claim of medical efficacy and should be considered as anecdotal in nature. You should always consult your physician before any treatment.
The letters within have been retyped from the originals to facilitate copying.
免责声明: 美安公司是美国著名的保健产品代理商。本网页收集了美安用户使用其保健品后的个人感受,仅供参考,并不代表本站的观点。如您有任何疑问,请咨询您的医生.对于因不当建议所引起的不适甚至医疗事故,本站不负任何法律责任.
Wednesday, 13 June 2012
Probiotics; Healthy Digestion = Healthy Immune System
Probiotics; Healthy Digestion = Healthy Immune System
Probiotics are preparations of live micro-organisms (usually including lactobacilli, bifidobacteria, streptococci, and some yeasts such as Saccharomyces, and moulds) which are believed to be beneficial to health by restoring microbial balance in the intestine.
Probiotics are the “friendly” bacteria that benefit the colon and therefore the immune system. They are produced for human consumption most often in dairy products containing two types of microbes, lactobacilli and bifidobacteria. More recently, probiotic dietary supplements are becoming popular as a way to balance and promote a healthy disgestive system.
Probiotic foods are those that involve fermentation in their production; including miso, pickles, sauerkraut and fermented dairy products such as yogurt and kefir.
PreBiotics
A new category called prebiotics is also now becoming familiar. Prebiotics refer mainly to certain foods, and occasionally to certain food products, that support probiotics by enhancing their survivability.
Prebiotics foods include artichokes, leeks, onions, oats, and whole grain breads and cereals, fructooligo-saccharides, or fruit derived, digestion resistant sugars (FOS), also in honey, and galacto-oligo-saccharides, which are the sugars in galactose-containing foods like goats milk.
Research History
Investigations in the use of probiotics as dietary supplements are recent, however, the use of fermented foods containing probiotics predates the use of refrigeration. The supplementation of natural microflora has been dated as early as the late nineteenth century. Even then, some physicians attributed diseases of aging to the build up of waste products (or, putrefaction) in the colon, and the leakage of related toxins into the bloodstream, called autointoxication.
The Lactobacilli bacteria, found in yogurt, was the first identified probiotic. In the 1920s and 1930s, many doctors recommended acidophilus milk, containing the Lactobacillus acidophilus, to treat constipation and diarrhea, which was effective for many patients.
In the 1950s, researchers were studying L. acidophilus intended to counteract the digestive side effects of taking antibiotics, known at that time to cause an imbalance of the intestinal microflora by killing of the beneficial along with the pathogenic bacteria.
Benefits
Probiotic foods and dietary supplements have been recommended as treatments for a variety of diseases and disorders, ranging from problems confined to the digestive tract to general health issues. In particular, probiotic foods and dietary supplements are claimed to prevent intestinal disease by allowing the production of vitamins, particularly B3, B6, and folic acid, causing anti-tumor activity, supporting detoxification, enhancing the immune system by allowing the absorption of anti-oxidants from food, and supporting a cleaner liver and bloodstream.
Supplementation
The primary challenge for probiotic supplements is viability. In order to successfully colonize in the colon, the microbes must first survive the acidity of the stomach and the digestive processes of the small intestine. However, a probiotic which has been shown to have an increased chance of survivability and colonization is Lactobacillus GG (LGG).
People taking these supplements should do so with water, and not juice, since it is thought to stimulate the secretion of stomach acids that will decrease the survivability of the friendly bacteria.
Precautions
As probiotic products include ordinary dairy products, most people do not think of them as medications and see no need to consult a health professional. People on prescription medications or with compromised immune systems however, are advised to consult with their physician before using probiotic dietary supplements, as they may influence the bulk and frequency of bowel movements, increasing the elimination rate of some medications and necessitating a dose adjustment.
Although probiotics are friendly bacteria, some food allergies may cause someone to have a digestive tract that is sensitive to miso, or other fermented foods the milk powders that may be present in some products.
Reliability
Product reliability is a concern since supplements are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as well as the demonstrated difficulty of maintaining live probiotics, in or out of the body.
One study of the microorganisms in 25 dairy products and 30 powdered products found that more than one third of these products contained no living microorganisms, and only 13% of the products contained all of the bacteria types listed on the label.
The following guidelines are suggested for evaluating the effectiveness of probiotic products:
Side Effects
The side effects of treatment with probiotics may include diarrhea, bloating, gas, or constipation. These side effects are attributed to the cleansing of toxins from the body and may last for some days. Practitioners recommend lowering the supplement dosage to reduce the side effects, or pretreating with fiber as tolerated or advised by a healthcare professional.
To Your Health!
Probiotics are preparations of live micro-organisms (usually including lactobacilli, bifidobacteria, streptococci, and some yeasts such as Saccharomyces, and moulds) which are believed to be beneficial to health by restoring microbial balance in the intestine.
Probiotics are the “friendly” bacteria that benefit the colon and therefore the immune system. They are produced for human consumption most often in dairy products containing two types of microbes, lactobacilli and bifidobacteria. More recently, probiotic dietary supplements are becoming popular as a way to balance and promote a healthy disgestive system.
Probiotic foods are those that involve fermentation in their production; including miso, pickles, sauerkraut and fermented dairy products such as yogurt and kefir.
PreBiotics
A new category called prebiotics is also now becoming familiar. Prebiotics refer mainly to certain foods, and occasionally to certain food products, that support probiotics by enhancing their survivability.
Prebiotics foods include artichokes, leeks, onions, oats, and whole grain breads and cereals, fructooligo-saccharides, or fruit derived, digestion resistant sugars (FOS), also in honey, and galacto-oligo-saccharides, which are the sugars in galactose-containing foods like goats milk.
Research History
Investigations in the use of probiotics as dietary supplements are recent, however, the use of fermented foods containing probiotics predates the use of refrigeration. The supplementation of natural microflora has been dated as early as the late nineteenth century. Even then, some physicians attributed diseases of aging to the build up of waste products (or, putrefaction) in the colon, and the leakage of related toxins into the bloodstream, called autointoxication.
The Lactobacilli bacteria, found in yogurt, was the first identified probiotic. In the 1920s and 1930s, many doctors recommended acidophilus milk, containing the Lactobacillus acidophilus, to treat constipation and diarrhea, which was effective for many patients.
In the 1950s, researchers were studying L. acidophilus intended to counteract the digestive side effects of taking antibiotics, known at that time to cause an imbalance of the intestinal microflora by killing of the beneficial along with the pathogenic bacteria.
Benefits
Probiotic foods and dietary supplements have been recommended as treatments for a variety of diseases and disorders, ranging from problems confined to the digestive tract to general health issues. In particular, probiotic foods and dietary supplements are claimed to prevent intestinal disease by allowing the production of vitamins, particularly B3, B6, and folic acid, causing anti-tumor activity, supporting detoxification, enhancing the immune system by allowing the absorption of anti-oxidants from food, and supporting a cleaner liver and bloodstream.
Supplementation
The primary challenge for probiotic supplements is viability. In order to successfully colonize in the colon, the microbes must first survive the acidity of the stomach and the digestive processes of the small intestine. However, a probiotic which has been shown to have an increased chance of survivability and colonization is Lactobacillus GG (LGG).
People taking these supplements should do so with water, and not juice, since it is thought to stimulate the secretion of stomach acids that will decrease the survivability of the friendly bacteria.
Precautions
As probiotic products include ordinary dairy products, most people do not think of them as medications and see no need to consult a health professional. People on prescription medications or with compromised immune systems however, are advised to consult with their physician before using probiotic dietary supplements, as they may influence the bulk and frequency of bowel movements, increasing the elimination rate of some medications and necessitating a dose adjustment.
Although probiotics are friendly bacteria, some food allergies may cause someone to have a digestive tract that is sensitive to miso, or other fermented foods the milk powders that may be present in some products.
Reliability
Product reliability is a concern since supplements are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as well as the demonstrated difficulty of maintaining live probiotics, in or out of the body.
One study of the microorganisms in 25 dairy products and 30 powdered products found that more than one third of these products contained no living microorganisms, and only 13% of the products contained all of the bacteria types listed on the label.
The following guidelines are suggested for evaluating the effectiveness of probiotic products:
- Number of viable organisms. A number lower than 1 billion organisms per gram is considered inadequate for a therapeutic dosage.
- Type of organism. Single-strain products are considered more useful than multi-strain products on the grounds that the different bacteria in multi-strain products may compete with each other.
- Processing method. Products that have been put through a centrifuge or ultra-filtration system are thought to have fewer viable bacteria.
- Additives. Products that do not have hormones or other chemicals added to stimulate the growth of the bacteria are considered more effective.
- Form. Powdered supplements are considered preferable to liquids. Encapsulated powders are second-best, except in the case of LGG capsules.
- Storage. Probiotic products that are not refrigerated are thought to lose much of their effectiveness.
Side Effects
The side effects of treatment with probiotics may include diarrhea, bloating, gas, or constipation. These side effects are attributed to the cleansing of toxins from the body and may last for some days. Practitioners recommend lowering the supplement dosage to reduce the side effects, or pretreating with fiber as tolerated or advised by a healthcare professional.
To Your Health!
Tuesday, 12 June 2012
Testimonials – OPC-3 (2)
According company Internet policy we are not allowed to put the list here. If you have interesting please contact us directly.
http://everybodyshopping.com
http://everybodyshopping.com
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