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Isotonix.org OPC-3 is a powerful combination of plant derived bioflavonoids, know as oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPC's). It  is made from a combination of grape seed, pine bark and red wine extracts in addition to bilberry and citrus extracts. These  OPC's are super effective free radical neutralizers. They are not limited to being strong antioxidants, they are also crucial  in their role in supporting the circulatory system and strengthening the capillaries. OPC-3 is a natural food supplement that  should be taken for a lifetime.

Learning How isotonix.org's OPC-3™ Works Our bodies are made up of billions of molecules held together by electromagnetic  forces. These chemical bonds are created with paired electrons. Free radicals are unstable molecules that have lost an  electron and are unbalanced. Free radicals seek to replace the lost electron by randomly attacking nearby molecules and  extracting desired electrons. One free radical can damage a million or more molecules in a chain reaction referred to as  radical propagation, which leads to oxidative stress.
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Last Updated: November 24, 2006
What is Isotonix OPC-3?
Uncontrolled oxidation is very destructive. It is analogous to effects we see in our environment, such as the rusting of  metal, the rotting of meat, the browning of apples or the hardening of old rubber. Oxidation in our body by free radicals is  thought to be responsible for premature aging, wrinkling of skin, hardening of arteries, stiffening of joints, formation of  cataracts, the initiation of cancer and much more.

We are constantly exposed to free radicals via such processes as antimicrobial activity by white blood cells and the  absorption of chemical additives in our foods. Our ability to fight free radical damage effectively is compromised by our  inadequate nutritional choices or diets that contain limited amounts of antioxidants. Antioxidant supplementation is  necessary if we are unable to reduce our exposure to free radicals, but wish to counter their effect.

OPCs should be taken in conjunction with foods or dietary supplements rich in vitamin C, vitamin e, beta-carotene, and  selenium, to name a few antioxidants.

In 1534, French explorer Jacques Cartier was leading an expedition up the St. Lawrence River. Trapped by bad weather, Cartier  and his crew were forced to survive on a ration of salted meat and biscuits. Cartier's crew began to suffer from severe  deficiency of vitamin C and showed symptoms of scurvy. Many crewmembers died before the surviving members encountered a  friendly Native American who saved most of their lives. He told them to make a tea from the bark and needles of the pine tree  to cure their malady. They complied and, as a result, Cartier and many crewmembers survived.

Some 400 years later, Professor Jacques Masquelier of the University of Bordeaux, France, read a book by Cartier detailing  their expedition. He concluded that pine bark not only contained some vitamin C, but obviously was a good source of  bioflavonoids, whose effects are similar to those of vitamin C. Further studies and research revealed that the pine bark  contained an array of proanthocyanidins complexes. These compounds were also found in a variety of plants, including grape  seeds, cranberries, peanut skin, lemon tree bark and citrus rinds. Masquelier termed the active ingredients of the pine bark  "pycnogenols", which today are referred to in the scientific community as oligomeric proanthocyanidins, or OPCs.
What is Isotonix OPC-3?