The main component that stimulates the body's immune system to fight off invaders,  Beta glucans are a form of soluble fiber or long-chain polysaccharide which helps to nourish and regulate the body at the cellular level.  Found in oats, green leafy vegetables and mushrooms, beta glucans are nowhere else more abundant and easily absorbed than in Himematsutake mushrooms.  Dr. Georges Halpern calls Himematsutake, "the glucan king."

Beta glucans were first discovered in the 1940's as a group of substances which give strong support to the immune system by nourishing the areas of the body which produce white blood cells, such as the bone marrow.  Nearly every cell in your body has special receptors to receive beta glucans and their nutrifying effects.  Here's what doctors have to say about the wide-reaching effects of beta glucans:

"A cascade of interactions and reactions initiated by the macrophage regulatory factors can be envisioned to occur and to eventuate in conversion of the glucan-treated host to an arsenal of defense."

-Joyce K. Czop, M.D.
Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Harvard Medical School

"Glucan was found to be an effective drug in inducing macrophage-mediated destruction in malignant lesions in animals and humans."

-P. Mansell, M.D.
McGill Unviersity Cancer Research Center, Montreal

"Beta glucan may well be the first and only true anti-aging supplement available to us all."

-D. J. Carrow, M.D.

"People with high risk of atherosclerosis should definitely add beta 1-3 glucan to their diet."

-N. R. DiLuzio M.D.
Tulane University

"Diabetic individuals can benefit from diets that are high in beta glucan."

-Nestle Research Center Lausanne Switzerland

"Clearly, there are numerous possible uses for an agent such as glucan, which is a potent stimulator of hemopoietic activity.  Currently, we are using glucan to enhance hemopoietic proliferation in conjunction with hemopoietic injury induced by radiation."

-U.S. Armed Services Medical Research Laboratory, Bethesda

"Of all the substances tested, glucan was the only substance to exhibit a particularly marked enhancement of the proliferative phase of wound healing."

-Dr. S. J. Leibovich

In addition, two double-blind placebo-controlled studies at Harvard Medical School by Dr. T.J. Babineau and his team showed beta glucan to be extremely effective at protecting patients from infection after undergoing major surgery.

How is it possible that one group of nutrients, namely beta glucans, is able to so much maintaining and repariing of so many different biological systems?

The answer lies in the power of beta glucan to nutrify the body at the cellular level.  It provides the basic energy and building blocks that the body needs for efficent ceullar function, wether that cell is a bone marrow cell, a heart muscle cell, a neurological cell or an immune cell.  The proliferation and activity of immune cells is the major weapon our body has to fight disease.  With its effectiveness beyond doubt, it is little wonder that such excitement has been generated over this essential group of nutrients.

The dream of all serious healthcare professionals is to be able to use a completely non-toxic treatment to successfully combat disease and strengthen healthy bodies to withstand the rigors of modern-day living.  Natural beta glucan containing supplements may just be that treatment.‡