What is Natural Factors PGX Daily?

What is PGX Daily?

Essentially, it is a complex blend of fibers (highly purified water-soluble polysaccharides) produced using the highly specialized EnviroSimplex proprietary process. The principle component of these fibers is glucomannan (a glucose-mannose polysaccharide obtained by grinding Konjac root), but, as we will see, PGX Daily works very differently in the body than just glucomannan alone.

Did you know that PGX can bulk up to 600 times its weight in water?

It does this by being the most highly viscous fiber on the market (especially when it is in capsule form). It is 3 times more viscous than guar gum and up to 7 times more viscous than psyllium!

It is also important to note that the delivery system for the Ultra matrix softgels is really the pinnacle of PGX research and development. The matrix, when combined with stomach acid, disperses better than any other tested delivery system for soluble and insoluble fibers. The rapid dispersal increases the volumetric potential of PGX because the polysaccharides hydrate quickly and form strong bonds of viscosity greater than any other fiber. This effect is called “acid-induced viscosity” and begins within minutes of taking the softgels.

What makes this product so universally relevant?

It works by slowing down the absorption of glucose from food and has been clinically proven to lower the GI index of certain foods up to 50%! By balancing blood sugar levels, it contributes to reductions in body fat, as well as increasing satiety, working as a prebiotic and lowering cholesterol as a daily source of fiber.

PGX increases the feeling of satiety not only by expanding in the stomach to make you feel full, but also by triggering the release of Cholecystokinin – a peptide hormone that is synthesized by the I-cells in the mucosal epithelium of the small intestine and secreted by the duodenum. Cholecystokinin that binds to subreceptors CCKa is involved in pancreatic enzyme secretion, secretion of gastric acid in the stomach and signaling of satiety. Did you know that certain foods can upregulate the activity of cholcystokinin antagonists which block the receptor sites for CCK? This could be any number of junk foods, including products containing MSG and potato chips! (That’s why you keep eating them, even if you’re full!)

The results for PGX and reduction of body fat also have to do with the prevalence of Medium Chain Triglycerides from coconut oil (600mg per softgel) in the encapsulated version of the product. MCT oil consists of 75% caprylic acid and 25% capric acid and has an effective energy value of only 6.8 calories per gram. This is much less than the 9 calories per gram supplied by other fats. This means that by using coconut oil, your caloric intake is less. However, this is only part of the picture for weight loss. When MCTs are digested they are not packaged into lipoproteins like other fats and do not circulate in the bloodstream. They are sent DIRECTLY to the liver and converted into energy (ketones), just like carbohydrates and thus can be used as an alternate source of energy than glucose. So, when you eat coconut oil, the body uses it immediately to make energy, rather than store body fat. MCTs also increase metabolic rate through thermogenesis and so can shift energy production into high gear!

The main indication for making PGX so universal is Insulin Resistance.

It does this by increasing sensitivity to insulin by reducing the rate at which glucose was obtained from foods and, in one study, showed that PGX can lower insulin secretion by approximately 40%!

Why is this important and/or effective?

As far as carbohydrates are concerned, the monosaccharide glucose is the most important to human physiology.

Did you know that 85% of the glucose your body produces goes to feeding that big ol’ brain of yours?

That’s why, when your blood sugar levels are low, you get cranky and irrational – making a chocolate bar seem like a better choice than a salad. Our brains are glucose JUNKIES always looking for a quick fix when the supply gets too low. Most carbohydrates are eventually broken down to glucose for absorption into the blood (save for fructose and galactose which are converted to glucose in the liver). Insulin, as we all know, is the hormone that facilitates the uptake and utilization of glucose (facilitated diffusion) by various tissues in the body. Cell membranes contain receptors to transport glucose in the cell – the primary one for muscle and fat tissue being GLUT4 receptors. When we over consume simple carbs and our body has to produce a lot of insulin in a short amount of time, over a longer period our cells become less and less receptive to the insulin and slow down the gene expression for GLUT 4 receptors. If insulin and blood sugar are not metabolized due to insulin insensitivity, the brew that floats around our blood becomes toxic very quickly. Our body tries to make this mixture inert by converting it to triglycerides and storing it as fat.

PGX helps slow down transit time of food and makes the use of insulin more direct and effective. As a side note, chromium picolinate increases the gene expression for creating GLUT4 receptors as well and so can increase insulin sensitivity, reducing the need to produce excessive amounts of insulin in order to drive blood sugar into the cell. The other thing that directly upregulates production of and health of GLUT4 receptors is….. (drumroll please) EXERCISE!

All in all, PGX has multiple indications for increasing overall wellness, outside of being a heavily marketed weight loss supplement, and can be used as a daily fiber supplement, a prebiotic, and a metabolic support.

For assistance on how much to take, please talk to one of our highly trained staff at one of our locations in Edmonton.