When Dr. James J. Cerda was working at the University of Florida under a grant from the Florida Citrus Commission, he, together with his partner Charles Burgin, initially intended to study Vitamin C. When they stumbled upon pectin from grapefruit and how it affected cholesterol level in guinea pigs, they knew they stumbled on something big. Soon, ProFibe would be launched.

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Cholesterol is a waxy and soft fat that assists the body in performing its natural functions. As with many aspects of the human body, excess and imbalances cause more havoc than assistance.

When fats are absorbed in the intestines, they get processed and then filtered to the liver. While in the liver, the fats are split into two types referred to as triglycerides and cholesterol.

The bloodstream delivers LDL and HDL proteins throughout the body. This process goes without disturbance just as long as the body is not under any immediate stress.

The fats need a mechanism to allow their distribution for immediate use or for storage in fat cells (to be used later). Using the bloodstream as a delivery system, cholesterol and triglycerides are distributed throughout the body by proteins called lipoproteins. There are three types of lipoproteins: Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL), High Density Lipoproteins (HDL), and Very Low Density Lipoproteins (VLDL).

Cholesterol comprises cell walls and membranes, and aids in the production of hormones, bile acids and vitamin D. It’s also supposed to support the cell connections in the brain that are responsible for memory and learning.

The human body is naturally able to produce the amount of cholesterol that is needed on a daily basis. When cholesterol level rises in the blood, it causes more harm than assistance.

Too much cholesterol deposits by LDL narrows the blood vessels which restricts blood flow. This cholesterol may attach itself to the heart’s arteries - a common factor in strokes or heart disease. This is also known as atherosclerosis - the process of bad cholesterol formation within organ structures.

This is why LDL is labeled as ‘bad cholesterol’. On the other hand, HDL is known as ‘good cholesterol’. It works in the opposite way, by actually taking ‘bad cholesterol’ back to the liver.

There are many factors such as diet, heredity and exercise that affect one’s cholesterol level. It’s important to be aware of the health risks associated with high cholesterol.

Make it a habit to check your cholesterol level on a regular basis.

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In 1973, Dr. James Cerda (gastroenterologist) and Mr. Charles Burgin (chemist) began to research the benefits of Pectin. These two have visionary minds, a fascination with medicine and organic chemistry, and an unwavering determination to find the answers to their questions. They thought of ideas and developed several theories.

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Your physician may have termed it “bulk.” Grandma called it “roughage”. Whatever name it goes by, fiber – such as that in the fruit-based supplement ProFibe – has countless benefits for anyone who seriously wants to stay in the peak of health.

Plainly speaking, dietary fiber refers to plant cells’ indigestible parts. Although it is a form of carbohydrate, fiber cannot be converted to glucose, which means that it does not raise blood-sugar levels the way typical carbohydrates do. Instead, it can even set back the entry of glucose into the bloodstream.

This consequently trims down the blood-sugar surges which foster the production and storage of body fat. By slowing down the transit time of food in your digestive tract, you’ll also experience fullness (in terms of eating) longer, helping you to actually cut down on intake.

ProFibe is a water-soluble fiber product approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under its “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) category. Made from citrus pectin and guar gum, ProFibe is tasteless and is easily tolerated by people who aren’t too keen on artificially flavored drinks.

Importance of Fiber

Water soluble fiber is effective in lowering cholesterol levels by flushing bad cholesterol out of the body before it reaches the bloodstream. Here are some of the other benefits you can get from fiber (Atkins, 2002):

• Treats constipation by “bulking up” the stool and making “movement easier”.
• Reduces the probability of the occurrence of diverticulitis (inflammation of small pockets in the colonic wall).
• Binds to cholesterol and helps the body flush it out.
• Crowds out harmful bacteria in the digestive tract and consequently boosts the immune system.
• Hastens the excretion of bile which may promote gallstone formation.
• Absorbs and gets rid of toxins and other harmful substances in the intestine.

When you include more fiber, as well as starches, in your regular diet, you will begin to experience a reduction in the risk for high blood pressure, cancer, obesity, and other diseases, as well as enjoy lower cholesterol levels.

It is said that a 2% drop in heart disease risk results from every 1% drop in blood cholesterol levels. ProFibe addresses the need for an inexpensive and effective way of not just reducing blood cholesterol levels but also repairing existing damage.

ProFibe is kosher-certified and is complexed with non-genetically modified organism (non-GMO) soy protein to improve its palatability and make it more acceptable for a greater number of people. Its powdered form is easily mixed with various beverages such as water and juices and works best when taken thrice a day in equal doses.

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