Believe it or not says Dr Richard T. Glass, chairman of the Department of Oral Pathology at the Oklahoma College of Medicine and Dentistry, your toothbrush may be perpetuating - or even causing - your sore throat. Bacteria collect on the bristles, and any injury to the gums while brushing injects these germs into your system. "As soon as you start feeling ill throw away your toothbrush. Often that is enough to stop the illness in it's tracks," he says, "If you do get sick replace your brush when you start to feel better. That prevents you from reinfecting yourself." From a preventative standpoint, he recommends you storing it outside the moist, bacteria-prone bathroom.

I'LL HAVE THE RED WINE, PLEASE.

-- Flavonoids, the natural compounds found in fruits and vegetables, have been linked to being real heart-savers. Studies of men who ate the most flavonoids had only 1/3 the risk of dying from heart attacks as men who at the least. It is believed that the flavonoids prevent the oxidation of bad LDL cholesterol and therefore cannot attach to the artery wall. Foods with the highest levels of flavonoids include onions, kale, green beans, broccoli, endive, celery, cranberries, citrus fruit, red wine, tea, lettuce, tomatoes, red peppers, strawberries, apples, grape, grape juice and tomato juice.

NUTRITION NEWS FOCUS

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Take a Trip Down the Advantage Trail with Captain Enzyme. Learn about the importance of PhytoNutrients. These are extremely important nutrients found in fruits and vegetables that can be extremely valuable to health. Here the PhytoZyme Gang reveals an interesting look at phytonutrients. Also Captain Enzyme reveals the importance of enzymes. Enzymes are one of the most important of all nutrients. Think about all the chemical reactions that occur in our bodies within the period of a minute. They are too numerous to mention. Our bodies use enzymes to support these chemical reactions. Also on the Trail we meet JanICE the Cold Processing Bear as we discuss the importance of cold processing in manufacturing nutritional products. The Advantage Trail Start Right Here. Micronutrients, phyto, food, plant, nutrients, vitamins, nutrition.- Click Here

LIFE'S QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

(With Howard "The Not so Wise" and "The Brain")

Howard: Well Ber-ain this month we only deal wih one stu-pid questun from our ray-ders. Actually Sum dufus asks what fiber is. This ain't as stu-pid as other questuns - but I don'ts a no y he wunts more cow-lories.! Brain: Actually Howard I believe the reader was wanting to know all about fiber and rather or not it contained any calories. A very good question!

FEATURE ARTICLE - GINGER SCOTT "HEALTH FIGHTER" PRESENTS - OPC: NATURE'S PREMIER ANTIOXIDANT

"Hello, my name is Ginger Scott "Health Fighter", is your health in good hands? Well you want to read the information in this article!"

OPC: NATURE'S PREMIER ANTIOXIDANT OPC BACKGROUND Just one of several terms used to describe the potent antioxidants extracted from most plants, but more commonly as a concentrate from grape seeds and/or pine bark is Oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPC), others may include Procyanidolic Oligomers/PCOs, or procyanidins. Professor Jack Masquelier originally discovered Oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPC) compounds in 1947. OPC IS QUICKLY ABSORBED Experiments with radioactively labeled OPC showed that they are absorbed from the stomach into the bloodstream within 10 minutes and widely distributed throughout the body, with particularly high concentrations found in the walls of blood vessels. In addition to their potent antioxidant activity, which is 50 times that of vitamin E and 20 times that of vitamin C, they bind to collagen and elastin (crucial proteins in all connective tissue). Antioxidants Protect Against Free Radical Attack Cigarette smoke, air pollution, alcohol, drugs, radiation, and chemicals —what do all these have in common? They generate free radicals, which cause “oxidative stress”. Free radicals attack many of your vital cellular components, including cellular membranes. They also stimulate processes that have been linked to accelerated cellular aging. Proanthenols contains the exclusive Real OPC extracted by Berkem Laboratories from both grape seeds and pine bark as based on research by Dr. Jack Masquelier, Professor from the University of Bordeaux in Southern France. He discovered this class of nutrients, which are known collectively as Oligomeric ProanthoCyanidins, in the late 1940’s. Continued research since then has resulted in this wonderful natural extract. The Real OPC in Proanthenols is 100% bioavailable and 100% residue-free. Real OPC Makes The Difference It is important to understand the difference between Real OPC™ and ordinary grape seed extracts, which are often nothing more than ground-up or slightly extracted grape seeds. Independent laboratory tests have shown the Real OPC extract in Proanthenols to be more reliable at neutralizing free radicals than other grape seed extracts. OPC are classed with the broad group of naturally occurring antioxidant substances found in plants known as polyphenolic flavonoids. Dr. Masquelier has shown that OPC are present in literally hundreds of plants. However, two of the best sources are grape seeds and pine bark, from which OPC are extracted. Berkem Laboratories in Southern France is the most knowledgeable and experienced company in the world that produces high-quality OPC extracts. Berkem worked closely with Dr. Jack Masquelier for many years, perfecting the commercial extraction technique based on his scientific protocols over several decades. The resultant product contains the purest, most consistently reliable OPC available–the standard against which all others are compared. Unfortunately, the terms “grape seed extract” and “pine bark extract” have generally been used by companies to make their products more marketable. One thing is certain, generic grape seed or pine bark extracts are not comparable to high-quality Real OPC; these generic extracts are worlds apart from the composition of Real OPC, and so are their health-supporting benefits. French Explorer Jacques Cartier From a historical viewpoint, it is interesting to study the documents of Jacques Cartier, a French explorer whose crew were dying of scurvy in the winter of 1534-1535. Scurvy, a deficiency of vitamin C (ascorbic acid), occurs after several months without fresh fruits and vegetables in the diet. The dying men drank a tea made from the needles and bark of pine trees and used the solid residue as a poultice placed over swollen joints. Incredibly the men who had been dying a short time before were led to complete recovery within a week of this incredible find. Networking Antioxidants Make the Difference Research by Dr. Masquelier and colleagues have shown that Real OPC make vitamin C more effective, and can even substitute for its functions. The Real OPC contained in Proanthenols provide 50 times the antioxidant protection of vitamin E and 20 times that of vitamin C. Vascular Health Vascular health has been shown to be supported by supplementation with OPC.* Actually, OPC are unique among antioxidants, due to their complex mixture of different sized molecules (oligomers). This complex mixture enables them to function as an antioxidant network in-and-of themselves; they also protect other important antioxidant reserves in the body, such as glutathione and vitamin E. Life Plus combines Real OPC with a proprietary blend of bioflavonoids including citrus flavonoids, hesperidin, rutin, quercetin, and even vitamin C. Of course, we’ve included our exclusive PhytoZyme™ Base of concentrates from over 30 specially selected fruit, vegetable, and herbal concentrates to further enhance its benefits. Supports Collagen In addition to antioxidant protection, Real OPC also support collagen and help maintain elastin throughout your whole body. These two critical proteins are major components of all your connective tissues and organs. They are responsible for maintaining structural integrity as well as the elasticity of all the tissues throughout your body.* This includes your joints, blood vessels, skin, ligaments, tendons, muscles, and even your heart. By maintaining healthy levels of structural collagen and elastin, your body is able to continue to function more efficiently and maintain its youthful strength and flexibility longer.* The OPC in Proanthenols actually attach to “reactive sites” on collagen molecules and protect them from free radical attack. This is one of the reasons they are so protective and so valuable for your circulatory system.* Support Vision Double blind studies have shown that OPC actually strengthen capillaries (the tiniest of all blood vessels) while using as little as 100 mg per day. A clinical study has also demonstrated that OPC help to maintain and support visual performance in the dark and after exposure to glare in healthy people with normal vision. Research at Loma Linda University, which showed protective effects of OPC on blood vessels in various experimental models, has also suggested that OPC may play a role in helping to maintain healthy mental function as people age.* Masquelier OPC Antioxidants -Grape Seed or Pine Bark Extract Fight Free Radicals

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ARTICLE - HIGHLY CONCENTRATED PHYTONUTRIENTS

J. Robert Lemon, R. Ph. J. Robert Lemon, a registered pharmacist, is President and Cofounder of Life Plus International. Currently, he also serves as the technical liaison to Life Plus Medical and Scientific Advisory Board. Bob completed his undergraduate work at Ohio Northern University and graduated from the Ohio State University College of Pharmacy. Since then, he has been a member of several professional organizations including the International Academy of Preventive Medicine, the International College of Applied Nutrition, the International College of Metabology and the American Academy of Medical Preventics. Bob has been a formulator and manufacturer of high quality nutritional products for over three decades and has during his professional career pioneered many new and innovative products and concepts. Based on years of experience, he is aware of the value of quality nutritional supplementation in the overall support of the bodies metabolic processes and is totally supportive of the "coming together" of nutritional science and modern medicine. Julie invites you to check out the Free Christmas Card Background you can download in this issue. ...highly concentrated special OPC Extract... Life Plus Proanthenols Tablets are made from an extremely highly concentrated special OPC Extract from both Grape Seeds and Pine Bark. The extraction process was developed based on the original research of Prof. Dr. Jack Masquelier while working at the University of Bordeaux in Southern France. The most efficient and consistent commercial extraction procedures were developed at Berkem Laboratories, also in Southern France. Their organic chemists and biochemists have continued to refine the extraction over a fifty year period providing us today with a unique OPC extract that is not only potent and high in content of active antioxidant components, but also 100% residue free 100% bioavailable. The OPC in Proanthenols is so much more than regular grape seed extract. The finished extraction that is used to make Proanthenols tablets must conform to rigid specifications to ensure it's batch-to-batch consistent quality. The following information helps us realize how concentrated the OPC in Proanthenols really is: The OPC in Proanthenols is so much more than regular grape seed extract. 400 kilograms (880 pounds) of grape seeds are required to make just one kilogram (2.2 pounds) of the OPC in Proanthenols. One grape seed weighs on the average 0.0167 g and each grape contains an average of 1.9 seeds. For calculation purposes, 229 grapes on their stems weigh 1072.002 gm and one grape weights 4.681 g. Since 1 kilogram of OPC requires 400 kilogram of grape seeds and each seed weighs 0.0157 g, it requires 25,477,707.010 (over 25 million) grape seeds to make 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) of OPC (400 kilogram/0.01 57 g per seed). Converting to mg, IT TAKES 2,547.771 SEEDS TO MAKE ONE TABLET OF PROANTHENOLS 100 MG. Since one grape contains an average of 1.9 seeds, it takes 1,340.932 GRAPES TO MAKE EACH TABLET. To make one bottle of 60 tablets of Proanthenols 100 mg, 80,465.926 grapes are required. Thus 828.6 pounds of stemmed grapes are required to make one bottle of Proanthenols OPC HP-100 mg. Of course in reality Maritime Pine Bark is also used to provide a portion of the OPC. However, if only grapes were used it would require 828.6 pounds of grapes to make a bottle of the Proanthenols OPC 100mg This is an example of how some phytonutrients are so highly concentrated in Life Plus products. And, the addition of our exclusive PhytoZyme Base of plant enzymes for bioavailability and over 30 synergistic fruit, vegetable and herbal concentrates for extra phytonutrient cofactors in our products is another advantage why Life Plus products are the best available anywhere in the world. This is an example of how some phytonutrients are so highly concentrated in Life Plus products. Masquelier OPC Antioxidants -Grape Seed or Pine Bark Extract Fight Free Radicals

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ARTICLE - NEW PhytoZyme GUYS AND HOT TRENDS!

Meet Cindy Celery In ancient Rome, Celery was worn around the neck to ward off a hangover from a particularly hardy night of partying. Perhaps this is where the practice of putting a stalk of celery in a Bloody Mary. Though this has never been proven. Celery contains the chemical 3-n butyl phthalide. This chemical allows the blood vessels to dilate. Phthalide also lowers the level of stress hormones called catacholamines. There is an ingredient found in celery called acetylenics. Celery also contains phenolic acids.	Meet Misty Mango Mangoes are one of the most delicious and nutritious foods, with a fascinating history. Cultivation of mangoes is deeply embedded in Indian History. Mangoes are mentioned in early Arialkrit literature and Alexander the Great spotted his first mango in 326BC when he traveled with his army to India. Mangoes are an ideal Summer food as they are high in many carotenoids, especially Beta-carotene. Beta-Carotene has a protective affect against the harmful rays of the sun. Research indicates that even in older people, sun tolerance is increased when Beta-Carotene intake is increased. (Professor Mathews-Roth, Harvard University 1969-75.) Mangoes contain Vitamin A ( of which Beta-Carotene is a precursor and more usable), Vitamins C & E and Selenium. Mangoes also contain B-complex (anti-stress) vitamins, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, selenium, Folic acid (folate), and zinc.	Meet Chaz "The Spaz" Cucumber The cucumber is believed native to India, and evidence indicates that it has been cultivated in western Asia for 3,000 years. From India it spread to Greece and Italy, where the Romans were especially fond of the crop, and later into China. It was probably introduced into other parts of Europe by the Romans, and records of cucumber cultivation appear in France in the 9th century, England in the 14th century, and in North America by the mid-16th century. Cucumber's are a good source of Vitamin C, Vitamin A. It also contains calcium and potassium.. Also the green color indicates it is a great source of chlorphyll which is a valuable phytonutrient.