Wellmune

It’s Monday morning; the alarm clock goes off two hours early and you skip breakfast to get into work a little early. That’s because today you make a high stakes business presentation that you rehearsed all weekend. As you fight rush hour traffic, you notice your throat feels sore. Why is it that you always seem to get sick when something important is going on?

Nearly everything we do can have an impact on our immune system: from getting up earlier than usual to skipping breakfast or working overtime on a project.

1. Stress

Stress comes at us from all directions – work, family, even our social lives. Your body responds by releasing cortisol and adrenaline, two stress hormones that raise blood pressure, cholesterol levels and wreck havoc on your immune system. You add to your stress by skipping meals, not getting a full night of sleep and avoiding exercise.

If you are constantly on the run, you might benefit from adding Wellmune WGP to your daily routine. A study of 122 healthy volunteers with stressful lifestyles found that 58 percent of them experienced fewer upper respiratory tract infection symptoms and improved psychological well-being after taking Wellmune WGP daily for 12 weeks.

2. Too much fast food

If most of your meals come in a bag, you might be needing a few more sick days. A balanced diet, rich in fruits and vegetables, provides antioxidants needed to neutralize free radicals. That’s important because free radicals break down cells in your body, leaving you vulnerable to viruses and bacteria. When you feel sickness coming on, you can boost immunity with foods such as yogurt, green tea, oatmeal, broccoli, garlic, oysters, red bell peppers and spices such as turmeric, oregano and ginger.

3. And too few ZZZs

When you get less than six or seven hours of sleep each night, your risk of getting sick increases. During sleep your body produces more protein. These protein molecules allow cells to repair damage caused by stress and other harmful exposures.

4. The exercise “Catch 22”

We all need exercise, but you should be aware how the volume of exercise you do impacts your immune system.

Moderate, consistent exercise increases the production of macrophages, the cells that attack bacteria. Research conducted at Appalachian State University found that those who walked at 70-75 percent of their aerobic capacity for 40 minutes each day, had half as many sick days due to colds or sore throats as others who didn’t exercise.

But, as many marathoners and other athletes have discovered, more than 90 minutes of intense endurance exercise can actually make you more susceptible to illness for up to 24 hours. However, Dr. Brian McFarlin, an associate professor at the University of Houston, found that Wellmune WGP before exercise can improve immune response.

McFarlin tested 60 male and female athletes. Each took either a placebo or Wellmune WGP for 10 days. The athletes then rode an exercise bike in a 100-degree heat chamber, set at 45 percent humidity. Blood samples were taken before and after the exercise. They repeated the experiment 10 days later, but switched who received the supplement. In both tests, the athletes who took Wellmune before working out had stronger immune systems after exercising.

While we can’t control the all the stresses that life throws at us, but by being more aware of the impact of exercise, better dietary management and supplementation, we can help our immune systems stay healthier.

Did you know that holiday festivities, culminating with that traditional New Year’s Eve bash, could be lowering your immune system? That might be why so many people catch colds right after the holidays. Here are a few steps to help keep your immune system healthy as the season of parties, little sleep and overindulgence gives way to the season brimming with health-related resolutions.

1. Fats and germs don’t mix. If you’re like most people, the fatty foods you’ve been indulging in since Thanksgiving may lead to a case of the sniffles. Being in closed-in spaces this time of year puts us in contact with more germs. Our bodies go into overdrive if they’re busy busting fat and diverted from busting germs.

Don’t Tip Your Hat to Fat

• Start each day with a nutritious breakfast. If your choices are limited, eat half of the oversized muffin and opt for a skim versus full-fat latte.

• After a night of restful repair, give your body the fuel it needs to run like a well-tuned machine.

• Choose an indulgence at each meal – not all of them – and stop before you feel full. That means mashed potatoes or pecan pie.

• Don’t arrive at the party hungry or skip meals and “bank” calories earlier in the day. A high-fiber snack like an apple or fresh veggies before the festivities begin will help you focus on people first, then food.

2. Champagne at midnight … coughing a week later?  This time of year, most of us are go, go, GO!  Throw travel germs in the mix and it’s a recipe for a cold. Champagne at midnight and alcoholic beverages can interfere with sleep. Coffee or soda in the afternoon may also. Don’t overlook the beverage choices you make or you’ll be up all night thinking of them! Resume your normal nighttime habits on New Year’s Day to get your body back to getting the restful sleep it needs to recover and restore stamina for a healthy immune system.

Drink Up These Tips

• Everything in moderation. More alcohol could result in less refreshing sleep.

• Know your body and how it will react to coffee and cola. For some, it’s hands off after lunchtime to help ensure restful sleep at night.

• Try another way to get a second wind such a quick shower or a brisk walk. Even a short nap is a great pick-me-up.

• Stay hydrated with water before you’re thirsty. It’s a healthy choice and will also help you feel full.

Eating right and making smart beverage choices– there’s no better toast to your immune system and healthy habits like these are resolutions worth keeping!

For many people, stress is as much a part of the holiday season as mistletoe and holly, making the “most wonderful time of the year,” a time when it can be tough to stick to the everyday health and wellness routines that help you enjoy your busy life. Part of celebrating the season is to throw a bit of caution to the wind and enjoy favorite holiday foods and beverages. Yet despite attempts to fit it all in, all too often what’s sacrificed are trips to the gym or yoga class, or getting the right amount of sleep.

It can make the season of being “always on” leaving some feeling a little “off.”

The good news is that maintaining a healthy innate immune system never needs to take a holiday and can be part of your daily routine 24/7/365.  The innate immune system is the first line of defense in the daily battle to stay well. Unlike the dizzying array of other options on the drug store shelf, Wellmune WGP^® has a sleigh full of clinically proven and tested sound science behind it. When taken daily at the recommended level, Wellmune WGP helps mobilize billions of innate immune cells that are part of the body’s natural defenses. It helps these cells do their job effectively, yet without over stimulating the immune system, which can be harmful to long-term health.

Whether dashing through the snow to burn off those extra holiday pounds, racing to the mall for last-minute presents, or rushing from party after merry party, Wellmune WGP can help you maintain energy, vitality and mental clarity in the face of all of the physical and lifestyle stressors that the season can throw your way.

Keep in mind that staying healthy during the holidays shouldn’t feel like another chore. Focus on steps you can take today to keep healthy through the holidays and for a lifetime.

• Wash hands or use hand sanitizer frequently
• Get plenty of sleep
• Stay hydrated
• Don’t drink and drive
• Fasten seatbelts
• Get a flu shot if you haven’t already
• Focus on the people who matter most
• Be active
• Take time out for yourself

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is making it easy to hit the high notes for health over the holidays. For some important reminders, just sing or hum along to the familiar tune of the 12 Days of Christmas: http://www.cdc.gov/family/holiday/12waysSong.htm.

What did you do for fun last night? What are your weekend plans? Did you know that your social life can have a direct impact on your immune system?

Here are five ways that you and your friends could be setting yourselves up for illness.

1. Watching too much TV. If your favorite source of entertainment is watching TV or going to movies, you need to consider using your muscles more often.  There is mounting evidence that moderate, consistent exercise helps protect us from everything from the common cold to more serious, chronic diseases. How about riding bicycles to the cineplex?
2. Eating out too often. You may enjoy dining out with friends, but if you’ve got the expanded waistline to show for it you might want to find lower calorie pastimes. Those extra pounds put you at risk for diabetes, heart disease and cancer, partly because excess fat cells might be causing your body to produce fewer antibodies. Why not collaborate on a low-fat, low-calorie homemade meal instead? You may discover cooking with your friends is a lot of fun.
3. Feeling socially isolated. It doesn’t matter if you have just one friend or many. What’s important is how connected you feel to others in your life. Studies indicate that having strong relationships improves your mental as well as your physical health. Make time for good conversations without a lot of distractions, explore volunteer opportunities, and turn off your electronic devices when you’re together with friends.
4. Being pulled in too many directions. If your time is so over-committed that you’re running from one activity to another, it may be time to simplify your life. Numerous studies have linked stress with lower immune function. Try to prioritize your activities, and find ways to either delegate obligations or eliminate them entirely so that you’re spending most of each day doing the things that are most important to you.
5. Eating too much sugar. Researchers say that sugar suppresses immune system cells. Something to consider if you and your friends like to hit the yogurt shop regularly. Challenge your friends to find creative ways to eliminate sugar from your lives. Support each other until the temptations subside. Remember: you don’t need sugar to live a healthy, well-rounded life. Besides, enjoying just a little bit of sugar now and then will make the treat seem that much sweeter.

Ladies, here’s some good news if you lead a moderately or highly stressed lifestyle, and you’ve had enough of feeling sick and tired all the time. You may be able to reduce some of those miserable cold and flu symptoms such as sore throats and coughs, while also boosting your mood and energy level.

We all know that the psychological stress associated with everyday life can lower your immune system. It can also make you feel emotionally tired and less peppy. A study conducted by Dr. Shawn Talbott at SupplementWatch and presented to the American College of Nutrition involved 77 healthy women aged 38  + 12 years who were pre-screened for moderate levels of psychological stress. The women were given either a placebo or 250 mg. of Wellmune WGP for 12 weeks.

Whereas 29 percent of the control group reported having symptoms of an upper respiratory tract infection (sore throat, stuffy or runny nose, and cough), only 10 percent of the Wellmune group reported similar symptoms.

The researchers also used psychological surveys to assess the women’s mental and physical levels, and found that vigor  improved in 41 percent of women taking Wellmune WGP (compared to 7 percent in the control group). Overall wellbeing, as measured by Global Mood State, improved 29 percent in women taking Wellmune compared to 16 percent in the placebo group.

“These are important findings for the millions of ‘stressed’ women around the world,” said Dr. Talbott.  “This study shows that while daily stressors can ‘wear down’ immune system function, supplementing with Wellmune WGP can bolster those natural defenses and help stressed women feel and perform at their best.”

EAGAN, MN — September 3, 2011 — Biothera, the manufacturer of Wellmune WGP,  will sponsor a webinar about the link between stress and numerous health problems, including suppression of the immune system, at 1:00 pm U.S. central standard time on Wednesday, September 14. The webinar will be hosted on FoodNavigator-USA.com and NutraIngredients-USA.com.  Register here.

The webinar is entitled, “Closing the Window on Stress-Related Immune Suppression,” and features distinguished panelists in the fields of natural medicine, exercise physiology and immunology and immune health ingredient research will discuss their research and what it may mean to manufacturers of foods, beverages and supplements.

Surveys show that 75% of Americans today say they are “stressed out” and that stress is a major factor in workplace absenteeism and lost productivity. “Our industry has a tremendous opportunity to develop products that can deliver real immune health benefits to consumers so they can better cope with the daily stresses of their lives,” said Richard Mueller, president of Biothera’s Healthcare Group.

The webinar panel will include three industry experts:

Michael T. Murray, N.D.
Chairman, Dr. Murray Natural Living, Inc.

Brian McFarlin, Ph.D., FACSM
Associate Professor of Exercise Physiology, Nutrition and Immunology
Department of Health and Human Performance
University of Houston

Don Cox, Ph.D. 
Senior Vice President, Research & Development
Biothera, the immune health company

For more information, contact:
David Walsh
Vice President, Communication
Biothera
651-256-4606
dwalsh@biothera.com

EAGAN, MN — December 13, 2010 — Wellmune WGP®, a natural food and supplement ingredient that activates the body’s immune defenses, significantly reduced the duration of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) symptoms in a healthy population of medical students during the peak of the cold-flu season. The research was presented last week at a British Society for Immunology conference in Liverpool, UK.

During the 90-day study involving 100 fourth-year medical students of the Southampton University Medical School, there were 24 medically confirmed URTI cases equally divided between the study groups. Participants taking Wellmune WGP daily reported 43 fewer days of symptoms than their classmates who received a placebo. [...]

Nutrition Industry Executive, March 2009

For marketers seeking to generate year-round sales, the challenge is to create product claims that resonate with consumers beyond cold and flu season.  One marketing strategy that is rich with opportunities is stress. It is widely known that stress weakens the immune system, rendering individuals more susceptible to health challenges.  And virtually every consumer can relate to stress and its impact on their lives.

Prepared Foods, April 2008

Biothera’s clinical research demonstrates the ability of Wellmune WGP to protect against the harmful effects of stress, which may weaken the immune system and render individuals susceptible to health challenges.  Biothera recently conducted two clinical studies involving marathon runners and people with high lifestyle stress.  In both studies, Wellmune WGP reduced the incidence of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) symptoms and increased psychological well being.

Nutritional Outlook, February 2008

Wellmune WGP is named one of the top eight ingredients to watch in 2008.  The immune health ingredient is backed by clinical research showing that Wellmune provides immune system support during periods of high stress.  There is ample research demonstrating that physical and psychological stress can weaken the body’s immune defenses.