Elixir Botanica

WHEN SCIENCE AFFIRMS WHAT I BELIEVE

•Diet • Lifestyle • Supplement Wisely•

Every now and then, I read a scientific paper that makes me stop and think: this makes so much sense.

Perhaps that’s the scientist in me.

I studied life sciences at university and later completed my MSc at NUS. Science has shaped the way I think for most of my adult life. I want to understand mechanisms, look at the evidence, and remain curious as new research emerges.

So the DO-HEALTH randomized clinical trial immediately caught my attention.

Researchers followed 2,157 generally healthy adults aged 70 and above for three years, studying three simple interventions: vitamin D3, marine omega-3 and strength exercise.

Individually, none significantly reduced invasive cancer. But when all three were combined, researchers reported a 61% lower hazard of invasive cancer compared with participants receiving none of the three active interventions.

Cancer was an exploratory outcome and the authors rightly called for larger and longer studies. So this is not evidence that vitamin D, omega-3 or supplements prevent cancer.

But the finding fascinated me for another reason.

It was the combination that interested me.

Nutrients weren’t being considered in isolation. They were being studied alongside physical activity.

That beautifully affirmed something I have come to believe over many years: good health is built from many small things working together.

And naturally, it made me think about ODK (Marine Omega, D3 + zk2).

• Why ODK?

Two of the nutrients studied in DO-HEALTH — omega-3 and vitamin D3 — are central to the formula I spent years developing for my own daily use.

Each ODK capsule provides:

1,000 mg marine fish oil providing 400 mg EPA + 200 mg DHA
Vitamin D3 — 1,000 IU
Vitamin K2 MK-7 — 120 mcg

ODK itself was not studied in DO-HEALTH and the doses are different. I am therefore not attaching the cancer finding to ODK.

Rather, I find it encouraging that researchers are investigating nutrients I independently considered important enough to include in my own general-wellness formula.

• Why did I add K2?

K2 wasn’t part of DO-HEALTH, but it was a very deliberate addition to ODK.

Beyond its established role in normal calcium metabolism and bone health, I am fascinated by the emerging science surrounding vitamin K2 and angiogenesis — the regulation and formation of new blood vessels.

Angiogenesis is necessary for normal health and healing, but it is also important in cancer biology. Tumours can stimulate new blood vessels to supply themselves with oxygen and nutrients, which is why angiogenesis itself is already a target in modern cancer treatment.

Experimental research has explored K2’s effects on angiogenic signalling, apoptosis, cell proliferation and other cancer-related pathways.

I find this scientifically exciting.

But it remains emerging research. It does not mean that taking K2 prevents cancer, starves tumours or treats cancer.

For me, it is simply another fascinating reason to keep following the science.

And that is what science is about

My years in science taught me something important: science isn’t about proving what we want to believe.

It is about observing, questioning and being willing to change our minds as evidence develops.

Sometimes, however, a good study comes along that resonates strongly with conclusions we have reached independently.

DO-HEALTH did that for me and I wanted to share this with you.

It reinforced my decision to formulate ODK around omega-3, D3 and K2, while also reminding me that no supplement stands alone.

ODK isn’t medicine. It wasn’t created to prevent or treat disease.

I created it as a simple, well-designed daily supplement for general wellness — something I am happy to take myself and share with my family.

One capsule. Three carefully chosen nutrients.

And the more science I read, the happier I am with the combination I chose.

Take care of tomorrow’s body today.

Diet • Lifestyle • Supplement Wisely.

Grow Old Strong.

Read more here: https://www.vigourcells.com/grow-old-strong/when-science-affirms-what-i-believe
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Scientific reading: Bischoff-Ferrari HA et al. Combined Vitamin D, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, and a Simple Home Exercise Program May Reduce Cancer Risk Among Active Adults Aged 70 and Older: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Frontiers in Aging (2022). Original DO-HEALTH study⁠

Xv F et al. Research progress on the anticancer effects of vitamin K2. Oncology Letters (2018). Vitamin K2 review on PubMed⁠

Many people have asked me about my stroke. Because I have recovered so well, some assume it must have been mild.

What they may not realise is that I suffered a serious and potentially fatal bilateral cerebellar stroke close to my brainstem and medulla.

For almost a week, the world seemed to spin continuously. I experienced severe nausea and vomiting, immense weakness and a frightening sense of being physically and mentally disjointed.

Once I was stable enough, what did I do to begin rebuilding my life?

How did my physiotherapist’s words affirm what I already believed about regenerative biology and neuroplasticity—the brain’s remarkable ability to adapt and relearn?

How did I push through exhaustion, fear and uncertainty to work towards becoming as normal as possible during an important period of recovery—knowing that although healing can continue for years, the early months may offer a particularly valuable window for rehabilitation?

And how did I progress from fearing that I might never walk normally again, to taking my first steps with my physiotherapist—and, two years later, travelling up a mountain in Switzerland to stand before the Matterhorn?

From one uncertain step to the Matterhorn—this is my journey of recovery, perseverance, knowledge and faith.

Read the full article to discover how I found my way back: https://www.vigourcells.com/health-wisdom/from-one-step-to-the-matterhorn-in-two-years

🌿 GROW OLD STRONG series
17/9/26

MOVE while we still CAN And let’s not take it for granted.

I taken on the habit of walking to back to my office after breakfast with DC, as often as it allows me to.

It may look like an ordinary road. But to me, being able to walk along it freely is something quite extraordinary.

Every step feels like freedom.

Recently, I have been reading about ALS—a devastating disease in which the motor neurons controlling our muscles progressively deteriorate and today again, I read a very touching testimony that made me want to find out more. Over time, a person can lose the ability to walk, use their hands, speak, swallow and eventually even breathe independently.

ALS is not something we can simply prevent through exercise, diet or supplements.

But reading about it reminded me how precious something as ordinary as *MOVEMENT* really is.

I wasn’t always a walker!

Twenty years ago, DC practically had to drag me up a hill.

I disliked walking. My legs tired easily and, given a choice, I wouldn’t walk very far.

Today he tells me:

“You are stronger at walking than me now!”

What changed?

My stroke changed me.

After my stroke, I was genuinely shaken. For the first time, I was frightened by the thought:

What if I can never walk properly again?

I remember praying:

“God, please help me walk again. If I can walk again, I will never complain about walking again.”

And I haven’t.

I didn’t restart with 5,000 steps.

I started with just a few.

First I had to regain confidence in my balance.

A few steps became a few more.

As my balance improved, my confidence grew. And as my confidence grew, I walked further.

Zero → a few steps → hundreds → thousands → around 5,000 steps a day.

Today I can go out. I can explore. I can travel and I did spend 19 days walking around many places in Europe this May.

My own two legs can take me where I want to go.

What a wonderful feeling of freedom.

Two years after surviving a potentially fatal stroke, I didn’t simply grow two years older.

*I GREW OLD STRONGER.*

And I am deeply grateful to God.

I have seen what regaining mobility can mean for someone else too.

I once assisted a woman who started out in a wheelchair and had become so weak she couldn’t even use her hands sufficiently to feed herself.

Gradually she regained the ability to feed herself. Eventually she could take small steps around her home—and even go on holiday again with her young family and two sons.

Her recovery was different from mine, and everyone’s circumstances are different.

But both experiences left me with the same thought:

“Never take for granted the abilities you still have.”

For many of us, inactivity can contribute to loss of muscle mass and strength, particularly in our legs.

Sometimes it begins innocently enough:

A painful knee. Thigh pain. Cramps. Weak legs. An aching back. Fear of falling.

Then a vicious cycle can develop:

PAIN → LESS MOVEMENT → MUSCLE LOSS → WEAKER LEGS → POORER BALANCE → LESS CONFIDENCE → EVEN LESS MOVEMENT

And eventually loss of mobility can affect our independence, social life, confidence and emotional well-being.

So don’t automatically dismiss persistent pain, cramps or weakness as:

“I’m getting old.”

Find out why—and where appropriate, find a safe way to keep moving.

What can we do?

🚶 1. WALK
Don’t compete with somebody else’s 10,000 steps. Start where YOU are. Even a few steps count.

🏋️ 2. BUILD MUSCLE
Walking is important, but so is strength. Work your thighs, hips, calves, core, back and arms. Sit-to-stands, resistance exercises, appropriate weights and stairs can all help.

The muscle we maintain today becomes part of our physical reserve for tomorrow.

⚖️ 3. TRAIN YOUR BALANCE
This was particularly important for me after my stroke. Better balance gave me confidence—and confidence helped me move more.

🦵 4. KEEP YOUR JOINTS MOVING
Strong muscles help support our joints. Persistent pain deserves investigation rather than simply giving up movement.

🥚 5. FEED YOUR MUSCLES & BONES
Adequate protein, nutrient-rich food, calcium, vitamin D and appropriate weight-bearing and resistance exercise all have a place.

And this brings me back to my mantra KISS (Keep it super simple):

Diet • Lifestyle • Supplements

I walk.
I work at maintaining my strength.
I eat to nourish my body.
And I supplement wisely.

My own daily EB protocol includes:

🌿 Network Antioxidants— VigourCells + Pine Bark
Providing nutrients and antioxidant compounds involved in cellular antioxidant and redox systems. VigourCells includes alpha-lipoic acid, CoQ10, vitamin C, vitamin E/tocotrienols and selenium and nutrients that also supports the body to make glutathione.

☀️ Vitamin D3 + K2
Vitamin D contributes to normal muscle function and bone health, while vitamin K participates in normal bone metabolism.

🐟 Omega-3 — EPA + DHA
Important fatty acids incorporated into our cell membranes, with roles in cardiovascular and inflammatory biology.

“But supplements cannot exercise our muscles for us.”

***We still have to WALK.*

*We still have to STRENGTHEN.*

-*We still have to MOVE*.**

There is one more thing I am particularly grateful for.

Years before my stroke, I trained as a Duke Integrative Medicine Health Coach.

I never imagined then how much I would eventually draw upon what I had learnt for myself.

The course taught me to look at health as more than simply treating a disease—to consider nutrition, movement, sleep, behaviour, mindset, resilience and the many interconnected parts of our lives that influence health.

When my stroke happened, that knowledge became personal.

It helped me approach my recovery actively and purposefully: to set small goals, work on my balance, rebuild confidence, keep moving and participate fully in my own recovery.

Of course, every stroke is different and recovery depends greatly on where and how severely the brain has been injured, as well as rehabilitation and medical care.

But I genuinely believe my training gave me knowledge and a mindset that helped me make the most of the recovery opportunities I was given.

For that, I will always be grateful to Duke Integrative Medicine.

And perhaps that is one of the greatest lessons my stroke taught me:

Don’t wait until you lose something before appreciating it.

Twenty years ago, somebody had to drag me up a hill.

Today nobody needs to drag me.

I walk because I WANT to walk.

And when I walk, I feel free.

If you’re starting from almost nothing, don’t be discouraged by someone else’s 5,000 or 10,000 steps.

Start with your few.

A few can become hundreds.

Hundreds can become thousands.

And one day you may look back and realise just how far you’ve come.

Every step is a gift.
Every step feels like freedom.

Don’t just grow old.

🌿 GROW OLD STRONG.

Take care of tomorrow’s body today.

Eat well. Live well. Supplement wisely.

17 September 2026

I think this is a wonderful idea.

Several large bags filled with bottles and cans could be seen surrounding the man as he worked through his haul. https://asia1.news/4A5ylmK



📸: TikTok/johnsaudio

WORRIED ABOUT FAKE PEPTIDES?

I’ve been seeing more posts recently about fake and questionable peptide products being sold online.

If you’re looking for genuine products, come check out the peptides at Elixir Botanica. Ours are in powder form and not injectables.

We have been selling Health Canada licensed Cyto-Matrix Complete Collagen Peptides and Joint Collagen Peptides for years.

HSA also advises consumers to be careful when buying health products online and to buy from reputable sources.

At EB, our products are genuinely sourced and brought into Singapore through the appropriate HSA import procedures and regulatory checks.

So come visit us and shop with greater peace of mind — knowing where your supplements come from and who you are buying them from. You can then make subsequent online purchases through our e-store.

Authenticity. Quality. Traceability. Peace of mind.

Elixir Botanica
Eat well. Live well. Supplement wisely.

Shop at #02-76A, International Plaza, 10 Anson Road, SG 079903