| The endothelium is the inner lining of
blood vessels that regulates arterial health. The reason for
so many of today’s circulatory problems is the breakdown of
endothelial function and structure.
The good news is that scientists have discovered three
nutrients that have been clinically shown to help maintain
healthy endothelial function and arterial circulation.
1. Pomegranate restores healthy blood flow
In a group of aging humans with risk
factors for cardiovascular events, pomegranate or placebo
was ingested on a daily basis. After twelve months, blood
flow through the carotid arteries improved 44% in the
pomegranate group, whereas carotid blood flow worsened by 9%
in the placebo group.1
In another similar group, pomegranate or
placebo was ingested daily. After only three months,
coronary artery blood flow improved by 18% in the
pomegranate group, but worsened by 17% in the placebo group.2
A standardized pomegranate extract is one of the three
active components of the new Endothelial Defense formula.
2. Cocoa rapidly improves endothelial
function
Endothelial function can be evaluated by
using a sensitive ultrasound test to assess blood flow
velocity. In a controlled human study, arterial blood flow
improved by 37% following ingestion of standardized cocoa
polyphenols and this persisted about eight hours. This same
study showed a 36% decrease in undesirable platelet
activation in the cocoa polyphenol groups.3
The cocoa polyphenols appear to exert their beneficial
effect by enhancing endothelial nitric oxide. The
age-related depletion of nitric oxide is considered a major
impediment to healthy arterial blood flow. A standardized
cocoa polyphenol extract is the second active component of
the new Endothelial Defense formula.
3. SOD protects against nitric oxide
degradation
Aging results in a reduction of our body’s
production of the critical antioxidant called superoxide
dismutase (SOD). One consequence of SOD depletion is excess
degradation of endothelial nitric oxide. An orally active
superoxide dismutase (SOD) called GliSODin® has been
clinically proven to support healthy arterial function and
structure…while boosting levels of the body’s most powerful
antioxidant enzymes (SOD and catalase).4-7
Studies show that damaging carotid artery
thickness increases by 0.04 mm every 10 years. However, the
recent study with GliSODin® suggests that 2.8 years of
supplementation may turn back the clock on 10 years of
age-related damage due to carotid artery wall thickening.8
The third ingredient of the new Endothelial Defense formula
is the patented GliSODin® in the identical dose used in the
successful human study.
In response to these of research findings,
the Endothelial Defense formula has been upgraded to provide
the three best documented nutrients to help maintain healthy
arterial blood flow. |
