Micro means small and Biome means a community of living beings. Together, the word Microbiome means a community of microorganisms that live in all regions of our body. This post focuses on the community of microbiome that resides in our guts, also known as Probiotics.

These probiotics which inhabit our digestive tract are commonly called the "good" bacteria. They play a significant role in digestion, immune function, brain health and the ageing process.

Health benefits of probiotics

1. Gut health

> Probiotics optimises gut function by restoring the natural balance of gut bacteria. This is especially important because when we fall sick, the bad microorganisms usually outnumber the good bacteria. 

> Prevents and treats diarrhoea eg. from food poisoning or antibiotics.

> Reduces symptoms of certain digestive disorders eg. IBS.

2. Immune system

> Protect against colds and flu (as 70-80% of our immune system are present in the gut).

> Prevent UTIs.

> Reduce severity of certain allergies and eczema.

3. Mind and brain

We usually hear the term Physical Health ~ we should do more exercise and be more physically active. Nowadays, the word Mental Health is the centre of attention. It comprises of 3 aspects: Psychological, Emotional and Social wellbeing. It affects how we think, feel and act. It also determines how we handle stress, relate to others and make healthy choices.

The National Health and Morbidity Survey reported some pretty scary statistics - the number of mental health cases among Malaysians above 16 years old has increased from 10.7% (1996), to 11.2% (2006), and 29.2% (2015). This means approximately 1 in 3 Malaysians had mental health problems in 2015.

Have you heard of the phrase "gut-wrenching experience" or have you ever suffer from the feeling of "butterflies in your stomach"? This is because our gut and brain are connected. The Gut-Brain Axis is a 2-way communication system between our gut (digestive system) and brain (central nervous system). It plays a significant role in our emotions and stress response. The enteric nervous system that regulates our gut is often called the body's Second Brain. It's like a mini-brain that lives in the intestines and helps manage digestion. This Second Brain also sends messages to the big brain; that's why the Gut-Brain Axis is so important. In other words, probiotics play a part in our mental health. 

Studies show that taking probiotics can:

> Improve your mood and reduce stress.

> Help with certain mental disorders like depression or anxiety.

4. Other health benefits

> Helps in weight loss as probiotics can help utilise the energy in our food.

> Keeps your heart healthy by maintaining healthier cholesterol levels.

> Promote oral health (reduction of gum disease and prevent caries).

Probiotics v. Prebiotics

Probiotics are food or supplement that contain live microorganisms.

Prebiotics are non digestible food components that selectively stimulate the growth or activity of probiotics.

In order to reach our intestines alive, the probiotics must be able to endure the harsh conditions in the stomach such as strong acid and digestive enzymes, which kill many microorganisms.  

Manufacturers overcome this problem by using special production processes and formulation to enhance the tolerance of probiotics to acidic conditions. Some bacterial strains have a naturally inbuilt level of tolerance to acidic conditions. In other words, it all depends on the type and manufacturing process of the probiotic you take.

Key traits of Lactoberry probiotics

The probiotics used in Lactoberry is multicoated with Oligosaccharides (food supply of probiotics) thus giving the probiotics more energy and enhanced potency. This coating increases the probiotic's tolerance against gastric acid and bile salt. Further, the probiotics also can stay in the GI tract for a longer time.

6 Ingredients & Benefits of Lactoberry

1. Bifidobacterium lactis

> Improves digestive conditions in the body eg. lactose intolerance and gluten toxicity as well as improves constipation by reducing gut-transit time.

> Assists digestion and utilisation of nutrients eg. sugar, fibre and macronutrients. It's also partially responsible for the absorption and utilisation of certain vitamins and minerals.

> As about 70% of probiotics are present in our gut, they have an immuno-modulating effects, especially for upper respiratory tract infections eg. common flu and cold.

2. Bifidobacterium longum

> Alleviates GI disorders eg. constipation and antibiotic associated diarrhoea.

> Immuno-modulation eg. improves symptoms of allergy and infections.

> Improvement and homeostasis of intestinal microenvironment. Studies have shown that with decreased micro-biodiversity, we are more prone to have diseases especially metabolic disorders like diabetes.

3. Isomalt

> Sugar substitute. Hence, Lactoberry can be ingested by diabetics.

> Prebiotics, therefore it's a food source for probiotics.

> Stimulates peristalsis, softens stools and alleviates constipation.

4. Berries

> Cranberry powder prevents UTIs due to it containing an abundance of phytonutrients A-type proanthocyanidins or condensed tannins. It prevents the E.Coli bacteria from attaching to the lining of the bladder and urinary tract.

> Raspberry powder, which has one of the richest sources of fibre amongst fruits and tannin content. It prevents constipation by increasing the bulk and letting the stools come out more easily, as well as benefits blood sugar control by improving insulin resistance.

> Blueberry powder is high in antioxidant flavonoids such as anthocyanin, which neutralises free radicals and enhances metabolic waste excretion.

Who needs it?

> Children, teenagers, adults and elderlies.

> Pregnant ladies.

> Patients after medical treatments.

Recommended consumption

> 1-2 sachets for daily maintenance before or after meals. To ensure the benefits of probiotics are reaped, it's important to take Lactoberry on a daily and on-going basis.

> Under special condition such as food poisoning or constipation, increase dosage as needed.

(Source: SH seminar, 22/7/2023)

How to Order? 

A box of 30 sachets of Lactoberry probiotics costs RM77 for Malaysian members.

Malaysians enjoy relatively cheap public healthcare and pride ourselves on globally high-ranked health services. Thus, many of us only look for help when we are ill. But isn't it better to prevent yourself from becoming sick in the first place, rather than seeking treatment only when feeling unwell?

Nutrition plays a very important role in maintaining health and preventing diseases. We all know as we are constantly bombarded with many tips on how to stay healthy. The question is how often do you remember all these Tips?

• Practice BMV (balance, moderation, variety) when having meals.
• Consume more vegetables and fruits. Choose whole grains instead of refined grains. Choose fish and lean meat instead of processed meat.
• Steam, grill and stew instead of deep-fry when cooking at home.
• Limit salt, sugar, fat and oil when cooking. Substitute with herbs and spices as seasoning.
• Drink sufficient water daily. Reduce intake of sugar-sweetened beverages.
• Be mindful of salt, sugar and fat content in packaged foods.
• Look for eateries with healthy options near your workplace.
• Do not skip meals as this can make you hungrier during the next meal, leading to overeating.
• When eating snacks, consume in moderation and choose healthier snacks like bananas, raisins, nuts etc.
• Be a good role model to your children by practising healthy eating yourself.
• For school, prepare healthier home-cooked/packed lunchboxes for your children.
• Beware of fed diets and unscrupulous advertising. 

Doing an annual blood test is an important way to keep track of your overall physical well-being. However, you may want to do it more often if you:

How to purchase?

Click on this link to register and then you can proceed with your order.

http://www.pingofhealth.com/p/order-online.html

Email me at askfuiping@gmail.com if you need help. I am an Authorised Distributor.

Click here to refer to Shuang Hor company website for Product Description and Price. Have an awesome day!

During an online seminar in May 2025, Ms Yi-Syuan Tsai shared a topic from a Handbook titled Repository of Application Methods of Ganoderma.

Ms Yi-Syuan Tsai is a Dietitian with Double Crane Group in Taiwan. Below are her credentials: 

Answer: Yes. 3 testimonies are highlighted.

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Below I share 2 testimonies related to eyes and 2 more testimonies on how to take Shuang Hor products for general health maintenance. Some people experience healing reactions but don't worry, it is temporary and indicates that you're on the road back to better health.

Testimony: Burst Blood Vessel in the Eye

Madam M from Kota Kinabalu suffered from a burst blood vessel in her eye, resulting in bleeding (as can be seen from the photo above). She takes a mix of 1 sachet YK I-Plus + 1 sachet JH Soya Protein + 1 sachet Lactoberry + 1 sachet Pollen Granular, all mixed into a Shake and drunk with water. She consumes this shake 3 times a day, before meals.

A very good recovery can be observed after only 3 days of consumption. 

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Testimony: Eye cataract

Madam L from Keningau, Sabah suffers from eye cataract. She often feels pain, stinging sensation, glare, and red eyes. Doctor suggested operation but she didn't want to. She started to take Yung Kien Eye (tablet form) since May 2020 but due to the pandemic, her supply was cut off when stocks ran out. She continued when YK I-Plus was launched in Malaysia. 

Dosage: 1 sachet in the morning + 1 in the evening, mixed with a bit of water and drunk immediately.

The condition of her eyes continues to improve. She doesn't feel pain, glare, stinging sensation nor has red eyes. Her cataract is also improving.

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Testimony: General Health Maintenance - Healing Reactions

Ms L, 42, is a business woman juggling a busy work life with 3 young children. She doesn't have major health problem. She goes for yoga and regular exercise. But over the years, she has constipation problem, difficulty sleeping due to stress and feeling very tired towards early evening. She started on a low dose of 1 capsule Yung Kien Ganoderma + 2 capsules Yung Kien Pollen each time, twice a day, for maintenance.

After just 1 day, she had a healing reaction of slight reddish discharge which increased to bleeding with slight cramps after 2 days, but light. Over the next few days, her temper was very bad, her body felt heaty, she felt very, very tired and she could sleep well without sleeping pills.

After 1 week, she had more frequent urination despite drinking similar quantity of water, sometimes getting up twice a night to go to toilet.

After 10 days, she increased her dose to 2 Yung Kien Ganoderma + 4 Yung Kien Pollen each time, twice a day. Her healing reaction was eczema in the face near the ear and cheeks area 3 days later. It was very itchy. She believes it's a cleansing reaction of past similar condition and hence continued with the dosage.

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Testimony: General Health Maintenance for the Elderly

Ms J's father is 83 and has been taking Shuang Hor products since he was 75. He stays in Melaka. When Ms J took Lingzhi, she found that it helped put her blood pressure under control so she introduced it to her father. He has been on hypertension medication for several years. He maintains his dosage of 2 capsules Yung Kien Lingzhi + 5 capsules Yung Kien Pollen until today. Within the year, when he went for his medical checkup, the doctor cut his hypertension medication due to the improvement of his blood pressure.

Last year, her father's weight dropped from 55kg to 48kg. His waist measurement dropped from 31 to 28 inches. He looked skinny. He stepped up on his consumption of Jia Hor Soya Protein from 1 to 3 sachets a day. Within 3 months, he put on about 3kg and 1.5 inches. It was a good progress because the dose of the other products remained the same.

He took just 1 Lactoberry a day. After 3-4 months, he did not have intolerance when taking curry laksa - his IBS has improved.

In early June 2019, he had palpitation issue that he was quite worried about. He sounded lethargic. He increased his Lingzhi to 6 capsules/day. He felt okay after just 2 days of this dose.

Even though he took low dosage, he can maintain his quality of life (without resorting to too much medicine) and mobility. Ms J opines that as long as we take consistently everyday, regardless of dosage, we will see result.

How to order?

Click on this link to register and then you can proceed with your order.

http://www.pingofhealth.com/p/order-online.html

Email me at askfuiping@gmail.com if you need help. I am an Authorised Distributor.

Click here to refer to Shuang Hor company website for Product Description and Price. Have an awesome day!

There is a grey area between being healthy and being sick, called "sub-health". This is a state of low quality health, where usually no abnormalities are detected by medical equipment, but the person feels:

• frequent fatigue
• difficulty sleeping
• easily catching a cold
• easily tensed, stressed or anxious
• regular sore throat
• poor appetite.

Click on this link to register and then you can proceed with your order of Lingzhi and Pollen.

http://www.pingofhealth.com/p/order-online.html

Email me at askfuiping@gmail.com if you have questions. I am an Authorised Distributor of Shuang Hor.

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Click here to Follow Ping-of-Health on Facebook

With 2024 drawing to a close, I like to share some tips that can help you start 2025 on a positive footing.

Here are 7 suggestions to increase your energy and live a happier, healthier and more productive life:

1. Think good thoughts for others

Maintain eye contact with a stranger and smile, while thinking "I wish you well". This positive act keeps you from making a judgment of that person, which can cause you to place the judgment on yourself. You conserve your energy when you don't have this type of negative internal dialogue.

2. Do something meaningful each day

Doing something you enjoy or that matters most to you help you use and reserve your energy in ways that will bring out the best in you.

3. Get regular exercise

Contrary to what you might believe, exercise adds to your energy account and not subtract from it. Exercise relieves stress and tension, and helps your body work more efficiently during other daily activities.

4. Avoid news overdose

News which are filled with stories of suffering can cause you to focus on your worst fears, instead of recognising the good that surrounds you.

5. Keep company with good people

Connecting with people who radiate positivity and have similar interests will energise you. Be selective about the company you keep. Set limits to protect yourself and conserve your energy when you're around people who have negative outlooks or complain often.

6, Sleep 7-8 hours per night

Sleep deprivation can negatively affect your mood, motivation and energy levels. With improved sleep quality, people experience better health and improved emotional well-being, lower their risk of diseases and are more productive.

7. Eat nourishing food

It's common to regard healthy eating primarily as a weight loss tool. However, a well-balanced, healthy diet is at the core of well-being and is needed for optimal energy. You really are what you eat.

Rome isn't built in a day. Be realistic with your goals but make them challenging enough to feel a sense of achievement when you reach the finish line. Take note of the times during the day when your energy levels tend to be the highest and take advantage of those moments by prioritising important tasks when you are feeling fresh and productive.

(Source: Live a happier life, StarHealth, 11 Sept 2022)

Drop me a mail at askfuiping@gmail.com if you want to reach out. I am happy to help, to make a new friend or to catch up with an old friend.

Our colon contains trillions of bacterial cells which make up a unique ecosystem known as the gut microbiome. When the gut bacteria becomes imbalanced (dysbiosis), your mental health can be affected. 

1. Better diversity in microbiome composition is good for mental health

There's a link between gut bacteria and depression. The more diversity in healthy bacteria, the better it will be for your body and mental health.

2. Low butyrate is bad for the brain

Butyrate is a short-chain fatty acid that is essential to the body and is produced by good gut bacteria. Research shows that butyrate might help you grow new brain cells, prevent inflammation and improves mood. One way to help butyrate production in your body is by eating probiotics.

3. Vagus nerve communicates with brain and aids digestion

The vagus nerve connects your gut and brain and aids digestion by helping food move through the digestive tract, stimulates the release of digestive enzymes and tell the brain when you are full. The connection between gut and brain plays a vital role in mental health and even IBS. When the vagus nerve is impaired by stress, it fights inflammation less effectively and negatively affects the balance of gut bacteria.

4. Healthy gut encourages more happy hormones

Gut microbes transform food into short-chain fatty acids, which then communicate with cells to produce serotonin, a neurotransmitter and hormone that regulates your mood, including anxiety and happiness. Eating the right foods with lots of variety helps to feed happy bacteria, which increase mood-lifting chemicals like serotonin and GABA.

5. Gut bacteria influences depression and inflammation

When you are in a state of dysbiosis (imbalanced gut bacteria), harmful microbes will seize the chance to proliferate. Your body responds by alerting the immune system, which prevents the opportunistic bacteria from taking over by triggering inflammation. The problem is that inflammation can contribute to depression. So, controlling inflammation can help to improve both mood and anxiety levels.

6. Probiotics can reduce depression

Probiotic food (kimchi, yoghurt and kefir) or supplements (Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus and Lactococcus) increase diversity in your gut bacteria. Studies show that probiotics can help reduce the symptoms of depression.

7. Eat prebiotics to nourish probiotic bacteria

Prebiotics are nourishment for the gut bacteria, and help them transform into short chain fatty acids and vitamins. Some common prebiotic foods include:

- Prebiotic fiber eg. mushrooms, onions, berries, garlic, barley, rye and corn.

- Resistant starches eg. grains, plantains, legumes, potatoes, green bananas and seeds.

- Polyphenols eg. soybeans, apples, red wine, cocoa, tea and onions.

Consuming prebiotic foods is also linked to a reduction in anxiety and improving mental wellbeing.

Balancing your gut bacteria can make you happier

The connection between the gut and brain is an example of how changes in one part of the body can influence another. An imbalanced gut microbiome is the culprit for mental health issues. Research indicate that changes in gut microbiome and inflammation in the gut can affect the brain and cause symptoms that look like Parkinson's disease, autism, anxiety and depression; and taking probiotics and prebiotics can have positive effects on these symptoms and stress resilience.

(Source: 9 ways that your gut affects mental health, Starhealth, 28/11/2021)

Which Prebiotics and Probiotics to Choose?

Choose Lactoberry probiotics. 

Why? This 1-minute video shares with you 5 benefits:

http://www.pingofhealth.com/2020/08/top-5-benefits-of-lactoberry-probiotics.html

Lactoberry contains 2 types of Bifidobacterium probiotics and many other ingredients. Click on this link to get details on the unique ingredients, their benefits and functions:

http://www.pingofhealth.com/2011/10/uniqueness-of-lacto-berry-probiotics.html

How to Order? 

A box of 30 sachets of Lactoberry probiotics costs RM70 for Malaysian members.

In March 2023, Ms Yu-Chi Cheng presented on how Lingzhi helps modulate and balance the 3 major systems in our body, namely the Immune system (免疫系统), Hormonal system (荷尔蒙系统) and Nervous system (神经系统).

Below are the credentials of this highly qualified lady, Ms Yu-Chi Cheng. 

Why emphasise on these 3 Systems? 

1) Any disorders in the 3 Systems will affect the overall functions of the body organs. The 3 Systems coordinate with each other so when 1 of them is imbalanced, then like a domino effect, the other 2 will become chaotic.

2) It is hard for the body to modulate and balance the 3 Systems. The mechanism of medicine in alleviating an illness is by way of suppressing over-reactions or boosting insufficient physical condition unilaterally. After taking medicine for a period of time, the side effects of medicine will start appearing and patients get weaker. 

3) By understanding how the 3 Systems work together, you will know how they affect your entire body. Then you can comprehend why taking Lingzhi regularly, and at a fixed dosage and fixed time everyday will help you maintain your health. This is proven by numerous scientific evidences which support the Chinese ancestors' saying i.e. Treat Different Diseases with the Same Treatment (异病同治). Reason being different diseases can be cured using the same Core Method (target root cause (根本) instead of symptomatic treatment (对症治疗)).

Ms Cheng then proceeded to explain in a clear and easy-to-understand manner each of the 3 Systems, what are the symptoms and what are the common diseases associated when there is excess or deficiency, over-reaction or repressed performance. She also used the analogy of an Iceberg - we are usually treated on the 10% of the problems that we can see. But the issues can only be fully resolved when we become aware of the 90% that is hidden. This was how she found a solution to her dry eyes problem.

She also highlights various professors' and experts' perspectives, wherein their scientific research results are published in Taiwan's Ganoderma Magazine, which demonstrates clearly that Lingzhi can be effectively used to handle diseases stemming from all the 3 Systems.

Finally she recommended the ideal combination of Lingzhi to take, regardless whether you want to maintain your health or trying to improve your health problems.

The complete post is published in my Private blog. This info is reserved exclusively for my Consumers and Business Partners only.

Protein is one of the major nutrients in human body. Protein is made up of amino acids. Human body cannot manufacture essential amino acids. Our body does not store protein - excessive protein would be converted into fat or excreted from the body. Hence, protein needs to be constantly supplied from dietary source.

Major Functions of Protein

• Major structural components of cells and tissues; and is necessary for building and repairing tissues and organs. 
• Forms our enzymatic system and regulates body metabolism.
• For immunity and protection.
• Transport materials in the body.
• Supply energy.

(Source: SH seminar 24/11/2021)

How to order Jia Hor Soya Protein? One box of 30 sachets costs RM65 for Malaysian members.

Some examples of oxidation include:

• A peeled apple that is exposed to the air turning brown.
• For humans, factors that increase free radicals in our body include air pollution, contaminants, alcohol, tobacco and high blood sugar levels. Free radicals lead to hardening of the arteries, cancer, ageing and suppression of immune system.