Search This Blog

Friday, March 30, 2007

Q&A: Blood and Heart Companion - 6th Lophatherum Essence series

1. What are the features of Guozhen Lophatherum Essence?

Guozhen Lophatherum Essence is made with delicate technique, which produces distinct functional components with high purity. With high stability and hydrophilicity, it can penetrate into the affected parts and work directly, safely, effectively with no toxic side effect. With no hormone and anti-nutrient elements contained, it also does no harm to liver and kidney functions, blood, routine urine test and blood sugar. With bamboo fragrance and easy edibility, it has healthcare functions such as freeing the mind, removing heat, eliminating toxin, promoting urination, protecting the heart, brain and blood vessel and improving immunity.

2. Whom is Guozhen Lophatherum Essence good for?

(1) People with high blood lipid and pressure and mild fatty liver;

(2) The young and middle-aged as an anti-oxidant to delay aging;

(3) The obese;

(4) The middle-aged and elderly as a prevention or supportive therapy for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases;

(5) The high-risk groups with the family history of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases;

Guozhen Lophatherum Essence is inedible to:

(1) Children;

(2) It should be used with care for those prone to haemorrhage,

(3) It should be used with care for those with gastritis, gastric and duodenum ulcer and those with constant cold stomach disorders
and a weak constitution.

3. What are the main ingredients of Guozhen Lophatherum Essence?

The main functional components are: bamboo leaf flavone, coumarin lactone, biological active amylase and phenolic acid.

4. What are the beneficial effects of Guozhen Lophatherum Essence?

According to scientific studies, the flavone in the body has functions such as: eliminating fatigue, protecting blood vessel and preventing arteriosclerosis, dilating capillary vessel, improving microcirculation, myocardium anemia, activating the brain and organic cells, inhibiting lipid oxidation, scavenging oxidative free radical and delaying aging. The main functions of Lophatherum Essence are:

(1) Reduction of blood lipid and cholesterol. The molecule standard research has proved the bamboo leaf flavone' prevention of the oxidation of the serum low density lipoprotein cholesterol.

(2) A good protection of the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular organs.

(3) An interaction of nitrosation reaction.

(4) Anti-radioactivity and protection against tumors.

(5) Regulation of immunity. The immunity-regulating effect will be realized by the promotion of the cellular immunity and the phagocytic activity of multi-phagocytes.

5. What are the beneficial effects of Guozhen Lophatherum Essence on the heart, brain and blood vessels?

Guozhen Lophatherum Essence's protective functions on the heart, brain and blood vessels are demonstrated by: acting as an antagonist against free radicals, controlling lipid peroxidation, improving the activity of the endogenous anti-oxidation enzyme, lowering blood lipid and blood cholesterol, dilating coronary blood vessels and increasing the flow of coronary blood, improving the myocardial ischemia and narrowing myocardial infarct, controlling the coagulation process and reducing the blood platelet congregation with a protective function of myocardial and cerebral ischemia.

6. How can Guozhen Lophatherum Essence regulate blood lipid?

The mechanism of Guozhen Lophatherum Essence's regulation of lipidemia is to promote the lipid metabolism, prevent the oxidation of low density lipoprotein and increase the content of high density lipoprotein.

Bamboo leaf flavones’ prevention of the oxidation of low density lipoprotein cholesterol in the blood has been confirmed by research.
Animal experiments have confirmed that bamboo leaf flavone can greatly decrease the density of the rat's TC and TG as well as increase high density lipoprotein cholesterol and decrease low density lipoprotein cholesterol. The healthcare function of bamboo leaf flavone is also confirmed by clinical experiments conducted by Shanghai First People's Hospital 12 weeks after it is taken.
Meanwhile, it has a protective therapeutic effect on diseases such as dizziness, headache, insomnia, breast anomalies, nervousness and body numbness caused by hyperlipidemia, coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, cerebral thrombosis, etc.

7. How can Guozhen Lophatherum Essence have an anti-aging effect?

The decline of the biological system caused by the reaction of free radicals is illuminated by more and more facts since the theory on free radical-caused aging was put forward by Harman in 1954. Oxygen free radicals are produced by the cells breathing, which produces a toxic effect on them. Therefore, the constant reaction of free radicals in cells and tissues may be the main cause of aging. Bamboo leaf flavone's high performance against free radicals is the basis of its anti-aging effect.

8. What is the mechanism of Guozhen Lophatherum Essence in alleviating cough and removing phlegm, heat and toxic materials?

Cough is a defensive reaction caused by the stimulation of foreign substances or secretion in the respiratory tract. When organs such as the nasal cavity, pharynx, and the bronchial wall are stimulated, the nerve impulse is transmitted through the vagus nerve to the central cough center whose nerve impulse is transmitted through vagus nerve and motor nerve to the smooth muscle, respiratory muscle and laryngitic muscle after it is excited, which consequently causes cough. Bamboo leaf flavone's removal of cough and phlegm is shown:

(1) as preparations for the mucous blood vessel's contraction and the tracheal smooth muscle's relaxation,

(2) to reduce sputum viscosity and encourage it to be coughed out,

(3) to restrain pathogenic bacteria of chronic pharyngitis effectively, thus arresting cough without any addiction.
Bamboo leaf flavone's heat-removing and detoxification effect is closely connected with its protection against free radicals, oxidation, bacteria, virus and inflammation and improvement of immunity. Its detoxification effect has been confirmed by its prolongation of the life of the white mouse poisoned with sodium nitrite, potassium cyanide and lidocaine, respectively, through experiments.

9. Why does Guozhen Lophatherum Essence have an anti-inflammatory effect?

Inflammation in the body, as an extraordinarily common and important basic pathological process, is mainly a defensive organic reaction brought on by different kinds of inflammation-inducing genes which cause partial organic transformation, effusion and cellular hyperplasia. Its elimination is decided by the interaction between one's capacity against diseases and inflammation-inducing genes. The surplus free radicals in the body will damage cells and tissues and stimulate the release inflammation-inducing genes. Bamboo leaf flavone can scavenge free radicals and control and eliminate inflammation. Long-term administration of Lophatherum Essence can improve one's immunity and prevent inflammation.

10. What antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects of Guozhen Lophatherum Essence and its inhibitory effect on hyperplasia of prostate?

Inflammation in the body is a common but important pathologic process and a defense-based histologic reaction during which the action of various inflammation-causing factors on the organism causes degeneration and exudation of the tissues as well as proliferation of tissue cells. Removal of inflammations depends on the interaction between the body's capacity against diseases and the inflammation-causing factors. Excess free radicals in the body can damage cells and tissues, and trigger the body to release various inflammation-causing factors. EOB-f can remove free radicals effectively and inhibit and diminish inflammations. Chronic use of Guozhen Lophatherum Essence can enhance immunity and prevent inflammations.
Guozhen Lophatherum Essence has certain inhibitory effect on the seven common pathogenic bacteria in the urinary system. Meanwhile, it has explicit effect on inflammations in the accessory lobe of prostate and explicit inhibitory effect on the hyperplasia of prostate. As it can reduce fever and cause diruesis, it provides a non-medication choice for patients suffering prostatitis and hyperplasia of prostate.

11. What is the immunoregulatory effect of Guozhen Lophatherum Essence on the body?

The immunity is enhanced by promoting the immunologic functions of the body fluid and the tissues as well as the phagocytic activity of the macrophage.

12. How may Guozhen Lophatherum Essence benefit health through the inhibition of nitrosification?

The effect of Guozhen Lophatherum Essence's prevention of nitrous reaction on health is: to prevent the formation of highly oncogenic N-nitrosamine in the body and diminish the occurrence of tumors in the liver, kidney, bladder and digestive tract. Its working mechanism is related to its activity of eliminating free radicals.

The use of antioxidant in the production of meat products can partially replace chromogenic reagents (nitrate and nitrite), diminish nitrite remains, and inhibit the synthesis of N-nitrosamine.

For more detail, check at http://www.pinepollen.hk/le_intro.htm

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Q&A: Health and Health food - 5th Pine Pollen Usage series

1. What attention should be taken when taking Guozhen Pine Pollen?

(1) Healthy people and sub-healthy people can take the healthcare dose 2-3 times each day with 2-3 pills each time. Sub-healthy people with obvious symptoms can increase the dose accordingly to 3 times a day with 4-6 pills each time and adjust the dose after the improvement of the symptom.

(2) As for the sick, the dose should vary with each individual. They can find out the healthcare dose suitable for themselves by beginning with a small amount and increasing it gradually with appropriate regulations following daily observation.

(3) The original therapy for the sick should not be changed and delayed.

(4) No food and medicine are forbidden.

(5) No record of allergy has been made in the past medical literature, but with individual differences, the dose should be 1-3 pills as a tryout and increased gradually without any allergic symptom for the purpose of safety.

(6) The intake water temperature should be under 40℃ to avoid destroying active substances.

(7) It should be stored in cool and dry places. Once opened, it should be finished in time.

(8) As for the patients with chloasma, butterfly spot, acne and liver symptom, vitamin C can be added to enhance its effect when pine pollen is taken.

(9) Better effect will be achieved when pine pollen is taken on an empty stomach.

(10) Water should be taken frequently. It should be taken moderately before thirstiness and on an empty stomach in the morning, and cold drinking should be avoided in hot weather.

2. How can Guozhen Pine Pollen be taken most effectively?

Pine pollen contains plenty of bioactive nutrients with physiological active properties. Therefore, the nutrients in it can work most effectively when it is taken on an empty stomach, which makes it enter the small intestines faster and absorbed in them. For the obese, taking before meals helps feel bloated earlier, whereas it can help those with poor digestive function with digestion when taken after meals. Every one can choose his appropriate dose according to his own conditions with lukewarm water below 40°C or cold boiled water.
To healthy people and sub-healthy people, the dose will be taken 2-3 times with 3 pills each time. To the sub-healthy people with obvious symptoms, the dose can be increased accordingly to 2-3 times each day with 4-6 pills each time in a short time if they feel much better after taking it.

3. Why is it better to take pine pollen on an empty stomach before meals?

As pine pollen is rich in bioactive nourishing ingredients, taking it on an empty stomach allows more rapid ingress of the nourishing ingredients into the small intestine where they are absorbed, thus giving the best play to the nourishing ingredients contained in the pine pollen. For the obese, taking pine pollen before meals can give them a feeling of satiety and help reduce their food intake, yet for those with poor digestive function, taking pine pollen after meals can help promote digestion. Each person can adjust the administration time according to his/her own condition.

4. Is it true that the higher the dose of pine pollen is, the better healthcare effect it will be?

It is advisable to take pine pollen according to the dosage recommended in the Directions for Use. Individuals in a state of sub-health and patients suffering certain chronic diseases can increase the dose for a short time accordingly, as excess dose may not be completely absorbed by the body. The effect of taking a high dose in a short period is not as good and stable as that of taking a healthcare dose over an extended period of time.

5. Is there a period of treatment for Guozhen Pine Pollen?

There is no time limit for the end of treatment with pine pollen, for it contains over 200 nutrients that the body needs with well-balanced natural components. It can be called a natural nutrient treasure for human beings created by nature and hence can be regarded as a nutritious meal for our daily life.

6. Does the sugar in Pine Pollen have any affect on diabetics?

The addition of sugar in pine pollen is mainly for the requirement of production technique and the improvement of taste, and has shown no side effect on diabetics after long-term observation.

Monday, March 26, 2007

Q&A: Health and Health food – 4th Pine Pollen effect series

1. What is "dual regulation"? Give some examples.

The so-called dual regulation refers to the effect that one stimulus or medicine has on different persons or different states of one person, that is, the resumption to the normal functions from the hyperactivated and hypoactivated states through the self regulating mechanism. It can be exemplified by the resumption of normal conditions of one person's constipation and the other's diarrhea after taking pine pollen under the body's internal regulation.

2. What is the mechanism of Guozhen Pine Pollen's regulation and alleviation of diseases?

According to western medical theory, clinical diseases are mainly divided into two groups: one is the imbalance of nutrients and the other is the infection of microorganism such as bacteria or pathogens. The over 200 nutrients that the body needs in pine pollen can regulate diseases caused by nutrient imbalance and nutrient surplus. In addition, it can regulate the body's immunity and resistance against diseases, which will greatly reduce the occurrence of diseases.

According to the theory of Chinese medicine, diseases of the body are caused by the lack of kidney energy and the imbalance between Yin and Yang. Pine pollen, as the essence of pine trees, namely the spermoblasts of the pine trees, can supplement energy for kidneys and activate it. Full energy in kidneys –one's congenital basis, produces full vigor in one's body, which creates the harmony among the five internal organs, exuberance of energy and blood and the balance between Yin and Yang, which can consolidate the basis and breed vigor. Keeping health means to maintain a balance, and balance creates health.

3. How does Guozhen Pine Pollen improve anemia?

Anemia, one of the four most common nutrient diseases in the world, is brought out by many causes, or is a common symptom and syndrome accompanying different diseases.

There are different kinds of anemia brought out by different causes. Most of it can be improved to certain extent with the removal of the primary causes of diseases and the remedy of the primary diseases. Many kinds of anemia can be remedied and some of them can be prevented according to the causes, such as nutrient anemia and iron-deficiency anemia. Pine pollen can increase hematogenous materials by providing balanced hematogenous substance such as iron, copper, magnesium, potassium, vitamin B, the folic acid and regulating the absorption of iron through copper. The nutrient deficiency anemia can be improved by supplementing balanced nutrients in pine pollen.

4. Why Guozhen Pine Pollen can alleviate constipation?

All the metabolic byproducts (containing a lot of toxicants) are excreted from the body through three systems (skin, urinary system and digestive system). Food residue produced after the nutrients are absorbed exits the body through the anus after moving all the way through the intestines, which zigzag in the abdominal cavity with a length of 7 people's height. During this process, feces are usually not execreted smoothly with its great adhesiveness and will constantly produce harmful waste. If feces are not excreted from the body in time, they will be reabsorbed by intestines, causing great harm to health. In clinical practice, constipation means the infrequent passage of stool (<3 times weekly) or difficulty in defecation, with straining or discomfort. 10%of the patients with severe constipation are recta cancer patients; Hence, it is called "the origin of all diseases". A famous doctor in ancient China said,"regular cleansing of intestines creates longevity". The mechanism of pine pollen in alleviating constipation is:

(1) The vitamins in pine pollen, especially Vitamin B family helps normal secretion of gastric juice and keep the digestive system in good conditions, which helps the digestion and absorption of food .

(2) The natural enzyme in pine pollen can promote the vermiculation of the intestines and stomach and the secretion of natural lactic acid, which helps ease defecation.

(3) Pine pollen is rich in fibers, which can accelerate the evacuation of stool by promoting the massive reproduction of good bacteria in large intestines; at the same time, fiber's absorption of a great deal of water in intestines helps soften stool, and ease defecation.
To sum up, pine pollen can alleviate all kinds of constipation effectively and safely, but it should be taken with large amount of water so as to facilitate the excretion of wastes from the body. Constant and severe constipation patients should take physical examination to exclude the possibility of organic pathological changes.

5. Now that pine pollen can promote appetite, will it lead to obesity?

Pine pollen can regulate the digestive system. The enzymes, fibrins, vitamins and such other nourishing ingredients contained in it can facilitate gastrointestinal peristalsis and the normal secretion of gastric juice and promote digestion. This is a demonstration of its functions to promote the normal functioning of the body and the organs and give better play to its healthcare effects. The action of pine pollen on appetite is relevant to the body condition of each person. Those with good appetite should control their food intake to certain degree, and advisably have high-protein, high-vitamin, low-fat and low-calorie foods, proper amounts of carbohydrates and fiber ingredients, in addition to good living habits and moderate exercises. The basic reason of obesity is that the intake of calories is greater than the consumption of calories; therefore, as long as a person pays attention to adjusting the intake of calories, pine pollen will not lead to obesity.

6. What is potential hunger? What is pine pollen's effect on it?

"Potential hunger" refers to hunger caused by the lack of micronutrients (mineral element and vitamin). It has become the main threat for health. In the lack of micronutrients, one would not feel hungry in short term, but the cells would. This insufficiency of cellular trace elements could lead to a decrease in immunity and an imbalance of internal environment in the body. This can be showed by the children and teenagers' absent-mindedness, slow growth, anorexia and the biased diet, anemia of adult women, excessive growth of splash, coarse skin, yellowish face and hair loss, and the middle-aged and elderly's numb motion, spasm, having a sore waist and an aching backache, fatigue, listlessness and slow reaction.

The signs of lack of trace element could be noticed, but it is often neglected or not taken care of, which will inevitably cause different kinds of symptoms over a long period of time. It is a wrong idea that the effect of trace element is related to its amount. The best way to supplement trace element is by taking nutrient-rich food, especially natural vegetal food.

With its complete nutrients and their synergistic effect, pine pollen can promote the balance of nutrients in the body and supply the trace elements short in daily diet, especially the mineral elements and vitamins.

7. Why is it said that Guozhen Pine Pollen can postpone aging?

Aging is a comprehensive reflection of the decline in body morphology, composition, structure and function. Aging, together with death, is an inevitable natural rule, but it can be slowed down under certain circumstances. Aging is showed by a gradual decline in metabolism, manifested as metabolism maladjustment and declines in metabolic reactions. Various theories about aging, such as toxicology, genetics, immunology, endocrinology, cerebral damage theory, cellular structure alteration theory, free radical theory and crosslinking theory, are put forward by scientists in this area with different interpretations on aging, of which the free radical theory is widely accepted.

Free radicals are a series of radicals with distinct chemical properties that can cause reduced pathological changes of cellular structure and functions, accelerate the oxidation of lipid and protein, which produce lipofuscin, cause protein denaturalization, inactivate enzyme and hormone and weaken immunity. This will harm the body's structure and function directly and indirectly and finally lead to metabolic maladjustment and the body's decline.

Age pigment is an outward sign of destruction within the body caused by excessive free radicals, indicating the presence of aging. Free radicals are produced during breath, metabolism and consumption of oxygen. In fact, age pigment exists not only in the skin surface, but also in the tissues such as brain, heart and liver, which can accelerate the aging of histocyte and tissue immunity. Pine pollen with rich trace elements such as vitamin C, vitamin E, β-carotene and selenium can scavenge the active oxygen free radicals and their? byproducts and enhance the activity of the anti-oxidative enzymes such as SOD, inhibit lipid peroxidation, thus delay aging by delaying cellular aging, removing age pigment and preventing cell carcinomas and preventing and treating arteriosclerosis.
Aging delay does not mean permanent longevity, but the prolongation of healthy life time, reduction of family and social burdens and improvement of life quality.

8. Why is Guozhen Pine Pollen called natural beauty product?

The body is an integral entity whose largest surface organ is skin. Skin health is closely connected with visceral functions, especially the digestive function, endocrine function and immune function. 90% of skin maintenance comes from the internal body. Guozhen Pine Pollen can regulate nutrient balance and thus the balance of liver function with its balanced nutrients and various bioactive substances.

A body full of strength and vigor will be created by metabolic improvement with a balanced supplement of nutrients. Guozhen Pine Pollen produces vigorous and graceful figures and exuberant strength with the aim of promoting health, which is the best interpretation of the traditional Chinese medicine theory-the external beauty is created by the internal health.

Check out at our site: http:/www.pinepollen.hk for more information.

Saturday, March 24, 2007

Q&A: Health and Health food – 3rd Pine Pollen and Vitamins series

1.What effects do the vitamins in Guozhen Pine Pollen has on the body?

The term of vitamin, meaning the element to preserve life, was first put forward by FUNK in 1912. Through constant researching, over 20 kinds of vitamins have been found out to be essential to the body. Vitamin can be divided into water-soluble vitamin (vitamin B family and vitamin C) and fat-soluble vitamin (vitamin A, β-carotene, vitamin D, vitamin E and vitamin K). Vitamin is an organic compound essential for maintaining the natural physiological functions of the body. They can not be synthesized in the body (or little is synthesized) and must be taken from the food. Each kind of vitamin has its own physiological function and can not be substituted. The body needs quite a small amount of them but they are absolutely indispensable. The vitamins in the pine pollen exist in a biologically natural form in the cells, with full bioactivity and good absorptivity. They work together in the body. For example, vitamin A, C and E protect one another from being oxidized, and best effect will be obtained when they supplement each other; Vitamin B, B2 and B6 must be supplemented in the proportion of 1:1:1; Vitamin E and selenium supplement each other; Vitamin C can help the absorption of iron; Vitamin D helps the absorption of calcium. The absorption of the nutrients is a complicated process and more absorption does not mean better effect.

Contents and functions of vitamins in Guozhen Pine Pollen
Fat-soluble Vitamin Vitamin Content(μg/l00g) Functions
Vitamin A 43. 2 It promotes growth, builds up health, protects the scarfskin tissues, prevents and cures xerophthalmia and helps the calcification of the bones; accelerates the rebirth of cells, and has a remarkable effect on reproduction, blood-generating and trauma-curing.
Vitamin D3 22. 8 It is also called cholecalciferol and is an essential element for the growth of bones. It can promote the calcium deposition into osseous tissue. Vitamin D deficiency of children can cause rickets, and for adults, especially the pregnant women, it causes osteomalacia. 7- dehydrocholesterol in the body will transform into vitamin D3 when exposed to the sun.
Vitamin E 3240 It prevents unsaturated fatty acids from being oxidized, protects the cells and maintains the normal growth of them. It promotes the growth of hair, resists sterility disease, cures nervous and muscular diseases and scavenges free radicals. Vitamin E deficiency will shorten the life of red blood cells.
β-carotene 26. 0 It is transformed into vitamin A by enzyme. Among the absorbed carotene, only one sixth will be utilized. Adequate intake may enhance resistance to cancer, while excessive intake may induce cancer. It can also reduce the incidence of cardiovascular diseases and cataract.
Water-soluble Vitamin
Vitamin B1 6070 It promotes the growth, whets the appetite, prevents and cures beriberi, promotes milk secretion, prevents cardiomegalia, promotes the oxidation of carbohydrate and prevents or treats constipation and coarse skin.
Vitamin B2 486 Vitamin B2, i.e., lactoflavin, will be destroyed if exposed to the sun or cooked for a long time. Vitamin B2 deficiency can cause angular stomatitis, male scrotitis and congestion of canthus or even induce cataract, glossitis and splits in ear and nose.
Nicotinic Acid 14230 It is also called niacin and has a good stability. It prevents and cures pellagra and has a good effect on curing skin, digestive, nervous and muscular diseases.
Vitamin B6 1300 It promotes growth, prevents anemia, detoxifies and clears up the pregnant women's early discomfort caused by pregnancy. Vitamin B6 deficiency will cause coarse skin, neuroticism, insomnia, anemia, measles and skin infection.
Vitamin M 934 It is also called folic acid and has a good effect on anemia treatment.
Vitamin C 56200 It has a good effect on scurvy treatment, gingivitis and bleeding, etc. it can also beautify the skin and scavenge free radicals.

2. What effects do the minerals in Guozhen Pine Pollen have on the body?

Minerals are the inorganic components in the body. It can be divided into constant-element and trace element according to the content of them in the body. Constant-elements in the pine pollen are: potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, phosphor, silicon, etc. Trace elements are: iron, zinc, selenium, manganese, molybdenum, etc. Each mineral in the body has its own physiological function. They can keep the acid-base balance in the body fluid. They are components and activators of many enzymes. The minerals in the pine pollen exist in the natural plants in the form of naturally biological form, with the characteristics of good absorptivity and no toxic side effect. Meanwhile, some mineral elements in pine pollen work with vitamins to keep the balance of the micronutrients in the body.

Content of minerals in Guozhen Pine Pollen and their functions
Constant Element Mineral Content (mg/100g) Function
Potassium (K) 128.3 It regulates the functions of heart and muscle. Potassium deficiency will cause myasthenia, paralysis, flatulency, slowness in sentience, maldevelopment, chronic fatigue, high blood pressure, etc.
Sodium (Na) 10. 5 It exists in the bones and body fluid. It can keep the acid-base balance and osmotic pressure; keep the excitability of nerve and muscle. Sodium deficiency will cause anorexia, dizziness, nausea, tachycardia, decreasing of blood pressure, etc.
Calcium (Ca) 80. 6 It exists in the bones and blood and is the component of human bones and teeth. It is relevant to the function of heart, the normal transportation of excitement of muscle and nerve. Calcium deficiency will cause twitch of the leg, rickets of children, osteoporosis of old man and other diseases.
Silicon (Si) 201 It plays an important role in the forming of bones, cartilages, connective tissues and skin. It participates in the metabolism and reparation of tissues. Working with other minerals, it helps ossification of the bones and promotes the generation of collagen.
Magnesium(Mg) 110. 3 It makes teeth and bones and is the activator of many enzymes. Magnesium deficiency will cause sore and fatigue of the body, weaken the peristalsis of stomach and intestines, anorexia and dysfunction of autonomic nerve and arrhythmia.
phosphor (P) 218. 3 It makes teeth and bones, and is essential to children and pregnant women. It participates in the metabolism of carbohydrate and protein and is the component of nucleic acid.
Trace element Manganese(Mn) 8.74 It participates in the metabolism of many enzymes in the body and promotes the absorption of protein. Superoxide dismutase is active only with the catalysis of manganese. Manganese deficiency will cause osteoporosis, skin itch, xerosis, a sore waist and an aching back, fatigue and other syndromes of aging.
Molybdenum(Mo) <0. 01 It has a good effect on promoting growth and can protect the heart and blood vessels, maintain the energetic metabolism of myocardium and prevent dental caries and cancer.
Copper (Cu) 0.413 It is the component of Cu, Zn and SOD. It participates in the transportation and absorption of the iron needed by the generation of haemoglobin. It can maintain the normal functions of bones, skin and blood vessels, build up resistance to diseases, increase the height, resist arteriosclerosis, lower cholesterol, protect against radiation, resist cancer and tonify Yang, etc.
Selenium (Se) 0.0031 It participates in the forming of enzymes, metabolism of fattiness and regulation of the immune function. It can also restrain cancer and cardiovascular disease, resist senility and detoxify heavy metals.
Iron (Fe) 24.2 It is the component of haemoglobin and bilirubin, activator of oxidative enzyme and metallic enzyme. It participates in the transportation and exchange of oxygen and can build up the strength of the body. Iron deficiency of girls in adolescence will cause iron-deficiency anaemia.
Zinic (Zn) 3. 26 It is related to the activeness of over two hundred kinds of enzymes and plays an important role in the metabolism of tissues, respiration, protein, fattiness, carbohydrate and nucleic acid. It is the activator of enzymes in insulin and can protect skin, maintain the immune function, promote reparation of the tissues as well as the normal growth of sexual organs. It can also resist cancer and postpone senility. Zinic deficiency will cause the losing of the appetite, slowness in the sense of taste, anemia, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, coarse skin, mental retardation and maldevelopment. Zinic deficiency for children will cause growth stagnancy and mental underdevelopment, etc.

3.What effects do the amino acid in Guozhen Pine Pollen has on the body?

Amino acid, whose physiological function is to synthesize protein, is the fundamental unit of protein, which is the physical basis for life. It can maintain the nitrogen equilibrium and is the raw material for different enzymes, antibodies and some hormones and can also regulate their physiological functions. It provides heat energy for the body, promotes growth, replenishes the metabolic consumption, and maintains the normal osmotic pressure of capillary. Amino acids can be divided into essential amino acid and non-essential amino acid according to their nutrient value.

Under proper condition, the body can synthesize some kinds of amino acid and eight kinds of them have to be provided by foodstuffs. The eight kinds of amino acid are essential to the body, so they are called essential amino acids which fulfill an important physiological function on the body. These eight kinds of essential amino acid are: isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, tryptophan, threonine, phenylalanine and valine. Children also need histidine.

The body needs a certain amount of each essential amino acid and they can only be fully utilized with a corresponding proportional pattern. WHO has laid down the standard for that and the food whose proportion of the essential amino acids meets the standard is considered highly nutritious. Pine pollen is basically up to the standard.

Amino acids and their content in Guozhen Pine Pollen

Amino Acid Content mg/100g Amino Acid Content mg/100g
Aspartic Acid ASP 1098 Isoleucine ILE 539
Threonine THR 492 Leucine LEU 846
Serine SER 522 Tyrosine TYR 365
Glutamic Acid GLU 1579 Phenylalanine PHE 572
Glycine GLY 698 Lysine LYS 802
Alanine ALA 564 Histidine HIS 189
Cystine CYS 112 Arginine AR6 998
Valine VAL 646 Proline PRG 880
Methionine MET 166 Tryptophan TRP 149

Functions of the eight essential amino acids contained in Guozhen Pine Pollen

Amino Acid Functions
Threonine THR It can transform some amino acids to strike the balance.
Valine VAL It acts on corpus luteum, mammary gland and ovary.
Methionine MET It is the component of haemoglobin, tissues and blood serum. It can promote the functions of spleen, pancreas and lymph.
Isoleucine ILE It participates in the regulation of thymus, spleen, hypophysis as well as the metabolism.
Leucine LEU It balances the Isoleucine.
Phenylalanine PHE It participates in eliminating the loss of kidney and/or bladder function.
Lysine LYS It is the most essential amino acid to synthesize the protein of the tissues and is an important component of liver and cholecyst. It can promote the metabolism of fat and regulate pineal body, mammary gland, corpus luteum and ovary, prevent cell regressing. It is also the essential amino acid to children growth. The insufficient daily intake of lysine will destroy the nitrogen equilibrium and increase the content of non-protein nitrogen in the blood and total nitrogen and urea nitrogen in the urine, which will cause anorexia, low spirit, liability to fatigue and other syndromes.
Tryptophan TRP It can promote the production of gastric juice and pancreatic juice. TRP deficiency will affect nitrogen equilibrium and decrease the content of haemoglobin in the blood. Consequently, people will get diarrhea, anemia, hair loss, fatty liver, anorexia and other syndromes.

Contrast between the content of the eight essential amino acids in Guozhen Pine Pollen and FAO standard

Amino Acid Content mg/100g Proportion FAO standard
Threonine THR 492 4.4 4.0
Valine VAL 646 5.8 5.0
Methionine MET 166 1.5 3.5
Isoleucine ILE 539 4.8 4.0
Leucine LEU 846 7.6 7.0
Phenylalanine PIlE 572 5.1 6.0
Lysine LYS 802 7.1 5.5
Tryptophan TRP 149 1.3 1.0

4.What effects do the fibrins in Guozhen Pine Pollen has on the body?

Cellulose is a polysaccharide made with repeated glucose units bonded together and the major component of the plant's cell wall. The cellulose in the pine pollen is the major component of inner and outer wall of pine pollen's microspore. It is always attached to the lignin, semicellulose, pectin, etc., with the content up to 29%. The content of lignin is especially high, which is of great significance to the digestive function of the body.

In the past twenty years, after an in-depth research, medical experts and nutritionists have confirmed the nutrient value of dietary fiber and list it the seventh nutritious elements in the world. In recent years, FAO, U.S., Canada, Japan, China and other countries all have mentioned in authoritative works that dietary fiber is one of the essential nutrients for the balance of the diet structure. The effects of dietary fiber in pine pollen are:

(1) Preventing colonic cancer. Colonic cancer is caused by the long stay of certain excitants or poisons in the colon. If the content of the cellulose in the food is too low, the long-stay of harmful substances in intestines will poison the intestine wall. Gradually, it will induce colon cancer. In the case of a higher content of dietary fiber, the cellulose that enters the large intestine will be selectively decomposed and fermented by the inner cells and this accelerates the mass reproduction of beneficial bacteria (diplococcus and lactobacillus), meanwhile, it stimulates the intestine mucosa, quickens the excretion of feces and normalizes the intestine function.

(2) Preventing coronary heart disease. The dietary fiber is effective in preventing and improving heart disease caused by coronary arteriosclerosis. That's because, the cellulose can restrain or postpone the absorption of cholesterol and glyceride in lymph by certain action. With normal diet, prevention and cure of coronary arteriosclerosis and heart disease can be achieved by the proper increase of the dietary fiber intake and decrease of the fat intake, which will reduce the level of cholesterol in the body.

(3) Regulating the blood sugar level of diabetics. Inadequate intake of the dietary fiber is one of the major causes for the high incidence of diabetes. The blood sugar level can be regulated by increasing the content of dietary fiber in the food, which will improve the sensitivity of ending tissues to the insulin.

(4) Bringing about the early feeling of repletion of the stomach, reduce foodstuff intake and prevent adiposity. It has a good effect on weight-losing for the obese.

(5) Reducing the intake of bile acid, change the speed of assimilation of food and the secretion amount of the digestive juice. It can prevent cholecystolithiasis, duodenitis, hemorrhoids, ulcerative colitis, large intestine cancer and other diseases.
Pine pollen with a high content of cellulose, is ideal health food for supplementing dietary fiber.

5.What effects do the enzymes in Guozhen Pine Pollen has on the body?

Enzymes, formerly called "ferments", are complicated proteins with catalytic functions. Its catalytic capacity is regarded as the viability of enzymes. They are characterized by their high specificity. Nearly all the chemical changes of the organism take place under the catalysis of the enzymes. Enzymes have high catalytic efficiency, for one enzyme molecule catalyzes hundreds to millions of substrate molecules in one minute. Enzymes are usually named after their substrate or the characteristics of their functions. For example, amylase acts on the amylum, chymosin promotes the coagulation of milk, and glucose oxidase catalyzes the oxidation of glucose. Enzymes are also of great significance to the cure and diagnose of diseases, to the understanding of the nature of biological phenomenon as well as to the industrial and agricultural production.

Coenzymes are the small non-protein organic molecules essential for the catalysis of the enzymes. Most coenzymes are the derivatives of vitamins, for example, vitamin B12 participates in some physiological functions in the form of coenzyme.

Guozhen Pine Pollen naturally contains nearly a hundred kinds of enzymes needed by the body. They can promote the peristalsis of stomach and intestines, whet the appetite, regulate the assimilating function of the body and promote digestion and absorption. It has a good repairing effect on the gastric ulcer, duodenitis, atrophic gastritis, etc. It can regulate the immune system and endocrine system of the body. Having various kinds of natural enzymes and coenzymes as its major component is the prominent feature of the pine pollen among other heath foods.

6. What effects do the Rutins in Guozhen Pine Pollen have on the body?

Rutin is a substance extracted from the plant, which has a good effect on the body. It can increase the elasticity and resistibility of the vessel wall and effectively balance the blood pressure. The 1/200,000 intake of rutin in a grown-up will bring about a 26% increase of the resistibility of the vessel. This rare substance is contained in Guozhen Pine Pollen.

7. What effects does the folic acid in Guozhen Pine Pollen have on the body?

Folic acid, also named vitamin B or vitamin M, is one member of the vitamin B family. It exists widely in the green leaves of plants and in the liver or kidney of animals. The yeast also has a good content of it. Folic acid deficiency in the body will cause anemia of giant cells, accompanied by leukocytopenia, pathological changes of gastrointestinal track as well as the stagnation of growth. Recent research has shown that folic acid has more other physiological functions for the body and can prevent many diseases.

(1) The homocysteine in the blood is a metabolic product of methionine. It will cause plaques by damaging the endothelial cells of heart and blood vessels. The folic acid in the blood can convert the homocysteine into methionine. Sufficient folic acid in the body can prevent the production of homocysteine, which will lower the incidence of cardiovascular diseases.

(2) Folic acid deficiency of pregnant women will damage the key parts of the baby's spine and cause malformation of the baby's neural tube, which will lead to death or deformity of the baby. Therefore, it is essential for the pregnant women to supplement an appropriate amount of folic acid. The WTO suggests that each fertile woman should take 400ug folic acid each day.

(3) Folic acid deficiency for women will cause a low level of folic acid in the blood, thus the genes of the cervical cells are easily damaged by the virus, increasing the incidence of cancer. Research has shown that women having a low level of folic acid are five times more likely to get cervical cancer than those with a normal level of folic acid. It is the same case with the rectum cancer.

Folic acid is mainly extracted from such foods as green leaves vegetable, orange and tangerine, soybean, carrot, meat, corn, milk, rhizome vegetables (e.g. potato), etc. But folic acid can't endure light and heat. Most of it will be damaged when heated. Due to this factor, together with others such as malaborption, metabolic disorders, increase of excretion, people have to take folic acid from other food.

Guozhen Pine Pollen contains folic acid, with 934ug in each 100g of pine pollen.

8. What effects do the nucleic acids in Guozhen Pine Pollen take on the body?

Nucleic acids are the most important components of biological cells. They fall into two kinds: ribonucleic acid (RNA) and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). The research of nearly 50 years shows that nucleic acids carry all the genetic information of a life. They exist in the chromosomes of nucleus, determine the biologic heredity, guide the protein synthesis, control the differentiation and growth of cells and provide cells with nutrition and energy. So it can be said that from birth to death, the whole process of the life is dominated and controlled by nucleic acids. They are the foundation of life. All the signs of aging, such as the degeneration of the skin, hair loss and graying hair, loss of physical strength, fatigue of the body, weakening of the brainpower, fall of the eyesight, are all caused by the inhibition of nucleic acid synthesis or the insufficient supply of nucleic acids, which consequently cause the discontinuous production of new cells. People should supplement nucleic acids constantly to postpone aging and stay young. Foods rich in nucleic acids are sardine, salmon, lobster, crab, living oyster, liver, marine fish and mollusk. Soybean, haricot bean, onion, yeast and other foods also contain nucleic acids and substances which can produce nucleic acids. Nucleic acids should mainly be taken from food. However more supplement is not bound to mean better. Guozhen Pine Pollen is a natural health food for supplementing nucleic acids, with 48,65mg folic acid in each 100g of pine pollen.

9. What effects does the SOD in Guozhen Pine Pollen have on the body?

Before we get to know SOD, we should first know about free radicals. Why will people get ill, age and die Recent research in biological and medical field has shown that they are caused by free radicals, which are high-energy particles that ricochet wildly and damage cells. Free radicals can be produced by metabolism in the body or enters the body from outside. If the "garbage" and toxin in the blood can not be cleared away in time, they will produce free radicals. If the toxic substances from the outside enter the body through respiration or contact of skin, they will deposit to produce free radicals. Free radicals can destroy the cell membrane of the organism or even cut off the DNA chain, thereby quicken the aging of cells and reduce the immunologic function of the organism or even induce cancer. Now it is confirmed that semi-quinone free radical may cause lung cancer, lipid free radical may cause breast cancer, superoxide free radical does harm to all kinds of tissues. So free radical is called the cell-killer. Substances which can eliminate free radical are vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin A, coenzyme Q, glutathione, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and so on.

SOD is regarded as the most valuable substance to scavenge free radicals, inhibit cancer and aging, improve the immunity of the organism and control inflammation, etc. It was found by Mocord and Fnidovich in 1968. Superoxide dismutase is an enzyme directly involved in antioxidation process, whose components include zinc, copper, manganese and other trace elements. Pine pollen contains a large amount of antioxidant, such as vitamin E, vitamin B, β-carotene and trace elements, etc. All these can slow down peroxidization of lipid and protein in the body thereby fulfills the function of postponing aging. Regular intake of pine pollen can regain youth, eliminate the age pigment and prolong life.

Pharmacological experiment on the little white mouse has witnessed a remarkable increase of the bioactivity of the SOD in the mouse's liver and a remarkable reduction of lipofuscin in the brain, heart and liver after a month of continuous intake of the pine pollen.
In 2002, the scientific research group led by Professor Zhao Lin and Bao Jianfen from General Hospital of PLA carried out the experiments in Germany on the antioxidative capability of Guozhen Pine Pollen with the ten systems for evaluating antioxygen capability. Many external model experimental systems show that Guozhen Pine Pollen is a potent antioxidant and can prevent inflammation and lipid peroxidization. This experiment has achieved gratifying success and is thought highly by experts both at home and abroad.

10. What overall effects does Guozhen Pine Pollen have on the body' physiological functions?

(1) Regulating the digestive system: strengthening the digestive function, increasing appetite and eliminating constipation. The enzyme and cellulose fiber in pine pollen can increase appetite and improve digestion with natural lactic acid produced by accelerating gastrointestinal vermiculation. Vitamin B is an ideal appetizer for its helpfulness for food digestion and absorption through accelerating the normal secretion of gastric juice. Many nutrients and essential amino acids in pine pollen can accelerate the growth of liver cells by enhancing detoxifications.

(2) Regulating blood circulatory system. The synergistic effect of vitamin C, vitamin E and mineral element such as selenium, magnesium, zinc and potassium can increase the blood vessel wall's flexibility, prevent arteriosclerosis and improve microcirculation. On the other hand, rutin can strengthen the blood vessel walls, maintain the normal blood pressure and prevent blood vessel bleeding; mineral elements such as Cu, Fe, K, Mg, vitamin B group and folic acid are very helpful for the prevention of anemia.

(3) Regulating the endocrine system. That Pollen has a therapeutic effect on prostate disease has been confirmed worldwide by clinical medical science. Many medications contain pollen (rape pollen). The synergistic effect of amino acids, mineral elements and flavonoids promotes metabolism, enhances the regulating capacity of the body on endocrine gland, improves prostate blood circulation and reduces dropsy and urethral obtrusion, having a preventative and auxiliary therapeutic effect for the enlarged prostate.

(4) Regulating the nervous system. Pollen pine has a very good regulating effect on neuropathic headache, insomnia and emotional fluctuation. The amino acids, vitamins, especially vitamin B and trace elements in pine pollen can improve the state of the nervous system, alleviating the neurasthenic symptoms like insomnia, headache by providing nutrients for the nervous system.

(5) Regulating unidentified functional diseases. Pine pollen has a regulating effect on exhaustion syndrome menopause syndrome, aging syndrome, etc. Many functional diseases in the body are closely connected with balance maladjustment, especially for the elderly; however, the rich nutrients and active components in pine pollen can enhance the regulating capacity of the body and relieve discomfort by improving the balance of many nutrients, amino acid, and acid and alkali.

(6) Regulating the body's immunity. As an organic whole, the body is comprised of organs, working under complicated rules of life movement The major treasure is its self-curing capacity. Many nutrients in pine pollen can promote the balance among elements in the body to improve its self-treatment capacity. As some experts describe, "diseases are caused by the damage of physiological organic functions with abundant toxin due to an unbalanced diet and medicine abuse." The rich nutrients in pine pollen can bring health to the body by promoting the balance in the body and strengthen the self treatment capacity of the body.

The healthcare effect of pine pollen is immune regulating. When the body's immunity is strengthened, human beings' capacity of self-cureing, self-recovery and self-rehabilitation will improve accordingly. With a good resistance against diseases, people are less likely to fall ill and are more likely to recover from illness. With an energetic body, people are less likely to feel weary.

(7) Promoting regular metabolism of the body. Modern people attach great importance to health care whose basic principle is to maintain the regular metabolism of the body. It works with observance of certain rules under precise control. On the one hand, it synthesizes substance that the body needs and provides energy that life activity needs and on the other hand, decomposes its own substance, eliminates waste and constantly gets rid of the stale and take in the fresh. When metabolism works well, people can live healthily and normally; however, when there is something wrong with some of its links, diseases will appear. The process of metabolism is the process of growth, development, decrepitude and death. The irregularity of the metabolism is often closely connected with the lack and/or imbalance of nutrient.

Pine pollen maintains the metabolism of substance in the body with well-balanced nutrients and natural active substance. In addition, the enzymes and fibers in pine pollen also help the decomposition and absorption of food, which can keep the body in good conditions by eliminating the toxin in the body under regular evacuation with enough water. The healthcare effect of pine pollen is not decided by a single nutrient with a low absolute content, but by the synergistic effect of many nutrients with a balanced and comprehensive regulation of the body, which is difficult to realize in a lot of food and medicine. Therefore, Guozhen Pine Pollen is highly praised by Ms.Yu Ruomu, the famous nutritionist as "a health treasure endowed by God".

Thursday, March 22, 2007

Q&A: Health Food – 2nd Pine Pollen series

1. What is pollen?

Pollen is the sperm cell of flower-bearing plant which contains the genetic information of plants and rich nutrients. According to different ways of pollination, pollen can be classified as insect pollinated (pollinated by insect) and wind pollinated. About 90% of the pollen exploited by people is those from insect pollination and angiosperm pollen.

Pine pollen is a kind of wind pollinated pollen gathered from Masson pine (Pinus Massoniana Lamb.) and Chinese pine (Pinus Tabulaeformis Carr.) - two kinds of gymnosperm. First utilized and taken in China, pine pollen was initially called "Pine Yellow" in the past. Listed in Chinese Pharmacopoeia, pine pollen has been regarded as a treasure of food therapy since ancient times and is the traditional medicinal material in the treasury of Chinese medicine.

2.What are the main features of Guozhen Pine Pollen?

(1) Naturalness: the raw materials of Guozhen Pine Pollen are mainly taken from Masson pine pollen and Chinese pine pollen growing in the hilly and mountainous areas of Jiangsu and Zhejiang province of China, free from pollution of pesticides and chemical fertilizer.

(2) Viability: Each grain of pine pollen is a small viable life, containing various kinds of nutrients and active substances. Endowed with a certain affinity with the body, it can be easily accepted and assimilated by the body and then transported to each part of the body for utilization.

(3) Nutritious: Since it contains over 200 active nutrients needed by the body, pine pollen can sufficiently replenish and balance nutrients necessary for health.

(4) Safety: Guozhen Pine Pollen is a purely natural health food without animal or insect hormone.

(5) Effectiveness: Most pine pollen users can find out the positive effects to different extents.

3. Who are the target users of Guozhen Pine Pollen?

Guozhen Pine Pollen is a health food as well as a common nutriment. It is suitable for sub-healthy people as well as healthy people to protect their health or prevent diseases. Besides, it is suitable for people with an unbalanced diet.
There are three kinds of health condition: health, sub-health, illness.

It is reported that about 70% of Chinese people suffer from sub-health due to the fast pace of life and great pressure from work. Sub-health will be shown in two ways: one is that the physical examination indexes are normal but people themselves do not feel well; the other is that the physical examination indexes are abnormal while people themselves feel quite well. Sub-healthy people should first adjust their life styles and try to do the followings: having a balanced diet, taking an appropriate amount of exercise, give up smoking and drinking, and keeping a mental balance.

Besides, it is not suitable for sub-healthy people to take medicine, but if they do nothing, diseases can follow up gradually. Therefore, it is advisable for them to choose a suitable health food to regulate the physical functions in addition to adjusting their life styles, and a good effect will be achieved from health food instead of taking medicine. Guozhen Pine Pollen, with its special healthcare function, can postpone aging and improve the quality of life by improving health conditions of the sub-healthy people and preserving the health of healthy people.

4. Does pine pollen contraindicate its use with certain food or drug?

Pine pollen does not contraindicate its use with any food or drug. However, it is recommended to take pine pollen at least half an hour before or after taking a drug, so that the nourishing ingredients in pine pollen can be fully absorbed and its healthcare function can be best released.

5. What is the net weight of each Guozhen Pine Pollen tablet? What are its ingredients?

The net weight of each tablet is 0.5g, which is the weight of the whole tablet, but not the weight of the content of pine pollen. Its major ingredient is pine pollen, with a slight amount of excipient and a little cane sugar required by the production process.

6. What nutritious ingredients are contained in Guozhen Pine Pollen?

In early 1990s, Professor Zhao Lin from the General Hospital of PLA of China, together with the experts from Physiological Nutrient Research Institute of Munich University, did research on the nutritious components as well as the functions of Guozhen Pine Pollen.

According to the research, the nutritious components are categorized into five groups:

(1) 20 kinds of amino acid, 8 of which are essential to the body.

(2) 14 kinds of vitamins.

(3) 30 kinds of mineral elements.

(4) About a hundred kinds of enzymes and active substances.

(5) Nucleic acids, fibrins, unsaturated fatty acids, flavonoids, choline, etc.


For those interested parties, read more from http://www.pinepollen.hk/pp_intro.htm

(Post date: 2007/03/22)

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Health Q&A: Health - 1st Pine Pollen series

1. Are people without diseases considered healthy people?

The notion that people without diseases are considered healthy people is undiscriminating, partial and incorrect. Healthy people are those who pay attention to their own health and diet in daily life, who will make appropriate arrangements of their work, learning, rest, entertainment and physical exercise as well as social contacts. They are energetic, vigorous, having ease of mind and have a strong resistance to diseases, keeping a close eye on their own mental and physical state. There is another group of people, called sub-healthy people by some scholars, who always feel weary, nervous, sleepless and palpitated. Although these symptoms disappear sometimes without medication but they can not be eliminated thoroughly. They are not considered diseased in the hospital. The state of these people' bodies is called sub-healthy state, or gray state by some scholars. It lies between illness and health: little harm seems to have been done to the body with only a decrease in physical functions; in fact, its potential threat can not be neglected, for it is often the prelude of some chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and cancer.One main cause of this phenomenon is the lack of correct understanding of health and the lack of awareness to the factors threatening their own health, including the mental stress and working pressure caused by the complexity of different relationships in modern society, unreasonable diet and environmental pollution brought about by modern industrialization, etc. Therefore it is necessary to provide people with a good understanding of health and means of acquiring it through the promotion of health knowledge. Those who hold the notion that "out of illness means health" should change it so as to obtain a really healthy life, for "out of illness is not equal to health” and "no sense of being sick is not equal to out of illness".

2. What factors affect health?

According to a report of WHO, health and longevity depend on the following factors: self-healthcare accounting for 60%, genetic factors 15%, social factors 10%, medical conditions 8% and climatic factors 7%. In this report, great importance is attached to the enforcement of health education, health protection and health promotion with a recommendation on self-healthcare. This new notion brings up a shift of attention from treatment to active prevention and healthcare, from the dependence on doctors to the self-control of health.

3. Why is "prevention better than cure"?

"Prevention is better than cure" means that diseases should be prevented before they occur. It fully illustrates the two important aspects of medicine: treatment of disease and prevention of disease, with an emphasis on the latter. In the past decades, with the increase of the chronic non-infectious diseases, (such as malignant tumors, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and diabetes), the death rate is increasing dramatically, which has become a great threat to health. The medical studies on chronic diseases show that dangerous factors have existed from adolescence although the diseases mentioned above mostly occur among the elderly in clinical practice. Although these diseases are associated with high rates of death and deformity, there is a limit for the treatment of these diseases and the expenses can be extremely high. Hence, preventive measures should be taken from adolescence.

4. What is drug-induced disease?

The effect of any medicine has two sides. Nowadays a lot of chemically synthesized medicine has therapeutic effects to the diseases as well as side-effects to the body. Therefore, when the medicine is not properly used, side effects would occur and consequently lead to new diseases--the so-called drug-induced disease. For example, when some antibiotics are not properly used, they will do harm to the kidney, liver and visual and acoustical nerves; the use of some diuretics may lead to hypokalemia; and some pills for sleep lead to dependence on them. From the above examples a conclusion can be drawn that it is necessary for people to follow doctors' instructions on dose and intervals on medication instead of making self assertion to avoid serious consequences.

5. What is the best approach to taking trace element?

Trace element is classified by nutritionist as the nutrients whose amount is less than 10 milligram, among all the nutrients absorbed daily by the body. It accounts for a small percentage in the body but is indispensable. Either over or under taken, it could cause physiological abnormality or diseases.Taking trace element from food is encouraged by experts. Although, in the short term, it can be effective to take trace element preparation (or medicine) at trace element deficiency, trace element can only be digested and absorbed in the body through chelation reaction, which joins the inorganic mineral elements and the amino acid in the body into chelating compounds. Besides, there is some constrains on taking trace element preparations such as zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, sodium sulfate, sodium sulfite because these chemical preparations possess stimulant properties and low absorption rate. However the organic mineral trace element compounds (such as ferrous gluconate, zinc glutamate, cupric citrate) and trace element bioforms (such as zinc yeast, selenium yeast, zinc mushroom powder and pollen) are much easier to be absorbed and work more effectively with a low side effect.The trace elements in pine pollen, existing in plant cells, are regarded best for their bioactivity, poisonless, long term edibility without side effect, which confirms the saying that it is better to take trace element through food than through medicine.

6. What are health foods?

Health foods are those that have a specific healthcare function, that is to say, suitable for certain group of people with a body-regulating function rather than a therapeutic purpose.

7. What is immunity? What role dose it play? What diseases may abnormal immunologic function cause?

Immunity is the body's capacity preventing diseases and one of the body's physiological functions of eliminating foreign bodies, maintaining the balance and stability of its internal environment.

The body's immune system is a complex and precise system composed of immune organs, immune cells and immune molecules. It consists of:

(1) Immune organs
central immune organs:
thymus
marrow
peripheral immune organs:
spleen
lymph node
other lymphatic organs, tonsil, appendix, patch lymph node

(2) Immune cells
lymphatic cells:
B cell, T cell, K cell, NK cell, etc.
monocyte
granulocytes: neutrophilic granulocyte, eosinophilic granulocyte, basophilic granulocyte
mastocyte
platelet

(3) Immune molecules:
immunoglobulin
complement molecules
cellular factors: interferon, interleukin, tumor necrosis factors

Immune functions are mainly categorized as:

(1) Immune prevention: to protect the body by preventing the invasion of pathological micromolecule and its toxin.

(2) Self-stabilization: to maintain the stability of the body's internal environment by eliminating the damaged, aged and denaturalized cells.

(3) Immune surveillance: to prevent canceration by distinguishing, killing and eliminating mutant cells.

Abnormity of immune prevention: showed by allergy when it is over-reacted and immunodeficiency when under-reacted (poor protective capacity against diseases).

Abnormity of self-stabilization: Immune diseases, such as rheumatism, rheumatoid and erythematous lupus, are brought out by the damage of organs when normal cells are eliminated due to overreaction.

Abnormity of self-stability: mostly showed by reduced immune functions and increased incidence of cancer.

8. What can flavonoid do to health?

Flavonoid is a natural organic compound existing in many plants, and an effective component for a lot of Chinese herbal medicine, such as haw, mulberry leaves, gingko leaves, bamboo leaves, cocoa, and the root of kudzu vine. As a parmacodynamic component, flavonoid has a lot of functions such as lowering blood pressure, reducing lipidemia, preventing thrombosis, strengthening immunity, improving cardiovascular and cerebrovascular blood circulation, etc. Flavonoid, similar to vitamin C, is metabolized quickly, and evacuated by urine when it is in surplus.

As far as scientists are concerned, flavonoid is a newly discovered natural nutrient necessary for the body. The lack of flavonoid in the body will lead to cerebral dysfunction, inadequate cardiac function, blood vessel cirrhosis and brittleness. With small molecules it is easily absorbed by the body and is able to enter fat tissues through blood barriers; hence, it has a general effect for health, such as anti-inflammation, anti-allergy and anti-tumor, restraining bacteria and virus, and preventing liver diseases and thrombosis.
Flavonoid should be taken consistently. With a fast metabolism it dose not accumulate in the body. Meanwhile, It has to be obtained from food, such as cereal, vegetable,fruit juice, and tea for it can not be synthesized in the body.


(Post date: 2007/03/20)

Friday, March 16, 2007

Pine Pollen is a natural and bioactive health food for everyone


Pine pollen is proved as pure natural healthcare food taking from the manually-gathered pollen of Chinese Pinus Massoniana Lamb and Pinus Tabulaeformis Carr. They are refined by modern low temperature sporoderm-breaking technology.
The history of eating pine pollen in China was dated-back to over 2,000 years ago, for its rich in nutrients and bioactive substances such as amino acids, vitamins, trace-elements, enzymes, flavonoids, nucleic acid, unsaturated fatty acid and dietary fiber. Pine Pollen has good effects on promoting metabolism, regulating the Endocrine System, oxidation resistance, anti-fatigue and improving body immunity.
It is a pure natural healthcare product for replenishing nutrients, aging resistance and beauty care, body strengthening and keeping the youthful vigor of the body. This product contains no preservatives and pharmacological experiments show that it has no toxic and side-effects on those who have taken it for a long time.
For those interested parties, read more from http://www.pinepollen.hk/pp_intro.htm