Skin and Eye Complications from Diabetes

Common skin conditions for people with type 2 diabetes

People with  diabetes are at an increased risk of developing skin problems, or from complications of skin problems that have not been spotted soon enough, often because of reduced skin sensation.

Most  skin conditions can be prevented and successfully treated if caught early. However, if not cared for properly, a minor skin condition in a person with diabetes can turn into a serious problem with potentially severe consequences.

Skin conditions linked to diabetes

• Scleroderma diabeticorum: This condition causes a thickening of the skin on the back of the neck and upper back. This condition is rare but can affect people with  type 2 diabetes. The treatment involves bringing your  blood glucose level under control. Lotions and moisturisers may help soften the skin.
• Diabetic dermopathy: Also called shin spots, this condition develops as a result of changes to the  blood vessels that supply the skin. Dermopathy appears as a shiny round or oval lesion of thin skin over the front lower parts of the lower legs. The patches do not hurt, although rarely they can be itchy or cause burning. Treatment is usually not necessary.
• Diabetic blisters (bullosis diabeticorum): In rare cases, people with diabetes develop  blisters that resemble burn blisters. These blisters can occur on the fingers, hands,  toes,  feet, legs or forearms. Diabetic blisters are usually painless and heal on their own. They often occur in people who have severe diabetes and  diabetic neuropathy. Bringing your blood glucose level under control is the treatment for this condition.
• Disseminated  granuloma annulare: This condition causes sharply defined, ring or arc-shaped areas on the skin. These  rashes most often occur on the fingers and  ears, but they can occur on the chest and  abdomen. The rash can be red, red-brown or skin coloured. Treatment is usually not required, but sometimes a topical steroid  medication, such as  hydrocortisone, may help.

Itching and infections

• Bacterial infections: There are different kinds of bacterial infections affecting the skin. Skin infections with the bacteria known as Staphylococcus are more common and more serious in people with diabetes which is not under control. These bacteria can result in a "boil", an inflamed nodule from a  hair follicle, which can occur in areas where  hair follicles can be irritated. Other infections include styes, which are infections of the glands of the eyelids, and bacterial nail infections. Most bacterial infections require treatment with  antibiotics in the form of pills and/or creams.
• Fungal infections: A yeast-like fungus called "Candida albicans" is responsible for many of the fungal infections affecting people with diabetes. Other commonly seen areas of infection include the corners of the  mouth with what is known as "angular cheilitis", which feels like small cuts on the corners of the  mouth. Fungus also can occur between the  toes and fingers and in the  nails ( onychomycosis). This fungus creates itchy, bright red rashes, often surrounded by tiny blisters and scales. These infections most often occur in warm, moist folds of the skin. Three common fungal infections are: jock itch (red, itchy area in the groin, on the genitals and the inside of the thighs),  athlete's foot (affects the skin between the toes), and  ringworm (ring-shaped, scaly patches that can itch or blister and appear on the feet, groin, chest and abdomen, scalp or  nails). Medicines that kill the fungus are usually needed to treat these infections. A potentially fatal fungal infection with Mucormycosis is seen in people with diabetes. The infection usually starts in the nasal  cavities and can spread to the eyes and  brain.
• Itching: Itching skin, also called  pruritus, can have many causes, such as a  yeast infection, dry skin or poor blood flow. When itching is caused by poor blood flow, the lower legs and feet are most often affected. Using lotion can help to keep your skin soft and moist, and prevent itching due to dry skin.

Diabetes eye problems

If you have  diabetes, regular  eye examinations are important to detect and treat  eye problems. These should be arranged by your  diabetes health team as part of regular tests and screening.

High blood sugar (glucose) increases the risk of diabetes eye problems. In fact,  diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in adults aged 20 to 74.

Blurred vision can be a symptom of more serious  eye problems with diabetes. The three major  eye problems that people with diabetes may develop and should be aware of are  cataracts,  glaucoma, and retinopathy.

Cataracts and diabetes

A cataract is a clouding or fogging of the normally clear lens of the eye. The lens is what allows us to see and focus on an image just like a camera. Although anyone can get  cataracts, people with diabetes get these eye problems at an earlier age than most and the condition progresses more rapidly than in people without diabetes.

If you have a cataract with diabetes, your eye cannot focus light and your  vision is impaired. The symptoms of this eye problem in diabetes include blurred or glaring vision.

The treatment for cataracts is usually surgery to extract the lens, followed by insertion of a lens implant, with glasses or  contact lenses as needed to further correct  vision.

Glaucoma and diabetes

When fluid inside the eye does not drain away properly, a build-up of pressure inside the eye can lead to a condition called glaucoma. The pressure damages nerves and the vessels in the eye, causing changes in vision.

In the most common form of glaucoma, there may be no symptoms of this eye problem at all until the disease is very advanced and there is significant vision loss. In the less common form of this eye problem, symptoms can include  headaches, eye aches or  pain, blurred vision, watering eyes, halos round lights and loss of vision.

Treatment of this eye problem in diabetes can include special  eye drops, laser procedures, medication or surgery. You can prevent serious eye problems in diabetes by getting an annual glaucoma screening from your  optometrist.

Diabetic retinopathy

The retina contains a group of specialised cells that convert light as it enters though the lens into visual signals. The eye nerve or optic nerve transmits visual information to the  brain.

Diabetic retinopathy is one of the vascular ( blood-vessel related) complications related to diabetes. This diabetes eye problem is due to damage of small vessels and is called a "microvascular complication."  Kidney disease and  nerve damage due to diabetes are also microvascular complications. Large blood vessel damage (also called macrovascular complications) includes complications like  heart disease and  stroke.

The microvascular complications have, in numerous studies, been shown to be related to high  blood sugar levels. You can reduce your risk of these eye-related diabetes complications by improving your  blood sugar control.

Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in industrialised nations. The duration of diabetes is the single most important risk for developing retinopathy. So the longer you have diabetes, the greater the risk of this very serious eye problem. If retinopathy is not found early or is not treated, it can lead to blindness.

People with  type 1 diabetes rarely develop retinopathy before puberty. In adults with type 1 diabetes, it is also rare to see retinopathy before five years' duration of diabetes. The risks of retinal damage increase with progressive duration of diabetes. Intensive control of blood sugar levels will reduce your risks of developing retinopathy. The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial, a large study of people with type 1 diabetes, showed that people with diabetes who achieved tight control of their blood sugars with either an  insulin pump or multiple daily injections of insulin were 50%-75% less likely to develop retinopathy, nephropathy (kidney disease), or nerve damage (all microvascular complications).

People with  type 2 diabetes often have signs of eye problems when diabetes is diagnosed. In this case, control of blood sugar,  blood pressure, and blood cholesterol have an important role in slowing the progression of retinopathy and other eye problems.

Types of retinopathy in diabetes:

• Background retinopathy. Sometimes the blood vessel damage exists, but there is no vision problem. This is called background retinopathy. It's important to carefully manage your diabetes at this stage to prevent background retinopathy from progressing to more serious eye disease.
• Maculopathy. In maculopathy, the person has developed damage in a critical area called the macula. Because this occurs in an area that is critical to vision, this type of eye problem can significantly reduce vision.
• Proliferative retinopathy. New blood vessels start to grow in the back of the eye. Because retinopathy is a microvascular complication of diabetes, a disease of small vessels, this type of retinopathy develops because of an increasing lack of oxygen to the eye from  vascular disease. Vessels in the eye are thinned and occluded and they start to remodel.

Here, it is important to address the risks factors that can worsen the occluded vessels.  Smoking cessation,  high blood pressure control,  cholesterol management, and blood sugar control must take place in order to stop the damage to blood vessels and progression of new vessels from growing into the eye. These are fragile vessels that can bleed and eventually cause a clot to form in the retina, which scars and may cause detachment of the retina. This can eventually lead to irreversible vision loss.

Treatment of diabetic retinopathy may involve laser procedures or surgery. In a study of people with diabetes with early retinopathy, laser therapy to burn the fragile vessel resulted in a 50% reduction of blindness.

To prevent damage from retinopathy it’s important to have eye screening annually, or more frequently if recommended. Women with diabetes who later become pregnant should have a comprehensive eye examination during the  first trimester and close follow-up with an eye specialist during the rest of their  pregnancy to avoid serious eye problems with diabetes. (This recommendation does not apply to women who develop  gestational diabetes, since they are not at risk of retinopathy.)

When to seek medical advice about eye problems in diabetes

If you have diabetes,  seek medical advice about any eye problems if any of the following occur:

• Black spots in your vision.
• Flashes of light.
• “Holes" in your vision.
• Blurred vision.

Eye care for people with diabetes

Eye care is especially important for people with diabetes because they are at increased risk of developing eye complications from the disease. Retinopathy (damage to the retina at the back of the eye) is a common complication of diabetes. If left untreated, it can get worse and cause some loss of vision, or blindness in severe cases. All people with diabetes should take precautions to help reduce their risk of developing eye problems. Here are some eye care tips:

• Book regular appointments with your optometrist so that any eye problem can be detected early and treated
• Maintain control of your blood glucose levels
• Keep your  blood pressure under control. High blood pressure by itself can lead to eye disease, so if you have high blood pressure as well as diabetes, it is especially important that you take steps to control both conditions
• Get your blood  cholesterol levels under control
• Eat a healthy  diet
• Avoid  smoking
• Exercise regularly

Diabetes

Odds are that you know someone with diabetes, possibly even someone who has to take insulin each day to manage the disease. Diabetes is a growing health problem in the United States and has risen about six-fold since 1950, now affecting approximately 20.8 million Americans. About one-third of those 20.8 million do not know that they have the disease. Diabetes-related health care costs total nearly $100 billion per year and are increasing. Diabetes contributes to over 200,000 deaths each year.

To understand diabetes, you first need to know about how your body uses a hormone called insulin to handle glucose, a simple sugar that is its main source of energy. In diabetes, something goes wrong in your body so that you do not produce insulin or are not sensitive to it. Therefore, your body produces high levels of blood glucose, which act on many organs to produce the symptoms of the disease.

In this article, we will examine this serious disease. We will look at how your body handles glucose. We'll find out what insulin is and what it does, how the lack of insulin or insulin-insensitivity affects your body functions to produce the symptoms of diabetes, how the disease is currently treated and what future treatments are in store for diabetics.

Since diabetes is a disease that affects your body's ability to use glucose, let's start by looking at what glucose is and how your body controls it. Glucose is a simple sugar that provides energy to all of the cells in your body. The cells take in glucose from the blood and break it down for energy (some cells, like brain cells and red blood cells, rely solely on glucose for fuel). The glucose in the blood comes from the food that you eat.

When you eat food, glucose gets absorbed from your intestines and distributed by the bloodstream to all of the cells in your body. Your body tries to keep a constant supply of glucose for your cells by maintaining a constant glucose concentration in your blood -- otherwise, your cells would have more than enough glucose right after a meal and starve in between meals and overnight. So, when you have an oversupply of glucose, your body stores the excess in the liver and muscles by making glycogen, long chains of glucose. When glucose is in short supply, your body mobilizes glucose from stored glycogen and/or stimulates you to eat food. The key is to maintain a constant blood-glucose level.

So, what happens when you do not eat? In times of fasting, your pancreas releases glucagon so that your body can produce glucose. Glucagon is another protein hormone that is made and secreted by the alpha cells of the pancreatic islets. Glucagon acts on the same cells as insulin, but has the opposite effects:

• Stimulates the liver and muscles to break down stored glycogen (glycogenolysis) and release the glucose

• Stimulates gluconeogenesis in the liver and kidneys

In contrast to insulin, glucagon mobilizes glucose from stores inside your body and increases the concentrations of glucose in the bloodstream -- otherwise, your blood glucose would fall to dangerously low levels.

So how does your body know when to secrete glucagon or insulin? Normally, the levels of insulin and glucagon are counter-balanced in the bloodstream. For example, just after you eat a meal, your body is ready to receive the glucose, fatty acids and amino acids absorbed from the food. The presence of these substances in the intestine stimulates the pancreatic beta cells to release insulin into the blood and inhibit the pancreatic alpha cells from secreting glucagon. The levels of insulin in the blood begin to rise and act on cells (particularly liver, fat and muscle) to absorb the incoming molecules of glucose, fatty acids and amino acids. This action of insulin prevents the blood-glucose concentration (as well as the concentrations of fatty acids and amino acids) from substantially increasing in the bloodstream. In this way, your body maintains a steady blood-glucose concentration in particular.

In contrast, when you are between meals or sleeping, your body is essentially starving. Your cells need supplies of glucose from the blood in order to keep going. During these times, slight drops in blood-sugar levels stimulate glucagon secretion from the pancreatic alpha cells and inhibit insulin secretion from the beta cells. Blood-glucagon levels rise. Glucagon acts on liver, muscle and kidney tissue to mobilize glucose from glycogen or to make glucose that gets released into the blood. This action prevents the blood-glucose concentration from falling drastically.

As you can see, the interplay between insulin and glucagon secretions throughout the day help to keep your blood-glucose concentration constant.

Now that you know the symptoms of diabetes -- high blood glucose, excessive hunger and thirst, frequent urination -- let's look at what happens to your body during diabetes. For the purposes of this discussion, let's suppose that you have undiagnosed, and therefore unmanaged, diabetes.

Now, let's see how the lack of insulin or insulin-resistance affects your body to produce the clinical symptoms and signs of diabetes:

As of now, there is no cure for diabetes; however, the disease can be treated and managed successfully. The key to treating diabetes is to closely monitor and manage your blood-glucose levels through exercise, diet and medications. The exact treatment regime depends on the type of diabetes.

If you have Type 1 diabetes, you lack insulin and must administer it several times each day. Insulin injections are usually timed around meals to cope with the glucose load from digestion. You must monitor your blood-glucose levels several times a day and adjust the amounts of insulin that you inject accordingly. This keeps your blood-glucose concentration from fluctuating wildly.

How to help or reverse Type II Diabetes 

The good news is that most individuals with Type II diabetes are able to reverse or dramatically mitigate their disease with the proper steps.

1. Get Insulin Problems Under Control– Diabetes is triggered by insulin resistance and regaining proper insulin sensitivity can help reverse the process. Limit consumption of sugars, grains and processed carbohydrates and focus on healthy proteins, fats and green veggies.
2. Get Your Fats in Good Balance– Overabundance of Omega-6 fats in the diet is a contributing factor in diabetes. Pay attention to your intake of  Omega-3 and Omega-6 fats and try to get them closer to a 1:1 ratio. For many people, supplementing with a good quality Omega-3 oil can help while dietary adjustments are being made. Avoid Omega-6 seed oils and their sources (these are used at almost every restaurant). Eat fatty fish like salmon and sardines for the Omega-3s.
3. Fix your Gut–  Grains and toxins cause damage to the intestinal lining and facilitate leaky gut syndrome. Depleted beneficial bacteria in the gut caused by poor diet, antibiotic use or being bottle fed as a baby can make the problem worse. Remove the grains, avoid toxins whenever possible and take a high quality probiotic to help the intestines heal. As a note: some people will have continued damage to the gut with exposure to grains, especially gluten, as little as only every 10 days or even every 6 months.
4. Exercise– Even the mainstream medical community recognizes the advantage of exercise, as it increases the muscles ability to use insulin and over time can help fix insulin resistance. All exercise isn’t created equal though and fortunately, smaller amounts of high intensity exercise have been shown to have a better effect on insulin levels (and weight loss) than an hour of daily moderate cardio. According to the Healthy Skeptic: “A pair of studies done at McMaster University found that “6-minutes of pure, hard exercise once a week could be just as effective as an hour of daily moderate activity“, according to the June 6, 2005 CNN article reporting on the study.” I recommend high intensity exercise anyway for its various health advantages, and it is great for diabetes control. too.
5. Lose Excess Weight– Obesity and Diabetes often go hand in hand, and while the debate still rages on if one causes the other, studies show that losing weight can help mitigate diabetes, and also lowers your risk of getting it to begin with. Certain dietary and lifestyle improvements can help you lose weight and are beneficial for diabetes reversal as well.
6. Reduce Stress–  Stress raises cortisol and can lead to hormone imbalance, insulin issues and increases risk for certain types of disease. Work to reduce your sources of stress from lack of sleep, exposure to toxins, mental and emotional sources and poor diet. Getting quality sleep every night can help reduce stress hormone levels and is great for blood sugar.
7. Supplement– Supplements can help your body heal from diabetes, especially while your body works to gain proper insulin reactions again. Supplements often associated with helping diabetes symptoms and improving the disease are cinnamon, omega-3 fatty acids, alpha lipoic acid, chromium, coenzyme Q10, garlic, and magnesium

GMC2 Liquid Glucosamine for Humans

What is Glucosamine and What Are The Benefits?

Glucosamine is a substance produced naturally in the body from a sugar (glucose) and an amino acid (glutamine). As well as contributing to the formation of joint building blocks (glycosaminoglycans) needed to make cartilage, tendons, ligaments and joint fluid, it acts as a biological signal to switch on the repair of these tissues, and to suppress inflammation and the breakdown of cartilage. Its production declines with age, contributing to joint deterioration. Research suggests that supplementing a healthy diet with glucosamine could help to ease achy joints and stiffness.

Our bodies naturally make glucosamine as part of its way of keeping our joints lubricated and flexible for maximum mobility. Glucosamine is needed to react with hydrochloric acid in the stomach to eventually produce Hyaluronic Acid, which is a glycosaminoglycan. Hyaluronic acid is found naturally in cartilage, tendons, ligaments and synovial fluid around the joints. It helps with elasticity. Hyaluronic acid is unique among glycosaminoglycans in that it is nonsulfated, and can be very large, with its molecular weight often reaching the millions. It is one of the main components of the extracellular matrix. The extracellular matrix provides structural support to animal cells. The extracellular matrix is the most important feature of connective tissue in animals.

Arthritis

As some people get older they develop a degenerative condition known as osteoarthritis which is characterized by pain, stiffness, swelling of the joints and a general inability to move about easily. The condition, which is irreversible, is caused by the deterioration and eventual loss of bone cartilage, the soft connective tissue that protects joints and keeps bones from directly rubbing against each other. Some studies suggest that most people over 60 have osteoarthritis though the severity of the symptoms can vary greatly among individuals. Arthritis affects nearly 70 million Americans.

Relieving arthritis with glucosamine

Numerous allopathic and natural remedies are touted as treatments for the symptoms of osteoarthritis. Among them are nutritional supplements based on a substance called Glucosamine. Glucosamine is a naturally occurring amino sugar in the body that plays a vital role in keeping cartilage and other body tissues healthy. As people get older their bodies start producing less glucosamine. This gradual diminishing of glucosamine causes the bone cartilage to lose some of its elasticity and become stiff and inflexible, eventually resulting in osteoarthritis. Glucosamine supplements are designed to slow this process by compensating for the loss of the amino sugar that occurs with age. Glucosamine supplements are believed to help in the production of glycosaminoglycan, a molecule that helps repair and rebuild damaged cartilage.

Research

Although it has only been tracked since the early 80’s, research shows that it is generally safe for most people.
Though glucosamine along with chondroitin supplements have been fairly widely used for some time now, there is still considerable discussion about the extent of their effectiveness in treating osteoarthiritis. Previous clinical studies have suggested for instance that the effectiveness of a glucosamine supplement is dependent on whether it is a Glucosamine hydrochloride or Glucosamine Sulfate.
Glucosamine hydrocholride vs glucosamine sulfate
Some research suggests that Glucosamine sulfate is more effective at alleviating osteoarthritis symptoms because it is more bio-available, or most easily absorbed by the body compared to hydrochloride supplements. Other studies however suggest that Glucosamine hydrochloride supplements are more concentrated, and are absorbed more rapidly in the gastrointestinal tract than other Glucosamine supplements. A third school of thought holds that Glucosamine supplements are most effective only when they are taken along with chondroitin supplements.

Glucosamine/chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial (GAIT)
Sufferers of osteoarthritis who are looking for some clarity on the subject unfortunately have little to go by. The most solid research to date on the effectiveness of Glucosamine was conducted by the University of Utah, School of Medicine on behalf of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The study, which was called Glucosamine/chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial (GAIT), was designed to test the short-term effectiveness of Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate in reducing pain associated with osteoarthritis.
The study of 1583 patients suggested that patients with moderate to severe pain did indeed obtain statistically significant pain relief when they took Glucosamine combined with chondroitin sulfate. The results were somewhat less clear in the case of osteoarthritis suffers with only moderate pain. The NIH study however looked only at the effectiveness of Glucosamine hydrochloride supplements and not Glucosamine Sulfate based ones.
Meanwhile, a much earlier three-year clinical study conducted in the Prague Institute of Rheumatology, showed Glucosamine Sulfate to be effective in slowing the progression of knee osteoarthritis. The results of this study were very similar to those from a previous clinical study investigating the effectiveness of Glucosamine sulfate. What appears less clear though is the effectiveness of Glucosamine when it is taken by itself. The GAIT study for instance, showed that Glucosamine alone fared little better than a placebo in relieving osteoarthritis symptoms.

Where can I find a good quality form of Glucosamine?

GMC² Liquid from Osumex which is a high quality liquid glucosamine complex (hydrochloride and sulphate) containing MSM, Chondroitin, an amazing Collagen blend of bioavailable amino acids and other natural ingredients. It is formulated to soothe sore aching joints, maintain joint flexibility, stimulate cartilage growth and reduce inflammation of existing joint tissues.

MSM is a powerful anti-inflammatory and soothes the sore swollen muscles and connective tissues which are the main causes of pain. In liquid form the absorption rate is significantly higher than that of powder or tablets. It contains no artificial colouring such as blue dye, artificial sweetener such as sucralose or Spenda or any artificial flavours. Instead it uses natural grape concentrates and grape skin extract for the human version and apple and pear concentrates for the pet version. The Collagen blend of amino acids have been proven to generate faster and more effective beneficial results which will be within weeks instead of months.

GMC² is even more effective for supporting joint health and easing joint pain when used with Osumex 100% Pure Antarctic Krill Oil due to the highly bioavailability of the Omega-3 in the krill oil.

What real life users of GMC² are saying

Email from a UK User:

I don't do testimonials, but this has made my knee livable with for 3 years now.

Ask not what you did for me yesterday, what will you do for me tomorrow, they say.

Regards

Ken Lewsey

"... I do think the inflammation is coming down, at least some of the pain. Remember I have a leg torn in a bad accident and I subject my body to torture in the name of fun. This is not normal use but yet I can stand up to it and I know when off everything when I waited for the product the pain/inflammation was becoming bad, very difficult to sleep after I trained. That pain really has subsided. It must be working...

It must be working as I remember I had trouble driving home from the races because of the pain. It was nearly impossible for me to lift my knee up and down during driving. that doesn't bother me now. The pain would radiate across the lower portion of the knee and down the front of my leg. It was agony driving home. Nada now."

Ms Janis Milliken D.V.M., MS, DACVPM - June 11, 2009 - Ontario, Canada
Ms Milliken is a practising vet and a triathlon participant on a regular basis - placed first in HSBC Triathlon in pic

Krill Oil Benefits & Information

Krill Oil Benefits

Krill oil is an extract prepared from a species of antarctic krill,
Euphausia superb.Despite the relative novelty of krill oil, there is a lot
 of evidence for its benefits.

Cardiovascular health

The biggest benefit is on blood cholesterol, where multiple 
studies have shown that it raises HDL (the 'good' cholesterol) 
significantly while lowering LDL (the bad cholesterol) for a slight
reduction in total cholesterol. It also appears to lower blood
triglycerides, for an overall beneficial impact on heart disease.

Arthritis

Krill oil also appears to provide a notable reduction in C-reactive proteins
 in people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, which helps with 
overall pain and inflammation. Studies done so far show a 30 per cent 
reduction in CRP within 30 days of beginning to take krill oil.
 One additional study shows that there is also a substantial reduction in overall 
symptoms of arthritis, but that study has not been repeated yet.

In addition to well-supported effects on cardiovascular health and arthritis, 
krill oil also seems to have some benefits for PMS symptoms, particularly 
in reducing irritability and easing overall blood flow.

How Krill Oil Works in the Body

Most people have heard plenty about the need to include omega-3 fatty acids
 in their diet for both heart and brain health, and the recommendation is usually 
to take them in the form of fish oil. What many people have not heard, though,
 is that there's a relatively new kid on the block that works even better. It's called krill oil.

Much like fish oil is made by separating out the fatty acids from the tissues of oily fish, 
krill oil is made using krill, which is a group of extremely small crustaceans.
 Krill have a similar fatty acid content to fish, with about the same levels of
 DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and slightly more EPA (eicosapentanoic acid). 
Where krill gets its advantage, though, is in the specific form of the fatty acids.

                        

Krill oil vs fish oil

Fish oil holds its fatty acids primarily in the form of triglycerides.
 The fatty acids in krill oil, on the other hand, are bound mostly as phospholipids. 
What does this mean on a practical level? It means that the fatty acids in krill oil
 have a much higher bioavailability than the ones in fish oil. 
Simply put, your body can use a whole lot more of what's in krill oil.

In addition to the fatty acids, krill oil contains various other compounds. 
The primary ones are vitamin E, which is beneficial to blood flow and 
metabolism, and astaxanthin, which is a carotenoid that helps with eye health and
 inflammation. It is still unknown whether krill oil contains these compounds in
 high enough percentages to make an impact, but research will surely continue.

Where can I find a good Krill Oil?

Osumex Pure Antarctic Krill Oil is produced from krills harvested only
 in the pure unpolluted waters of the Antarctic Ocean.
 The producer practices safe and sustainable harvesting and 
collaborates closely with eco-watch groups such as WWF to ensure 
sustainable harvesting of the Antarctic krill and oil production.  

The Antarctic krill lives in the unpolluted coldest and most pristine 
waters on earth. It also holds very potent digestive enzymes that make
 it unsuitable for trawling because it practically self destructs very quickly 
when taken out of the water for processing. Safe and sustainable harvesting means the 
processing equipment stays under water while a continuous stream of water brings the
fresh raw krill on board the factory vessel. 

This allows for processing of fresh raw material on board the floating life science factory 
which means bioactive components are retained for superior quality. This means that the
 krill oil obtained are of the purest and highest quality without any adulteration. 
There are many krill oil products sold today where it is produced from small batches 
and multiple small sources that are pooled together to make one batch for production. 
These cannot be considered pure krill oil.

Osumex Antarctic Pure Krill Oil is rich in natural Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Astaxanthin
 a very powerful antioxidants giving the rich red colour. Due to the presence of Astaxanthin 
content which is recognized for its health-promoting free radical suppression no additives
 are required to maintain the integrity and purity of the krill oil in the vegetable soft gel capsule. 
Most fish oil supplements on the other hand require much additives to ensure viability and 
to maintain shelf-life. In addition a significant proportion of the long-chain Omega-3 
fatty acids in the krill oil is in phospholipid form. In contrast, the Omega-3 in dietary
 supplements derives from cod liver, seal and or fish oils are almost exclusively 
Omega-3 triglyceride fatty acids.

Osumex Antarctic Pure Krill Oil is safe to use with no known side effects or toxicity from
 preclinical studies and research. However, it is always recommended that you check with
 your doctor or professional health-care give before using the product.

Osumex Antarctic Pure Krill Oil is encapsulated in a vegetable soft gel cap and therefore
 does not contain gluten or gelatin from animal sources.
Warning: Contains shellfish (krill).People with shellfish allergy, coagulopathy or taking anticoagulants or 
other medications should notify their physician and be tested prior to taking dietary supplements.
 If you are pregnant or nursing, consult your physician before taking this product. Keep out of reach of children.

Immune System and Probiotics

Have you heard the saying “it all lies in the gut?” There is truth to this as 70-80% of our entire immune system resides within the gut.

The lining of the small intestines is full of lymph nodes. When necessary, inflammation in the intestines creates a pathway for the immune system to carry out an attack against invading viruses and bacteria. However, when inflammation is present but not needed, illnesses such as allergies, flu and chronic infections can occur. Probiotics offer a beneficial defense against the effects caused by this unwarranted inflammation. 

Probiotics also keep the gut healthy, to ensure the immune system functions well. Epithelial tissues in the intestines form a barrier against pathogenic microbes and other harmful substances present. Epithelial intestinal tissue is dependent upon gut flora. If gut flora is not sufficient then the epithelial lining does not regenerate. For epithelial homeostasis, probiotics foster intestinal epithelial cell survival, strengthen cell barrier function, and initiate protective responses from intestinal epithelial cells. 

Probiotics can also modulate the immune system, enhancing the body’s innate immunity. This modulating effect helps alleviate excessive inflammation in the gut, thereby boosting immune function.

Probiotics can boost the body’s immune function and assist the body in warding off infections. 

Some recent studies support a significant role of probiotics for humans and animals as a barrier against microbial infection. In one study1, probiotics were beneficial in offering complete protection for mice from a viral infection pathogen. The probiotics lengthened the survival rates from the pneumonia virus of mice that were infected. A randomized, parallel, double-blind, placebo-controlled study2 showed that consumption of certain probiotics for a 12-week period could reduce the risk of acquiring common cold infections in healthy individuals. The occurrence of catching one or more common colds, the length of days with common cold symptoms, and the symptoms from the cold were all reduced. 

A recent New Zealand study conducted with professional rugby players showed probiotics enhanced the player’s ability to ward off and fight colds. This study involved 30 rugby union players who received either a probiotic supplement (3 billion CFUs/day), or placebo, for four weeks. During this period, 80% of the placebo group experienced a single episode of the common cold or stomach upset, 53% of those in the probiotic group encountered such illness. In the placebo group, the duration of illness was 5.8 days; duration among probiotic subjects was 3.4 days. The authors of this study suggested: “These positive effects of probiotic supplements 3

provide evidence for the beneficial effects of daily supplementation with these probiotic strains in highly trained rugby union players.”

Our B17 "live" Probiotic is produced from over 70 natural and organic ingredients such as:

lactic acid bacterium (introduced as starter)

	seaweed		Kombu, Fucus, brown algae, Hibamata from Norway
	mushrooms		Shiitake, Maitake, Agaricus brazei murill
	vegetables		Kale, Cabbage, Broccoli, Komatsuna, Mugwort, young leaves of Barley
	medicinal herbs		Nihon-yama-ninjin or Japanese ginseng
	grains and cereals		soya bean, unpolished rice
	cultivated and wild fruits		apples, oranges, berries, lemon, persimon, guomi, akebi, Chinese matrimony

The above ingredients are allowed to ferment naturally for a period of 3 years. Due to the way that LB17 "live" probiotic is exposed to extremes in temperature (summer and winter) during the fermentation process, the bacteria in LB17 are potent, resilient and are able to stay alive for up to 3 years at room temperature without the need for refrigeration. The bacterium is live and viable and does not need to be revived unlike most other probiotics particularly those that are"freeze dried"!

Prior to encapsulation with a vegetable gel cap, Perilla oil (high in Omega 3 EFA) is added to provide the Omega essential fatty acids. LB17 does not contain any preservatives, additives, colouring, or artificial flavouring 

LB17 "live" probiotic is suitable for vegans as well as the "raw foods practitioner". It is very useful to the lactose intolerant and milk protein (caesin) sensitive individuals as it breaks down dairy products and nutrients consumed so that they can be better absorbed by the body.

The benefits of using LB17 "live" probiotic include, but are not limited to, the following:

• treat and control fungal infections, including eradicating Candida, through the antifungal effects of LAB especially the LAB strains in LB17
• bring the balance of friendly flora in the digestive system back to at least 80% good bacteria
• assist in the digestion of food consumed and its subsequent absorption
• boost the immune system of the body
• in bringing the digestive functions back to good order, help to ease the stress on and cleanse the organs associated with digestion such as the liver, kidneys, pancreas, spleen, etc
• support the treatment of crohns and colitis 
• study shows live probiotics protects intstinal cells from effects of infection by interoinvasive Escherichia coil (EIEC)
• improve oxygen intake to the red cell plateletes and thus improve the stamina and endurance of athletes from studies conducted by researches at Okayama University, Japan
• convert botancial lignans (SDG) in the bowel to mammalian lignans (ED and EL) to enable the body to absorb these powerul and amazingly beneficial substances. Lignans have been recognised and acknowledged by the medical fraternity as effective in treating and preventing cancers such as breast, bowel, colon and prostate
• in conjunction with Osumex Rice Bran Oils (RBO), significantly boost the healing powers of the skin. This is vital to individuals who are afflicted with Diabetes (Type-2) where healing properties of the skin have been impaired so that loss of limbs arising from serious infections may be avoided
• help treat psoriasis, a condition which is being recognised to be caused by a poor or inadequate immune system
• help treat asthma and mothers who use probiotics during pregnancy may ensure that the new born child do not develop asthmatic symptoms
• pevent colds and nasal congestions through elimination of excessive bad and harmful bacteria in the nasal passages
• ease and relief heart-burn, acid reflux and most other digestive disorders such as excessive intestinal gas

Lactic Bacteria produces specific natural antibiotics that inhibits and eliminate pathogenic bacterium. For example, Lactobacillus acidophilus produces acidophiline, L. bulgaricus produces bulgarican, other lactobacilli produce lactocidine, lactobacilline, hydrogen peroxide, bacterial peptides, lactic streptococci produce nisin and streptococcins. These are all anti-septic to pathogenic bacterium.

It has also been shown that lactic bacteria, in particular Streptococcus faecium, colonize the intestinal mucosa preventing its attachment by other harmful microbes. This protects the integrity of the digestive system eliminating the onset of many digestive disorders.

Different lactic bacteria provides different specific benefits and this is the primary reason to use a probiotic that contains as many different strains of lactic bacteria to ensure all the essential beneficial effects are secured for a truely healthy digestive system. A summary of these beneficial effects associated with the different strains of the lactic bacteria are listed below:

• Lactobacillus acidophilus
  L. acidophilus populates the small intestines. It enables preconjugation of bile acids to assist in better digestion of food and nutrients consumed which leads to production of lactic acid, hydrogen peroxide, and other byproducts that make the environment hostile for undesired organisms. L. acidophilus also produces Vitamin B12, lactase, the enzyme that breaks down milk sugar (lactose) into simple sugars. People who are lactose intolerant do not produce this enzyme. Other benefits include reduction of blood pressure and anti-tumour. L. acidophilus is the colonizer, the inhabitant that constitutes the first line of defense against alien invaders, as well as opportunistic organisms like yeasts (Candida albicans)
• Lactobactillus amylovorus
  L. amylovorus produces strong L-lactic acid slowly. The L-lactic acid helps to reduce cholesterol and has an anti-cancer effect. L. amylovorus products the enzyme amylase that helps to break down starch and cereals.
• Lactobacillus casei
  L. casei also produces L-lactic acid that helps increase salt tolerance. It is useful as acid-producing starter cultures for milk fermentation, and as specialty cultures for the intensification and acceleration of flavor development in certain bacterial-ripened cheese varieties. It is not only an inhibiting activator in tumor cells but it also has a beneficial stimulating activity in normal cells. L. casei is very beneficial to lactose intolerant individuals in their consumption of diary products. L. casei was reported in Microbiology & Immunology to have the most potent protective activity against the potentially lethal Listeria bacteria than any other \ beneficial bacteria 
• Lactobacillus plantarum (2 strains)
  L. plantarum improves mucosal and liver status. It also improves the immunological status of mucosa and reduces mucosal inflammation and an excellent alternative to antibiotics. L. plantarum also decreases abdominal bloating in patients with IBS and can also decrease fibrinogen concentrations in the blood.
• Lactobacillus fermentum
  L. fermentum is a well-characterized probiotic strains with efficacy in the prevention and treatment of urogenital infections in women. It also produces hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and inhibited the growth of intestinal and urogenital pathogens.
• Lactobacillus brevis
  L. brevis is frequently used as starter culture in silage fermentation, sourdough and lactic-acid-fermented types of beer. Ingestion of L. brevis has been found to improve human immune function, increase intestinal microflora and decreases intestinal permeability. 
• Lactobacillus buchneri
  L. buchneri has been demonstrated to improve aerobic stability of silages by reducing the growth of yeasts and therefore help to prevent spoilage from moulds. L. buchneri has also been shown in studies to produce high levels of acetic acid.
• Lactobacillus acetotolerans
• Lactobacillus bulgaricus
  L. bulgaricus is extremely proteolytic, i.e., it is able to split proteins for easy digestion and absorption. it is especially "famous" for alleviating digestive problems (including acid reflux) and taming a runaway appetite, everyone can benefit greatly from it. L. bulgaricus is recommended for overall support of the friendly bacteria, enhanced digestibility of milk products and other proteins, production of natural antibiotic substances, inhibition of undesirable organisms, maximum effectiveness of waste disposal, colon cleaning without disrupting friendly bacteria, and effective immune enhancement.
• Bifidobacterium longum
  B. longum has the unique property of metabolizing or degrading nitrates by an intracellular enzymatic activity. In journal Cancer Research it had been reported that dietary intake of B. longum significantly inhibits the development and growth of colon, liver and breast cancers in laboratory animal models. Certain strains in animal studies had been documented as possessing the ability to counteract cancer-causing compounds in the colon.
• Bifidobacterium bifidum
  B. bifidum has been cited in the medical journal Immunopharmacology and Immunotoxicology that their presence in the intestine of infants is an indication of health. It also has the ability to protect the body against the devastation of rotavirus diarrhea and that it modifies the gut flora and is a supportive therapy for intestinal infections and intestinal disturbances. B. bifidum has immune strengthening properties as reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition especially in relation to colon health and its suppressive effect on tumors. It reports that B. bifidum is well tolerated without side effects, reducing the inflammatory response of the colon and stimulating the body's fluid immunity.  Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin reported information confirming the anti-ulcer effects of B. bifidum when administered orally. 
• Pediococcus bacterium
  The Pediococcus bacterium are not yet fully understood and commonly confused as harmful pathogens. However, recent studies and researches now confirm their beneficial properties in a number of the strains particularly of those used in LB17. They produce bacteriocin (anti-bacterial material) and increase salt tolerance. Studies have found that they might be useful for control of enteric pathogens.
• Streptoccous thermophilus
  S. thermophilus is used, along with Lactobacillus spp., as a starter culture for the manufacture of several important fermented dairy foods, including yogurt and Mozzarella cheese. Its role as a probiotic is useful in alleviating symptoms of lactose intolerance and other gastrointestinal disorders. it is also good for promoting health in general and for longevity. The bacteria also appear to reduce the amount of nitrite (cancer causing chemical) in the body.
• Lactococcus lactis (formerly known as Streptococcus lactis)
  L. lactis is one of the most important micro-organisms involved in the dairy industry. It is a non-pathogenic bacterium that is critical for manufacturing dairy products like buttermilk, yogurt and cheese. The cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10) has shown promise in clinical trials for treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The research with mouse showed that the therapeutic dose of IL-10 can be reduced by localized delivery of a bacterium to secrete the cytokine. Intragastric administration of IL-10-secreting Lactococcus lactis caused a 50% reduction in colitis in mice treated with dextran sulfate sodium and prevented the onset of colitis in IL-10/ mice. This approach may lead to better methods for cost-effective and long-term management of IBD in humans. 

Comparison of Different Forms of Probiotics

LIQUID CULTURE Example: Yoghurt Morphological changes due to external conditions Only some cells are actively multiplying due to external changes in conditions Subject to osmotic pressure changes Uncertain shelf life Viable population unstable Survival uncertain Temperature sensitive to small changes Storage required refrigeration and large space Precentage of population revived in human body is uncertain Efficacy depends on the number of bacteria revived in the body

FREEZE DRIED  Example: Tablet or powder form Method changes cell structure completely due to very low pressure used in the technique Cells are completely inactive and in a state of hibernation No effect Long shelf life Unstable Uncertain Sensitive to large temperature changes Special storage   conditions required Percentage of population revived in the human body is uncertain  Efficacy depends on the form and number of bacteria revived in the body

LIVE IN CAPSULE Example: LB17 No change - retains original form of cells All cells are active and in original physical or biological condition No effect Five years Stable Certain Sensitive to large temperature changes Can tolerate room temperature and occupies less space Perceentage of population revived in the human body is very certain and asured Efficacy is certain and assured based on the definite population present in capsule - 100% alive in the body

What probiotic you pick matters and our LB17 is high quality effect that will help your immune system today!

References:

1. Gabryszewski SJ, Bachar O, Dyer KD, et al. (2011) Lactobacillus-mediated priming of the respiratory mucosa protects against lethal pneumovirus infection. J Immunol;186:1151–1161. [NIH] 
2. Berggren A, Lazou Ahren I, Larsson N, Onning G. Randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study using new probiotic Lactobacilli for strengthening the body immune defense against viral infections. Eur J Nutr. 2011;50:203–210. [EJN] 
3. Brylee A. Haywood, Katherine E. Black, Dane Baker, James McGarvey, et al. (2014) “Probiotic supplementation reduces the duration and incidence of infections but not severity in elite rugby union players.” Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport Vol. 17, Issue 4, Pages 356-360. [JSAMS]