ABC’s of Self Care K & L

““Our bodies are our gardens - our wills are our gardeners. ”

— W. Shakespear

 

The ABC’s of Self Care K & L

In our continuing series the ABC’s of Self Care, this week we are concerned with the letters K and L.

K is a very important letter for Nikken and the Wellness Home, so let’s let the letter K represent a few terms that we frequently use in describing our products, business and philosophy, Kenko, Kaizen and Kenzen.

Nikken originated in Japan over 43 years ago. Fittingly, many of our products use the word Kenko in their description as kenko is the Japanese word for health. Meaning a healthy product or choice and very appropriate to our mission of the Self Care Awakening to empower anyone to be Healthy by Choice. It is used in our sleep system products, magnetic products and support wraps. A quick stroll through our Wellness Home will reveal many of these products that enable us to make healthy choices daily.  

Kaizen means improvement. The Japanese word kaizen simply means "change for better", with inherent meaning of either "continuous" or "philosophy". The word "kaizen" in English is typically applied to measures for implementing continuous improvement, especially those with a "Japanese philosophy".

Kaizen is also defined as a “continuous improvement through positive change.” This term in the context of our health can be interpreted to mean a progressive improvement in our state of health. Our bodies are amazing, and we are continually replacing old cells with new cells. The Wellness Home is designed to give our bodies the tools it needs to be healthy. The Wellness Home itself is always under remodeling. New products, technologies and natural solutions for Being Healthy by Choice are continually being added or upgraded for continuous improvement through positive change, Kaizen.

Since 1975, Nikken’s philosophy has been and still is, to be truly healthy one must live a life in balance based on Five Pillars of Health, Healthy Body, Healthy Mind, Healthy Family, Healthy Society and Healthy Finances. Our business is about sharing the benefits of a Wellness Home and our motto of “Every home a Wellness Home” exemplifies the meaning of continuous improvement in all areas of the Five Pillars of Health. 

Kenzen is another Japanese word that describes health, soundness, or wholesome. Many of Nikken’s nutritional supplements in the Wellness Home are described as kenzen, a healthy choice. A good example is Kenzen® Lactoferrin 2.0™.

So, for the letter L, let’s talk about Lactoferrin.

L- Lactoferrin is a protein present in milk and other bodily secretions whose main biological function is to bind and transport iron. Iron is essential for overall health and is considered the number one micronutrient deficiency by the World Health Organization. It’s also one of the most problematic to supplement because in many instances, iron can irritate the intestines. Iron deficiency can result in anemia, fatigue and poor circulation, as well as many other physical discomforts. Thirty-nine (39%) of consumers are adding iron supplements to their daily diets.

The Wellness Home solution is Kenzen® Lactoferrin 2.0™. Lactose-free, gluten-free and GMO-free, our advanced lactoferrin formula provides a delivery system to support better utilization and balance of iron in the body. * Lactoferrin 2.0 is naturally iron-binding, which studies have shown to have a positive effect on iron absorption, blood iron levels and digestive issues. *

Lactoferrin 2.0 also supports gastro-intestinal health. Lactoferrin has a unique affinity to iron, allowing it to bind to the nutrient. Interestingly, numerous strains of pathogens need an iron-rich environment to reproduce. Lactoferrin limits the availability of iron to bacteria in the intestines, allowing only beneficial bacteria to thrive.  Lactoferrin is present in other bodily fluids, including tears, nasal secretions, saliva, bronchial mucus, gastrointestinal juices, vaginal mucus, and semen. At first glance, these secretions may seem unrelated, but they share one important similarity, they are consistently exposed to potentially harmful microbes.

Nikken’s Lactoferrin 2.0 formulation also contains organic Inulin, organic Ginger, organic Turmeric and organic Rhodiola, a combination that works together with Lactoferrin to produce antioxidant effects and anti-inflammatory properties that support overall health. *

Kenzen® Lactoferrin 2.0™ is a gentle way for more than 35% of woman looking for alternative sources to boost their iron, whether to improve their overall health or to supplement for specific health needs like menopause, pregnancy or menstruation. For the 56% of male and female athletes with iron deficiencies, Lactoferrin 2.0 is an excellent iron-balancing solution for increasing endurance and accelerating post-exercise muscle recovery.

We hope you are enjoying the ABC’s of Self Care and the Wellness Home series. Who can guess what the letters M and N will represent next week?

Until then, Be Healthy by Choice, not by Chance.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Why Kenzen Lactoferrin 2.0

Why Kenzen® Lactoferrin 2.0™

By Nikken

PUBLISHED ON November 10, 2017

There’s a new lactoferrin in the Nikken neighborhood and we’re super excited about it. Kenzen® Lactoferrin 2.0 addresses the body’s need for iron: iron deficiency can result in anemia, fatigue and poor circulation, as well as many other physical discomforts. Women are most vulnerable to iron deficiency, and people who are very active may also suffer from iron depletion. Kenzen® Lactoferrin 2.0 is a great solution.

Lactoferrin is a protein whose main biological function is to bind and transport iron, an essential mineral that helps hemoglobin carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. No matter how much iron is in your body, if it can’t be retained and utilized, you could end up deficient. For example, you may eat lots of green, leafy vegetables,and/or lean red meat, which are natural sources of iron. But your doctor runs a blood test and announces that you’re anemic. How can this happen? Just because you eat iron-rich foods does not mean your body can absorb or process it.

Lactoferrin 2.0 addresses this dilemma by providing a delivery system to allow the body to better utilize and balance the iron in the body.* Studies show that because Lactoferrin 2.0 is naturally iron-binding, it has a positive effect on iron absorption, which in turn increases blood iron levels.

In addition, Lactoferrin 2.0 is gentle on the digestive system, therefore supporting the gastrointestinal tract and all its functions. Rather than adding elemental iron —the kind you find in virtually every iron supplement on the market—which has been shown to cause intestinal inflammation1, lactoferrin helps the body absorb what is already there—and importantly, without upsetting the stomach. And, Lactoferrin 2.0 has been shown in clinical research to be more bioavailable, allowing for more efficient absorption of iron, compared to other iron sources.2

Just take a look at the graph:

With Lactoferrin 2.0 you get 200 mg of lactoferrin in each capsule—more than three times as much for the same cost as before. More lactose-free, gluten-free, non-GMO lactoferrin, an efficient delivery system and four organic antioxidant, anti-inflammatory ingredients (see Brain-Gut Connection) equals increased access to Active Wellness and more importantly, your improved health.

1 Uchida, T. (2006) Availability of lactoferrin as a natural solubilizer of iron for food products. International Dairy Journal 16. 95-101.

2 (Rezk, Dawood, Abo-Elnasr, Halaby, & Marawan, 2015), (Rezk, Kandil, Dawood, , Shaheen, & Allam, 2015), (Nappi, et al., 2009), (Paesano, et al., 2010), (Paesano, et al., 2014)