Interview with Dr. Pashkulev*
Dr. Pashkulev, Vega plus is a complex product with a big number of ingredients and wide variety of nutrients. Do you believe that if taken regularly, it may have positive impact on the way and quality of life?
Of course, it would. I have carefully studied all ingredients. Their quantities and quality are optimally balanced, so that the product has the capacity to support and restore the main functions of the human body – such as nerve impulses, hormones and immunity regulating mechanisms, digesting, breathing, blood circulation, excretion etc. And this results in a better quality of life for healthy people and in better overall recovery in cases of various health conditions – for sure, to be used along with directions for healthy eating and lifestyle or when needed together with application of modern therapy methods.
In your opinion, isn’t it more than necessary to take so many nutrients with just one product?
Depends on the specific product composition. There are many formulations which are not optimal and some of their ingredients are either too much or in rather small quantities, or are one-sided, i.e., a number of nutrients important for the human body are missing. It is important to note that the nutrients act complementing each other! When the doses are between low and medium as it is in the product, generally, there is no risk of side effects – the body takes what it needs, and the rest either fills in body depots or is eliminated without any problems. If the diet is adequate, very rarely more nutrient quantities could be needed – in case so, then you could take supplements containing one or a few specific nutrients as needed. However, this is to be done after consulting a doctor, because higher nutrient doses are similar to medicines – they can have both benefits and side effects.
Vega plus is especially recommended for use by vegans and vegetarians. Actually, what is your assessment about the amounts of essential amino acids in this product and to what degree they could satisfy the needs of vegans and vegetarians?
Vega plus is a product for common use. Sometimes one-sided mixed diets can cause a bigger variety of deficiencies than moderate healthy vegetarianism. But it is also true that if taking equal care for ensuring a variety of high-quality food to eat, to a higher or lower extent, depending on individual specific food absorption and substance exchange features, for vegetarians and especially for vegans, the probability to develop nutrient deficiencies is higher. In most cases, such conditions are to be managed with moderate amounts of appropriate nutrients instead of going for big quantities of products of animal origin which in accordance with many available data is not to be recommended for anyone, especially after the period of growth.
Could you clarify which are the superfoods and other product ingredients providing the most beneficial health effect?
By saying superfoods, we should not understand “silver bullets” providing magical solutions to certain problems but whole food concentrates rich in healthy substances (nutrients and phytochemicals) which have the capacity to increase the vital forces of the body and help correct eventual nutrient deficiencies. For example, such substances are the hemp protein which has amino acid content very close to the human blood plasma; the hydrolysed rice protein which is rich in easily absorbed peptides; the barley grass juice featuring high content of chlorophyll, minerals, vitamins and antioxidants as well as the chlorella with its wealth of proteins, essential fatty acids, B- vitamins, detoxification and immune system activating components. Among the single substance ingredients, I would highlight the amino acids lysin and taurine which are important for the normal growth, musculoskeletal health, heart, eyes and immunity; the minerals magnesium, zinc and selenium are mainly important for the metabolism, blood circulation, nervous system, thyroid gland, joints, skin and human body detoxification; vitamin D which nowadays is problematic for an increasing number of people due to sedentary lifestyle; some of the B group vitamins which are of great value for the cells’ exchanges, nerves, blood, adrenal glands etc.
Vega plus is advertised as having its ingredients in optimal quantities. According to the information you have, are there consistent scientific research results supporting this claim?
On the one hand, the doses are in compliance with the EU regulations applicable to food supplements. On the other hand, it has been taken into account that for most of the diets there are prevailing possibilities to entail deficiencies of certain nutrients (e.g. the amino acid lysine, the mineral magnesium, some of the B group vitamins etc.) as well as which substances most often would not be needed or if eventually needed they are to be added individually as overdosing them is not safe (for example, the amino acid methionine and the mineral iron). Accordingly, in the product recipe the amounts of the first group of substances are slightly increased while the second group of substances are not included (so that the respective nutrients are present only in small quantities as contained in the natural proteins).
In your opinion, what could be the benefits of the product in cases of intense physical exercise and intense stress?
Under these conditions human body “burns” much more calories, amino acids, minerals, vitamins and other nutrients. Consequently, the product beneficial potential would be better utilized, especially when taken in the recommended maximum doses – definitely in these cases! In accordance with latest scientific data, proteins’ bioavailability and quality are more important for the human body than the quantities of additional proteins which have been taken. In this respect, Vega plus ensures an amino acid depot effect – some of the forms are absorbed almost instantly, some other – after short processing by the human body and third ones – in a few hours. This allows to satisfy the needs of the body in phases which is very appropriate in cases of lasting physical activities. However, it is not possible to make a super universal product with optimal content ensuring meeting the needs of all people under all circumstances. When needed Vega plus can be used as a basis for a combined food and food supplement programme. The product combines very well with food supplements, with sports and functional foods which, of course, is best to be selected and dosed by a qualified and experienced expert in this field.
What is your assessment of the Vega plus potential to provide benefits to people in cases of negative impact of the environment?
Various toxins, radiations, extreme changes of weather temperatures and so on, lead to significantly increased use of main nutrients and their replenishment should be a primary task. The product, eventually in combination with other suitable products, is very appropriate for this purpose. On the other hand, the natural antioxidants are important for protection from damaging factors at cell level – various such substances are also contained in this complex food supplement.
Would you take Vega plus?
Yes, for a long time I have a preference for competently composed whole natural products. I will use Vega plus with great conviction and will recommend using it!
* Dr. Dimitar Pashkulev is an expert in integral natural medicine. He develops complete individual health programs including appropriate diets, intake of vitamins, minerals, herbs and other natural products as well as application of physical exercises and psychology balancing technics developed by ancient and modern, eastern and western schools. On these issues he also consults complex health recreation centres and develops training and computer programmes. He has authored and published more than 30 books on dietetics, phytotherapy, complex nature health treatment, integral phycology, pedagogics, ecology, aphorisms and poetry.
In the last 30 years several manufacturers have brought to the market more than 100 food supplements and cosmetic products developed by Dr. Pashkulev. He also consults companies and publishing houses on strategy formulation and website optimisation, edits books and writes book reviews.