There are more than 200 glyconutrients available but only eight are needed by the body. These include xylose, galactose, fucose, glucose, mannose, N-acetylneuraminic acid, N-acetylgalactosamine, and N-acetylglucosamine. These appear in various forms in nature and have individual functions that generally help speed up cell to cell communication, promote the body’s immune system, and improve general wellness.

Xylose, for example, is a typical component of bubble gum and toothpaste that was recently discovered to have anti-bacterial and antifungal properties alongside its property that enhances cellular communication. Glyconutrients that are abundant in human breast milk and dairy products are fuctose and galactose. The former helps in promoting brain development, in warding off infections caused by allergens, and inhibits tumor growth. The latter, meanwhile, plays central role in healing wounds, inhibiting the formation of cataracts, lessening inflammation, and like fuctose, in inhibiting the formation and spread of tumor growth.

Mannose, a nutrient that is important in tissue remodeling, prevention of infections from parasites, viruses, bacteria, and fungi, as well as in preventing the formation of tumor, is found in the gums of Indian sumac and African acacia tree.

The rest of the eight essential glyconutrients are N-acetylglucosamine, N-acetylneuraminic acid, and N-acetylgalactosamine. Most of the benefits that may be had from N-acetylglucosamine focus on alleviating symptoms of osteoarthritis such as weakened cartilage, pain, inflammation, and decreased range of motion. N-acetylneuraminic acid, which comes mainly from breast milk, was discovered to have pivotal roles in brain development, learning, memory, and performance. It also has influence over cholesterol levels and blood coagulation. There is, however, no extensive data on N-acetylgalactosamine. Nevertheless, it has been shown to have properties that resemble those glyconutrients that were mentioned previously like the properties to prevent tumor growth and promote cellular communication.

Unfortunately, the body only receives two of these important nutrients in high and regular quantities – glucose or simply sugar which has recently earned a reputation as the underlying cause of various conditions when taken in excess and galactose that is frequently found in dairy products.

Clearly, glyconutrients are all about benefits. There are no known side effects to using supplements containing these sweet nutrients and there is no apparent danger in overusing them.

However, as with anything revolutionary in the field of medical science, glyconutrients are instantly becoming a source of controversies, not because they are nothing but hype but because many marketers are taking advantage of the public acceptance of their value to health. This does not prevent medical scientists and nutritionists from promoting the use of these nutrients, nevertheless.

In fact, the recent years have seen increased interest in glyconutrients that is parallel to the increased interest in promoting health and wellness.

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1. Glyconutrients: An Overview
2. The 8 Essential Glyconutrients That Should Be In Your Diet
3. Glyconutrients A New Paradigm

8 Varieties of Glyconutrients

Of the numerous glyconutrients present in nature, there are only eight notable varieties that are critical in helping to sustain bodily functions, specifically in cellular communication and in promoting immune system responses. These are glucose, galactose, xylose, mannose, fucose, N-acetylneuraminic acid, N-acetylglucosamine, and N-acetylgalactosamine. These generally come from wood saps and gums, seaweeds, mushrooms, berries like cranberries and strawberries, human breast milk, common foods like wheat, bran, corn, and aloe vera and its derivatives.

Glyconutrients Supplementation
Although these nutrients are present in naturally high quantities in nature, drastic changes in food production, chemical composition of the soil, and the manner by which nutrients are preserved in green harvests have all combined to deplete natural foods of these essential substances. The results are diminished capacity of the immune system to respond appropriately to threats against it, higher incidence of autoimmune, chronic and degenerative diseases and disorders, and a generally unhealthy population.

The need, therefore, for supplementation is very high. It has been shown in some clinical studies that the body’s requirement for these nutrients appears on a constant basis. This is because every day, a number of cells die. These are replaced by a new set of cells that require the same or higher dosage of these nutrients.

To answer these needs, companies have formulated various products that contain these nutrients. While many of these products are questionable, a good number of them have been shown to provide the necessary amounts of these nutrients to boost the body’s immune system and improve communication between its cells.

Health Benefits of Glyconutrients
Depending on the type of the nutrient, benefits can range from enhancement of cell to cell communication to improvement on brain development and memory. Each glyconutrient possesses individual properties that make them very essential in preserving optimal health.

Mannose is the most significant of all these nutrients and is known to affect many areas of health. It benefits the body by preventing the growth of tumor cells, by inhibiting infections caused by viruses, bacteria, and parasites, by alleviating symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, by lowering blood fat and sugar, along with others. Glucose, on the other hand, is a staple source of energy and is often consumed in the form of starch, maize or corn, and wheat. Galactose, a type that is found in dairy products as well as human breast milk, promotes cell to cell communication, a function that is performed by all other glyconutrients.

There are also glyconutrients that are critical in brain development such as N-acetylneuraminic acid and fucose. Several of these nutrients are known to help prevent the formation of tumors in the body such as N-acetylgalactosamine and mannose and others are crucial in warding off disease-causing substances.

In clinical studies, these sugars have been shown to help alleviate symptoms of diseases and conditions like:

-ADHD or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
-ADD or Attention Deficit Disorder
-Neurological Diseases
-Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
-Diabetes
-Depression
-Heart disease
-Flu
-Obesity
-Skin dehydration
-High Blood Pressure or hypertension
-Lupus
-Psoriasis
-Insomnia
-Cataracts
-Anxiety
-Hepatitis
-Asthma
-Allergic Reactions
-Depression
-Osteoporosis
-Osteoarthritis
-Insomnia
-Muscle pain and inflammation and
-Sexual functions

Related posts:

1. Glyconutrients: Scientific Breakthrough Or Hype?
2. The 8 Essential Glyconutrients That Should Be In Your Diet
3. Glyconutrients A New Paradigm