Banking on science to optimize the Earth’s natural ingredients

USING botanicals to improve one’s health is an age-old practice in many parts of the world, including the Philippines. Today, going natural is having a renaissance as many consumers are becoming more conscious about the products they use. This growing interest in everything natural has led to the influx of products that claim to be so. But is it safe to assume that everything labeled natural is safe and effective for consumption?

While nature has given mankind everything it needs to survive, it’s the exacting measures of science that has validated and harnessed its full potential. It’s through science that the medical industry learned how to process plants for efficacy and safety. Not all natural solutions in the market, however, are backed by science, producing substandard products that are ineffective and may be harmful to consumers.

This is why for Filipino plant-based brand Sekaya, produced by Unilab’s natural products company Synnovate Pharma Corp., the only way to create bestin-class natural products is through the convergence of nature and science.

To help educate consumers and further explain the importance of science in creating high-quality natural solutions, the brand hosted recently the “Sekaya Prescribing Nature Virtual Conference:

Revealing the Science Behind Nature in Promoting Overall Well-being,” featuring two respected names in both the medical and wellness fields.

Rolando “Oyie” Balburias, MD, FPCP, IFMCP, General Internal Medicine and IFM Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner, and one of the country’s pioneering doctors for functional medicine. Meanwhile, internationally recognized teacher, author, scientist, speaker and artist Deanna Minich, PHD, FACN, CNS, IFMCP, followed with a talk on why “Healthy Food is Happy Food.”

“When choosing natural products, people should look into the source of the ingredients and the processes they went through,” Balburias said.

“High-quality natural products that are effective consider the therapeutic benefits of the raw ingredients based on their science-backed capability to restore homeostasis and balance of the body systems. These products also go through a tedious process that considers the ingredients’ biochemical compatibility with our body’s physiologic and biologic systems design.”

For her part, Minich said: “Stress can get in our way of eating healthy as increased cortisol and changes in hormones can alter our cravings. Most of the time, stress eating often leads to eating low-nutrient foods. We know this will only lead to unhealthy eating habits that will result in adverse effects on your body in the future but various studies have shown that healthier foods can actually affect our mood.”

The virtual conference underlined Sekaya’s “Prescribing Nature” advocacy that focuses on promoting the healing benefits of nature as validated by science.

According to Abigail D. Nepomuceno, director and business unit head of Synnovate, “Sekaya’s mission is to provide high-quality plant-based products that nourish the lives of our consumers, community and country. As such, our products use evidencebased ingredients that undergo several laboratory tests before they reach our consumers. We follow strict standards in every step of the process: from the sourcing of our ingredients up to the creation of the final product.”

The ingredients that Sekaya use are not only carefully sourced from United States Department of Agriculture or

European Union-certified and Quality Assurance International certified organic farms all over the world, but these are also tested against microbial contamination, pesticide residues, heavy metals and molds.

Known for its Sekaya Botanic Infusions, a curated line of medicinal, loose leaf botanic infusions for specific health conditions, the company is set to introduce more natural solutions of the same caliber. Sekaya Raw Actives are powdered green superfoods, plant proteins, and energy optimizers aimed toward athletes and active individuals who want to up their game and improve their performance naturally. Sekaya Botanicare is a line of premium natural skin-care products that is aimed to keep even the most sensitive skin healthy and smooth all over.

Aside from these three product lines, Sekaya will also be coming up with natural solutions that will highlight Philippine herbs. More information is available at www.sekaya.com.ph.

The current times present a wake-up call and a strong reminder on the utmost importance of keeping our health in check, and nothing perhaps can be more reassuring than being able to turn to natural solutions that are not only tested by tradition but also proven by science.