OPC-A Powerful Antioxidant

OPC Antioxidant - Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins (OPC)

Welcome to our Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins / OPC Antioxidant (OPC-3) Reference Guide, aimed at helping you to educate yourself about Free Radicals, antioxidants and OPCs!

OPC Antioxidants are considered the best antioxidants available to humans. Derived from grape seed extract, pine tree bark and other sources, OPC Antioxidants are a powerful mixture of all natural, free radical neutralizers that provide a plethora of health benefits including increased circulation and blood flow, improved cardiovascular health and improved brain function. It can even help reduce stress, reverse the aging process and offset symptoms and ailments resulting from serious diseases like Diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis and Macular Degeneration.

The antioxidants oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs) were first discovered by Dr. Jack Masquelier in 1948. He accidently stumbled across them when he was examining the skin of a peanut. What makes his findings so special is that they possess very strong anti-oxidant properties.

Besides the peanut, they can also be found in many other types of plants and some of these included the following; grape seeds, coconuts, apples, and cocoa. Oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs) are so special because they are all natural, do not produce any harmful side effects, are totally non-carcinogenic, and possess a multitude of health benefits for the individuals that consume them regularly.

After you start taking them, it only takes a very short time before they began to work their magic. If fact, they can be detected in human saliva approximately one hour after ingestion. They are water-soluble, which makes them very easy for your body to absorb and utilize.

Oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs) also stay in your body for up to 72 hours, by the way of affixing themselves to your cell membranes and shielding them from both destructive enzymes and free radicals. They also work very well when combined with other vitamins or supplements.

When taken in conjunction with vitamin C for example, they allow it to stay active in your body much longer than it would normally. The following are just a few of the health benefits that these gifts from Mother Nature provide their users.

Atherosclerosis or Heart Disease – There have been various studies done on animals that suggest OPCs can reverse or slow down atherosclerosis. It is believed by many that long term use of them would be beneficial at preventing heart disease.

Periodontal Disease – One 14 day double blind medical study tested the benefits of chewing gum with 5 mg of OPCs in it that came from pine bark. The research project concluded that the participants gum health improved significantly, and there was also a reduction of plaque. Since gingivitis is one of the most common causes of tooth loss, it is recommended that if you have this issue, you strongly consider using oligomeric proanthocyanidins.

Edema after Surgery or Injury – After surgery, many patients will experience a great deal of swelling. One double blind medical study revealed that women who had breast cancer surgery where able to reduce edema and the pain associated with it, by taking 600 mg of grape seed OPCs for 6 months.

In another research project conducted on people that had facial surgery, it was learned that edema dissipated much quicker for the people that were treated with OPCs made from grape seed. If you are an athlete, then you know that injuries are a part of training. One other study discovered that grape seed OPCs helped injured athletes recovery much faster than those that did not use it.

Venous Insufficiency (Varicose Veins) – If you have varicose veins, then you know that there is nothing worse than exposing your legs in public for other people to see them. Thankfully, there have been a few research projects conducted on people that experience this often very embarrassing condition which have proven to be quite positive.

One group of 71 people was provided 100 mg 3 times a day of OPCs made from grape seeds. The study revealed that these individuals were able to considerably improve the symptoms associated with varicose veins, which include the following; swelling, leg discomfort, and a heaviness feeling in the legs.

In another study of 40 people that suffered from chronic venous, it was found that they also were able to reduce their edema, pain, and the sensation of their legs always feeling very heavy. This group was given 100 mg of OPCs made from pine bark 3 times a day.

Hemorrhoids – Anybody that has ever had a hemorrhoid problem, can tell you how terribly painful they are. Well, hemorrhoids are essentially just varicose veins located in the anus region of our bodies. One double blind medial trail that consisted of 84 people discovered that OPCs which were administered both orally and topically made from pine bark, drastically eased the pain and bleeding caused by hemorrhoids.

Boosts your Immune System – Many of us today are always getting sick for some unknown reason. If you happen to be one of those individuals, one medical study concluded that OPCs made from grape seeds was able to substantially improve the overall health of it’s participates by improving their immune system.

Protection against Allergies – If you suffer from allergies that cause you to itch, get rashes, or sneeze quite a bit, you might want to consider using OPCs on a daily basis. One medical study showed that only one week after the people in it started taking 100 mg of OPC made from grape seeds that their allergy attacks decreased considerably.

Weight Loss or Weight Maintenance – Most of us are aware of the fact that maintaining the proper weight is critical for our long term health. Being overweight can lead to many serious medical conditions including some of the following; heart attacks, strokes, high blood pressure, diabetes, and a much shorter life span.

Quite a few studies have been conducted on people that were overweight using oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs). Although the scientist and doctors that supervised the research projects cannot conclusively say why OPCs work so well, they can defiantly tell you that they do help people to lose weight.

They believe that OPCs help to increase your metabolism, which leads to weight loss. Essentially, all metabolism means is the way that our bodies digest and use the food that we consume. People with a high metabolism rate, do not store fat in their cells to be used later, but discharge any unneeded fat immediately.

Above were only a few of the most important medical benefits that can be derived from regularly using oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs). OPCs, truly are a gift for all of us from the planet that we live on that should not only be greatly appreciated, but utilized daily to receive the maximum health benefits that they can provide us.