GI UltraMAX

Renew • Rebuild • Protect

 

GI UltraMAX from Mother Earth Labs is more than just a fiber supplement. It has been specifically formulated to help improve gastrointestinal health by targeting the causes and symptoms of leaky gut and promoting a properly balanced and diversified microbiome.

 

Leaky gut is a condition that affects most people with varying degrees of severity. It is an under-diagnosed condition because it’s symptoms are often attributed to other health conditions. Think you might be one of these people? Take a moment to answer the following questions:

1. 1. • Have you ever taken an antibiotic?
      • Have you ever used artificial sweeteners such as sucralose and aspartame?
      • Have you or do you consume commercially raised meats and/or dairy?
      • Do you experience stress on a regular basis?
      • Are you overweight and have trouble losing weight?
      • Do you experience overwhelming cravings for foods that do not support a healthy weight and can’t understand why?
      • Do you eat commercially grown grains like wheat, corn, and rice?

 

Answering “yes” to any of these questions suggests you may benefit from our GI UltraMAX, but let’s take a moment to dive in deeper and see why.

 

Antibiotics

 

Often lifesaving and necessary, antibiotics are powerful and indiscriminate. A single round of strong antibiotics can destroy 100% of the beneficial bacteria in the intestinal tract as it wipes out the damaging bacteria. Our beneficial bacteria allow us to live and prosper by helping to regulate hormones, being our first line and primary means of immune defense, and manufacturing vitamins and other substances that support our health and wellness.

 

Studies have shown that it can take up to 2 years for our beneficial bacteria to repopulate and diversify after a round of strong antibiotics.

 

Artificial Sweeteners

 

Artificial sweeteners such as sucralose and aspartame have been shown to destroy up to 50% of the beneficial bacteria in our digestive tracts. So many of us are trying to cut down on our sugar intake either due to weight issues, diabetes, or to encourage microbiome balance; however, sugar is often substituted with these artificial sweeteners. Better, no-calorie sugar alternatives include Rebaudioside A – an isolated chemical from stevia – and monk fruit because they do not disrupt our microbiome.

 

Commercially Raised Meats and Dairy

 

Up to 80% of all antibiotics manufactured in the US are continuously given to commercial livestock. This leads to compromised immune systems and the same leaky gut issues in all livestock. When we consume these meat and dairy products, we risk increased inflammation in our digestive tracts and ingesting drug-resistant bacteria.

 

Interestingly, the natural casings used to make sausage are derived from the GI tract of livestock, but those from US livestock can often lack integrity due to antibiotic use and can’t be used. These casings end up being imported primarily from Argentina or New Zealand where cattle are raised more organically and not treated with antibiotics.

 

Chronic Stress

 

Back in the days of our caveman ancestors, we relied on our fight-or-flight stress response. It is meant to temporarily divert all energy to our limbs so we can run from the saber tooth tiger looking for dinner or fight off a constricting snake, but this causes the shutdown of our digestive system. While this serves us well when our lives are threatened, unfortunately our bodies are not able to differentiate between real and perceived dangers. Today’s modern world tends to keep many of us in a perpetual state of psychological stress that results in the same fight-or-flight response that disrupts our digestion.

 

Obesity and Overwhelming Food Cravings

 

Our beneficial bacteria feed on high quality soluble fibers and send signals to our brains to consume more fiber-rich foods. On the other hand, the bad bacteria feed on fats and sugars and send signals to your brain to consume foods high in fat and sugar. Both of these become recurring cycles and can either promote health or sickness. When we have intense cravings for sweets, fats, and starches, there’s a good chance our microbiome is out of balance in favor of the bad bacteria. Consuming fiber-rich foods more often can help tip the balance back towards one that promotes health and, by default, better weight management.

 

Consuming GMO Grains

 

Grains are practically everywhere, and most of them are genetically modified to withstand high doses of pesticides and herbicides. The most commonly used is RoundUp, and while RoundUp may increase crop yields, glyphosate – the active chemical – is not always completely rinsed off and can even penetrate the softer skins and roots.  Once inside the plant, there is no amount of washing that will remove it. Unfortunately, glyphosate also kills bacteria, so it’s easy to see how consuming foods treated with these and similar chemicals can damage our intestinal microbiome by killing both good and bad bacteria. To add insult to injury, glyphosate has also been shown to negatively affect the tight junctions that hold the cells of our GI tract together, along with promoting the development of leaky gut.

 

What is leaky gut and why is it a problem?

 

Our intestinal tract has a lining made of millions of cells that allow good things like water and nutrients inside our bodies while keeping the bad things like bacteria, viruses, toxins, and undigested food particles outside the body.  Leaky gut, or abnormal intestinal permeability, is the result of damaged tight junctions – the spaces where our cells are joined together. When our tight junctions are damaged, all the bad things (and some of the good things) we don’t want in our body, pass through causing additional damage and inflammation.  In fact, poorly functioning intestinal linings are a major contributing factor to inflammatory diseases including celiac disease, ulcerative colitis, crohn’s disease, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, obesity, fatty liver disease, diabetes, and even cardiovascular disorders. A 2006 study goes on to explain that intestinal permeability is a trigger for autoimmune disease.  When unwanted pathogens and proteins cross the gut barrier, our bodies mount an immune attack against them. This immune reaction can then trigger an autoimmune response in people who are already genetically susceptible and in areas such as joints and the thyroid gland.

 

*M C Arrieta, L Bistritz, and J B Meddings; Alterations in intestinal permeability. Gut. 2006 Oct; 55(10): 1512–1520. doi: 10.1136/gut.2005.08537

 

How do I know if I have leaky gut?

 

There are many signs and symptoms of leaky gut.  Just ask yourself the following questions:

 

1. 1. • Have you been diagnosed with inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s, Ulcerative Colitis, and Diverticulitis or any other gastrointestinal disease that may have had leaky gut and inflammation as its root?
      • Do you have low energy or complain of being fatigued regularly?
      • Do you experience joint pain, muscle pain, or arthritis?
      • Are you frequently constipated (less than 2-3 bowel movements per day)?
      • Do you have any other digestive complaints such as diarrhea, gas, bloating, burping, acid reflux, or GERD?
      • Do you have any complaints about brain function? Brain fog, poor memory, lack of focus, chronic headaches, depression, or anxiety?
      • Do you have any of the following autoimmune diseases such as Hashimoto’s, Rheumatoid arthritis, Lupus, Celiac disease, MS, or Type 1 Diabetes?
      • Do you have food intolerances, sensitivities, or allergies?
      • Do you have any skin complaints like itchy skin, rashes, eczema, rosacea, acne, hives, or psoriasis?
      • Do you have any seasonal allergies, environmental allergies, or pet allergies?
      • Do you feel that you are overweight for your height?

 

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, now is the time to talk to your doctor about our GI UltraMAX and how it can help with leaky gut repair. But before you do, let’s break down this all-star cast of ingredients that have been extensively researched and are clinically proven to support important aspects of GI health.

 

Immulox® Colostrum

 

A specialized colostrum enriched with Immunoglobulins and Proline-Rich Polypeptides that offers advanced immune system modulation. It is an antibiotic and rBST-free, bovine-based colostrum processed with low heat to ensure maximum biological activity. It also supplies immune and growth factors as well as vitamins and minerals to promote health and vitality for young and old alike.

Immulox ® is 40 times richer in immune factors than human colostrum, but its biological benefits remain transferable to humans.

Immunoglobulins, or immune system antibodies, are proteins made by the immune system that act as a critical part of the immune response by specifically recognizing and binding to particular antigens, such as bacteria or viruses, and aiding in their destruction. These antibodies have also been shown to provide local protection to the gastrointestinal tract. The most abundant immune factors in colostrum are IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, and IgM and they all have their own parts to play. IgG neutralizes toxins and microbes in the lymph and circulatory system and IgM destroys bacteria, while IgE and IgD are highly antiviral (4,23,25).  Immunoglobulins have been documented to provide a superior defense in both the treatment and prevention of viral, bacterial and yeast infections.

 

Proline-Rich Polypeptides (PRPs) are tiny information-carrying proteins with amazing adaptability and help regulate the thymus gland, stimulating an under-active immune system or down-regulating an overactive immune system (autoimmune diseases).  Immulox ® contains a minimum of 12% PRPs – a very high standard.

In times of intense physical stress, PRPs enhance immune activity by promoting the production of cytokines.  Cytokines include any of a number of substances such as interferon, interleukin, and growth factors that are secreted by some cells of the immune system and have an effect on other cells.

When a healthy immune system reacts to environmental factors through cytokine production, PRPs send signals via cell receptor sites on activated macrophages and activated T-cells to decrease the production of cytokines in order to balance the immune system.

PRPs also inhibit the overproduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines and reduce the major symptoms of autoimmune disease – pain, swelling, and inflammation.

 

Gut pathogens are handled well by colostrum without side effects.  Colostrum is composed of numerous immune factors and immune system modulators, especially the immunoglobulins, PRPs, lactoferrin, cytokines, leukocytes, enzyme oxidases, lysozymes, lymphokines (hormone-like peptides that mediate immune response), oligo polysaccharides and glycoconjugates (8, 9, 23, 25, 32) and more.

 

Colostrum contains naturally high concentrations of Growth Factors that help stimulate cell and tissue growth by stimulating DNA formation (21).  Several studies show these growth factors to be capable of increasing T-cell production, accelerating healing, balancing blood glucose, reducing insulin need, and increasing muscle and bone growth and repair while metabolizing fat for fuel (10, 11, 21, 23, 33, 34). Colostrum provides the following:

 

• • • Epithelial growth factor (EgF)
    • Insulin-like growth factor- I and II (IGF-I and IGF-II)
    • Fibroblast growth factor (FgF)
    • Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)
    • Transforming growth factors ⍺ & β (TGF-⍺ and TGF-β)
    • Growth hormone (GH)

 

Colostrum also offers a combination of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that occur in a naturally perfect combination. This includes vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B12, and E as well as trace amounts of all other vitamins and the minerals calcium, sodium, magnesium, and zinc. It’s also a rich source of both essential and non-essential amino acids and fats – including phospholipids that enable colostral protein protection and easy absorption in the intestinal tracts by forming liposomes around them.

 

Did You Know?

About 75% of the antibodies (Immunoglobulins) in the body are produced by the GI component of the immune system. The ability of immune-compromised patients to fight infectious disease is severely limited by damage to the gut from chronic inflammation and opportunistic infections.

Several recent studies (1, 5, 6, 8, 13, 20, 24, 25, 30) report colostrum’s role in the reversal of this chronic problem stems from opportunistic infections such as candida albicans, cryptosporidia, rotavirus, herpes simplex, pathogenic strains of E. Coli (19) and intestinal flu infections.

Immulox ® Colostrum is at least 3 times more effective than vaccination in preventing flu evidence from a high-risk population study.

Cesarone etal. (2007) Prevention of Influenza Episodes with Colostrum Compared with Vaccination in Healthy and High-Risk Cardiovascular Subjects: The Epidemiologic Study in SanValentino, Clinical and Applied Thrombosis/Hemostasis 13(2): 130-136.

 

Propol® A Glucomannan Prebiotic fiber

 

Extensively studied Propol® A is a highly purified and stable long-chain, high-molecular-weight prebiotic clinically proven to increase Bifidobacterium strains (beneficial bacteria/probiotic) naturally by over 10% in just 30 days without additional probiotic supplements. It is created from Amorphophallus konjac root and produced by Shimazu, a Japanese company that has been developing konjac root tubers and refining konjac root fiber processing for over 300 years. While there are many different sources of konjac root, Shimazu has perfected their tubers and processes to yield pure, high-performance fibers with exceptional viscosity (over 100,000 mPa*s), solubility, stability, fiber length, and overall functionality to support optimal GI health benefits.

 

In one microbiome animal study mimicking the human microbiome, Propol® A showed an incredible 10% increase in Bifidobacterium strains in just 30 days and increased the fecal concentrations of lactobacilli and total bacteria.  In addition, gut fermentation by the flourishing indigenous bacteria resulted in lower fecal pH and greater fecal acetate, propionate, and butyrate concentrations – all of which have been shown in other studies to help restore gastrointestinal endothelial (gut lining) integrity and homeostasis.

 

Prebiotic soluble fibers are the food for beneficial bacteria and those currently studying microbiome science emphasize the importance of prebiotics to support and enhance the thousands of strains of bacteria that occupy the GI tract. Many of these scientists even prefer the use of prebiotics to supplementing with probiotics. This is because the gastrointestinal environment must first and foremost be hospitable to the colonization of bacteria supplied in probiotic supplements, but this is often not the case due to stress, toxins, and poor diet. Diversity is also essential in the microbiome and probiotic supplements only offer a few strains. The fiber offered by Propol® A can nourish all the strains present in the GI tract and give them what they need to be healthy and prosper.

 

Propol® A also takes on a highly viscous, gel-like texture once ingested that helps trigger the release of Leptin – the hormone that tells our brains we are full and should stop eating – and doesn’t degrade in the highly acidic gastrointestinal environment. These unique characteristics provide support for mucosal membrane development and maintenance and offers highly effective nourishment for our indigenous beneficial bacteria strains and satiety support. The high viscosity also means more water remains in our stool making it softer, larger, and easier to pass through the intestines. In fact, in a placebo-controlled, randomized, parallel, double-blind, crossover trial with doses of 3 grams/day and 4 grams/day of Propol® A glucomannan, a positive impact was shown on intestinal habit with improved defecation frequency, stool characteristics, and ease of bowel movements when compared to a placebo.{18}

 

The benefits still don’t end there. Propol® A helps slow the absorption of carbohydrates (sugars) which influence the release of insulin and the rate of fat storage. Studies have demonstrated a positive impact on postprandial glucose handling and glucose metabolism with a secondary benefit of improved cholesterol metabolism and a reduction in circulating cholesterol.

 

ResistAid® larch arabinogalactan soluble fiber

 

ResistAid® is our second soluble fiber, but this time it focuses more on immune system modulation. Our immune systems are highly complex with two pathways (arms) to address foreign substances. The innate arm is non-specific and targets anything viewed as foreign, while the adaptive arm targets specific foreign substances.

 

Clinic studies have indicated larch arabinogalactan as having the ability to positively modulate and support both arms of our immune system through direct and indirect pathways within the gastrointestinal tract. This optimizes the different arms to appropriately respond when challenged by a foreign substance. The mechanisms of this effect have been investigated and seem to include indirect effects of:

• • • lactic acid-producing bacteria and bacterial constituents on immune cells
    • the production of short chain fatty acids (SCFA)
    • Binding to SCFA receptors on leukocytes (white blood cells)

And direct effects on components of the immune system – specifically, the activity of natural killer cells, cytokines and macrophages, may be supported by larch arabinogalactan supplementation.

 

Interestingly, several immune “enhancer” herbs contain significant amounts of arabinogalactan, such as Echinacea purpurea, Baptisia tinctoria, and Thuja occidentalis. Researchers speculate that this is one of the main immune-activating principles in these herbs.

Beyond promoting positive modulation, ResistAid ® offers additional immune support by increasing immune cell populations and/or increasing antibody production based on the immune stressor.

 

Naturally, killer cells (NK cells) are a type of cytotoxic lymphocytes that constitute a major component of the innate immune system and overall NK cell activity is used as a functional marker for health. This benefit was confirmed in an animal study where mice were administered larch arabinogalactan during a 2-week period and the results showed significant stimulation of NK cell activity. Further, pre-treatment of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells with larch arabinogalactan has shown enhancement of NK cytotoxicity.

 

Larch arabinogalactan also acts as an inducer of the production and/or release of various cytokines. Lab studies showed an increased release of interferon gamma (IFN-gamma), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in cell cultures. These studies found IFN-gamma to be the most responsible for the observed enhancement of NK cytotoxicity.

 

Macrophages originate from specific white blood cells called monocytes and are very important in our bodies’ defenses by destroying harmful organisms. One human study that combined larch arabinogalactan with a standardized Echinacea extract found significant increases in circulating peripheral blood monocytes (PBMC), while other studies have shown arabinogalactan from various sources to activate macrophages.

 

A recent study was designed to test the hypothesis that ingestion of ResistAid® would selectively enhance antibody response to a vaccine in healthy adults. The group that ingested ResistAid® demonstrated a higher IgG Ab (immunoglobulin G antibody) response to the vaccine compared to the placebo group in two AB blood subtypes during the 10 weeks following vaccination. The study further showed that ResistAid® may have an immunomodulatory effect, meaning it supports the appropriate response to an antigen without indiscriminately enhancing other arms of the immune system that would not be expected to respond.

 

Dietary antioxidants, including polyphenolic compounds, are regarded as effective nutrients in the prevention of health concerns related to oxidative stress. Phenolics and polyphenolics are responsible for most of the antioxidant capacity in fruits, vegetables, and most botanical antioxidant supplements. It is recognized that polyphenolic flavonoids are able to scavenge different reactive oxygen radicals, such as hydroxyl and superoxide radicals. The polyphenolic flavonoids present in ResistAid® include taxifolin and quercetin, which have been shown to display a wide range of biochemical properties, including antioxidant and chemoprotective effects.

 

CurQfen® – curcumin/turmeric

 

Turmeric has been a hot word in the anti-inflammatory nutraceutical world for several years now, but most of what is sold on the market, even those with Bioperine, have very poor absorption and overall bioavailability.  Even curcumin (the active ingredient in turmeric) is difficult for the body to absorb. Despite this, there are many studies that attest to the overwhelming potential of this root for fighting inflammation and offering antioxidant and anti-carcinogenic benefits.

 

In response to the obvious downfall of poor absorption, researchers have acquired a new benchmark in curcumin bioavailability based on a standardized and validated UPLC-ESI-MS/MS method of analysis. This benchmark addresses “free unconjugated curcuminoid delivery and cell uptake” – the most beneficial nutrient in Turmeric. This is important because even the products on the market that are shown to be bioavailable deliver curcuminoids as their glucuronide and sulfate conjugates rather than free curcuminoids.

 

CurQfen® is a 100% natural food-grade formulation of curcumin using fenugreek soluble fiber as “curcumagalactomannoside” (US patented) and has overcome the absorption issues. It does this by providing significantly high levels of biologically-active, free curcuminoid into tissues and cells, including the brain. It uses the patent-pending, state-of-the-art FenuMATTM Technology which provides targeted delivery of plant-derived chemical substances by “encapsulating” them for intestinal protection and absorption. It also produces an adhesive characteristic that allows curcuminoids to stick to the lining of the GI tract – increasing the duration of high blood levels of curcumin. FenuMATTM Technology provides an average bioavailability enhancement 25 times that of regular curcumin. In fact, 24+ hours post administration, one study showed a 12 times increase in curcuminoid levels in the intestinal mucosa. It was also shown that CurQfen® inhibits the production of inflammatory-causing prostaglandin E2 which may benefit those with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

 

Absorption and organ tissue distribution of the bioactive form of a substance is crucial for the functional benefits and therapeutic efficacy. While most of the curcumin formulations deliver the conjugated metabolites of curcumin in plasma with no evidence of tissue distribution, CurQfen® has been shown to deliver significantly high levels of free unconjugated curcuminoid (curcumin, desmethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin) into the brain, GI tract, and other organ tissues.

 

True health begins in the gut.

 

start rebuilding yours today!

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