ZENBEV
Zenbev™ is a delicious beverage mix of organic ingredients that
provides a natural source of tryptophan derived from pumpkin seeds. As
a precursor to serotonin and melatonin, tryptophan enhances mood,
emotion and sleep.
Ingredients: Finely Milled c Flour, Dextrose, Naural
Lemon Flavor,
Rice Starch, Guar Gum.
100% Vegetarian and Vegan. Yeast, Diary free. Organic Ingredients.
Certified Organic by QAI.
Product of Canada.
RESEARCH AND SCIENCE
In 1997, Dr. Craig Hudson invented a proprietary
formula to aid an increasing number of people suffering from various
sleep problems. Most of these people had tried different medications
and were dissatisfied with the options available to them and many had
just given up hope for an effective solution. Dr. Hudson’s formula is
comprised of a natural source of tryptophan derived from pumpkin seeds,
which is an essential amino acid our bodies can normally only get from
food sources. Tryptophan metabolizes into serotonin, and in a nighttime
environment, turns into melatonin which allows us to fall asleep
naturally.
Pumpkin seeds when ingested alone, however, are not
a sufficient source of tryptophan. This is due to intense competition
from other amino acids, which are also part of pumpkin seed protein,
for access to transport sites across the Blood Brain Barrier (BBB).
Zenbev’s natural source of tryptophan is combined with other precise
ingredients that help it to function optimally. A small amount of a
high glycemic index (GI) carbohydrate is specifically included in the
formulation. Its role is to combine with the other amino acids and
shunt them toward the liver, thus leaving tryptophan, which is largely
protein-bound, with a clear advantage to get into the brain.
FEEL GREAT DAY
& NIGHT
A Natural Approach to Treating Insomnia
Craig J. Hudson MD, FRCP(C) and Susan P. Hudson MSW
"Feel Great Day & Night" is 110 pages packed
full of information to help you deal with insomnia tonight. Small but
mighty, it is designed to be read in one sitting so that you may
implement changes immediately.
"Feel Great Day & Night " helps you take control
of your sleep to combat insomnia and, in the process, improve your
overall health and well-being. This practical guide offers a simple
conceptualization of the problems, a wealth of information and analysis
of the options to deal with them and creative solutions that may be
applied immediately. The workbook format enables you to quickly address
the areas of most concern to you and provides scientific, behavioural.
environmental and dietary solutions to help you get the most of your
day and night.
Here’s what’s being said about "Feel Great Day &
Night":
"Feel Great Day & Night " provides extremely useful information and
coping strategies to deal with one of life's most common yet most
demanding problems. I have recommended it to many of my patients and
learned a thing or two myself!"
Dr. William Johnston, MD, Psychiatrist
SLEEP MASK
KIT
Help your brain maximize production of melatonin by
blocking out all light and noise distraction with Biosential’s Sleep
Kit. Elimination of light and noise stimuli when you sleep is a very
important step on the road to improved sleep as well as overall health
and well-being. The Sleep Kit contains one high quality sleep mask,
cylindrical ear plugs and a handy drawstring bag to keep them in.Dr.
Craig Hudson developed this sleep mask to completely block out ambient
light at night. A good sleep mask must pass the light test: hold it up
to a very powerful bulb and no light should penetrate; even a tiny
point of light is too much. This mask has extra layers to be totally
opaque but is made of cool cotton so it can breath, not become too hot.
It also has an extrapiece of material around the nose to ensure
elimination of all light leakage. Two secure elastic straps keep the
mask on firmly, but not too tight.
WHAT DOES ZENBEV
DO?
Zenbev can be taken during the day to provide a
powerful source of tryptophan, a precursor for serotonin. Serotonin
regulates mood, emotion and appetite, and is well-known to alleviate
stress, anxiety and depression. Other purported benefits of ingesting a
natural source of tryptophan include easing chronic pain symptoms,
weight loss and increased libido.
Tryptophan is light sensitive, meaning it
metabolizes differently in light vs. dark conditions. When taken during
daylight hours Zenbev’s tryptophan becomes serotonin providing the
afore mentioned benefits. If taken at night, Zenbev’s tryptophan turns
into serotonin, which then metabolizes into melatonin, thus activating
the brain’s own sleep mechanism. As the brain produces the exact amount
of melatonin that it requires, the body is primed for a natural,
restful sleep.
Zenbev vs. Sleep Medications
Virtually every sleep medication, either herbal or pharmaceutical,
disrupts sleep architecture. Medications currently available tend to
increase light sleep (stages 1 and 2) at the expense of deep sleep
(stages 3 and 4) as well as inhibiting REM sleep which results in side
effects of drowsiness and lack of refreshment. As the tryptophan in
Zenbev allows the brain to produce melatonin, none of the sleep stages
are compromised, resulting in a preservation of sleep architecture and
a deep, uninterrupted sleep.
Zenbev vs. Anxiety Medications
Medications to reduce anxiety are most often from a class of drugs
known as benzodiazepines; this family of drugs is associated with
tolerance and dependence. Benzodiazepines are synthetic and do not work
within the body’s own natural chemistry and as such can have
significant side effects such as excessive sedation and lack of
coordination. Zenbev, on the other hand, provides a natural source
tryptophan which bolsters the body’s own natural anxiety management
system.
Zenbev vs. Synthetic
Melatonin
Since the melatonin produced in our brains is responsible for the onset
of sleep, many people try to take synthetically-produced melatonin.
Over-the-counter melatonin should not be considered natural. One of the
issues with synthetic melatonin is the short half-life in the body. The
half-life should be measured in several hours. Synthetic melatonin
leaves the body quite rapidly with a half-life of less than one hour
which means the effect is lost midway during the night. Consequently, a
higher dosage is required, resulting in a hangover effect the next day.
Although melatonin is thought to be ‘natural’, when
used in high dosages it overrides the brain’s natural sleep chemistry
by providing too much of the end product. The brain loses its chance to
regulate the production of this important sleep hormone. More
importantly, the body does not have an opportunity to suppress
production of melatonin when sleep is coming to the end. The brain has
evolved an elaborate process of producing and regulating melatonin so
that just the right amount is used in just the right area of the brain.
It may seem convenient to circumvent the process and
provide super dosages of melatonin to the body to produce sleep, but it
ignores normal sleep physiology resulting in increased difficulties
which are not necessary. Zenbev provides the ingredients and
circumstances in order for the brain to determine when and how much
melatonin is needed, resulting in a good night’s sleep.
Zenbev vs. 5-HTP
Supplemental 5-HTP is the intermediary between tryptophan and serotonin
and has been offered as a natural remedy for serotonin
deficiency-related medical states. Natural source tryptophan, however,
offers a major advantage over 5-HTP in that it is not directly
metabolized to serotonin in the intestine which protects against side
effects associated with 5-HTP such as increased nausea, vomiting,
cramping, constipation and/ or diarrhea.
INSOMNIA
RELIEF
What is insomnia?
Insomnia may be defined as a wakefulness or an inability to sleep. Many
different factors can contribute to sleeping problems but typical
insomnia can be better understood by separation into three different
categories:
Sleep Latency Insomnia is trouble falling asleep initially.
Sleep Interruption Insomnia is epeatedly waking up in the night.
Terminal Insomnia is awakening too early and not able to fall back to
sleep.
Zenbev works best with lifestyle insomnia. While
everyone experiences trouble sleeping at one time or another, lifestyle
insomnia exists when the pace of contemporary life and the increase in
demands and resultant stressors inhibit the body’s ability to wind down
at the end of the day over protracted periods of time. Over time,
anxiety generated by worries about getting a good night’s sleep often
sets in, further compounding the problem.
Conditions in which there are underlying
physiological conditions causing wakefulness are different. You can
help identify whether you should visit your physician to discuss a
referral to a sleep laboratory if you (or your bed-partner) can
identify any of the following signs or symptoms:
-Restless Leg Syndrome - excessive leg movement, ‘kicking’ your bed
partner, bed sheets in disarray in the morning; cramping or aching
feelings in the calves.
-Periodic Limb Movement Disorder - excessive leg movement, leg twitches
or jerks during the night; leg cramps in the morning.
-Sleep Apnea - complaints of snoring, others describe
that you stop breathing while you are asleep; waking ‘short of breath’
or choking; waking with morning headaches, chest pain, dry mouth;
history of high blood pressure.
-Narcolepsy - sleep attacks, sleep paralysis.
These are signs and symptoms that should be
evaluated by a physician. Fortunately, most serious sleep disorders are
treatable.
What can you do about insomnia?
When we go to sleep, our brains progress through five stages of sleep:
- Stages 1 and 2 light sleep begins the process of
slowing brain waves; the mind is in a light sleep, easily roused.
-Stages 3 and 4 are known as slow wave sleep [SWS] or deep sleep;
rousing is more difficult and people report feeling disoriented if
awakened.
-Stage 5 or rapid eye movement [REM] predominates in
the last third of the night; the brain activity is similar to that when
awake but the body remains in full muscle paralysis except for
respiratory and cardiac function. This allows the mind to experience a
full dream without the consequential bodily movement.
The preservation of this natural brain rhythm of
sleep or ‘sleep architecture’ is every bit as important as the overall
sleep time. We need to experience all 5-stages of sleep in order to
wake rested. These stages are not necessarily experienced in
chronological order but cycle throughout the night.
To obtain a good night’s sleep, it is very important
to avoid factors that disrupt sleep architecture. Our sleep
environment, the medication we take, our diet and our thought patterns
can directly impede sleep patterns. The good news is that these factors
are eminently within our control to change and the preservation of
constructive sleep architecture will result in better sleep.
How does Zenbev help insomnia?
Zenbev provides the body with a natural food source of tryptophan,
which is more readily assimilated by the body than synthetic sources.
The tryptophan required by our bodies is provided in a way the brain
recognizes. Combined with the proper ingredients, Zenbev’s unique
formula facilitates optimal efficiency for treating insomnia. The
tryptophan in the protein source metabolizes into serotonin, which then
metabolizes into melatonin at night, serving to activate the brain’s
sleep mechanism. As the brain produces the exact amount that it
requires, Zenbev helps you achieve a deep, uninterrupted sleep and wake
up feeling rested and refreshed.
ANXIETY
HELP
What is anxiety?
Anxiety may be described as a feeling of danger and dread in response
to a perceived threat. It is a common reaction to everyday stress and a
positive catalyst or a destructive and debilitating force. When anxiety
overwhelms us, it can cause increased respiratory rate, increased heart
rate, and a sense of panic, flushing and perspiration. It is said that
anxiety is related to performance by an “inverted U”. In the first part
of the up-slope of the “inverted U”, your initial anxiety can actually
enhance your performance by increasing vigilance and improving
cognitive ability. As the anxiety further increases, however, you may
enter the down-slope of the “inverted U”, experiencing a myriad of
unpleasant physical symptoms and mental discomfort.
What can you do about anxiety?
Taking a natural source of tryptophan primes the brain to produce its
own natural anxiety suppressor, serotonin. An increase in serotonin
causes a reduction in anxiety in harmony with normal brain chemistry.
Tryptophan, unlike many drugs, does not dull
cognitive abilities to fool you that the perceived stress is somehow
less then it really is. It simply allows you to deal with perceived
stresses in a calm and efficient manner. The result is that you remain
on the part of the “inverted U” where you almost feel energized by the
stressful situation and able to deal with it with clarity and a rapid
thought processes. Since tryptophan works within the brain’s own
natural chemistry, it produces just the right amount of serotonin at
the right time, thereby avoiding issues like side effects and
dependence.
How does Zenbev help anxiety?
When taken during the day, Zenbev provides tryptophan in a natural
formulation, which metabolizes into serotonin. Combined with the
specific ingredients to ensure optimal delivery across the Blood Brain
Barrier (BBB), Zenbev is a powerful source of relaxation and aids in
alleviating anxiety, stress and depression.
OTHER
BENEFITS
Zenbev can be taken during the day to provide a
powerful source of
tryptophan, a precursor for serotonin. Increased serotonin levels in the
brain are associated with an elevated sense of calm, happiness and
confidence and are well-known to alleviate stress, anxiety and
depression.
Other clinically reported benefits of ingesting a natural source of
tryptophan include easing chronic pain symptoms, weight loss and
increased
libido.
Tryptophan is light sensitive, meaning it
metabolizes differently in light
vs. dark conditions.
HOW TO
TAKE ZENBEV
Take at night for insomnia, and in
the morning for anxiety.
Start at 1 tablespoon for three nights. Mix with
warm water or your favorite non-caffeinated beverage. For those who are
avoiding liquids before bed, mix with applesauce. Take one half hour
before bedtime and do something calming and relaxing (i.e. not mentally
stimulating) before retiring to bed. After three nights increase the
dosage as necessary allowing three more nights to achieve the desired
effect. Continue to increase as necessary. Two tablespoons are usually
sufficient for most clients, however some individuals require more.
Individual requirements are not directly associated with Body Mass,
each person’s biochemistry is different. It usually takes a few doses
before its optimal benefit is seen and it continues to work for a few
days/nights after it was last taken. One way of optimizing this benefit
is to take Zenbev for 5-7 days/nights and then stop it for 2-3
days/nights before resuming again in a similar pattern.
Zenbev can be taken safely on a daily basis. Make
sure you are taking a B-complex multivitamin as tryptophan will
metabolize to vitamin B3 if your body is deficient.
CASE STUDY
Ms. S., Stratford, Ont.
Ms. S. is a 56 year old retired registered nurse.
She complained of a 15 year history of sleep difficulty with problems
falling asleep and remaining asleep. Ms. S. attributed her problem
partly to years of shift work and various stressful life events. She
had tried prescription sleep medications without success.
Prior to taking Zenbev, Ms. S. would awaken 2-3
times per night and then be up for one hour on average per each
awakening, sometimes losing up to four hours of sleep a night. Within
the first week of taking Zenbev her time awake at night due to sleep
interruptions reduced to 20 minutes. Ms. S’s difficulty falling asleep
improved as she feared going to bed less and less. She continues to
take Zenbev regularly to maintain these improvements.
