Is Acid in Your Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) causing you Gastric?

The Star - 'Home Supplement' - 18th January 2009, Sunday

Too much stomach acid can cause stomach discomfort and in severe cases causes gastric.

Take this after meals to avoid it from causing gastric are common advised by doctors or pharmacists for medications that may cause stomach irritations.

Among all the supplements in the pharmacy today, Vitamin C remain the most commonly purchased vitamin after the ‘must-haves’ multivitamins and minerals. However, little is known that taking the acidic form of vitamin C (eg. ascorbic acid form), may have some effect ‘unpleasant effect’ on the stomach.


What type of Vitamin C should I take?


To answer that, we will need to know the types of Vitamin that is available in most pharmacy today.


There are 3 common types of Vitamin C:

Type 1: Vitamin C in Acid-Free form (eg. Kordel’s Acid Free Vitamin C - 100% non-acid)


This is the most popular type of Vitamin C as it is 100% Acid-Free as there are no residues of the acidic form of Vitamin C left in the product.


For individuals who are concern about gastric problems or have ‘sensitive stomach’ this type of Vitamin C in the Acid-Free form is the safest and most recommended type of Vitamin C.


Acid-Free type also the best type of Vitamin C for elderly, busy working executives who skip lunch often, smokers and children. In fact, Acid-Free Form of Vitamin C is suitable for everyone.
Type 2: Vitamin C in Ascorbic Acid Form (eg. Redoxon, Blackmores Vitamin C, Natural Factors Chewable C)


This form of vitamin C is the most common types of vitamin C found in pharmacy. It is in the ‘most basic’ type of vitamin C which is in the ascorbic acid.

Because it is in the ‘Acidic’ form, it is not advisable for individual who have gastric problems or who have ‘sensitive stomach’.

Type 3: Vitamin C in Buffer Form (eg. Blackmores Buffer C - is not 100% acid free)


This form of Vitamin C is the second most common type of Vitamin C found in pharmacy. Buffering is a term used by scientists to show that the Vitamin C has been added with a ‘buffering agent’ to reduce its acidic nature.

However, buffered form of Vitamin C is NOT 100% acid-free.

The buffering process, leaves some ‘acid’ residue in from the ascorbic acid making Vitamin C in Buffer Form only ‘marginally’ safe for individuals who have gastric problems or who have ‘sensitive stomach’.

Not sure if the Vitamin C you’re taking is Non-Acidic?


Look on the product label. If the in the ingredient panel, the ingredient list includes ascorbic acid or has the word low acid, this means the vitamin C product contains acid.

A 100% Non-Acidic Vitamin C labels should carry the word ‘acid-free’ or ‘non-acid’, showing that the Vitamin C is 100% Non-Acidic.

So, the next time an office colleague or a family member catches a flu or cold, make sure you choose a 100% Non-Acidic type of Vitamin C for him or her.

You’ll choose only 100% Acid-Free Form of Vitamin C from Kordel's, because you care!

This article is brought to you by Kordel’s as part of the ‘Cares Project’.


For more information, please call 03-55694337 or e-mail: ask-kordels@cambert.com.my

21st Century Women - The Real Superheroes

A woman is expected to be successful at work, takes care of the family wellbeing and at the same time look beautiful.

It’s a tall order but quite many woman juggled successfully these important task.

These are the real undercover ‘superwomen’.

While superman may have made a career out of saving the world, he didn’t have the stress of keeping a family happy and healthy, as well as keeping his career on track. However, superwomen around the world handle both family responsibilities and career responsibilities without the praise and accolades offered to superheroes.

It is important that a woman takes care of her health whilst juggling her duties. Scientist has recently discovered a new ingredient isolated from soy beans.

This ingredient is known as ‘Genistein’ which amazed many researchers with its amazing health giving properties which many ‘superwomen’ needs to keep their health at the peak.

Genistein – The ‘Super-ingredient’ for Superwomen of the 21st Century

Genistein is chemically similar to the female hormones, estrogen. This similarity enables genistein to regulates any imbalances in estrogen levels that may potentially upsets a woman’s health.

Estrogen is a major sex hormone that is crucial to a woman’s physical development (breast growth and size, smoother more supple skin), ability to bear children and overall health and wellbeing.

It is also the hormone responsible for monthly menstruation. Any imbalances will wreck havocs to a woman’s health and wellbeing.

It is not until recently that pharmaceutical manufacturer, using sophisticated technology successfully extracted genistein and manufactured in tablet form for convenience and to improve compliance.

Nuvafemme contains a minimum of 20mg of genistein per tablet has been shown clinically effective for the following conditions:

1) Improve skin radiance and skin health in 4 ways

i) Stops wrinkle formation
Genistein works by stimulating the skin cells to produce more collagen and elastin.
This is important to stop the formation of wrinkles.

ii) Retains skin moisture
Skin that is soft to touch is well moisturized. Hyaluronic acid is produced by skin cells
naturally as a mechanism to retain moisture, much like a ‘sponge’.


Genistein stimulates the skin cells to manufacture more hyaluronic acid resulting in a more moisturized and supple skin.

iii) Protects against skin darkening
Our skin darkens when it is exposed to UV rays from the sunlight. This darkening is the
result of UV rays reacting with the skin cells melanin.

Genistein absorbs the damaging UV rays shielding the melanin skin cells from the UV rays
protecting skin from turning dark.

iv) Protects against free radical damage
Free radicals damages the skin collagen and elastin fibres.

Genistein is a strong skin antioxidant that can neutralize any free radicals preventing it from damaging the skin collagen and elastin fibres.

Women are advised to consume 1 - 2 tablets of Nuvafemme to improve skin health and to
main skin radiance.

2) Alleviates Pre-Menstrual Tension (PMS)

Irritability, stomach cramps and acne are common symptoms of a pre-menstrual tension
(PMS) that woman endure every month. This is caused by female hormones fluctuation
resulting in the uneasiness experienced by millions of woman between the ages of 12-45 years.

Genistein which is chemically similar to the female hormone levels out the wild fluctuations resulting in a more tolerable ‘monthly cycle’.

Women in this age group are advised to consume 1 tablet of Nuvafemme daily.

3) Alleviates ‘Hot Flushes’

Whilst woman during the child-bearing age experienced PMS, woman after the age of 45
endure a period of low estrogen level. Hot flushes, osteoporosis (also known as ‘brittle bone’
condition), poor skin conditions and low libido are symptoms of low estrogen level. Women
in this age group commonly feels ‘less sexy’ all caused by the sudden drop in the female
estrogen level.

Genistein which is chemically similar to the female hormones, acts as a supplement to maintain the estrogen level.

Women in this group are advised to take at least 2 tablets of Nuvafemme daily.

4) The Natural Bone Constructor – “Locking-in calcium in the bone”

Taking calcium supplement alone does not guarantee a dense and strong bone. This is because estrogen plays an important role in “locking-in” the calcium in the bone.

This explains why osteoporosis (or brittle bone condition) occurs most commonly in women after menopause as without estrogen, calcium will ‘flow-out’ of bones causing it to become brittle and breaks easily.

In a Clinical study conducted by Dr. Francesco Squadrito; women who took 54 mg of genistein a day shows significant improvement in bone density compared to those who are not. This research explores the possibilities on genistein as a ‘safer’ alternative to women who needs to maintain strong dense bone.

Genistein is found naturally in soy beans. A good genistein supplement should be extracted from organic, non-GMO soy beans and packed individually in aluminium blisters to maintain freshness and potency. It should also contain a guaranteed amount of 20mg of genistein for easy consumption and convenience

So, whilst the ‘superwomen’ of today are busy taking care of all their daily activities let ‘super’ genistein maintains, nourish and take care of what’s inside the ‘superwomen’ of the 21st century.

Beautiful Flawless and Fair Skin - Only with Nuvafemme

Benefits of Nuvafemme includes:

1) Flawless, Supple and Fair Skin
Smooth, fair and flawless skin is the dream of millions of women around the world. Any fluctuations in hormone levels caused by everyday stress reduced the skin cells ability to manufacture collagen and hyaluronic acid the two key components of a healthy radiant skin.

2) Moisturizing skin from the ‘inside out’

Hyaluronic acid is naturally moisturiser inside our skin cells. However, environmental pollutants and stress cause our skin cells to manufacture lesser hyaluronic acid over time. This causes our skin to become dry and wrinkled.
One of the most important discoveries is that, genistein stimulates skin cells to manufacture more hyaluronic acid.

Skin with more hyaluronic acid is able to “trap” more water preventing moisture loss.
It is advisable to drink at least 8 glasses of water when on genistein supplement as hyaluronic acid will need the “extra” water to moisturise the skin from the inside.

3) Alleviating menopause symptoms

Hot flushes, irregular periods, night sweats, sleep disturbances, mood swings and vaginal thinning are some of the common symptoms of menopause symptoms. The more severe symptoms are increased risk of osteoporosis (brittle bones) and increased risk of heart problems.
All these symptoms are the result of the female estrogen dropping. Genistein is a natural and safer alternative to increase the level of estrogen in the body.

4) Keeps the calcium ‘lock-in’ the bones beyond Vitamin D

In a clinical study with genistein, Dr. Francesco Squadrito discovered that women who took 54mg of genistein a day have far denser bones than woman who are not. This amount is equivalent to 2 gallons of soy milk per day he told Reuters Health.

Take Nuvafemme today! 1 product 5 benefits

What is genistein?

Soy Isoflavones and Women’s Health

Soy Isoflavones refer to a group of compound extracted from soy, and genistein is one of the most active of these isoflavones. Chief among all the Isoflavones is genistein, which is well known as ‘phytoestrogen’ among the scientific community.
The word ‘Phyto – plant’ and ‘Estrogen – female hormone’ implies genistein’s ability to mimic the action of the female hormone naturally. The reason is because genistein is chemically similar to the female hormone estrogen and this similarity enables it to ‘smooth’ out any imbalances that may potentially upsets a women’s health.

The actives genistein is sold in Malaysia as Nuvafemme in all pharmacy in Malaysia. It retails at RM 98.00 for 50 tablets in Guardian Pharmacy, Caring Pharmacy, Vitacare Pharmacy, Watson's Personal Care Stores and all Independent Pharmacy.

Need more information? Please call 03-5569 4337 or e-mail: pharmacist@nuvanta.com