OPCs
Powerful, Broad-Range Antioxidants For Superior Cleansing
Oligoproanthocyanidins From Pine Bark Extract
What Is Pine Bark Extract?
Pine bark extract is a naturally derived flavonoid antioxidant from the bark of the maritime pine tree which grows along the coast of Europe from southern France to the Spanish border. Pine bark extract has been reported to be as much as 50 times more potent than vitamin E and 20 times stronger than vitamin C with respect to its antioxidant capabilities. In fact, it may be the most powerful naturally occurring antioxidant known.
The central nervous system tends to exclude other antioxidants such as vitamins C, E, and beta carotene from crossing into its domain. Its gate-keeper, known as the “blood-brain barrier,” only allows a small number of molecules and chemicals to pass into the sanctuary of the brain and spinal cord. Unlike other antioxidants, pine bark extract can penetrate this barrier with ease, delivering its wonderful cleansing and free-radical scavenging properties.
What Conditions Has Pine Bark Extract Helped?
Researchers report anecdotal cases in which pine bark extract have helped the following conditions: skin problems, chronic fatigue, visual problems, hay fever, allergies, asthma, arthritis, prostatitis, seizures, neuropathy, lung cancer, tumors, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, mental confusion, dementia, edema, kidney problems, shortness of breath, varicose veins, strokes, and depression.
Typical Adult Use:
Typically, 25 to 50 mg. of pine bark extract are recommended daily (usually 1 to 2 capsules).
Pine Bark Purge
The Pine Bark Purge is a 10-Day Program designed to optimize your antioxidant intake in order to help your body “purge” or eliminate old stored toxins, even from the brain and central nervous system. It is easy to do and users rave about the results. One prominent researcher insisted that to experience the miraculous results of the pine bark extract, you must take what is described as a “saturation” dose.
The most effective results were obtained using the following formula for adults: 1 mg. per lb. of body weight per day. In other words, if you weighed 150 lbs., then you would take 150 mg. of the pine bark extract per day for each of the 10 days. Pine bark extract typically comes in 25 mg. capsules, so you would spread your calculated amount throughout the day, usually at 1 1/2 hour intervals.
For example, you would take 1 capsule at 9 a.m., 1 capsule at 10:30 a.m., 1 capsule at 12:00 noon, 1 capsule at 1:30 p.m., etc. until you reached your calculated amount each day. You may take it with meals or between meals.
If you have been chronically ill, you may choose to start out more slowly than the “saturation” dose of pine bark extract in order to minimize detoxification symptoms. You may start with 1 or 2 capsules per day with meals and slowly build up over a period of time to your saturation amount. However, we have seen many people begin with the saturation amount with no problem.
At the end of the 10 days, a typical adult recommendation for continued use is 1 capsule of pine bark extract three times per day with meals. (This program is not appropriate for children under age 10.) After 10 days, you may choose to continue at the saturation dose for a period of time. Researchers have reported highly beneficial results when the saturation level was continued for a period of months in certain cases.
The Power Of pH
The most important foundation for a healthy body is to establish a proper acid/alkaline balance. If the alkaline environment of your body fails and your body starts to become acidic, it becomes harder and harder for your body to uptake the life-giving nutrients in food and food supplements. To get the most out of the Pine Bark Purge, be sure you keep your pH in the alkaline range.
The BIG Picture
Your pH balance shows the overall BIG picture of how your body is functioning. The pH of your urine reflects the pH of your body’s tissues. If your urine pH is on the acid side (indicated by your first morning urine with a pH below 6.0), you may begin noticing distressing symptoms or already have many of them. If your pH is in the alkaline range (6.4 to 7.0), your body can operate efficiently and easily throw off toxins. Alkalinity keeps your body in a happy, well-functioning state.
What’s Your pH?
You can do a simple test to see how acid or alkaline you are. Simply dip a small strip of pH tape into your first morning urine and watch it turn color (within a few seconds). Next, match the color of the pH strip to a pH color chart. To be in the optimum range (a dark blue-green color on the chart), your first morning urine should be between 6.4 and 7.0 (the ideal is 7.0). If your pH falls below 6.0 (a yellow color on the chart), you are in the acid range. Your tissues are being bathed in acid and chronic symptoms are already with you or on the way.
Coral Minerals — Get Alkaline Fast!
If you find that you are in the acid zone, it’s time to re-alkalinize yourself — the sooner, the better! To get your body back into the alkaline zone, you need minerals. The absolutely fastest way to accomplish this is by taking minerals which are already in a highly ionized state. An incredible, one-of-a-kind substance that has been used with great success is pure Sango marine coral minerals. These coral minerals are the ONLY minerals on earth already in the ionized form. They contain highly ionized calcium, magnesium as well as many trace minerals — all right out of nature (this coral is found in pristine, uncontaminated, deep-sea waters off the coast of a Japanese island). Your body can use these ionized minerals, especially the alkalinizing calcium, immediately without having to break them down. (Great news for those with poor digestion.)
Super-Detox
Getting ionized calcium into your body is certainly a BIG deal. Calcium is the key player in establishing an alkaline pH. But many forms of calcium are hard to digest and take a long time (even years), if ever, to replenish the body’s mineral levels. In contrast, ionized calcium is easy to digest, easy to absorb, fast-acting and life-changing. It can quickly replace depleted calcium stores and neutralize acidic (usually toxic) compounds anywhere in your body before damage can take place.
Up to 20 Times More Oxygen
In an alkaline environment, you have abundant oxygen. As the pH of the urine drops, less and less oxygen is available to the tissues. Small changes of 1/10 or 2/10 in pH can mean 10 to 20 times more oxygen availability. Cancer, parasites and viruses cannot live in a highly oxygenated environment.
Ionized calcium is the key mineral to help keep the body’s pH alkaline and highly oxygenated. Many doctors rate these coral minerals in the miracle category for their patients because these minerals can quickly shift the pH into the alkaline range. This way the body can maximize its healing capacity.
Have A Great Life
When going on the Pine Bark Purge, many practitioners recommend supporting your alkaline pH balance with the fabulous ionized coral minerals — for superior detoxification with minimal detox symptoms. When taking calcium, vitamin D is absolutely required in order to absorb calcium. Therefore, you may also want to take U.S.P. Grade cod liver oil, an excellent source of vitamin D. As you are able to shed years of toxic accumulation, you can feel like a million dollars. Indeed, you will have one of the richest gifts in life: the gift of health.
References
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Martin, A., The Truth About Pycnogenol, R&T Press, Canada, 1996.
Middleton, Jr., E., and Kandaswami, C., The Flavonoids: Advances in Research Since 1986 (J.B. Harborne, ed.) Chapman & Hall, London, 619, (1993).
Passwater, R., and Kandaswami, C., Pycnogenol, The Super Protector Nutrient, Keats Publishing, Inc., New Canaan, CT, 1994.
Passwater, R., The New Superantioxidant Plus, Keats Publishing, New Canaan, CT, 1992.
Simon, J., “Antioxidants and Their Effects,” The American Chiropractor, March/April, 1995, 22.