What are Glyconutrient Supplements?

Glyconutrient supplements are plant carbohydrates (monosaccharide's). There are over 200 carbohydrates or sugars but only 8 are essential to bodily function. These are:

1. Xylose
2. Fucose
3. Galactose
4. Glucose
5. Mannose
6. N-acetylglucosamine
7. N-acetylgalactosamine
8. N-acetylneuraminic acid (a sialic acid).

Where are Glyconutrients naturally found?

1. Xylose: Xylose is found in the embryos of most edible plants.
2. Fucose: Fucose (Not to be confused with the table sugar fructose) is found in human breast milk, medicinal mushrooms, and seaweeds.
3. Galactose: Galactose is located in the lactose of dairy products, and as a monosaccharide in many fruits and vegetables.
4. Glucose: Glucose is derived from carbohydrates, proteins and certain component(s) of fats.
5. Mannose: Mannose is located primarily in cranberries, blueberries, black and red currants, gooseberries, green beans, fenugreek, capsicum, cabbage, tomatoes, turnips, shiitake mushrooms, kelp, and aloe vera.
6. N-acetylgalactosamine: N-acetylgalactosamine is similar in structure to galactose. It is found in bovine and shark cartilages and is a constituent of chondroitin sulphate. The most abundant supply of this glyconutrient is found in a mother's breast milk.
7. N-acetylglucosamine: N-acetylglucosamine is difficult to find in our modern day diets. The most abundant supply of this glyconutrient is also found in a mother's breast milk.
8. N-acetylneuraminic acid: The highest concentrations of this glyconutrient are found in the brain, kidneys, bronchial tubes, upper airways, skin, and reproductive organs.

Why do we need Glyconutrients?

Glyconutrients are considered to be the most important discovery for your immune system in the last 100 years. Science and medicine have long tried to understand the code by which the cells in the body communicate with one another in order for the body's complex functions to occur. For example, how does your digestive system know which food components to absorb into the blood stream and which to ignore?  Or which cells to attack and destroy and which to protect and nurture?  That code has been deciphered.  This role is undertaken by glyconutrients.  Researchers proclaim it to be the most important discovery in the history of medicine: the key to a long, healthy life.

What do Glyconutrients do?

1. Xylose: Xylose is an antibacterial and anti fungal carbohydrate. Research has given us evidence that Xylose may help prevent cancer of the digestive tract.
2. Fucose: Fucose has been shown to suppress certain inflammatory reactions in the skin and has antibacterial properties.  Research has linked this glyconutrient to a wide variety of activities in the brain including brain development and the ability to create long-term memories. Additionally, fucose has been shown to guard against respiratory tract infections while inhibiting allergic reactions.
3. Galactose: Galactose is commonly referred to as the brain sugar and and has shown benefits toward supporting the brain development of babies and children. Additional health benefits may include inhibiting tumor growth in the body.
4. Glucose: The primary role of glucose is to provide support for proper brain function and energy production associated with insulin release and glycogen storage. Glucose is a fast acting energy source, which our bodies absorb directly by the blood stream. Research also suggests that glucose may have some bodybuilding functions, as it is prevalent in the myelin sheath and the kidney tubules.
5. Mannose: Mannose has shown benefits in preventing and reversing urinary tract infections and stomach ulcers. Mannose is antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and anti-parasitic by nature. Mannose supports our bodies' ability to produce cytokines, which is our bodies' response to colds and flu's. This is the achy feeling we feel when we get sick.
6. N-acetylgalactosamine: N-acetylgalactosamine appears to play a role in preventing inflammation and in joint function and collagen formation; and is commonly used as a popular arthritis remedy.
7. N-acetylglucosamine: N-acetylglucosamine is difficult to find in our modern day diets. The most abundant supply of this glyconutrient is also found in a mother's breast milk. N-acetylglucosamine is the major component of the arthritis remedy glucosamine sulphate. It has anti-tumour properties and has been shown to produce activity against HIV. Glucosamine, which is used for cartilage in our knees, elbows, and other moving parts, is a metabolic product of this glyconutrient. Repairing cartilage, decreasing pain and inflammation, and increasing the range of motion in osteoarthritis are all benefits of glucosamine. Glucosamine has been shown to decrease insulin secretion. When taken together with N-acetylgalactosamine the absorption of both is enhanced.
8. N-acetylneuraminic acid: (Neu5Ac), a form of sialic acid - N-acetylneuraminic acid supports proper brain development and learning. It also provides support to our bodies for brain development, blood coagulation, lowering the LDL, the so-called bad cholesterol, and prevention of strains of influenza A and B. N-acetylneuraminic acid has been shown to be a an important immune modulator. The highest concentrations of this glyconutrient are found in the brain, kidneys, bronchial tubes, upper airways, skin, and reproductive organs.

Who should use Glyconutrients?

Whether one is suffering from a medical condition or not, our bodies need glyconutrients to function.

It is evident from the scientific research that anyone suffering from an auto immune disorder or degenerative condition can benefit from glyconutrients, notably the eight essential glyconutrients detailed above.

These glyconutrients help our body to exercise its incredible ability to heal, repair, regenerate, regulate and protect itself just by giving it the raw materials it is already pre-programmed to use.

The evidence also shows that by the same processes, the eight necessary glyconutrients are essential in maintaining a healthy body in optimal condition. Were these essential glyconutrients present in our diet in sufficient quantities, we would not need supplementation, but unfortunately current agricultural practices leave our foods with few of the eight essential glyconutrients.

Conclusion

We need the eight essential glyconutrients; mannose, galactose, glucose, fucose, xylose, N-acetylglucosamine, N-acetylgalactosamine, and N-acetylneuraminic acid in our bodies either via our diets and failing that by supplementing our diets with supplement glyconutrients.