Healthy gut – Healthy you…

Hippocrates once said: “All disease begins in the gut”. The health of our digestive system (or gut) is vital to our overall wellbeing. Largely responsible for the critical functions of the body’s digestive and immune systems, is the microbiome found in the digestive system and which can affect the body’s vitamin and mineral absorbency, hormone regulations, digestion, vitamin production, immune response and the ability to eliminate toxins as well as the overall mental health.

The microbiome is defined as the collective genomes of the microbes, composed of bacteria, bacteriophage, fungi, protozoa and viruses that live inside and on the human body. The microbiome lives in the gut and in any openings of the human body. 80% of the immune system is the microbiome.

An unbalanced gut microbiome leads to many symptoms, which are common these days and include: acid reflux, bloating and irregular bowl movements to name a few.

Here are some things you can do to help support the natural microbiome process that keeps your gut healthy:

• Consume more polyphenols¹ rich foods. Polyphenols are micronutrients that we obtain through certain plant-based foods. They’re packed with antioxidants and potential health benefits.
• Enjoy more foods naturally high in probiotics and in the fibre-rich prebiotics that help those good bugs thrive.
• Include more nutritional proteins and minerals in your diet to help maintain beneficial bacteria. Rich in the protein Lactoferrin and containing four organic plant ingredients, Nikken’s Kenzen® Lactoferrin 2.0™ can help with the natural absorption of iron and is gentle on the digestive system, supporting the good gut bacteria that is so crucial for overall wellbeing.
• Add more enzymes to your diet. The more effectively your stomach is able to work at properly breaking down foods before they enter the rest of the digestive tract, the better. Nikken’s Kenzen® Digestion Complex 4-20 is a balanced combination of twenty natural enzymes, which may help support normal digestion and nutrient absorption. Another great supplement that works in synergy with this supplement is the Nikken Kenzen® Cleanse^dx, formulated with a blend of 100% organic ingredients, including Milk Thistle, all of which may contribute to the support or maintenance of normal liver function and digestion.

Take care of your gut to support better bathroom habits, a healthier immune response — and even a better, brighter mood.

1. https://www.healthline.com/health/polyphenols-foods

This blog provides information only. It is not intended as medical advice, or a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.  You should also consult your doctor before taking any nutritional supplements if you are already taking any nutritional supplements, if you are already taking medicines prescribed by your doctor, if you have an illness or if you think you might be pregnant.

(29th October)

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Lower your sugar intake…

Breaking the sugar habit can be difficult. But as more health research comes to light, its shows its necessary to reduce sugar consumption, if not eliminate it completely from our diets. Research continues to show that sugar reduction is among the top product claims sought after by consumers.

A technical report, produced by Public Health England¹, shows set guidelines for the food industry on how to achieve a targeted 20% sugar reduction across the top nine categories of food that provide the majority of sugar in the diets of children up to the age of 18 years. Although the programme focuses on foods consumed by children, the reality is that families eat the same foods.

The 3 sugar reduction approaches the food industry has been advised to take are:

• reformulating products to lower the levels of sugar present
• reducing the portion size, and/or the number of calories in single-serve products
• shifting consumer purchasing towards lower or no added sugar products

The increased focus on sugar consumption in relation to health had lead to new regulatory guidelines in markets globally. In the United Kingdom, the government has published a great report “Sugar reductions: from evidence into action”² which focuses on actual evidence in regards to how much sugar can be found in the products that we include in our diet. Public Health England will judge the success of the sugar reduction programme by measuring the net amount of sugar removed from key food categories. The principles are to encourage the industry to go further and faster in sugar reduction in order to improve health outcomes.

Here are some tips that you can take immediately to help reduce your own sugar consumption in the pursuit of Active Wellness:

1. Eliminate fizzy drinks and other sugary beverages.

2. Need a sugar fix? Eat a piece of fruit or a sweet vegetable, such as a carrot or beetroot. Frozen berries, grapes, cherries and bananas are delicious as sorbets when blended.

3. Are you a coffee or tea drinker? Replace your daily beverage with Kenzen ten4® Matcha Green Tea Drink. Made with high quality organic matcha green tea from an elite tea-growing area in Japan, with only 8 calories per serving.

4. Be careful with “alternative” sweeteners, such as honey and molasses. They are still forms of sugar, high in calories and have limited nutritional value. Instead, choose no-calorie natural sweeteners such as monkfruit and stevia. Nikken has already taken steps to avoid sugar in its KVB®Natural Food Mix, a healthy protein meal replacement mix, naturally sweetened with stevia.

5. Check out what’s in your food supplements. Nikkens Cleanse^dx helps support natural liver function and contains a high amount of chicory root powder. According to Women’s Health Magazine³, chicory is a very healthy alternative to sugar.

6. Drink more water. An amazing new study⁴ has found that people who drank just 1% more water daily cut sugar intake by one to four teaspoons.

7. Read labels. Packaged food contains lots of hidden sugar, so eat fresh food whenever possible.

Sugar is a bad habit, but the good news is, together we can beat it!

1. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sugar-reduction-achieving-the-20
2. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sugar-reduction-from-evidence-into-action
3. https://www.womenshealthmag.com/food/a19928359/the-truth-about-4-natural-sweeteners/
4. https://www.healthyhubb.com/drinking-water-helps-reduce-calorie/ 

Special offer

Kenzen ten4^® Matcha Green Tea Drink – Buy one box receive one box Free

(11oz / 3.14 g  – 30 sachets per box)

2 x Kenzen ten4® Matcha Green Tea Drink  #88036

Only £39.00  / Save £39.00    (Retail Price inc VAT)

(29th May)

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New Year, New Approach to Active Wellness

Do you find it hard to resist giving in to bad food cravings? Do you blame yourself for lacking will power? Understanding why you have those annoying cravings for sugar, fat, salt and so on, might be how you can help curb them!

In 2008, the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) formed the Human Microbiome Project (HMP). Microbiome is defined as “the collection of microbes or microorganisms that inhabit an environment, creating a ‘mini-ecostystem.’”¹

The human microbiome, located in the gut, is made up of trillions of bacteria that send messages to the brain. This communication is known as the “brain-gut connection.” Because approximately 70 to 80 per cent of the body’s immune tissue is located within the digestive system, boosting your immune system really requires a healthy gut.²

The good news is that you may actually be able to help manage your microbiome and influence the brain-gut connection. Good bacteria may thrive on fibre and nutrient-dense food, so eating that type of food consistently may help to encourage a healthy brain-gut connection.

A healthy gut may help the brain minimise unhealthy cravings. If you currently do not eat a lot of fibrous foods, try to integrate them into your daily regimen slowly so that your body has time to adjust. Incorporate a little into each meal or snack. The fibre may help to give you a sense of fullness and may help you to cut back on sugar and processed food.

• Eat leafy greens, asparagus, any type of bean and root vegetables.
• Try not to peel apples & pears. Well-scrubbed potato & carrot skins are also fibrous and edible.
• Do you throw away stems? For example, broccoli stems are full of healthy fibre and taste great in soups and stir-fries. The same is true of kale and spinach stems.
• Add variety to your diet. Many vegetables are delicious raw while others are easily steamed or sautéed.
• Be generous in your use of garlic, onions, herbs and spices. They are also good sources of fibre and add so much flavour.

Kenzen^®Cleanse^dx contains a blend of 100% organic ingredients, which may help cleanse whilst contributing to the support or maintenance of normal liver function. The combination of ingredients is further noteworthy for its possible positive effects on weight management. Kenzen^®Cleanse^dx is part of our Everyday Organic-based Weight Management Programme.

We are offering FREE shipping on the Everyday Weight Management Pack until 31st March 2018. This offer applies to retail, wholesale and Autoship orders.

To support your immune system, taking Lactoferrin Gold 1.8^® may help, each capsule also contains a complement of 60mg of vitamin C. Vitamin C that can contribute to the normal function of the immune system, normal energy-yielding metabolism function, and the normal functioning of the nervous system.

Make 2018 the year you take a new approach to Active Wellness by filling up on fibre and banishing those unhealthy food cravings.

1 https://www.hmpdacc.org/hmp/overview/

2 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2515351/

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A new year, a new you; starts with eating well and living well everyday

Making resolutions at the start of the year is something many of us do. Often these resolutions centre around a health goal, such as shedding extra pounds put on during the Christmas period or getting more active. Unfortunately, many of us set our expectations of ourselves too high and we fail to stick to our resolutions. However, the Nikken Everyday Organic-Based Weight Management Programme is based on three basic assertions for a healthy lifestyle: Cleanse, Balance and Energise. It’s simple and convenient making it much easier to stick to. It’s as easy as 1…2…3!

1. Kenzen® Cleansedx is a gluten-free, 100% organic nutritional supplement, which may help contribute to the support or maintenance of normal liver function and digestion. Featuring organic Roasted Chicory Root, Milk Thistle extract, Turmeric extract, Bupleurum extract, Shisandra and Ashwaghanda. Each of these organic ingredients serves multiple purposes on its own, but together, work in synergy. Take 3 capsules, one 20 minutes before each meal (based on 3 main meals a day).
2.  KVB® Natural Food Mix in Vanilla or Chocolate flavour are formulated with more than 80% organic ingredients, naturally sourced organic protein from organic pea, organic rice and organic chlorella. Whether you’re vegan, vegetarian or just health-conscious, KVB® helps you put plant protein into your diet. To create a nourishing breakfast, snack or lunch, use KVB® Natural Food Mix as a base and add PiMag® water, non-fat milk, almond milk or coconut milk. For a delicious variation add your choice of fruit or vegetables and then blend until smooth.
3. Kenzen Ten4® Matcha Green Tea Drink contains 80 mg per serving of natural caffeine from organic matcha green tea. The natural caffeine in organic matcha green tea binds to the naturally occurring phytonutrients to help slow down the absorption of the stimulant, giving it a slow release effect. Kenzen Ten4® Matcha Green Tea Drink is made with USDA certified organic ingredients, contains no added sugar and is only 8 calories per serving (4 calories per 100ml).

To kick-start your New Year contact your Independent Nikken Consultant to order the Everyday Weight Management Pack – containing everything you need for the next 30 days. Just a few simple steps make all the difference!

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Eat well and live well everyday

The NEW Nikken Everyday Organic-Based Weight Management is based on three basic assertions for a healthy lifestyle: Cleanse, Balance and Energise. It’s simple and convenient.

The latest new products in the Nikken range are all crucial components in the new Everyday Organic-Based Weight Management Pack, along with Kenzen Ten4® Matcha Green Tea Drink.

Kenzen® Cleansedx is a gluten-free, 100% organic nutritional supplement, which may contribute to the support or maintenance of normal liver function and digestion. Featuring organic Roasted Chicory Root, Milk Thistle extract, Turmeric extract, Bupleurum extract, Shisandra and Ashwaghanda. Each of these organic ingredients serves multiple purposes on its own, but together, work in synergy. Simply take three capsules every day 20 minutes before a meal.

In the know: Used for more than 2,000 years to support the liver naturally, Milk Thistle gets its name from the white fluid that comes from the plant’s leaves when they’re crushed.

KVB® Natural Food Mix in Vanilla or Chocolate flavour are formulated with naturally-sourced protein from organic pea, organic rice and organic chlorella. Whether you’re vegan, vegetarian or just health-conscious, KVB® helps you put plant protein into your diet.

To create a nourishing breakfast, snack or lunch, use KVB® Natural Food Mix as a base and add PiMag® water, non-fat milk, almond milk or coconut milk. For a delicious variation add your choice of fruit or vegetables and then blend until smooth.

In the know: We tend to associate protein with animal sources: meat, poultry and seafood. However, in the East legumes have also long been key sources of protein: soy, garbanzo, lentil, bean sprouts, pea sprouts, adzuki bean and so on.

Kenzen Ten4® Matcha Green Tea Drink contains 80 mg per serving of natural caffeine from organic matcha green tea. The natural caffeine in organic matcha green tea binds to the naturally occurring phytonutrients to slow down the absorption of the stimulant, giving it a slow release effect. Kenzen Ten4® Matcha Green Tea Drink is a great way to help energise and hydrate you.

In the know: Natural sources of caffeine include seeds, leaves, nuts and berries.

We are offering FREE shipping on the Everyday Weight Management Pack when ordered between 25th October – 31st December 2017. This offer applies to retail, wholesale and Autoship orders. * Terms and Conditions apply (see MyNikken for further details).

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