Engineered for Health

Millions of people enjoy the benefits of drinking a proprietary isotonic antioxidant called Isotonix OPC-3®. A tablet form of OPC-3® is not commercially available. However, for the purpose of testing, European researchers created a tablet version of OPC-3® to compare its assimilation (consumed with the equivalent amount of water) to the isotonic version. Phytotheraphy Research e-published the compelling study results.

Both formulations of OPC-3® delivered antioxidant benefits by markedly reducing oxygen free radicals in blood plasma. However, the drinkable isotonic version of Isotonix OPC-3® measured 6 times higher than the tablet version within 10 minutes of consumption. After 20 minutes the isotonic formulation was approximately 4 times more bioavailable than the tablet. In fact, throughout the 4 hour investigation the isotonic formulation displayed a consistently superior level of performance.

As the chart indicates there was a much higher nutrient absorption and delivery in the drinkable isotonic formulation known as Isotonix OPC-3®.

Another clinical study found Isotonix OPC-3® dramatically reduced major cardiovascular risk factors in 61 individuals with metabolic syndrome over two months. Improvement occurred in blood pressure, total cholesterol, and fasting blood glucose. Supplementation with Isotonix OPC-3® resulted in a 52.1% drop in C-reactive proteins. C-reactive proteins are inflammation markers which predict cardiovascular risk. Comparatively, testing has shown that statin drugs produce 13-14% reductions in C-reactive proteins and often carry troubling side effects.

Results published from a 2010 clinical study in Italy found that using Pycnogenol®, along with CoenzymeQ10, significantly improved blood pressure and cardiovascular performance in participating subjects.

Pycnogenol® is a patented form of French maritime pine bark extract and has been part of hundreds of clinical studies due to its enormous range of health benefits. CoenzymeQ10 (CoQ10) is is a critically important vitamin-like substance, produced within the human body, that is essential for cellular activity.

The 53 subjects had stable congestive heart failure, mild to moderately high blood pressure and 75% were using three or more medications to manage their heart failure. The subjects given 12 weeks of Pycnogenol® and CoQ10 supplementation obtained the following results:

• Significantly lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure
• More than three-fold increase in treadmill walking distances
• Substantial reduction in distal edema (edema of the extremities)
• Improved heart rates and respiratory rates

In conclusion, researchers found: “The association of Pycnogenol and CoQ10 may offer an important therapeutic option with a very good tolerability that improves heart failure management without side effects.”

Isotonix OPC-3® is a synergistic blend of potent plant-based antioxidants and contains the only isotonic-capable Pycnogenol® on the market. This drinkable isotonic formula delivers up to 95% nutrient absorption within minutes of ingestion.  A separate clinical study conducted on subjects supplemented with Isotonix OPC-3® had significant cardiovascular performance improvements after 8 weeks.

Isotonix® CoQ10 offers similar bioavailability advantages and can even be mixed together with the OPC-3® and drank at the same time.

Tinnitus is the medical term for an aggravating condition where sound is heard that’s produced from within the ear canal rather than from outside of it. Over 44 million Americans suffer with this disorder.

This internal sound is often described as ringing, buzzing, humming, swishing or whistling. The sound may be continuous or intermittent.

While tinnitus is not completely understood, it is frequently correlated to some type of injury to the ear. Common culprits are loud or prolonged noise exposure or ear infections. Meniere’s disease is a more serious condition which has tinnitus symptoms accompanied with extreme vertigo.

Antihistamines or antibiotics often relieve tinnitus or Meniere’s symptoms. However, millions of people have not experienced relief from those treatments.

Several studies using antioxidants have shown promise for tinnitus symptoms:

• A 2007 study found idiopathic tinnitus significantly improved after 18 weeks of using a mix of oral antioxidants (including Vitamin E, Vitamin C, and beta-carotene).
• A pilot study observed that tinnitus suffers with low levels of CoQ10 had reduced symptoms after supplementing with CoQ10 for 16 weeks.
• In 2003 a study of 25 volunteers with Meniere’s found 91% had fewer vertigo episodes & 44% experienced improved hearing after 2 mths of antioxidant use.
• A 2010 study of 92 people with mild to moderate tinnitus noted significant improvement after 4 weeks of consuming 150 mg. of Pycnogenol® daily. Pycnogenol was observed to enhance blood flow to the cochlear. Higher amounts of Pycnogenol produced greater results.

Inadequate amounts of antioxidants can prevent or impede healing. Use of oral antioxidants can improve cellular function and enhance overall health. Antioxidants and nutrients are much easier to absorb if they are in an isotonic state because they don’t require lengthy digestion. Isotonic supplements provide up to 95% of their value in minutes versus the average 10-20% nutritive value which makes it to the bloodstream by the time tablets or capsules are digested.

Isotonix® has the only form of isotonic capable trademarked Pycnogenol® on the market. As an antioxidant Pycnogenol® is 50 times more potent than Vitamin E and 20 times more potent than Vitamin C. Isotonix OPC-3® is a synergistic blend of Pycnogenol®, Grape Seed, Bilberry, and Citrus Bioflavonoids.

All of the Isotonix® products are powders that, when mixed with the appropriate amount of water, become delicious drinkable isotonic solutions.

Some excellent products for auditory health would include:

• Isotonix OPC-3®
• Isotonix® CoQ10
• Isotonix® Antioxidant
• Prime™ Hearing Tinnitus and Ear Health Formula

Approximately 46 million people in the United States (or 1 in every 4 to 5) suffer with some type of painful joint disease or condition. These conditions include arthritis, gout, lupus, fibromyalgia, bursitis, and stenosis.

Management of joint pain and stiffness can be costly and frustrating. Pain killers offer some relief, but do not stimulate healing. Pain medicines can also create gastrointestinal distress and potentially dangerous side effects when used long term. Clinical studies have observed joint benefits in several natural compounds that may actually improve joint mobility and comfort.

However, not all joint supplements are created equal.

Chondroitin and MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) are commonly used for joint issues, but are not consistently recommended. Chondroitin has some known negative side effects and men concerned with prostate cancer should carefully investigate before using. MSM is considered safe, however therapeutic doses are high (between 2-10 grams daily) making it impractical for many to use on a regular basis.

Three well established and clinically studied natural compounds for improving and maintaining joint function are Pycnogenol®, Hyaluronic Acid and Glucosamine.

Pycnogenol®:

A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study observed that Pycnogenol® used daily for 3 months:

• Reduced osteoarthritis symptoms by 56%
• Reduced joint pain by 55%
• Lowered need for pain medication by 58%
• Gastrointestinal complications declined by 63%
• Decreased edema in 79% of participants

Hyaluronic Acid:

Hyaluronic Acid is important in tissue lubrication, is a powerful antioxidant and improves cellular performance. Studies note Hyaluronic Acid for its ability to inhibit antithrombin which is involved in joint tissue destruction in rheumatoid arthritis. Anti-aging benefits of Hyaluronic Acid can also improve skin and hair as well.

Glucosamine:

Clinical studies found glucosamine worked better than ibuprofen for pain management. Glucosamine also has been observed to improve joint function and delay the progression of osteoarthritis. These effects were seen in as little as 2 weeks. Two independent studies found 1500 mgs. of daily oral Glucosamine prevented joint space narrowing in mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis.

Prime Joint Formula by Isotonix® is a drinkable joint health supplement that contains Pycnogenol®, Hyaluronic Acid and Glucosamine in an isotonic form.

Isotonix® products are drinkable isotonic solutions which absorb in a matter of minutes when taken as directed. These products are incredibly effective because they deliver up to 95% bioavailable nutrition. This type of delivery is much more effective than pills which can only provide 20-40% of their nutrients to the blood stream of healthy consumers. Isotonix® is also the only provider of Pycnogenol® as a drinkable isotonic.

The National Heart Foundation of Australia sponsored a study on the effects of Red Bull energy drink, on cardiovascular performance. The surprising results were recently published in the American Journal of Medicine.

Fifty healthy male and female volunteers (between 20-24 years old) participated in the study. One hour after consuming a sugar-free Red Bull energy drink, several negative physiological changes were observed in the participants:

• Blood cells were clumping together at a significant rate (platelet aggregation)
• Impaired blood vessel function & elevated blood pressure (endothelial function)

Sticky clotting blood, vascular malfunction and unnatural elevation of  blood pressure are not conditions anyone should try to frequently induce in their body. Watch this 2 minute video from About.com on what happens during a heart attack.

Reducing free radicals has been found to improve endothelial function. Obviously, drinking Red Bull in this study impaired endothelial function. More research will be be done to determine exactly why these changes were observed in those young, healthy volunteers.  However, it seems reasonable to speculate that Red Bull increased free radical production which causes cellular oxidization. Cellular oxidation contributes to a vast array of inflammation, disease, and accelerated aging. Just consuming caffeinated drinks (like coffee) does not produce these type of troubling results.

If you are looking for a caffeine-free energy drink loaded with antioxidants that supports heart health and tastes amazing, try Awake™ Energy Drinks.  If you’d like some caffeine combined with vitamins and antioxidants that also supports cardiovascular health , check out Isotonix® Acai Advanced Energy & Antioxidant or MochaTonix®.

Drinkable solutions that are truly isotonic have the correct ratios of solids to liquids that enable them to be absorbed very rapidly and easily. Isotonix® products deliver up to 95% of their nutrients into the blood stream in minutes when taken as directed.

Antioxidants are all the rage because they are critical for good health. Antioxidants strengthen cellular function, fight disease and slow aging by inhibiting oxidizing free radical damage. Demand has manufacturers adding antioxidants to sport drinks, pet food, cosmetics, coffee, you-name-it.

Ads splash around enticements like “live longer”, “feel better”, “fight illness”. Antioxidants really can help achieve all these benefits if they actually work by resisting free radical oxidation.

Antioxidants come in the form of certain vitamins, minerals, enzymes and phytonutrients. Our bodies also produce natural antioxidants in the form of glutathione and CoQ10 to support cellular health. Inadequate antioxidant levels are found in virtually every type of disease and are primary contributors to aging.

Sorting through hundreds of antioxidant compounds for what will address your needs can be overwhelming and confusing. If you purchase an antioxidant and start using it, how long will it be before you notice a difference? A few weeks or a few months? Do you need more time or a larger dosage? Is your antioxidant even working? Is it adequately blocking cellular oxidation and cleaning up free radicals?

Oxidation occurs when oxygen molecules react to a substance that they encounter. The amount of oxygen present and the type of material encountered affect the result. Often oxidation is visible to the naked eye. Browning fruit and rusting metal are prime examples of oxidation.

Lemon juice is very high in the antioxidant vitamin C. That’s why sliced fruit dipped in lemon juice neutralizes oxygen molecules in the air and slows down the browning of the fruit. Wax on a car acts like an antioxidant by creating a barrier from the oxidizing air, which maintains the luster of the finish.

Our bodies are assaulted by much more than oxygen air molecules. Bacteria, viruses, free radicals, injuries, disease and aging all damage our cells continuously. Inadequate antioxidant levels leave us vulnerable, or worse, in a state of disease. Antioxidants are the internal cavalry fighting for our health.

Use this simple test to verify a base level of activity in your antioxidant.

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Okay, this post sounds like a commercial, and I wish it didn’t, but I don’t know how else to explain my experience with this product.

When it comes to skin, we are all dealing with something: dryness, excess oil, wrinkles, pimples, puffiness or sagging. The crazy thing is that some of these seemingly opposite conditions occur at the same time. Like dryness AND pimples or wrinkles AND puffiness. Adult acne is classic.

I personally have combination skin that has become drier over time. Throw in a few brown spots over the years, along with the occasional breakout and maintaining a nice complexion had turned into a job!

Then I tried this product which is available in Europe, but brand new to the U.S., called Matriskin™.

Matriskin™ Collagen MP Serum should be called “This is the Bomb Miracle Serum”! It makes my other skin care products work even better and tackles diverse skin problems equally well.

When I added Matriskin into my skin care regime, I was contending with a blemish. Two days later the blemish was gone and my skin was softer. Matriskin also improved my skin tone while aiding my Pentaxyl® and moisturizer because it draws other products deeper into the skin. Even my husband (who has very sensitive skin) noticed an improvement in his “laugh lines” with Matriskin. After we ran out (the bottle lasted us almost two months) I bought more because my skin looked better and was easier to care for on this product. Now I have to hide it from our teenagers because Matriskin keeps their skin so clear.

Clinical studies done with 600 participants between the ages of 20 and 80 who used this product for two months observed these results:

• Revitalization of skin texture and firmness
• Acne reduced in as little as 3 days
• Increased radiance and skin hydration seen in all cases
• Improvement in every age group, including those with delicate skin

Market America is the exclusive U.S. provider of Matriskin™ for $149.95. In Europe the same product sells for $295.

More on Matriskin™ Collagen MP Serum

A few weeks ago I stepped into the world of pet ownership for the very first time. Our son has a friend who got a puppy that he couldn’t keep and we ended up adopting him. The puppy is a chocolate lab mix and we named him Jackson.

Being the researcher-type, Jackson has provided a ton of new search criteria for me. Canine behavior, obedience training, dog food, best dog toys, etc. It’s amazing how big the pet paraphernalia world is!

I have several clients with pets who swear by the PetHealth™ product brand, so I ordered some for Jackson. Jackson is only 12 weeks old so he has no joint pain or age related problems which many dogs take the PetHealth™ OPC antioxidant for. However, Jackson was having some eye secretions which were kind-of yucky so I started giving him a quarter teaspoon of PetHealth™ OPC in each of his meals. His eyes cleared up in a couple days.

Another aspect of doggy ownership that surprised me was shampoo scents. What is up with all the fruit scented shampoos? Green apple, papaya, mango, strawberry-vanilla? It just seemed weird for a dog to smell like fruit. So I tried a few different “herbal” scents. One of them left Jackson still smelling “doggy”. Another cut the dog smell but left Jackson smelling very medicinal – too much like tea tree oil.

After contacting a couple of my clients I got the PetHealth™ Hypoallergenic Shampoo and used it on Jackson after he came in smelling nasty from digging in the dirt. Wow! What an improvement! The scent is hard to describe, kind-of a clean woodsy-lavender. Very nice, not overpowering and definitely not fruity to too floral and his coat was soft and shiny. I even put some PetHealth Paw Balm on him just to complete his salon experience.

Now if only I could find a no-peeing-in-the-house tonic….

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a systemic chronic autoimmune disease that usually attacks the joints but can also turn against other systems of the body like the eyes, lungs, heart and nerves. RA is distinguished by developing in a symmetrical pattern (both hands, wrists, hips, etc.). Rheumatoid arthritis affects approximately 1% of the population, is most often seen in women, but tends to be more virulent in men. Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA) affects roughly 50,000 infants, children and teenagers in the US. Rheumatoid arthritis in children is sometimes referred to as Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA).

In autoimmune disorders the immune system malfunctions and attacks healthy cells in the body. RA is an autoimmune disease where unique cells called synovial fibroblasts or RASFs develop, invade and destroy tissue.

While antioxidant interventions have been shown to benefit RA in general, newer studies exploring the reduction and/or elimination of synovial fibroblasts in rheumatoid arthritis have yielded interesting outcomes.

The American College of Rheumatoidology published a 2007 study which set out to observe the behavior of natural resveratrol on human synovial fibroblasts. The study observed that natural resveratrol disrupted and triggered cellular death in synovial fibroblasts and concluded that resveratrol may be a “novel therapeutic agent for rheumatoid arthritis”.

Curcumin is another natural compound with potential for helping RA as well. While the anti-inflammatory aspects of curcumin have been well documented and studied in animals, to date only a few human trials have been completed. However, the results of a study of eighteen RA patients using 1200 mg of curcumin daily for two weeks found significantly less morning stiffness, joint swelling and improved walking time compared to another RA group using NSAID therapy (300 mg of phenzlbutazone daily).

A 2009 study focused on using resveratrol and curcumin together and proposed that these two natural substances be used in unison to reduce inflammation in osteoarthritis.

An important aspect of natural resveratrol and curcumin is that these compounds tend to have low bioavailability. Therefore, the quality of a resveratrol or curcumin supplement is paramount if it to be utilized effectively. Absorption is key.

Isotonix® Resveratrol has a synergistic blend of three patented forms of resveratrol (BioVin® Advanced, VitaBlue®, and Resveravine®). Isotonix® Resveratrol is also delivered in a drinkable isotonic form which provides up to 95% absorption into the bloodstream in approximately 5 minutes. Read more on what makes Isotonix® Resveratrol special.

Curcumin Extreme™ contains a patented form of curcumin called BCM-95®. BCM-95® is dramatically more available to the body than standard forms of curcumin. Read more on what makes Curcumin Extreme™ unique.

Thousands of people have had lap band or gastric bypass surgery in an effort to reclaim their health and deal with excess weight. While effective, these procedures can also make it challenging to get adequate nutrition. Those who’ve had gastric bypass are especially at risk for malnourishment, making supplementation critically important.

When it comes to vitamins, “what you take” is of less importance than “what you absorb”. Bio-availability refers to the ability of the body to utilize a substance. Quality, potency, bio-availability, dosage standardization and efficacy are essential when choosing a supplement. Additional obstacles to efficient digestion (whether through surgical procedures, illness, antacids, medications, or age) elevates the importance of absorption.

It’s fairly well known that pills and tablets are only 10-20% absorbed and can take from 1-8 hours to digest. Digestion is affected by a wide variety of factors, not least of which is what you’re attempting to digest. The longer a vitamin takes to digest the less potent it becomes. Compromised digestion and inadequate absorption is largely why people sometimes feel like their vitamin supplements are not working.

Capsules and pills can be troublesome for those who have had lap band or gastric bypass because they can get stuck in the stomach “pouch“. The process of a pill dissolving in the stomach pouch can sometimes be quite painful and even cause tissue damage. Liquid vitamins can be an improvement. However many liquid vitamins taste awful, have dyes and preservatives, are costly per serving (most of what you’re paying for is water), have inadequate or low-quality nutrients and may still be difficult to digest.

After a serious procedure like lap band or gastric bypass, it’s lamentable that some people turn to inexpensive or mass marketed vitamins to assist them on their journey towards health. Vitamins like Centrum have binding agents, preservatives, dyes, talc and even hydrogenated oils. Not exactly ingredients that are associated with good health.

Fortunately there is a better option.

Isotonic is a scientific term that refers to a liquid that has the “same concentration” or osmotic pressure as another liquid. Isotonic solutions contain the correct amount of dissolved particles so the body can utilize them immediately. Intravenous solutions are isotonic.

Isotonix® is an exclusive brand of natural drinkable isotonic nutrients. Isotonix® are powders that mix quickly and easily into a specific amount of water (one serving is approximately 1 teaspoon mixed into 2 ounces of water). A serving of an Isotonix® nutraceutical is up to 95% absorbed in about 5 minutes. Isotonix® do not need to be digested like pills, capsules, or non-isotonic liquids do. A clinical study found that the Isotonix® product delivered more nutrients into the bloodstream in less time than tablets containing the same ingredients.

Isotonix® Multivitamins are drinkable, gentle, delicious, natural and are very cost effective. Most people need a broad spectrum antioxidant and calcium supplement along with a multivitamin for basic nutritional support. Isotonix OPC-3® is an exceptional antioxidant with anti-inflammatory and pain reducing benefits and Isotonix® Calcium Plus is an outstanding calcium and mineral supplement.