Glyconutrients - sugar types of special importance for the health

People often think about sugar as a source of energy, and even an energy source that one usually gets too much of, so that one gets obese and gets sick from heart disease, diabetes or other chronic diseases. This is also true about the usual kinds of sugar, glucose and fructose. However there are certain special sugar types or sugar-like compounds (glyconutrients) that the body uses as tools in various physiological mechanisms and that one easily get short of. The body can make these compounds from glucose, but this production is usually slow and complicated. Therefore it is advicable to furnish the body with glyconutrients through the diet or through supplements.

The glyconutrients are especially used for communication and cooperation between nearby cells. In the body glyconutrients are therefore often combined with fat and proteins at the surface of the cells. Glyonutrients are tools in the following physiological functions:

- They support and moderate the function of the immune system. They are especially important in the process of recognizing foreign and dangerous elements, distinguishing these from friendly elements, and in eliminating foreigh elements.

- They play a role in the structuring of tissues and organs during growth and development.

- They also participate in tissue growth and regeneration after damage.

- Since the aging process is a form of damage, the glyconutrients help slow down the aging process, and even help to reverce aging symptoms.

-They support the function of the central nervous system, like memory, thinking and learning.

- They are used as tools for normal vision in the retina of the eyes.

- They are building elements of cartilage, tendons and ligaments.

- They moderate the viscosity and flow properties of body fluids, and the adheciveness of inner surfaces in the body. Therefore they help to wash out bacteria, vira fungi and parasites.

It seems that all the glyconutrients are used together for nearly all these functions, and not individually. Therefore it is most effective to supply these substances together in the diet or as additive supplements.

Because of these basic functions, glyconutrients are necessary to defend the body against diseases, and to recuperate from most diseases. For example will lack of glyconutrients increase the chance of getting infections, rheumatic diseases, allergies and asthma, heart problems, stroke, failure to thrive and cancer, and make it difficult to fight these diseases.

Supplements of glyconutrients seem to help defend against these diseases and help cure these diseases. Supplements also help repair of tissue damage after injury. Supplements also help slow down the aging process and to fight back aging symptoms.

The body can make the glykonutrients from glycose, but It is difficult for the body to make its own glyconutrients fast enough to cover the demand. These compounds should therefore be supplied in the diet, and an extra supplement can be useful for the general prevention of disease and healing from diseases.

There are 6 essential gluconutrients that often lack in the diet: Mannose, xylose, fucose, N-acetylglucosamine, N-acetylgalactosamine, N-acetylneuraminic acid.


Mannose:

The body can produce mannose from glycose, and uses mannose to syntezise the rest of the essential gluconutrients, and it is therefore specially important. The cell membrans of all cells has mannose as a structural and working component. Mannose is a tool cells use to reorganize themselves in a proper manner during tissue regeneration. The magrophages that cleans out waste and foreign elements from tissues are also especially dependent of mannose to work properly. It is also a tools used in the retina of the eyes and is thus important for normal vision.

The saccaride also has anti-bacterial, antifungal and anti-parasitic properties. The compound make Microorganisms inable to attach themselves to inner walls in the body and are therefore washed out. Mannose is therefore effective against infections in the body cavities, like urine tract infections and gastrointestinal infections.

The saccaride seem to counteract tumor growth and help recuperate from cancer. It also helps to prevent and heal from rheumatic diseases, like rheumatic arthritis.

Sources of mannose are: Aloe vera gel, ground fenugreek, black currant, red currants, gooseberries, green beans, cabbage, eggplant, tomatoes, turnips, shiitake mushrooms, and kelp.


Xylose

This saccaride is a tool in cell communication, like all glyconutrients.

Xylose help to eliminate yeasts and gram-negative bacteria. This compound helps to fight gastro-intestinal infections, candida and also digestive tract cancer. At the same time xylose seem to promote the growth of friendly microbes in the intestines, and thereby helps the body to absorbe important nutrients.

Sources of Xylose are: Aloe Vera gel, Beans, Blackberries,  Boswellia, Corn, Cabbage, Eggplant, Green Beans, Echinacea, Kelp, Loganberries, Okra, Peas, Psyllium, Raspberries, Pears, Broccoli and Spinach.


Fucose

Fucose is especially important for the normal function of the immune system. Lack of fucose causes the immune system to function improperly and contributes to allergy and autoimmune diseases.  This saccaride is also important for brain development, mental functions, the function of the nervous system, the kidneys, the testicles and the skin epidermis.

Fucose helps to prevent and fight allergy  inflammatory diseases. It also seem to inhibit the growth and spread of cancer, especially breast cancer and leuchemia. Like Mannose, fucose help to wash out bacteria and parasites from the body.


N-acetylglucosamine, glucoseamine and glucosamine sulfate

The variant glucosamine sulfate is the best to use as a supplement because it is absorbed best. Glucosamine is used as a building material in cartilage, ligaments and tendons where it constitute a component of the intra-cellular matrix. Glucosamine is also used as a tool in the immune system, and is especially important for the defence against cancer and viral infections like influenza, herpes and HIV. Glocosamine is also a functional component in the nervous sustem and is specially important for the learning process,

Supplements of glucosamine sulfate support repair of joints and tendons after injury and may also support general wound repair. Further it seems to support the defencive layer of the inner lining of the bowel and bladder, and thereby help against chronic inflammatory conditions of the bladder and bowel, like Crohn’s disease, Ulcerative Colitis, and Interstitial Cystitis.Supplements of this compound seem to help prevent and fight cancer HIV and influenza. It also seems to effectivize the lerning process.


N-acetylgalactosamine, galactosamine:

Like other glyconutrients this compund place a role in intercell comunication. Like other glyconutrients, galactosamine also moderates the function of the immune system and support the defence against cancer. The compound also is a tool used in the eye's retina, and is required for normal vision.

A supplement seem to support the defence against cancer and improve vision. However, a too high supplement may have adverce effect upon the liver and cause inflammatory processes in the liver.


N-acetylneuraminic acid (sialic acid)

This compund moderates the mechanical properties of mucos and thereby help wash our viruses and bacteria, especially influenza vira. Also this saccarid plays a role in sentral nervous functions, including thinking and memory. It moderates blood coagulation and lowers the bad  LDL cholesterole levels in the blood. It also moderates the immune system function and blocks the release of histamine, and thereby alleviates allergic reactions.

Good sources of N-acetylneuraminic acid are whey concentrates and Hen's eggs.