NICS Weight Control

The devil's tongue, also known as leopard's bane or konjac manna, is a plant native to eastern Asia. It is an elongated perennial plant that likes warmth and tropical climates, and its stems and flowers could be compared to those of a carnivorous plant. The plant is cultivated for its valuable underground root tuber, which can grow up to 23-25 cm in diameter. It is from these tubers that glucomannan is extracted, the positive, beneficial effects of which have been used in the Far East since the 6th century. It contains naturally occurring minerals such as calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium and potassium. The East Asian herb has been nicknamed ˝KILL KILO˝ because it is an all-natural fibre that can absorb up to three hundred times its own weight in water. Because of its water-binding capacity, glucomannan contributes to weight loss in a low-calorie diet.

Of interest

The devil's tongue is a popular food in Japanese cuisine. Devil's tongue tubers are chopped, dried and ground to produce konjac flour. This flour is used to make shirataki noodles, which have become very popular in the Eastern market.

This mineral is bluish at room temperature and is a cold, metallic element. Its name comes from the German name Zink, also known as horgany in Hungarian.

In the form of alloys, zinc was known in antiquity, but the material itself was not produced until around 1300. Its role in the human body was long overlooked.

The body contains 2 to 3 grams of zinc, mainly in the hair, eyes and male genitals, but also in the liver, kidneys, muscles and skin.

Main natural sources

Eggs, pulses, liver, seafood, crab, pumpkin seeds, wheat germ, oil seeds.

Why is zinc important?

Zinc is involved in normal carbohydrate metabolism, normal metabolism of macronutrients, fatty acids and vitamin A, and in maintaining a normal acid-base balance. It contributes to normal bone structure, normal vision, hair, nails and skin. It also contributes to normal immune function, protection of cells against oxidative stress, maintenance of normal mental function, normal DNA synthesis and maintenance of normal blood testosterone levels. It plays a role in cell division, normal protein synthesis and the maintenance of normal fertility and reproduction.

Iodine is a brownish-black, metallically lustrous solid that was discovered by Bernard Courtois in 1811. This mineral is one of the microelements, or trace elements, that are beneficial to our body, present naturally in some foods and in added form in others. Normally, an adult can find about 15-20 mg of iodine in his or her body.

Its main natural sources are

Marine fish and plants, shellfish, iodised salt and drinking water.

Why is iodine important?

Iodine is involved in normal energy-producing metabolic processes. It contributes to the normal production of thyroid hormones and the normal functioning of the thyroid gland, as well as to the normal functioning of the nervous system, the maintenance of normal mental function and the normal condition of the skin.

It is named after Selene, the moon goddess of Greek mythology. By the late 1800s, it had been proven to be an essential trace element for the body, as it contains an enzyme called glutathione peroxidase, which protects the body against toxins that enter the body. Selenium is found in the human body in amounts of only 10-15 mg.

The main natural sources of selenium are

Brazil nuts, tuna, sunflower seeds, rice, red meats, poultry, wholemeal flour bakery products, cashew nuts.

Why is selenium important?

They interact with vitamin E to enhance each other's benefits, helping to protect cells against oxidative stress. In addition, selenium contributes to the maintenance of normal nails and hair, as well as normal thyroid and immune function.

Chromium is an essential trace element in the human body, although it is needed in very small amounts, it plays an extremely important role and has many physiological effects. Chromium is stored in the kidneys, spleen and liver.

Its main natural sources are

Peanuts, green peas, brewer's yeast, potatoes, whole grains, eggs, black beans.

Why is chromium important?

Chromium is involved in the normal metabolism of macronutrients (proteins, carbohydrates, fats) and contributes to the maintenance of normal blood sugar levels.

Live flora is made up of beneficial, living microorganisms that help maintain a healthy balance of gut flora by surviving the acidic environment in the digestive tract. Our products contain high germ counts of several live flora and Inulin, which promotes their reproduction.

The term Probiotic, also known as Living Flora, is of Greek origin, meaning for life. In its modern sense, the term probiotic was first used by R. B. Parker in 1974 to describe the organisms and substances responsible for the microbial balance of the intestinal tract. The characteristics of probiotics are that they are of human origin, non-pathogenic, resistant to the action of gastric acid, bile and digestive enzymes in saliva, pancreas and intestinal fluids. They retain their resistance during the shelf life of foodstuffs and during technological processes. In addition, probiotics are able to adhere to mucosal cells, exerting an antimicrobial effect against potential pathogens and reducing the adherence of pathogenic microbes to the mucosal surface. Probiotics are mostly lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria. The majority of the best known probiotic strains of lactic acid bacteria belong to the genus Lactobacillus, with a minority belonging to the genus Streptococcus.

Prebiotics are the natural nutrients that are typically the exclusive nutrients of probiotics and therefore promote their proliferation and predominance. In the oral cavity or gastrointestinal tract, digestive enzymes do not break down prebiotics, so they can pass undigested into the large intestine. Prebiotics are dietary fibres, but they are water soluble, making them the most excellent of all dietary fibres. In addition to their dietary fibre function, their real utility lies in the fact that they are the sole food source of probiotics. As the large intestine is already low in digestible food, i.e. relatively malnourished, ingested prebiotics offer the opportunity for the proliferation of human-friendly gut bacteria.

In their natural state, they are found in many foods, e.g. Jerusalem artichokes, chicory root, onions, garlic, leeks, artichokes, wholegrain cereals, wheat, bananas, flax, spinach, spinach, cabbage, Swiss chard, mustard, berries, pulses, milk and most mature cheeses.

One type of prebiotic is Inulin, basically a dietary fibre that enters the colon undigested, enhancing the reproduction and overgrowth of probiotics.

Their role: digestion, intestinal flora balance
Our intestinal tract, the largest surface area of our body, is about 7-9 metres long and is the way we communicate with the outside world. This makes it a potential site of attack for pathogens and toxic substances. The gut normally contains around 200-400 strains of bacteria. During foetal life, beneficial bacteria predominate in 95-98%. A healthy gut flora provides protection against many pathogens, ensures the integrity of the gut lining and helps the body absorb the nutrients it needs. They produce many vitamins essential for the body. If the defence mechanisms of the digestive tract are weakened, this can cause, among other things, a disturbance of absorption processes.

In order for probiotics to be able to have an effect on their environment, high abundance is a prerequisite, which means at least 10⁸ c.f.u. organisms per gram of intestinal fluid.

What does the term c.f.u. mean?

c.f.u.: colony-forming unit per millilitre, the number of viable micro-organisms (germ count). In preparations, the number of bacteria is usually expressed in this unit. However, Inulin is expressed in mg. A minimum of 10⁹ c.f.u. is accepted as an appropriate dose.

What is an effective live-flower preparation?

• Prebiotics promote the growth of probiotics, so the preparation should contain Inulin or fructo-oligosaccharides.
• They are resistant to the action of stomach acid, bile and digestive enzymes, allowing the beneficial bacteria to live and enter the large intestine, where they can multiply and thrive. It is essential that the bacteria retain their viability during their passage through the gastrointestinal tract.
• Good live-flora preparations contain a minimum of 5 to 6 strains, as we want to replenish the diverse multicultural gut bacteria.
• They retain their resistance during their shelf life and during technological processes.
• They contain an adequate number of germs, with a minimum of 10⁸ or 10⁹ colony forming units recommended by experts.