Biosential Inc.
119-660 Eglinton Ave East
Suite 531
Toronto, ON
M4G 2K2
CANADA

phone: +1(416)421-7445
toll free: 1-800-735-4538
fax: +1(416)466-3432
email: info@biosential.com

Zenbev and RestBites are available at many fine Health Stores. Please call to determine a location in your area.

Retailers, Biosential products are distributed directly . Contact us if you are interested in carrying Zenbev and RestBites.

Biosential Inc. was founded in 1997 by Craig Hudson, MD and his wife Susan Hudson and is based in Toronto, Ontario. In the past 10 years Biosential has grown from an idea that wouldn’t go away to a global entity dedicated to developing, testing, manufacturing and distributing quality functional foods. With a view to treat the body using food where possible instead of medications, these functional foods take advantage of established scientific advances and tweak them through a nutritional rather than chemical lens.

In a health climate that often polarizes the medical and the natural, principals Craig & Susan Hudson operate from an appreciation of the advances and potential of medical research and seek to leverage the benefits of modern science with a healthy respect for the nutritional needs of the whole person.

History

After spending the early years of his medical career in research at the Clarke Institute of Psychiatry, Craig Hudson left academia to pursue the quiet life of a psychiatrist in Stratford, Ontario. He was struck immediately by the number of people complaining of sleeping problems and wishing to escape a dependency on sleep medications. From his knowledge of the scientific literature he was aware of the benefits of synthetic tryptophan, if used properly, in the treatment of insomnia, anxiety, depression and chronic pain. Many people, however, could not follow through with the elaborate instructions in order to achieve the desired results of synthetic tryptophan since it can only bring its benefit under certain conditions.

Dr. Hudson surmised that if all these factors were rolled into a food bar, the effects could be achieved in a simple, more natural way, the way nature really intended. Tryptophan is an essential amino acid we need to get from food, so food ingredients should be the vehicle by which it is introduced to the body. The first prototype, the ZZZBar, was developed by Susan in their Stratford kitchen. It looked and tasted pretty terrible but it worked and was the beginning of a novel food approach to treating common but debilitating Central Nervous System complaints.

In 2004, after 7 years in research and development Biosential’s first product, Zenbev^® Drink Mix, was launched in Canada. Zenbev is an organic, powdered beverage mix that combines a strategic protein with a carbohydrate to deliver a food source of tryptophan efficiently to the brain. The protein is derived from pumpkinseeds which have been crushed to remove their oil and milled to a fine powder which further concentrates the tryptophan but does not alter its biochemical structure. The carbohydrate source is dextrose providing the open doorway for the tryptophan to cross the blood brain barrier.

Once tryptophan is in the brain it responds to the available light. In daytime conditions tryptophan naturally metabolizes to serotonin which lowers anxiety. In darkness tryptophan metabolizes to serotonin and then to melatonin, allowing the brain to produce its own sleep hormone.

This formulation was tested in a clinical study where it was compared to synthetic tryptophan with carbohydrate and to a placebo. The formulation performed comparably to the effect of synthetic tryptophan on most variables and actually out-performed the drug in reducing the number of night-time awakenings and the amount of time subjects were awake in the middle of the night (Protein source tryptophan versus pharmaceutical grade tryptophan as an efficacious treatment for chronic insomnia, Nutritional Neuroscience, April 2005). Unlike synthetic tryptophan, natural source tryptophan is safe and approved for sale in Canada in accordance with the Natural Health Product (NHP) Directorate. Similar approval has been sought and granted in Europe and the USA.

Biosential has invested heavily in research and development beginning with laboratory studies conducted at the Guelph Food Technology Centre prior to publication in peer-reviewed journals. Early on, the principals of Biosential recognized that investment in R&D must be protected by a significant investment in Intellectual Property defence. Biosential has been granted 4 US patents, 3 Canadian patents, 2 South African patents, and one in Australia, China, New Zealand, India and Hong Kong. Examination of additional international patents has progressed well with patents imminent for Australia, Europe Japan, Korea, Mexico and South America. Biosential’s patents offer broad protection with respect to composition as well as methods of use claims. Zenbev® is Certified Organic by QAI.

Zenbev^® Drink Mix was launched in Ontario in September 2004 and is now sold in over 200 health stores in Canada. In the spring of 2005 Zenbev® Drink Mix was launched in Ireland and is now sold in Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, Germany, Norway, and Sweden. New markets are currently being explored and evaluated throughout the world.

Mission Statement

Created by Nature. Delivered by Science.

Biosential aims to develop natural food products blending the best of nature with the latest science. By enhancing, rather than altering basic structures available in botanicals, Biosential combines natural ingredients in a way that can be most efficiently utilized by our body in the context of the world in which we live. From idea inception to substantiation via rigorous clinical research, the goal is harmony: body, mind, science.

Chief Executive Officer & Chief Research Officer

Dr. Hudson received his medical degree and specialist training in psychiatry from the University of Toronto. After graduation he received the prestigious Medical Research Clinician Scientist Award, which allowed for three further years of post-graduate training in advanced research laboratory techniques including biochemistry as well as molecular genetic techniques. In 1996, he was recruited by Stratford General Hospital to lead the redevelopment of their department of psychiatry and is the former Chief of Staff of that hospital. His research into Central Nervous System (CNS) signaling systems is widely quoted in the medical literature and forms the basis of the Company’s product development.

Dr. Hudson founded Biosential Inc. in 1997 and is responsible for idea development, intellectual property protection, and research direction. Dr. Hudson is also jointly in charge of the overall direction of the Company and heads up partnership development and discussions. He works with the Scientific Advisory Board on critical review and assessment of product development and testing.

Is there a risk of becoming dependent on Zenbev™ to fall asleep?

No. Almost all sleep drugs are associated with either dependence (the need to continue with the medication or the experience of “rebound” insomnia when it is discontinued) or tolerance (requiring an increased dosage to maintain the same effect) because these drugs override the brain’s natural sleep chemistry. Zenbev does not cause dependence or tolerance because it works with the brain’s natural sleep chemistry. It is the brain that decides how much is required and when. As a result the normal brain chemistry is maintained.

What is it in Zenbev that makes it work?

Zenbev is a natural source of tryptophan, the amino acid found in milk and turkey. Once in the brain, tryptophan becomes serotonin and, in turn, melatonin. This conversion to melatonin from tryptophan is light-sensitive. That is to say, tryptophan only becomes melatonin if it is dark; otherwise it remains as serotonin, a chemical that helps you to relax but does not make you fall asleep. Therefore, if taken during the day, Zenbev helps alleviate anxiety, depression and other stress-related clinical states. If taken at night, Zenbev is a powerful ally against insomnia. Zenbev is specially formulated with all-natural ingredients that have several advantages over synthetic derivatives such as prescription tryptophan or over-the-counter (OTC) 5-HTP or melatonin. These drug equivalents can produce much more serotonin or melatonin than the brain needs. When there is an over-production, side effects such as daytime sleepiness can occur.

Isn’t tryptophan banned by the FDA, and can it be taken safely?

Tryptophan is an essential amino acid, meaning that the body cannot produce it and must ingest it through a food source. Our bodies require tryptophan as the precursor to serotonin, a hormone that regulates sleep, mood and appetite. 15-years ago, pharmaceutical-grade tryptophan was banned by the FDA due to the contamination of a batch synthetically sourced from genetically modifying a bacterium. This process was discontinued and synthetic tryptophan has remained available by prescription in Canada. Zenbev, however, is comprised of a natural source of tryptophan derived from organic pumpkin seeds, and formulated to be easily assimilated by the body. According to Health Canada, amino acids present in a protein configuration are not considered to be drugs; and therefore would not be considered to be subject to special measures as per the DIN (Drug Identification Number) Enforcement Directive and the Therapeutic Products Compliance Guide.

Is Zenbev a drug?

No. It is an all natural food made from organic pumpkin seeds, dextrose and rice starch.

How much tryptophan is in a serving of Zenbev?

The amount of tryptophan ingested depends on the amount of Zenbev required. We recommend starting at 1-tablespoon and increasing the dosage as necessary. Most clients report that 1-2 tablespoons is sufficient. One should be aware that at more then 4-tablespoons, the dosage of tryptophan can be greater than 250 mg. This should be more than adequate for most clients since the inventive formulation of Zenbev allows the body to utilize the protein source of tryptophan very efficiently,

What are high glycemic index foods?

Recent fad diets have claimed that eating too many carbohydrates can lead to high insulin levels, resulting in health issues such as obesity and diabetes. Foods that score higher than 70 on the glycemic index (ie. potatoes, parsnips and donuts) are high GI foods, the reference food being pure glucose or white sugar at 100. High GI foods provide bursts of energy that may be followed quickly by blood sugar reductions and hunger. If taken in moderation, some high GI foods can be beneficial and should not be avoided altogether. However, overly processed foods containing excess sugar should be limited. We can make an effort to become aware of the glycemic reaction that certain foods cause and therefore make better-balanced food choices.

Zenbev’s special formula includes a small amount of organic dextrose, a high GI food that serves the specific function of binding to all the amino acids in the protein chain except for tryptophan and shunting them away. Tryptophan is then allowed efficient access across the blood brain barrier (BBB), thus contributing to Zenbev’s effectiveness. Diabetics should be cautious when taking Zenbev and refer to the nutritional panel on the label.

Does Zenbev have side effects?

It takes about thirty minutes for circulating melatonin to become inactive after the sun rises or lights are turned on. During that time there may be drowsiness which subsides and does not interfere with daytime functioning.

Zenbev contains organic dextrose. Diabetics taking Zenbev should be aware that 2 tablespoons contains the same amount of carbohydrate as one slice of dry toast.

Finally, patients taking drugs that already cause drowsiness, such as antidepressants (pharmaceutical grade or natural such a St. John’s Wort) or lithium, should avoid Zenbev.

Will It Knock Me Out?

No. Zenbev does not override the brain’s own natural sleep chemistry; it allows the brain to produce as much or as little melatonin as it needs. As noted above, melatonin takes approximately ½ hour to leave the body after first light, so there may be a hold-over sleepiness of about that amount of time.

How does Zenbev compare to other drugs for treating insomnia?

Zenbev is the only sleep aid that works within the brain’s own natural sleep chemistry. It allows the body to produce melatonin but does not override the natural sleep chemistry as melatonin itself might. It also enhances the 5-stages of sleep whereas other sleep aids including prescription drugs and OTC antihistamines actually suppress deep sleep (stages 3&4) as well as REM (dream) sleep.

Can I use Zenbev every day or night?

Yes, but it may not be necessary since there is a positive effect for a few days after one stops Zenbev. The best rule of thumb is that it 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. If you prefer to take it every day, however, there is no difficulty with that approach.

Does it need to be refrigerated?

No. Zenbev should be stored in a dry cool space. Zenbev is made from ingredients that are stable, with an expected shelf-life of several years.

How long will a jar last?

One jar should last about 30-days, assuming a dosage of two-tablespoons per day. It may last longer if taken on an intermittent schedule or at a lower dosage. It will not last 30-days if taken at a higher dosage on a daily schedule.

What if it doesn’t work?

It takes anywhere from three days/nights to one week to notice the effects so it is important to persevere and give Zenbev a good long trial. If you get to the end of the jar and are feeling that it is not helping you or if you are unsatisfied with Zenbev for any reason, please return it to the place where you purchased it, with your receipt, for a full refund. If you have any questions about Zenbev as you are taking it feel free to email us at info@biosential.com

Can Zenbev help all sleep or anxiety problems?

No. Zenbev is effective for the vast majority of people suffering from insomnia and/or those who feel stressed but will not work for a small number of people who may suffer from disorders such as sleep apnea or restless leg syndrome. Again, Dr. Hudson can help clarify the differences between insomnia and serious sleep disorders. You may contact him at info@biosential.com.

Zenbev is highly effective for stress-related problems such as anxiety and depression if resulting from a lack of serotonin. Zenbev is specially formulated to deliver tryptophan, which is the precursor for serotonin, in a way that can be easily assimilated by the body. Those with long-term cases of depression should also consult a medical professional.

Who should avoid taking Zenbev?

Those who plan to drive or operate heavy machinery at night should not take Zenbev before doing so. If you are pregnant or nursing a child, you should consult your physician. Those taking antidepressants, including St. John’s Wort and/or lithium should not take Zenbev. If you are diabetic as mentioned earlier, please consult the nutritional panel and your doctor.