The Gut–Brain Axis: How Digestive System Affects Stress, Mood, and Sleep
Reviewed by Pharmacist Chong Kai Qian The Gut-Brain Axis We’ve all been there: tossing and turning at 4 a.m. or feeling anxious for no clear reason. You might blame stress, caffeine, or work, but the real trigger could be deeper in your gut. In recent years, studies have shown there is a two-way highway between the digestive system and the brain, called the gut-brain axis. Digestive system might directly impact how […]
Probiotic and Sleep Quality: What the Gut Has to Do
Reviewed by Pharmacist Chong Kai Qian Gut Health and Sleep Quality A sleep crisis is a growing health concern among urban, modern populations. Studies on sleep quality in Malaysia indicate a high prevalence of poor sleep among various groups, not only working adults but as well as university students [1,2]. While people often turn to various supplements or medications for relaxation and insomnia, emerging research suggests that gut health might […]
Can Probiotics Help with Anxiety and Depression? Probiotic Strains to Support Mood and Mental Health
Reviewed by Dietitian Wennie Sin Does Probiotics Really Help with Anxiety and Depression? For millions of working adults or students, living with anxiety or a low mood is a daily struggle. While psychological and medical therapies remain the mainstay of mental healthcare, science is uncovering another potential ally in mental health: the gut. Increasing evidence in recent years has been pointing to the gut–brain axis (GBA), a complex communication system linking the digestive […]
Psychobiotics: How Gut Bacteria and Probiotics May Influence the Brain and Mental Health
Reviewed by Dietitian Wennie Sin What is Psychobiotic? For years, many of us have considered probiotics solely for digestion. However, in recent years, exciting new research has revealed that the trillions of bacteria living in our gut can also influence our mood, stress levels, and even our thought processes. This link between gut health and mental wellness based on the aspect of gut-brain axis […]
Types of Butyrate Supplements: What’s Available and How They Work
Reviewed by Dt Chen Zi Xin, Registered Dietitian Butyrate is a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) naturally produced when the good gut bacteria ferment dietary fiber in the colon (1). It serves as the main energy source for colon cells, helps maintain the gut (intestinal) barrier, and has anti-inflammatory properties (2). In order to produce SCFAs, one must have a […]
The Differences Between Short-Chain Fatty Acids, Probiotics and Prebiotics
Professionally Reviewed by Dt Chen Zi Xin, Registered Dietitian You have probably come across the words probiotics and prebiotics on supplement labels or yogurt containers, or perhaps even short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in newer discussions about gut health. They are all connected, but each plays a unique role in supporting a healthy digestive system. Understanding how they differ, and how they work […]
Short-Chain Fatty Acids: What Are They and How They Affect Gut Health
Professionally Reviewed By Fiona Lai, Registered Dietitian You may have heard about probiotics and prebiotics, but there’s another vital piece in the gut health puzzle called short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). These naturally occurring compounds are produced when your gut bacteria ferment dietary fiber, and they play an essential role in digestive, metabolic, and immune function (1). Understanding how Short-Chain Fatty […]
What is Butyrate and How Does it Support Digestive Health?
Professionally reviewed By Fiona Lai, Registered Dietitian Butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA), is undergoing more research studies and investigation for its role in gastrointestinal health in recent years. SCFAs are fatty acids produced by gut bacteria fermenting fiber, which fuel colon cells and impact gut health and overall metabolism (1). This article explains what butyrate […]
How to Improve and Manage Stress and Anxiety
Discover how stress and anxiety affect your body, mind and gut health. Learn how Malaysians can manage stress naturally through nutrition and supplements such as probiotics, psychobiotics, prebiotics, magnesium, and other key vitamins and minerals that could improve and support gut-brain axis and emotional resilience to achieve overall mental health and wellness.
How to Improve Sleep and Insomnia
Discover how sleep affects your body and mind. Learn how Malaysians can improve insomnia through use of nutrition and supplements such as probiotics, magnesium, psychobiotics, butyrate and other key vitamins and minerals that could support the gut-brain axis, regulate hormones, and support deep, restorative rest for better mental and overall health.
Quiet Strength: The Stewardship of Women in Healthcare
In a world that often prizes dominant, visible authority, this quieter approach (quiet strength) is sometimes mistaken for weakness.
The Future of Postbiotics in the Global Fight Against Antimicrobial Resistance
Based on research by Professor Dr Tan Joo Shun, a leading Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) microbiologist, Postbiotics (a stable good bacteria by-products) are a scientific alternative to combat Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) effectively. This article also describes how Malaysia can leverage its unique microbial biodiversity to develop patented, evidence-based microbiome health solutions.
From Dispensary to Boardroom: A Pharmacist’s Leadership Journey in Closing Healthcare Gaps
By Kean Ping Lim, CEO of Pharm-D Sdn Bhd When I first donned my white coat as a young pharmacist, I thought my role was simply to dispense medicines and make sure patients understood how to take them. In those early years, I saw the human side of healthcare up close: the worried faces of […]
How Dietitians Shape Health and Quality of Life Across Every Stage of Health
Dietitians are trained, regulated healthcare professionals, who remain among healthcare’s most under-recognised professionals, yet emerging research demonstrates their measurable impact on patient outcomes. From the very first feed of a newborn to the careful planning of nutrition during recovery and complex health situations, Dietitians work behind the scenes across hospitals, communities, and clinics to detect, […]
The Future of Malaysian Healthcare Needs More Local Players
By CC Wong, Group Managing Director, Pharm-D Health Science As Malaysia steers toward becoming a high-income nation, an area that demands urgent and strategic transformation is healthcare. We are witnessing a Malaysian healthcare landscape that is growing in complexity due to an aging population, rising chronic diseases, global supply chain pressures, and digital disruption. The […]
Depression and Anxiety: Could Magnesium Deficiency be the Cause?
This health article has been professionally reviewed by RPh Chong Kai Qian (020209), a registered pharmacist under the Malaysia Pharmacy Board (LFM). Depression and anxiety, both growing global mental health concerns (1), are also frequently observed as comorbid conditions alongside neurological disorders, such as migraine, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease. Interestingly, the therapeutic use of magnesium in […]
Poor Sleep and Insomnia: Signs Could Magnesium Deficiency be the Cause?
This health article has been professionally reviewed by Dt Chen Zi Xin MAHPC(DTN)01583, a registered dietitian of the Malaysian Dietitians’ Association (MDA). Insomnia is the difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or getting quality rest—even when the conditions for sleep are ideal. One often-overlooked factor in sleep health is magnesium deficiency, which can directly and indirectly […]
Tension Headaches and Migraines: Could Magnesium Deficiency be the Cause?
This health article has been professionally reviewed by RPh Chong Kai Qian (020209), a registered pharmacist under the Malaysia Pharmacy Board (LFM). Migraines are more than just bad headaches, they are complex neurological events that can significantly impact quality of life. The symptoms including recurring episodes of moderate to severe headaches, often on one side […]
