A weak immune system is less able to cope with infections.
THE current strain of flu virus (A/H1N1) has become a serious threat to health. The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised the global alert for Influenza A (H1N1) to phase five on a one to six scale – meaning a pandemic threat is imminent. Influenza pandemics must be taken seriously because of their capacity to spread rapidly to every country in the world.
Antibiotics are no use in treating the flu and the right vaccine to protect us will take up to six months to produce in large amounts. Under these circumstances, you need to rely on your immune system, which is your body’s natural defence system, patrolling and defending you, 24 hours a day, every day of your life.
A cold or flu is a visible sign that your immune system has failed to stop the germ. Other diseases such as tuberculosis and pneumonia can also take root in people whose immune systems are weakened. Therefore, it is clear that a weak immune system can leave you open to all kinds of disease.
Nature’s immune enhancer
Of all the natural compounds known to activate the innate (inborn) immune system, the best documented and most effective is WGP, derived from a proprietary strain of yeast. Indeed, when the Department of Defence of major NATO members evaluated over 300 potential immuno-boosters, WGP had the highest score of all.
In addition to clinical research demonstrating its protective benefits against stress and other health challenges, eg bacteria and viruses, numerous studies have defined WGP’s mechanism of action in the body at the cellular level.
A landmark study, published in the Journal of Immunology, utilised fluorescently labelled WGP that could be tracked with a microscope as it primed various immune cells for bioactivity. Researchers found that WGP is taken up into the body through the Peyer’s patches, specialised regions in the small intestines. There, immune cells called macrophages engulf WGP and break it down into tiny fragments that bind to neutrophils, the most abundant immune cells in the body.
Once the WGP fragments binds to the neutrophils, it primes the neutrophils to be more effective in killing pathogens (bacteria and viruses).
Numerous clinical and preclinical studies have demonstrated that WGP activates key human immune cells, including macrophages and neutrophils, to more quickly recognise and kill foreign challenges. More than a dozen peer-reviewed science
and medical journals have published research on the safety and efficacy of WGP over the past several years. WGP has more than 40 patents/patents pending.
There were three double-blind placebo clinical trials carried out in 2007 and 2008 with WGP. One study involved subjects who experienced physical stress (marathon runners) and the other two trials involved fire fighters and people who were highly stressed due to lifestyle and career choices. Stress lowers immunity and stressed people are prone to infections.
In the trials, it was found that WGP reduced the incidence of symptoms associated with upper respiratory tract infections (URTI), and at the same time, the subjects showed increased vigour, less fatigue and better mental clarity.
Who should take WGP beta glucan
- Those over 50 years of age – As we grow older, our immune system tends to become less efficient, and this increases the risk of all kinds of diseases.
- Those working in hospitals and clinics – to prevent them from contracting contagious diseases such as super germs like MRSA (methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus) and the flu.
- Those already taking antibiotics, antivirals and anti-fungals – WGP increase their effectiveness.
- Those suffering from stress – physical and emotional stress can negatively affect the immune system.
We know that bacterial and viral infections result either directly or indirectly from an immune system functioning at less than optimum levels. Whether we actually come down with a viral infection is simply based on whether we have a healthy immune system.
It’s clear that keeping our immune system healthy and strong should be our first priority if we are to avoid disease and achieve optimum health. How we age and the quality of our life depend largely on the health of our immune system. WGP has a profound, far reaching effect on your health and well-being.
