Heart Disease Flavonoids & Proanthocyanins

Heart Disease Flavonoids & Proanthocyanins

Heart Disease is uncomfortably familiar to most people, but not too many know what a flavonoid is, but they are critical to our health. Flavonoids, also known as bioflavonoids, are a class of “phytochemicals” (natural plant compounds) found in fruits, vegetables, wine, some fruit juices and tea.

Flavonoids are also known to form the structural network of plants and fruits and to protect them from harmful environmental factors and free radicals (harmful molecules found in pesticides, industrial materials, air pollution, etc). Scientific tests have shown that these flavonoids can offer humans and animals some of the same protection, especially with heart disease.

Current population studies show that people whose diets contain the most flavonoids have a reduced risk of heart disease, stroke and cancer.

Proanthocyanidins

• Proanthocyanidins are a unique class of flavonoids, and were not discovered until 1946 by a French researcher who was studying peanut skins, and their effect of heart disease and circulation. His research showed that one of the compounds he uncovered, OPC, was a proanthocyanidin that was extremely effective in protecting the vascular walls (Vascular walls are those tissues which surround and protect arteries and veins), in the human body. This was thought to be the most effective product until, in 1986, it was discovered that an extract made from grape seeds was vastly superior.

• Help in the formation of collagen*(see note below), the building block of all cells in the human body;

• Fortify Vascular walls, even in the smallest capillaries, keeping all blood vessels healthy and helping in preventing heart disease;

• Help with varicose veins. Varicose veins in general have a low collagen level, and the OPCs help to prevent further damage;

• Help with Edema. Edema is common as we age, as the vascular walls in the capillaries begin to wear down and allow the leakage of fluids. Swellings can occur in the lower part of the body after sitting or standing for long periods of time without activity. OPCs help to reduce the occurrence of these episodes;

• Help with Eyesight. Eyesight can be affected by environmental factors such as the sun, computer screens, smoke, etc. In several studies, OPCs were shown to improve eyesight as well as night vision. Retinopathy also appears to benefit from a regime of OPCs;

• Help protecting the Heart. The heart relies on a healthy circulatory system to move nutrients throughout the body. OPCs help in this process of preventing heart disease;

• Help Vitamin C’s effectiveness;

• Help to block Histamine. Proanthocyanidins help to strengthen cell membranes making it more difficult for histamine to escape. OPCs have an antihistamine action, so that they can help to block or relieve allergic reactions in the body;

• A powerful Antioxidant. Through the body’s natural process of using oxygen and food to produce energy, a byproduct called the “free radical” is created. Free radicals are also found in environmental sources like smoke, pollution, UV light, etc. If produced in excess, these free radicals can harm the cells inside the body, leading to degenerative conditions, including cancer, heart disease, cataracts, and premature aging. OPCs help to neutralize the free radicals more efficiently than any other known compound;

• Help to reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol buildup in the arteries, and reduce LDL oxidation by up to 70%.

*Note: Collagen is primarily made up of cholesterol produced in the liver. Statin drugs like Lipitor™, reduce the amount of cholesterol produced in the liver to lower circulatory cholesterol, while doing nothing to fix the main cause of high cholesterol, or controlling the amount of cholesterol coming in through the diet. Collagen is also key in brain health, with the average brain being around 60% cholesterol by weight.

This company also produces a grapeseed/grapeskin product specifically for the circulatory system and preventing heart disease, that includes Quercetin, another powerful flavonoid that helps to scavenge free radicals. By itself, Quercetin has been shown to help normalize blood platelet activity, which helps to prevent platelets sticking to artery walls in the circulatory system. This platelet normalizing is one of the reasons that doctors recommend taking an aspirin. The problems with aspirin are several:

• Potential bleeding in the stomach;

• No effect on the actual cause of platelet “stickiness”;

• If there is any adrenalin in the system, the effects of the aspirin are canceled out;

• Aspirin are effective around 40% of the time.

Also, in this same product is Ginkgo Biloba, another powerful flavonoid that has been shown to help stimulate circulation, increasing oxygen flow to all cells in the body. Studies also show that Ginkgo Biloba has benefits on platelet activity, decreasing their “stickiness”, helping to lessen the possibility of blood clots.

Lastly, this one product contains Bilberry, which has been shown to have a powerful impact on night blindness, dysentery, diabetes and other disorders. Called the "vision fruit" in Japan, bilberry has also been shown to help prevent free radical damage within the circulatory system, and to maintain the integrity of blood vessel walls. Over the last 8 years, I have also found that this product is of great benefit to diabetics with circulatory problems in their legs and feet. Contact us (Contact Us) for more information.

A side note: if you are taking a prescribed blood thinner, you will need to check with your doctor before taking this product, as it will also thin the blood—but without the side effects of a drug.

Correction in night vision is not an unusual result of using this product, personally I had that happen within 5 months of starting with it, and over the last 8 years, I have discarded my reading glasses as well since I no longer need them. I have around 15 to 20 others who have had the same experience with their vision.

I realize that this area is a little short on information, I will be adding more as time permits. And, as always, the information found on this site is not meant to replace your doctor's advice, it is simply informaiton to encourage you to do more research for the benefit of your health and long life.