Extracted from:
http://top10malaysia.com/home/index.php/special-features/extra-excel-m-sdn-bhd
Top 10 of Malaysia speaks to Dr Jau-Fei Chen, founder of Extra EXCEL (M) Sdn Bhd on her extensive research in preventive healthcare
Many of us may not have heard about Nutritional Immunology, but E.Excel International aims to create more awareness on this area of medical science that advocates a nutritious diet to strengthen the immune system and prevent diseases.
“Nutritional Immunology is a science that studies how proper nutrition, through plant-based, whole-foods diet, enhances the human immune system and its related functions,” says Dr Jau-Fei Chen, founder of E.Excel International, a leading manufacturer and distributor of plant food products in the world.
“The healthcare industry today is more ‘reactive’ where people usually visit a doctor only when they are ill. Nutritional Immunology is more pre-emptive as it emphasizes prevention over cure,” says Dr Chen.
“Nutritional Immunology research on the human immune system and plant foods shows that the immune system specifically requires three types of disease-fighting nutrients to function properly – antioxidants, phytochemicals and polysaccharides,” explains Dr Chen.
According to her, these disease-fighting nutrients are only available in plant foods and cannot be produced in a lab. Therefore it is best to feed the body with a variety of nutrients by having a balanced and healthy diet.
She adds, “When our body is deprived of essential nutrients, our immune system weakens and loses its ability to ward off the potential causes of poor health. Because most health problems are present in our bodies long before they exhibit any symptom, nothing can take the place of a healthy immune system.
“Insufficient knowledge, unhealthy living habits and an imbalanced diet can contribute to suppressed immune functions. At peak performance, however, our immune system – along with stress reduction, adequate sleep and moderate exercise - can overcome constant attacks from environmental pollutants and toxins, avoiding many
illnesses.”
At the tender age of 15, Dr Jau-Fei Chen was accepted into Brigham Young University in the US where she was introduced to Immunology and Microbiology. This marked the beginning of Dr Chen’s career in cancer research that spanned 10 years. During that time Dr Chen met a terminally ill cancer patient who was using a voice recorder to leave messages for her young kids for events like their graduation and wedding ceremony since she wouldn’t be around for long.
“That moving encounter made me question whether I was on the right track in my research work because the development of cancer treatment drugs takes years to complete,” says Dr Chen.
“We needed a drug that could end the pain and misery of cancer patients, and we needed it fast. Moreover these drugs often have toxic side effects,” she adds. It was then that she decided to shift her focus to cancer prevention instead, which is a more proactive way to address poor health issues.
To realize her goal of advocating preventive healthcare, Dr Chen established E.Excel International in 1987. Its goal was to make breakthroughs in better healthcare through research on plant foods and the advancement of Nutritional Immunology. However E.Excel International’s first few years in operations were not a bed of roses as Nutritional Immunology was met with skepticism when it was first introduced in 1987. However, through efforts by E.Excel International, today Nutritional Immunology is an internationally recognized science. To support the growth of Nutritional Immunology, Dr Chen established the Jau-Fei Chen Scholarship and Research Endowment in 1997 that offers scholarships to Immunology students.
Because of her contributions as scientist and entrepreneur in the field of Nutritional Immunology, Dr Chen has received numerous awards, the most memorable of which was in 1997 when she was named one of the Ten Outstanding Young Americans by the US Junior Chamber of Commerce. She was the first person of Chinese descent to win this award of which past recipients include Theodore Roosevelt, John F Kennedy, Gerald Ford, Bill Clinton and Henry Ford.
Today, E.Excel International continues to make a positive difference in people’s health and life. Its name, “E.Excel” which stands for “Extra Excel” is a reflection of what the company stands for - to continuously seek excellence and perfection in all it does. With this as a benchmark, all of E.Excel International’s products comply with international quality standards and therefore only the finest plant food products carry the E.Excel name. Through its manufacturing facilities in Shanghai, Singapore and the United States, E.Excel International’s products are available in more than 10 countries across Asia, Europe and the United States. The company aims to continue expanding aggressively in Asia.
“Mother Teresa once said that we cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love. Sharing the knowledge of Nutritional Immunology with the world is my small way of making a difference in people’s lives so that they can enjoy healthier, longer lives. My dream of a disease-free world drives me to champion good health for all,” says Dr Chen.
Best Regards,
Karen Lim
9843-4599
