Few people know what glyconutrients are let alone what they do for our bodies. So it is shocking just how much our bodies actually need them. These nutrients are a natural sugar nutrient found in food. They are nearly extinct in our diet now because we do not eat many things like plant roots and fungus. These sugar type carbohydrates also bind to protein strands becoming glycoproteins. They help to transport in Transferrin, they help structure as collagen and they also help form immunoglobulin. There are so many roles that glyconutrients fill in our bodies and it is crazy to think that we no longer get this vital nutrient.
The eight glyconutrients are, Fucose (not to be confused with fructose), Galactose, Glucose, Mannose, N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc), N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc), N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) and Xylose. That might be confusing but knowing the names aren’t as important as what they do for the body. Fucose can suppress some inflammatory reactions in the skin and can kill invading bacteria. Galactose has been called brain sugar and has shown benefits supporting children and babies brain health. It can also inhibit tumor growth in the body. Glucose quick acting energy source which our bodies absorb directly through the blood stream. Mannose supports the body’s ability to create cytokines which is our body’s response to colds and flu’s. Meaning body aches. They can also aid in prevention of inflammation and appears to end collagen formation as well as joint function. It is mostly often used as a remedy for arthritis. N-acetylglucosamine is the major ingredient of the arthritis supplement glucosamine sulphate. N-acetylneuraminic acid is thought to be an important immune modulator. Xylose is an antibacterial and anti-fungal carbohydrate. Research has given evidence that Xylose may help prevent cancer of the digestive tract.
There are common ideas that these sugars when consumed with all eight of them can be very positive in a person’s health. Gylconutrients can have positive effects on those suffering from cancer, asthma, heart disease and neurological disorders. They have even been suggested to aid those in weight loss and ADHD and depression. Other scientists believe that these sugars can help with managing arthritis and diabetes as well as working to combat aging and improve fertility and sexual function. When you think of sugar you might think of sugar in your coffee, sugary soft drinks, sugar filled snacks and desserts, but when talking about glyconutrients we are talking about dietary sugar. These are essential sugars that perform important tasks within the body and keeps it functioning at its best.
Glyconutrients are not new, however they are starting to finally gain recognition while having many medical research studies devoted to getting the word out. These gems are already helping many people to feel better, to get healthier and in some cases comfortably manage lifelong ailments such as arthritis. They are popular yet not as painful as reversing or preventing aging of the skin and body. Everyone could be a little healthier and so many suffer ailments that could be helped at least in part by supplementation by something so simple.
This is an excellent and informative article on the benefits of Glyconutrients for our health. Glyconutrients are essential because they help support our body’s immune system, allowing our cells to communicate and operate efficiently. The problem is in the modern diet, we are only consuming 2 of the necessary 8 Glyconutrients so it is important that we supplement with plant-based products.