What is your background in nutrition, health and wellness?
I have degrees in biology and nursing, my doctorate is in chiropracty, and I’m a nationally certifi ed clinical nutritionist. I’ve been involved in practising and teaching nutritional therapy and wellness for over 20 years, working closely with fitness gurus like Charles Poliquin and Paul Cheq, as well as helping many top Olympic athletes, through to people who are literally fi ghting for their lives.

What is ganoderma and how did you first hear about it?
I’ve always recognised the value of herbal and natural remedies and have used them extensively in my own nutritional practice. Ganoderma is an ancient Chinese herb (a mushroom) that also goes by the name of reishi or ling chi. I’ve seen great clinical benefits using it with my clients and patients over the past two decades. Around 1800 peer-reviewed scientific studies have documented its many effects. It’s easy to see why the Chinese labelled ganoderma the ‘king of herbs’. It alkalises the body, increases oxygen delivery, facilitates detoxification, controls infl ammation and enhances immune function.

If you consider those fi ve major factors, there’s really no-one walking around who can’t benefi t from it in some way.

What do you see as the most impressive quality of ganoderma?
The fact that it takes a very little amount to have a therapeutic dose and that there’s no known toxicity.

It’s a very bitter herb on its own, but the Organo Gold company’s CEO Bernie Chua is said to have spent around 12 years perfecting the process of combining the organic herb with high quality organic coffee and achieving a worldwide patent – creating a great tasting cup of coffee in the process.

So someone can drink a daily cup of Organo Gold with ganoderma and experience some proven health benefit.

That’s pretty remarkable.

Can you highlight some of the most recent health transformations you’ve heard about?
I recently met a lady whose nine-yearold son had developed a severe facial tick. The family had spent over $3,000 going to neurologists who were unable to find out what was wrong with him.

She started giving him the Organo Gold hot chocolate drink and in just a week his tick had totally disappeared.

Ganoderma is known to have a very calming effect on brain chemistry – it’s anti-seizure and also anti-Alzheimer’s.

It’s a powerful adaptogen which seeks out the areas of need in the body and addresses the health problem. So there are literally thousands of testimonials from people who’ve been drinking these natural teas and coffees – from diabetics who’ve regained feeling in their hands and feet after years of debilitating neuropathy, to people recovering from severe allergies or pain, and even certain types of cancer.

What would you say to wellness professionals interested in offering Organo Gold to their clients?
It’s really just a natural extension of what they’re trying to do – get people fit and healthy.

The average American drinks 3.2 cups of coffee per day, and if just one of those is switched to coffee with ganoderma, then it’s going to benefi t them in so many ways, with the minimum of effort.

Also, there are many leading sports stars who’ve been so impressed by and are now involved with the brand, such boxing legend Manny Pacquiao and golfer Greg Norman.

How did you meet Dr Rakowski and become involved with the Organo Gold brand?
I first met Dr Bob Rakowski when my partner Hannah was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour several years ago and we were seeking alternative treatment. Our research led us to Dr
Rakowski’s clinic in Texas, where ganoderma and Organo Gold became part of Hannah’s nutritional therapy. The treatment was successful, and we’ve been passionate advocates of the brand ever since.

Where is Organo Gold available in the UK?
We are now distributors for the brand and already a number of leading health club chains are offering the coffee to their members with great success. LifeStyle Fitness have a number of cafés that are exclusively selling Organo Gold to members, while a growing number of personal training studios are choosing to have Organo Gold café bars.

The CEO of Life Leisure and ukactive board member Malcolm Mcphail, says: “I’m a huge fan of the Organo Gold products and we are due to open Organo Gold cafes at two of our Health & Wellbeing facilities very soon.”

Why should fi tness professionals consider selling these products to their clients and members?
It fits perfectly with their mission to get people fitter and healthier. For example, ganoderma is a nitrate donor which means it contains a lot of the chemical that the body requires to make nitricoxide – which is one of the most important molecules in the body because it signals the walls of the blood vessels to relax.

This results in better circulation, better blood flow – meaning better oxygenation of the tissues, better recovery and less energy needed for the same result. The same chemical supercharges sexual function and improves brain function. We have a number of professional athletes using the products and they all say their performances are much improved, as well as their concentration and focus.

What else makes the Organo Gold brand suitable for the health and fitness market?
Ganoderma helps with insulin sensitivity, which is another way of saying fat loss – something that many health club members are seeking. When insulin gets too high, fat loss comes to a halt. People who eat a lot of sugary and processed foods can become resistant to the effects of insulin, so when they eat carbohydrates, more insulin is dumped into the system and this stops the release of fats for fuel.

Ganoderma helps regulate blood sugar levels and therefore can help the body become better at using its fats stores.

What message would you give to fitness professionals about becoming involved with the brand?
If you have clients who are interested in improving their health, getting or staying fit, sleeping better, achieving better insulin sensitivity, or boosting athletic performance, then it’s worth looking
into this incredible ‘miracle of nature’.

Both fitness professionals and club operators can create a healthy income for themselves and help their clients get healthy at the same time.