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| The magic of fruits and biofla |
October 2007 |
 According to the World Health Organisation, low fruit and vegetable intake is among the top 10 selected risk factors for global mortality. Many of us already know this. But have you ever wondered why? Why would every doctor in the world tell you to eat plenty of fruit and vegetables? They are healthy, yes, they are full of antioxidants, true, but what is it exactly about fruits and vegetables that make them so important for the body? The answer lies in their colour. Think of kiwis, pineapples, oranges, grapes, apples, squashes, aubergines - like most other vegetables and fruits they are all very, very colourful. The reason? They are all rich in bioflavonoids. Bioflavonoids (the name might be new to you, but it`s a name you should never forget) are pigment-rich phytochemicals that plants produce to protect themselves and coincidently are also responsible for the vibrant colours of fruit, vegetables and even flowers. But bioflavonoids are more than just colour pigment. These natural plant components also strengthen and protect living tissue. And they play a vital role in maintaining a healthy body and fighting several of the most common and debilitating diseases. In the human body bioflavonoids act as master immunity builders, restoring the balance between healthy cells and free radical cells that can be harmful and cause disease. As a result bioflavonoids, especially proanthocyanidins (the most potent of all bioflavonoids), have been used in Europe since the 1950`s for the treatment of a great number of medical conditions. The four most important properties of proanthocyanidins (OPC) are collagen binding, inhibition of inflammation, anti-histamine and antioxidant. Its healing qualities have been proven to increase blood circulation, build cartilage, increase the body`s immune system by eliminating free radicals, have anti-aging effects and many more - all of which can relieve and prevent a great number of diseases and uncomfortable conditions. In this month`s Nature Knows Better we take a look at what bioflavonoids can do for you in practice and the different roles that they play in fighting disease and keeping our immune systems in top gear.
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 | | What the doctors say | "It is widely accepted that many lifestyle diseases are the result of unhealthy living and people can do a great deal to protect themselves by altering their diets to include healthy nutrients, by avoiding toxins and doing some exercise. Research health programmes have proven the positive effect of such changes on the health of Namibians." - Dr. M.H. Greeff, Windhoek
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| | When your body attacks itself | Your immune system is your body`s biological "army" - a collection of mechanisms that protect you against infection. When your immune system is swamped with too many free radicals or too much "high-octane" omega 6 fat, it goes into full alert to destroy the invaders. In the process it can happen that the immune system "army" gets confused and starts to attack the body`s own healthy cells - or it simply attacks it out of "boredom" as an outlet for all its excessive energy. As a result autoimmune diseases occur - diseases where the immune system mistakenly thinks that a part of the body, the joints for example, is a disease and begins to attack it. Over 50 autoimmune diseases have been identified by scientists, including illnesses like cancer, diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, asthma, high blood pressure, and many more. The Organic Association in America is of the opinion that 80% of all types of cancer is caused by environmental toxins. The best way to strengthen your immune system is to lead a healthy lifestyle, with enough exercise and a balanced diet and to stock up on antioxidants, of which the bioflavonoid proanthocyanidin in Vitacydin has been proven to be the most powerful, boosting the entire immune system and repairing the damage done to cells.
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| | Go green with your tea | Another great way to stock up on antioxidants is by drinking tea, especially green tea. However, the water poured over the tea should not be more than 80 degrees, as water hotter than that will kill the antioxidants. To get the right temperature, pour the boiling water into the cup, let it cool for 10-20 seconds, stir, and then add the tea.
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| | Help against HIV |  AIDS is the one illness that actively wears down the body`s immune system, making it weak and susceptible to bacterial and virus infections. Because proanthocyanidins are super antioxidants that strengthen the immune system, they can help AIDS patients to ward off such attacks and improve their general wellbeing. Dr Ronald Watson of the University of Arizona in the US, who specialises in studying the immune system, has conducted several studies with proanthocyanidins. He found that proanthocyanidins increase immune components called cytokines, chemical messengers in the body that encourage healthy cell growth. The number of these cytokines decreases during HIV infection, leading to defects in important immune cells. He concluded that antioxidants, particularly proanthocyanidins in Vitacydin, boost the levels of cytokines in the body and directly enhance the performance of the immune system. It also eased the intensity of symptoms associated with infections and even reduced the duration of infections. In order to keep antioxidant levels higher than the levels of free radicals, AIDS patients require extra supplies of antioxidants. Without additional antioxidants the immune system will deteriorate fast, leaving the body vulnerable and weak. "When there are insufficient antioxidants, immune cells and vital organs like the liver can be damaged", writes Lark Lands, a US medical journalist and long-time AIDS treatment educator and advocate of an integrated approach to HIV/AIDS, who proposes that people with AIDS should consume as large a variety of antioxidants as possible. Eating a healthy diet and keeping antioxidant levels at a maximum with a product like Vitacydin is one of the best ways for AIDS patients to build up their immune systems and defend their bodies.
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| | Heart disease, cholesterol and red wine proanthocyanidins | One of the most important functions of proanthocyanidins (OPC) is that they help to prevent blood platelets from clumping together. For far too many people blood clotting proves fatal as the clot one day blocks the entire coronary artery and results in a stroke or heart attack. It was found that in France the incidence of heart attacks and related illnesses were significantly lower than in the rest of the Western world. This was considered strange, since French cuisine is quite rich on fat. Research revealed that it is their high consumption of red wine that actually makes all the difference. When they looked closer researchers realised that it is the OPC concentration in red grapes that makes the difference. Not only does OPC have a natural blood thinning quality similar to aspirin, it also builds collagen, which improves the elasticity of veins and arteries. OPCs have also been proven to prevent cholesterol settling inside the walls of arteries and making the arteries more elastic The anti-inflammatory properties of the OPCs, as found in Vitacydin, also contribute to reduced heart problems. The latest research shows that chronic inflammation from ordinary bacterial infections plays a major role in coronary heart disease and suggests that inflammation plays an even bigger role than cholesterol as a trigger for heart attacks. A recent study supported by The National Institutes of Health and the Mayo Foundation has shown that the early cholesterol deposits that clog up arteries first develop as inflammation and narrowing of the blood vessels. A leading researcher in that study, Dr. Louis J. Ignarro (winner of the 1998 Nobel Prize in Medicine) stated that treatment with antioxidants might prevent blood vessel inflammation and the subsequent damage it can cause.
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| | Older without the wrinkles |  European scientists who were impressed by its anti-aging effect on the skin have dubbed proanthocyanidins "the youth nutrient". OPCs are used by many women around the world to ward off wrinkles and keep their skin smooth and firm. The reason for this is that proanthocyanidins have the ability to bind and restore collagen, which is the primary component of all the structural parts of our body, including skin, ligaments, tendons, bones, blood vessels and capillaries. By binding the collagen fibres in the skin, proanthocyanidins prevent the fibres from separating. When collagen fibres do separate, wrinkles form in the skin. In addition to collagen restoration, proanthocyanidins act as a natural, internal sunscreen. Ultraviolet rays from the sun destroy up to 50 percent of our skin cells, but this can be reduced to approximately 15 percent by proanthocyanidins as found in Vitacydin.
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| | Extra power for the old "nut" | Everything we think and feel is generated in our brain. Biochemical changes in the brain can affect our ability to concentrate and remember things, and even influence our mood and personality. Modern research shows that proanthocyanidins can help to improve memory and brain functioning by drastically reducing the number of free radicals. Brain cells are especially vulnerable to free radicals since they generate more free radicals per gram of tissue than any other organ. To make things worse, fatty foods increase the free radical load on our brains even further. The best defence is antioxidants and proanthocyanidins in particular. Their superiority as brain nutrients stems from their ability to cross the blood-brain barrier to protect brain cells directly. Few other dietary antioxidants have this capability. They also protect neurons by keeping blood vessels supple and open, stimulating blood circulation, including microcirculation in the brain and assisting the body to deliver other essential nutrients to the brain. This promotes clear thinking and "sharpness", which is of great significance to students, office workers, teachers and others who need to concentrate daily. As far as enhanced memory is concerned the most dramatic evidence so far proving antioxidants effective in combating the effects of old age, is a study that showed aged gerbils recovering their ability to remember after they were treated for two weeks with an industrial antioxidant called PBN. When placed in a maze the PBN treated gerbils, that previously made 2.5 times more mistakes than young gerbils, now performed as well as the young ones. When the antioxidant treatment was stopped in the old gerbils, their forgetfulness returned!
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| | Proanthocyanidins and their role as antioxidants |  Scientist have long known that the reason we get old and sick is because the cells that make up our bodies get damaged. And a lot of the cellular harm in the body is caused by so called free radicals. Free radicals can perhaps best be described as "hungry" molecules that eat off, or steal from, the body`s healthy cells. All free radical molecules miss a single electron to be complete molecules. Their drive to become complete molecules is very strong, and thus they steal the electrons they need from other cells. It is the same process that causes the flesh of an apple to turn brown when exposed to air. And makes a car rust. In the body, the action of the free radical causes cell damage, a kind of mutation, that is at the root of a long list of diseases such as Alzheimer`s, cancer, asthma, cataracts, haemorrhoids - the list goes on and on. Although some free radicals occur naturally in the body, we are also bombarded by taxing elements like environmental pollution, food additives, high fat diets, excessive alcohol, smoking and inhaling passive smoke, burns, stress, radiation and inadequate amounts of healthy fruit and vegetables. All of these create more free radicals than our bodies can deal with, weakening our immune systems and making us sick. Under ideal circumstances the body is able to keep the number of free radicals in check through its own antioxidant production. But when the free radicals in your body are not dealt with, the results are illness and aging. This is where antioxidants come in. Antioxidants provide the free radicals with the electron they need in order to stabilise before they do any harm to the body. The most commonly known anti-oxidants are vitamins A, C, E and beta carotene, which are plentiful in numerous fruit and vegetables. The most powerful type of antioxidant is a bioflavonoid complex (proantho-cyanidin) that can be found in Vitacydin. It was discovered to be 20 times more potent than vitamin C and 50 times more potent than vitamin E as an antioxidant. By making antioxidant supplements part of your daily diet in addition to as many fresh fruit and vegetables as possible, you can actively boost your immune system and give your body a fighting chance against illnesses and the deteriorating effects of aging.
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| | Fruit vision means good vision |  Many people over forty have to reach for magnifying spectacles to be able to read. Diabetics also experience weakening eyesight because of bad blood circulation as a result of the disease, due to the tiny veins not supplying proper amounts of blood to the eye. In a research study, 100 people who had no eye defects or eye diseases were given 200 milligrams of proanthocyanidins daily for four weeks. The subjects were tested for their resistance to blinding and their eyesight in dim light. 98 out of 100 test subjects showed an improvement in vision as a result of supplementing with proanthocyanidins, specifically grape seed extract as found in Vitacydin. Proanthocyanidins works by reinforcing the collagen structures and improving the function of the tiny capillaries of the retina and increasing the blood supply to the eye. So if you struggle to see what fruits you are eating, have some more, and everything could easily be a lot clearer.
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| | Relief for diabetics | Diabetes is one of the illnesses that can benefit tremendously from proanthocyanidins due to their ability to improve the blood circulation. Most diabetics experience a narrowing of the arteries that frequently leads to significantly decreased circulation especially in the lower part of the legs and feet, and in the eyes. As a result diabetics run a much larger risk of weakened eyesight, strokes and cardiovascular diseases than other people. Better blood circulation Proanthocyanidin remedies this by strengthening capillaries, arteries and veins through restoration of the collagen that they are made of. The benefit is improved blood circulation, and a sufficient supply of blood to all the vital organs. For the eyes Retinopathy and neuropathy are also diabetes related problems that can get better with proanthocyanidin. Eyesight is improved because of proper blood supply to the retina of the eye. Proper blood circulation helps to prevent nerve damage that causes great discomfort and could in a worst-case scenario result in gangrene. For impotence Another problem often experienced by diabetics because of ill blood circulation, is impotency. Taking adequate supplies of proanthocyanidins as found in Vitacydin can help to solve this problem by increasing the blood flow for increased potency. In France proanthocyanidins are well known for improving blood circulation and are readily prescribed by doctors, especially to diabetics.
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| | The power of Vitacydin | With each capsule containing 70mg of red grape seed extract, Vitacydin provides a concentrated dosage of the most natural, most powerful antioxidants known - Proanthocyanidins. Once absorbed into the body, Vitacydin works its magic in four different ways; renewing collagen, neutralising free radicals, suppressing histamine production and reducing inflammation. In doing so, Vitacydin is responsible for improving a great number of illnesses and irritations in the body. Collagen is the main protein of connective tissue, which means that it makes up most of our body fibres - certain cells, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, bone and teeth, skin, blood vessels and the cornea and lens of the eye. Vitacydin is a super antioxidant, 20 times stronger than vitamin C and 50 times stronger than vitamin E in fighting the destructive free radicals in our bodies. By neutralising the excessive amount of free radicals that are caused by pollution, processed food and high-fat diets and many others, Vitacydin boosts the body`s natural immune system and helps to protect you against diseases like Alzheimer`s, Parkinson`s, cholesterol and ADD in children just to name a few. As an anti-inflammatory, Vitacydin has a remedial effect on illnesses like arthritis and gout. It minimizes swelling of sports injuries and oedema experienced after facial and breast surgery. By inhibiting inflammation, it takes a lot of strain off the body and actively helps to prevent heart problems. Grapes have been part of the human diet for thousands of years. Many clinical studies have proven the positive effect of grape seed extracted proanthocyanidins on people`s health and wellbeing. The wonderful thing about Vitacydin is that it is 100% natural and has absolutely no side effects. The recommended dosage is two capsules per day for adults, but taking more is perfectly safe.
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| | A powerful testimony | These are just three of the many Vitacydin success stories. From around the country and even abroad, people have praised Vitacydin for improving their quality of life. Annalize van der Merwe`s blood pressure fluctuations have stabilised and Gabie Matthaei doesn`t have sleepless nights due to the pins-and-needles sensations in her hands any more. Elsa Vermeulen is cured of relentless pain in her legs. Her husband Ben, who had been suffering from chronic bladder infections for which he had already had three operations, has not had any problems for the six months since he started taking Vitacydin. Rheumatologist Marina du Toit of Cape Town started recommending Vitacydin to her patients and is very happy with the results. Another thankful Vitacydin client is Mrs. Du Toit of Otjiwarongo, whose little boy of 9 found relief from his Allergic Asthma that landed him in hospital time and again. He is now a healthy boy with lots of energy and minimal need for asthma medication.
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| | Test your levels of free radicals and proanthocyanidins |  Are your body levels of free radicals too high? Have you got enough proanthocyanidins? Is your health unknowingly affected by an overload of toxins? Come in for Adeva`s patented QXCI body scan and get the answers. Via a series of electromagnetic impulses we test the healthy status of all your body`s 10 trillion cells, pinpointing your body`s levels of free radicals and proanthocyanidins as well as its sensitivity to allergies. The scan also reveals what toxins are stored in your body and exposes any potential deficiency in vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids. Followed by a one-on-one consultation by one of our professional health advisers, the QXCI scan gives you a unique chance to correct any imbalances in your body before they do any further or permanent harm to your body and your health. The session lasts for 60 minutes, including dietary as well as lifestyle recommendations, and can be booked at the following places: Adeva Health Centre, Maerua Mall, T: (061) 24 8267 Adeva Health Centre, Eros Shopping Centre, T: (061) 25 4849 Langerhans Pharmacy, Ausspannplatz, T: (061) 22 2581 Shadonai Beauty Clinic, Frans Indongo Gardens, T: (061) 22 3111
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