Zestt Wellness

13/02/2026

Year of the horse 🐎

Christopher Luxon Darcy Schack Campbell

13/02/2026

Come and see us for Chinese New Year celebrations - it’s the Year of the Horse! 🐎

Darcy, Danny, Lisa, Rean, Jessie and I are here in Auckland to celebrate 🍒
We have some special gifts and discounts too 🎉🐎

10/02/2026

🦠 Can probiotics help with viral infections — or is it hype?

Probiotics are often marketed as immune boosters, especially during cold and flu season. But that framing oversimplifies what’s really happening.

Probiotics don’t boost immunity in a generic way. Instead, they influence immune responses at key entry points, particularly along the oral–lung–gut axis 🫁🦷🌱

The immune system isn’t organised into individual organs, but into interconnected networks. Signals from gut microbes influence immune activity in the lungs, while the oral microbiome plays a frontline role in respiratory defence.

Viral respiratory infections are commonly associated with:
• Disrupted gut and oral microbiota 🦠
• Reduced microbial diversity 🌈
• Impaired mucosal barrier function
• Exaggerated inflammatory responses 🔥

When these systems are out of balance, immune responses can become either sluggish or excessive, worsening illness and delaying recovery.

Rather than directly attacking viruses, probiotics help stabilise these microbial ecosystems and support more balanced immune responses ⚖️

How probiotics support viral defence:
• Support mucosal immunity at the point of entry (mouth, throat, nose) 👄
• Regulate inflammation rather than overstimulating the immune system
• Support barrier integrity in the gut and oral tissues
• Produce beneficial metabolites (postbiotics) that signal immune cells, including in the lungs 🧬

Human studies show that specific probiotic strains can:
• Reduce the frequency of common viral respiratory infections (BLISK12 is patented for its effect against COVID)
• Shorten symptom duration ⏳
• Reduce secondary infections, particularly in children, older adults and immunocompromised populations

Where Zestt fits in 🌿
At Zestt, our approach to immune resilience is multi-layered. We don’t view probiotics as a standalone solution; we combine probiotics, prebiotics and plant bioactives to support immune regulation and pro-resolving pathways, including those associated with M2 macrophage activity (as seen in Zestt Breathe+).

The bottom line:
Probiotics won’t prevent every infection or eliminate viruses. But evidence suggests they can help shape the microbial and immune environments that influence how often you get sick, how severe symptoms become and how quickly you recover 💪

09/02/2026

Join ZESTT WELLNESS at the 2026 Auckland Chinese New Year Festival & Market Day

As the Year of the Horse approaches, Auckland is preparing for its annual flagship Lunar New Year celebration. ZESTT WELLNESS cordially invites you to visit our booth and celebrate this festive season with us.

Event Details:
Date: Saturday, 14 February 2026
Time: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Location: Auckland Showgrounds (Free Entry)
Booth: Hall 4 · 420 & 421

On-Site Highlights:
💥 Product Showcase: Discover our latest award-winning health and wellness innovations.
💥 Exclusive Offers: Take advantage of special Chinese New Year promotions available only at the event.
💥 Festive Giveaways: We have prepared exquisite red envelopes and New Year gifts for our visitors.

We look forward to seeing you there as we embark on a new chapter of health and prosperity together.
https://www.zesttwellness.com

活動預告】
ZESTT WELLNESS 邀您共赴 2026 奧克蘭新春花市同樂日
隨著馬年的臨近，奧克蘭即將迎來一年一度的新春盛會。ZESTT WELLNESS (賽斯特健康) 誠摯邀請您蒞臨我們的攤位，共同慶祝佳節。
活動詳情：
💥日期：2026年2月14日（星期六）
💥 時間：上午 9:30 至 下午 4:00
💥 地點：Auckland Showgrounds（免費入場）
💥 攤位：Hall 4 · 420 及 421

現場亮點：
1️⃣ 展示最新研發並榮獲獎項的健康系列產品。
2️⃣ 提供僅限花市現場的新春特惠活動。
3️⃣ 準備了精美的新年紅包與禮品贈予到場嘉賓。
期待與您見面，共同開啟健康、好運的新篇章。

03/02/2026

Why High Protein isn’t Enough (And Never Was) 🥩

Last week, I wrote about protein and I gave it a number - how much to eat per day, but there is more to the story than that (of course, there is)!

When you eat protein, your body asks:

1️⃣ Can I break this protein down?
2️⃣ Can I absorb it early enough in digestion to use it?
3️⃣ Will I incorporate it into muscle, bone and enzymes?
4️⃣ Or will it simply be oxidised and excreted?

That is what protein bioavailability means: not just what you eat, but what your body can use.

Animal proteins, such as eggs 🥚, dairy, fish and meat, tend to be more digestible and better absorbed than most plant proteins, due to their structure and lack of antinutritional factors.

They also deliver a stronger muscle-building signal, particularly in older adults, because they contain higher levels of indispensable amino acids, such as leucine 💪🏼.

In other words, animal proteins are very good at answering the first three questions.

They tell your body:
“Build tissue now.”

But they answer the fourth question (retention) less well on their own.

That’s where fibre 🥦 comes in (yes, you knew it was coming!).

How Fibre Contributes
Fibre doesn’t build muscle, but it plays a critical role in determining whether protein is used efficiently or lost.

High-fibre diets are associated with:

👉🏼Improved insulin sensitivity
👉🏼Reduced low-grade inflammation
👉🏼Healthier gut microbiota
👉🏼Improved metabolic handling of nutrients.

Fibre also supports gut microbes involved in nitrogen recycling, which helps reduce unnecessary protein oxidation and loss.

When protein and fibre are eaten together, microbial metabolism shifts toward more beneficial by-products and away from excessive amino-acid degradation.

😄 It also means you p*e less than if you were on a straight high-protein diet!

So what’s the goal?
The goal isn’t:

“High protein”
“Plant-based”
or “Animal-based”

The goal is signal + support 🌺.

Animal proteins provide a strong biological signal for tissue building.
Plant foods, especially fibre-rich vegetables, legumes, fruits and whole grains, provide the metabolic conditions that allow that signal to be used efficiently.

This is super important as we age, when protein quality, timing and context matter just as much as total intake (especially when combined with exercise).

So if you’re choosing high biological-return proteins, like whey, eggs, dairy, fish, or lean meats:

Combine with plants - that’s how protein stops being a number and starts to do the work needed 🫛.

Add Zestt Gut+ lozenges to the mix and build a healthy microbiome to optimise protein digestion.

28/01/2026

Why Respiratory Immunity Starts with Your Mucosal Microbiome 🫁🦠

When we think about avoiding infections, it’s easy to focus only on the pathogen -
how to avoid a virus, how quickly it mutates and how fast it spreads.

That was the dominant message during COVID-19.

But a more important question often gets missed 👇

What determines whether a virus successfully takes hold in the first place?

The answer lies partly in your mucosal system.

Your respiratory tract is lined with a mucosal surface - an active interface between your body and the outside world 🌬️
This mucus is constantly interacting with air, particles, microbes and immune cells.
How well this system functions plays a major role in your respiratory resilience.

The Oral & Respiratory Microbiome: Your Frontline Defence 🛡️

A central component of the mucosal system is its microbial community - the oral and respiratory microbiome.
These microbes help determine whether external pathogens can establish themselves by:
• Occupying physical space and competing for resources
• Shaping local immune responses through signalling

When your mucosal microbiome is stable, it acts as a buffer against invasion.
But it can be disrupted by inflammation, illness, environmental stressors (like alcohol), or high viral exposure ⚠️

That’s why looking after your mucosal microbiome is just as important for preventing respiratory infections as targeting pathogens directly.

Zestt Breathe+ lozenges contain patented probiotics and plant compounds, which reduce inflammation, coughing and phlegm.

Improve your breathing today!
Visit zesttwellness.com to make an order ☘️

28/01/2026

Why Respiratory Immunity Starts with Your Mucosal Microbiome 🫁🦠

When we think about avoiding infections, it’s easy to focus only on the pathogen -
how to avoid a virus, how quickly it mutates and how fast it spreads.

That was the dominant message during COVID-19.

But a more important question often gets missed 👇

What determines whether a virus successfully takes hold in the first place?

The answer lies partly in your mucosal system.

Your respiratory tract is lined with a mucosal surface - an active interface between your body and the outside world 🌬️
This mucus is constantly interacting with air, particles, microbes and immune cells.

How well this system functions plays a major role in your respiratory resilience.

The Oral & Respiratory Microbiome: Your Frontline Defence 🛡️

A central component of the mucosal system is its microbial community - the oral and respiratory microbiome.

These microbes help determine whether external pathogens can establish themselves by:
• Occupying physical space and competing for resources
• Shaping local immune responses through signalling

When your mucosal microbiome is stable, it acts as a buffer against invasion.

But it can be disrupted by inflammation, illness, environmental stressors (like alcohol), or high viral exposure ⚠️

That’s why looking after your mucosal microbiome is just as important for preventing respiratory infections as targeting pathogens directly.

Zestt Breathe+ lozenges contain patented probiotics and plant compounds, which reduce inflammation, coughing and phlegm.
Improve your breathing today!
Visit zesttwellness.com to make an order ☘️

27/01/2026

When Protein Matters 💪🏼 And When it Matters More!

Recently, I stopped myself from buying protein popcorn 🍿
Wow 😮 the food industry really knows how to double down on a trend. A glimpse of positive data and suddenly podcasters, influencers, marketers and food companies are all in.

So what’s the jam? 🥄
Is the protein surge grounded in credible evidence, or will we all be back to low-fat, cereal-heavy nutrition pyramids in a couple of years?

As usual, the science is more nuanced than the marketing. Here’s the short version 👇

1️⃣ Women aged 50+ protein really matters

Through peri- and post-menopause:
👉🏼 Muscle loss accelerates
👉🏼 Insulin sensitivity declines
👉🏼 Protein digestion becomes less efficient

More protein can:
🔥 Preserve lean muscle
🔥 Stabilise blood glucose
🔥 Reduce frailty risk
🔥 Support repair and recovery

➡️ 1.2–1.6 g/kg/day
(Closer to 1.6 g/kg if strength training, unwell, or losing weight)

2️⃣ Metabolic health issues (insulin resistance, prediabetes, Type 2 diabetes)

➡️ 1.2–1.5 g/kg/day (or 25–35% of energy)

Why:
🔥 Better glycaemic control
🔥 Fewer glucose spikes
🔥 Lean mass preserved during weight loss
🔥 Better satiety

3️⃣ Healthy, metabolically flexible adults

➡️ 0.8–1.0 g/kg/day

Enough to meet needs and maintain muscle.
More isn’t harmful; the benefits flatten once adequacy is met.

4️⃣ Resistance training/muscle building

➡️ 1.6–2.2 g/kg/day

🔥 Maximises muscle protein synthesis
🔥 Supports recovery
🔥 Especially important in calorie deficits

⏰ Timing matters
Aim to spread protein evenly across the day — especially if you’re 50+, when digestion isn’t as efficient as it once was.

🌺 Support digestion and metabolic health with Zestt Gut+ Lozenges

21/01/2026

Tyre (or sled) pushes and pulls are a great longevity exercise
💥 High intensity
💥 All body
💥 Low joint impact (great for knees)
💥 Great for functional mobility
💥 Cheap equipment!
Thanks, Jeff at Uncut Fitness - always a new challenge for us 😅

13/01/2026

The Gut-Immune-Sleep Connection 💤
✅ 3 Principles that Matter

Our gut, immune system and sleep are connected, yet often treated as separate problems. Disrupted sleep alters gut microbial composition within days and shifts immune signalling toward a more inflammatory state.

In turn, changes in the gut microbiome influence immune and metabolic regulation, as well as sleep quality, via the gut–brain axis.

When one part of this system is under strain, such as poor sleep, chronic inflammation, or microbial imbalance, the effects ripple across the others.

So what to do? Supporting gut health, immune resilience and sleep is not about isolated fixes, but about protecting the underlying systems that regulate recovery, repair and long-term health.

Here are three areas to focus on to improve your gut-immune-sleep connection:

1️⃣ Feed your microbiome consistently

☘️ Gut bacteria rely on a regular supply of fermentable substrates to remain diverse and functional.
🥦 Prioritise fibre from vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds and whole grains
🍓 Variety matters more than hitting a single superfood - eat the rainbow!

Why it matters:
Microbial diversity and short-chain fatty acid production are strongly linked to immune regulation and reduced inflammation.

2️⃣ Protect sleep and circadian rhythm
Sleep disruption alters gut bacteria and immune signalling within days.

💤 Maintain consistent sleep and wake times and avoid bright lights at night times
👃🏽 Support nasal breathing and airway comfort at night
💥 Address factors that fragment sleep, like stress

Why it matters:
Poor sleep increases gut permeability and impairs immune response, independent of diet (but poor diet also affects sleep!).

3️⃣ Reduce inflammatory load
Chronic, low-grade inflammation alters gut permeability, immune signalling and sleep quality.

🍷 Limit sugars, ultra-processed foods and alcohol
🏋🏾‍♂️ Manage stress and recovery load (don’t go too hard at the gym!)
❤️‍🩹 Allow adequate time between intense exercise and sleep

Why it matters:
Inflammation increases gut barrier disruption (which can lead to leaky gut issues) and interferes with immune and sleep regulation, creating a feedback loop that’s hard to break.

✅ At Zestt, our products are designed to support these systems, from the oral microbiome through to gut and metabolic health.

06/01/2026

05/01/2026

How to Change Without the Turmoil 🌊 The Anti-New Year’s Resolution

I start my day by swimming in the ocean, not a difficult task in the summer months. It’s fair to say my swims are longer when the skies are blue. Every day is different too: the tide, the sky, the waves.

The last few days, the waves have been big, and I’ve avoided the turmoil by diving underneath them. Occasionally, I dive too late or come up too early and end up in the washing machine!

When faced with a wave, you have three options: surf on top (sadly, I am not athletic enough for that), face it head-on and let it do its damndest, or dive under it and come out the other side to a sea of calm.

That got me thinking about how often we take the road that seems straightforward, yet leaves us in a world of turmoil. This is especially true at this time of year, when many of us decide we want to become healthier, fitter and faster.

January health plans often face the wave head-on. We change everything at once: new diet, new exercise routine, new rules, new expectations. It feels decisive. Brave, even. But it’s all too much - the wave is too big.

Diving under the wave looks different. It means choosing one deep, stabilising habit; not ten surface-level ones.

It might be:
🍖 Adding protein to breakfast to support muscle and appetite
🚶 for 30 minutes after dinner
🏋🏾‍♂️ Strength training twice a week
🥦 Eating one extra fibrous plant food each day

These changes don’t look dramatic. But beneath the surface, they reduce blood sugar levels, preserve muscle, improve energy levels and create habits that last beyond January.

This year, instead of trying to conquer the ocean, choose one wave to dive under.
You may be surprised how calm the water is on the other side.

💥 And - Try Zestt Gut+ Lozenges with pre and pro-biotics to support your metabolic health ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Available online now at www.zesttwellness.com