Science that reflects nature's wisdom

The ION* product suite is founded on the principle of letting the intelligence of nature lead the way. Just as importantly, science is a process we hold sacred. Astute observation allows us the opportunity to learn the intricacies of nature. We rely on rigorous testing with evidence gathered from the natural world to understand how we are interconnected. While nature holds the answers, it is inherent upon us to shed light on her wisdom.

  • How ION*(previously ION*Biome) works

    The science behind ION* lies in the body's inherent and constant communication between human cells and the microbiome. ION* sparks this communication in the gut microbiome, which is integral to strengthening the cellular integrity of your body's barriers in the gut. Keeping your cells connected keeps these barriers intact, which sets the stage (or "terrain" as we like to call it) for seamless interaction between you and your microbiome.
    • Connection

      At ION*, we're all about connection – starting with the very foundation of our science: tight junction integrity. Tight junctions are the seals between your cells which help to create defensive barriers at the gut, skin, and sinuses. They act intelligently to keep toxins and foreign particles out of the blood stream while also allowing nutrients to enter. These seals are protected by the carbon and mineral metabolites of bacterial digestion.

      Unfortunately, tight junction barriers can be degraded with exposure to gluten, glyphosate (the main chemical in commercial herbicides like Roundup), and other environmental insults. ION* has been scientifically shown to promote the strengthening of this barrier through redox signaling, even in the face of those environmental insults.

      ION Gut and Digestive Health Support Diagram

    • Communication

      Redox signalling is perhaps the most complex aspect of our science. And yet, at its core, it's simply how your cells communicate.

      Redox signalling is a fundamental network, a fluency of electrons, moving in lightning-fast patterns through the cell. Mitochondria (organelles within the cell) generate redox signals as they create electrical power to fuel biology. Cells monitor these signals as sets of instructions.

      Reactive oxygen species (or ROS) are also a fundamental part of the process. Natural by-products of cellular metabolism, ROS function in two ways – by promoting the signalling that maintains physiological functions and by causing oxidative stress.

      A good balance is ultimately the goal. This is why ION* is unlike any other gut health product; it fosters natural communication inherent within your unique system, helping to promote balance.

    • Our innovative spark

      Terrahydrite®, the innovative blend utilized across our entire ION* line, is a signal, not a nutrient. Without actively doing or adding anything to the body, the presence of ION* amplifies the body's natural communication networks to selectively induce appropriate modulation of ROS depending on the condition of the cell. This means it helps to reduce ROS in healthy cells (which indicates greater efficiency in energy production), and increases ROS in cells which need immune intervention or repair.

      We call this the intelligence of nature, because rather than forcing response at the cellular level, the signalling molecules in ION* amplify the cells' own communication pathways, resulting in appropriate adaptation to the intracellular and extracellular environment.

      But, how?

      Well, the ancient soil from which ION* is derived contains the same redox signalling molecules that are naturally produced by your own bacteria. These bacterial metabolites reinforce the communication network that already exists within you.

      By supporting a beneficial shift in bacterial composition, ION* supports the body's natural drive to cultivate the types of microbes that reinforce your cellular integrity... and by reinforcing cellular integrity, the terrain upon which your gut microbiome resides can strengthen itself, further promoting its ability to diversify and thrive. Talk about symbiosis.

ION Gut and Digestive Health Supplement Bottle Science
  • Core benefits of a healthy gut

    • ION Gut and Digestive Health Supplement Bottle Bundle Science
      Toxin protection

      Your body's barriers know what to let in (nutrients) and what to ward off (toxins). But the barriers must be strong. ION* has been shown to spark the body’s integral communication networks, which foster tight junction integrity. Strong tight junctions strengthen your natural barriers at a cellular level, helping to promote this intelligent defence system at a foundational level.

    • ION Purified Water Icon
      Immune function

      Your immune system's function is to identify and eradicate pathogens, and that process begins at your body's barriers to the outside world. Research indicates that 70% or more of the body’s pathogen-fighting white blood cells reside in the gut. By sparking the body's natural ability to keep your barriers strong, pathogens are obstructed before your immune system is exposed to their damaging effects.

    • ION Terrahydrite Icon
      Microbiome support

      Just like you, your microbiome needs a healthy, hospitable environment to thrive. Think of your skin, gut lining, and nasal passages as terrains – upon which the health of your microbiome depends. This is where we come in. By supporting the terrain (cellular integrity), ION* facilitates the body to create microbiome health at its literal foundation.

    • ION Amino Acid Icon
      Cellular hydration

      Healthy membranes (skin, gut, sinuses) facilitate movement of minerals and nutrients across cell membranes, also pulling in water. By improving cellular integrity and reinforcing those membranes, the body can better regulate water absorption.

      Stronger tight junctions = better nutrient absorption and hydration.

    • Ion gut support collagen production icon
      Collagen production

      Collagen is most associated with improving elasticity, supporting hydration, and reducing signs of aging in the skin. However, the benefits of healthy collagen formation go far deeper, helping with everything from muscle strength to joint pain to heart health. ION* has been scientifically shown to support lysine production – one of the fundamental precursors of collagen formation.

  • Our science

    Want to dig deeper? Our studies can provide even more insight.
    • Blood-brain barrier response

      Explores the connection between the microbiome and the gut and blood-brain barrier systems, as well as the improved effect that ION* has on the blood-brain barrier.

    • Glyphosate protection

      Establishes the capacity of ION* to block glyphosate-mediated injury in small intestinal and colon epithelial membranes.

    • Gluten impact

      Reveals that the addition of ION* stabilizes tight junction integrity even in the face of gluten exposure.

  • Our Clinical Studies

    Beyond tried and true, you deserve tested. That’s why in addition to our peer-reviewed studies, we've conducted two foundational double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials that demonstrate the ability of ION* Intelligence of Nature to promote innate health in two important ways: lysine production and immune function.
    • Our Lysine Trial

      This double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial shows ION* Gut Support’s (formerly ION* Biome and Restore Gut Health) ability to promote microbiome production of lysine, by which it is expected to play an important role in protein production, epigenetic regulation, collagen production, immune system regulation, and a variety of cell processes.

      Lysine is an essential amino acid that cannot be produced by human cells, but instead must be obtained through nutritional availability. It is produced by various bacteria, fungi, and plants through unique enzyme pathways and serves as a building block to many proteins in the human system. These proteins help produce hormones, immune cells, and enzymes. Further, lysine is central to the chemical reactions involved in the formulation of collagen.

    • Our Immune Trial

      This double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial validates the marked effect that ION* Gut Support has on reducing zonulin, IL-6 (an inflammatory marker), and glyphosate. Specifically, ION* Gut Support reduced zonulin by 12%, IL-6 by 17%, and glyphosate levels in the urine of adult humans by 23% over a two-week course without change in diet or exercise behavior.

      Reduced zonulin could be in part due to the upregulation of the enzyme DPP4 by intestinal epithelial cells which would prevent the production of, and accelerate the removal of, zonulin in the pericellular space.

      Reduced glyphosate levels are likely the result of multiple biologic pathways, including strengthened tight junction integrity, which would improve the regulatory capacity of the barrier system, keeping synthetic and naturally occurring toxins out of the immune and vascular systems.

      Reduced IL-6, an inflammatory marker, could reflect a decreased antigen presentation to the innate immune system as a result of diminished levels of glyphosate and reduced intestinal permeability as reflected by the drop in urine zonulin in the same group of individuals.