Company Vision – Page 15

Bergamot Against Cholesterol

3.3.2019

CALABRIAN BERGAMOT AS MEDICINE

The bergamot is nowadays included in the international anti-cholesterol guidelines. The green gold of Calabria can be used in the treatment of patients intolerant to statins or with metabolic syndrome (“statins”, also known as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, are a class of lipid-lowering medications. They reduce cardiovascular disease and mortality in those who are at high risk of cardiovascular disease).

Bergamot enters fully among the list of lipid-lowering nutraceuticals, both in national and international guidelines. Among the different factors, its reduction of total cholesterol and LDL-c (low density lipoprotein cholesterol) levels is an important help for reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, the main cause of worldwide death and disability in developed countries.

An increase of cholesterol causes many diseases and is a general health problem, with a great economic impact: the expenditure of the Italian National Health Service for hypocholesterolemic therapies amounts to over a billion a year, while it reaches 15 billion euro for the management of cardiovascular diseases.

Based on statistics of Italian Institute ISTAT, population aging is expected to increase the likelihood of their incidence and prevalence in the near future; just think that the increase in chronic patients has led Italian healthcare spending to grow faster than the national health fund.

DRINKING JUICE AS PREVENTION

Inside this scenario, the nutritional supplement of Bergamot juice emerges as an excellent candidate to be included in a strategic framework of primary prevention, combining bergamot juice consumption with tools such as proper nutrition and sporting activity, inside the well known paradigm shift of prevention of diseases, instead of only a posteriori medical treatments.

The juice offers a wide spectrum beneficial for patients because it guarantees the maintenance of a healthy lifestyle and health conditions that prevent the establishment of chronic invalidating events.

As nutraceutical the bergamot is now included in the cardiometabolic area among the lipid-lowering factors, thanks to the contribution and work of a large panel of experts. In a recent scientific article, titled “Lipid lowering nutraceuticals in clinical practice: position paper from an international lipid expert panel” there are clinical studies on bergamot, which highlights its lipid-lowering effects in reducing the levels of sdLDL (cholesterol in small and dense lipoproteins) and TG (The Triglyceride) with a significant increase in HDL-c levels (the so-called good cholesterol).

Some other studies have also been interested in evaluating the administration of bergamot derivatives in association with statins; the positive results showed significant efficacy in terms of reduction of LDL and TG levels. The absence of side effects has also promoted the bergamot as a valid substitute in those conditions of intolerance to statins, or in association with the latter to reach the therapeutic target, avoiding the typical side effects such as myalgia .

CONCLUSIONS

Therefore it is suggested the possibility of resorting to bergamot in the treatment of hypercholesterolemic and / or hypertriglycemic patients, intolerant to statins or with metabolic syndrome.

Drink this magnificent juice and Best wishes!

China likes Calabrian Hot Chili Pepper

13.02.2019

Lin Bin, Minister for Economic Development and Commerce, during the visit of a delegation of the People’s Republic of China, met many commercial operators in Calabria, in November 2018, to explore potential of Calabrian Food & Beverage.

CHINESE TOURISM IN CALABRIA

Tourist potential was also explored.
While the Commercial Calabrian companies were preparing for their debut on the Chinese market, some agreements were signed with the tour operators, and the Chinese government issued a “Welcome Chinese Destination certification” for Calabria, which made the region the first in Italy adapted to the standards of Chinese tourism.
Not only that, the new Chinese tourists begin arrive in 2019: 5,000 arrivals are calculated until the middle of 2019, according to Zhang Chuniel, general manager of Cits, China International Travel Service, which launched an impressive communication campaign in Beijing.

CHINESE PERSPECTIVE TOWARD FOOD & BEVERAGE

Along with tourism, the main attractor is indeed the agri-food sector. This is because the typical products of the region conquer the palate of the Chinese market that awaits already in the coming months, and only to start with, oil and wine made in Calabria.

“There are big spaces and we are ready to import the typical products of the region to satisfy new niches. This is why we asked the Calabrian companies to participate in the next China international fair in Shanghai” said Lin Bin.

CHINA LIKES CALABRIAN HOT CHILI PEPPER

The Hot Chili Pepper (so called “Diavolillo”) is the element that unites the two cultures. To the point that the Chinese giant Dezhuang, a worldwide producer, is a regular guest of the Diamante hot pepper festival, and has signed commercial agreements with the Calabrian “Diavolillo” producers.

Further, in the province of Guinzhou an international edition of the festival has been recently organized as part of the World Chilli Alliance. A world summit will follow for a sustainable hot chili pepper supply chain.

INFRASTRUCTURES FOR NEXT ALLIANCES

The interest in the Special Economic Zone of the port of Gioia Tauro will be also reignited, after the Chinese visit of November 2018: 2,500 hectares of industrial areas, where it is possible to invest with incentives and incentives to companies.

Further, Lamezia airport, which seemed definitely cut off from the New Silk Road and from the commercial corridors (“One Belt, One Road”) for the expansion of China’s routes to Europe through the development of transport and logistics infrastructures, – instead returns to be evaluated as a possible destination.

Finally, Lin Bin visited the transhipment container terminal of Gioia Tauro and the retroport to consider potentiality of Chinese investments.

A POSITIVE BALANCE

New business opportunities are now assessed and, from both parties, between universities and business accelerators are signed protocols for development and innovation.

Particularly, the collaboration between the Mediterranean University of Reggio Calabria with Shanghai and Nanjing continues to encourage the entry of innovative companies, startups and Calabrian researchers into the Asian market.

Above all, the visit of Chinese delegation of November 2018 confirmed that China likes Calabrian territory and its business opportunities!