Staying healthy depends critically on the health of your immune system. Studies show that the supplement 1-3, 1-6 beta glucans is one of the most powerful ways to support the immune system. So much so that the US Government is now testing one brand of beta glucans with a view to stockpiling it as a protective measure against the possibility of nuclear radiation – see later.
Unfortunately, we live in a rather toxic world. Air pollution, pesticides, herbicides, poisons and pollutants enter our food chain through water, soil and air – and all these create significant stress to our immune systems. Each year in Europe as many as 250 million tons of 700,000 different toxic chemicals are released into the air, water and ground – that’s roughly a ton per year for every person!
The evidence of severe health risks from all this pollution is compelling. Numerous studies have shown links between chemical exposure and numerous health problems, including cancer, depression, mood swings, diabetes, asthma, heart disease and other chronic conditions.
The best thing we can do, faced with these unavoidable health threats, is to strengthen our body’s immune system to guard against harmful influences – which of course include viral and bacterial threats. Fortunately, there is a completely natural supplement which has proven to be one of the most effective agents to support the human immune system.
Beta glucan is a supplement derived and purified from the cell wall of common baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). Research has shown that critical cellular components of the human immune system – macrophages, neutrophils and natural killer (NK) cells – actually have specific receptors for the beta glucan macromolecule. It seems that Nature has “designed” beta glucan to provide support for our immune systems.
Positive test results
Studies that support the efficacy of a properly refined beta glucans (referenced below) originated with laboratory experiments. For example 90 % of subjects exposed to very high levels of E-coli survived when their innate immune systems were primed by 1-3, 1-6 beta-glucans. 0% survived in the control group.
In a further test, 80% survived exposure to high levels of Staphylococcus aureus as opposed to 0% in the control group.
In a further test when beta glucans was administered in combination with anti-biotics after exposure to bacteria, the number of bacteria needed to actually create infection was increased by up to 2,000 fold.
A recent human study demonstrated that a beta glucan supplement significantly increased the number of immune cells that were actively engulfing and destroying one or more foreign particles or intruders. After 10 days of treatment the number of highly phagocytic cells increased from 37.3% to more than 50%.
These results show that taking beta glucan enhanced the human immune system to defend the body against a challenge. Additionally, the numbers of several important cytokines (proteins which support immune function) were increased as well.
How beta glucan works
1-3, 1-6 beta glucan provides protection against diseases by enhancing four key immune responses.
First, it primes the main elements of the immune system – the macrophages, neutrophils and natural killer (NK) cells – to defend the body against a broad range of foreign challenges (called pathogens). These cells are chiefly responsible for destroying pathogens and tumour cells.
Second, it enhances the ability of these cells to move from peripheral circulation in the body to the specific site of the attempted “invasion” by a pathogen. The 1-3, 1-6 beta glucans do this by binding or locking onto the surface of neutrophils and ‘priming’ them – in the way that a weapon may be primed. The neutrophil is then able to seek out and destroy any pathogen – be it a virus (flu) or bacteria or even a cancer cell.
Third, beta glucan enhances the ability of these innate immune cells to phagocytize, or “engulf and eat” pathogens.
Finally, beta glucan enhances the ability of natural killer cells to release the chemicals that kill pathogens.
The end result of this four fold action is a significant enhancement of the body’s ability to fight against pathogenic challenges – whether microbial, fungal, viral or cancer-related.
Not all beta glucan supplements are created equal
Biothera is a biotech company, a world leader in research on beta glucans, and is the manufacturer of a patented source of 1-3, 1-6 beta glucans, WGP. It is their beta glucans that is being tested by the US Government as a protective measure against nuclear radiation.
Biothera’s research shows that beta glucan needs to be highly purified in order to be effective. Essentially, the outer layers of the yeast cell need to be removed to expose the beta glucan, so that it can bind to the receptor sites of the innate immune cells.
The purification process should also remove proteins and yeast residues. These can cause adverse effects in many people, and also reduce the overall effectiveness of the beta glucans. This purification process is costly; however, so unfortunately, some brands of beta glucan take some short cuts in this area, and are minimally purified, at best.
Who should take beta glucan?
The general answer is that anyone who wants to maintain or enhance the effectiveness of their immune system. That includes anyone who experiences daily stress (which lowers the immune response), and people who are susceptible to infectious diseases, or experiencing slow and incomplete healing.
Additional circumstances for use would include people entering hospital – who are at greater risk of infection – as are long distance air travelers, who are exposed to a higher levels of UV radiation than normal.
An obvious time for many people to consider the use of an immune booster is in the pre-flu season. And a smaller but specific group would be athletes who should also derive health benefits since strenuous exercise actually lowers the immune response.
Beta glucan can be taken as a daily supplement, because the immune system’s viability fluctuates from day to day, due to direct and indirect environmental conditions. When the immune system is suppressed, weakened, or under stress, we will be more prone to illness.
Also, the billions of innate immune cells which protect us have a life-span of only a day or two, so a daily intake of beta glucan will help to support the immune system on a constant basis. After all, the challenges to the immune system are constant, so we need to provide consistent support.
The research evidence for beta glucans is solid – but it can be used synergistically with another natural nutrient – beta sitosterol.
How beta sitosterols work
The nutritional plant extract beta sitosterol is one example of a group of molecules called sterols. They are regarded as the plant kingdom’s equivalent of cholesterol. It is a natural immuno-modulator as it up-regulates certain aspects of immune function while down-regulating others. Beta sitosterol is present in a number of plant foods and especially seeds and nuts.
Beta sitosterol increases natural killer cell activity, thus their depletion leaves the cells under-active. This contributes to an overall degradation of the innate immune system. Hence, a diet rich in sterols can ‘quieten’ auto-immune responses and improve immune response generally.
All natural & safe
Food derived nutrients are, in principle, normally safer than artificially created pharmaceutical molecules, precisely because they are natural and have mostly been consumed for centuries. Since 1-3, 1-6 beta glucans is derived from baker’s yeast, it is, prima facie, safe.
The role of beta sitosterol and 1-3, 1-6 beta glucans in strengthening the immune system is explained in detail by the international health expert Dr Paul Clayton in his book Health Defence and at www.drpaulclayton.com.
Dr Paul Clayton, who is a fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine and a former advisor to the UK Committee on the Safety of Medicines, advised on the formulation of Uni-Vite ImmunoShield, a natural nutritional immune system booster. It contains the unique combination of beta glucans supplied by Biothera and beta sitosterols, along with other essential nutrients.
Visit www.immunoshield.com to learn more about the effective use of ImmunoShield in activating immunity. ImmunoShield also works synergistically with Uni-Vites NutriShield a very comprehensive daily nutritional supplement for boosting your Innate Immune System.
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