Genestra Biotone EFA (Phytosterols) - 100 Softgels

Many factors affect the health of your heart and your circulatory system, many of which are fortunately within our control - even if you have a family history...

The cardiovascular system consists of the heart, which pumps blood around the body through approximately 60 thousand miles of blood vessels. These vessels are divided by function into two types. There are the arteries, which carry blood from the heart to the body and the veins, which drain blood from the body back to the heart. Blood nourishes the cells of the body by transporting nutrients like oxygen and food to the cells.

FATTY ACIDS
A fatty acid consists of a carboxylic acid group with a long carbon chain tail. In science these are drawn as kinky lines like this: /\/\/\/\/\/\/, with the ends of the lines, and each point representing one carbon atom. In nature, there is usually an even number of carbon atoms in the chain. In the human body, fatty acids are bound to other molecules in order to perform a function. If they are unbound, they are called "free fatty acids".

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that can prevent and treat many conditions associated with aging such as cardiovascular disease, cataracts, and Alzheimer's...

Green leafy vegetables are a wonderful sours of Vitamin E

Vitamin E is a group of fat-soluble vitamins that act as antioxidants and thus neutralize free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules with an unpaired electron that are extremely reactive and damage surrounding cell membranes, fats, and fat soluble vitamins and nutrients. We encounter free radicals through environmental exposures, such as cigarette smoke, air pollution, and ultraviolet radiation from the sun (UV rays).
In doses less than 150IU per day, Vitamin E has been shown to increase life-span (by reducing all-cause mortality). Vitamin E is well known for the prevention of cardiovascular disease in a few different ways. First, it decreases platelet aggregation (clot formation), thus allowing the blood to flow more freely and bring more oxygen to the tissues. Also, as an antioxidant, vitamin E protects our artery walls from damage and prevents the oxidation of LDL cholesterol, both of which contribute to arterial plaque formation when left untreated.

Antioxidant properties allow vitamin E to be useful in potentially supporting healthy cell growth by reducing free radical damage to cellular genetic material. Vitamin E is also believed to be an anti-aging vitamin because its antioxidant effects reduce the cell damage that can lead to visible aging. Cataracts are caused by free radical damage of the lens of the eye and therefore vitamin E can help to prevent this damage. It has also been shown to be anti-inflammatory by inhibiting inflammatory pathways in the body. Vitamin E has been found to be protective against Alzheimer's disease, atherosclerosis, and diabetes mediated liver damage, as well as PMS. It is also used to treat many existing conditions including infertility, fibrocystic breasts, anemia, and topically for scars.

FLAX OIL

From helping with dry hair and skin, Flax Seed Oil also aids with eczema, male infertility, high cholesterol, hypertension, constipation and arthritis ...

Oil from flax seeds contains important EFAs

Flaxseeds are a rich source of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an omega 3 essential fatty acid. "Essential" means that the body does not produce the fatty acids on its own and therefore they must be taken in through the diet. Most North American and Western diets are very low in Omega-3 and extremely high in Omega-6.
Too many saturated fats are consumed and the ratio of ingested EFA's averages more like 20:1 Omega-6's to Omega-3's instead of the recommended 4:1.

The ALA in flaxseed oil helps maintain cholesterol levels because healthy fats build HDL cholesterol. HDL cholesterol is responsible for moving fat, from storage or plaques, into the liver where processing and excretion of fat occurs. By decreasing fatty buildup on arteries it helps to regulate blood pressure. It also provides valuable support for immune system function because many immune cells use omega 3 fats in their cell membrane. Having a properly functioning membrane allows the cells to do things like release packets of chemicals when they come in contact with foreign invaders. Since healthy fats play a large role in hormone formation, ALA can thus help optimize hormone levels and strengthen male fertility. Studies show that ALA is an anti-inflammatory compound that is beneficial for the treatment of arthritis.

Ensure your flaxseed oil is cold-pressed because heat damages the acids and creates free radicals. Some of the damaged fats turn into trans-fatty acids, which are well known for their promotion of cardiovascular disease. Refrigerate all liquid flaxseed oil supplements and keep capsules away from heat because they can become rancid. Using flaxseed oil is much more cost effective than capsules because numerous capsules must be taken to make an equivalent amount of liquid oil. Do not use flaxseed oil for cooking or frying.

Ground flaxseeds are also used as a nutritional supplement. They contain some EFAs along with fiber, magnesium and potassium. Golden flaxseed contains more fatty acids than the same amount of brown flaxseed.