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Phloe® is a natural, gentle and effective way to support your bowel health. 

About Phloe

Bowel Health

Biotics

Zyme

Kids

Red haired woman with kiwi

Most people are aware that Phloe helps support bowel regularity and naturally assume it is a laxative. However, Phloe is a more comprehensive solution for bowel health and regularity and when taken daily has many benefits for the digestive system.  To understand why Phloe is different we need to understand what laxatives do.

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Is Phloe a Laxative?

Even though we are stepping into the summer season, our immune system will still be working overtime to keep us healthy. We need to protect ourselves from family members in the household that might be carrying bugs and anyone who we come into contact in our daily lives...

The gut and immune system work together to support a healthy body
One of the most effective ways to support our immune system is by making sure our digestive tract is functioning well and contains a healthy microbiome. The relationship between our gut (microbiome) and immunity, is otherwise known as the microbiota-immune axis, or in layman’s terms, gut immunity.
Our gastrointestinal tract is made up of over 10,000 species and trillions of microbial cells. These play a dominant role in our ability to keep a strong and healthy immunity. The gut microbiome is actually one of the first lines of defence when exposed to potential threat. Other first lines of defence are our saliva, stomach acid, tears, mucous and skin.
Most human microbiota resides in the gut, and it has the job of regulating 70 – 80% of the body’s immune system. Clinical research on gut microbiome is significant and has shown that the gut influences both the strength and development of the immune system. When everything is running smoothly, the gut sends signals to help develop a healthy immune function response. In exchange, the immune system helps to populate the gut with healthy microbiome.
Our gut immunity also has a connection to our respiratory health
Even though our digestive system seems a world away from respiratory health, research is finding growing connections between the two systems. It seems that messages are sent further afield to the digestive system via enzymes called lysozymes. These enzymes break up our good bacteria in the gut and the fragments are sent out through the body. They signal that our respiratory system may be under attack and our body responds by mobilising all immune defence in the lung and respiratory system.
The relationship between the gut and immune system is complex and actually quite incredible. And it’s quite clear that maintaining a balanced ratio of good bacteria gives your immune system and gut a chance to protect your body and is crucial to the health of our immune and respiratory systems.
Scientific research consistently points towards a range of factors that change the gut microbiota, such as our diet, stress levels, lifestyle, health conditions and medications. Food allergens like dairy and gluten can also play a part, as they can disturb the delicate intestinal lining of the gut, dramatically altering the microbiota and making it more vulnerable to new harmful invaders.
How can the whole family look after gut immunity?
If you want to take action to increase healthy gut microbiome for you and the family, you can start by making some simple changes to the household meals.
Prebiotics are food for healthy microbiome in your gut and increase the biodiversity. You can find them in foods like garlic, onion, leeks, asparagus, banana, apple, barley and oats.
Reduce packaged foods containing sugar where possible, as well as fatty meat (especially preserved meats), and any other fatty or fast foods. Fresh veges and fruit are usually the best option for building balanced microflora in the gut. Not to mention all the additional beneficial nutrients, which our body survives off.
You could also include some daily probiotic foods such as yoghurt and sauerkraut as they can support the strength and health of the cells of the gut lining. Luckily, the same way bad guys can overpopulate the gut, good guys can too.
Whether for adults or children, taking Phloe on a daily basis can make a huge impact on gut immunity. We’ve got some yummy chewables for kids and for the grown-ups, Phloe Biotics not only contains the beneficial fibre, enzymes and prebiotics from the kiwifruit, it also contains specific probiotics to help boost the population of healthy flora.

Gut Immunity

It’s well known that pregnancy can change a women’s bowel motility, but have you ever wondered why? This article reveals some of the ways you can help keep things moving during pregnancy.

Pregnancy – Healthy Bowel Movements 
It’s well known that pregnancy can change a women’s bowel motility, but have you ever wondered why? Is there anything that can be done to prevent this from happening, or at least help when it does?
Slow bowel movement usually occurs in women during the 1st and 2nd trimester of pregnancy. For some, it may be the first time they experience it, and the common reason is usually hormonal changes.
During pregnancy, women produce higher levels of progesterone hormone. Progesterone plays a very important role during pregnancy, and levels steadily rise throughout the pregnancy until it reaches its maximum level usually just before labour occurs.
How does all this progesterone affect bowel movements? It’s pretty simple, science has shown that progesterone causes bowel muscles to relax, causing food and waste to move slower through the colon. However, a 2013 clinical study showed that an increase in oestrogen inhibited muscle contractility in the colon. So, whether it is rising progesterone or oestrogen levels, we can safely say that hormonal changes in women during pregnancy can induce constipation.
Another cause of slow bowel movement can be due to the uterus expanding, taking up valuable space normally occupied by the bowel. This may understandably lead to interference with its normal activity.
Finally, constipation may develop due to an underlying genetic predisposition, inappropriate diet (such as not enough fibre and fluids) or a side effect from taking iron supplementation. Let’s also not forget that some women may exercise less for various reasons during pregnancy, and they are possibly experiencing more stress than usual. Both the lack of exercise and increased stress levels can play havoc on healthy bowel movements.
Here are some suggestions to help keep things moving during pregnancy:
<ol>
<li>Exercise – Science says that regular moderate exercise can reduce stress and improve bowel movements. Make sure you do 30 mins gentle exercise 3 to 5 times weekly.</li>
<li>Bowel Habits – Try to maintain healthy bowel habits. Don’t ignore the urges to go. Listening to your body and following through with those urges will keep the bowels regular.</li>
<li>Diet – Make sure you eat a good mix of soluble and insoluble fibre. <a href="https://phloe.co.nz/article/fibre-fact-finder">Click on this link to find out more.</a></li>
<li>Hydration – It’s common knowledge that drinking plenty of fluids can help digestion and fluid requirements increase during pregnancy, especially during through the 3rd trimester but it can also be with foods that are high in moisture content such as yoghurt, soups, milk, stews, fruit and vegetables. You need about 3 litres a day (from food and drinks). Also try reducing salty foods such as preserved and cured meats, cheese like feta or foods with high contents of cheese such as pizza.</li>
<li>Bitters – Bitter foods and herbs such as lemon juice, leafy salad greens, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and dandelion root tea can help. Bitters stimulate the taste buds promoting digestive function and secretions which help the flow of bile and subsequently bowel motility.</li>
<li>Meditate – Reduce your stress levels by meditating at least 10 minutes a day. If you are not sure how, there are plenty of guided meditations online and many books to learn how.</li>
<li>Iron supplements – Make sure you use readily absorbed iron such as carbonyl iron.</li>
<li>Phloe Bowel Health – Phloe Bowel Health capsules and chewable tablets can be taken during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Taken alongside a healthy diet, Phloe contains beneficial fibre, enzymes and prebiotics that feed healthy bacteria within the digestive system. These gently normalise bowel movements without urgency, and also help with gas, bloating and digestive discomfort.</li>
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Pregnancy can be a challenging time for most women, and it’s the little things that can make a tremendous difference to overall comfort and health. We hope this gives that little bit of relief and please feel free to chat to one of our Naturopaths if you have any questions. You can contact them on info@phloe.co.nz.

Pregnancy – Healthy Bowel Movements

It’s that time of the year to start sowing seeds and planting seedlings for your summer veges and fruit. We thought you might like to know what to plant to help with your bowel function and to build a healthy digestive system.

When it comes to planting for healthy bowels, we’re looking for food that is high in fibre, also known as roughage. Fibre is found exclusively in plant foods and is among their other health benefits, such as vitamins and minerals. 
Dietary fibre can be separated as soluble and insoluble fibre and fibre rich plants usually contain both.
Soluble fibre &#8211; This type of fibre dissolves in water when it enters the stomach and intestines where it then changes into a gel-like substance. This softens stools making for easy transition. 
Soluble fibre can be found in foods like oats, peas, beans, apples, citrus fruits, carrots, barley and psyllium. 
Insoluble fibre – Insoluble fibre does not dissolve in water and tends to remain the same as it moves through the digestive tract. It adds bulk to stools, helping to pass solids out more easily. 
Insoluble fibre can be found in foods like wholegrains, root vegetables, fruit with edible seeds, beans, pulses and lentils, nuts and seeds.
What you plant into your vege patch this year can make a big difference to your digestion, especially if you take the time and care into what you grow. So here’s FIVE of our favourite ‘regular bowel’ foods that can be planted now: 
Green beans 
Beans are very high in fibre and have a great balance of soluble and insoluble fibre, both of which help the food keep moving through the intestines. 
TIP: Green beans are frost-sensitive, so make sure you plant once the danger of frost has passed. Make sure you plant them in a sunny spot too – they like to have 6 to 8 hours of sun each day.
Rhubarb 
Both rhubarb’s fibre content and natural laxative properties support regularity. Rhubarb also contains a compound called sennoside A, which softens stools and supports bowel movements. 
TIP: Choose a spot in full sun. If your rhubarb starts flowering there’s something wrong – they’re either short of water or food.
Kumara 
Aside from being very nutritious and having plenty of vitamins and minerals, they contain a good amount of fibre. The fibre found in sweet potatoes is mostly insoluble and includes a few specific types, such as cellulose, lignin, and pectin. 
TIP: Give your kumara plants plenty of space. As the vines grow, lift the foliage so more energy goes into growing the tuber and not the leaves.
Spinach 
Spinach is chock full of nutrients such as vitamin A, C and K, and folic acid, iron and calcium. It contains insoluble fibre, so combined with all those nutrients, spinach is great bowel support. 
TIP: Spinach needs cool conditions and may seed in hot weather. It loves to grow next to strawberries.
Berries 
Berries are tasty and easy to eat so take your pick &#8211; raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, and strawberries &#8211; all are full of soluble fibre and super high in antioxidants. 
TIP: Berries need to be in full sun for flavour and away from strong winds. A north facing wall is a good option.
So much of our nourishment depends on the healthy passage of food through our digestive tract. Without fibre, it is impossible for digestion to take place in a balanced way. A high intake of veges and fruit is the key to good bowel health.
Happy gardening!

Your Spring Garden- Planting for Healthy Bowels

Gas and bloating an issue? Join Phloe Naturopath Jane Cronin as she discusses why you might like to try Phloe Biotics. Phloe Biotics has the goodness of kiwifruit plus a probiotic boost with one billion beneficial bacteria, helping you feel good on the inside and out!

Join Phloe Naturopath Jane Cronin as she discusses why you might like to try Phloe Biotics. Phloe Biotics has the goodness of kiwifruit plus a probiotic boost with one billion beneficial bacteria, helping you feel good on the inside and out!

Gas and bloating an issue?

Phloe Naturopath Jane Cronin takes you through her daily routine of a high fibre smoothie that helps provide your daily fibre needs and supports great bowel health. And it's delicious!

Naturopath Jane Cronin presents a natural smoothie to help with bowel health

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Phloe Smoothie Banner

Delicious Daily Fibre

Phloe naturopath Jane Cronin shows how to increase your daily fibre and boost your bowel health with a delicious smoothie.

Delicious High Fibre Smoothie

Packed with goodness, this hearty soup also helps to support healthy digestion and regular bowel movements...

Packed with goodness, this hearty soup also helps to support healthy digestion and regular bowel movements. The tomato and lentil combination are a great source of fibre, which is essential for anyone that experiences sluggish bowels and the added spices are good for gut health too.
Bon appetit!
Hearty Tomato and Lentil Soup
Serves 4
2 tbsp olive oil 
1 onion, finely diced 
3 cloves garlic, finely diced 
1 tsp cumin seeds 
2 stalks celery, chopped 
1 carrot, chopped 
1 tsp ground coriander 
1 tsp smoked paprika 
1 tsp sweet paprika 
½ tsp turmeric 
small pinch of chilli flakes (optional) 
2x 400g cans diced tomatoes 
2 tbsp tomato paste 
1 cup red lentils, rinsed 
4 cups water 
1 – 2 tsp honey or raw sugar (optional) 
1 – 2 tsp Himalayan salt 
Black pepper
Instructions:
<ol>
<li>Heat olive oil and stir in onions. Sauté until clear.</li>
<li>Add garlic, cumin seeds, celery and carrot and cook until tender.</li>
<li>Add coriander, paprika, turmeric and chilli flakes, and cook for about 1 minute to bring the flavours out.</li>
<li>Add canned tomatoes, tomato paste, lentils and water. Cover with a lid and bring to the boil.</li>
<li>Simmer for 30 – 35 minutes without the lid, until lentils are tender. Add small amounts of water if needed.</li>
<li>Add honey/sugar, salt and pepper to taste</li>
<li>Serve with sourdough or your favourite multigrain bread</li>
</ol>
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Hearty Tomato & Lentil Soup Recipe

Hearty Tomato and Lentil Soup Recipe

Did you know that sluggish bowels can be helped with exercise? It’s a super easy option to help give you back a sense of control for regular daily bowel movements...

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Yoga 5

Get Those Bowel Muscles Moving!

Get those Bowel Muscles Moving!

The holidays are a time for relaxation and enjoyment, for socialising with friends and family and celebration. Where this might be good for the soul, the digestive system may have not fared so well….   

A Fresh start for Digestive Health
The holidays are a time for relaxation and enjoyment, for socialising with friends and family and celebration. Where this might be good for the soul, the digestive system may have not fared so well.   An abundance of rich foods, sugary treats and perhaps an extra festive drink or two can upset the balance of gut flora and can put pressure on the stomach and the liver.  This may result in over acidity or reflux after eating, indigestion or perhaps gas and bloating after eating.  You might also find that your bowel habits have changed.  Perhaps they are no longer a daily occurrence or stools are harder to pass.  Others may find that they are getting loose bowels or swing between constipation and diarrhoea.
Since the digestive system is key to health and vitality, it may be a good time to put things back in order after the festive season.  Here are some easy suggestions to help put your digestive system back in order.
Increase fibre
Dietary fibre is amazing for our digestive system.  It feeds our good bacteria, exfoliates our digestive tract, helps soften and bulk stools, so they are easier to pass and helps the body with the removal of toxins. It is found in grains, nuts, seeds, fruit and vegetables, so increasing it in our daily diet is simple. Make sure you have at least 5 handfuls of fresh fruit and vegetables a day. Phloe also contains fibre, so can help in this area.
Get the good bugs
One of the reasons for regular gas and bloating can be an imbalance of our digestive flora.  At times our good bacteria can be overwhelmed by less beneficial yeasts and bacteria, which consume the food we eat and ferment them to produce unpleasant gases.  Probiotics can be one way of increasing the population of good bacteria that help crowd out less beneficial yeasts and bacterial species. Phloe Biotics contains all the goodness of regular Phloe plus probiotics to support normal gut flora balance.
Switch on your digestive juices
Often if we get bloated or have indigestion, we might need support with our stomach function. Our stomach is naturally acidic and is one of the first places to start breaking down our foods. It is important, especially for breaking down our fatty foods.   A natural way to switch on our stomach acid is to drink a squeeze of lemon juice in water in the mornings or to have a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in warm water before our main meal.  These naturally acidic foods also encourage the liver to produce bile that helps with digestion and supports digestive enzyme production. Phloe Zyme contains all the goodness of Phloe plus digestive enzymes to support easy digestion.
Hydrate
The digestive system uses fluids in many ways for optimal function. It is needed to create our stomach acid and digestive enzymes. Water is needed in every cell of the body, including for healthy digestive system cells. Water is drawn into the digestive system to help soften stools to make them easier to pass.  Our choice of drinks can therefore affect our digestive system.  Caffeine and alcohol can be dehydrating, so should be excluded when repairing the digestive system or taken in moderation.  Water is very important, so make sure you have your 8 glasses a day. There are many herbal teas that are caffeine free if you are looking for something hydrating as a warm drink. Many of these herbal teas have calming digestive functions such as chamomile, peppermint or fennel tea, which is a bonus.  Also, a piece of ginger added to boiling water can make a warming and digestively soothing drink.
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Ease the digestive burden
There are some foods that our body has to work harder to break down than others. Junk foods and overly fatty foods fall into this category. If you are trying to heal the digestive system try to cut back on the takeaways and choose simple meals with a large side of vegetables.
Some of us might also be aware that certain foods lead us to feeling uncomfortable.  Many people struggle with bloating after gluten or dairy containing foods.  Others might suffer after eating onions, garlic or spicy food.  Whilst you are trying to restore your digestive health, try to eliminate any foods that cause aggravation to give the digestive system time to get back on track.

A Fresh start for Digestive Health

During and prior to going on holiday, we tend to experience particularly stressful times, what with juggling our preparations for work while we’re gone, travel plans and social gatherings. Not to mention treating ourselves with delicious foods and drinks that we tend to avoid in our usual everyday life.  Unfortunately for some, particularly those with sensitive tummy’s, being on holiday can affect our bowel function. It can be distressing, especially when you’re out socialising with family and friends or long-distance travelling.

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HAPPY HOLIDAYS WITH HEALTHY GUT FLORA

Happy Holidays with Healthy Gut Flora

Laxatives are designed to empty the bowels and loosen stools. They are generally prescribed or suggested for use in constipation. There are several kinds of laxatives, that work in different ways. For example, stimulant laxatives, like senna, irritate the bowel and usually take 6-12 hours to work. O...

PHLOE BOWEL Health

One of the most effective ways to support our immune system is by making sure our digestive tract is functioning well and contains a healthy microbiome. The relationship between our gut (microbiome) and immunity, is otherwise known as the microbiota-immune axis, or in layman’s terms, gut immunity.

Gut Immunity for the Whole Family

It’s well known that pregnancy can change a women’s bowel motility, but have you ever wondered why? Is there anything that can be done to prevent this from happening, or at least help when it does?

When it comes to planting for healthy bowels, we’re looking for food that is high in fibre, also known as roughage. Fibre is found exclusively in plant foods and is among their other health benefits, such as vitamins and minerals.

Add at least one hero item.

Phloe^® is a natural, gentle and effective way to support your bowel health.

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