EpiCor - A Century-Old Phenomenon Benefits Us Today
Jun 30, 2020 12:00AM ● By Alina Hornfeldt
If you haven’t
heard of EpiCor before, don’t worry, you are not alone. EpiCor is an ingredient
used in supplements that supports the health of your respiratory system and
sinuses, aids digestive health, and most notably, maintains the body’s immune
defenses. It is a whole food fermentate created from yeasts. It is a natural,
minimally processed, whole food as opposed to being chemically synthesized, an
extract or created from byproducts. The story of how EpiCor was discovered is
fascinating, as well as how it's made and its benefits. Let’s dig a little
deeper into this lesser-known yet valuable health-enhancing ingredient.
EpiCor was originally discovered almost by
accident. In the late 1800s, a young boy by the name of C.W. Bloomhall lived
and worked on his family’s farm. He observed that when the farm animals ate the
family’s table scraps, which included sour milk that had caused the food to
ferment, they were healthier and more robust than the animals who were fed only
a diet of grains. In 1943, Bloomhall decided it was time to put the phenomenon
he had observed on the farm to the test. He founded a company called Diamond V
in order to create a one-of-a-kind fermentation process to create a specialty
yeast to aid the health, productivity and immune functions of livestock. To
this day, the Bloomhall family still owns Diamond V, the largest and most
renowned manufacturer of unique microbial fermentation products designed for
animal health and welfare worldwide.
In 1998, another curious observation was being
made at the factories that created Diamond V. Employees who worked closely with
the yeasts and were regularly exposed to them had significantly fewer sick days
than the employees working exclusively in the office. The factory employees did
not use as much sick leave, and the actual health care claims per person showed
a dramatically lower amount than companies with similar demographics and size.
The company decided to find out what was happening and began commissioning
pilot studies comparing the two groups of employees at the company. As it turns
out, the factory employees with exposure to the yeast culture indeed had
stronger immune systems. What the researchers discovered was that the factory
employees had higher white blood cell activity, lower levels of
pro-inflammatory immune complexes, and higher levels of an antibody secretion
that is found in the body's mucous membranes, such as the nose. After this
discovery was made, the company wanted to share their findings with the world
and develop a product that was all-natural and whole food-based designed specifically
for humans.
EpiCor is created by using a proprietary
fermentation process that creates a unique variety of metabolites that
contribute to health and well-being in the body. Beginning with baker’s yeast,
the microorganisms are deprived of oxygen which then causes them to create a
wealth of beneficial compounds and metabolites: proteins, peptides,
antioxidants, polyphenols, organic acids and nucleotides. It is then gently
dried, rigorously tested and packaged as EpiCor, a wonderful ingredient for use
in a variety of different supplements available from many brands and in
conjunction with other ingredients for specialty results.
These days, many people are in search of a
supplement that can aid one’s immune function as we face the global pandemic
that is COVID-19. Reading labels and searching out supplements that contain
EpiCor may be one way to give your immune system the support it needs in these
difficult times. It must have been kismet when young C.W. Bloomhall deduced the
effects of fermentation over a hundred years ago.
Alina Hornfeldt is the marketing manager at Mastel’s Health Foods. The staff at Mastel’s is experienced, deeply knowledgeable and available to help you find those supplements that best suit your needs. Mastel’s is located at 1526 St. Clair Ave., St Paul. For more information, call 651-690-1692 or visit Mastels.com.