What are Food Supplements?

They are a substance that may be considered or are part of a food that provide medical or health benefits, including the prevention and treatment of disease. Food supplements are very diverse, they include isolated nutrients, dietary supplements, herbal products and processed foods. These can all be comprised under the umbrella of nutraceuticals.

The idea behind food supplement, is to allow nutrients that are not consumed in sufficient quantities. Food supplements can be vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fatty acids, and other substances delivered in the form of pills, tablets, capsules, liquid, etc. 

What are Adaptogens?

Adaptogens are plants that are non-toxic and are known to help our body oppose stressors, which can be either physical, chemical, or biological. They are herbs and roots that have been around for centuries and used in Chinese and Ayurvedic healing traditions and recently have found their way back into the health industry. 

What are Nutraceuticals?

Nutraceuticals is an umbrella word used in addition to the basic nutritional value that can be found in food to describe any substance extracted from food sources with additional health benefits. Two terms are merged in nutraceuticals: ‘nutrient’ (a nourishing food component) and ‘pharmaceutical’ (a medical drug).

What are Extracts? 

Extracts are highly concentrated active ingredients.  

What  are Complexes? 

Complexes are combinations of more than one extract that synergize with each other. 

What is Reishi? 

The Reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum) is an Asian natural remedy against a lot of ailments. It has been used for over 4.000 years and is also known as 'mushroom for immortality.' Traditional Chinese medicine claims that the Reishi is the most powerful resource for sustaining human health in all its forms. 

What is Chaga? 

The Chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) is a parasite mushroom that grows exclusively on birch trees. Its origin is northeastern areas like the Baltics, Scandinavian countries, and Russia. However, Chaga can be found in Europe too.

Chaga has been around for a long time in traditional nomads and Chinese medicine (TCM), it has various interesting qualities. 

The mushroom was mainly used as a tonic to balance the body functions. The high melatonin content, for example, helps to keep a healthy sleep-wake rhythm and improves the quality of sleep as well. It has high antioxidant potential and helps to protect the skin because of compounds like betulin and beta-glucan. It calms the guts and can help get rid of stomach issues faster. 

What is Shiitake? 

Also called the king of the mushrooms, Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) is already used for over 2.000 years and cultivated in eastern Asia since around 1.000 CE. Next to its medical value, it has an excellent taste and is often used in Asian dishes. 

The main effect of Shiitake is the perfectly balanced impact on the intestinal flora. Shiitake has a strong antimicrobial effect on harmful bacteria while simultaneously not acting against the beneficial intestinal bacteria like bifido- and lactic bacteria and helps rehabilitating the intestines. 

Additionally, Shiitake is an amazing mushroom for the regulation of lipid metabolism. It can help lowering cholesterol levels in the blood. 

What is Maitake? 

After the cultivation of Maitake (Grifola frondosa) was successful in the 1980s, the mushroom started its triumphal march around the world. Before, a legend states that Maitake was extremely rare, that when foragers found one, they danced of happiness. Hence, the nickname 'dancing mushroom.'

Maitake can have a tremendous anti-diabetic effect caused by a specific glycoprotein that raises glucose tolerance while not affecting the insulin level. The potential to decrease blood sugar levels was also discovered in the mushroom, hence Maitake can be used as a preventive measure against diabetic risks. 

By influencing the renin-angiotensin-system Maitake can help lower high blood pressure and reduce the storage of fat into the tissue.