| You
say you don’t know what glyconutrients are? You
are not alone. Perhaps you have heard a bit about glyconutrients
but you don’t really know what they are or how
they could benefit you. Understanding the role the glyconutrients
play in the overall scheme of nutrition is very important
if you are interested in supporting your own health
and the health of those you know and love.
In
the 26th edition of Harper’s Illustrated Biochemistry,
chapter 47 is a new chapter on the subject of glycoproteins.
|
 |
These
microscopic structures are essential to all cellular function.
They are constructed of building blocks of protein and eight
different monosaccharide sugars. That’s right, glyconutrients
are sugars. These necessary sugars are not the same as the table
sugar we often think of when we look at all of the latest diet
fads. Instead these glyconutrients are needed by every single
cell of your body to perform essential functions. What
are some of the functions of glyconutrients and glycoproteins?
Your body is a collection of cells. To function together,
your cells must be able to communicate. Collectively glyconutrients
are like the letters of the alphabet. They form together to
create the words the cells use to express the instructions
of your DNA. Glycoprotein structures allow the human egg to
identify the human sperm, thus making fertilization possible.
Glyconutrients
also influence hormone function, where they intervene in the
release and transportation of some hormones. With over 80
different hormones controlling every facet of your life, can
you see how important just this one role is?
Individually,
glyconutrients have been shown to have specialized roles in
the body. Just one of the sugars known as mannose inhibits
certain pro inflammatory molecules causing asthma, rheumatoid
arthritis and even lupus. In cellular studies it has been
shown that mannose inhibits tumor growth and blocks communication
between tumor cells.
The
research of glyconutrients has created a new field known as
glycobiology or glycomics. In the February, 2003 issue of
the Technology Review Journal, the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology listed glycomics as one of the ten immerging
discoveries that will change the world. Why? Possibly it is
because the discovery of the role of these glyconutrients
has fundamentally altered our understanding of cellular biology.
This new field of study opens new doors in the understanding
of nutritional needs as well as the development of new medical
technology and of new approaches to therapeutic medications.
You
can apply this new science to your daily life without waiting.
Research has shown that only two of these eight sugars are
prevalent in our modern diet. Supplementation that contains
a patented blend of these glyconutrients has been available
from one company for over ten years. Glyconutrients should
be considered an essential part of any person’s overall
nutritional program.
About
the Author
Dave
Saunders is a certified nutritional educator, wellness coach,
member of the American International Association of Nutritional
Education (AIANE) and author. He is also the host of a weekly,
nation-wide telephone lecture on health and nutrition.
For
additional information, please visit his site on nutrition
and glyconutrient at www.glycoboy.com
or www.glycowellness.com
or email Dave at dave@glycoboy.com. |
