Leckar 2024: Fiber + Fermented Botanicals Recharge the Microbiome!

In the world of health and wellness, where innovation often meets tradition, few have ventured as boldly into the future as Iryna Gavrylova. As the visionary CEO, Founder, and Inventor behind Leckar Botanicals LLC, Iryna is pioneering a new frontier in maternal care—one that revolves around the microscopic yet mighty world of our microbiota. Leckar’s unique approach offers a comprehensive range of products, from food and supplements to cosmetics, all designed to nurture and sustain the trillions of bacteria that play a crucial role in our health. In this Delivery Rank’s interview, we delve into Iryna's journey, the science behind her innovations, and how Leckar is transforming the way we think about our body's ecosystem.

As the CEO of Leckar, you’ve championed the importance of maternal microbiota. What inspired you to focus on the microbiome, particularly in the context of maternal health, and how does Leckar address this crucial aspect of well-being?

First of all, let me explain how we ended up focusing on the maternal microbiota microbiome. In 2015, I was struck by a severe allergy that almost led to anaphylaxis. It was a terrifying experience, especially since I had two young children and a life to live. My career was in finance—I was a top finance manager in large corporations—but I realized that if I didn’t make drastic changes in my life, I would be at constant risk. My microbiome and immune system had collapsed. It became clear to me that autoimmune diseases, including allergies, are rooted in microbiome disorders. That realization marked the beginning of my research.

Being a natural analyst, I started my own private research and discovered that the key to addressing these issues lies in the microbiome. The question then became: what works best for the microbiome? By that time, I had already involved more people in my research, including friends who also suffered from allergies. Together, we started investigating how to restore the microbiome to a healthy state.

We found that botanicals and herbs hold most, if not all, of the answers. So, we began combining microbiome studies with herbal studies, and it became clear that the intersection of these two areas provided the most effective solutions. This marked the beginning of our startup. Along the way, I transformed into an independent researcher and eventually a biotechnologist. We developed a technology for cold pressing and fermenting botanicals, enabling us to extract the remedies needed to address major microbiome disorders.

As we delved deeper, we discovered that the maternal microbiome is the most crucial because it’s the one we are born with. However, over time, due to factors like antibiotics, pollution, and other external influences, parts of this microbiome can be lost. Restoring and maintaining this maternal microbiome became the cornerstone of our work.

I managed to resolve my allergy issues, although the potential for an allergic reaction still exists. Once you've experienced such a problem, it’s not something that disappears completely. However, I now know how to manage my body and support it in a way that prevents 99 out of 100 triggers that would have previously led to a severe reaction. I’ve been through that frightening experience many times, and trust me, I didn’t like it.

So, that's how we, as a team and a company, became experts in the existing maternal microbiome.

• FOOD MUST BE MICROBIOME FRIENDLY

• NOT ALL HERBAL PRODUCTS WERE CREATED EQUAL

• FERMENTED HERBS ARE MICROBIOME FRIENDLY AND DELICIOUS

Leckar offers a diverse range of products, from food and supplements to cosmetics, all designed to support the microbiome. How do you ensure that each product aligns with the needs of the trillions of vital bacteria in our bodies?

According to these studies, there are about 38 trillion bacteria in our bodies, which is an enormous number. These bacteria come in many varieties, and through the studies we've conducted—alongside existing research—we've discovered some fascinating insights.

It turns out that different botanicals and herbs have distinct lists of compounds, and different breeds of bacteria—let's call them "good bugs"—prefer, need, and thrive on specific compounds found in particular plants. Over the course of human evolution, we've not only developed a natural need for these plants but also an instinctive knowledge of which ones are beneficial.

If we allow ourselves to select or try various herbs, we may find that we prefer certain ones out of a group of options. This preference is often our microbiome signaling to us, indicating what it needs. The same principle applies to cravings for sugar, which are often driven by certain types of bacteria in our microbiome that aren't necessarily beneficial to us. These bacteria see sugar as the best, fastest, and most bioavailable source of energy.

When discussing how we know which herbs are beneficial, it's important to note that there are many studies that clearly identify which herbs support specific types of microbiota. For example, the nasal microbiome is inhabited by certain types of bacteria, while the gut microbiome is home to others. By connecting this knowledge scientifically, and through trial and error, we can determine which herbs work best for specific microbiome-related issues.

For instance, if you have a cold with symptoms like a runny nose and sneezing, applying herbs known to support the nasal microbiome can reduce these symptoms, sometimes within an hour, and resolve the issue within a few days. You'll also see long-term results, which is not always the case with simple over-the-counter sprays.

So, you can connect these two pillars—analytical and scientific research—because it's not magic; it's something that can be studied and understood. We've done extensive work in this area, and there's a wealth of knowledge behind it.

You’ve conducted an independent comparative study of five leading biopharmaceutical technologies. What were the most surprising findings, and how do these insights inform the development of Leckar’s products?

Let me share a few words about a study we conducted where we compared five herbal extraction technologies. The main extraction technology everyone is familiar with is the one used to produce essential oils, typically through distillation. Then there's alcohol extraction, glycerine extracts, the infusion method used for herbal tea, and lastly, the fermentation of botanicals—a process we utilize with our patented technology that involves cold pressing and fermenting the herbs.

We compared these five technologies, focusing primarily on antioxidant activity, which was the major goal of our study. The intersection of the microbiome, herbs, and antioxidant activity was key. What we discovered was quite surprising. The technologies and products that were considered to have the highest antioxidant potency—those that were believed to be the most effective at neutralizing free radicals—turned out to be equivalent to antibiotics. Yes, you read that right: they kill your microbiota.

Most people don’t realize this because when we think of antibiotics, we think of drugs like penicillin. But in reality, anything that kills your biota—your live bacteria—is essentially an antibiotic. Antibiotics were initially developed to save humanity from diseases caused by harmful bacteria, and they did their job well. However, today, antibiotics are often overused, indiscriminately killing all biota, not just the bad bacteria they were originally designed to target.

Modern antibiotics are mostly broad-spectrum, meaning they kill all live bacteria without distinguishing between good and bad. This damages your microbiota. So, when it comes to herbal extraction technologies, if a natural remedy kills your microbiota, it's essentially functioning as an antibiotic. We found, for example, that essential oils—despite their high antioxidant activity and reputation as natural remedies—also act as antibiotics. This is a fact that can't be ignored; the laboratory results are clear and unequivocal.

This insight was particularly eye-opening for me: an antibiotic isn’t just what we typically think of as one—it’s anything that kills biota. The study revealed that our current understanding of botanicals is extremely limited. The study explicitly demonstrated that most technologies that effectively eliminate free radicals also eliminate beneficial bacteria, essentially canceling out the benefits.

Fortunately, and this is not an advertisement—feel free to omit this—but our cold-pressed and fermented botanicals, produced with our technology, showed super high potency in antioxidant activity while being very microbiome-friendly. They don't kill the good bacteria, somehow preserving the beneficial effects on the human body and microbiota that other extraction methods, like distillation, often compromise.

Distillation has been around for thousands of years, with the earliest equipment dating back roughly 3,000 years. At the time, there were no other options, but distillation relies on evaporation, meaning it only captures the volatile part of the plant—a very small fraction—rather than the whole plant itself. Human beings, through the course of evolution, were designed to be in synergy with the entire plant, not just a small fraction of it.

I realize this explanation is lengthy, but studies like this are crucial for advancing our understanding and sharing valuable knowledge.

As a one-stop shop for microbiome health, Leckar addresses bacteria in tissues and biofluids. How do you tailor your products to meet the unique needs of these different environments within the body?

As we've already touched on the topic of catering to different microbiomes, it's important to note that different environments support different breeds of bacteria. I may need to repeat myself here because the only fluids that circulate throughout our entire body are blood and lymph. The other fluids are localized. For example, the fluids in your nasal passages are distinct, as are those in your lungs, though the nasal passages and lungs are somewhat connected. Each of these areas can host its own native tribes of bacteria.

Additionally, we have distinct microbiomes in different parts of our bodies. For example, the sexual microbiomes of males and females are different, and the microbiome in your colon differs from the one in your gut. It’s almost like these areas are different countries, each with its own nationality, culture, needs, and identity.

When we understand the specifics of these microbiomes, we can create formulas that cater to their unique needs. It's similar to knowing that German investors may not invest outside Germany unless certain conditions are met. Likewise, understanding what each 'tribe' or breed of bacteria requires allows us to create a preparation or formula that is rich in the nutrients they need to stay strong and healthy and to outnumber the harmful bacteria.

There are certain rules to this process, and while it would be untrue to say we know everything, we do know enough to see positive results in the majority of users who use the formulas we've developed. We are continuously testing new formulations, though we are limited in resources. We would love to do more, but expanding our research would require a much larger team, more clinical trials, and significant resources.

Given the limited resources we have, we're doing our utmost in terms of variety and the number of trials.

As a leader in the microbiome industry, what do you see as the biggest challenges and opportunities for companies like Leckar in educating the public about the importance of microbiome care?

Thank you so much for this question. Education is both our passion and our challenge. We are on a mission because our business began with the goal of saving lives, and it succeeded. Now, it's crucial to spread the word, not as survivors of some tragedy, but as a source of knowledge. In this sense, education is the main chapter of our story.

Of course, when you're running a business, such a statement might sound like a joke. But education truly is the core content of this story at the end of the day. You might find it surprising, but our biggest challenge is not what people typically think—like finding the money to invest in education or overcoming resistance to new ideas, although those are also factors. The major challenge is the actual microbiome.

I've mentioned the problem with sugar before. It's not you who craves sugar—it's the trillions of microorganisms inside you. They practically harass you into getting that cake, that dessert, that fancy beverage. They're like foodies; they want their sugar in a nice, appealing form, and they want the joy hormones that come with it.

The biggest challenge, therefore, is the existing microbiome of the current consumer. Most people’s microbiomes are heavily populated by these bad bacteria, which have been promoted and stimulated by the market. The challenge is not just financial; it’s not something that can be solved by raising investment or hiring the best people. The bacteria outnumber us by trillions in each human body, and when you multiply that by the 8 billion people on the planet, you realize the scale of the problem.

• Fermented herbs work instantly. You may add new tastes and antioxidants to any meal/ look at how it works in the reel - https://www.instagram.com/reel/C19mkh2ICee/

• It is compact and allows full mobility, even as a snack or an addition to a snack!... You can put it in your bag  in the shorts -  https://www.youtube.com/shorts/rNVq8FP9ogY

• Seasons or Topics are essential. Pumpkin pie for Halloween or Christmas spices for Thanksgiving Day. Liquid fermented ginger for increased immunity in the beginning of fall, for instance. Fancy French mix for the French fashion week in Paris... etc, etc, etc. 

• Why is it a great catch for ethical and dedicated foodies? -  they usually hunt for the new and delicious stuff. Fermented botanicals are a potent source of new types of products with intensive bright taste, memorable aftertaste and overall impression. Look at the reaction of a girl to ginger in the milk drink! - https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6txB8go1nS/

• You can see a brief introduction brochure of the foodie collection "Tastes of the World" - https://docsend.com/view/ixqaj5zpa4fnq4fz

• Ginger set casual private video presentation to a blogger - might be an interesting angle to a spice that most foodies and food developers absolutely love. - https://studio.youtube.com/video/zkf6pfSC3Cg/edit

To read more about Leckar, please visit https://leckar.online/