Lion’s Mane mushroom is highly prized in Chinese Traditional Medicine, where it has been used to treat the disorders of the digestive tract such as stomach and duodenal ulcers. Recent scientific studies suggest the mushroom offers some incredible benefits to the brain and nervous system. Central to the mushroom’s neuro-protective benefits is its unique ability to increase Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) levels as first discovered by Dr. Hirokazu Kawagishi of Shizuoka University in Japan [1].

Jiaogulan, or Gynostemma pentaphyllum, is a relatively lesser known herb but is one with outstanding health benefits. With more than 170 different types of saponins, Jiaogulan stands above most herbs for its tremendous disease preventing properties. Saponins are naturally occurring chemical compounds that give many herbs, including ginseng, their wide-ranging therapeutic qualities. The fact is Jiaogulan is known to contain the largest variety of these special compounds in comparison to any other plant; with ginseng containing only 28 different types of saponins!

Graviola is a rainforest tree found typically in tropical forests across Southeast Asia, Africa, Central America and South America. Chances are that you may know Graviola by other names such as Soursop (English), Guanábana (Spanish), Brazilian pawpaw, or Lakshman phal (Hindi). For centuries, this tree has been prized by native populations for its delicious succulent fruit and therapeutic properties. Different parts of the Graviola tree such as fruit, leaves, bark, roots and seeds have been traditionally used to treat an impressive range of ailments such as fever, arthritis, rheumatism, diabetes, insomnia and infections from bacteria, parasites and virus.

Yamabushitake, or Lion’s mane mushroom, is definitely not your classic cap and stem variety of mushroom. It has a rather distinctive appearance with long cascading white spines, kind of resembling a Lion’s Mane. It is also known by other names – Satyr’s beard, Hedgehog mushroom, Bearded hedgehog, Pom Pom and of course in Japanese it is called Yamabushitake (which literally means ‘mountain priest mushroom’).

Our immune system is designed to protect and heal the body against most diseases, even cancer. Conventional cancer treatment such as chemotherapy uses toxic drugs to target rapidly dividing cancer cells. However, there are healthy cells that need to continuously divide at a fast pace too, such as cells in our digestive system, immune system, reproductive system, blood and bone marrow. Chemotherapy drugs don’t differentiate between rogue cancer cells and healthy cells, targeting them with equal gusto and in the process creating more damage than good, promoting inflammation and hitting the immune system particularly hard. Ironically, this situation sets the stage for cancer to relapse down the road and creating conditions favourable for new cancer to grow.

Free radicals – nasty toxic molecules that have long been known to damage DNA, proteins, lipids and other essential biological molecules. Their contribution to premature aging and chronic degenerative illness is well-established. But is it the only way to perceive free radicals? As we are about to find out, the fear of free radicals may actually be exaggerated. While free radicals ride on a lot of negative hype, the truth is they are a crucial part of life and play an important role in many biological functions in small amounts.

Most of us are aware of the powerful combination of calcium and Vitamin D when it comes to maintaining strong, healthy bones and preventing osteoporosis. However, there are other nutrients that take equally active and critical roles in bone health. When we focus on the benefits offered by a specific nutrient or a micronutrient, we often discount the fact that nutrients – well, most of them - simply don’t work alone. 

Many underlying factors come together to raise your risk for type 2 diabetes, including genetic predisposition and environmental factors such as calories intake, physical inactivity and unhealthy sleeping patterns. In fact, it is a well-established fact that lack of exercise puts you at an increased risk of obesity and diabetes. But evolving research in this field is an indicator that the amount of time you spend in uninterrupted sitting, irrespective of your daily exercise regime whatever it may be, has a potential to increase your risk of type 2 diabetes.

Tobacco smoke is contaminated with more than 7,000 toxic substances such as tar, arsenic, nicotine and cyanide. Over 60 of these chemicals are carcinogenic ingredients. What is lesser known is that tobacco also contains radioactive materials; polonium-210 and lead-210, which can accumulate in the lungs of the smokers for decades, leading to lung cancer [2]. Tobacco smoke can cause many other types of cancer including cancers of the mouth, larynx (voice box), pharynx (throat), oesophagus (swallowing tube), stomach, pancreas, kidney, bladder, cervix, colon/rectum and myeloid leukaemia [2]. In addition, it increases the risk of premature death, pulmonary and respiratory disorders such as chronic bronchitis, coronary heart disease, and stroke and even carries profound health risks to an unborn child.

CoQ10 is an important player in the generation of energy within the cells, and it is a co-enzyme found in virtually every cell of the body. Co-enzymes are non-protein compounds that support enzymes in facilitating important biochemical processes in the body. It is also known as ubiquinone, stemming from the fact that this miracle nutrient is ubiquitous – present everywhere in the body. However, it is found in particularly high concentrations in the heart, liver, kidneys, pancreas and immune system owing to their high energy requirements.