National Blueberry Month: 5 Reasons to Celebrate

National Blueberry Month: 5 Reasons to Celebrate

There are dozens of reasons we love summer between cookouts, beach vacations, and all of the fresh fruits and veggies in season, but one little fruit is getting extra attention this month.  Refusing to be overlooked, the small-but-mighty North American fruit is taking over July with National Blueberry Month! Keep reading to find out why these little fruits pack a huge punch:

Blueberries are a classic summer food.  The blueberry season itself runs from May until October, but peaks in July just in time for summer salads, smoothies, and farmer’s markets! If the sweetness wasn’t enough to make you fall in love with one of America’s favorite superfoods, here’s a peek at the long list of benefits that make them more than deserving of their month of recognition:

They’re great for your bones

Can you guess how many vitamins the blueberry has that assist bone health? Most would stop at two or three. After all, they’re tiny! In fact, they contain seven: iron, phosphorous, calcium, magnesium, manganese, zinc, and vitamin K.  While iron and zinc help to maintain the elasticity of bones and joints, vitamin K has been shown to prevent bone fractures over time.

They help with weight loss & digestion

Blueberries have a surprisingly high fiber content within the jewel blue skin. In fact, adding one cup of fresh blueberries can add up to 4.2 grams of fiber to your diet with only 80 calories!  Getting enough fiber not only helps with regulating digestion and maintaining a healthy digestive tract, but it also helps you feel full and satisfied for longer which can help support a healthy weight and lifestyle.

They support your skin’s health

Your skin’s support system, collagen, relies on vitamin C to help prevent damage.  This damage comes from many things we come in contact with every day.  These including smoke, air pollution, and smoke (firsthand and secondhand), so they can be hard to get away from. Thankfully, the vitamin C found in blueberries can help assist collagen in smoothing out wrinkles and improving overall skin texture so that your skin looks as healthy as it feels!

They’re packed with antioxidants

Antioxidants are important. They help protect your cells against free radicals! In case you’ve never heard of them, they are molecules produced when your body breaks down food or is exposed to tobacco smoke or radiation.  They can start a chain of harmful chemical reactions that hurt the cells in your body.  Not to worry, blueberries are actually believed to be the highest antioxidant-containing food of all commonly eaten fruits!

Blueberry boosts your brain

As we age, our memory tends to decline and conditions such as Alzheimer’s and dementia become more common.  In recent studies, however, blueberries have been found to boost cognitive function and reduce the likelihood of these diseases.  We can thank the dense concentration of flavonoids, a group of plant chemicals that give fruits and vegetables their vibrant colors.  This chemical has been shown to increase brain activity and blood flow to the brain which makes it a powerful weapon in the fight to treat Alzheimer’s.

This is just a handful of the amazing list of health benefits offered by this power-packed fruit.  Check out your local farmer’s market, grocery store, or even your own garden to stock up while they’re ripe! Since washing the fruit actually softens it and makes it overripen more quickly, try opting for an organic option as their thin skin allows for chemicals and pesticides to seep into the fruit.  Add them to your smoothies, oatmeals, and yogurts this month and enjoy a healthy, fresh July!

Posted On July 13, 2017 from Unfranchise Blog

10 Fat-Burning Foods to Add to Your Shopping List

Fight fat with food simply by picking the right snacks and ingredients. Peta Bee shows you how

Want to lose weight but don’t have the time or the energy to do more at the gym? Then the solution could be to fill your shopping basket with the right fat-burning foods. Here we reveal the top ten foods that are guaranteed to give you a head start in the fat-loss stakes:

GRAPEFRUIT

Remember the grapefruit diet of the 1980s? Well, it wasn’t as faddy as you might think. A study, published in Nutrition & Metabolism showed that a pre-meal snack of grapefruit or grapefruit juice really can boost weight loss. Researchers at Vanderbilt University found that obese adults who consumed half a grapefruit or a glass of 100 per cent grapefruit juice before their three main reduced calorie meals, lost an average 7.1 percent of their body weight - or 15 pounds per person - in 14 weeks.

BLACK PEPPER

When you are asked if you want black pepper sprinkled onto your food, you should always answer ‘yes’. Why? Because Korean scientists reporting in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry showed that piperine - the flavoursome substance that gives black pepper its characteristic taste - can block the formation of new fat cells in the body.

CINNAMON

Add a sprinkle of this spice to your breakfast cereal and coffee every day and you could offset some of the ‘fat’ calories you consume. That was the outcome of a study conducted by Penn State University researchers who showed that cinnamon and turmeric reduces the body’s negative responses to high-fat meals. “Normally, when you eat a high-fat meal, you end up with high levels of triglycerides, a type of fat, in your blood,” said Sheila West, associate professor of biobehavioral health, who led the study. “We found that adding spices to a high-fat meal reduced triglyceride response by about 30 percent.”

EGGS

Long derided as unhealthy, eggs have transformed their image in recent years and are now among the foods most widely accepted to help you shift body fat. Last year, experts at the University of Missouri found that a breakfast rich in protein, such as eggs, significantly improves appetite control and reduces unhealthy snacking on high-fat or high-sugar foods in the evening. Being low in calories (an egg contains only around 75), an egg or two is a great way to fill up without packing on the pounds.

APPLES

When you eat apples, always keep the peel on. Why? Because it is an excellent source of a substance called ‘ursolic acid’ that has been shown to aid fat-burning. Trials on obese rats have shown that those fed ursolic acid (also found in cranberries, rosemary, lavender and prunes) were able to eat more than their counterparts who weren’t given the substance but still lose more weight and gain a greater amount of lean muscle tissue.

GREEN TEA

There have long been rumours that green tea aids weight loss by triggering the body to burn abdominal fat, but can they really be true? Many scientists think so thanks to specific tphytochemicals in green tea called catechins. In 2013 a group of Korean scientists showed how extract of green tea not only aided weight control, but improved symptoms of Type 2 diabetes. Effects were amplified when the green tea was consumed with a compound called polyethylene glycol and researchers said you could easily drink your way to good health by sipping several cups a day.

BLUEBERRIES

Blueberries for health

They are packed with beneficial antioxidant vitamins, but that’s not all you get from eating blueberries regularly. Scientists at the University of Michigan showed that obese rats given meals enriched with blueberries lost fat from their stomachs and, they say, the same could be true for humans. In the study, researchers used freeze-dried blueberries crushed into a powder and added two per cent of the preparation to the animals’ meals. ( try Isotonix Orac or Isotonix OPC-3 ) After 90 days, they had less abdominal fat and lower cholesterol. Benefits were linked to the high level of phytochemicals - naturally occurring antioxidants - contained in the fruit. Why not try Vicki Edgson’s blueberry and almond milk smoothie recipe?

ALMONDS

If you have a snack attack, then you could do worse than opt for some almonds. A team of scientists from Pennsylvania State University looked at the effects of consuming a small handful (30 grams) of almonds compared with a calorie-matched, high carbohydrate snack on body weight in 52 adults with raised cholesterol. After 6 weeks, weight loss did not differ between the two groups, but the almond diet proved to be a fat-buster, reducing overall abdominal fat, and waist circumference compared to the other snack.

CHILLIS

Eating chilli peppers, or even milder red peppers to your menu can actually increase your body’s consumption of calories and “oxidise” layers of body fat, found researchers at the University of California. The ‘heat’ in peppers comes from an active ingredient called capsaicin - the hotter the peppers, the more of it you get. Other trials have shown that capsaicnoids in peppers not only boost fat burning but also trigger the stores of ‘good brown fat’, which gobbles calories, into action.

COFFEE

Marley Coffee - 100% Organic

As long as you take it black, then your coffee could aid fat-burning. But so could cola or another caffeinated drink. Sport scientists have previously shown that caffeine consumption prior to exercise can help the body to utilise fat stores before relying on carbohydrate (glycogen) for fuel. And last year, a paper in PLOS One journal that analysed how cyclists responded to a java jolt found those who drank caffeine or coffee moved almost 5 per cent quicker during a workout than those who hadn’t taken the caffeinated beverage. A greater workout output translates to greater calories burned, so it’s a double winner on the fat-burning front.

Dr Sanjay Gupta says "Time is of the Essence for Stroke Patients" Tart cherries linked to reduced risk of stroke

Tart cherries linked to reduced risk of stroke

In addition to positive heart health benefits, cherry-rich diet suggests decrease in stroke risk in University of Michigan animal study

ANN ARBOR, Mich. 

For the millions of Americans at risk for heart disease or diabetes, a diet that includes tart cherries might actually be better than what the doctor ordered, according to new animal research from the University of Michigan Health System.

The new research from the U-M Cardioprotection Research Laboratory suggests that tart cherries not only provide similar cardiovascular benefits as the prescribed medications, but can also reduce the risk of stroke, even when taken with these pharmaceutical options.

The results, which were seen in stroke-prone rats, were presented Tuesday, April 23 at the Experimental Biology 2013 meeting in Boston.

The group’s previous research has shown that intake of U.S.-produced, Montmorency tart cherries activates PPAR isoforms (peroxisome proliferator activating receptors) in many of the body’s tissues. Researchers believe that anthocyanins – the pigments that give the fruit its red color – may be responsible for PPAR activation.

PPARs regulate genes involved in fat and glucose metabolism, and when modified can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. PPAR agonists, among them medications such as Actos (pioglitazone), act in a similar way but cardiovascular side effects have limited their use.

“Our previous research has shown that Montmorency tart cherries can have a positive effect on cardiovascular health and can reduce risk factors like high cholesterol and diabetes,” says E. Mitchell Seymour, Ph.D., supervisor of the Cardioprotection Research Laboratory. “While prescribed drugs improve the outlook for certain risk factors, they’ve also shown to have undesirable side effects. We wanted to see if a tart cherry-rich diet might provide similar cardiovascular benefits without the risk of heart attack or stroke.”

The researchers compared the effect of tart cherries and the drug Actos in stroke-prone rats by measuring the animals’ systolic blood pressure as well as locomotion, balance, coordination, all of which can show the aftereffects of a stroke.

By putting the rats through various physical tests, such as walking on a tapered beam and climbing a ladder, the researchers found that compared to Actos, tart cherry intake significantly improved balance and coordination, and at the same time lowered blood pressure.

While the research results indicate that rats who consumed only tart cherries had the best results, those who had the combination of tart cherries and Actos also did better than those who only took the drug. Seymour cautioned that the results can’t be applied directly to humans, but they are a potentially positive sign for those taking medications.

“We weren’t sure if the risk for stroke would decline in animals taking both tart cherry and the drug,” Seymour says. “It turns out that the cherries did have a positive effect even when combined with the medication.”  

Steven Bolling, M.D., a U-M cardiac surgeon and the laboratory’s director, said the study adds to the group’s growing body of research linking cherries to positive heart health. The results provide the groundwork for continued investigation into the topic, he says.

“This research is the first to link to cherries to a reduction in stroke-related symptoms,” Bolling says. “It gives us a good preclinical model to further explore the positive stroke-related benefits of an anthocyanin-rich diet.” 

According to Dr. Sanjay Gupta
"Time is of the essence for Stroke Patients"

Learn more here -Time is of the Essence for Stroke Patients

Most people don't recognize stroke symptoms or realize how small the window is for successful treatment.  

Take Control of your situation!  

OPC-3

There are basic preventive measures that can reduce your risk of having a stroke:

• Keep high blood pressure in check by exercising, eating wisely and, if needed, with medication.
• Watch out for cholesterol and saturated fat in your diet. That can reduce the plaque in your arteries.
• Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight contributes to other stroke risk factors, such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
• If you’ve already suffered a stroke or TIA, your doctor may recommend medication to prevent having another. Learn more from Dr. Sanjay here

If you cannot get the anthocyanins from your diet then you must supplement.  Get the anthocyanins though a supplement ( OPC-3 or ORAC ) Try an isotonic blend so your body can absorb 95% of the product compared to a pill or capsule you get max of 35%.
Remember if someone continues doing what they have always done then they will have what they have always had.  It is time to make a change for your own health.

Dr. Oz touts skin health benefits of Pycnogenol

Dr. Oz touts skin health benefits of Pycnogenol
ma blog

We already know Dr. Oz loves astaxanthin. Now he’s on a new quest: to tell everyone about the wonders of Pycnogenol for achieving younger-looking skin.

In a recent segment on his show, Dr. Oz discussed how Pycnogenol – an extract from the bark of the French maritime pine tree – can help your skin cells regain their moisture to give you a smoother appearance.

“Could [Pycnogenol] be the secret to looking seven years younger?” Dr. Oz asked his audience. “I researched it, and the consensus is yes.”

The secret, Dr. Oz says, behind Pycnogenol’s superior anti-aging effects is its “incredible antioxidant and anti-inflammatory powers” that help boost the body’s hyaluronic acid levels by 44 percent. Hyaluronic acid, which plays an important role in tissue hydration, lubrication and cellular function, “is the primary agent that keeps skin tight and wrinkle-free,” Dr. Oz says.

“That means that in about 12 weeks of taking [P]ycnogenol, you may see smoother skin, a reduction in fine lines, and more supple skin,” Dr. Oz says on his website.

To longtime Market America customers, the benefits of Pycnogenol are no secret. Since 1995, Market America has be providing millions with the only isotonic form of Pycnogenol in the world in Isotonix OPC-3. Since then, Isotonix has been proud to include its isotonic form of Pycnogenol in other nutritional supplements, including:

Prime Joint Support Formula - Get it Here

• Isotonix OPC-3 Beauty Blend, formulated to promote skin elasticity, support healthy collagen production, replenish essential vitamins and minerals for the skin, and provide the skin and body with improved antioxidant defenses;
• Might-a-Mins Spectrum Isotonix OPC-3, which provides a strong antioxidant defense which is especially beneficial for children who need neurological, metabolic, or digestive support;
• Prime Joint Support Formula by Isotonix, endorsed by Basketball Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen, the only joint supplement on the market to deliver three primary bone & joint ingredients – glucosamine, Pycnogenol and hyaluronic acid – in isotonic form;
• and Isotonix Champion Blend Plus, endorsed by basketball superstar Carmelo Anthony, which helps the body needs to preserve your muscles with essential nutrients, keep your body’s defenses up with powerful antioxidants, and provide you with a huge boost of energy from great vitamins.

While other supplements on the market can claim to have Pycnogenol, the superior Isotonix delivery system ensures that its ingredients – including Pycnogenol – are absorbed by the body in the most efficient, effective manner. Without the need for fillers and binder found in most pills and tablets, Isotonix nutritional supplements deliver maximum results in each and every serving.

also look at  Rosemary Ellis, editor-in-chief at 7 Years Younger by Good Housekeeping 

Chronic Inflammation at the Heart of America’s Deadliest Diseases

Chronic Inflammation at the Heart of America’s Deadliest Diseases

Author: willllamas 

New science has linked diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer’s,
stroke, and cancer to one condition: chronic inflammation. Chronic
inflammation is a condition brought about by obesity and from a diet high
in fatty foods.  This condition can
attack the immune system and clear the way for harmful bacteria to enter the
body.

“You need to have inflammation when you have a wound
and the immune system goes in to heal it. Yet we don’t want too much
inflammation in our system causing damage to
our arteries” and other harm, says Wendy Weber, a program director at
the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, part of the
National Institutes of Health.

Chronic inflammation can be caused a few different ways. One
recent discovery showed that fat cells were not solely acting as storage for
excess weight. “Instead, fat cells act like small factories to churn out
molecules known as cytokines, which set inflammation in motion,” says Peter
Libby, chief of the division of cardiovascular medicine at Brigham and Women’s
Hospital in Boston.

Besides body weight issues, a diet rich in high-fat foods is
another common cause of chronic inflammation.

What can be done to combat inflammation? First and foremost,
maintaining a healthy body weight is a must. Losing excess weight and fat cells
will counter cytokine production and keep down inflammation. On top of that, a
specialized diet limiting fat consumption can help. However, no diet alone can
completely stop inflammation. “If you weigh 300 pounds and eat healthy,
the weight will still counter any beneficial foods you are eating,” says Dr.
Cannon, a professor of medicine at Harvard University.

The American Heart Association also recommends consuming
omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, and omega-6 fatty acids found in nuts and
vegetable oils to reduce the risk of inflammation. Supplementation is also
recommended if you are not getting the proper amounts.

'Breakthrough' study supports Pycnogenol's vascular benefits

'Breakthrough' study supports Pycnogenol's vascular benefits
By Stephen DANIELLS, Nut 07-Jun-2012

Daily supplements of an extract from French Maritime Pine bark may boost vascular health in people with stable coronary artery disease, according to data from a gold standard randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study from Switzerland.

Eight weeks of supplementation with Pycnogenol were associated with significant improvements in the function of the cells lining blood vessels (endothelial cells), report researchers from the University Hospital Zurich and the University of Zurich.

Writing in the European Heart Journal, the Switzerland-based scientists report that 200 milligrams per day of the pine bark extract resulted in an increase in flow mediated dilation (FMD) from 5.3 to 7.0, while no such improvements were observed for placebo. FMD is a measure of a blood vessel's healthy ability to relax.

Dr Frank Enseleit, the lead researcher of the study, said: “The results of this study show for the first time that Pycnogenol significantly improves endothelial function and blood flow in patients with coronary heart disease.

“The contribution of Pycnogenol for vascular health can be clearly identified in spite of patients’ complex medication regimen of blood thinners, statins and blood pressure medications.”

Pycnogenol has been the subject of scores of clinical studies suggesting benefits covering everything from cardiovascular, joint, cognitive and eye health to the relief of hay fever, PMS, tinnitus, hemorrhoidal pain and menopause symptoms.

Commenting on the new study, Victor Ferrari, CEO of Horphag, told NutraIngredients-USA that numerous Pycnogenol-containing products targeting circulatory health and heart health are already available in almost all the company’s markets world-wide.

“Early research on Pycnogenol has been performed in the field of venous insufficiency and circulatory support. We are therefore extremely pleased to see these wonderful results in such a high end clinical trial,” he said.

The participants also received statins, anti-hypertensives and blood thinners throughout the study. 

“After Pycnogenol usage, we were able to identify a significant improvement of endothelial function in individuals who depend on medications as a result of their heart disease,” said Dr Enseleit.

“Pycnogenol appears to help restore the body’s own functions in flow-mediated arterial dilatation.”

To read more about this article and the full study click here 

Isotonix OPC-3 contains the only isotonic form of Pycnogenol® in the world.  Click here to Learn more about OPC-3

Simple steps to help ensure a longer life span. Rules for Immortality

Simple steps to help ensure a longer life span.

Rules for Immortality 

from Dr. Ronald Klatz and Dr. Robert Goldman: Who Wants to Live to Be 150?

• Drive a big car (2,800 pounds or more)
• Avoid stress and depression.
• Exercise at least 30 minutes daily.
• Sleep seven to eight hours a night.
• Consume little or no alcohol.
• Don’t smoke.
• Try to keep your weight at, or even five percent lower, than the ideal body weight (IBW).
• Maintain optimum antioxidant vitamin blood levels.
• Drink eight to ten glasses of water per day.
• Get blood tests and comprehensive anti-aging physical exams yearly, early detection is key in both heart disease and cancer.
• Limit harmful fats in your diet.
• Think young.
• Do not accept “just getting old”.

And remember the three rules for immortality:

1. DON’T DIE!

2. DON’T GET SICK!

3. DON’T GET OLD BIOLOGICALLY!

Paint Your Heart Healthy with Flavonoids

Paint Your Heart Healthy with Flavonoids

By Kimberly Beauchamp, ND

Eating more colorful, flavonoid-rich fruits and vegetables may reduce the chance of dying from heart disease by up to 40%, says a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Fix it before it breaks

Preventing heart disease is easier than curing it. We already know a lot about how to keep the heart happy, like

• not smoking,
• maintaining a healthy weight,
• keeping blood pressure in check, and
• getting regular physical exercise.

Eating more fruits and vegetables is also key to preventing heart disease. These foods are rich in magnesium, potassium, and fiber that can help regulate blood pressure and blood sugar levels.

Brightly colored fruits and veggies are also high in flavonoids, plant compounds that give foods such as oranges, broccoli, and so on their characteristic hues. Flavonoids have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant actions in the body. They also inhibit the oxidation of LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and encourage blood vessel walls to relax, helping to lower blood pressure.

As part of the Cancer Prevention Study II Nutrition Cohort, researchers from the American Cancer Society and Tufts University investigated how different types of flavonoid compounds in the diet might protect against death from heart disease. In the study, 38,180 men and 60,289 women (average age 69 and 70, respectively) gave detailed information about their diets. The amount and types of dietary flavonoids were estimated for each participant. For the next seven years, the participants were followed and deaths due to heart disease were recorded.

• Of the seven classes of flavonoids studies, five of them were associated with a lower risk of heart disease death.
• Risk of fatal heart disease was 18% lower in men and women who had the highest amounts of total flavonoids in their diets those with the lowest. The risk of fatal stroke dropped by 37% in men with the highest total flavonoid intake.
• The subclass of flavonoids called flavones was especially beneficial for women. Women with the highest flavone intake had a 26% reduction in risk of overall heart disease death and a 40% reduction in risk of death from heart attack.

“Even relatively small amounts of flavonoid-rich foods may be beneficial for reducing risk of fatal cardiovascular disease,” commented the researchers.

Brighten your plate for a happier heart

OPC-3 #1 Bioflavonoid in the world

Getting more flavonoids into your diet is as easy as blueberry pie. Just aim for a rainbow of colors throughout the day. You don’t have to get them all in at every meal, but when you’re planning your five-a-day of fruits and vegetables, make sure they’re not all in the white family.

Raspberries, strawberries, apples, blueberries, green tea, black tea, dark chocolate, red grapes, purple cabbage, red wine, oranges, grapefruit, kale, broccoli, onions, and leeks are all loaded with heart-healthy flavonoids.

Parsley, thyme, oregano, celery, and green chili peppers are rich sources of the subclass of flavonoids called flavones. These are the ones that may be especially helpful for women.

About Natural Products Foundation: NPF is a 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit corporation. For more information about this story and the foundation visit: naturalproductsfoundation.org. 

Story Source: Kimberly Beauchamp, ND, received her doctoral degree from Bastyr University, the nation’s premier academic institution for science-based natural medicine. She co-founded South County Naturopaths in Wakefield, RI, where she practiced whole family care with an emphasis on nutritional counseling, herbal medicine, detoxification, and food allergy identification and treatment. Her blog, Eat Happy, helps take the drama out of healthy eating with real food recipes and nutrition news that you can use. Dr. Beauchamp is a regular contributor to Healthnotes Newswire. The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Aisle7. All rights reserved.

References: (Am J Clin Nutr 2012;95:454–64)

The NPF Science Update brings you news about scientific advances in the field of natural products. The Science Update features contributions from scientists, academics, doctors, healthcare professionals, industry veterans and other experts.

Study unlocks Pycnogenol’s skin health mechanism

A recent study of 20 women between the ages of 55 and 68 shows that taking 75mg of Pycnogenol for 12 weeks improved skin elasticity. 

Twelve weeks of supplementation with the Pycnogenol branded part was related with increases in skin agility and hydration, and an enlarge in the prolongation of hyaluronic acid in skin by 44%, according to commentary published in Skin Pharmacology and Physiology.


Hyaluronic acid is a component of the pattern between cells (extracellular matrix) that occurs of course in the body until the age of about 30, after that levels beginning to decrease. The lessen is accepted to fool around a purpose in the aging process, specific a relapse in the extracellular pattern and an enlarge in the arrangement of wrinkles.

Indeed, the hunger bellow remove was moreover related with a 3% shrinking in skin wrinkles, according to researchers from Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine (IUF) in Dusseldorf, Germany and Horphag Research, the firm at the back the ingredient.
“The present investigate confirms at a molecular turn the profitable belongings Pycnogenol supplementation might supply to human skin,” wrote the researchers. 
Read more here:
Study unlocks Pycnogenol’s skin health mechanism

Isotonix OPC-3 (OPC-3) contains the only isotonic form of Pycnogenol(r) in the world. Pycnogenol is a natural plant extract from the bark of the French maritime pine tree and the most clinically researched and potent bioflavonoid.* Isotonic, which means; same pressure & bears the same chemical resemblance of the body & blood, plasma and tears.  All fluids in the body have a certain concentration, referred to as osmotic pressure. The body & common osmotic pressure, which is isotonic, allows a consistent maintenance of body tissues. In order for a substance to be absorbed and used in the body & metabolism, it must be transported in an isotonic state. Isotonix(r) dietary supplements are delivered in an isotonic solution. This means that the body has less work to do to in obtaining maximum absorption. The isotonic state of the suspension allows nutrients to pass directly into the small intestine and be rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream. With Isotonix products, little nutritive value is lost, making the absorption of nutrients highly efficient while delivering maximum results.

Isotonix®: Shop Your Favorite Brands at SHOP.COM

The Science and

Advantage of Isotonix

Healthy supplementation is about more than just ingredients; it’s about delivery and absorption. by Dr. Jim Wilmer

The Advantage

When we eat food, drink a beverage, or ingest most nutritional supplements, the stomach must secrete diluting juices, enzymes, hydrochloric acid and at least one vitamin-binding protein to begin the process of digestion. This process requires both energy and time — about 40 minutes or more, depending on the size of the meal. Isotonix products are delivered into the small intestine nutritionally concentrated, maximizing the opportunity for absorption of nutrients across cell membranes.

What Is Isotonic?
Isotonix® is a word, and that’s all to a lot of people. What does it mean? Broken down to its roots, “iso” means “the same” and “tonic” means “pressure” or “tone.” When isotonic is used to describe solutions for human consumption, it means having the same fluid pressure as body fluids. Tears, blood, plasma, lymph and other body fluids are all isotonic.

When we ingest food, gastric (or stomach) juice is secreted onto the food and muscular contractions of the stomach mix the contents until a reasonably uniform solution is achieved. The solutions of food (or chyme) that enter the small intestine for absorption are made isotonic by the action of the stomach in a time-consuming process. The fluid pressure of food or isotonic solutions across semi-permeable membranes, such as the walls of the small intestine, is generally referred to as having a particular osmolarity or tonicity. It can be said that when solutions on opposite sides of the membrane have the same osmolarity, they are iso-osmotic or iso-tonic. Normal human blood serum (the fluid portion without cells and platelets) has an osmolarity of 288mOs/kg, as do most other fl uids in the body. Therefore, in physiological terms, when a solution’s osmolarity is the same, or nearly the same, as that of normal human blood serum, it is referred to as isotonic.

Gastric Emptying Time

Why is gastric emptying so important? The answer is simply this: the longer the supplements stay in the stomach, the longer the time before absorption can begin, because no appreciable absorption occurs from the stomach.  Why is gastric emptying time stressed when talking about Isotonix?  Because the fastest emptying time occurs when isotonic solutions enter the stomach.  When the biological sensors in the gastrointestinal tract detect that the ingested solution is isotonic and at a correct pH, the pyloric or duodenal valve at the lower end of the stomach remains open and the solution is squirted into the small intestine. Absorption of the nutrients by the intestinal mucosa then starts to occur.

Concentration and Absorption

Concentration and absorption are factors that go hand in hand for the proper use of nutritional supplements.  Concentration, the amount of nutrient dissolved in a given amount of solution, is directly related to the efficiency of nutritional absorption. It is known that the greater the concentration (as milligrams of nutrient per milliliter of solution at the absorption site), the greater

the rate and amount of absorption. Because Isotonix solutions experience little dilution in the gastrointestinal tract, they arrive at the absorption sites in high concentration to assure effi cient absorption.  Isotonix®

Jim L. Wilmer, Ph. D. is Chief Science Officer at Market America and has been employed by the company for over 15 years. He earned a doctorate from Cornell University in environmental toxicology (1991), a master of science in biolog y from East Tennessee State University (1974), and a bachelor of science from Wofford College (1972). Dr. Wilmer has 44 peer-reviewed publications in journals, including Cancer Research, Journal of Investigative Dermatology, Mutation Research, Environmental Mutagenesis, Cell Biology and Toxicology, Cytogenetics and Cell Genetics, Angiology, and Phytotherapy Research.