DrK NUTRACEUTICALS

Nutraceutical products can be considered as a non-specific biological therapy used to promote general well-being, control symptoms, and prevent malignant processes.

The term “nutraceutical” combines the two words of “nutrient,” which is a nourishing food component, and “pharmaceutical,” which is a medical drug.

This term was introduced in 1989 by Stephen DeFelice, founder and chairman of the Foundation for Innovation in Medicine in the USA.


Did you know?
The skin and gut communicate by molecules carried in the blood, and microbes influence those chemical messages.
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Microbes also interact with the gut's special nervous system, called the enteric nervous system It has a direct, two-way connection with the skin.

BGA brain-gut axis
In the 1880s, scientists and clinicians began to examine the relationship between our brain and our gut, along with the gut's resident bacteria. We now call this the brain—gut axis (BGA) or microbiomegut—brain axis.

Over time, advances in research have revealed additional evidence that bidirectional communication takes place between these structures, and that it intensifies in times of stress. The gut is sometimes referred to, as our ”second brain”, due to its hosting the enteric nervous system (ENS), a neural network that allows the gut to work without instructions from the brain.

The ENS maintains control of our digestive system, it plays an important role in peristalsis, secretion, and pain perception. The gut is not only home to the ENS, but it also provides food and shelter for commensal microorganisms: the gut microbiome.

The role of the microbiome
What role does the microbiome play in all of this? Researchers have observed significant differences in gut microbiome between healthy people and sick patients, this is just the first step toward assessing what constitutes a healthy microflora. Based on available research, diversity seems to be essential, as is a relative abundance of Firmicutes and Bifidobacteria. Germ-free animal models demonstrate that neither the brain nor behaviour can develop fully or normally without a gut microbiome.

Although this area of research is still in its infancy, these observations offer new hope to many nutritionists and neuropsychiatrists who may now be able to stratify patients based on microflora. This will potentially enhance patient response to medical drugs based on individual microbiotal identity.
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Probiotics for a healthier life
Probiotics are live microorganisms and are safe and natural ingredients that can be taken as dietary/food supplements. Probiotics are known for their beneficial impact on the host's immune system and gut functions. The idea of using probiotics to improve psychological wellbeing through the BGA first appeared in 1880, but it was not until 2000 that this idea was tested in preclinical studies.

The benefits of probiotics for the BGA are described in several studies and meta-analyses. A recently published meta-analysis looked at 27 probiotic or symbiotic interventions and showed a significant improvement in depression and anxiety. It is important to note that the benefits are not homogeneous for all the probiotics tested, but are strain-dependent, which is the case for most of the beneficial effects of probiotics.

The beneficial effects of probiotics are commonIy and mistakenly associated with modulation of the gut microbiome. However, research shows probiotics have their own direct effect on the host and that their benefits are not necessarily driven by modulation of gut flora. For instance, prebiotics, mostly fibers, are known to be very effective in modulating the microbiome, but in their meta-analysis, probiotics show a beneficial impact on general anxiety and depression behaviours that prebiotics do not.

Probiotic Strains
Lacticaseibacillus paracasei is a beneficial bacterium that is found naturally in both the mouth and intestines of human beings. It produces lactic acid which helps lower pH levels in the digestive system and impedes the growth of harmful bacteria.This enhances gut health and the body‘s natural defence system.

Lactobacillusreuteri is a well-studied probiotic bacterium that can colonize a large number of mammals. In humans, L.reuteri is found in different body sites, including the gastrointestinal tract, urinary tract, skin, and breastmilk. The abundance of L.reuteri varies among different individuals. L.reuteri enhance gut health, oral health, women‘s health and metabolism.

Bifidobacterium lactis has been mainly documented in gut health. It is from human origin and benefits from a strong body of clinical evidence in children and adolescents. Bifidobacterium lactis supports gut health, the body's natural defence system, women'shealth, oral health and metabolic and liver health.

Lactobacillus helveticus is a lactic acid bacterium widely used in the manufacture of fermented dairy products. L.helveticus is from a dairy origin and has been selected for its prolific and probiotic qualities. L.helveticus brings benefits to gut health, the body‘s natural defence system, women's health, oral health and metabolic health.

Let’s face it, Champagne comes from France and medicinal mushrooms come from China, period.

After thorough research, it is clear that the Chinese have far superior quality and potency when it comes to mushroom extracts.

Did you know that 98% of all functional mushrooms come from China, regardless of the relabelings? Transparency and science above all!

We collaborate with a small producer from the north of China who, according to our experience, has superb work ethics and the third party test results prove that they are doing a truly remarkable job.

The mushrooms are grown far from the pollution related issues that people think about when someone says "China". Many of them are also picked from the wild.