Ingredients in Beta-s Show Strong Support for Maintaining Healthy
Cholesterol Levels

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 18, 2001--Baywood
International, Inc. (OTCBB:BYWD) has re-introduced Beta-s(TM) under
its Purechoice(R) line of premium single ingredient supplements.

Beta-s(TM) had previously been sold by Baywood as a separate brand as
a healthy cholesterol support formula.

Recently the United States cooking.net">food and Drug Administration (FDA) has
issued statements that certain products in the marketplace containing
Red Yeast Rice Extract (Monascus Purpureus) may not be legally sold
in the United States as a dietary supplement. In particular, the FDA
has taken the position that such products are considered unapproved
{*filter*} under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic (FD&C) Act and that
the products consist of the yeast, Monascus Purpureus, when fermented
on premium rice powder. The fermentation of the rice with this yeast,
under certain conditions, produces a product that contains
lovastatin, the active ingredient in a leading prescription
cholesterol lowering drug.

Beta-s(TM) offers an effective, yet safe, alternative to the existing
products in the marketplace containing Red Yeast Rice Extract. The
two cooking.net">food substances of 300 milligrams of beta-sitosterol complex and
30 milligrams of citrus pectin are known cholesterol lowering agents
that, when combined together, alter dietary fat and cholesterol
absorption. Beta-s(TM) is broken down in the upper intestine within
30 minutes after ingestion. The proposed mechanisms of action are:

(a) Intestinal binding and excretion of free cholesterol

(b) Blocking of absorption sites in the intestinal walls

(c) An enzymatic shift decreasing liver cholesterol production,

and

(d) Increased liver enzyme functions on the breakdown of fats

"Our Beta-s(TM) has always been considered an effective choice for
our customers in their healthy dietary and cholesterol maintenance
programs. Only until recently, however, with the onset of regulation
on Red Yeast Rice Extract by the FDA has the demand for our product
increased as an effective alternative for retailers and consumers,"
stated Neil Reithinger, President & C.E.O.

Baywood is a nutraceutical company specializing in the development,
marketing and distribution of its own brands under the names
PURECHOICE(TM), SOLUTIONS(TM) and Complete La Femme(TM). The
Company's products are distributed through independent and chain
health cooking.net">food stores, pharmacies, grocery stores, and other direct-to-
consumer channels both internationally and domestically. Contact
Baywood International, Inc. at 888/350-0799 for more information or
visit www.bywd.com.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements, made in
reliance upon Section 21D of the Exchange Act of 1934, which involve
known and unknown risks, uncertainties or other factors that could
cause actual results to differ materially from the results,
performance, or expectations implied by these forward-looking
statements. The Issuer's expectations among other things are
dependent upon general economic conditions, continued demand for its
products, the availability of raw materials, retention of its key
management and operating personnel, as well as other uncontrollable
or unknown factors.

CONTACT:  

Baywood International, Inc.

Neil Reithinger, 480/951-3956

KEYWORD: ARIZONA

BW0255  OCT 18,2001

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