Category: Cholesterol

29th April 2020
By Dr Chia Boon Tat

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought a wave of crisis and disruptions to the whole world. In a short span of time, it has changed the way we do things. According to many experts, this turbulent period is going to continue as the virus is here to stay [1]. As we adopt the “New Normal”, we face many challenges as we adjust to new ways of doing our daily chores.

In this article, I would like to address two specific challenges. The first is the way we manage chronic disorders and the second is the way we cope with the disruptions.

Our well being in the COVID-19 era

The COVID-19 pandemic has cruelly exposed the vulnerabilities of the elderly and patients with chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disorders, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, high blood pressure and obesity, as these are the people who have the highest risk profiles for fatalities caused by the virus. Studies are now emerging explaining how COVID-19 rampages and kills by attacking vulnerabilities in the lungs, heart, blood vessels, kidneys and intestine [2, 3, 4]. One key lesson is that age and chronic disorders have weakened the immune system and body organs, and death may be caused by over-reaction of an abnormal immune system destroying the weakened organs.

Even patients who are currently keeping their chronic conditions under control with medication are not spared. Although the symptoms are managed, their immune system nevertheless remains weakened and their bodies are less able to fight the infection.

For this group of people, in the “New Normal”, medication alone is not enough. They need to be vigilant and take practical and more natural steps to manage their chronic conditions and maintain a healthy immune system. The checklist of things to do is presented in the section “Surviving the New Normal” further below.

Dealing with anxieties arising in the COVID-19 era

I am sure many of us want this difficult period to go away as quickly as possible, and crave life to return to what it was before the pandemic. Unfortunately, this is not going to happen. Instead, in the “New Normal”, we are inundated with challenges which seem insurmountable: fear of falling sick, loss of income, depressing news, etc. We are anxious and working under severe stress. It is no coincidence that during this period, the number of people seeking help with mental health has increased [5]. So has the number of cases of domestic violence [6].

As we hunker down and work from home, we should not let ourselves be drowned in pessimism. Instead, think positive, manage stress, focus on solving the problems and seek help if needed. The faster we accept and embrace the “New Normal”, the better we will be able to deal with the situation on hand.

Surviving the New Normal

Here are some practical tips to make life better in the “New Normal”:

• Get enough sleep. Sleep deprivation is a major cause of a weakened immune system [7].
• Exercise. If you are not careful, staying home during the circuit breaker period may lead to prolonged inactivity which in turn adversely affects the immune system and aggravates chronic conditions.
• Eat healthily. Home confinement may lead to overeating and excessive weight gain with detrimental effects on the immune system and chronic conditions. Always eat balanced meals with variety and in moderation.
• Take supplements. Choose supplements to maintain the immune system and support the management of chronic conditions.
• Follow the advice from our health authorities to maintain basic hygiene practices such as washing hands regularly with soap, wearing masks, practising safe distancing, staying home and avoiding crowded places.

Take heart, do the right thing and we can make it through together.  

ProVie G and Living Logic+

At Freshwerkz, we are focused to help you LIVE LIFE BETTER. Our two flagship products, ProVie G and Living Logic+ can help you through this trying period.

ProVie G contains fermented bitter gourd (aka bitter melon) and moringa for support of healthy levels of glucose, cholesterol and blood pressure.

Living Logic+ contains fermented rhodiola, cistanche and almonds for enhancing mood, alertness, concentration and brain health.

Both products contain probiotics and prebiotics which are essential for maintaining a healthy gut and immune system.

Read More >

For Glucose, Cholesterol and Blood Pressure

https://myhealthmatter.comideal-for-metabolic-syndrome/

For Stress, Fatigue and Anxiety

https://myhealthmatter.comideal-for-students-and-working-adults/

For Fighting Infection / General Immunity

https://myhealthmatter.comideal-for-preventing-infection/

References

[1] https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200424-why-it-will-be-so-hard-to-return-to-normal

[2] https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/04/how-does-coronavirus-kill-clinicians-trace-ferocious-rampage-through-body-brain-toes#

[3] https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/coronavirus-symptoms-lung-kidney-heart-covid-19-us-doctors-a9466701.html

[4] https://www.todayonline.com/world/coronavirus-attacks-lining-blood-vessels-all-over-body-swiss-study-finds

[5] https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/covid-19-msf-domestic-abuse-violence-cases-circuit-breaker-12671330

[6] https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/covid-19-fear-toll-mental-health-hotline-anxiety-singapore-12631710

[7] https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/22/coronavirus-tip-to-boost-immunity-especially-on-lockdown.html

The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting people in more ways than one.  Besides worrying about the palpable health risks and community spread of the virus, most people are now acutely aware of the possibility of business downturn and subsequent effect of job security.  Coupled with the uncertainty in treatment of the disease, this pandemic has caused a lot of anxiety and stress.

As it is, most people are already facing pressure at work.  Dr. Chia Boon Tat, one of the founders of Freshwerkz Pte Ltd, said that the need for many to start having to work from home will throw the familiarity of work life into chaos. The reduction of interaction with colleagues, a change in the work environment, the need to deal with taking care of children or elderly while trying to work from home, will bring about a heightened level of stress and anxiety.  If not dealt with properly, stress can lead to depression.

Dr. Chia continued, “Our Living Logic+ supplement include Rhodiola rosea, Cistanche and probiotics / prebiotics, which not only help relieve stress and anxiety, but also enhance memory and immunity”.

Rhodiola helps to transfer oxygen from the lungs to the blood, so that more oxygen will be circulated in the brain and the body, thus enhancing the body’s resistance to stress, and allowing for better concentration.

《神农本草经》 (a renowned medicinal book written between about 200 and 250 CE) recorded the effects of Rhodiola as follows: it be taken for a long time without negatively affecting the body, and has the effects of improving Qi and prolonging life. Russians often use it to relieve daily anxiety, depression, and insomnia.

Many other research results in the medical field show that taking Rhodiola has the effect of regulating stress hormones without any side effects. It can help relieve stress and reduce mental and physical fatigue.

Psychiatric experiments at the University of California, Los Angeles showed that Rhodiola rosea significantly improved the symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).

Dr. Chia said that Cistanche has antidepressant effects. Modern pharmacological studies have confirmed that Cistanche has significant neuroprotective effects, and its antidepressant effect benefit has also been confirmed in recent years. In addition, Cistanche seems to be a mild sedative.

Dr. Chia explained that Cistanche helps in blood circulation, allowing our body to get sufficient oxygen so as to remove waste more efficiently from the body. A “cleaner” and healthier body can then better manage stress and anxiety.

“Stress, depression, and anxiety are partly related to imbalance in the gut flora and intestinal health. And probiotics can help to re-balance the gut microbiota.” he said.

More and more research shows that the gut microbiota plays an important role in the immune system and metabolism, and they can regulate brain function through the intestinal tract called the “second brain”.

According to a study published in the journal General Psychiatry, after 21 experiments, researchers have found that regulating intestinal flora is effective in treating anxiety.

Dr. Chia said that intestinal problems are usually caused by insufficient amount, and the lack of diversity of bacteria in the intestine.

He said that the best way to increase the number of beneficial bacteria in the intestine is to ingest beneficial bacteria and let them effectively reproduce, adjust the microbial balance of the intestine.  A healthy intestine helps to improve immunity and prevent falling sick.

The prebiotics and probiotics in Living Logic+ ferments Rhodiola and Cistanche to allow the nutrients to be easily absorbed by the human body.  They also help to prevent and / or repair leaky intestines. People who have been under stress and stress for a long time are prone to suffer from leaky gut, which is the source of a lot of diseases.

The three-pronged approach of prebiotics / probiotics, Rhodiola and Cistanche, not only effectively reduces anxiety and stress, but also improves the body’s natural immunity and keeps ailments at bay.

The COVID-19 pandemic is causing worries worldwide, partly due to the fact that it is a novel strain of the coronavirus and there is uncertainty of its transmission and treatment drugs.  This is especially true for patients with chronic ailments such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol problems, as the risk of complications is heightened.  So how should people protect themselves?

Dr Chia Boon Tat, one of the founders of Freshwerkz Pte Ltd, said that studies have shown that people with the above-mentioned diseases have weakened immunity and malnutrition, caused by imbalance of intestinal flora. Since 70% of the body’s immune cells are in the intestine, the health of the intestine will directly affect the immune system.

When people with chronic diseases take medications to manage their ailments, there may be side effects that come with the medications and this may weaken patients’ immune systems.

“The drugs used to treat diabetes, digestive diseases, bacterial infections, depression, and cancer can actually disrupt the balance of gut flora in patients, thereby damaging their immune systems and making them vulnerable to viruses”.

He said that some of the drug categories that have the greatest impact on the balance of the intestinal flora include:

• Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) that reduce gastric acid production
• Metformin that help control the symptoms of type 2 diabetes
• Antibiotics that fight bacterial infections
• Laxatives that help treat constipation
• Antidepressants (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors)

Studies have shown that people taking these drugs have more disease-related bacteria in their bodies. Therefore, for people with chronic diseases and long-term medication, it is important to maintain a balanced intestinal flora.

“It is especially important during the COVID-19 outbreak, because the immune system is the first line of defense against the virus,” he said.

How ProVie G may help people with metabolic syndrome

More than 20 years ago, Freshwerkz realized that the microbial flora has a direct impact on the immune system. Since then, they have developed a variety of health supplements such as ProVie G and Living Logic+ specifically for ailments such as diabetes, high cholesterol, mental deterioration and cancer.

Dr. Chia said that there are many bacteria in the gut, both good and bad. Bad bacteria will produce “endotoxin” (lipopolysaccharide). When endotoxin enters the blood and flows to other organs in the body, it will cause chronic inflammation of the body, increase insulin resistance, reduce blood sugar function, and cause the accumulation of adipose tissue, which may lead to obesity and metabolic syndrome.

In addition to probiotics and probiotics, ProVie G also contains fermented bitter gourd and moringa. Bitter gourd can effectively lower blood sugar, and the potassium content in it can also lower blood pressure. However, according to TCM, bitter gourd is deemed to be too “cooling”, so eating too much of it directly may hurt the spleen and stomach. Fermentation not only removes this unwanted effect, but also makes it easier for the body to absorb the nutrients.

Moringa leaves have high potassium content that can effectively prevent hypertension. It also reduces cholesterol in the body’s serum, cholesterol in the liver, and cholesterol in the kidney, and increases serum protein.

Dr. Chia continued, “We have found through experiments that the combination of bitter gourd and moringa is actually a perfect combination, because the two have synergistic medicinal properties. During the fermentation process, they can start the production of plant active enzymes and enhance the biochemical reaction of the microbial flora combined with the help of beneficial bacteria can effectively absorb the body and control the glucose and cholesterol. ”

He said that bitter gourd and moringa will produce prebiotics after fermentation, which will help the stomach and immunity. ProVie G not only optimize immunity, but also supports healthy levels of glucose and cholesterol.

The coronavirus epidemic in Wuhan is intensifying. Post-mortem reports found that some patients died of respiratory organ failure because their own immune cells were attacking the lungs. But why do human immune cells attack their own organs?

Dr. Chia Boon Tat, one of the founders of Freshwerkz Pte Ltd, said that the coronavirus attack in three stages: In the first stage, the coronavirus invades lung cells, replicates itself and causes lung cells to die. Debris and fluid from dead cells fill the airways, causing pneumonia.

In the second stage, the body’s immune system responds to the invading virus by removing damage and repairing lung cells. But when the immune system is not working properly, immune cells everything in its path, including healthy tissue. This causes more debris to clog the lungs and worsens the pneumonia.

In the third stage, the blood vessels weakened, and the liquid penetrated into the air sac, causing it to greatly reduce its ability to transport oxygen to the blood, and eventually causing death by respiratory failure.

Dr. Chia said that when the immune system is working well, the immune cells respond to the severity of the infection, but in some patients, their immune system attacks healthy tissue by mistake. Why?

“The answer lies in the gut.” He said that the gut is home to a large number of microorganisms called the gut flora. This flora affects many aspects of the human body, from metabolism to the cardiovascular system to the nervous system. What’s more, the gut flora plays a vital role in maintaining a healthy immune system.

“The immune system affects the composition of the intestinal flora, and the intestinal flora affects the development of the immune system.” Dr. Chia said, “Only a healthy intestinal flora can effectively “teach” the immune system to differentiate between good and bad bacteria. “

In other words, if a person’s intestinal flora is imbalanced, it will cause the immune system to lose the ability to distinguish between “good and bad”. When the virus attacks the body, the immune system will not be able to respond properly, and may even attack healthy tissue, causing a variety of autoimmune diseases.

Therefore, in order for the immune system to recognize good or bad bacteria, one must maintain a healthy gut. Dr. Chia said that usually an unhealthy gut is due to the imbalance of the intestinal flora, i.e. there are not enough good bacteria in the intestine, or there are not enough types.

He said that the best way to increase the number and type of probiotics in the intestine is to let the probiotics enter the intestine and effectively multiply to adjust the intestinal microecological balance. A healthy intestine helps boost immunity, as 70% of the body’s immune cells are in the intestine.

“ProVie G is our earliest product to market. Besides being a probiotic, it also contains prebiotics, as well as fermented bitter gourd and moringa.” Dr. Chia continued, “Prebiotics help increase good probiotics, and the introduction of good bacteria will enhance the intestinal environment, not only by increasing the number of good bacteria, but also increasing the diversity of good bacteria, and creating a balanced gut”.

In addition, moringa is a plant well documented to improve immunity. Moringa leaves can reduce cholesterol. Bitter gourd in ProVie G can keep blood sugar at a healthy level. By fermenting bitter gourd and moringa, prebiotics were produced, further enhancing intestinal health. So ProVie G not only improves immunity, but also effectively regulates metabolic conditions.

The recent COVID-19 outbreak originated in China and has since been declared a global health emergency, and Singapore has not been spared. The initial indications from the death cases indicated that the mortality rate is not high, but its transmission rate is faster than SARS in 2003. This has once caused panic among local residents.

How does this new coronavirus invade the human body? How harmful is it to people? How do people avoid getting infected? The reporter interviewed Dr. Chia Boon Tat, one of the founders of Freshwerkz Pte Ltd.

Dr. Chia said that the most fundamental way to fight this new strain of coronavirus infection is to maintain the body’s own strong immune system.

He said that the coronavirus attacks the lungs and causes respiratory diseases. They cause flu-like symptoms: patients face symptoms such as sore throat, fever and cough, and may develop pneumonia and other complications.

“By now we recognize that abnormalities in the immune system can cause the initial infection with the new coronavirus to worsen, and eventually cause death. Therefore, it is important to keep the immune system working properly.”

“Normally, the immune system responds to the severity of infections and limits inflammation to the infected area. In some people, their immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues, while in others In humans, the immune system is tightly controlled and functioning. What’s going on? The answer lies in the gut.”

The gut is home for a very large number of microbes called the gut microbiota or flora. This flora has a huge impact on our health and equilibrium of the body. It influences many aspects of the body’s physiology from metabolism to the cardiovascular system and nervous system. In particular, the gut flora plays a crucial role in maintaining a healthy immune system.

Modern science has proven that 70% of immune cells are produced in the intestine, most of which are concentrated in the large intestinal mucosa. As the Chinese saying goes, “Illness enters from the mouth.” It means that the virus enters the body with food. In order to prevent the invasion of foreign pathogens, the intestine has become the largest immune organ.

One way to improve immunity is to increase intestinal bacteria that can activate immune cells. Plant-based foods are food for intestinal bacteria, and fermented foods and probiotics can increase the quantity of intestinal bacteria.

Dr. Chia said that intestinal problems are usually caused by insufficient bacteria count in the intestine, or lack of diversity.

For example, in a clean environment such as Singapore, people tend to have fewer types of bacteria in the gut. When we visit places with not-so-good sanity environment, we are likely to get diarrhea if we consume food that is not prepared properly. In countries where the environment is not so clean, the locals are immune to those bacteria. Therefore, if the flora in the intestine is diverse enough, it can react better and the intestine will be healthier.

Hundreds of different bacterial flora live in the intestine. In a newborn, 90% of intestinal bacteria are probiotics, while the proportion of probiotics in adult intestinal bacteria is only 10% to 15%. The proportion is lower as we age.

He said that the best way to increase the number of beneficial bacteria in the intestine is to introduce beneficial bacteria into the intestine and effectively reproduce, adjust the microecological balance of the intestine, and develop a healthy gut.  As we improve our immunity, diseases can be kept at bay.

“ProVie G is our earliest product on the market. Besides probiotics, it also contains prebiotics, as well as fermented bitter gourd and moringa to boost immunity as well as maintain good metabolic health.”

Among them, prebiotics help increase the quantity and species of good bacteria in the human body. Moringa is a superfood. Regular consumption of moringa seeds can enhance immunity, detoxification, anti-aging, and is beneficial to a variety of chronic and major illnesses.

Freshwerkz has more than 20 years of research and practice, and has developed a proprietary fermentation method to produce health supplements containing pre- and probiotics with healing plants for specific conditions.

The recent coronavirus outbreak has been declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organisation (CNA, 2020) as the outbreak had spread beyond China, where it first originated. However, there is no need to panic as there are many things we can do to mitigate the situation. There are two important things to be aware of to help protect yourself. They are firstly to avoid infection and secondly to boost your natural immunity.

Avoid Infection

The coronavirus can spread from person to person in close proximity. It is transmitted through coughing or sneezing which disperses droplets of saliva or mucus several feet away and suspended in the air for up to 10 minutes. People become infected when they directly touch surfaces on which the infected droplets are present, and then touch their faces (Drillinger, 2020).

In order to avoid infection, keep your hands as clean as possible and avoid touching your face. The best way to keep hands clean is to wash them regularly and thoroughly with soap. Alcohol-based sanitizers may be helpful but it cannot stop the viruses as they tend to be more effective on microbes than viruses. Wearing masks is also not so helpful as the most common mode of transmission is by contact. Wear masks only if you are sick as they will help prevent transmission of sickness to other people.

Boost Your Natural Immunity

As the coronavirus is a new strain, nobody has any existing immunity against it. However, when a person with strong natural immunity becomes infected, some level of immunity will develop over time and they will recover. However, for people with compromised immune systems such as the sick or elderly, they may not have enough time to develop the natural immunity; they are most at risk of becoming critically ill or dying from the coronavirus.

How can you boost your natural immunity? The answer lies in your gut. Your gut and your immune system are intimately related. In addition to carrying out digestive functions, your gut is packed with about 70% of the immune cells in the body. It is also packed with over 100 trillion microbes, the gut flora, which is deeply involved in the maintenance of the entire body. The immune cells and flora in the gut both work hand in hand to fight the infiltration of pathogens (germs) into the body (Iguchi, 2019).

In order to boost your natural immunity, you need to maintain good gut health and flora. You can do it by practicing a healthy lifestyle:

• Eat a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables
• Cook meats thoroughly and eat in moderation
• Avoid junk foods, fast foods and deep-fried foods
• Drink more water and avoid sugary drinks
• Supplement with probiotics and vitamins
• Get adequate sleep
• Exercise regularly
• Minimize stress
• Stop smoking
• Avoid alcohol; if not possible, drink in moderation

Keep Calm, Stay Healthy, Be Positive

This is a testing period for everybody. You may become anxious or frightened by the bombardment of negative news from your friends and social media. Do be aware that some of the news may not be accurate. Keep calm and validate the news with the main news media and government websites (MOH, 2019). Very often, the situation is actually much better than what the fake news sensationalizes. Remember, you will be alright if you take steps to read accurate news, avoid infection, stay healthy and keep your spirits up.

References

CNA. (2020, Jan 31). WHO declares international emergency over Wuhan virus. Retrieved from Channel News Asia – World: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/wuhan-virus-who-international-emergency-declare-12372372

Drillinger, M. (2020, Jan 29). If You’re Worried About the New Coronavirus, Here’s How to Protect Yourself. Retrieved from Healthline: https://www.healthline.com/health-news/afraid-of-the-coronavirus-what-you-can-do-to-protect-yourself

Iguchi, K. (2019, Feb 22). Boosting Immunity Through Gut Bacteria. Retrieved from Newsweek – Health: https://www.newsweek.com/gut-bacteria-immune-system-probiotics-1333541

MOH. (2019). Updates on 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-NCOV) Local Situation. Retrieved from Ministry of Health Singapore: https://www.moh.gov.sg/2019-ncov-wuhan

The Chinese New Year is just around the corner. It is a happy occasion for family reunions, and to enjoy delicious food and drinks. How can one enjoy good food while maintaining good health?

Dr. Chia Boon Tat, one of the founders of Freshwerkz Pte Ltd, recommends increasing the intake of high-fiber foods and including probiotics in one’s diet can help maintain a healthy  digestive tract.

Well, the answer lies in the “Human Microbial Microbial Therapy” which has been listed by the World Economic Forum as one of the top ten emerging technologies in 2014.  And Freshwerkz’s products are based on this technology.

Reporter: How can we enjoy good food while maintaining good health during the New Year?

Dr. Chia: Have you ever wondered why our ancestors did not suffer from “unhealthy eating” when medicine was not developed in ancient times? They make a living by hunting animals and collecting fruits. They would hunt different animals, harvest different fruits on different days.  And sometimes when they couldn’t catch anything, they went hungry. This meant that their intermittent fasting habits and a wide variety of options allowed for their microflora in their guts to be more diverse than ours.

Some people say that a diverse intestinal flora is equal to health, because these bacteria can provide us with a variety of very important nutrients and functional substances that cannot be produced by our body cells. Nourishing the intestinal flora through a varied diet is one of the ways to be healthy.

So my suggestion is that after feasting during the New Year (or any festive celebration), it is best to fast, or reduce the amount of food, and switch to fruits and vegetables. If you are really full, try probiotics to aid digestion.

Reporter: There are good and bad bacteria, how can we increase the good bacteria in the stomach?

Dr. Chia: The intestinal bacteria need food to continue life like we do. Some bacteria like fried things, and these bacteria are usually harmful to the body. If these bad bacteria in the stomach form the majority, they will make people crave for fried food.  And by feeding these bad bacteria, they will overwhelm the good bacteria.

To maintain good gastrointestinal health, we need to replenish the food that the good bacteria require. Prebiotics are the food for these bacteria.  Prebiotics are plant-based dietary fiber that cannot be digested in food. These dietary fibers are digested and broken down by intestinal probiotics, and short-chain fatty acids are produced during the digestion process, which provides the nutritional needs of the intestinal cells and also improves our immune system.

When feasting, it is recommended to eat 1 or 2 ProVie G before or after meals. It not only provides probiotics and prebiotics, but also diversify the flora in the stomach and intestines. ProVie G is a plant-based prebiotic and probiotic supplement that we have developed using innovative biotechnology. It includes probiotics, prebiotics, and plants like bitter gourd and moringa.

The juice of bitter gourd contains bitter melon glycosides and insulin-like substances, which have a good blood sugar lowering effect.  Moringa leaves can reduce cholesterol in human serum, liver and kidneys, and increase serum proteins.

There are 3 major effects of taking Provie G:

1. The plant nutrients works almost immediately, because the fermented bitter gourd and moringa are more easily digested and absorbed.

2. The probiotics in Provie G will take effect within a few hours or a day.

3. Prebiotics can promote coliform bacteria and produce short-chain fatty acids, which will take effect in 3 or 4 days, up to one week.

Over a period of time, Provie G supports a healthy level of glucose and cholesterol.  However, people with low blood pressure and low blood sugar should be cautious when taking Provie G, as a lower-than-normal blood pressure or blood sugar may cause dizzy spells.

Skin diseases, allergies, diabetes, depression, memory deterioration… The  cause of chronic diseases that affect many people may be the leaky gut syndrome.

Leaky gut is usually caused by imbalance of microflora in the intestine. More and more studies have shown that supplementation of probiotics has a positive effect on the prevention or treatment of diseases.

Freshwerkz has developed solutions based on the “Human Microbime Project”, listed by the World Economic Forum as one of the top ten emerging technologies in 2014. With the support of Spring Singapore, the research team standardized the production process by encapsulating the dormant microbes in a capsule, and commercialized the solutions.

The reporter interviewed Dr. Chia Boon Tat, one of the founders of Freshwerkz, about the relationship between gut leaks, chronic diseases and probiotics.

Reporter: More and more studies have found that many chronic diseases of humans are caused by leaky gut.  Can you elaborate on this?

Dr. Chia: Food enters the gastrointestinal tract and is broken down into smaller molecules. The intestinal wall of the small intestine allows only these small molecules of nutrients to pass through the intestinal wall into the blood, recirculate to the body where it is needed, and the dregs are sent to the large intestine. The water is removed and the feces are excreted.

The human intestinal wall is composed of a thin layer of cells, and the intestinal mucosa on the intestinal wall is responsible for protecting the cells of the intestinal wall from damage.

The fiber in the food is fermented by the microflora in the large intestine to produce fatty acids, which increase the intestinal mucosa and “reinforce” the intestinal wall. A healthy intestine is like a wall that prevents macromolecules from leaking.

However, if the microflora in the intestines is out of balance, it will not produce sufficient fatty acids, the intestinal mucosa will be compromised, the intestinal wall will no longer be tight, and gaps will begin to appear, and some undigested macromolecules and metabolism in the intestine will be produced. Waste or microbial toxins, etc, enter the blood circulation through the leaky intestinal wall.

At this point, the white blood cells think that  the body is being attacked, which will lead to allergic reactions in various organs. Our blood flows throughout the body. If an allergic reaction occurs in the pancreas, symptoms of type 1 diabetes may occur. If an allergic reaction occurs in the blood that transports nutrients to the brain, it may cause depression, memory loss, learning disabilities, hyperactivity and other symptoms.

Reporter: How does a probiotic product alleviate leaky gut syndrome? What is a good probiotic?

Dr. Chia: The leaky gut is caused by the imbalance of the microflora in the intestine. This imbalance happens because  insufficient amount of good probiotics or insufficient species are present. Therefore, if we let good probiotics enter the stomach and increase fatty acids, the intestinal wall will be “reinforced.”

However, only live probiotics will work, and many probiotic products on the market, after being processed, have essentially no active substances. In addition, stomach acid, bile, hot water, etc. in the stomach easily kill probiotics.  Therefore it is a challenge to allow probiotics to survive and reproduce in the stomach.

By subjecting them to different challenges, we try to “train” our probiotics to adapt to the gastrointestinal environment of the human body. For example, in the different fermentation stages, starch, protein, fat, etc, are introduced to see which probiotics can survive. The probiotics we now cultivate will not only be killed by stomach acid, but also work with one other and change the environment in the stomach.

Our products contain three things: prebiotics, probiotics, and plant nutrients. Prebiotics will help increase the number of good probiotics, and the introduction of good microflora will change the gastrointestinal environment.  They not only increase the number of good bacteria, but also increase the type of bacteria and balance the intestinal tract.

For the diabetes caused by leaky gut syndrome, the bitter gourd nutrients in Provie G can help control blood sugar.  For brain functions affected by leaky gut syndrome, the rhodiola nutrients in Living Logic+ can effectively improve brain deterioration.

Our three-pronged approach not only slow down the symptoms, long-term use can also repair the leaky gut.  The effect varies from person to person, and it usually takes one or two months see the effects.

Conversation with Dr B.T. Chia, Microbiome Specialist at Freshwerkz

During festive periods, people often over-eat.  More often than not, these include indulging in high-fat, high sugar, and low-fibre options.  These unhealthy food choices are usually the cause of gastrointestinal and cardiovascular diseases.

Twenty years ago, a local company, Freshwerkz Pte Ltd, discovered that a diverse microflora promotes human health, and went on to develop ProVie G and Living Logic+, two health supplements for metabolism, and brain development.

The Chinese idiom of “ailments enter from the mouth” is not inaccurate. One of the founders of Freshwerkz, Dr. Chia Boon Tat, said that 90% of ailments stem from intestinal problems. Among them, common diseases such as high blood sugar, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol are largely caused by an unbalanced diet.

Dr. Chia: It is not only during the festive period that we tend to eat unhealthily.  We normally are busy at work, and can only choose fast food or eat out, hence limiting our healthy choices. But if everyone can take a step back before choosing, we can consciously decide on what is good for our gut. The Health Promotion Board’s “Healthy Plate recommends this: 1/4 brown rice, 1/4 meat, 1/2 vegetables or fruit. In real life, rice usually accounts for half our plates, vegetables account for only a quarter, and meat accounts for the last quarter. Some people do not even choose vegetables. Besides being rich in vitamins, iron, calcium, magnesium etc, vegetables and fruits contain fibre.

Eating more fibre can slow down the body’s ability to absorb sugar. Some studies have found that fibre deficiency in the diet is one of the main causes of diabetes and obesity.

Fibre can be classified into insoluble fibre and soluble fibre. Insoluble fibre is good for the digestive system and prevents constipation. Soluble fibre is good for the heart and blood circulation. It can help lower cholesterol in the blood and help control blood sugar levels.

Our local breakfast contains mainly carbohydrates, e.g. bread, rice noodles, etc, and the meal tends to lack vegetables. It is thus recommended to include some fruits, such as apples or bananas during breakfast.

Dr. Chia: If that is the case, be active in supplementing them. If you take ProVie G before or after meals, it will help digestion in the stomach. It is not only helpful in maintaining good glucose and cholesterol levels, but also in preventing and healing the leaky gut.

ProVie G is a plant-based probiotic supplement. In addition to prebiotics and probiotics, it also contains fermented bitter gourd and moringa. Bitter gourd is known to help with the glucose level for diabetic patients, because it contains an insulin-like substance and has a good hypoglycemic effect. But eating too much bitter gourd on a daily basis can hurt the body. The fermentation process uses sufficient bittergourd to release the nutrients so that it is absorbed more efficiently by the body.  Moringa can lower serum cholesterol, liver cholesterol and kidney cholesterol, and increase serum protein. Important nutrients for high blood pressure include potassium, vitamin E, calcium, magnesium and zinc. Moringa has all of these nutrients and is high in content. In addition, moringa contains vitamin C, which helps support the body’s nitric oxide production. This is crucial for the normal function of the blood vessels. The better the vascular work, the lower the risk of developing high blood pressure.

The fermentation of bitter gourd and moringa produce prebiotics, which will help the stomach and immunity. Therefore, ProVie G can effectively regulate hyperglycemia, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, while also promoting the health of liver function. In addition, probiotics and prebiotics in ProVie G can increase the activity of millions of bacteria in the gut. The chemical signals generated by these bacteria react in the brain and affect our mood and response to stress. Studies have shown that probiotics and prebiotics work with antidepressants on the same neural pathways, thereby reducing depression and anxiety and making people feel happier.

This article first appeared in “The Epoch Times”.

ABSTRACT

Advances in microbiome research demonstrate the fundamental role played by the human microbiome in health and disease. Disruption or imbalance in the microbiome may cause changes in metabolic activities which result in disease such as Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus or lead to its progression.  Recent studies have shown that the use of microbiome modulators– nutritional and/or pharmaceutical products which rebalance the disrupted microbiome – can re-establish the body back into a state of health. For many years, IMO Labs has been involved in the development of microbiome modulators to resolve chronic problems. This poster presents an approach for developing phytosynbiotics – orally administered co-fermented probiotic, prebiotic and plant candidates – which can contribute to health improvement and disease management. This poster also presents results from a human study which shows that the phytosynbiotic formulation PVG is effective in the regulation of glucose and cholesterol.

INTRODUCTION

A proprietary technology platform has been developed to prepare orally administered phytosynbiotic formulations by fermenting plants with a consortium of probiotics. During the fermentation process, extra polymeric prebiotics are produced, enveloping  and protecting the entire microbial community when ingested, from the digestive  juices of the gastrointestinal tract.

By varying the composition of plants and probiotics, different phytosynbiotic formulations  with different beneficial effects are created. Certain phytosynbiotic formulations have been observed to regulate metabolic conditions such as type 2 diabetes, hypercholesterolemia and gout. Another formulation has been observed to have a positive influence on brain function and mental performance.

WHAT ARE PHYTOSYNBIOTICS?

Phytosynbiotics are unique formulations of plants with known healing properties fermented with probiotic lactic acid bacteria. During fermentation, beneficial plant nutrients and prebiotics are released, resulting in a synergistic augmentation of the benefits and healing properties of the combination.

PHYTOSYNBIOTICS = PLANT NUTRIENTS + PROBIOTICS + PREBIOTICS

The technology consists of a proprietary platform for developing phytosynbiotics deploying multi-stage fermentation, complex substrates and metagenomics. Animal studies have shown that phytosynbiotics can shift gut microbiota in the gastrointestinal tract by suppressing the undesirables.

PVG FORMULATION

The plants used in the PVG formulation are momordica charantia (bitter gourd/bitter melon) and moringa oleifera. The probiotic consortium used is composed of Lactobacillus brevis, L. buchneri, L. delbreuckii, L. paracasei and L. plantarum.

KEY RESULT

Results show that

•  PVG is significantly more effective than the oral anti-diabetic non-insulin drug;
•  PVG is as effective as insulin in lowering the blood glucose levels of diabetic patients;
•  PVG has the effect of lowering low-density lipoprotein, increasing high-density lipoprotein;
•  PVG has the effect of lowering liver enzymes;
•  PVG can reduce body mass index.

TRIAL SETUP

•  Human Trial to compare efficacy of PVG vs oral anti-diabetic non-insulin drug and insulin
•  Conducted in a hospital setting in the Philippines
•  166 diabetic patient volunteers (>7% HbA1c)
•  3 groups receiving the following treatment:
  •  Oral non-insulin drugs (Oral anti-diabetic medication)
  •  Subcutaneous insulin injection (Insulin)
  •  PVG formulation (Phytosynbiotics)
•  Monthly monitoring over period of 5 months
•  Measurement of HbA1c, cholesterol (LDL, HDL) and  liver enzymes (ALT, AST)

RESULTS

CONCLUSION

Preliminary comparative studies show that the phytosynbiotic formulation PVG is effective in regulating glucose and cholesterol levels of diabetic patients. We are seeking collaboration to conduct more clinical trials to validate the data and further studies to elucidate the underlying mechanisms which regulate glucose and cholesterol  levels in the body.

This poster was presented at the conference on The Gut, Its Microbes and Health: New Knowledge and Applications for Asia, organised by the International Life Sciences Institute in Singapore from 8 to 9 October 2014, and it won the Best Poster Award.

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