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HERBAL
HEALER ACADEMY INC. | |
Ultra
Connexin™
This
is the Best of the Best!
Potent
Nutritional Support for Joints, Vessels, Skin, Connective Tissue and Discs. This
dietary supplement product is the outcome of a rational approach to nutritional
support of the body's connective tissues. Connexin™ promotes connective renewal
and thereby supports wound healing, blood vessel wall strength, renewal of the
joint linings and the integrity of the invertebral discs.
The connective
tissues are the packing matrix for all the body's cells, tissues and organs. Connective
tissues underlie the skin, and are the foundations for the joints, vertebral discs,
walls of the blood vessels, bones and countless other supporting and hardened
tissues. This network holds the cell and tissues together and provides an organized
lattice within which the cells can orient and migrate. Here, the network - rather
than the cells - bears most of the mechanical stress to which the tissue is subjected.
Connective tissues are specialized for tensile strength and form the architectural
framework of the body. Cumulative damage to the body's connective tuissues can
markedly affect quality of life.
Some organs rely on their connective tissues
more than others. There for connectives are the major components in the skin and
bone. Connectives constitute joint surface, tendons, cartilage, ligaments, invertbral
discs, walls of the blood vessels, bone matrix and countless other supporting
and hardening tissues. Variations in the make-up of the extra cellular network
give rise to the diversity of rock-hard structures (bone and teeth), ropelike
organization (ligaments, tendons), even transparency (the cornea), but the build
up of damage to the body's connective tissues can markedly affect quality of life.
For example: joint and disc distortions and dysfunctions cause pain and disability
to millions of people in this country.
Biochemically, the term connective
tissues ("connective" for simplicity) is a blanket term for the glycosaminoglycan
carbohydrate polymers (GAG) that are sometimes linked to proteins as proteoglycans
(PG). Complexed with these are fibrous protein polymers: mainly structural (collagen,
elastin fibers) and mainly adhesive (fibronectin, laminin). The GAG PG forma a
hydrated, gel-like medium in which the fibrous proteins are embedded. The connectives
are indispensable for the mechanical support they provide to the organs. Although
they lie outside the living cells, they are in a functional continuum with the
cells and are also functionally indispensable for each organ.
The
Ingredients of Connexin™ are:
Glucosamine sulfate (GS), which is the amino-substituted monosaccharide
glucosamine compounded with sulfate. GS has been proven via double-blind trials
to support joint maintenance and renewal. Glucosamine is an orthomolecule naturally
present in the body. It is a key substrate for the biosynthesis of the proteoglycans
and is a key building block for a variety of connectives. Sulfate becomes incorporated
into the forming connective material as it matures. GS works to inhibit joint
pain while also facilitating joint cartilage recovery. GS stimulates amino acid
incorporation into cartilage and also has pro-homeostatic properties, as proven
in classic animal models. In double-blind trials, GS successfully reduced the
pain associated with cartilage breakdown, and partially revitalized damaged joint
cartilage. GS has virtually zero adverse effects on the stomach and intestine,
perhaps because it does not act by blocking the enzyme cyclo-oxygenase.
N-acetyl
glucosamine (NAG), an activated metabolite of glucosamine. Although
NAG has not been directly evaluated for joint support in clinical trials, it has
shown utility in animals. THe enzymes that assemble connective materials from
precursors readily utilize NAG "downstream" from glucosamine. That is to say,
the oral use of NAG could bypass any metabolic necessity for glucosamine. NAG
bypasses the acetylation of glucosamine that in vivo is know to be sensitive to
blockage by aspirin and ethanol. NAG also may help to heal the "leaky gut" that
sometimes accompanies connective tissue dysfunctions. NAG has antioxidant efficacy
- it is an effective quencher of super oxide, one of the oxygen radicals that
can disrupt homeostasis. NAG also partially blocks the release of elastase enzyme
from immune cells, a phenomenon that normally contributes to spreading tissue
breakdown. Elastase can digest collagens, fibronectins and proteoglycan connective
fibers, and often plays a prominent role in the degradation of articular cartilage,
ligament, tendons and the bone matrix. Thus, both as a "building block" for connectives
and as a pro-homeostatic nutrient. NAG may eventually prove to be as clinically
effective
as glucosamine itself.
Chondroitin
sulfate is a relatively low molecular weight, partially polymerized,
sulfate galactosaminoglycan that may act in vivo as a nucleating agent for the
further steps that result in fully formed proteoglycans (proteinated, sulfated
and non-sulfated glycosaminoglycans)
L-proline, L-lysine free amino acids. These are the building blocks
for the primary collagen strands which are the major protein of connective tissue
and constitute 25% of all protein in mammals. These amino acids also are important
for the synthesis of elastin fibers.
Vitamin
C/ascorbate. In addition to it's usual roll as a premier water soluble
antioxidant for the extra cellular network, ascorbate is an essential confactor
for the enzymes which hydroxylate proline and lysine prior to their inclusion
in collagen or elastin. Clinical scurvy largely amounts to inadequate tissue integrity
resulting from poorly formed collagen.
Silicon, bioavailable as 4x horsetail
extract and boron. These dietary essential minerals are involved in cross linking
the primary connective strands to generate a final material that has great tensile
strength. Inadequate intake of silicon is common, since refined foods and animal
products tend to have very little of it. Boron had been shown clinically effective
for joint pain and mobility; its roles in connective tissue renewal may be indirect,
perhaps through conserving calcium and magnesium or by a normalizing effect on
hormones that oppose bone mineral loss (estradiol, testosterone).
Vitamin B6/pyridoxine.
In rats, deficiency of this vitamin resulted in osteoporosis. Vitamin B6 helps
recycle homocysteine, which when accumulating in excess will interfere with collagen
hydroxylation.
Magnesium and calcium, in a 4-to-1 ratio. In this "yin-yang" mineral
pair, magnesium is involved in connective tissue renewal and a small amount of
calcium is included for balance. Calcium is kept low so as to minimize the risk
of calcification of inflamed sub functional tissue.
Zinc and copper,
in a 12-to-1 ratio. This "yin-yang" mineral pair is included for both general
anabolic character, as well as for its role as essential confactor for the antioxidant
enzyme SOD (super oxide dismutase). Copper is essential for the enzymes, which
help cross link connective proteins to increase their tensile strength. Manganese
is included as the other mineral confactor for SOD. Molybdenum is another mineral
essential for tissue homeostasis.
Vitamin E/d-alpha tocopherol; selenium, as selenite and selenomethionine.
Antioxidants help protect the connectives against free radicals and other oxidative
stressors that often contribute to tissue degradation. Once initiated, degeneration
cascades usually generate tremendous fluxes of free radicals in the affected tissue;
vitamin E down-regulates such cascades, and acts synergistically with selenium
and with the citrates in Connexin™ to help quench tissue breakdown processes.
Hawthorn
extract, standardized. This berry is rich in a variety of bioflavonoids,
which collectively exert marked collagen-supportive and antioxidant activity.
It also reduces oxidative degradation and the associated connective tissue and
bone break down. Over and above its proven efficacy for the circulation, the standardized
hawthorn extract has marked clinical benefit for connective tissue support. It
may confer its additional protective effects through non-flavonoid action mechanisms.
Proanthocyanidin
flavonoids, standardized.
This class of bioflavonoids is proven to enhance the toxicity
of the micsrocapillaries and other small vessel beds. These grape seed proanthocyanidins
are included in Connexin™ to facilitate perfusion of the tissue beds and to adequately
deliver the substrates necessary for renewal of the connectives. They also are
known to bind with collagen in blood vessel walls and thereby help shield collagen
strands against oxidative breakdown.
Bromelain, a highly
effective anti-degradative enzyme from pineapple. This enzyme resists degradation
from digestive enzymes during oral dosing; it has been extensively tested and
found to have prostaglandin regulating properties. Prostaglandin cascades are
centrally involved in tissue breakdown, and by helping to shift the prostaglandin
balance bromelain can moderate the breakdown process and speed recovery time.
In summary, Connexin™ combines GS with NAG,
chondroitin sulfate, and includes l-proline and l-lysine to provide the necessary
variety of starting substrates for the optimal biosynthesis of connective tissue.
Connexin™ also provides a diversity of other potent nutrients to help shift the
metabolic balance in the inflamed joint lining (or other beleaguered connective
tissue) away from net breakdown and towards net renewal. Connexin™ is likely to
be useful for wound healing as well as in tendon, ligament and vertebral disc
damage since the mechanisms involved in damage to these connectives appear to
resemble those operative in the damaged joint lining.
Connexin™
Four capsules contain: Glucosamine Sulfate 250 mg., N-acetyl glucosamine 450
mg., Chondroitin Sulfate 50 mg., Hawthorn extract, standardized 400 mg., Proanthocyanidin
flavonoids (grape seed) 10 mg., L-proline amino acid 100 m., L-lysine amino acid
100 mg., Vitamin B6/pyridoxine (as hydrochloride) 12 mg., Vitamin C/ascorbic acid
(from beet) 350 mg., Vitamin E (as d-alpha tocopherol) 125 IU., Magnesium (as
citrate) 100 mg., Calcium (as citrate) 25 mg., Zinc (as citrate) 12 mg., Copper
(as gluconate) 1 mg., Silicon (as horsetail extract 4x) 20 mg., Manganese (as
citrate) 5 mg., Boron (as citrate) 3 mg., Selenium (as sodium selenite. Selenomenthionine)
150 mcg., Molybdenum (as sodium molybdate) 500 mcg., Bromelain, 600 GDU 25mg.
Free of: yeast, wheat, corn, soy, egg, milk. gluten, rice, sugar, starch, salt,
preservatives, artificial colors, flavors, hormones and antibiotics
Adult
recommended dose: 2 capsules twice a day. Higher doses may be indicated as directed
by heath care professional. 120 capsules.
Minimum
shipping charge is $8.00. (Ships 1-3 pounds U.P.S.). 