Marc Washington, CEO of superfood brand Supergut, speaks to Green Queen about riding the Ozempic wave, the importance of prebiotic fibre, boosting GLP-1, and formulating plant-based products.

For Marc Washington, it was a head-meets-heart story. His sister Monica lived with diabetes and hypertension and was clinically obese. Due to complications with her health and a high-risk pregnancy, she tragically passed away far too young.

“That tripped me to my core,” recalls Washington. “That was something that clearly should not have happened… I knew there had to be better ways, but nothing else allowed Monica to change her trajectory. ‘I think this is my purpose”, he thought at the time, “to help create something out of this tragic situation and help other people [towards] a healthier path where they’re more in control.’  In many ways, the kind of things that I wish Monica had access to while she was here.”

This painful part of his family history inspired Washington to start Supergut five years ago, a gut health brand leveraging prebiotic fibres for better digestive and metabolic health, and backed by nutritionists, scientists and medical professionals. Previously called MUNIQ – a portmanteau of ‘Monica’ and ‘unique’ – it was built upon the science of unique prebiotics, particularly resistant starches. These carbohydrates don’t get digested in the small intestine, but instead ferment in the large intestine to feed ‘good’ gut bacteria.

As MUNIQ, the business focused on supplements that transformed the gut, but also improved overall health, specifically targeting people “who need it the most”: those living with metabolic syndrome (a condition that affects a quarter of Americans). “I consider that phase an unbelievable proof of concept that this works,” says Washington. “We could take a food-as-medicine approach, and we can fundamentally transform people’s health in a significant way.”

But his goal was to impact broader public health. The more impactful way to do that was to be preventative and help people never get to the point where they’re living with metabolic syndrome. Prevention is better than cure, after all. In June 2022, the company rebranded to Supergut to focus on the mission.

In the second phase of the business, the idea was to transform focus from blood glucose or weight to the gut. “Whatever you’re dealing with in your life, we know that your gut microbiome has a significant role,” suggests Washington. The company carried out a peer-reviewed clinical study to validate “just how pervasively we could affect people’s health”.

Coming from a business background himself (with a supplements brand called Beachbody/BODi), he surrounded himself with scientific professionals to inform Supergut’s approach. “We really took more of a biotech approach, but just in the wrapper of a consumer brand,” says the Supergut CEO.

And it’s in the last few months that the Supergut has entered its third era, one where it’s creating gut-healthy superfoods as a “natural approach for appetite control”, which subsequently means better weight management, healthier blood sugar, and many other benefits. “We are doing that by helping naturally regulate your body’s production of these hormones in your gut called GLP-1,” explains Washington.

Is Supergut a natural Ozempic alternative?

GLP-1 has been a buzzword in health discourse over the last year with the rise of drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, which are prescribed to people with type 2 diabetes and obesity, but have become popular as weight-loss drugs: about 1.7% of American adults were prescribed one of these semaglutide (the drug’s generic name) medications in 2023.

Consumer awareness about GLP-1 is driving a step-change for Supergut, which is “made for these times”, according to Washington.

“We talk all day, every day about Ozempic: its impact on health, the secondary impacts on functional foods, its impact on our customers, how we complement it in some ways that we can be a natural alternative for somebody who doesn’t want to use them… We’re very much here for this Ozempic era.”

“We’re designing nutrient-dense, functional, high-protein, high-fibre, low-sugar foods that can amplify or complement the appetite control effects, but also balance out your digestive tract. That is Supergut.”

While the Supergut team was very familiar with the effects of GLP-1 hormones and their effects when it they first launched the company, Ozempic came onto their radar around two years ago. The company was conducting a 200-person “gold-standard” study using its shakes when one investigator who was impressed with the results mentioned breakthrough medications like Ozempic. Supergut spoke to leading experts in the field, who lauded these drugs’ transformative effects as well as “unbelievable promise” in weight-loss trials. As Washington puts it, “physicians were losing their mind”.

Washington and his team continued to focus on their product range before GLP-1 agonist drugs really exploded last year and forced Supergut to pay attention. The human gut has its own version of GLP-1, incretin hormones, which can be regulated with nutrients like dietary fibre and prebiotics like the ones Supergut is using, such as resistant starches and beta-glucans. “A big part of how [Supergut products are] actually doing their job at keeping you full, maintaining healthier weight and improving insulin response to manage blood sugar is GLP-1,” explains Washington.

The brand conducted a tongue-in-cheek stunt last year, branding its superfood bars as Wozempic. You know, Ozempic, minus all the woes. Those include the cost of the drugs, the needles and the side effects. “We’re saying: Hey, guess what? Our products help curb cravings, but we do it naturally,” says Washington.

It was a precursor to Supergut’s dialled-up brand positioning based on mimicking Ozempic. “This is a tsunami that’s about to take over not just pharma, it’s going to impact many people in broad, significant ways,” he notes. “So what are the secondary and tertiary effects of this? What’s the effect on food? People are going to eat less of certain types of food, but, they’re going to need more of other types of food, right? That’s us.”

A GLP-1 complement, not an Ozempic replacement

With all the focus on prebiotic fibre, it’s become an increasingly crowded CPG space – think Olipop, Pendulum, Uplift Food and Poppi, to name a few. Does this breed consumer confusion? Washington believes so, adding that this is not likely to change for the foreseeable future.

So how do Supergut’s products stand out? The idea is to focus specifically on the most efficacious types of prebiotic fibres that the body can tolerate at high concentrations. “You do need to get a fair amount of fibre in your diet in order to have some of these benefits,” he says. This is how the company landed on its unique, proprietary, patented resistant starch fibre blend (featuring green banana powder, beta-glucans from oats, soluble vegetable fibre from maize, and potato starch).

Supergut’s products help to diversify the prebiotic fibre content you’re ingesting and marry complementary elements like resistant starches and beta-glucan. This blend forms the base of its shakes, bars and add-to-anything powders.

The other aspect that differentiates Supergut, according to Washington, is the fact that the company has conducted primary clinical research, which revealed how its shakes can improve HbA1c (a measure of average blood glucose levels), appetite control, weight management (showing a steady decline instead of a massive dropoff), and blood pressure. “We also saw improvements in other dimensions connected to gut-brain access: better sleep quality, better energy, less brain fog,” he states.

“One thing we’re very clear about is this is not a replacement for Ozempic. This is not a magic pill. This is food. So this is going to work naturally in your body, and by no means are you going to just drink a shake and lose 20% of your body weight. They haven’t even made drugs that have been that effective, so clearly, you’re not going to get the same kind of results from a food product,” says Washington. “Plus from a regulatory standpoint, we have to be very careful. We don’t prevent, treat or cure any diseases. That is not us: we are loud and proud [about the fact] that we are a food.”

If you’re a semaglutide user, you might be wondering how complementation works with Supergut products. Washington suggests that Ozempic is, in effect, a Band-Aid, with studies showing that it does not “solve your metabolism”. When you come off the drug, the weight comes back on, a phenomenon dubbed the Ozempic rebound.

“We’re a very natural complement to help maintain and sustain those results over time, and tap into some of the same mechanisms, not at the same magnitude, but for healthier maintenance,” explains Washington. “And even while you’re on it, you need to get more nutrients from the fewer calories that you’re going to consume… it needs to be nutrient-dense – that is sort of our product.”

Then there are the side effects, which range from vomiting and nausea to constipation and diarrhoea. These can take months to subside, and for those who suffer longer-term, many end up withdrawing their use. The Supergut founder says its products can improve those digestive symptoms, something he ascribes to anecdotal evidence from the brand’s customers who also use Ozempic. The company hasn’t done any clinical testing on this aspect, but its research was done on consumers with metabolic syndrome, and it did showcase improvements in things like constipation, diarrhoea and nausea.

What about the Ozempic-curious? “A natural approach to appetite control and not walking around feeling hungry, maybe wanting to lose a couple [of] pounds – that’s relevant for almost every person with a heartbeat, right?” asks Washington. “We present that for them… It’s even relevant for a crowd that’s not going to use Ozempic per se.”

Opportunism, mixing prebiotics, and child use

With more and more companies riding the Ozempic wave, could there be a case of opportunism in the GLP-1-food space? Washington doesn’t lose sleep over it – why would he? It’s inevitable, after all, he says. “Whether or not their products have anything to do with Ozempic or cravings or GLP-1, there are definitely people – and for sure, there will be more that come into the market – that do try to position themselves as GLP-1-complement,” he explains. “That’s the nature of business.”

Instead, Supergut aspires to be the “first brand you think of when you’re thinking of natural ways to control appetite, boost GLP-1, and also get some great gut health benefits” in the meantime. “Luck is when preparation meets opportunity – we have been preparing for this moment for five years,” says Washington. “We’ve been iterating, grinding, investing and preparing, and now I think it’s our opportunity.”

Asked if you can consume Supergut products alongside functional fibre offerings such as Olipop prebiotic sodas, Washington says it’s complicated. “That’s where it gets a little complex,” he responds. “The main thing people need to know is that all fibre is good, and we essentially need to get a lot more of it in our diets than we do.” When it comes to daily amounts, most recommendations average out at 30g. In the US, only 5% of adults meet that requirement from their daily diet, the average person gets 16g per day).

But while all fibre is good for you, there are different tolerability aspects of different fibres – even at relatively small dosages: some can cause bloating, gas, and other side effects – which is why you have to be careful combining fibres from different products. Getting the right blend is key, something Supergut has prioritised with its high-tolerance, certified low-FODMAP prebiotic fibre mix.

So to answer the question, the average person could potentially consume both Olipop and Supergut’s products, but if they did too much, it could start to present some issues. “What does have pretty solid evidence – and we’ve seen some of the research – is a diet high in fermented foods, if you really want to get more live microbes into your diet,” suggests Washington.

He adds that children can consume Supergut products too – only the serving size needs to be adjusted. “We typically recommend cutting the serving size in half,” he says. “Our bars have been quite popular [among kids]… because they’re like a sweet treat.”

With his kids, he adds the unflavoured prebiotic powder into smoothies, juices, drinks, sauces and oatmeal to get more prebiotic fibre into their diets. You can even bake with it. “There’s different ways to try to get this into the diets because… it’s not always easy to get them to eat their whole-food, high-fibre diets,” he says. “This helps supplement that by getting it in without them even knowing.”

Why Supergut isn’t 100% vegan

Supergut isn’t a fully plant-based brand – of its current range, the prebiotic fibre blend and some shake flavours are vegan. But for a country where 36% of people have lactose malabsorption, and between 80-90% of African Americans, Native Americans and Asian Americans are lactose-intolerant, how important is it to have a wider range of non-dairy products?

“We’re straddling the worlds of plant-based versus just general nutrition,” says Washington. He adds that a future fully vegan product line is possible. “I’m really trying to have the broadest impact possible at the end of the day, and so I tend to not focus too specifically on restrictions around diet or making things that aren’t available.

“From the very outset, I didn’t want to just create plant-based products, I wanted to create products that I think will have the broadest impact and exposure. And that means some plant-based, but some that are not plant-based. That sort of reflects my personal belief and our approach as a company.”

He cites food writer Michael Pollan’s much-repeated axiom: ‘Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants’, calling the phrase “really, really powerful”, and reflective of his and the business’s outlook on a whole-food, plant-forward diet, “if not 100% vegan”. Having said that, the next couple of products in Supergut’s pipeline are plant-based versions of existing products.

Primed for success

With a five-year lead on gut health food products that naturally boost GLP-1 hormones, Supergut is very much meeting the Ozempic moment and the company is on track for robust commercial success. Washington says sales are up nearly threefold since Q3’23 “based on surging consumer awareness and interest around our gut-healthy, natural approach to curb cravings”.

The company recently launched in physical retail stores including Sprouts and Erewhon, and has additional upcoming launches at Bristol Farms, GNC and Fresh Thyme, going from zero retail shelves in 2023 to over 1,000 locations by the end of Q1’24, a rocketship momentum in CPG.

Can Supergut claim the ‘alternative Ozempic’ market? With more than 10,000 satisfied customers even before the semaglutide drug took over the world and orders for the brand’s bars exploding just in the last month alone, you wouldn’t bet against it.

The post Supergut’s Marc Washington is Meeting The Moment: ‘We’re Very Much Here for the Ozempic Era’ appeared first on Green Queen.

By Christopher Damman, Associate Professor of Gastroenterology, School of Medicine, University of Washington

Wegovy, Ozempic and Mounjaro are weight loss and diabetes drugs that have made quite a splash in health news. They target regulatory pathways involved in both obesity and diabetes and are widely considered breakthroughs for weight loss and blood sugar control.

But do these drugs point toward a root cause of metabolic disease? What inspired their development in the first place?

It turns out your body produces natural versions of these drugs – also known as incretin hormones – in your gut. It may not be surprising that nutrients in food help regulate these hormones. But it may intrigue you to know that the trillions of microbes in your gut are key for orchestrating this process.

I am a gastroenterologist at the University of Washington who studies how food and your gut microbiome affect health and disease. Here’s an inside-out perspective on the role natural gut hormones and healthy food play in metabolism and weight loss.

A broken gut

Specialized bacteria in your lower gut take the components of food you can’t digest like fiber and polyphenols – the elements of plants that are removed in many processed foods – and transforms them into molecules that stimulate hormones to control your appetite and metabolism. These include GLP-1, a natural version of Wegovy and Ozempic.

GLP-1 and other hormones like PYY help regulate blood sugar through the pancreas. They also tell your brain that you’ve had enough to eat and your stomach and intestines to slow the movement of food along the digestive tract to allow for digestion. This system even has a name: the colonic brake.

Prior to modern processed foods, metabolic regulatory pathways were under the direction of a diverse healthy gut microbiome that used these hormones to naturally regulate your metabolism and appetite. However, food processing, aimed at improving shelf stability and enhancing taste, removes the bioactive molecules like fiber and polyphenols that help regulate this system.

Removal of these key food components and the resulting decrease in gut microbiome diversity may be an important factor contributing to the rise in obesity and diabetes.

A short track to metabolic health

Wegovy and Ozempic reinvigorate the colonic brake downstream of food and microbes with molecules similar to GLP-1. Researchers have demonstrated their effectiveness at weight loss and blood sugar control.

Mounjaro has gone a step further and combined GLP-1 with a second hormone analogue derived from the upper gut called GIP, and studies are showing this combination therapy to be even more effective at promoting weight loss than GLP-1-only therapies like Wegovy and Ozempic.

These drugs complement other measures like gastric bypass surgery that are used in the most extreme cases of metabolic disease. These surgeries may in part work much like Wegovy and Ozempic by bypassing digestion in segments of the gastrointestinal tract and bathing your gut microbes in less digested food. This awakens the microbes to stimulate your gut cells to produce GLP-1 and PYY, effectively regulating appetite and metabolism.

Many patients have seen significant improvements to not only their weight and blood glucose but also reductions in important cardiovascular outcomes like strokes and heart attacks. Medical guidelines support the use of new incretin-based medications like Wegovy, Ozempic and Mounjaro to manage the interrelated metabolic conditions of diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease.

Considering the effects incretin-based medications have on the brain and cravings, medical researchers are also evaluating their potential to treat nonmetabolic conditions like alcohol abuse, drug addiction and depression.

A near-magic bullet – for the right folks

Despite the success and prospect of these drugs to help populations that may benefit most from them, current prescribing practices have raised some questions. Should people who are only a little overweight use these drugs? What are the risks of prescribing these drugs to children and adolescents for lifelong weight management?

While incretin-based therapies seem close to magic bullets, they are not without gastrointestinal side effects like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and constipation. These symptoms are related to how the drugs work to slow the gastrointestinal tract. Other more severe, but rare, side effects include pancreatitis and irreversible gastroparesis, or inflammation of the pancreas and stomach paralysis.

These drugs can also lead to a loss of healthy lean muscle mass in addition to fat, particularly in the absence of exercise. Significant weight gain after stopping the drugs raises further questions about long-term effects and whether it’s possible to transition back to using only lifestyle measures to manage weight.

All roads lead to lifestyle

Despite our greatest aspirations for quick fixes, it’s very possible that a healthy lifestyle remains the most important way to manage metabolic disease and overall health. This includes regular exercise, stress management, sleep, getting outdoors and a balanced diet.

For the majority of the population who don’t yet have obesity or diabetes, restarting the gut’s built-in appetite and metabolism control by reintroducing whole foods and awaking the gut microbiome may be the best approach to promote healthy metabolism.

Adding minimally processed foods back to your diet, and specifically those replete in fiber and polyphenols like flavonoids and carotenoids, can play an important and complementary role to help address the epidemic of obesity and metabolic disease at one of its deepest roots.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

The post How Food and the Gut Microbiome Can Stimulate Your Body’s ‘Natural Ozempic’ appeared first on Green Queen.

Ozempic is everywhere right now, from newspaper headlines to household shelves. But what do Americans really think about weight loss drugs? Here are 10 things you should know.

In our food trends predictions for this year, we highlighted how Ozempic could change the food industry as we know it. The drug has taken over the cultural zeitgeist in the last year, with everyone from actors, producers, TV presenters and TikTok users singing its praises.

The brand name has become a genericised trademark – much like jelly is Jell-O and earbuds are Q-Tips. But it really is a semaglutide injection used to regulate insulin and book glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes, a condition that plagues over 38 million Americans (or 11.6% of the total population).

What has really captured people’s attention is the drug’s ability to imitate glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), a hormone produced naturally by our intestines that signals to our body that we’re full. Essentially, it makes patients less hungry, less likely to overeat and less interested in snacking – people taking semaglutide consume 20% fewer calories on average. You can see the appeal.

The FDA hasn’t approved Ozempic for weight loss, but it has done so for Wegovy, another semaglutide medication. When this happened, demand ballooned so much that some providers turned to Ozempic when they couldn’t get their hands on Wegovy. In 2022, nine million people were prescribed Ozempic.

With roughly two-thirds of Americans overweight, and one out of three obese, this class of drugs has understandably generated a lot of interest – whether it’s people hailing their impact on weight loss, or voicing concerns about their side effects. Here are 10 things you should know about how Americans are thinking about weight loss, and how the anti-obesity market could shape up, based on a 388-person survey by VC firm Coefficient Capital and tech outlet The New Consumer, and a study by Morgan Stanley.

1. Weight remains Americans’ top problem

Across all income groups – from those earning less than $25,000 annually to over $150,000 – more than half of Americans would rather feel 25% healthier than earn 25% more money. And 40% of respondents are either very or extremely interested in losing weight – this is a sentiment more popular among Gen Z (49%) and millennials (48%) than boomers (27%), and women (45%) than men (35%).

Meanwhile, among consumers who are aware of weight loss drugs, 30% say they are very or extremely likely to use them, while a further 25% are ‘somewhat interested’. This is again higher among millennials (44%) and Gen Z (40%) versus boomers (10%).

2. A majority of GLP-1 users feel like different people (more protein, less sugar)

The survey found that 86% of GLP-1 users “feel like a different person”, with 47% describing the change as positive, and 9% as negative. Meanwhile, 12% said they haven’t found any difference.

Meanwhile, the 30% of consumers who felt different called it a neutral change. For people who experienced a shift in a good way, the sentiment was most popular among GLP-1 users who had been taking the drug for six to 11 months (59%). And of those who said no, the feeling was strongest among diabetic users (15%), versus 5% for weight-loss users.

3. Obesity medication is making Americans eat better

GLP-1 has apparently changed the way Americans are eating and buying food, with 43% consuming more protein, nearly a third eating fewer carbs and snacks, 36% drinking less alcohol, 38% reducing their fat intake, and 45% consuming less sugar than before. Weight-loss users are also spending 3.9% less on groceries and 2.1% less on snacks, with beans, grains, deli items, prepared foods and baked goods the most affected. But interestingly, 3.9% are buying more ice cream.

And when it comes to buying decisions, 56% and 54% are conscious of checking nutritional and calorie labels, respectively, while 48% look at ingredient lists more. Meanwhile, a third of Americans are ordering in less and 29% are dining out less (though an equal number are eating out more), with 39% cooking at home more.

4. GLP-1 users are more active and feel better

Americans who have been using GLP-1 medication for weight loss have found that they’re more active in life (42%), with exercise (41%), and sexually (29%). But a fifth also said they feel less sexually active than before. There were even larger benefits when it came to physical health (56%), mental wellbeing (46%) and social life (40%).

And among those who reported they lost weight, an average of 59% expected to lose either a little or a lot more weight than they did.

5. Americans plan to stick with weight loss drugs

There are interesting results around the frequency of use. For people using GLP-1 drugs for weight loss, 45% plan to use them long-term, but more (51%) are likely to go on and off based on their needs. For diabetics, long-term use is in the minds of 65%, while 27% plan to switch on and off.

These numbers drop down when accounting for side effects: 72% of Americans would use GLP-1 drugs if there were no side effects, which falls to 52% if there are side effects. Similarly, without these implications, 40% plan to start and stop based on needs, compared to 22% with no side effects.

In terms of duration, most Americans want to use these medications for six to 12 months – this is the case for 57% of weight loss and 45% of diabetic users. And 23% of the latter plan to use it for over 12 months, versus just 9% of the former. Money is also a huge factor: 46% would use these for more than 24 months if there was no co-pay and full insurance coverage, but only 7% would do so on a $100 copay.

6. About half of Americans are concerned about long-term effects

Nearly half of Americans (46%) who are aware of GLP-1 drugs are very or extremely concerned about their long-term health effects, which increases to 51% for those taking the medications. Another 37% are ‘somewhat concerned’.

When it comes to societal impact, across generations, more respondents believe there will be a positive effect of GLP-1 drugs, though this varies from age to age. Half of millennials think it’ll be positive, while only 23% feel there’ll be a detrimental impact. The biggest split is among boomers, 39% of whom believe GLP-1 medications will affect society positively, and 28% think it’ll make things worse – a third don’t expect any change.

Overall, on a scale of zero to 10, 7.55 of Americans would recommend these drugs to others.

7. In 10 years, 24 million Americans could be prescribed Ozempic

By Morgan Stanley’s estimate, 24 million Americans could be prescribed anti-obesity medications by 2035 – equivalent to 7% of the US population. The impact of these drugs on reducing appetites and calorie intake can shape attitudes around food, beverages and restaurants. “We anticipate meaningful impact in areas such as packaged food and beverages, restaurants, grocery stores and weight loss programmes,” write the analysts.

8. Obesity prevention could be a $50B market in the US

Morgan Stanley likens the Ozempic rush to hypertension, which was once viewed as the result of lifestyle choices rather than a chronic condition. Its biopharma analysts believe obesity treatment is “on the cusp of moving into primary care management”, and noting the rise of semaglutide drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy for weight loss in the last two years, they estimate obesity revenues to exceed $50B in the US and $75B globally by 2030.

9. Starting on anti-obesity drugs could cut about 1,000 calories daily

With anti-obesity medications, patients can lose between 10-20% of their body weight through reduced appetite, but the next generation of these drugs could see even bigger outcomes, cutting between 20-30% of the daily calorie intake, alongside a decrease of 23% in daily emails and 50% in snacking.

This amounts to consuming about 1,000 fewer calories per day, with a slightly larger drop for men than women. The analysts also forecast a 1.3% reduction in total calorie intake by 2035: “As a result, the food, beverage and restaurant industries may see softer demand and will need to adapt to changing customer preferences.”

10. Sugary drinks, snacks and preserved meats face the chop

There’s an even more pronounced decline among certain food categories, with Americans set to reduce consumption of sugary or carbonated beverages by 2.8%, baked goods by 2.7% and salty snacks by 24% come 2035. Of the foods analysed, dairy (-0.5%) and red meat (-0.9%) have the smallest predicted decreases.

“Across our food, beverage, restaurant and food retail research coverage, we see companies with exposure to ‘better-for-you’ foods as best positioned,” Morgan Stanley’s analysts say. “We acknowledge that the impact in the near term is likely to be limited, given that drug adoption will grow gradually, but we could see a longer-term impact as drug prevalence increases. Moreover, we expect companies to adapt to changes in consumer behaviour through innovation and portfolio reshaping efforts.”

The post The Ozempic Rush: 10 Things to Know About Semaglutide, Food Intake, Obesity & Weight Loss appeared first on Green Queen.

Vyld, the female-founded Berlin startup making sustainable period products from algae, has secured a seven-figure sum in seed funding that includes a financing instrument they created themselves.

Three years after launch, Vyld has raised funding worth seven figures using a novel financing model, helping its mission to disrupt the feminine care industry. The company will use the investment to launch Kelpon, the world’s first tampon made from seaweed, and accelerate the development of its period diaper.

The investment is a combination of German government and EU funds, and angel and VC capital, leveraging a self-developed sustainable financing instrument, the Future Profit Partnership Agreement (FPPA). Created by co-founder Ines Schiller, the model blends the advantages of equity and debt capital, and aligns with Vyld’s vision of steward ownership and self-sustenance.

The startup will use the funds to launch to market what it claims is the world’s first tampon made from seaweed, while continuing to develop its incontinence pads. It’s part of a long-term vision of creating an Algaeverse of healthy, sustainable and circular products tapping seaweed’s potential to develop a regenerative economy and promote ocean conservation, which helps Vyld contribute to 12 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Built on a unique regenerative financing model

Crafted by Schiller, a former film producer, Vyld’s mezzanine financial instrument ensures the company remains independent, allowing profits to be reinvested, used to cover capital costs, or funnelled into philanthropic purposes – all the while enabling an appropriate return for investors. Instead of having an exit-based model like traditional VC startups, Vyld focuses on longer-term sustainability.

Steward ownership has two core principles. The first is self-governance, which means the voting rights of the company always remain with active employees, rather than external investors. The second is a profit-for-purpose approach, which means its profits can’t be privatised. So instead of being redistributed to shareholders, they’re reinvested in the company’s mission. It means that Vyld as a business owns itself.

Under the FPPA, the startup offers profit shares instead of a conventional equity round. Once the returns are achieved, the agreement ends. This means new investments can be secured outside of the typical equity round cycle, giving the company financial independence. This model appeals to investors who are interested in regenerative financing and are critics of maximalist financial principles.

“Tackling questions of ownership, power and financing is crucial to me as an entrepreneur. Business models create realities and extractive models do not only threaten the environment and health, but also reproduce exploitative standards and anti-democratic tendencies,” explained Schiller. “We want to counter this with a model that promotes creation instead of consumption, quality instead of quantity and triple top line instead of hypergrowth.”

Kai Viehof, one of Vyld’s investors, added: “Vyld shows that neither shareholder-value-driven venture capital nor unbridled growth is needed to successfully implement sustainable ideas that really make a difference for our planet and our society. However, change can only become possible on a broad scale if investors also rethink and provide the necessary capital fairly and with reasonable return expectations.”

As part of the company’s knowledge-sharing commitment, it is making this financial model available as an open-source case study to encourage other businesses to adopt a similar regenerative approach.

Vyld will release seaweed tampons this year, with diapers in development

Vyld was founded by Schiller and Melanie Schichan in 2021, with the long-term target of creating an entire ecosystem of non-food seaweed products under the Algaeverse, which entails both B2B and B2C offerings. The aim is to transform a menstrual health sector that produces high amounts of waste.

The startup claims that 90% of all period products employed are single-use, and plastic makes up a big chunk of their composition. Plastic comprises 90% of the content in disposable period pads, which is the equivalent of four plastic bags. It means these are not biodegradable and can take up to 600 years to decompose.

The seaweed Vyld uses in its menstrual products, though, biodegrades on land and in water, requires no fertilisers to grow, and doesn’t need to be bleached (unlike conventional tampons). Plus, it sequesters huge amounts of carbon and nitrogen while growing, offers anti-inflammatory benefits during use, and can also be applied across a range of materials, from tampon cores to external packaging.

The startup’s initial products are the Kelpon (a tampon) and Dyper (a diaper). The former was part of a successful trial with over 100 consumers late last year and is now being prepared for market launch. The latter is in pilot phase, part of a Windelwald (‘diaper forest’) project in partnership with German sanitary solutions company Goldeimer.

An algae-based compostable diaper without plastic or superabsorbent polymers, the Dyper is being trialled in 50 households both for everyday use and its potential as a humus fertiliser. The used diapers are composted under controlled conditions, and the fertilisers help plant a forest – hence the name ‘diaper forest’.

It’s an exercise in regeneration, marrying the ethos of the financial model with its product offering. It puts Vyld in pole position to disrupt a $30B market with sustainability and ethics at the heart of things.

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Cytisine, derived from plants, might just be the best natural alternative to widely used nicotine patches. 

Yes, you read that right. Plant-based could be the superior option, not just in terms of our diets, but as a smoking cessation aid. Derived from plants, cytisine is a natural alkaloid compound found in the seeds of the golden rain tree, and doctors now say it can be twice as effective in breaking one’s smoking addiction. 

This medicine has already been in use in central and eastern Europe, as well as in Asia, but is not yet widely available around the world. While cytisine recently gained regulatory approval in the UK, it is still not accessible in the US. 

Two-fold cessation rate with cytisine 

The new study, published in the journal Addiction, saw participants on cytisine twice as likely to succeed in quitting smoking compared to the placebo group. The Argentinian research team also tested another drug called varenicline, also known as Champix, as well as traditional nicotine replacement patches and gums. 

“Cytisine increases the chances of successful smoking cessation by more than twofold compared with placebo and has a benign safety profile,” the team concluded. They added that “cytisine may be more effective than nicotine replacement therapy, with modest cessation rates.” 

In total, the randomised controlled trials involved nearly 6,000 patients. 

The lead author of the study, Dr. Omar De Santi, believes that this plant-based compound could be especially useful in poorer countries because of its low cost. 

Low-cost solution 

“It could be very useful in reducing smoking in low- and middle-income countries where cost-effective smoking cessation drugs are urgently needed,” he shared. “Worldwide, smoking is considered the main cause of preventable death [and] cytisine has the potential to be one of the big answers to that problem.” 

Globally, tobacco users are primarily concentrated in low- and middle-income countries. According to data from the WHO, an estimated 80% of the 1.3 billion smokers worldwide live in these countries, where the burden of smoking-related diseases and death toll is also the heaviest. 

Plant-based diets for overall health

Aside from producing the natural compounds that could help smokers kick their bad habits, plant-based diets themselves have also proven to be a powerful tool in protecting one’s health—even if you’re a smoker. 

In 2021, researchers from the University of Glasgow found that vegetarians and vegans had better biomarker scores compared to meat-eaters. Crucially, these findings were consistent despite participants’ weight, smoking and alcohol consumption. 

“As well as not eating red and processed meat which have been linked to heart diseases and some cancers, people who follow a vegetarian diet tend to consume more vegetables, fruits, and nuts which contain more nutrients, fibre, and other potentially beneficial compounds,” explained paper author Dr. Carlos Celis-Morales. 

“These nutritional differences may help explain why vegetarians appear to have lower levels of disease biomarkers that can lead to cell damage and chronic disease.”

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One-pot meals aren’t just soups and stews (although those are amazing! From dumpling skillet stir-fries to noodle bowls, and more, simplify your cooking, but not the flavor.

Spending more time in the kitchen? If you’re a bit sick of doing all the dishes, we’re here to help with 12 super easy, healthy, 100-percent plant-based family recipes that can be whipped up with just one pan, pot or tray! 

1. One Pan Tandoori Quinoa 

So flavourful yet nutritious – all cooked in just one pan. Tandoori spices match with the chickpeas, tomatoes and fresh coriander. 

Get the recipe: Yup It’s Vegan

2. One Pan Veggie Dumpling Stir Fry

This is the perfect dish when you’re pressed for time but want to make a delicious lunch for your family. You’ll need frozen dumplings (you can find 100% animal-free Chinese dumplings in most local supermarkets), and lots of fresh veggies. 

Get the recipe: Sweet Phi

3. One Pot Vegan Jambalaya 

Super easy to whip up for a healthy family dinner, packed with spicy rice, beans and veggies. 

Get the recipe: Easy Cheesy Vegetarian

4. Healthy One Pot Cauliflower Curry

Amazing if you have kids while you’re working from home – it takes only half an hour. Serve this delicious vegan curry over rice or any grain you like. It’s suitable for gluten-free too!

Get the recipe: Dietitian Debbie

5. One Tray Tofu Asian-inspired Veggie Bowl with Cashew Garlic Sauce

Made using just one sheet pan/tray in the oven, and perfect for a quick lunch or dinner. You’ll need tofu, veggies of your choice and cashews and garlic for a delicious sauce to drizzle. 

Get the recipe: The Edgy Veg 

6. One Wok Stir-Fry Noodles and Veggies

If you happen to have a wok in your kitchen, make use of it for a speedy stir-fry that takes almost no time. Mix a quick marinade using sesame oil, garlic and soy sauce, throw in a plant-based protein like tofu or tempeh and any veggies that you happen to have on hand, then fry with rice noodles! Sprinkle with sesame seeds.

Get the recipe: Fabs Good Food

7. One Pot Biryani

This warming biryani recipe is packed with cauliflower, mushrooms and carrots and fragrant spices. Top with chopped coriander and vegan yogurt for an extra bit of flavour and colour. 

Get the recipe: We Are So Vegan

8. One Pot Veggie Yakisoba 

Savoury sauce, delicious Japanese noodles and a ton of veggies – all in one pot! Who can complain? 

Get the recipe: Moms Dish

9. Vegan Miso Soup

The ultimate life-saving one-bowl meal – all you need is miso, tofu, green onions, enoki mushrooms, and seaweed of your choice. That’s it. 

Get the recipe: From My Bowl

10. Vegan Thai Soup

This recipe is a vegan version of the traditional Thai tom kha gai soup, and replaces chicken using tofu. Brimming with veggies and a good amount of spice too. 

Get the recipe: Simple Vegan Blog

11. One Pot Veggie Mapo Tofu 

The meat-free version of the famous Sichuan mouth-numbing dish Mapo Tofu. It can be made in a large pot for the whole family, just serve with rice. 

Get the recipe: Washington Post

12. Vegetable Congee

A personal favourite – nourishing, delicious and simple. One large pot, rice and veggies of your choice, just customise with any ingredients you have in your pantry. You can swap white rice for a mix of brown rice or red rice too, if you wish. 

Get the recipe: The Worktop

Lead image courtesy of Pinch of Yum.

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Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for health and wellbeing. Many people believe that omega-3s can only be found in non-plant-based sources such as fatty fish. However, there are many plant-based foods that do contain omega-3s, and crucially, fish contain omega-3s because they eat plankton and algae.

There are three main types of omega-3s: ALA (alpha-linolenic acid), DHA (eicosapentaenoic acid), and EPA (docosahexaenoic acid). Eating a variety of omega-3s helps to promote heart health by curbing inflammation in blood vessels and lower levels of triglycerides, thus reducing the risk of heart disease. As well, they are crucial for mood stabilisation and other age-related causes of mental decline. DHA, in particular, is the most critical and is the main structural fat in our eyes and our cerebral cortex, the part of our brain supporting memory, language, emotion and attention. 

Plant-Based Supplementation

Depending on how many plant-based sources of omega-3s we can incorporate into our diet, we may still need some extra supplementation to meet the recommended guidelines of 250-500 milligrams per day for adults. Plant-based folk who might not enjoy eating nuts and seeds, or might have allergies to them, can opt for algae-based omega-3 supplements that usually come in pill form, such as spirulina tablets. 

Best Vegan Omega-3 Foods

Plant-based sources of omega fatty acids are more ethical as well as more sustainable as they do not contribute to depleting marine species and plastic pollution associated with the fishing industry. Not to mention, fish-based supplements, oils, and seafood often carry the risk of mercury poisoning, making plant-based omega-3s a safer option too.  

These plant-based sources of omega fatty acids are not only healthy, but delicious and versatile, too.

1. Seaweed & Algae 

Seaweed, nori, spirulina, and chlorella are different types of algae and all are great plant-based sources of omega-3. They are among some of the few plant groups that contain both DHA and EPA fatty acids, and can be easily incorporated into our diet. Seaweed can be found as a snack; nori is the type of seaweed used to make sushi, and other variations such as kombu can be added to miso soups. Chlorella and spirulina are often sold in powder form and can be added to smoothies, porridge, and juices. 

2. Chia Seeds 

Chia seeds are another fantastic source of omega-3s, especially ALA fatty acids, as well as being high in protein and fibre. Each 1-ounce serving of chia seeds contains over 5 grams of of ALA, and can be easily incorporated into meals as a topping on porridge, an ingredient in granola, salads, and smoothies. Chia seeds can also be left in water or plant-based milk to use as an egg substitute for baking.

3. Hemp Seeds

Help seeds are also an excellent source of ALA, containing 2.6 grams of ALA per 3 tablespoons. Like chia seeds, hemp seeds can be sprinkled over salads, smoothie bowls, vegan yoghurt and porridge. Aside from being high in omega-3s, hemp seeds are packed with other nutrients such as magnesium, iron, and zinc, all of which contribute to healthy skin, heart health, digestion, and skin. 

4. Flaxseeds

Flaxseeds come packed with 6.7 grams of ALA each tablespoon, making it one of the most efficient plant sources of omega-3 fatty acids. In addition to being rich in ALA, they contain high levels of fibre, protein, and magnesium. Just like chia seeds, they can be used as a vegan egg replacement, added to smoothies, and sprinkled on salads and oatmeal. You can also try using flaxseed oil as a dressing on salads. 

5. Walnuts

Nuts are a great source of healthful fats, including omega-3 fatty acids. Just snack on a handful of them or add them to any dish. They are also a common ingredient in many trail mixes or energy bars. 

6. Edamame

While edamame does not contain a high amount of omega-3s, half a cup does come with 0.28 grams of ALA, so it can be added into your diet alongside other plant-based sources to boost your intake. Enjoy them in dishes or simply snack on a bunch of them. 

7. Kidney Beans

Who knew that kidney beans contain omega-3s? Like edamame, kidney beans do not pack in an awful lot of omega-3s with 0.1 grams of ALA per half-cup. But because they are such a versatile ingredient for everything from salads to stews and curries, it is an easy way to add them to your diet as a way to increase your omega-3 intake.

Want to know other vitamins and nutrients that you might be lacking and how to supplement them on a vegan diet? Read more about it here. 

Lead image courtesy of Shutterstock.

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Decorating your home with plants won’t just brighten up your home, it will literally make you healthier. Plants offer numerous benefits for our well-being, the most notable of which are that they literally clean the air around them, a must for urban dwellers in busy, polluted cities.

For many of us who have to cope with the hustle and bustle of city life, it is especially important that our homes are a space for mental relaxation and recuperation. From improving the quality of your air to boosting energy and focus, investing in potted plants is becoming more popular than ever. Some studies have even found that indoor plants provide physical recovery-boosting qualities, can decrease the chances of getting ill and lower anxiety and stress levels.

While there are many gorgeous plants out there, we’ve narrowed our must- have list to three. Below, we share the best indoor plants to green your home and clear your air.

1. Green Mist: Eucalyptus in The Shower

Hanging a bundle of the eucalyptus plant in the shower can help relieve symptoms of flu and cold-related illness. The gorgeous scent produces a real spa-vibe to your shower routine as the herb’s essential oils are released by the heat and steam of your shower. Eucalyptus doesn’t just smell good – the anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of its natural oils can help relieve congestion, boost mood and mental clarity. This rejuvenating plant also comes with the bonus of brightening up your bathroom with some greenery!

Fresh eucalyptus can often be found in local flower shops or in-store bouquets, and can last for around a week. You can simply tie a bundle together with twine and secure it around your showerhead, just make sure that the plant is not placed directly under the water stream.

2. Snake Plant to Purify Your Living Room: NASA Approved

We spend most of our days out in the city breathing polluted air, making it extra important for our homes to help give our lungs a bit of rest. Indoor air can often be filled with harmful pollutants, such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen monoxide among many others. This is where the snake plant comes to the rescue – it is THE NASA-recommended plant for air purifying.

According to this NASA study, the snake plant – also known by its latin name Sanseviera – improves indoor air quality by removing an unbelievable 107 known air pollutants. It also produces and releases oxygen into the air throughout the night, making it the perfect plant to inhabit your living room and bedroom.

Good news for those who have a poor record of plant keeping: the snake plant thrives in just about any climate, and can go for weeks without water. But for those with pets, it is important to keep this plant out of their reach, as it can be toxic if ingested.

3. Succulent for Your Desk: Work Wellness

Succulent plants have become a hit in recent years, particularly for workspaces. There are many reasons for this, most especially that the popular plants are incredibly low maintenance and boast numerous benefits for wellbeing. Some of these include helping you breathe better by releasing oxygen throughout the night, removing toxins from the air, and helping to keep respiratory illnesses at bay. They contribute to reducing cold and flu-like symptoms, and can even prevent anxiety and fatigue.

Perhaps the most impressive of all is their ability to help you focus, boost brain capacity, and attention. A study at the University of Exeter found that memory, productiveness and work-related functioning in students and employees improved in spaces decorated with small plants such as cacti (aka cactuses, a type of succulent).

All these reasons make succulents a great Insta-worthy addition to upgrade your workspace (and your productivity)!

All pictures courtesy of Pexels.

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A recent study found a plant-based diet can reduce the risk of type-2 diabetes when it replaces conventional processed or red meat.

The research, published in the journal Scientific Reports, investigated whether replacing processed and red meat intake with plant-based foods could lower the risk of incident type-2 diabetes (T2D) in Finnish individuals.

“Diabetes is a significant public health concern, and its prevalence has been steadily increasing globally over the past decades,” the researchers wrote in the study. “In 2019, approximately 463 million adults were living with diabetes and the prevalence is projected to reach 10.9 percent (700 million) by 2045.”

The findings

The study, which utilized data from five different cohorts of Finnish individuals aged 25 and older, found that partially substituting processed meat products and red meat with fruits, cereals, and nuts could slightly reduce the risk of new-onset T2D among males. According to the researchers, no previous study has focused on plant-based substitutes or has included vegetables or fruits in their meat substitution models on T2D risk. 

The research aimed to examine the impact of dietary transitions from animal to plant-based diets on the risk of incident T2D, as diets rich in processed and red meat are known to be environmentally unsustainable and increase the risk of new-onset T2D among other health risks. Fiber-rich plant-based diets, on the other hand, protect against diabetes and a range of other health issues including heart disease, high blood pressure, and certain types of cancer.

The researchers looked at data from 41,662 Finnish individuals for the study. Health measures, serological assessments of serum samples, and self-documented questionnaires were used to assess participants’ health, with data linked to the health registries of Finland.

Individuals with T2D at study initiation were excluded from all analyses, and the individuals were followed up for a median of 11 years, during which 1,750 cases of new-onset T2D were reported.

The study found that slightly significant decreases in new-onset T2D risks were observed among those who had partially substituted processed meat products and red meat with fruits, as well as wheat, barley, oat, and rye cereals. However, substituting meat intake with vegetables and legumes did not yield similar findings.

Plant-based benefits

According to the researchers, the protective effect of fruits against T2D may be due to the rich polyphenol and fiber content in fruits. Body weight associated with high consumption of fruits may also factor in. The high level of whole grain intake is associated with lower fasting insulin levels and improved insulin sensitivity, which was likely regulated by the high fiber content in whole grains and constituent vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals.

The researchers say it’s worth noting that the stronger relationships between plant-based food intake and lowering of T2D risk were observed among males, which could be due to the higher meat consumption and lower plant-based food consumption tendencies among men, who made up nearly 80 percent of the study participants.

The study’s findings are in line with existing research on the benefits of a plant-based diet in reducing the risk of T2D, and the researchers say their new findings suggest similar associations for red meat or processed meat substitutions with fruits. “These associations were particularly seen in men. “These findings indicate that a shift towards more sustainable diets may also be beneficial in terms of T2D prevention.”

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Maintaining mental health hygiene should be as normal as maintaining our general hygiene. But one thing we often forget to do is to take care of our mental health.

If you have no clue where to start managing your stress—look no further than right under your nose! As a trained Breathwork coach, I am here to tell you that conscious breathing can help you reduce anxiety, build a bulletproof immune system, focus better and so much more.

Anxiety and depressive disorders are the most common health issues in Hong Kong and over 50 percent of Hong Kong adults suffer from poor mental well-being, according to Mind HK, an NGO committed to improving our understanding of mental health and removing the stigma around mental health in Hong Kong. 

In a survey conducted by Hong Kong University in 2020, 26.9 percent of the respondents were experiencing moderate-high levels of anxiety and 18.2 percent shared they were having moderate-high levels of depression. These numbers are significant and worrying.

And while breathing techniques are not to be treated as a medical cure for diseases, practicing them daily will significantly improve your physical and mental health, help you to achieve a calm state and more clarity, and release emotional blockages.

There is a whole range of breathing techniques out there, it’s much more than just inhaling and exhaling. We chose 3 breathing techniques that we love doing when we feel anxious and worried. You can do them anywhere but we do recommend you to try to find a quiet place where you can be fully focused on the exercise. Note: if you are currently pregnant or have high blood pressure, be cautious and stop if you feel uncomfortable at any time.

#1: Empty your garbage bin

This exercise has different names and comes from the Sufi breathwork tradition (an esoteric path within Islam, where the goal is to purify oneself and achieve mystical union with the Supreme Allah). Sufis bring together breathing, movement, music and prayer. 

‘Empty your garbage bin’ is one of the most basic Sufi techniques. Imagine that your head is a trash bin full of useless thoughts, beliefs and fears. It’s gotten so full that it’s time to clean it up! 

Sit down on the floor (or a chair) and make an intention. It could be one word or a sentence. If nothing comes up, you can use this one: “Every day I’m feeling better in every way”.

The sequence is simple:

• Shoot two inhales and move your head upwards.
• Shoot one exhale and move your head downwards.
• You can move your hands along your head to pace yourself.
• Do it for 1 minute. Take a break and continue for another minute and increase the time to 10 minutes. Breathe through your mouth.

You might feel lightheaded and even “high” – this is because your body may intake more oxygen which causes lower CO2 levels in your brain. The instant benefit of it? You will feel empty of any thoughts and get into the state of expanded consciousness for some time.

World-renowned breathwork guru, Dan Brule recommends to cooperate, participate, and harmonise with the flow of breath in this exercise. “Continue to breathe regardless of what you think, what you feel, and regardless of what happens in the body. Just stay with the breath and trust the process”.

#2: Tactical Breathing

If you are looking for something more relaxing but still powerful, try tactical breathing. This technique is widely used and endorsed by US clinical psychologist Dr Belisa Vranich, who coaches firefighters, military, and pro athletes.

The sequence:

• Inhale for 4 counts.
• Hold your breath for 4 counts.
• Exhale for 6 counts.
• Hold for 2 counts.
• Repeat as many times as you want. You can practice it literally anywhere and in any position. Breathe through your nose.

If you are familiar with the breathing technique called Box breathing you might wonder about the differences with this- Box breathing is about inhaling, exhaling, and holding your breath for the same count: normally 4 or 5. “The smaller hold gets you to create momentum and a pattern with your breathing. That will allow you to be more focused on the breath”, explains senior Breathe (TM) instructor, Crystal Hernandez.

#3 Coherent Breathing

This breathing technique is so calming that you may fall asleep. The physiological process involved here is syncing your heartbeat with your breath which immediately puts you in a parasympathetic state (rest and digest).

The sequence is the following:

• Sit or lie down and place both hands on your belly.
• Inhale for the count of 5
• Exhale for the count of 5
• Repeat for at least 20 minutes, with no pauses in-between.

Eventually, you can increase the count to 6, aiming for slow and long breaths that will activate the main breathing muscle – your diaphragm! As your diaphragm expands with each inhale your vital organs (think stomach, kidneys, spleen) will be massaged releasing cellular waste. Slower breathing will also bring your resting heart rate to 60 and put your entire system into recovery.

You can practice all 3 exercises or choose one that you like most. While they provide instant effect make sure you practice daily and observe your feelings and sensations.

Lead image courtesy of Pexels.

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