Insights on Nestle’s acquisition of Accera the maker of Brain Food “Axona”

Nestle’ of Switzerland, has made a smart move to acquire Accera , the  U.S.maker of Axona the brain food used to improve the cognitive abilities of  those afflicted by Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s patients have impaired brain cells that prevent glucose metabolism as a source of energy. Axona, containing ketone bodies, provides alternative fuel to brain cells which glucose could not.

IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE that the author of the Wall Street Journal news article revealed that “Axona is made from a compound derived from coconut oil that purports to provide an alternative energy source for the brain. In theory, this would help Alzheimer’s patients because their brains are less able to use glucose for the energy they need.”

Feeding on ketones or ketogenic diets have been well studied as therapy for epilepsy patients as it minimizes seizures. Ketones are produced naturally when fat is burned by the body when carbohydrates are not available such as when someone is on a prolonged fast  or on a starvation mode.

A very smart physician by the name of Dr Mary Newport discovered inadvertently that digestion of coconut oil produces ketones because coconut oil primarily consists of medium chain fatty acids such as lauric acid, caprylic acid, and capric acid.

As the story goes, Dr Newport found that one of the ingredients of Accera’s products is MCT Oil (medium chain triglycerides) MCT is rich in coconut oil, which contains up to 60-65%.  To make the long story short, she purchased virgin coconut oil, MCT oil, and did a blend of the two and performed trials on Steve, which caused vast improvements in his cognitive abilities.

LETS BE SMART LIKE DR NEWPORT

We don’t have to wait to look for a doctor to prescribe Axona or to wait when we have symptoms of Alzheimers. We can follow the lead of Dr Newport’s husband. You can start taking 2-3 tablespoons of virgin coconut oil during breakfast and dinner. (Make sure you take coconut oil after you’ve taken some food).

There is nothing to lose everything to gain. Why wait for Nestle’ to sell to you, when virgin coconut oil is readily available, affordable without prescription needed.

 

 

 

 

 

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Nestlé Buys U.S. Maker of ‘Brain Health’ Shake

Nestlé Buys U.S. Maker of ‘Brain Health’ Shake

By JOHN REVILL

Nestlé SA, NESN.VX -0.59% making a foray into “brain health products,” said it bought a stake in a company that makes milkshakes for Alzheimer’s patients.

Nestlé, better known as the maker of Kit Kat chocolate bars and Nescafe coffee, didn’t disclose how much it invested in closely held Accera, which is based in Brookfield, Colo. It also declined to say how much of Accera it would own, but said it would take a seat on its board.

“The significance of this is not the size of the investment, but the fact that it is our first step in developing our brain health portfolio,” said Luis Cantarell, president and chief executive of Nestlé Health Science, a subsidiary set up by the Vevey, Switzerland, company last year.

Nestlé has long been interested in the links between food and brain health. In 2006, it invested 25 million Swiss francs in a collaboration with ETH Lausanne, a leading Swiss technical university, to develop food products that protect the brain against diseases such as Alzheimer’s. The company’s interest in the field intensified last year with the launch of Nestlé Health Science.

Nestlé plans to invest around $500 million over the next 10 years to produce more food and drink products with health benefits. The subsidiary is focused on gastrointestinal, metabolic and brain health. Alzheimer’s, which affects memory and cognitive function, is the most common adult form of dementia and affects five million in the U.S. alone, Nestlé said.

Accera sells Axona, an easy-mix powder that is added to milk or other liquids to make a once-daily drink. Axona is already given to 30,000 patients in the U.S. Axona is made from a compound derived from coconut oil that purports to provide an alternative energy source for the brain. In theory, this would help Alzheimer’s patients because their brains are less able to use glucose for the energy they need.

Axona requires a prescription.

Because it is sold as a medical food, the Axona milkshake must meet truth-in-labeling requirements. It doesn’t require approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

“We are not saying it is a cure for Alzheimer’s. It has demonstrated in certain patient groups that it can be a source of energy for the brain and slow down cognitive decline,” said Mr. Cantarell. He said the science merited further investment and clinical tests.

Accera has completed four trials involving more than 150 patients. The studies showed the product was safe and produced significant cognitive improvements in some patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s, Nestlé said. Accera now plans a new trial involving 300 to 400 patients over a six-month period.

Nestlé signaled its intentions to expand in the health and wellness market last year by setting up NHS, which is focused on food with medical benefits, often called nutriceuticals. NHS has made a handful of small acquisitions since.

It is aiming to capture a bigger slice of a market that is expected to grow to $691 billion a year by 2015 from $600 billion in 2010, according to research by Euromonitor International.

Analysts said they didn’t think the investment was large, but welcomed the move as a long-term investment in a growing market.

“This is a seed for the future, and is part of Nestlé’s long-term strategy,” said Jean-Philippe Bertschy, an analyst at Bank Vontobel in Zurich.

Write to John Revill at john.revill@dowjones.com

A version of this article appeared July 20, 2012, on page B3 in the U.S. edition of The Wall Street Journal, with the headline: Nestlé Buys U.S. Maker Of ‘Brain Health’ Shake.

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Insights on “Coconut Oil Fights Tooth Decay”

This  recent news item I picked  up from BBC News(http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-19435442) about Coconut Oil) is a welcome validation again about the benefits of coconut oil.

Hidden in Plain View notes that a number of important sites has picked up the this bit of news: Boston globe, daily mail, BBC News.

It also explains why the practice of Oil Pulling using Virgin Coconut Oil is effective.

HOW IT WORKS

The constant swishing of the coconut oil in the mouth mixed with the saliva which contains lingual lipase, breaks down the la uric acid which are medium chain triglycerides into monoglycerides or monolaurin. Lipase are enzymes which breakdown fat. Monolaurin is well know as anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal.

The action of the monolaurin is twofold: First it kills the microbes in the mouth and in the gums. And second, all the lipid (fat) coated microbes are attracted to the monolaurin the way a detergent attracts an oily skin and cleans it up from germs.

After 10 minutes of Oil Pulling, the spitttle,composeed of saliva , oil and toxins in the mouth, is spat out. If you spit it into a toilet bowl with clear water, you can see the spittle as whitish in color like coconut milk which is sign that an emulsion has been formed (water from saliva + coconut oil).

OIL PULLING with Coconut Oil is really simple to do. Its better than alcohol-based mouthwash which you cannot  stay long in the mouth and does not perform a thorough cleansing action in the mouth. You can start with One tablespoon of VCO once in the morning and in the evening after meals.

You can try Oi Pulling with COCOLICIOUS Virgin Coconut Oil which you can purchase in South Star Drug Stores, SM Kultura, Tesoros, or you may email info@cocobody.com for sales inquiries and home deliveries.

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Coconut Oil fights tooth decay – BBC News World Service

Coconut oil could combat tooth decay
BBC News World Service Sept. 3 2012 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-19435442

Coconut oil attacks the bacteria behind tooth decay and could be used in dental care products, according to research.

Scientists found that coconut oil which had been treated with enzymes stopped the growth of Streptococcus bacteria – a major cause of tooth decay.

Tooth decay affects 60% to 90% of children in industralised countries.

Speaking at the Society for General Microbiology’s conference, the Irish researchers say that coconut oil also attacks the yeast which causes thrush.

The research team from the Athlone Institute of Technology in Ireland tested the impact of coconut oil, vegetable oil and olive oil in their natural states and when treated with enzymes, in a process similar to digestion.

The oils were then tested against Streptococcus bacteria which are common inhabitants of the mouth.

Only the enzyme-modified coconut oil showed an ability to inhibit the growth of most strains of the bacteria.
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It is important that we turn our attention to new ways to combat microbial infection???

Dr Damien Brady Athlone Institute of Technology

It also attacked Streptococcus mutans, an acid-producing bacterium which is a major cause of tooth decay.
Active acids

It is thought that the breaking down of the fatty coconut oil by the enzymes turns it into acids which are active and effective against bacteria.

Previous research found that enzyme-modified milk could stop Streptococcus mutans from binding to tooth enamel.

Researchers now want to look at how coconut oil interacts with Streptococcus bacteria at the molecular level and which other strains of harmful bacteria it can inhibit.

Dr Damien Brady who led the research at the Athlone Institute of Technology with Patricia Hughes, a Masters student, said coconut oil could be an attractive alternative to chemical additives.

“It works at relatively low concentrations.

“Also, with increasing antibiotic resistance, it is important that we turn our attention to new ways to combat microbial infection.”

Their studies are also looking into the workings of antibacterial activity in the human gut.

“Our data suggests that products of human digestion show antimicrobial activity. This could have implications for how bacteria colonise the cells lining the digestive tract and for overall gut health,” said Dr Brady.

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