You’ve probably heard kiwifruit mentioned for constipation, but the real story is bigger and more precise. We’re joined by Ping Ong, Nutritional Scientist and Researcher for Livaux at Energenics, to explore how a patented New Zealand gold kiwifruit powder is being used as a precision prebiotic to support keystone bacteria and the metabolites that drive real gut function.
We unpack why Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (FPR) keeps showing up in the research as a marker of a healthy gut microbiome, and why it’s so hard to target with standard probiotic approaches (it’s extremely oxygen sensitive). From there, we follow the butyrate trail: how this short-chain fatty acid fuels colon cells, supports mucus and tight junctions, and helps regulate inflammatory signalling pathways that can influence far more than digestion. We also talk about what it means when symptom improvement lines up with measurable microbiome change, and why that combination can give practitioners and patients more confidence than symptoms alone.
If you work with IBS, bloating, or sensitive guts, we get practical about fermentation speed, gas production, and why complex kiwifruit pectin may ferment more slowly across the colon than inulin, FOS, or GOS. We also discuss dose and compliance, supply chain quality control (including sourcing from Zespri-approved orchards), and how Livaux may pair with probiotics to support butyrate production and a more favourable gut environment.
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DISCLAIMER: The Information provided in the Wellness by Designs podcast is for educational purposes only; the information presented is not intended to be used as medical advice; please seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional if what you have heard here today raises questions or concerns relating to your health
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