Wellmune

Our team is preparing to travel to Vitafoods Europe in Geneva, Switzerland, next week. The timing couldn’t be better given the breaking news that Wellmune WGP is approved as a novel food in the EU, opening the door for broadscale incorporation of Wellmune in food and beverage products.

One year ago, the European Food Safety Authority issued a positive scientific opinion on Wellmune as a novel food.

We have two European distributors. Immetec is our primary distributor with the exception of Italy where our distributor is DKSH. According to Jan Oddvar Johansen, Immitec chairman, “Wellmune WGP is finally ‘ready to go’ in the European Union. The food and beverage industry has an unprecedented chance to capitalize on the commercial potential of introducing Wellmune to a market of savvy, increasingly health conscious consumers.”

He added, “The fact that Wellmune WGP will finally be available in Europe should transform the way in which governments, business and consumers approach preventative health. Make no mistake, this breakthrough could dwarf the impact that Omega 3 had several years ago.”

If you’re attending Vitafoods, be sure to visit Immitec at stand 1239 for more information. Several Wellmune experts from Biothera will be attending as well and we’re eagerly awaiting the NBT 2012 awards ceremony, as Wellmune is a named a finalist in the R&D category!

Elaine Watson of Nutraingredients-USA.com caught up with Rich Mueller, Biothera healthcare group president, to discuss the challenges manufacturers face to support immune health claims. Mueller noted that using vitamins and minerals is not enough and that it takes ingredients based on numerous clinical studies demonstrating the direct correlation between a specific ingredient strain and the immune health benefit. The story also included mention of Praeventia Cookies with Wellmune WGP from Biothera now available at 500 Walmart stores.  Biothera” ‘Using vitamins and minerals alone to support immune claims is not enough’

EAGAN, MN – April 11, 2012 – Shoppers at 500 Walmart stores in 43 states nationwide can now take a bite-size approach to healthier snacking with the introduction of nutritious Praeventia cookies, made with Wellmune WGP^® and other specially selected ingredients.

Wellmune WGP is clinically proven to safely prime the immune system to keep the body healthy. Numerous peer-reviewed studies demonstrate that Wellmune WGP mobilizes billions of innate immune cells that are part of the body’s natural defenses without over stimulating the immune system.

Praeventia cookies are also loaded with polyphenols (antioxidants), 16 percent of recommended daily dietary fiber and whole grain. Along with Wellmune WGP to support immune health, the cookies also contain prebiotic inulin fiber to support digestive health. A product of Groupe Biscuits Leclerc Ltd., Praeventia cookies contain no trans fats and are low in saturated fats and sugar.

“We believe the addition of Praeventia cookies aligns with Walmart’s overall commitment to offering nutritious food choices to consumers,” said Frédéric Langlois, vice president of R&D at Groupe Biscuits Leclerc. “The carefully chosen ingredients make Praeventia cookies a great option for customers who want their food dollar to support an overall healthier lifestyle.”

“We are thrilled that the world’s largest retailer will now carry Praeventia cookies with Wellmune WGP,” said Rich Mueller, president and chief executive officer, Biothera. “Praeventia cookies are a great example of innovations in functional foods that offer consumers foods that are healthier yet don’t compromise convenience or taste.”

There are two varieties: Ginger and Chocolate Chip with 70% cocoa and cranberry. They are conveniently packaged in seven single-serve pouches per box. Each serving has about 150 calories.

The Praeventia ginger cookies contain: Wellmune WGP, a natural ingredient derived from a yeast β-glucan for a healthier immune system; ginger, also known for its polyphenol (antioxidant) content and the whole oat, a whole grain, contributes daily dietary fiber. The Chocolate Chip with 70% cocoa and cranberry also includes polyphenols.

About Groupe Biscuits Leclerc

Founded in 1905 by François Leclerc, Groupe Biscuits Leclerc has grown tremendously in the last 15 years and boasts five ultramodern plants and more than 570 employees. The family-run company is headquartered in François Leclerc Industrial Park in the Quebec City suburb of Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures.

Leclerc specializes in manufacturing cookies, snack bars, crackers, and breakfast cereals, and exports to more than 20 countries. With its product lines of healthy, nutritious foods, it is known as an innovative company attuned to the tastes and needs of informed customers who care about the food they eat and like to treat themselves to life’s pleasures.  For more information about Praeventia, visit http://www.praeventia.ca/en/index.php.

About Wellmune WGP

Wellmune WGP is a natural carbohydrate that is clinically proven to prime key immune cells that keep the body healthy. This unique food, beverage and supplement ingredient is Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) under U.S. FDA regulations. It is also patented, Kosher, Halal, non-allergenic and GMO-free. The ingredient is a recipient of an IFT Innovation Award and a Frost & Sullivan Excellence in Research Award. Wellmune WGP is a product of Biothera, a U.S. biotechnology company dedicated to improving immune health.

Contact:
David Walsh
VP Communications
Biothera, the Immune Health Company
651-256-4606 (direct)
dwalsh@biothera.com

By William Sears, M.D.

There’s an easy way to keep in mind what you can do to support a healthy immune system. I’ve dubbed it the Four Pillars to a Healthy Immune System. Just remember what the the acronym LEAN:

L is for LIFESTYLE – Make health your hobby. By boosting your immune system you’re boosting your ability to stay healthy.

E is for EXERCISE – Exercise helps mobilize the immune system for health. Try to squeeze in even 10-minute activity breaks most days of the week.

A is for ATTITUDE – Stress weakens the immune system by producing excess stress hormones that slow the body from healing. Take time out for meditation or otherwise shift gears away from life’s stresses every day.

N is for NUTRITION – Everyone’s heard the adage, “You are what you eat” and what you eat will make a difference in immune health. To keep nutrition simple, focus on the 5 S’s. Nothing makes the list without passing my  “show me the science behind it” test:

• Seafood
• Salad – including an abundance of bright colored vegetables
• Smoothies – nutrient-rich and filling (see recipe in our next post)
• Spices – think turmeric, ginger and black pepper
• Supplements, including Omega 3 fish and Wellmune WGP^® daily to enhance your body’s immune responses to a wide range of health challenges

Click here for more about Dr. Sears’s thoughts on immune health.  A father of eight children, ages 16 to 41, and an author of over 40 books on childcare, Dr. Sears has been a practicing pediatrician for more than 35 years.  He received his pediatric training at Harvard Medical School’s Children’s Hospital in Boston and the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, the largest children’s hospital in the world.

Biothera customer ResVez, Inc. is debuting the first gourmet nutrition bar with Wellmune WGP at the Fancy Food Show January 15-17 in San Francisco. The TravelTime bar is available in a choice of Granola Citrus Burst or Almond Coffee with chocolate chips. In addition to containing Wellmune WGP to activate the immune system, TravelTime bars also include Resveratrol, the powerful antioxidant found in the skin of red grapes. Click here to learn more about this uniquely healthy snack good for anyone on the go or visit ResVez at Booth 363, North Hall, Moscone Center.

Sherry Torkos, fitness expert and holistic pharmacist, dropped by Breakfast Television at City-TV Toronto to discuss natural ways to keep healthy.

Sherry isn’t all work and no play; she shared a sneaky way to get healthy by eating Praeventia cookies that are great for kids and adults alike. The cookies contain whole oats, polyphenols (antioxidants) and Wellmune WGP^®, a natural ingredient that improves resistance to stress and mobilizes immune cells without over-stimulating the immune system. These are ideal for school lunch boxes.

Ever notice how lethargic you become when you’re feeling under the weather?  With a healthier immune system, chances are that you’ll notice an increase in energy. Try Praeventia or other Wellmune WGP^® products today.

There’s never a convenient time for you or your family to get sick, but it’s probably safe to say that you definitely don’t want to cope with coughs and fevers during your summer vacation.

Why are you more prone colds and flu right now? Blame stress. Weekend athletes often don’t understand that the exercise stresses their bodies, which is why they get may get sick after competing in a marathon. Likewise, your every day stressors, like running kids to appointments and having to tighten your household budget, can make you sick. Add to those stressors the million things you are doing as you try to get ready for vacation.

Surprisingly, stimulating your immune system isn’t the answer. An out-of-balance immune system can lead to trouble. There are times when your body needs an inflammatory response and times when it doesn’t. Instead of stimulating your immune system, you want to prime it so that it’s more responsive when you are exposed to a cold or flu.

The good news is that there are foods, beverages and supplements that, when combined with a wholesome lifestyle, can help you to stay healthier. To support your immune system:
• Eat plenty of vibrantly-colored fruits and vegetables. These play important roles in balancing the immune system. There is now science to support the old adage: an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Food is life. You need to eat good quality foods to provide you with a quality of life.
• Choose foods, beverages and supplements that naturally support your body’s immune response. Clinical research indicates that a carbohydrate derived from a proprietary strain of yeast, an ingredient known as Wellmune WGP, is a safe and easy way to help you avoid getting sick. Just like benefits of Vitamin C and protein, this proprietary yeast, in the form of beta glucan, has a unique function in the body. It works by tapping into the most abundant immune cells in your body.
• Sing (to yourself) while washing your hands. Hand washing remains one of the best ways to stay healthy. The length of time it takes to sing The Birthday Song is about how long it should take to thoroughly wash your hands.
• Live healthfully every single day. Compliance is critical. If you are essential medication, you take it as frequently as your doctor recommends. Healthful food and exercise must also be done on a regular basis if you want to reap the benefits.

Following these simple steps may mean that you can enjoy a healthy, happy summer, and isn’t that what we all want?

What you eat can be responsible for contributing to, or helping to prevent, health problems. But some foods may cause intolerance or allergic responses. You also want to avoid most processed foods, such as cereals, because they typically contain excess amounts of sugar and salt. Some also contain preservatives, such as sulphates, that may negatively impact the immune system. And try to stay away from foods that are high in fat – particularly saturated fats – and cholesterol, as well as low density foods (sometimes called “empty calories”).

Just as you might think about eating better and choosing ingredients to prevent serious diseases, you may also rely on good nutrition and healthful products to reduce your risk of getting miserable coughs, sore throats and fevers associated with cold and flu.

Your immune system’s innate response is your body’s generic first line of defense against germs. Here are some simple suggestions for getting your immune system’s innate response in the best possible shape to fight off any germs that might come your way.

1. First, do no harm. Smoking, alcohol and a sedentary lifestyle may actually weaken your immune system’s innate response.

2. When you feel stressed, avoid the urge to reach for something that will stimulate your immune system. An out-of-balance immune system – including one that is constantly stimulated — can lead to trouble. Instead, you want to strengthen it so that it’s ready to respond when you are exposed to a cold or flu. Some simple tactics include supplementing with a high quality multi-vitamin, Vitamins C and D, and probiotics.

3. Prime your innate immune response so that it’s ready when you need it. Functional foods, beverages and supplements containing Wellmune WGP include Praeventia Cookies available in Ginger and Dark Chocolate Chip with Cranberries Cookies, OASIS Health Break Immuniforce as well as Coldmune, Healthmune and Stressmune dietary supplements. Wellmune works by tapping into the most abundant immune cells in your body, and it is a safe and easy way to help you reduce the risk of getting sick.

4. Rid yourself of toxic substances with a colorful diet and plenty of water. Keeping your body hydrated by drinking as much water in the winter as you do in the summer, and eating plenty of vibrantly-colored fruits and vegetables, are two of the best ways to cleanse and remove toxins from your body. Fruits and vegetables are also rich in antioxidants and phytonutrients which your body needs for optimal health.
Consuming whole fruits, rather than juices, provides not only vitamin C as an antioxidant but also dietary fibre. Many people make the mistake of choosing fruit drinks that contain only about 12 percent fruit juice to which artificial colors and sugars are added. These beverages are the ones to avoid. Oasis juice, with black current and elderberry, contains vitamin C and Wellmune as well as other beneficial phytochemicals such as the polyphenolic anthocyanins and ellagitannins that are good for your immune system.

5. Sleep and exercise. Think of sleep as your body’s repair cycle. You must give your immune system adequate time to do its work. Studies show that people who exercise regularly have a more vigorous immune response than those who remain sedentary.

There was a time when, because of food preparation and storage methods, people naturally ingested microbes such as worms and bacteria through their food and environment. These helped people to build up immunity against diseases. Now our food supply is much more sterile, and we’re very conscious about avoiding germs. But it still makes sense to safely, naturally and effectively activate our body’s built-in, natural immune mechanism without having to worry about any harmful side effects.

One well-studied step that anyone can take, even children, is to add a daily of yeast beta 1.3/1.6 glucan to your health routine. Wellmune WGP is a clinically researched brand of yeast beta glucan that has been shown to naturally prime the body’s neutrophils, which are the soldiers of the immune system. Using just the cell walls of a proprietary strain of yeast – to eliminate all yeast-related health concerns – it enhances the body’s natural immune function. It works by engaging the body’s natural defenses against yeast infections and helps redirect then towards other challenges. As a result, the neutrophils are primted for activity.

It is logical to take Wellmune WGP daily because the life cycle of neutrophils is two days or less. People about to enter the hospital, and long distance air travelers should also consider strengthening their immune system. You might also want to take Wellmune at the first sign of a cold or sore throat. Wellmune WGP is naturally safe, and the dosage on the label is the same as that used in the clinical studies.