Alginate 

Alginate is a compound from seaweed extract. Alginate has a large beneficial effect on GORD. In vitro studies have shown a powerful 80% reduction in pepsin activity, i.e. the digestive enzyme that can damage the lower oesophagus even with tiny doses of less than 0.1%1.

This enzyme inhibitory action of alginates may decrease the glycaemic (glucose) load produced by glucogenic amino acids¹.

Alginate is also a fibre, thus adding to gut microbiome diversity. Alginates are broken down mainly by the Bacteroidetes gut microbiome species. This group avidly contributes to the release of energy from fibre.

Bacteroidetes are thought to be a significant source of Propionate a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)⁵ 

Acacia Gum 

Acacia gum is derived from the Acacia tree, and this gum is about 90% soluble fibre with very low abdominal gas-producing properties².

Bifidobacteria in the bowel is a significant marker for bowel health².

Acacia gum has been shown to significantly stimulate Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli numbers and to create more Lactic Acid in the bowel lumen, thus lowering colonic pH, i.e. making it more acidic.

Many pathogenic organisms grow poorly in an acidic bowel luminal environment³.

Both gums and mucilages are highly fermentable by microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract⁷

Beta-Glucan

Derived from Maitake Mushroom.

Out of 5 prebiotics tested, Beta-Glucan produced significant amounts of the following Short Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs) Acetate, Butyrate but significantly more Propionate was produced by this important beta-glucan prebiotic¹⁹.

The interesting aspect about Beta-Glucan is that fermentation of this prebiotic by bowel microorganisms produced little gas in comparision to prebiotics like whole fibre, inulin, xylooligosaccharides (XOS) and oats¹⁹.

Key actions of Propionate are blood glucose control regulation of appetite and modulating immune responses and inflammation in the bowel lining thus helping to protect the gut barrier and as a result decreasing the risk of lipopolysaccharide (LPS or Endotoxin) or microorganisms and large food molecules entering the lymphatics and circulation to hyperstimulate the systemic immune system. 

Flaxseed Meal 

Flaxseed meal is simply made by crushing whole flaxseeds.

These seeds are rich in Alpha-Linolenic Acid (ALA) which is a Short-Chain Omega-3 and ALA is thought to be an essential component of the Mediterranean Diet’s cardiovascular protective effects⁶.

Flaxseed meal is also rich in compounds called lignans which have a weak estrogenic effect, and this is thought to protect hormone-sensitive glands like the breast and prostate from the powerful estrogen hormones the body produces.

The gut microbiome converts lignans to Enterodiol and Enterolactone, which are weak estrogenic compounds that compete with the body's own strong estrogens found naturally in the bodies of both men and women thus blocking and diminishing the dangerous effect of strong estrogens on the breast and prostate. 

Flaxseed meal is also rich in mucilage a slimy compound that is sadly lacking in Western diets. Both gums and mucilages are highly fermentable by microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract⁷. 

Kakadu Plums 

These Kakadu Plums are an Australian Bushfood and the sales of which help Aboriginal communities.

Kakadu Plums pack a Vitamin-C punch with 100x the Vitamin-C content of oranges⁸. Kakadu Plums are an Australian bushfood that is packed with phytochemicals⁸.

It has 1.9 times the total phenolic content than blueberries⁹.

This Australian plum has a high level of Ellagic Acid which has known anti-proliferative (anti-cell dividing) and anti-inflammatory properties¹⁰.

Kakadu Plum also has potent inhibitory compounds against pathogenic organisms, and against the microorganisms thought to be a powerful trigger for Rheumatoid Arthritis¹⁰.

Many autoimmune disorders may stem from disturbed gut microbiomes, and novel fibres like this Australian bushfood used for millennia can provide a therapeutic impact to normalise gut microbial populations. 

KFibre

Another novel Australian researched gut fibre derived from sugarcane.

KFibre has more Flavonoids than Green Tea and is also rich in Polycosalol and both these phytochemicals exert antiinflammatory effects²⁰.

KFibre also stimulates higher amounts of Butyrate and other Short Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs) than other soluble fibres and it does this throughout the whole length of the large bowel than many other fibres²⁰.

Research by the Australian company Health Food Symmetry states that a 3-gram dose of KFibre is equivalent to 166 to 300 grams of fruit or vegetables where the World Health Organisation recommends at least 400 grams of fruit and vegetables a day in their special report on fruit and vegetable consumption¹¹.

KFibre is also certified low FODMAP making the addition of this fibre valuable for those suffering from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). KFibre has been shown to benefit those suffering from gastro-oesophageal reflux (GORD)¹¹.

KFibre in research has shown a significant reduction in inflammatory markers in those suffering from Inflammatory Bowel Disease¹³.

Nutrikane after 48 hours in a research study showed a considerable boost in Bifidobacteria numbers. Health Food Symmetry studies have shown fermentation of KFibre throughout the large bowel¹³. 

Purple Carrots 

Purple Carrot Powder is sourced from New Zealand, and these carrots are packed with Anthocyanins the dark pigments that make fruit and vegetables black to purple looking like blueberries, black rice, black sesame seeds or purple cauliflower.

These have potent antioxidant activity and are also rich in carotenoids, including pro-vitamin-A beta-carotene.

Vitamin-A is critical for mucosal immunity, and this is not just the lining of the bowel but the nose, throat, lungs, bladder, urethra, ears, eyes. Without a strong mucosal immunity, the barrier between bowel, lymphatics and blood is damaged, allowing allergens, bacteria and large protein molecules to cross this barrier, causing inflammation and potentially autoimmunity. Vitamin-A has such a vital role in normal immunity that one researcher stated that “no micronutrient deficiency is more synergistic with infection than that of Vitamin-A15”.

Research has shown that components of purple carrots can produce significant decreases in inflammatory markers. Purple carrots also decrease lipopolysaccharide (LPS) also known as endotoxin, which is a powerful stimulator of systemic inflammation and LPS is produced by gram-negative organisms. LPS can and does cross the gut barrier into the systemic circulation if this gut barrier is damaged16. This prebiotic blend is designed to diminish gut inflammation and barrier damage. 

Pomegranate

A paper published in the Advanced Biomedical Research journal and titled ‘Potent health effects of Pomegranate’ stated that: “It is demonstrated that certain components of pomegranate such as polyphenols have potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticarcinogenic effects¹⁸.”

This amazing fruit has a huge body of research behind it.

The potent anti-inflammatory effects have been shown to protect not only against bowel cancer but prostate, breast, skin and lung cancer¹⁸.

Beyond the anti-cancer effects, pomegranate has been shown to block the impact of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) on blood pressure in a similar but less potent way as the pharmaceutical ACE-Inhibitors used in medicine to treat hypertension.  

Pomegranate extracts also provide significant support for Nitric Oxide (NO) production, which is a powerful vasodilator, i.e. Nitric Oxide opens up arteries, keeping them healthy. Thus, pomegranate extracts can have powerful positive effects, not only in the gastrointestinal tract but also the whole body. 
 

Partially

Hydrolysed Guar Gum (PHGG)

Extensive research cannot be denied where a higher fibre intake has been associated with a decreased risk of both Type-2 Diabetes and the prediabetic state called the Metabolic Syndrome that is now an ‘epidemic’ in society.

Research has shown that partially hydrolysed guar gum (PHGG) induces beneficial impact on hyperglycaemia (high blood glucose), hyperlipidaemia (high blood cholesterol and blood fats) and incretins (gut peptide hormones involved in blood glucose and insulin control)¹⁷

Of great importance is that this research showed a significant reduction in after-eating glucose surges and a reduction of after-eating blood triglycerides (blood fats from dietary intake) and after-eating insulin responses to food intake¹⁷.

Decreasing insulin demand is of critical value to those with prediabetic (insulin-resistant states) and early diabetes to prevent beta-cell burnout where the insulin-producing insulin cells in the pancreas simply die. When this happens, the individual is condemned to a life of insulin injections just to stay alive.

Just using drugs in prediabetic or diabetic states is naïve and a highly simplistic approach to a problem caused by the dreadful Western diet. Fibre intake is sadly lacking in Western diets but the effects of increasing fibre intake, in particular, a multi-fibre and prebiotic blend like this can have profound impacts on health and the gut microbiome which impacts the whole body.