Scot helps create new 'ice cream' for people receiving chemo
The nutritional frozen product was developed after Alan Mackenzie's wife died from cancer
A Scottish entrepreneur whose wife died of cancer has co-developed a unique ice cream like product, which aims to help those receiving chemotherapy.
Along with a doctor and a chef, Alan Mackenzie has helped create Nutri-Ice Cream in memory of his wife Alison who passed away in 2016.
Alan was forced to watch Alison struggle with fortified shakes while she received treatment.
The Wick man has co-launched the product, which is available to anyone needing more nutrition in their diet.
After it was introduced to patients in private hospitals last year, the 'ice cream' is now available to buy online.
Alan says developing Nutri Ice-Cream has been a "good use of a really sad experience."
"I think she would be pleased"
Before she died, Alison Mackenzie experienced great difficulty in taking nutrition boosting drinks due to the taste, after the cancer spread to her stomach.
This led to her being unable to digest food properly.
Her doctor Jon Krell explained to Alan how there was no other alternative and 80% of his patients didn't consume the drink.
Following Alison's death Dr Krell persuaded Alan, who previously ran an organic beauty brand, to help set up My Doctor's Recipe in her memory.
According to their website, the team aim to "make a range of delicious products made with real, natural ingredients and enriched with the vitamins and minerals needed to aid recovery and promote overall wellness."
100\ml pots of Nutri-Ice Cream are now on sale, with three a day needed to get the correct amount of protein, minerals and vitamins.
Alan explained how he thinks Alison would feel about his efforts.
He said: "I think she would be pleased.
"We've done trials in London hospitals and had really good results.
"80% of people who have had it, love it and want it again so I think we've succeeded there.
"It's for anybody who needs nutrition.
"It could be for someone at home who needs a good diet, for older people or for young people recovering from an illness.
"It has been a really long journey, and it is a tribute to Alison that we've come this far."
What does Nutri-Ice Cream taste like?
Moving onto the question most people are probably wondering, what does it taste like?
Alan explained: "A more solid ice cream.
"We have good flavours, banana, raspberry, vanilla, chocolate and coffee.
"These are all natural additives, we haven't put in any obscure chemicals.
"Our product looks like ice cream, but it's not exactly like ice cream.
"It's not full of stablisers or anything obscure you often get in a traditional ice cream that you'd buy in a supermarket.
"We say it's an ice cream, but it's really a nutritional frozen product."
Alan also outlined how several other products are also in the works.
He added: "Soups and coffees, from an Inverness coffee manufacturer, are launching shortly.
"There are big opportunities and I would just like to think we can make a difference for people who are going through difficult times to get good nutrition.
"It was a good use of a really sad experience."