Molkosan® is one of Alfred Vogel’s original remedies. Made from whey obtained from organic milk, Molkosan® is rich in a substance known as L+ lactic acid which is now known to support the growth of good gut bacteria. In this way, it acts as a prebiotic.
IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) and digestive complaints are becoming one of the most common causes of health problems in the Western World. An estimated 10 – 20% of people worldwide are affected and women are more prone to it. In fact, nearly 40% of women between 25 and 65 years old experience embarrassing and uncomfortable digestive problems.
Common digestive symptoms include:
Molkosan is a daily tonic for a healthy digestive system. It’s a 100% natural whey concentrate made in Switzerland from fresh organic Alpine milk. One of Alfred Vogel’s original remedies back in 1926, Molkosan is rich in a substance called L+ lactic acid which supports the growth of healthy gut bacteria.
Healthy gut bacteria are essential
Approximately 100 trillion microscopic bacteria line your digestive tract in a dense mesh-like structure. With a total weight of about a kilogram, they are essential to your health.
They extract vital nutrients from food, provide energy and help the immune system to recognize and fight off pathogens. This is important because approximately 70% of the immune system is found around the gut since most pathogens enter the body with what we eat and drink.
Modern lifestyles, stress, antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, hormone medications, illness or a diet high in sugar or carbohydrates can disturb the natural balance of these gut bacteria, eradicating them and weakening their mesh-like barrier along the walls of our gut. This allows bad bacteria and yeasts, especially candida albicans, to attach themselves to the walls of the gut and affect our digestion.
This state of ‘dysbiosis’ is what often causes common digestive symptoms like cramping, bloating, too much gas or wind, constipation or diarrhea.
It is high in naturally occurring L+ lactic acid which is ‘food’ for your gut bacteria. When they digest L+ lactic acid, they produce a butyrate, a short chain fatty acid.
Butyrate is an important energy source for epithelial cells that line the digestive tract. In the gut, butyrate protects the colon by reducing inflammation and may even lower the risk of colon cancer.
Studies have also shown that increasing butyrate levels reduces the frequency of IBS and digestive symptoms. A 2015 study showed people taking Molkosan® three times a day had significantly higher levels of butyrate.
For many years, Molkosan® has been a trusted treatment for digestive problems. An in-home study in the Netherlands involving 430 women taking Molkosan® three times daily before meals showed it significantly reduced both frequency and severity of cramping, bloating, gas, constipation and diarrhea.
While the trend is to use probiotics after antibiotic treatment or a bout of stomach flu, research indicates that if the internal environment hasn’t changed, most of the probiotics you take will be killed off just as the original friendly bacteria were. This explains many people feel better while taking a probiotic but not long after they stop, symptoms like bloating, cramping, flatulence etc develop.
This is where a prebiotic like Molkosan® comes in. In addition to maintaining the health of existing good flora in the gut and stimulating the growth of new bacteria, it also makes the gut inhospitable for bad bacteria and yeasts, and prepares the gut for a probiotic. Unlike probiotics, Molkosan® contains no live bacteria cultures.
Molkosan® is concentrated and needs to be diluted to make a drink.
While it may be taken at any time, Alfred Vogel recommended drinking a teaspoonful (or a tablespoon if you prefer) in a glass of cold water 20 minutes before meals.
If you find the taste challenging, mix it with fruit juice or add it to a smoothie (download the Molkosan® Supersmoothie recipe book) and follow that with a glass of water.
Molkosan® Original is available in 200ml and 500ml. It can be used by adults and children over the age of 2 years.
After opening, store in the fridge for up to 6 months.
Yes. Molkosan® is recommended for those who are lactose intolerant because the L+ lactic acid helps to break down the protein and lactose in milk.
Molkosan® can be used as long as necessary. A month’s course is recommended initially. It can be taken on an ongoing basis if needed, or another course can be taken after a while to maintain improvements. Many people take it daily year-round to maintain good digestive health.
Yes. If you have a course of antibiotics it is recommended to use Molkosan® for at least a month afterwards together with a probiotic since antibiotics destroy healthy gut bacteria.
Molkosan® can be given to children from 2 years old as a health supplement. However, children under the age of six with any digestive problems or issues should be taken to a doctor or another healthcare professional to accurately diagnose and treat the problem.
Yes
If you (or a family member) constantly experience bad breath and all other causes like gum disease or tooth cavities, sinus infections etc have been ruled out, then look at the digestion. A high level of bad gut bacteria or yeast infections in the digestive tract can cause constant bad breath.
Using Molkosan® daily can help clear the bad gut flora and enable the digestive system to function efficiently again. You may then find the bad breath is a thing of the past. It is important to cut out sugar as well since sugar is food for bad gut bacteria and yeasts and can exacerbate the problem.
Applied topically either diluted in water or with milkreme (available at pharmacies) Molkosan® is very effective at treating eczema, skin and foot fungal infections and even psoriasis by applying topically.
With plenty of L+ lactic acid in your gut, the gut pH will be better balanced, promoting the production of digestive enzymes and allowing you to break down fats and sugars more effectively. The right pH balance also encourages a healthy stool.
Reference:
1. Zeng H, Lazarova DL, Bordonaro M. Mechanisms linking dietary fiber, gut microbiota and colon cancer prevention. World Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology. 2014;6(2):41-51. doi:10.4251/wjgo.v6.i2.41.