Glyconutrients Supplements Not Your Cup Of Tea
Glyconutrients, the Holy Grail of medical science, was recently discovered. It was found to play very important roles in keeping communication between cells highly functional. With diminished cellular communication, bodily functions ranging from mundane to highly complex are largely affected, the body's capacity to ward off diseases, to function at its optimal levels, and to keep cells, tissues and organs healthy prove to be very difficult. Each cell in the body requires sufficient supply of these nutrients, all of them, in order to sustain their functions. Emphasis is therefore placed on obtaining these glyconutrients through natural sources or through health supplements.
Health supplements are beginning to show up in American markets at a fast rate. These provide convenient and highly concentrated sources of glyconutrients. These are very effective and, in general, safe as well. But, the less popular alternatives offered by natural resources are equally attractive. In their natural forms, glyconutrients are most potent and do not raise questions on quality. Natural sources of these nutrients include:
Fungi and mushrooms
Mushrooms and fungi provide rich sources of galactose, glucose and mannose, three of the eight essential glyconutrients that are known to enhance cell to cell communication along with other benefits. On their own, these simple sugars can inhibit tumor growth, accelerate healing, lessen inflammation, enhance calcium absorption, provide good energy sources, and improve the body's capacity to fend off viral, bacterial and fungal infections.
Mushrooms, in particular, have lentinan, a type of polysaccharide that helps boost the immune system by stimulating white blood cells or leukocytes to devour invading microorganisms. Lentinan also detoxifies the toxins that result from this process. These benefits extend to preventing the spread of tumor cells to other areas of the body, prevent the body from contracting infections, fight off infections among patients of traumatic injuries, improve wound healing, and enhance the process of recovery among patients who had received radiation treatments.
Gums and saps
The gums and saps produced by the African acacia (gum acacia) and the Indian sumac (Gum ghatti) have been, for several years, known to have properties suitable for promoting health. Only lately was it discovered that these contain essential glyconutrients. Gum acacia has galactose (one of the eight essential plan carbohydrates) and other sugars like rhamnose, glucuronic acid and arabinose. These, in particular, are known to help improve gastrointestinal mucosa, intestinal flora, and are important in controlling the production of triglyceride (the chemical form of fats), fermentation of colon bifidus, and increase of serum cholesterol.
Fucose, a plant carbohydrate that influences brain development, inhibit the development and spread of tumor, and enhances cell-cell communication, is found in high quantities in a brown seaweed called Undaria pinnatifida.
The human breast milk is not only rich with antibodies and nutrients that sustain infants while providing them with protection, but is also a good source of some of the 8 essential plant carbohydrates, including fucose and galactose.
The leaves of the aloe vera are very rich in galactose, mannoseand arabinose. With the combination of their individual properties, aloe vera offers a host of anti-infection properties that include anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergy. This works perfectly well when used externally or internally.
With the current rise of the prevalence of diseases, disorders, and lately, autoimmune conditions, it is only important to have ample supply of glyconutrients in our daily diets, whether they come from nutritional supplements or natural sources.