After a bit of a delay, OsteoStim is finally back. We have added two new ingredients in place of Bioferrin (there is still lactoferrin in the formula as it is in the Milk Basic Protein). We have increased the anti-inflammatory action of OsteoStim by adding curcumin. And, for a more potent anti-oxidant kick, we blended in grape extract for its resveratrol, plyphenols, and cyanidins. This added anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant power not only has been shown to calm down bone-destroying osteoclasts but also boost osteoblast collagen synthesis.
You are probably all familiar with curcumin and its powerful anti-inflammatory action but many of you may not have heard about the benefits of grape extract. Grape is loaded with phytochemicals that not only benefit cardiovascular health and reduce cancer risk but also improve bone health by reducing oxidative stress.
Oxidative stress occurs when free-radicals overwhelm the body's anti-oxidant capacity. This can easily happen when lifestyle habits (smoking, excess alcohol, poor sleep, etc...), poor diet, digestive issues, and/or exposure to toxins adversely impacts the body's ability to keep free radicals at bay.
If the body is overwhelmed by oxidative stress it turns on inflammation, a general term we use for its powerful immune response systems. If this response gets out of control and is constantly turned on, we call it "systemic inflammation". When this becomes chronic, it produces more oxidative stress and a vicious cycle ensues leading to chronic disease. A reduction of chronic systemic inflammation (you can read all about this in my book, The Whole-Body Approach to Osteoporosis) is often key to improving and preventing chronic diseases such as osteoporosis.
With grape extract, we see a reduction in laboratory biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation. For example, elevated lipid peroxides, a sign of damaged fatty membranes that surround cells, is a biomarker that signals cell damage and premature aging. Specific to bone loss, when there are excessive levels of lipid peroxides our body produces PPAR-gamma, a chemical messenger in the body that switches the production of bone osteoblasts into bone fat. When fat builds up in bone marrow we see a reduction in both bone formation and in the stem cells that produce red blood cells. This is one of the reasons why we often see anemia in people with osteoporosis. Grape extract is a powerful aid in reducing lipid peroxide and PPAR-gamma production.
Grape extract is a perfect addition to the OsteoStim formula. It not only helps reduce lipid peroxide and free radical production but also suppresses excessive bone turnover, boosts collagen syntheses, and improves overall bone quality parameters.